Thank you. All the Members. I would like to remind all the Members that Mr. Steen has not

officially introduced a motion yet, thereby we are not talking about a motion, we are in fact in the program summary, Finance Management Board Secretariat, at this time. Mr. Steen.

Mr. Steen. Mr. Steen are you? Thank you, Mr. Steen. I hear Mr. Todd and Mr. Steen talking to a motion. Perhaps you want to introduce the motion at this time? Otherwise we are in the program summary of this particular activity. Mr. Steen.

Thank you. To the program summary. Mr. Steen.

Thank you, Mr. Steen. The motion is in order. That is not, I repeat, not debatable. All those in favour of the motion, please signify in the usual manner. Down, please. Opposed? Thank you. Down. Abstaining? The motion is defeated. Back to program summaries. We are on page 2-29 of the Financial Management Board Secretariat. 1999/98 main estimates. Operations and maintenance, total operations and maintenance is $40,820,000. Thank you. Mr. Krutko.

Thank you. For the record we have Mr. Todd, the Minister of Finance in here at the witness table, with Mr. Voytilla. Mr. Todd.

Look. Here is the dilemma that we are in. We have, Mr. Steen, I would hope that would...well it is not okay. Well anyway the dilemma that we are in is we are currently selling houses. Until we determine what houses are left over, we cannot determine how many houses are left to transfer over, okay. Same with leases. So we are working out the formula or the formulae, or the format, or the policy, right now, between Mr. Voytilla and Mr. Handley, and discussions between Mr. Arlooktoo and myself. It is our desire to move as quickly as possible, but there are some things out there right now that we cannot quite totally identify how many staff houses are left over, for example. You know what I am saying? So it is our intent, and I want to reassure Mr. Steen, who is no longer here, that it is our intent to do that and I do not care what previous governments said. I have made a statement in the House and I stand by it as the Finance Minister. We are going to do this initiative, because it is the right initiative. And I am not going to take any responsibility for the previous government's inability to move forward on this initiative. This initiative will be put in place, will in some small way alleviate the housing shortage in our constituencies, and I will move as quickly as possible to provide everybody with the information. It is that simple. Nothing else. Thank you.

Thank you. Program summary. I am told that if any Member wishes to speak to an item that we are discussing now, I believe it is the schedule of lease budget requirements, any Member will need the consent of other Members to go back to the particular item. In this case, schedule of lease budget requirements, program summary, total operations and maintenance is $40,820,000. Agreed?

Agreed.

Thank you. Total capital, total expenditures, $40,820,000. Agreed?

Agreed.

Thank you. Can we move on to the next page. Do we agree that this particular activity, Finance Management Board Secretariat, is concluded?

Agreed.

Thank you. I would like to thank the Minister and the witness for appearing before the committee. Thank you. Does the committee agree at this time that we move on to Aboriginal Affairs?

Agreed.

Agreed. Thank you. I believe the Honourable Mr. Antoine is the lead Minister in this case and he will provide an opening remark. Mr. Antoine.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Chairman, I am pleased today to present the Ministry of Aboriginal Affairs' budget as proposed in the main estimates for 1997-98.

As the deadline for division approaches, all Members are well aware that the creation of the two new territories has significant implications for the western territory, as well as Nunavut. The ministry's work is central to representing the government's interests and balancing the interests of all residents. As well, both self-government and land claims negotiations are proceeding at an accelerated pace. Various negotiations will be underway or are in the exploratory phase in all regions of the western N.W.T this year.

The work of the ministry for the next fiscal year has been set out in the business planning process and reflects comments received in standing committee review and recommendations. The budget is derived from this business plan. It should be noted that the main estimates do not include some of the most recent changes of necessity in relation to budgeting matters associated with self-government negotiations. However, Mr. Chairman, I will highlight the key information about this department's budget.

First, in response to the various standing committee recommendations, the Intergovernmental Affairs component of the ministry was transferred to the Executive Office during the past year. A review of the ministry's activities result in more efficient use of claims implementation funds received from the federal government. As a result, this budget reflects an overall reduction of $329,000, and one position.

The proposed budget also includes an additional $202,000 for government support of the Constitutional Working Group's activities related to developing a constitutional package for the western territory. These funds will be directed towards public ratification of a constitutional proposal. The bottom line, as noted in the main estimates, is that the ministry's overall proposed 1997-98 budget is $2,377,000 with eighteen positions. The ministry has no capital budget and no revenues.

In closing, Mr. Chairman, I would like to say the role and responsibilities of Aboriginal Affairs are vital at this time in our history. I believe the ministry can effectively do its duty for the government based on the budget as proposed.

Mahsi, Mr. Chairman.

Thank you, Mr. Minister. On behalf of the Infrastructure Committee, I believe Mr. Barnabas will make an opening remark. Mr. Barnabas.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. As the western constitutional development process continues, the funding for this process remains a concern. The ministry has committed funds for this process, but the standing committee notes that the federal government has a significant responsibility towards funding constitutional development for the western Northwest Territories. As of the Committee's meeting with the Minister in December to review the main estimates, meetings with DIAND staff concerning this funding have not yet taken place. The Minister informed the committee that they intend to provide one third of the funding necessary for the process, and that they expect the federal government to provide the other two thirds. However, to date, the federal government has not committed funds for the process.

Committee members are concerned that, without federal funding, either the territorial government will be expected to pay for the entire process or that limited territorial funds will result in the process being inadequately funded. Neither alternative is acceptable.

The standing committee is also concerned that funding for the process is coming from a number of different resources. For example, the Legislative Assembly is using some of their funding to assist the process by providing some office space and salary funding.

The ministry is participating in negotiations with Makivik's offshore claims in Hudson's Bay, Ungava Bay, and Hudson's Strait. The committee appreciates that the Quebec Inuit have legitimate claims on the use of those waters and the resources therein. However, it is important to remember that all islands in James Bay, Ungava Bay, Hudson's Bay, and Hudson's Strait, remain in the jurisdiction of the Northwest Territories. It is important that the NWT's interests are protected during these negotiations. The standing committee will continue to monitor the ministry's process in these negotiations and urges the government to protect the interests of the Northwest Territories in any future land claims negotiations from Quebec, Newfoundland and Labrador, Ontario or Manitoba, which lie adjacent to the Northwest Territories' jurisdiction in those waters. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Barnabas.

Mr. Chairman, I move that the standing committee recommends that the government consolidate all territorial government funding for the western constitutional development process under the one department or ministry, in order to ensure that the funding for the process is effective and efficient. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.