Agreed.

Moving on. Page 2-28, Executive, information item. Mr. Bromley.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I just wanted to ask: Indicators of what, basically, on this one? It’s apparently an interim expenditure, but quite high compared to the last time we spent money on this and we’re working on baseline indicators, but I have no idea what baseline indicators of what. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Bromley. Premier McLeod.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. This is work that we’re doing on behalf of the Inuvialuit. They asked our bureau to collect information for them and they’re paying us to do it. It’s information that we provide them. I’ll have to check whether it’s privileged information or not. If it’s not privileged, I can advise the Member of what kind of information we’re collecting for the Inuvialuit Regional Corporation.

I think I understand it now. I’m not sure that I need those details. I assume we’re out there collecting information and there are things that they need as a government that we’re handy at getting. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Bromley. Page 2-28, Executive, information item, worked performed on behalf of others. Any questions?

Thank you, committee. I’ll get committee to turn back to page 2-7, Executive, department summary, operations expenditure summary, $22.862 million.

Does committee agree that final consideration for Department of Executive is completed?

Thank you very much. I’d like to thank Mr. Warren, Ms. Ballantyne and the Premier. If I could get the Sergeant-at-Arms to escort the witnesses out of the Chamber. Thank you.

Welcome back, committee. We are on Aboriginal Affairs and Intergovernmental Relations with Premier McLeod. Premier McLeod, do you have any opening comments?

Yes, I do, Mr. Chair.

Please proceed, Mr. McLeod.

I am pleased to present the Department of Aboriginal Affairs and Intergovernmental Relations’ main estimates for the fiscal year 2012-2013.

The department’s main estimates propose an operations expenditures budget of $7.304 million, a decrease of 4.1 percent from the 2011-2012 Main Estimates. This decrease is due to the sunset of resources which were provided for hosting the 2011 Western Premiers’ Conference and the comprehensive mandate review project the department undertook.

No forced growth or investments have been requested for 2012-2013. Any new initiatives and ongoing work aimed at advancing the 17

th Legislative Assembly priority of Building a Strong and Sustainable Future for Our Territory will be supported from within existing resources.

In addition to its day-to-day responsibilities, the department has led the development of a government-wide Aboriginal Government Engagement Strategy that will assist the Government of the Northwest Territories in fulfilling the 17

th Legislative Assembly’s priority of renewing

and strengthening relationships with Aboriginal governments. In doing so, the Government of the Northwest Territories and Aboriginal governments will be better positioned to advance their respective and shared priorities and serve the interests of all Northwest Territories residents.

The department is also leading the development of a Government of the Northwest Territories Federal Engagement Strategy which advances the vision of the 17

th Legislative Assembly and the priorities

identified in the Believing in People and Building on the Strengths of Northerners.

The department will also continue to focus on doing its part to building a solid foundation for intergovernmental relations by working effectively with its federal and Aboriginal partners to finalize land, resources and self-government agreements in all regions of the Northwest Territories.

Thank you for the opportunity to provide an overview of the department’s 2012-2013 main estimates. I look forward to discussing them with you in more detail. Thank you.

Thank you, Premier McLeod. Do you have any witnesses you wish to bring into the Chamber?

Yes, I do, Mr. Chair.

Does committee agree?

Thank you. I’ll get the Sergeant-at-Arms to bring the witnesses in, please. Thank you.

Premier McLeod, please introduce your witnesses, please.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. To my left I have Gabriela Eggenhofer, deputy minister of Aboriginal Affairs and Intergovernmental Relations; and to my right I have Richard Robertson, director of finance and administration.

Thank you, Premier McLeod. We’ll open up the floor to general comments.