Thank you, committee. Page 10-10, Education, Culture and Employment, information item, position summary. Any questions?

Committee, 10-12, 10-13. Mr. Hawkins.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I seek unanimous consent to return to 10-9. I didn’t hear you call it out. That was my error.

---Unanimous consent granted

You called it three times. I was starting to think you were desperate to get a nay there. Under recoveries, we have a million dollars noted for Nunavut museum and archive collection. I’m just wondering, has the department considered, sort of, drawing the line and saying this will be the last contract we will carry Nunavut’s, I’ll say, they’re historical items, archives, et cetera. As I understand it, we’re doing a bunch of work here to ensure that it’s kept up. Maybe if the Minister can use this occasion to describe what that money is being directed to, and is it costing the government any money.

Thank you, Mr. Hawkins. Mr. Lafferty.

Mahsi, Mr. Chair. This has been a work in progress for a number of years now. For 2012-13, as stated in the business

plan, the revenue generation of a million and then it increases by $20,000 every year after that up to 2016. The Government of Nunavut is fully aware that they need their own stand-alone museum to store their artifacts. We are working with them on this and we have made it clear to them that our storage area has also got capacity that we need to look after within our own artifacts as well. They are fully aware of it. Mahsi.

On the record here, can the Minister clarify, does this come at a cost of NWT products that are being saved or archived or protected for future usage? My understanding is that the Nunavut archives or historical items – I’m not sure what the best phrase here is to describe it – but the archival collection is larger than the Northwest Territories. What is permitted Nunavut for actually repatriating their artifacts? Because, if I understand it correctly, it’s actually squeezing and putting pressure onto our small amount in comparison to theirs.

Thank you, Mr. Hawkins. For that response we’ll go to Mr. Devitt.

Thank you, Mr. Devitt. Mr. Hawkins.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. What impact does this have on our archival products? If I’m calling it the right name, if I’m not, please correct that.

Thank you, Mr. Hawkins. Minister Lafferty.

Mahsi, Mr. Chair. At this point, there’s not much of an impact. With the additional funding that we’ve received, we’ve hired staff to look after the artifacts as well. At this point there hasn’t been any impact, as far as we know. Mahsi.

Why is the GNWT being contracted to do this? Maybe the Minister can provide some information. Why isn’t Nunavut hiring their own staff members – I’m not sure exactly how many – and renting their own appropriate storage mechanisms on their own and taking care of this? Why does the stewardship, in some manner, have anything to do with the Northwest Territories? Thank you.

Mr. Chair, I guess part of the reason will be we’ve been working closely with them. We feel that we are in partnership with them, working closely together with

them, the Government of Nunavut. At the same time, to have artifacts stored in Nunavut in a facility, as you know, it’s a high cost over there. But they’re realizing that they need their own facility, so they are working towards that and are in the planning stages. They are working closely with our department, as well, as they move forward as part of their capital planning process. Mahsi.

Maybe the Minister can outline some of the benefits of how this actually helps the Northwest Territories people. Thank you.

Mr. Chair, we have a four-year agreement with them. As I stated, there is no impact. With additional storage or capacity that’s within the museum, it does benefit the North. Throughout the Northwest Territories we do collect artifacts. Whenever it comes to our shop within the museum, we store them as a priority. We’ve already told Nunavut that this will be on a short-term basis because our artifacts are increasing as well.

With the funding allocation, in a way, I guess, we’re hiring three staff that are beneficial to the Northwest Territories. Mahsi.

Where are all this valuable archival products? Where are they stored and what does it cost us? Thank you.

Mr. Chair, as you know, it is in archives. I’m not sure we have the actual cost factor here, but is on an agreement of $1 million a year. The following year says $20,000 incremental. Then based on that, storing those artifacts, plus three staff, we can certainly provide that detail to the Members. Mahsi.

Thank you. For clarity, where is it – I’m speaking to all the archival products, including ours – and what does it cost? Just to make sure that’s clear on the record, could I get the Minister to respond?

Thank you, Mr. Hawkins. For that we’ll go to Mr. Devitt.