Thank you, Mr. Chair. Mr. Chair, I will confirm our level of engagement and I will share that with the Members to give them surety that we will do our due diligence. Thank you, Mr. Chair,

Thank you, Minister McLeod. Mr. O'Reilly.

Thanks, and I want to thank the Minister for his response and I would encourage the department that when they do reach out to talk to the mineral industry about these guidelines that they be inclusive and include other interests including Aboriginal governments, environmental organizations, and so on. Thank you. I look forward to getting the information from the Minister.

Thank you, Mr. O'Reilly. Are there any other further comments or questions on this section? Seeing none, we will continue the review. Department: Lands. Appropriation authority required, $7,579,000.

Continuing on. Department, Municipal and Community Affairs. Appropriation authority required, $34,924,000.

Department, Public Works and Service. Appropriation authority required, $30,966,000. Mr. O'Reilly.

Thanks, Mr. Chair. There's a lot of eager beavers here today.

---Laughter

While we're on this department, I just want to ask about the first quarter funding for energy solutions, which I believe also includes Arctic Energy Alliance and our own work as a government on energy conservation, energy efficiencies, and so on. I'm just wondering what rough portion we're looking at spending in the first quarter of 2016-2017. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Mr. O'Reilly. Minister McLeod.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. For the interim, PWS has identified $2,920,000 to be spent.

Thank you, Mr. McLeod. Mr. O'Reilly.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I guess what I'm trying to sort out here is that we're not looking at making any cuts to energy conservation, energy efficiency programs that are offered through Arctic Energy Alliance or even our own internal programs for energy efficiency within the government in the first quarter. I just want to get that assurance from the Minister. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Mr. O'Reilly. Minister McLeod.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Mr. Chair, for the Arctic Energy Alliance I think there's $720,000 in grants and contributions.

Thank you, Minister McLeod. Mr. O'Reilly.

I appreciate the response from the Minister. I'm not sure I got an answer, though. I guess I'm seeking some assurance that this is a business-as-usual interim appropriation for the first quarter, and that it doesn't reflect any cuts or changes to programs that are offered through Arctic Energy Alliance or energy conservation initiatives that we would do ourselves in-house. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Mr. O'Reilly. Minister McLeod.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Mr. Chair, this interim budget is business as usual. We have the process of the business planning review and the main estimates budget that's going to be tabled in May/June. But for the exercise we're going through today it is business as usual. Thank you.

Thank you, Minister McLeod. Mr. O'Reilly.

Thank you, Mr. Chair, and I appreciate the assurance then that the Minster has provided, that there's no changes or cuts that are being proposed to energy efficiency and conservation programs from the department. Maybe just one general comment if I may, that next time we have interim appropriations, which may not be for another four years, past my life, or all of our collective lives, that if there are significant variations that fall below the 25 per cent, it would be helpful to get those explanations provided to committee. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. O'Reilly. Your comment is noted. Any further questions or comments on this section? Seeing none, we will continue with the review. Department: Public Works and Services. Appropriation authority required, $30,966,000.

Page five. Department, Transportation. Appropriation authority required, $26,717,000.