Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I wish to table the following document entitled “Northwest Territories Revenue Options, February 2016.” Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Masi. Tabling of documents. Minister responsible for NWT Power Corporation.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I wish to table the following two documents entitled “2015 Annual Report, Northwest Territories Power Corporation” and “2015 Annual Report, Northwest Territories Hydro Corporation”. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Masi. Tabling of documents. Item 15, notices of motion. Member for Yellowknife Centre.

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I give notice that on Thursday, March 3, 2016, I will move the following motion: Now therefore I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Deh Cho, that the Government of Northwest Territories work with the NWT Disabilities Council and other allies in the disability community to develop a five-year action plan that addresses the needs of the disability community, including measurable outcomes and ongoing evaluation; and further that the government respond to this motion by the end of June 2016 with a proposed timeline for the development of that described action plan. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Masi. Notices of motion. Member for Yellowknife Centre.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I give notice that on Thursday, March 3, 2016, I will move the following motion: Now therefore I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Great Slave, that notwithstanding Rule 4, when this House adjourns on March 3, 2016, it shall be adjourned until Wednesday, May 31, 2106; and further that at any time prior to May 31, 2016, if the Speaker is satisfied, after consultation with the Executive Council and Members of the Legislative Assembly, that the public interest requires that the House should meet at an earlier time during the adjournment, the Speaker may give notice and thereupon the House shall meet at the time stated in such notice and shall transact its business as it has been duly adjourned to that time. Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.

Masi. Notices of motion. Item 16, notices of motion for first reading of bills. Item 17, motions. Item 18, first reading of bills. Item 19, second reading of bills. Item 20, consideration in Committee of the Whole of bills and other matters: Tabled Document 2-18(2), Interim Estimates, 2016-2017, with the Member for Hay River North in the chair.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I now call the Committee of the Whole to order. What is the wish of the committee? Mr. Beaulieu.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Chairman, the committee wishes to consider Tabled Document 2-18(2), Interim Estimates, 2016-2017.

Thank you, Mr. Beaulieu. Does the committee agree?

We will take a short recess and continue with the first item.

---SHORT RECESS

I call Committee of the Whole back to order. Committee, we have agreed to consider Tabled Document 2-18(2), Interim Estimates, 2016-2017. Does the Finance Minister have any opening remarks? Minister McLeod.

Yes, I do, Mr. Chair. The interim estimates is requesting appropriation authority of $518 million in operations expenditures for the interim period of April 1 to June 30, 2016. These interim estimates provide the necessary resources for the government to operate in the first three months of the 2016-2017 fiscal year. The 2016-2017 Main Estimates, or full budget, will be presented during the May/June sitting of the Legislative Assembly, at which these interim estimates would be superseded. Departments are required to develop their 2016-2017 interim estimates based on a status quo 2015-2016 budget, only identifying the appropriations required to get through the interim period. I will stress that this does not include any new funding that hasn't been approved by the Legislative Assembly. All funding adjustments would be approved through the business planning and main estimates process.

The $518 million represents 31 per cent of total expenditures included in the 2015-2016 Main Estimates, compared to 30 per cent of total expenditures, which was approved during the last interim appropriation in 2012-2013. This exceeds one quarter of the 2015-2016 Main Estimates budget due to operation requirements that require that sufficient funding is to be in place to ensure certain contracts can be committed for the full year as required by the Financial Administration Act. I understand that committee has concerns regarding the ongoing funding for the Community Access Program under the Department of Transportation. Minister Schumann and myself are prepared to speak to this issue and have a solution to address the committee's concerns. That concludes my opening remarks.

Thank you, Minister McLeod. Does the Minister of Finance wish to bring any witnesses into the House?

Yes, I would, Mr. Chair.

Sergeant-at-Arms, please escort the witnesses into the Chamber. Thank you. Minister McLeod, would you please introduce your witnesses.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Mr. Chair, to my left I have Mr. Mike Aumond, who is the secretary to the Financial Management Board and deputy minister of finance. To my right, I have Mr. Sandy Kalgutkar who is the deputy secretary to the Financial Management Board.

Thank you, Minister McLeod. Does the committee agree that we begin with general comments? Is it the wish of the committee that we proceed directly to the detailed sections?

We will begin the review with the 2016-2017 interim estimates, operations expenditures. Department, Legislative Assembly. Appropriation authority required, $5,353,000.

Department, Aboriginal Affairs and Intergovernmental Relations. Appropriation authority required, $2,493,000.