Okay, we will continue after a short recess.

---SHORT RECESS

Thank you, committee. Committee, we have agreed to consider Tabled Document 143-18(2), Capital Estimates, 2017-2018 for the Department of Education. I'd like to ask the Minister, does the Minister wish to bring witnesses into the House?

Yes, I do, Mr. Chair. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Moses. Sergeant-at-Arms, please escort the witnesses into the Chamber. Would the Minister please introduce his witnesses.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. To my right, I have my deputy minister, Sylvia Haener, and to my left Deputy Minister Olin Lovely. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Moses. Committee, we're finished off on page 12 with Education, Culture and Employment, labour development and standards, infrastructure investment, $9,157,000. Mr. Testart, I believe we left off yesterday.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Yesterday we were discussing the Post-Secondary Strategic Investment Fund, and I had asked the Minister if he was aware of an application that Dechinta University had made to the federal government to access this fund. I'd like to start with that. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Mr. Testart. Minister Moses.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Yes, we were aware that Dechinta had made that application. Thank you.

Thank you, Minister Moses. Mr. Testart.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Is the Minister aware of the total request for funding and the commitment that the federal government had made to this initiative from Dechinta? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Testart. Minister Moses.

I'm sorry, Mr. Chair. Can the Member please repeat his question? Thank you.

Thank you, Minister Moses. Mr. Testart.

In the proposal from Dechinta to access the Post-Secondary Strategic Investment Fund, can the department share the total amount of federal investment that was being requested?

Thank you, Mr. Testart. Minister Moses.

Yes, thank you. I believe the business case in the proposal that Dechinta was asking from the specific fund was in the amount of $5 million.

Thank you, Minister Moses. Mr. Testart.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. In speaking with this I guess very important private sector in developing our economy, the number was much higher from them, around $30 million with additional sources of funding lined up for O and M endowments going forward. So my question then is what was Dechinta looking for from the department in order to support their proposal? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Testart. Minister Moses.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I do know where the Member's going with this, Dechinta did approach the department for a letter of support. At the time we were looking at some of our own needs and our inventory as well to support some of our programs moving forward through the Aurora College, and knowing that we were coming up with the Skills 4 Success Action Plan and the strategic framework going forward, the 10-year strategic framework going forward to address some of the in-demand jobs, skills and training that was needed. So I know where the Member's going. They did request a letter of support. At the time we didn't feel it was appropriate to give that letter of support, as we were looking at our own infrastructure needs throughout the Northwest Territories. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Minister Moses. Any further questions? Mr. Testart.

Yes, thank you, Mr. Chair. I appreciate the Minister being candid, and that was where I was going. I'm not very knowledgeable about this fund. Is it all or nothing? Can you only make applications for the Northwest Territories from one agency or can multiple agencies access this funding? Does it need to be government-sponsored? Those are a couple questions, but I'd like answers. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Mr. Testart. Minister Moses.