Minister Abernethy.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Mr. Chair, the Member is correct. We provide benefits for Metis people as a last resort, we're the last funder. We do encourage Metis people to pursue other insurance, if they have employer's insurance and whatnot. On average, it costs us about $2 million, as the Member has indicated, and we are ready to have discussions with the federal government. We know what we've paid over the past years. We mirror NIHB exactly for our Metis residents. So we know what our numbers are. We're prepared to have that discussion once the time is right.

In the meantime, given the ruling, but also given that it was a decision of this House, there's no plans at this point in time to stop funding or proving that services to our Metis residents until such a time is we have worked out a deal with the federal government where they can takeover the costs.

Thank you, Minister Abernethy. Any more comments or questions on page 41? Seeing none. Aboriginal Affairs and Intergovernmental Relations, negotiations, operation expenditure summary, activity total, $2.98 million.

Moving on to page 42, negotiations, active positions, information item only. Are there any questions, comments? None. We'll move on to page 43, lease commitments and other information items. Are there any questions? Ms. Green.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I wonder if I could get some information about why we're leasing office space in Ottawa? Thank you.

Thank you, Ms. Green. Premier McLeod.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. At one time we had a deputy minister of Intergovernmental Affairs based out of Ottawa and we had government offices. We found it was very helpful and useful to have a government office in Ottawa. So we've continued to maintain a government office. It keeps getting smaller and cheaper all the time just because of what's happening in Ottawa. The office space we had in the Delta building, because of renovations, we were able to get out of our lease and get a significantly better deal in or new office, which everybody should visit when they're in Ottawa, which has a view of Parliament.

It’s very beneficial for us when we go to Ottawa to have meetings, to have negotiations. Also people from the Northwest Territories that go to Ottawa, they have a place to go and they're welcome to use our offices while they're there. We have one staff that helps us make arrangements when we go to Ottawa and when we have to go to meet with federal Ministers and so on. So they coordinate all of those. We have to go through heavy security and so on.

For us, we still see it as money well spent. I think we have a lease that's for about five years, I believe. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Premier McLeod. Mr. McNeely.

Just want to add to the comments about Ottawa. Twenty years ago, I was a visitor in Ottawa and I did find on the website the office in question here, and found very convenient. It did provide me with a lot of support while I was there; where to go, who to see. It probably provides other residents of the NWT with the same level of services.

Thank you, Mr. McNeely. Premier McLeod.

Yes. The Women Warriors of the Sahtu have certainly found it very helpful.

Thank you, Premier McLeod. Are there any further questions on page 43? Seeing none, we can move ahead to page 44, another information item, work performed on behalf of others. Are there any questions? Mr. O’Reilly.

Thanks, Mr. Chair. So when I read this, it seems like the federal government is providing implementation funding for the GNWT Inuvialuit, Gwich’in, Sahtu and Tlicho agreements. Then when I turn back to page 34, the amounts in this work performed on behalf of others, seems to correspond roughly what to what is shown in the implementation part of the departmental budget back on page 34. Is that the case here? What is the relationship between these two tables? Thanks, Mr. Chair.

Thanks Mr. O’Reilly. Mr. Robertson.

Thank you, Mr. Robertson, Mr. O’Reilly.

I’m just trying to understand the fluctuation of these numbers as well. Can I have some explanation of the fluctuation.

Seeing no one else on my list, would the committee please turn back to page 27. The departmental summary of Aboriginal Affairs and Intergovernmental Relations. of $8.754 Million.

Does committee agree that the review of departmental summary of Aboriginal Affairs and Intergovernmental Relations is completed?

I will now rise and report progress