We started the process during this exchange, where we're promoting trying to get those interested in surveying to take up the trade. I think one of the first things we do is have to identify where some of our needs are for training. If we can identify those, and if there are opportunities for us to put some training programs together, work with Education, work with the School of Community Government and try to get some opportunities available. But I think, with the exchange we just had today, that's a good start in promoting the desire to get our people interested in the trade, and that way they would have a fairly good occupation where there always seems to be a demand for that type of trade. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Masi. Oral questions. Member for Hay River North.

Masi. Minister responsible for Homelessness.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Homelessness is a serious issue within the whole Northwest Territories, and it’s a priority of the 18thLegislative Assembly and a personal issue for myself, a professional issue, so I am committed to addressing homelessness during my tenure here. The $600,000 specifically, though, is to work with the resident or the homeless shelters within the Yellowknife area because of the need, the amount of homeless people in the community. Once that is finished, then we would be looking to work within the other communities. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I understand that Yellowknife is almost a magnet community for homelessness, so I understand there is a great need here. Could the Minister elaborate on the $750,000 third-party social housing, the money going to social housing, third-party social housing providers? Who are these providers and what type of social housing are they providing, and is there any of that in Hay River?

I can't say directly if there's any in Hay River. I will get back to the Member on that question. My background is in Yellowknife, so third-party housing providers are things like Rock Hill or the Bailey House or Lynn's Place places, that provide social housing to the communities and that we support them as well.

I'd like to know: does Hay River meet the department's definition of "small community," thereby making it eligible to receive some of the benefits of the $1.2 million being put towards single units to address small community homelessness that was announced yesterday?

Anything outside of Yellowknife, actually, meets the definition of "small communities." There are some projects that we're doing. There are things already in place, the Northern Pathways to Housing; the Small Community Homeless Fund which gives food, et cetera; transitional supportive housing; public housing, everybody's aware of; Homeless Assistance Fund. Then the Small Community Homeless Fund, like I say, provides mostly meals, foods, and you can get, in the south it's up to $10,000 and in the northern regions it's up to $15,000.

Masi. Oral questions. Member for Hay River North.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Finally, I would just like to ask who in the department is working within Hay River to develop a plan for homelessness, to address homelessness in Hay River. I'd like to be of any assistance I can. I'd like to offer that to the Minister. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

My awareness, right now in Hay River we're working with the Small Communities Homeless Fund in providing support to the Hay River soup kitchen, the Hay River committee for people with disabilities and the family support centre. As I said, once we have been strategic in what we're doing in the capital area, then we'll be reaching out to the communities. One thing I should have said also is that we are building small units within other communities in the North, so we're not only focusing on Yellowknife. We are taking a holistic approach.

Masi. Oral questions. Item 8, written questions. Item 9, returns to written questions. Item 10, replies to Commissioner's opening address. Item 11, replies to budget address, day 3 of 7. Item 12, petitions. Item 13, reports of standing and special committee. Item 14, reports of committee on the review of bills. Item 15, tabling of documents. Minister of Justice.

Yes, Mr. Speaker. I wish to table the following document entitled NWT Office of the Regulator of Oil and Gas Operations Annual Report 2015-16. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Masi. Tabling of documents. Member for Yellowknife Centre.

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I'd like to file a document called UNW Electronic Petition Results. This petition did not meet the standards to be submitted as a petition, so I'm submitting it as a document. Thank you.

Masi. Tabling of documents. Item 16, notices of motion. Item 17, notices of motion of first reading of bills. Item 18, motions. Item 19, first reading of bills. Item 20, second reading of bills. Item 21, consideration in Committee of the Whole of bills and other matters with Member for Hay River North in the chair.

I now call Committee of the Whole to order. Mr. Beaulieu, what is the wish of committee?

Thank you, Mr. Chairperson. Mr. Chairperson, committee wishes to continue their consideration of the mains with the Department of Human Resources today.

Are we agreed?

So we've agreed to consider Tabled Document 50-18(2), Main Estimates 2016-2017, and we've agreed to begin consideration of the Department of Human Resources. I'll turn to the Minister responsible for the department for opening comments, Minister Abernethy.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I'm pleased to present the 2016-2017 Main Estimates for the Department of Human Resources, and I'll do my best to keep my remarks brief. Overall, the department's estimates propose a decrease of $680,000, which is about 2.8 per cent below the 2015-16 Main Estimates. These estimates limit non-program related expenditures and continue to support the long-term sustainability of the fiscal framework. In our role as a corporate service provider, $4.5 million or about 19 per cent of the department's 2016-17 funding is allocated for direct support to departments and agencies through programs to address hiring, development, and well-being of GNWT employees.

Highlights of the proposed estimates include:

● a reduction in compensation and benefits due to the elimination of three positions;

● a reduction in non-program related contracts.

The Department of Human Resources continues to provide leadership, direction, and support to the GNWT in all areas of human resource management, which ultimately helps to facilitate the achievement of government priorities by all departments. This includes:

● modernizing legislation and policy for the GNWT as it relates to the management of the public service; and

● offering effective recruitment, development, and retention of staff through quality GNWT-wide programs, services, and advice, including working towards a truly representative, inclusive workforce; and

● leading the government-wide initiatives for Occupational Health and Safety.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. That does conclude my opening remarks.

Thank you, Minister Abernethy. Would you like to bring witnesses into the Chamber?