Thank you, Minister Schumann. Mr. Testart.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I am disappointed to hear that once again we are unable to look at investing in this subsidy, important subsidy for our economy. Last business plan, I asked the same questions and was told that this year may be different. What are the expectations that we will see this increase in this fund by next business plan? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Testart. Minister Schumann.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. As I just said, Cabinet went to Mineral Roundup with us and they have seen the importance of the mining industry in the Northwest Territories. All my Cabinet colleagues got to see some of the wants and desires of some of the mining companies and what we need to do to improve and attract business in the Northwest Territories. This is one of the programs that got some attention. As the Minister of ITI, moving forward in the life of this Assembly, I will see what I can do about adding some funds to this portfolio. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Minister Schumann. Mr. Testart.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I appreciate that the entire Cabinet did attend the Roundup conference. That shows that we are willing to go to extraordinary measures to show leadership and support on this industry. I think, furthering that leadership, we should be increasing this fund to at least be comparable to our neighbours in the Yukon. Does the Minister disagree with that? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Testart. Minister Schumann.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. We are two different jurisdictions. I am worried about the Government of the Northwest Territories, not the Government of the Yukon. Like I have said in my comment previous to this, I will look at trying to top this up in the coming years of the life of this Legislative Assembly. I believe it is an important program within the department of ITI, and I will see what I can do with my Cabinet colleagues moving forward. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Minister Schumann. Mr. Testart.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I also note that, on page 206, the NWT geological survey, which does very important work providing exploration data to mining companies and prospectors, the budget is down from last year. I am wondering if the Minister can speak to the reasons for that decline. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Testart. Minister Schumann.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. The reduction reflects the balance of a position reduction from 2016-17 as well as a sunset of devolution funding for receiving documents, core rehabilitation, core relocation, as well as funding no longer required for a portion of the shortfall for compensation and benefits for positions that came over to the GNWT during devolution. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Minister Schumann. Mr. Testart.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Is the NWT geological survey going to be impacted at an operational level or hampered in its ability to provide high-quality data to the mining industry? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Testart. Minister Schumann.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. No, that was just project work from switching over and we don't believe that that will impact the NWT geological surveys group. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Minister Schumann. Mr. Testart.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. That decrease was from last year to this year. However, in the 2015-16 actuals, also listed on page 206, we see almost a million-dollar decrease to the NTGS. What explains that sharp loss in available funding? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Testart. Minister Schumann.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. That would be devolution funding. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Minister Schumann. Mr. Testart.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Again, I have heard the Minister say he wants to support this industry and that we are doing a lot to support it and that our government has its own programs that shouldn't be held in contrast with other jurisdictions. Can the Minister point to any increased funding or a new program or a new initiative specifically that is designed to address the needs of our mining industry at a time when risk capital is at an all-time low and when there is much uncertainty in the Northwest Territories and when we see the lowest land tenure, mineral tenure, in the history of the Northwest Territories? Can the Minister point to some specific initiatives that are new and going directly to address this issue of getting mining back on track in the Northwest Territories? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Testart. Minister Schumann.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. One of the things that we are bringing forward in the supplementary estimates -- I think they are already tabled, so I can ask about it -- we are asking for additional funding to provide the Slave geological, physical, surficial materials and permafrost study. That might have actually been in one of my Member's statements, I think. That is some of the revenue that we are trying to get to proceed with some other work. Thank you, Mr. Chair.