Thank you, Mr. Chair. I would just like to bounce back to immigration for a moment. We certainly know that immigration plays a critical role in growing our workforce and, of course, filling some skills gaps, and we find that immigrants often will be small business owners. Of course, to our benefit as a government, they will increase the population and, therefore, the transfer funding that we receive from the federal government. There are a lot of positive boxes to check off when it comes to supporting immigration.

The Minister spoke earlier about the Nominee Program, somewhat. I am just wondering if the Minister can expand on it. I know he shared some of the numbers relevant to how many people have come through the program. What is the department actually doing itself to support these immigrants as they come through in terms of do we have some supports in place? Also, maybe if the Minister could allude to what is happening with these folks after they come through the gates, so to speak? Are they finding employment, or are they enrolling in our educational systems, or are they starting businesses? Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Mr. Vanthuyne. Deputy Minister Haener.

Thank you, Ms. Haener. Mr. Vanthuyne.

Thank you, Mr. Chair, and I appreciate that information. Do we know where the immigrants who are coming into the territory are going? I suspect the majority of them are here in Yellowknife, but are we getting a number of immigrants who are going into some of the other communities throughout the territory? Is this a benefit for the territory, and not just one or two centres? Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Mr. Vanthuyne. Minister Moses.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. We can get those specific numbers. We just have to do a little bit of work to get those specifics. What we are seeing is we are seeing a lot more of that skilled labour force here in Yellowknife, for one; and then also at our regional centres that have more job opportunities. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Minister Moses. Mr. Vanthuyne.

Thank you, Mr. Chair, and, yes, any kind of numbers with regard to the diversification of the immigrants throughout the territory through this program would be appreciated.

In the business plan, the department talked about, and I know the Minister alluded earlier to the immigration strategy, and in the business plan we talk about ECE and ITI, possibly looking at kind of a streamlined service, a single-window approach. Can the Minister update us on whether there has been any headway made in this kind of amalgamated immigration single-window approach? Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Mr. Vanthuyne. Minister Moses.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Not at this moment. I know ITI deals more on the business side. We deal with individual applications. As I mentioned earlier, the strategy that we are looking at bringing forth and presenting to committee and to the House should be completed by June of this summer.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Are we faced with any challenges yet, or still, with regard to their relationship on immigration with the federal government, or has that been streamlined at all? Are we finding that we are able to meet the goals that we are trying to outline as a government without hindrance from the federal process? If we can get some insight on that, it would be appreciated. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Mr. Vanthuyne. Minister Moses.

Thank you, Mr. Chair, and I believe that is working fine with the federal government, that Members know that levels increased right across Canada this past year; and we did also receive an update that our levels have increased here in the Northwest Territories as well by about 100 extra nominees. Our levels have increased, so it is good for the territory, good for industry, good for business, and our communities as well. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Minister Moses. Mr. Vanthuyne.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. It is good to hear, obviously, that the numbers are increasing. Another aspect around immigration is with regard to Syrian refugees. As most know, there was a family that moved here through that program, arguably the resettlement program not long ago. I note, however, we were a contributor to that effort in the year past, but it doesn't seem like under the resettlement grants we are putting any additional funds into that pot. Can the Minister provide for us what the rationale is for that, and are we not going to support the community groups that are still making effort to see Syrian refugees come to the North? Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Mr. Vanthuyne. Minister Moses.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Previously, we did allocate $90,000 for the resettlement. It has been working out. We do have one family here in Yellowknife right now, and I do believe we have a couple more, a few more actually, that are supposed to be coming into Yellowknife. We do support I believe it is $15,000 per family. We did allocate the $90,000 which has not had full uptake right now. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Minister Moses. Mr. Vanthuyne.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Sorry, I wasn't clear on that. I appreciate that we are contributors. It seems like we are contributors to the tune of $15,000 per, but how are we going to continue to be contributors when we do not have any money in the pot for this coming year and we're still expecting Syrian refugee families to come to the North. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Mr. Vanthuyne. Mr. Moses. Thank you, Mr. Chair, and if you do look in the main estimates, there's no funding allocated for this here. We still work and continue to try to support the best that we can. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Minister Moses. Mr. Vanthuyne.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Through the Nominee Program, are there any Syrian folks that we know of who are coming through that program? I know that's an employability program, and so I'm just curious what the connection is there, if any. Thank you, Mr. Chair.