Merci, Monsieur le President. My questions are for the Minister of Aboriginal Affairs and Intergovernmental Relations. On January 31st of this year, I submitted a written question on the costs of the November 2016 Cabinet trip to Ottawa. As part of that question, I asked for costs of lobbyist support, including contracted services. The Minister responded by stating, "No lobbyists or consultants were engaged in the planning or coordination of this trip."

The third quarter report on GNWT sole-source contracting shows that, between April 1 and December 31, 2016, we retained Earnscliffe Strategy Group, with an office in Ottawa, to lobby on our behalf at a cost $126,800. Can the Minister confirm that we retained Earnscliffe Strategy Group and what was it that they were doing for us during that period? Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.