Thank you, Mr. Chair. Mr. Chair, I am here to present Supplementary Estimates (Operations Expenditures), No. 2, 2016-2017. This document provides for an increase of $28.4 million to the 2016-17 operations expenditures budget.

$22.9 million of these supplementary estimates is for the Department of Health and Social Services to provide additional funding associated with the higher-than-projected utilization of health programs, such as: hospital and physician services provided to NWT residents in southern jurisdictions; the residential placement of NWT adults and children in southern facilities so that they can receive the specialized care that is not available in the NWT; and the provision of supplementary health benefits.

Other major items in these estimates include:

● $2 million for the Department of Industry, Tourism and Investment for the Slave Province Geophysical, Surficial Materials, and Permafrost Study.

● $884,000 for the Department of Public Works and Services, for the costs associated with the planning and implementation of NWT marine operations.

● $606,000 for the Department of Justice, for the Framework for Enhancing Victim Services Agreement in the NWT, 2016-2021.

That concludes my opening remarks. Thank you, Mr. Chair.