Question has been called. The motion is carried.

---Carried

Bill 22 has had its first reading. First reading of bills. Second reading of bills. Minister of Finance.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Thebacha, that Bill 20, Supplementary Appropriation Act (Infrastructure Expenditures), No. 3, 2016-2017, be read for the second time. Mr. Speaker, this bill makes supplementary appropriations for infrastructure expenditures for the Government of the Northwest Territories for the 2016-17 fiscal year. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The motion is in order. The motion is on the floor. To the principle of the bill?

Question has been called. The motion is carried.

---Carried

Bill 20 has had its second reading. Second reading of bills. Minister of Finance.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Thebacha that Bill 21, Supplementary Appropriation Act (Infrastructure Expenditures), No. 1, 2017-2018 be read for the second time. Mr. Speaker, this bill makes supplementary appropriations for operations expenditures for the Government of the Northwest Territories for the 2016-17 fiscal year. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Masi. Motions in order. Motions on the floor. To the principle of the bill?

Question has been called. Motion carried.

---Carried

Bill 21 has had its second reading. Second reading of bills. Minister of Finance.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Thebacha that Bill 22, Supplementary Appropriation Act (Infrastructure Expenditures) No. 1, 2017-18 be read for the second time. Mr. Speaker, this bill makes supplementary appropriations for infrastructure expenditures for the Government of the Northwest Territories for the 2017-18 fiscal year. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Masi. Motions in order. Motion is on the floor. To the principle of the bill.

Question has been called. Motion carried.

---Carried

Bill 22 has had its second reading. Second reading of bills. Consideration in Committee of the Whole of bills and other matters, Bill 7, Committee Report 6-18 (2), Committee Report 7-18 (2), Committee Report 8-18-(2), with Member Hay River North in the Chair.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Mr. Chair, committee would like to consider Supplementary Estimates Operations Expenditures No. 1, 2017-18 and Committee Report 8-18 (2) Report on the Review of the 2014-2015 and 2015-2016 Annual Reports and the Information and Privacy Commissioner of the Northwest Territories, in that order. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Testart. Does committee agree?

Thank you, committee. We will consider the documents after a short recess.

---SHORT RECESS

I will call Committee of the Whole back to order. Committee, we have agreed to consider Tabled Document 327-18(2), Supplementary Estimates (Operations Expenditures) No. 1, 2017-2018. Does the Finance Minister have any opening remarks? Minister McLeod.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Yes, I do.

I am here to present Supplementary Estimates (Operations Expenditures), No. 1, 2017-2018. This document provides for an increase of $23.2 million to the operations budget.

These Supplementary Estimates include funding for the following items that will be fully offset by revenues in 2017-2018:

● $14.1 million for planning, implementation and operations of NWT marine operations;

● $2.4 million for reconstruction of an airfield ramp at the Yellowknife airport for use by the Department of National Defence; and

● $1 million for the Slave Province Geophysical, Surficial Materials, and Permafrost Study.

These supplementary estimates also include an additional $4.8 million in funding for priorities identified through the deliberation of the main estimates of 2017-18 as follows:

● $2.5 million for homecare;

● $500,000 for Youth in Crisis;

● $500,000 for the anti-poverty initiative;

● $225,000 towards freight costs associated with the fishing industry;

● $600,000 for the Mineral Incentive Program;

● $500,000 for the Community Access Road Program; and

● These supplementary estimates also include $669,000 to reinstate reductions to the teacher education and social work programs at Aurora College.

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

Thank you, Minister. Do you have witnesses you wish to bring into the House?

Yes, I do, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Minister. Sergeant-at-Arms, please escort the witnesses into the Chamber. Minister, would you please introduce your witnesses to committee.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Mr. Chair, with me today I have, to my right, Mr. David Stewart, deputy minister of Finance. To my left, I have Mr. Sandy Kalgutkar, who is the deputy secretary to the Financial Management Board. Thank you, Mr. Chair.