Question has been called. All those in favour? All those opposed?

---Carried

Motion carried. Masi. Bill 2 has had its second reading. Second reading of bills. Item 20, consideration in Committee of the Whole of bills and other matters: Minister's Statement 1-18(3); Tabled Document 2-18(3); Tabled Document 3-18(3); Committee Report 1-18(3); and Committee Report 2-18(3). By the authority given to me as Speaker, Motion 7-18(3), I hereby authorize the House to sit beyond the daily hour of adjournment to consideration the business before the House. Member for Hay River North in the chair.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Your committee would like to consider Tabled Document 2-18(3), Supplementary Estimates (Operations Expenditures), No. 3, 2017-2018; Tabled Document 3-18(3), Supplementary Estimates (Infrastructure Expenditures), No. 1, 2018-2019; and Committee Report 1-18, Standing Committee on Rules and Procedures Report on the Review of the Chief Electoral Officer's Report on the Administration of the 2015 Territorial General Elections, Supplementary Recommendations, and the White Paper on the Independence and Accountability of Election Administration in the Northwest Territories. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Mr. Testart. Does committee agree?

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

---SHORT RECESS

I will now call the Committee of the Whole back to order. Committee, we have agreed to begin our consideration with Tabled Document 2-18(3), Supplementary Estimates (Operations Expenditures), No. 3, 2017-2018. I will go to the Minister of Finance for any opening comments. Minister McLeod.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Mr. Chair, I am here to present Supplementary Estimates (Operations Expenditures) No. 3, 2017-2018. This document provides for an increase of $5.9 million to the operations budget.

Major items in these supplementary estimates include:

• $3.6 million for projected fire suppression costs; and

• $2.3 million for costs associated with increased student enrolment and implementation of junior kindergarten in NWT schools.

That concludes my opening remarks. I am prepared to respond to the committee's questions. Thank you.

Thank you, Minister. I understand you have witnesses. Would the Sergeant-at-Arms please escort the witnesses into the Chamber. Minister, please introduce your witnesses for the record.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Mr. Chair, to my right, I have Mr. David Stewart, who is the deputy minister of the Department of Finance. To my left, I have Mr. Sandy Kalgutkar, deputy secretary to the FMB. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Minister. I will open the floor to general comments on Tabled Document 2-18(3). This is the time to ask any questions the Members might have about the supplementary reserve or any such matters. I'll give committee a moment to gather their thoughts. Mr. Thompson.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. It's the No. 3, 2017-2018 document; is that correct?

That is correct: Supplementary Estimates (Operations Expenditures), No. 3, 2017-2018. Any general comments? I see none. We will move directly to consideration of the document. Please turn to page 4. Department of Education, Culture and Employment. Comments or questions? Mr. O'Reilly.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Can someone explain to me the figure of $2,283,000 for junior kindergarten? What does that cover? Is this additional, unanticipated enrolment, or are there additional things that are covered in there? Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you. Minister McLeod.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. The $2.3 million is made up of $741,000 for increased school enrolment, and full funding for JK in 2017-2018 of $1.542 million. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you. Mr. O'Reilly.

Thanks, Mr. Chair. So yes, some of it's for unanticipated enrolment, but the $1.542 million for JK, how is that calculated and what does it actually get us? Thanks, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Mr. O'Reilly. Minister McLeod.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Mr. Chair, I would like to refer to Minister Moses.

Thank you, Minister. Minister Moses.

Yes, and it's based on the funding formula of 12:1 that we have mentioned when we were rolling junior kindergarten in terms of pupil-teacher ratios. That goes directly to the education authorities based on their enrolments. We are still finalizing some of the enrolment numbers for junior kindergarten at the moment, so that's how it is rolled out. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you. Mr. O'Reilly.

Thanks, Mr. Chair. Just to be clear here, that $1.542 million, that's based on the current formula funding for district education authorities; is that correct? Thanks, Mr. Chair.