Thank you, Mr. Chair. The purpose of this fund, according to the act, is:

"To finance environmental and social studies pertaining to the manner in which the terms and conditions under which exploration and development production and activities on petroleum lands authorized under the act or any other action to be conducted."

They reach out, they get the levies based on industry participation, and this is where the money comes from. They do a call for proposals. I believe the last one they've done as of late was on the caribou issue, Boreal Caribou Initiatives and Groundwater Monitoring in particular in the Northwest Territories, and they had a proposed budget of $297,000. My suspicion is they didn't spend all the money on that proposal and I suspect in the coming year that they will be having another call for a proposal on what they're going to do research on. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

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

Thanks, Mr. Chair. So how does the board then decide what to put out for a call for proposals? Is there a plan? Is there a strategy? Is there a set of priorities that have been identified to use these funds? Thanks, Mr. Chair.

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

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Its role is to determine the research priorities of the fund, set the budget, and establish the policies and practices for its future. So this is all up to the Environmental Studies Management Board and how they see fit moving forward. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

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

Thanks, Mr. Chair. Look, I understand there's a board for this. I guess what I'm trying to understand is, you know, the accountability for this rests with the Minister but how does the board set these priorities?

In fact, the government, ITI actually has a person who sits on this board, and so does ENR, and then there are a couple of people from Industry, and I think one member of the public. So how does that board decide how to use these funds? Is it just one-off, oh, this year we'll decide we're going to do caribou or something, or is there actually a more strategic approach to doing this research? Thanks, Mr. Chair.

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

Thank you, Mr. Chair. As I've said, it's the role of the board to determine its research priorities for this fund and set the budget, establish the policies and practices for the future of what they want to look at. It's not the government's role to do that. In this particular case, this is the way the board is set up and the way the Petroleum Resource Act is referred to in this, and that's how it works. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

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

Thanks, Mr. Chair. I don't seem to be getting anywhere with this, but there are two government people sitting on this board; one from ENR, one from ITI. What sort of direction does the department give to the ITI representative in terms of what the money is to be spent on? Thanks, Mr. Chair.

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

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I don't want to get in a big argument with the Member, but this is an environmental research fund and they focus on environmental issues. As I've said, the role determines that, and, of course, we do have a couple of government officials who are on there but they're representing the Government of the Northwest Territories in an environmental capacity. This is what this board is set up to do and I think it does good work. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

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

Thanks, Mr. Chair. Like one of my colleagues before mentioned, you know, how do we know if we're getting good value for money here, and no plan, no priorities that have been identified? It doesn't sound like there's any discussion with communities in terms of what they think the research needs might be or should be. I think there are some issues around the accountability of this board, and I hope that the Minister is going to look at this issue in terms of when the Petroleum Resources Act comes up for review. Is that going to be the case? Thanks, Mr. Chair.

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

Thank you, Mr. Chair. As this does fall under the Petroleum Resource Act, I guess when we take that out on the road and have a look at it this will be the opportunity for the Member to have his input on how he sees that we need to change things to fit the way he thinks it should be run; but presently this is the way the act is written and the way the board has determined their research priorities moving forward. I guess the other thing I could add to it is they do publish an annual report, and it is also online for everyone to see. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

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

Thanks, Mr. Chair. This is not just about me; this is about accountability. Thank you, Mr. Chair, that's all I have to say.

Thank you, Mr. O'Reilly. Any further questions, committee? Seeing no further questions or comments on these information items, we'll now return to the departmental total. Please return to page 193.

There are three information items related to the departmental total found on pages 194 to 196. These include revenue summary, active position summary, and NWT BDIC active positions. Any questions or comments on these information items? I see none.

Let's return now to page 193, Industry, Tourism and Investment total. Does committee agree? Mr. Beaulieu.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Chairman, I move that this committee defer further consideration of the estimates for the Department of Industry, Tourism and Investment at this time. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

Thank you, Mr. Beaulieu. The motion is on the floor and is being distributed. Thank you, committee. The motion is in order and is not debatable.

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

---Carried

Committee, the consideration of the Department of Industry, Tourism and Investment has been deferred. I want to thank the Minister and his witnesses. Sergeant-at-Arms, please escort the witnesses from the Chamber. Thank you, committee. We will now move on to the Department of Education, Culture and Employment. Does the Minister have opening remarks?