Masi. Members' statements. Item 4, returns to oral questions. Item 5, recognition of visitors in the gallery. Member for Kam Lake.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I would like to recognize Jay Bulckaert and Pablo Saravanja from the Artless Collective. They were big creative forces behind the Dead North Film Festival I spoke about earlier today. Without their mentorship and guidance for the next generation of northern filmmakers, I think we would be further behind than we actually are. Keep making great films and keep helping put the North on the map. Thanks, guys.

Masi. Recognition of visitors in the gallery. Member for Yellowknife North.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I, too, would also like to take this opportunity to recognize the gentlemen from Artless Collective, Jay and Pablo. They are not only great film producers and makers, but they are also business residents of Yellowknife North. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Masi. Recognition of visitors in the gallery. Member for Inuvik Boot Lake.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I want to recognize one of our translators who is here with us this week, Miss Ruth Carroll. She is a former resident of Inuvik and I just want to say mahsi cho for all the work that she is doing translating to the people throughout the Northwest Territories, and also say mahsi cho to all the translators. March is Aboriginal Languages Month, and I appreciate the work that they do in maintaining and revitalizing our Aboriginal languages here in the Northwest Territories. Mahsi.

Masi. Recognition of visitors in the gallery. Item 6, acknowledgments. Item 7, oral questions. Member for Nunakput.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My questions are for the Minister of Environment and Natural Resources. Mr. Speaker, as I mentioned in my Member's statement earlier today, the Inuvialuit are ready to take on a more government-to-government approach to the Water Board. Mr. Speaker, can the Minister explain how the Government of the Northwest Territories would work with the Water Board on some of the benefits of a government-to-government relationship? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Masi. Minister for Environment and Natural Resources.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. In the Government of Northwest Territories, we have a vested interest in working with the Inuvialuit Water Board and the water boards of the Mackenzie Valley. As water partners, we work closely with the Inuvialuit Water Board and other regional and land water boards in the implementation of a five-year action plan for the NWT Water Stewardship Strategy, so we do have a vested interest in working with the water boards with all the Aboriginal governments across the Northwest Territories, and we will continue to do so. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I appreciate the response. Mr. Speaker, my second question is: what role will the Inuvialuit Water Board have in the development of a renewed Waters Act?

The Inuvialuit Water Board, they are a key partner with responsibilities to uphold our legislation that governs water resources in the ISR. The Government of the Northwest Territories, through ENR, will be seeking input from all water partners including regulatory authorities such as the Inuvialuit Water Board as we advance work to modernize the Waters Act.

I appreciate the response. Mr. Speaker, my third question is: how has the Inuvialuit Water Board been involved in transboundary water management negotiations?

The Inuvialuit Water Board was asked for input on the GNWT interest development of negotiation position and intention document for both the Alberta-NWT and the BC-NWT agreements as well as the development of a negotiation position for agreement with Saskatchewan and for updating our existing agreement with the Yukon. We have had specific meetings with all of the NWT regulatory boards to solicit input as we move forward with some of these transboundary water agreements.

Masi. Oral questions. Member for Nunakput.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I appreciate the response. That leads to my final question. Mr. Speaker, can the Minister explain how the Government of the Northwest Territories and the Inuvialuit Water Board work on transboundary water issues with the Yukon in areas that impact the ISR? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, we have an existing agreement with the Yukon that was signed in 2002. We are going through a process right now to update the agreement to align with the more recently completed transboundary water agreements. We will work with the Inuvialuit as we develop our position going forward, and we will continue working with them as well as the other Aboriginal governments across the Northwest Territories.

Masi. Oral questions. Member for Nahendeh.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, today I will be asking questions for the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment. Mr. Speaker, as we have seen in the main estimates, ECE has planned to cut $1.8 million from inclusive schooling. ECE has since confirmed to leaving $1.3 million alone and dedicated the rest to a specialized training group for PST teachers. Since this isn't reflected in the mains, where is the department going to find this money, whether it is internally, through a supplemental or presented to this House or both? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Masi. Minister of Education, Culture and Employment.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The $1.3 million, as we stated during Committee of the Whole, will be moved back into the inclusive schooling funding that will be provided to the education authorities throughout the Northwest Territories and distributed for the 2017-18 academic year. The remaining $500,000 is going to be used by the department for training of all NWT program support teachers, school principals, as well as classroom assistants in the 2017-18. Currently, right now, some of that training is happening here, in Yellowknife, this week. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I thank the Minister for his answer. I guess my question, though, and I understand that: where is this money? Is it still in the budget? Was it something from here? Okay, thank you.

The Minister has also referenced ECE commitment to seeing a program support teachers in each community NWT school. I understand from our discussions in Committee of the Whole that they will be funded through the health, wellness, and students line item. What dollar amount has been identified to get these positions filled and bring a PST to each NWT school?

For the 2017-18 academic school year, $9.6 million has been identified for approximately 72 program support teachers. The overall budget for inclusive schooling is over $25 million. In the health, wellness, and student support, the line item budget for that is over $3 million.

I thank the Minister for that answer. That is pretty exciting news, to see that that money is there. Can the Minister tell us how many schools already have at least one PST teacher in place? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.