Thank you, Mr. Chair. Nothing further at this time. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Vanthuyne. Questions? Seeing none, I shall call the summary expenditure on page 125, Indigenous and Intergovernmental Affairs, operations expenditure summary, $8,081,000. Does committee agree?

Agreed. We shall move on to the next activity, starting on page 129 to page 133. Please reference the page you have questions directed to. Questions? Seeing none, I will call page 129, office of priorities and planning, operations expenditure summary, $880,000. Does committee agree?

Agreed. We shall go back to page 107, departmental total for Executive and Indigenous Affairs, $21,393,000. Does committee agree?

Agreed. Thank you, Premier. Thanks to your witnesses for appearing before us. Sergeant-at-Arms, please escort the witnesses from the Chamber.

I'm ahead. Does committee agree that consideration of the Department of Executive and Indigenous Affairs is concluded?

Agreed. Thank you, Premier, and thanks to your witnesses for appearing before us. Sergeant-at-Arms, please escort the witnesses from the Chamber.

Thank you, committee. Committee, we have agreed to continue with the Department of Lands. I will turn to the Minister responsible for the Department of Lands. Mr. Sebert, do you wish to make opening comments?

Yes, I do, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Mr. Sebert.

Mr. Chair, I am pleased to present the 2018-2019 Main Estimates for the Department of Lands. Overall, the department's estimates propose an increase of $1,447,000, or 5 per cent over the 2017-2018 Main Estimates.

Highlights of the proposed estimates include initiative funding of $1,451,000; forced growth totalling $480,000, sunsets of $215,000, and a reduction of $116,000. Our estimates include one-time funding of $558,000 in 2018-2019 to lay the groundwork to develop an approach to manage untenured and unauthorized occupancy of public lands. This funding includes two one-year term positions.

Our estimates include funding to address the long-standing issue of equity leases.

Our estimates include ongoing funding of $250,000 to support the building of land use planning capacity and will also fund one new senior land use planner position.

The main estimates include $150,000 in 2018-2019 to support the GNWT Agriculture Strategy Implementation initiative being led by the Department of Industry, Tourism and Investment.

These estimates also include forced growth of $360,000 for TSC chargebacks and $120,000 for software, licensing, maintenance, and support costs.

The Department of Lands will be moving forward with full implementation of the Western Arctic Centre for Geomatics in Inuvik, 2018-2019.

We have one sunset of $250,000 for a business consultant. This position was approved for a three-year term beginning in 2015-2016 to support the establishment of the Western Arctic Centre for Geomatics.

The department's spending in 2018-2019 continues to support the mandate of the 18th Legislative Assembly. We continue to assess our resources to ensure we are effectively managing programs and services, and that our approach to management and administration of public lands reflects the interests of the people of the Northwest Territories.

This concludes my opening remarks. I look forward to Members' comments and questions. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Minister Sebert. Minister, do you wish to bring witnesses into the Chamber?

Yes, I do.

Thank you. Sergeant-at-Arms, please escort the witnesses into the Chamber. Would the Minister please introduce his witnesses for the record.

Thank you, Mr. Chair, to my right is Willard Hagen, deputy minister. To my left Brenda Hilderman, director of Finance and Administration. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Minister. I will now ask committee to turn to your main estimates document, Department of Lands, which begins on page 309. Department of Lands, total department $27,673,000, which we will defer. Does committee agree?

Committee, we'll now go to page 313, corporate management, operations expense expenditure summary, $3,170,000. Any questions? Ms. Green.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Mr. Chair, my question is about page 313. The chargeback number has gone up by about $150,000 a year, and I'm wondering what change occurred to account for this change in chargebacks? Thank you.

Thank you, Ms. Green. Minister Sebert.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Perhaps I could defer that question to Ms. Hilderman.