As I indicated in my previous responses, we do have some new positions that have been put in place to do this type of analysis and put the policies around that. I can't say for certain exactly what those processes are today. Once again, I will get that information for the committee and the Member.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker, and thank you to the Minister for that. Has the Minister considered reporting to this House and to the public on these issues of training and audits and other things that would strengthen our confidence in the ability of the Health Authority to keep our information private?

Mr. Speaker, if that is the wish of committee, I'm certainly happy to explore that within the department to see what we can do within our existing legislation. I obviously want the Members to be comfortable with the information, but, more importantly, I want the public to be comfortable. So if that's the wish of committee, I'll certainly explore it.

Masi. Oral questions. Member for Yellowknife Centre.

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker; and thank you to the Minister for that. So, when the Minister says "the wish of the committee," is he looking for direction in a letter from the Standing Committee on Social Development, for example? Thank you.

Absolutely, Mr. Speaker. I enjoy working with the committee. I look forward to their feedback and input, and I think a letter from the committee would be helpful in helping to move that initiative forward. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Masi. Oral questions. Item 8, written questions. Item 9, returns to written questions. Item 10, Replies to Commissioner's opening address. Item 11, petitions. Item 12, reports of standing and special committees. Item 13, reports of committees on the review of bills. Member for Kam Lake.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I wish to report to the Assembly that the Standing Committee on Government Operations has reviewed Bill 1, Western Canada Lottery Act.

Mr. Speaker, this bill establishes the Northwest Territories Lottery Commission. It also establishes the Physical Activity, Sport and Recreation Fund, a special purpose fund that will receive proceeds from the operation of lotteries by the Western Canada Lottery Corporation. The commission is responsible for the conduct, management and operation of lotteries. The Minister will administer the fund and distribute proceeds for limited purposes including the promotion and delivery of physical activity, sport and recreation programs.

A public clause-by-clause review of the bill took place earlier this afternoon. With that, Mr. Speaker, the Committee wishes to report that Bill 1 is now ready for consideration in Committee of the Whole as amended and reprinted.

Mr. Speaker, the Standing Committee on Government Operations will present a substantive report on Bill 1 to this House tomorrow. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Masi. Reports of committees on the review of bills. Item 14, tabling of documents. Minister of Environment and Natural Resources.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I wish to table the following document entitled "2015-2016 Traditional Knowledge Annual Report." Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Masi. Tabling of documents. Minister responsible for the Public Utilities Board.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I wish to table the following document entitled “2017 Annual Report Public Utilities Board of the Northwest Territories." Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Masi. Tabling of documents. Item 15, notices of motion. Item 16, notices of motion for first reading of bills. Minister of Justice.

Mr. Speaker, I give notice that on Wednesday, February 28, 2018, I will move that Bill 6, Cannabis Legalization and Regulation Implementation Act, be read for the first time. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Masi. Notices of motion for first reading of bills. Item 17, motions. Item 18, first reading of bills. Item 19, second reading of bills. Item 20, Consideration in Committee of the Whole of bills and other matters: Minister's Statement 1-18(3), North Slave Correctional Complex Inmate Concerns; Minister's Statement 19-18(3), Aurora College Foundational Review Process; Minister's Statement 32-18(3), Update on the Northwest Territories Disability Framework and Action Plan; and Tabled Document 63-18(3), Main Estimates 2018-2019. Members, by the authority given to me as Speaker by Motion 7-18(3), I hereby authorize the House to sit beyond the daily hour of adjournment to consider the business before the House, with the Member for Hay River North in the chair.

I now call Committee of the Whole to order. What is the wish of committee? Mr. Testart.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Mr. Chair, committee would like to consider Tabled Document 63-18(3), Main Estimates 2018-2019, with the Department of Industry, Tourism and Investment as the department under consideration. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Mr. Testart. Does committee agree?

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

---SHORT RECESS

I will now call Committee of the Whole back to order. Committee, we have agreed to consider Tabled Document 63-18(3), Main Estimates 2018-2019, the Department of Industry, Tourism and Investment. This department begins on page 203.

I will first turn to the Minister responsible, for any opening comments. Do you have any opening comments, Minister Schumann?

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I am pleased to present the 2018-2019 Main Estimates for the Department of Industry, Tourism and Investment. Overall, the department’s estimates is proposing an increase of $1.97 million or 3.5 per cent over the 2017-2018 Main Estimates. They include approved adjustments of $1.2 million in total to fund the freight cost assistance program for fishers, the mining incentive program, contracting in relation to the development of the Mineral Resources Act, and funding for French language communications services.

Our proposed estimates also include $100,000 for the Northwest Territories Geological Survey to share the costs of establishing and populating a permafrost database. This cost will be offset by revenue which we will receive from the Government of Canada.

To respond to increasing demand to the tourism sector, the 2018-2019 Main Estimates includes forced growth funding of $143,000 for a new manager of tourism development and enforcement position in the North Slave Region.

An additional $588,000 in new funding is being proposed to support the implementation of the new Agriculture Strategy, to fund a two-year support officer for the fishing sector in the South Slave and, as we continue to implement the Mineral Development Strategy, for prospector training, the Resources and Energy Development Information initiative, and the development of regional mineral-development strategies.

The 2018-2019 Main Estimates reflect sunsets of $420,000 related to the implementation of French language services, an administrator for the Sahtu oil and gas business development, business coordination under the Mineral Development Strategy, and hardware costs and database updates for the Northwest Territories Geological Survey.

As we plan for the up and coming fiscal year, the Department of Industry, Tourism and Investment remains committed to meeting the priorities of the 18th Legislative Assembly. We will be fulfilling commitments that we have made to introduce an NWT manufacturing strategy and a strategy for the development of NWT petroleum resources.

We will also be investing in the implementation of strategies introduced last year to grow the agriculture sector and to revitalize commercial fishing on Great Slave Lake. We will continue to implement the Mineral Development Strategy, most notably in the drafting of a new Mineral Resource Act, and the introduction of amendments to the Mineral Resources Regulations.

Of the department’s total proposed budget, 58.5 per cent has been allocated to economic diversification, business support, and tourism with 27.5 per cent identified for spending in the area of Minerals and Petroleum Resources. This concludes my opening remarks. I welcome questions from the Members. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Minister Schumann. I understand you have witnesses you wish to bring into the Chamber. Sergeant-at-Arms, will you please escort the witnesses into the Chamber. Minister, you may take your seat at the witness table.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. On my left, I have Julie Mujcin, Director of Finance, and on my right, I have Deputy Minister Tom Jensen.