Thank you, Ms. Craig. Mr. O'Reilly.

Thanks, Mr. Chair. Has the department thought about whether there's any value in having an MOU that sets out rules and responsibilities with regards to the staffing arrangements? Has there been any consideration of an MOU or some kind of an agreement that would set out roles and responsibilities more clearly than an annual contribution agreement? Thanks, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Mr. O'Reilly. Ms. Craig.

Thank you, Ms. Craig. Mr. O'Reilly.

Well, I may be the only one in the room who thinks that there may be some value to this, but I'm going to leave this alone. It's a very particular sort of arrangement. I'm not suggesting that there's anything untoward about any of this. I've worked with some of those staff in the past. They work hard. They do their jobs, but it does put them perhaps in an awkward situation when they're GNWT employees and they have to report to the board, especially if our government comes forward looking for a water licence at some point before the Water Board. I think that's going to put them in an even more difficult position.

I've made my comment and my suggestion. I don't think I'm getting a very good reception, but I'll just leave it at that. I'll probably raise it again next year. Thanks, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Mr. O'Reilly. Any further questions from committee? Are we agreed?

Agreed. Thank you. That brings us back to page 65. Environment and Natural Resources, 2018-2017 Main Estimates, total department, $88,954,000. Questions? Mr. Vanthuyne.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Before we do the final approval, I just have a couple of more questions as it relates to page 66, which is the revenue summary on the next page.

I'd like to ask a little bit about licences. A number of tour operators, of course, have a number of visitors or tourists that they'd like to take out for fishing, and a lot of the times, it's just day fishing. The question is: is the department working on, or is there an opportunity to formulate, a day licence rather than right now I believe our fishing licences are for the year? I can't quote for sure what the cost is, but I'm thinking it's something like $30 or $35, if I recall correctly.

For a number of folks, that just seems a little too expensive for one day. Is there an opportunity for us to be able to come up with a day fishing licence that is at a much more affordable rate for tourists? Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Mr. Vanthuyne. Minister McLeod.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I actually had that discussion with the Minister of DFO. My understanding, as Ms. Craig pointed out, is that they are having a meeting with them this week, because we had heard about it the week before we went down on a trip to Ottawa. I think the Minister of ITI and the Premier have heard about it as well. We actually raised it. Of all the conversations I've had and the conversation with Minister Morneau last year, we raised the fact about the one-day fishing licence and we were kind of hoping he'd put it in his budget address last year. We are working with it and it is an issue that we've heard. We are working on it.

Once Ms. Craig has her meeting with the appropriate folks, then I'm sure we'll have more information to share with the Member and with committee. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Minister McLeod. Mr. Vanthuyne.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. While I appreciate that the department is working on this, maybe just for clarification, or maybe just for my own ignorance: why does the DFO have jurisdiction over this? I mean, since devolution, wouldn't in-land waters be our jurisdiction? Why wouldn't licensing be within our department's responsibilities? Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Mr. Vanthuyne. Minister McLeod.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Mr. Chair, Fisheries has stayed with the feds. It's being devolved to the territories. We're in the early stages of discussions with the feds on that, but the Fisheries part did stay with the feds. That's the reason that we had to try to go through DFO to get the one-day fishing licence. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Minister McLeod. Mr. Vanthuyne.

Just for clarification, Mr. Chair, are we expecting that Fisheries is being transferred eventually over to us? Just a point of clarification. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Mr. Vanthuyne. Minister McLeod.

Yes, thank you, Mr. Chair. Mr. Chair, we would want it to come over. We're in the early stages of a discussion with them. I'm sure one of the topics of discussion will be: we want the money to come over with it. We're in the early stages of the discussions and, if we have any information to share, I will be happy to put in in the form of a letter or an email to committee and just say this is where we are at. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Minister McLeod. Mr. Vanthuyne.

Thank you, Mr. Chair, and just a last question. Back to the fishing licences, then: if I can get a commitment from the Minister to get back to me with regard to maybe some detail, more information on what work the department is doing and that, just so that I can get back to tour operators and inform them, potentially, of a timeline as to when we might be able to expect a day-long fishing licence? Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Mr. Vanthuyne. Dr. Dragon.