Marsi cho, Mr. Chair. Mr. Chair, committee would like to consider Tabled Document 140-18(3), Supplementary Estimates (Operations Expenditures), No. 1, 2018-2019. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

Thank you, Mr. Beaulieu. Does committee agree?

Thank you, committee. We have agreed to consider Tabled Document 140-18(3). Does the Minister of Finance have any opening remarks? Minister McLeod.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Mr. Chair, I am here to present Supplementary Estimates (Operations Expenditures), No. 1, 2018-2019. This document provides for an increase of $1.1 million to the operations budget. These supplementary estimates include:

• $200,000 for funding for the NWT Arts Council;

• $300,000 to establish two new government service officer positions in Jean Marie River and Sambaa K'e; and

• $578,000 to establish two new land specialist positions to address equity lease issues over the next three years.

That concludes my opening remarks. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Minister. Do you wish to bring witnesses into the chamber?

I would, Mr. Chair. Thank you.

Thank you.

Sergeant-at-Arms, please escort the witnesses into the Chamber. Minister, would you please introduce your witness for the record.

Yes, thank you, Mr. Chair. Mr. Chair, I have with me today Mr. David Stewart, who is the deputy minister of the Department of Finance. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Minister. Committee, we have agreed to forgo general comments. We will move directly into the detail. Please turn to page 4 of the tabled document. Do we have comments or questions on this detail? Page 4. Mr. Testart.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Can the Minister just confirm if this is ongoing funding or a single one-time appropriation? Thank you.

Thank you. Minister.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. It is ongoing.

Thank you. Mr. Testart.

Thank you, Mr. Chair, and thank you to the Minister for that clarification. I think this is, again, something that we heard very loudly from the arts community. I am really pleased that the Minister has brought this forward, happy to support it, and I am happy even more so that it is ongoing funding. Hopefully, we can get a few more dollars next business plan. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Mr. Testart. Anything further from committee? Seeing none, Supplementary Estimates (Operations Expenditures) No. 1, 2018-2019, Education, Culture and Employment, operations expenditures, culture, heritage, and languages, not previously authorized, $200,000. Does committee agree?

Thank you, committee. Education, Culture and Employment, operations expenditures, total department, not previously authorized, $200,000. Does committee agree?

Thank you, committee. Please turn to page 5. Supplementary Estimates, (Operations Expenditures) No. 1, 2018-2019, Executive and Indigenous Affairs, operations expenditures, directorate, not previously authorized, $300,000. Does committee agree?

Thank you, committee. Executive and Indigenous Affairs, operations expenditures, total department, not previously authorized, $300,000. Does committee agree?

Thank you, committee. Please continue to page 6. Supplementary Estimates, (Operations Expenditures) No. 1, 2018-2019, Lands, operations expenditures, operations, not previously authorized, $578,000. Does committee agree? Mr. O'Reilly.