Thank you. Mr. O'Reilly.

Thanks, Mr. Chair. Yes, I have been asking about this for three years, so it would be great to find out what is happening with it. In this section of ENR's budget, there is a reduction of $50,000 to science budgets, so can someone explain to me what is being cut here? Thanks, Mr. Chair.

Thank you. Dr. Dragon.

Thank you. Mr. O'Reilly.

Thanks, Mr. Chair. I appreciate that detail. I am not convinced. It may not have an effect on programs and services, but it may have an effect on the kind of submissions that we make to land and water boards, regulatory bodies, the kind of expert evidence that they require to make sound decisions. Is that going to be impacted by these reductions? Thanks, Mr. Chair.

Thank you. Minister.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. No, it's not going to be impacted by the reductions. I think our folks over at the department are still capable of doing high-quality work within the $88-million appropriation budget that they do have. Thank you.

Thank you. Mr. O'Reilly.

Thanks, Mr. Chair. Well, I don't want to get into a debate with the Minister about the capability of his staff. I believe we have already settled that, that we agree that they work hard, they do good work. The problem is that they don't have the resources that are necessary to deliver on the mandate, and part of that mandate is to provide sound evidence for evidence-based decision making. If you cut contracted services, and that means outside expertise to help you deliver good technical advice to boards, it's not going to happen. In any event, I have one other question here. There is another $25,000 cut to undertake departmental functional review, so I am trying to understand. That is the description. Is that a correct description, Mr. Chair? Thanks.

Thank you. Mr. Marchiori.

Thank you. Mr. O'Reilly.

Thanks, Mr. Chair. Okay, so I guess the business plan is no longer correct, the one that is available on the Department of Finance website. The $25,000 reduction in environmental protection and waste management has now been moved down to environmental stewardship and climate change. Coming out of the departmental functional review, then, there was supposed to be an analyst hired to help to better organize the department, and that position is not going to be staffed now? Is that what's happening? Thanks, Mr. Chair.

Thank you. Mr. Marchiori.

Thank you. Mr. O'Reilly.

Okay. Thanks, Mr. Chair. Can I get a commitment out of the Minister, then, to provide an update? I am looking at, I think, it's schedule 3 in the business plan, which does not seem to be correct anymore. This is from the Department of Finance website. Can I get a commitment out of the Minister, then, to provide a corrected version of this, where the reductions are shown and the proper categories, according to the reorganization of the department? Thanks, Mr. Chair.

Thank you. Minister.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I understand the Member's concern, and I will make that commitment to provide the schedule and the up-to-date information. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you. Mr. O'Reilly.

Yes, thanks, Mr. Chair. I guess it's kind of hard for us to do this on the fly without knowing what's been moved around in the various parts of the department. I am working from this schedule, and that is not what those folks seem to be working from, which is not a very helpful place to be. That is just a comment. I do not expect a response. Thanks, Mr. Chair.

Thank you. Further to environmental protection and waste management? Mr. Vanthuyne.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I just want to touch for a moment on the contaminated sites program within this activity. I would like to maybe start by asking the department: are they aware of how many contaminated sites that we have assessed here in the Northwest Territories? Thank you, Mr. Chair.