Thank you. Mr. McNeely.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I'd like to recognize the concern from the Member from Frame Lake. I truly feel his concern for the caribou, but I'm quite satisfied with the department's allocation of funds, having participated in the SSI bilateral meetings last year, and I understand there's one coming up here again. I know caribou conservation and preservation and range planning is all on the agenda, so I'm satisfied with where that agenda and that discussion are going. For those reasons, I support the department's initiative towards caribou conservation and recovery and range planning. I know there's been quite an invested interest in the cost of the surveys, in the neighbourhood of $6 million, so recognizing that commitment along with the department's allocation of funds, the continuation of that dialogue, I thank the department for putting up with a lot of the statements I've heard from some of the community leaders far exceeding what really is actually happening out there. Some of us don't even go out there, including myself, very seldom. Like the Minister said, we take the traditional knowledge point of view at heart there, and those are the meaningful dialogue that's going on. Cutting it short, I'm satisfied. Thank you.

Thank you. Anything from the Minister? Minister.

Yes. Thank you, Mr. Chair. I appreciate the Member's comments. My commitment to this Assembly and to the people out there is we will work with our Aboriginal governments because, as I said before, we can't make unilateral decisions on the preservation of caribou. The only way it's going to work is if we have a partnership approach, and good on some of the Aboriginal governments for recognizing that and working with us. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you. Environment and Natural Resources, wildlife, operations expenditures summary, $14,560,000. Does committee agree?

Thank you, committee. We have information items on pages 92 to 101. If committee would care to make comments or ask questions about the information items on page 92 to 101, I will entertain a set of comments or questions. Mr. Thompson

Thank you, Mr. Chair. In here, the environmental fund, is this where we talk about recycling and that area? Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you. Minister.

I'm sorry. Yes, Mr. Chair.

Thank you. Mr. Thompson.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Previously, I've asked the Minister about setting up a recycling depot or terminal or whatever you want to call it, distribution centre, for the region. Can the Minister advise if there have been any further conversations about setting up a distribution centre; not a depot but a distribution centre? Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you. Minister.

Yes. Thank you, Mr. Chair. My understanding is there have been no further discussions, but I'd have to confirm that. Thank you.

Thank you. Mr. Thompson.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Again, this is an opportunity for the potential for employment in the region and that. Can the Minister advise who I should be talking to, or the local contractor, who should they be talking to, so we can get this opportunity moving? Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you. Minister.

Yes. Thank you, Mr. Chair. We have some local operators in the Member's region, but the person, if he's looking for a contact, would, again, be the superintendent in Fort Simpson. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you. Nothing further from Mr. Thompson. Seeing nothing further from committee, we can return to the departmental total found on page 65. Environment and Natural Resources, total department $86,693,000. Does committee agree?

Thank you, committee. Does committee agree that this concludes our consideration of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources?

Thank you, committee. Thank you to the Minister. Thank you to the witnesses. Sergeant-at-Arms, you may escort the witnesses from the Chamber. Minister, you may take your seat. Thank you. Committee, we have next agreed to consider the Department of Finance. I will turn to the Minister of Finance for any opening comments he may have. Minister McLeod, are you ready? Minister McLeod.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Good afternoon. Today I am presenting the 2019-2020 Main Estimates for the Department of Finance. These estimates total $258.2 million, which includes the GNWT's operating contribution of $70.4 million to the NWT Housing Corporation. Overall, the department's estimates propose an increase of $7.5 million, or 3 percent over the 2018-2019 Main Estimates.

Setting aside the changes in the contribution to the NWT Housing Corporation, which you will review with Minister Moses, highlights of Finance's proposed 2019-2020 Main Estimates include:

• $15.3 million in inter-departmental transfers and $400,000 in initiative funding for the establishment of an Information Systems Shared Services unit;
• $400,000 to support secondment agreements between the GNWT and Indigenous organizations;
• $2.0 million in forced growth as a result of increased usage and costs of the Employee Medical Travel and Dental programs; and
• $12.5 million to provide rebates and cost-of-living credits to minimize the effects of the NWT Carbon Tax on NWT residents.

Finally, I would also like to point out that the 2019-2020 Main Estimates outline the Borrowing Plan for the GNWT. This plan proposes to establish a total borrowing limit for the GNWT of $809 million, which is comprised of the following:

• Short-term debt, $390 million;
• Long-term debt, $419 million; and
• Capital leases, $500,000.

The limits proposed in the Borrowing Plan will be included in the Appropriation Act (Operations Expenditures), 2019-2020. The GNWT borrowing is part of our overall debt, which also includes the NWT Power Corporation and the NWT Housing Corporation debt. That concludes my opening remarks. Thank you, Mr. Chair.