We do not have that amount, but we will get it and pass it on to the Member. Thank you.

Thank you. Mr. Testart.

Thank you. You know, I think this is important to me and to others because this is money that is needed for our communities, especially for really important infrastructure projects or for citizens when it comes to making improvements to information systems, as I mentioned earlier. The Minister talked about having conversations with FMB colleagues. Is the FMB working on a clear policy direction to departments around putting parameters on carry-overs along the lines the Minister just explained, you know, if projects are not being worked on? Like what kind of formal board policies are being contemplated, if any? Thank you.

Thank you. Minister.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Nobody understands more the importance of getting infrastructure out the door in our small communities than someone who has been to every community in the Northwest Territories and heard first-hand what some of their challenges are, lived in a small community, and understands the importance of infrastructure in a small community, so I do not need to be sold on that. It's something that I always have in the back of my mind because I do recognize the importance of infrastructure in the small community. As far as direction, not yet for the actual policy, but I have given direction to my FMB colleagues that this is something that we need to have a look at. As with a lot of things in this 18^th Legislative Assembly, we need to put it in black and white, have a policy to ensure that we are doing as we say. That is something that we would have to consider. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you. Mr. Testart.

Thank you. To be clear, I know the Minister cares about the impact this money has on communities. That is not a doubt in my mind, and certainly, the Minister's word that he is taking this seriously, he is the one who first brought this to the floor, and I commend him for it because I think that shows clear leadership and management of government resources. However, the public service cannot go on just the words spoken in this House or even in a confidential FMB meeting. They need clear direction so that, when they carry out their budgeting exercises to review their projects, they have something to follow. I think it's important that, if we are having these conversations, that it does result in a policy that allows certainty and consistency in carry-over management to the public service. Can the Minister commit to looking at that or to making a decision whether or not policy direction is required, and, if so, can the Minister share that policy direction with the appropriate standing committee? Thank you.

Thank you. Minister.

Yes, thank you, Mr. Chair. Like I said before, I have given clear direction, and we do have regular reporting that is done to FMB. We could work on a policy, and I could give direction to our folks to start the work on the policy. I am not sure we would have it done in the life of this Assembly, but at least it's a start, and then there will be something on paper in black and white going forward. Again, recognizing the importance of infrastructure and the carry-overs, we want to try to limit those as much as possible and try to get as many of these infrastructure projects out the door. Therefore, I will have a conversation with my officials and direct them to start working on a policy that either can be considered in the last three months of this Assembly -- I do not think it's going to be that quick -- or early in the life of the next Assembly I think would be more sensible. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you. Mr. Testart.

Thank you to the Minister. I appreciate that, and I think it gives comfort to everyone who sees these carry-overs and is concerned. It's a step in the right direction, so thank you again to the Minister. Nothing further. Thank you.

Thank you. Next, Mr. O'Reilly.

Thanks, Mr. Chair. Yes, I want to ask some questions about the carry-overs, as well. The information that was provided to us, the Minister is right, the amounts, total amounts, have gone down of the carry-overs during the life of this Assembly, but the percentage of the carry-overs as a percentage of the total appropriations has actually gone up. It looks like it has actually doubled from 2015-2016, almost, or more than doubled. Can the Minister or his staff confirm that? Thanks, Mr. Chair.

Thank you. Mr. Stewart.

Thank you. Mr. O'Reilly.

Thanks, Mr. Chair. Yes, I appreciate the commitment on the part of the Minister to develop some policy guidance around this area. In developing that policy, I guess I would hate to see that departments that really have no control over contracting/procurement, that they are going to get penalized because we cannot get contracts out the door or there is some federal funding hitch or something. Can I get some assurance from the Minister that departments are not going to get penalized for things that are outside of their control? Thanks, Mr. Chair.

Thank you. Minister.

Yes, thank you, Mr. Chair. I can assure the Member that would be part of the policy, is we do not really want to penalize the departments, and most importantly, though, we do not want to penalize the communities and those who should be getting infrastructure. I can assure the Member that, as the policy is being developed, that is something that will be taken into serious consideration. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you. Mr. O'Reilly.

Thanks, Mr. Chair. Yes, I appreciate that from the Minister. I guess, at the time that the Department of Infrastructure was created, it was a merging of the old Public Works and the Department of Transportation. There was some significant moving around of people. A number of jobs were lost. I am just wondering whether that merger is, in any way, related to the percentage of carry-overs that has continued to grow. Is there any link between staff reductions and our ability to procure and get the money out the door? Thanks, Mr. Chair.

Thank you. Minister.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I don't believe there was. As we have said before, a lot of these projects that are coming out the door are large projects that require a lot of work, and there is a lot of engagement that needs to have taken place at project time, engagement with communities, as the deputy pointed out before.

I believe that, with the amount of dollars that has been poured into the Northwest Territories over a little while, it has been a bit of a challenge getting a lot of these projects out the door, but I think that we have the capacity to do so. I think that, as we go forward, you will start seeing the number of carry-overs start to come down. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you. Mr. O'Reilly.