Thank you, Minister. Member for Frame Lake.

Thanks, Mr. Chair. I don't need this information now, but can the Minister commit to sharing what those minimum service levels are with Regular MLAs so we have some sense of what the airlines are committing to? I think that is probably of interest, particularly for the MLAs from smaller, remote communities. Can the Minister commit to sharing that information with us? If it needs to be done in confidence, I'm fine with that, but I think it would be helpful to have. Thanks, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Member. I see her and her entourage shaking their heads yes. Minister?

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Yes, I am happy to make that commitment. I would just say for the moment that we may have to do it confidentially. I don't have the contribution agreement in front of me. In the event that there is something in that agreement that would require it to be confidential, we'll do so. Otherwise, one way or the other, we'll make sure to share it.

Supplementary Estimates (Operations Expenditures), No. 2, 2020-2021, Department of Finance, Management Board Secretariat, not previously authorized, negative $185,000. Does committee agree?

Supplementary Estimates (Operations Expenditures), No. 2, 2020-2021, Department of Finance, Office of the Comptroller General, not previously authorized, $3,561,000. Does committee agree?

Supplementary Estimates (Operations Expenditures), No. 2, 2020-2021, Department of Finance, total department, not previously authorized, $5,788,000. Does committee agree?

Committee, we will now consider the Department of Health and Social Services, starting on page 8. I will now open the floor to general comments on the Department of Health and Social Services. If there are no further comments, does the committee agree to proceed to the detail contained in the tabled document?

Supplementary Estimates (Operations Expenditures), No. 2, 2020-2021, Department of Health and Social Services, administrative and support services, not previously authorized, $589,000. Does committee agree? Member for Frame Lake.

Thanks, Mr. Chair. I see in the estimates here that this is for virtual care. Can I just get some details of what the funding has been used for and how virtual care has been implemented during the pandemic? Thanks, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Member. Minister.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I can give you some detail on what the funding is intended for, and then I would turn it over to the Minister of health for any update as to what may or may not have happened in the course of the pandemic. The funding under the agreement is to be used firstly for licensing of the various types of software that is required; the hardware itself, which would include iPads, iPhones, and laptops that will actually allow for that care to be provided virtually; and also support for staff in terms of setting up that hardware, training, and setting up the teleconferencing facilities that are required. Again, Mr. Chair, with respect to any update on where that project and where that work is at, I would ask that we go to the Minister of Health and Social Services, please.

Thank you, Minister. Minister of Health and Social Services.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. This was the platform that we used to provide virtual care during the pandemic, and the funding is specific to the COVID-19 response. What I can tell you is that the current work is around allowing for secure messaging between healthcare providers and patients. This is an ongoing project, and I just want to note that the expenses here are fully offset by a grant from the federal government. Thank you.

Thank you, Minister. Supplementary Estimates (Operations Expenditures), No. 2, 2020-2021, Department of Health and Social Services, administrative and support services, not previously authorized, $589,000. Member for Kam Lake.

Thank you very much, Mr. Chair. Just in follow up to my colleague's question in regard to virtual care: is any of the software that we acquired from funds from the federal government to support COVID-19 and virtual care throughout COVID-19 usable beyond when they were used in the spring? Is it like a software program that we now as the GNWT can continue to use to support virtual care? Thank you very much.

Thank you, Member. Minister.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I don't have the details in terms of that agreement. I'll see if perhaps the deputy minister has it or else the Minister of Health and Social Services might.

Mr. Kalgutkar.