Member for Frame Lake.

Thanks, Madam Chair. Can the Minister or staff tell us what the impact of this supplementary appropriation is on the reserve and whether there is going to be any increase in debt and debt payments as a result of this supplementary appropriation? Thanks, Madam Chair.

Thank you, Member for Frame Lake. Minister of Finance.

Thank you, Madam Chair. The supplementary reserve at this point is in a net overall deficit position. My apologies, Madam Chair. I just wanted to confirm. The $70 million deficit projected that was already mentioned yesterday, this is included in that.

Thank you, Minister of Finance. Member for Frame Lake.

Thanks, Madam Chair. I appreciate the response. The supplementary reserve, then, is going to be in a $70 million deficit? Is this correct? I think that's what the Minister said yesterday in her budget address. Thanks, Madam Chair.

Thank you, Member for Frame Lake. Minister of Finance.

Thank you, Madam Chair. The $70 million deficit is to the entire operating budget of the GNWT from 2019-2020, so it includes the impact of the deficit in the supplementary reserve. The $70 million isn't exclusively from or entirely from the supplementary reserve. The supplementary reserve is impacting on the total deficit. The total deficit is $70 million, and that includes $41 million from the supplementals.

Thank you, Minister. Member for Frame Lake.

Thanks, Madam Chair. Can someone tell me if this is going to result in an increase in our short-term borrowing and what the cost of that is going to be? Short- and long-term debt, I guess. Thanks, Madam Chair.

Thank you, Member for Frame Lake. Minister of Finance.

Thank you, Madam Chair. There would have been an impact in the short-term borrowing in order to cover the expenses as they were incurred in different departments. That has already been factored in to the total $70 million.

The Member asked in terms of long-term debt. I don't have the numbers in front of me as to whether that has any impact in terms of long-term debt. I mean, obviously, if there's an impact on our overall debt, if there's something further that I need to double-check on, I will provide that to the Member, but at this point, it would have been an increase in the short-term debt, if I'm not mistaken.

Thank you, Minister. Member for Frame Lake.

Thanks, Madam Chair. Yes, I would like that information, and I would like it to be made public. If the Minister provides it to me and she doesn't want to bring it to the House, I will table it, but I want to know whether there's an increase in our debt payments as a result of the supplementary appropriation, as well. Thanks, Madam Chair.

Thank you, Member for Frame Lake. Minister of Finance.

Thank you, Madam Chair. No, there's not an increase in debt payments. It's short-term debt, and there is a servicing charge on that, and that comes out of the Department of Finance's budgets.

Thank you, Minister. Member for Frame Lake.

Thanks. Can the Minister tell us what that increase in the servicing cost is going to be within the Department of Finance for this? Thanks, Madam Chair.

Thank you, Member for Frame Lake. Minister of Finance.

Thank you, Madam Chair. As with any debt, Madam Chair, it would increase the total interest payment because the principal is bigger, but there won't be any other increase or change in terms of the overall projections for 2019 and 2020. The total deficit we are projecting for the GNWT for 2019-2020 is $70 million, including these amounts and including the payments on those amounts for this last fiscal year. That doesn't alter that total number that was provided. As far as going forward, again, the amount that is being requested in the mains for the Department of Finance considers the amount of interest we are projecting to be required in light of the total debt that we are looking at now.

Thank you, Minister of Finance. If there are no further comments, does committee agree to proceed to the detail contained in the tabled document?

Committee, we will begin on page 4, 2019-2020 Supplementary Estimates No. 4, operations expenditures, Legislative Assembly, Office of the Clerk, not previously authorized, $704,000. Does committee agree?