Thank you, Madam Chair. I move that committee consider the following two tabled documents: Tabled Document 17-19(2), Supplementary Estimates (Operations Expenditures), No. 4, 2019-2020, and Tabled Document 12-19(2), 2019-2023 Mandate of the Government of the Northwest Territories, and that they be addressed. Mahsi cho.

Thank you, committee. We will take a short recess and resume with Tabled Document 17-19(2). Does committee agree?

Thank you.

---SHORT RECESS

I will now call Committee of the Whole to order. Committee, we have agreed to consider Tabled Document 17-19(2), Supplementary Estimates (Operations Expenditures), No. 4, 2019-2020. Does the Minister of Finance have any opening remarks?

Yes. Thank you, Madam Chair. I am here to present the Supplementary Estimates (Operations Expenditures), No. 4, 2019-2020. The supplementary estimates proposes a total increase of $49.1 million. Of this amount, $33.8 million is being requested for increased expenditures for the Department of Health and Social Services, or about 70 percent of the total request.

Some of the more significant items in the supplementary estimates include:

• $14.5 million to offset costs related to Northwest Territories residents receiving medical services outside the Northwest Territories;
• $10 million to administer activities under the Northern Wellness Agreement that are fully offset by revenues from the Government of Canada;
• $4.7 million in increases to the Income Assistance program for costs associated with increased client uptake and inflation;
• $4 million for costs associated with insured hospital services provided to individuals who are non-residents of the Northwest Territories. These costs are fully offset by recoveries from other jurisdictions; and
• $2.5 million to administer activities under the Nature Fund Agreements and the establishment of three protected areas. These costs are fully offset by revenue from Environment and Climate Change Canada.

That concludes my opening remarks, Madam Chair, and I would be happy to answer any questions that the committee might have.

Thank you, Minister. Does the Minister of Finance wish to bring witnesses into the House?

Yes, thank you.

Thank you. Sergeant-at-Arms, please escort the witnesses into the Chamber. Would the Minister please introduce her witnesses?

Thank you, Madam Chair. This afternoon, on my left, I have Terence Courtoreille, the director of the Management Board Secretariat, and on my right, I have Glen Burns, the manager of budget development.

Thank you. We will review the supplementary estimates by department. The committee has agreed to begin the review with the Legislative Assembly. I will now open the floor to general comments on the Legislative Assembly. Member for Yellowknife Centre.

Thank you, Madam Chair. My question has to do with the additional costs for the territorial election. Could the Minister please elaborate on what the additional costs are in this circumstance? Thank you.

Thank you, Member for Yellowknife Centre. Minister of Finance.

Thank you, Madam Chair. Any year when there's an election is an exceptional year. In this case, some of the workload was as a result of the fact that there was -- sorry, Madam Chair. I just want to make sure that I'm referencing the right explanation.

Madam Chair, in an election year, some assumptions are being made and budget estimates are based on the number of days that the House will sit, given that it is an election year. In this case, there were much heavier expenditures as a result of there being more sitting days, more sitting hours, and overtimes resulting. As a result of that, there certainly were some increased expenditures as a result of those increased hours towards the end in the last sitting days of the 18^th Assembly. There was also some need, in terms of the staffing within the Legislative Assembly, leading up to the territorial election that had to be increased to support committees to complete their work prior to the election. There were other expenditures related to the operation of Legislative Assembly, Madam Chair, not specifically with respect to the election.

Thank you, Minister of Finance. Member for Yellowknife Centre.

Thank you, Madam Chair. Can the Finance Minister tell us whether these are one-off costs or whether, in fact, this amount of money will in part or in full be required going forward? Thank you.

Thank you, Member for Yellowknife Centre. Minister of Finance.

Thank you, Madam Chair. In a non-election year, the expenses are lower, and so there will not be the same level of funding required for the Office of the Clerk in this coming year or in the next three years.

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

Thank you, Madam Chair. I am wondering if the Minister of Finance can confirm the total cost to the GNWT of the supplementary estimate once the offsets are received from our funding partners. Thank you.

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

Yes. Sorry, Madam Chair. The net impact will be $30,783,000. I'm not saying that number right at all. I am getting a nod. I think that the Member has understood my attempt at saying that number correctly, Madam Chair.

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