Thank you, Member for Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh. Minister of ENR.

Thank you, Madam Chair. There is a position going into Lutselk'e, an RRO2 position that is going there, and Lutselk'e is actually out of North Slave for the department. Thank you, Madam Chair.

Thank you, Minister. Member for Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh.

Thank you, Madam Chair. Thank you for the response. Just one last question: that one position that is indicated here in the 2020-2021 active positions, that is one directly for Lutselk'e, then? Is that correct, then?

Thank you, Member for Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh. Minister of ENR.

Thank you, and, I am sorry. I apologize. I did not hear exactly what it was, but I think the Member asked: it's for four years, and it's through the nature fund. Thank you, Madam Chair.

Thank you, Madam Chair. Nothing further.

Are there any further questions on the environmental stewardship and climate change? Minister of ENR.

Thank you, Madam Chair. I just request that we switch out our acting assistant deputy ministers and bring Mr. Elkin back. Thank you, Madam Chair.

Sergeant-at-Arms, would you please escort the witness out and bring the other witness in? Thanks. Can you please introduce your witness for the record?

Thank you. We switched out acting assistant deputy minister Richea to acting deputy minister Elkin. Thank you, Madam Chair.

Thank you, Minister. Are there any further questions on environmental stewardship and climate change from the Members? Seeing no further questions, please turn to page 76. Environmental and Natural Resources, environmental stewardship and climate change, operations expenditure summary, 2020-2021 Main Estimates, $13,825,000. Does committee agree?

Thank you. We will now begin forest management, beginning on page 79, with information items on page 82. Questions? Member for Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh.

Thank you, Madam Chair. Just turning our attention to page 80, fire suppression, I did some research on this one here. I know we had some discussions in committee on this. This is the one item that I think that would really, really affect a lot of our mandate items, and this is one that could fluctuate either way. It's hard to say. None of us has a crystal ball, but if we have one bad fire season, we could say good-bye to a lot of our mandate, a lot of our wish list that we may have.

In 2014, we had a really bad fire season. We had, according to the stats here that I have in front of me, 385 fires, and we had up to $56.1 million in costs and about 3.4 million hectares of forest that was damaged. A lot of this line item here is based on averages, like five-year averages, if I am correct. I guess my first question to the Minister is: let's say we had a really mild season the last couple of years; we had a wet season, we have a surplus. Are there any plans for that surplus if there is a surplus this year? Mahsi cho.

Thank you, Member for Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh. Minister of ENR.

Thank you, Madam Chair. It goes, actually, back to general revenue. Thank you, Madam Chair.

Thank you, Minister. Member for Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh.

Mahsi cho. On the other end of the spectrum, let's say we have another bad fire season. I just want to get a sense of the Minister's threshold here to ask our federal counterparts for help. I would like to ask the Minister: what would the Minister's upper limit be to, say, declare an emergency and ask for federal help? Mahsi cho, Madam Chair.

Thank you, Member for Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh. Minister of ENR.

Thank you, Madam Chair. This is actually our responsibility, so it would be us that would have to be looking after this, our fire season. Thank you, Madam Chair.

Thank you, Minister. Member for Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh.

Well, I am just a little concerned, like I said before. I want to make sure that we don't have to go back for a supplementary on this one. It's hard to see because we do not have a crystal ball, but I guess I will leave that at that. If I have any further questions, I will talk to the Minister in person. Mahsi cho.