Thank you, Madam Chair. Just out of curiosity, what percentage of money is the department getting back that was spent in that 2014 fire season?

Thank you, Member. Minister.

Thank you, Madam Chair. Thank you, Member, for your question. 2014, honestly, I'd have to get back to you on the amount that was returned back to the Northwest Territories. Thank you, Madam Chair.

Thank you, Minister. Are there any further questions under public safety? If there's no further questions under public safety, please go to page 333, Municipal and Community Affairs, public safety, operations expenditure summary, 2020-2021 Main Estimates, $2,839,000. Does committee agree?

Thank you, committee. We will now move to page 337, regional operations. Starting on page 336 with information items up to 340. Questions? Member for Yellowknife North.

Thank you, Madam Chair. Can someone tell me what the municipal funding gap currently is?

Thank you, Member. Minister.

Thank you, Madam Chair. It's approximately $40 million a year. Thank you, Madam Chair.

Thank you, Minister. Member for Yellowknife North.

Thank you, Madam Chair. Can I just commit that with our mandate commitment of reducing the municipal funding gap by $5 million, that in three and a half years, it will be at $35 million a year approximately? Is that correct?

Thank you, Member. Minister.

Thank you, Madam Chair. Yes, that is correct. I want to elaborate a little bit that we are trying to work with the municipalities, and trying to look for other sources of funding where they can look at that funding gap and find resources for their services. Thank you, Madam Chair.

Thank you, Minister. Member for Yellowknife North.

Thank you, Madam Chair. I appreciate we should be working with our communities to find other sources. Get money from the feds is the slogan around here. I want to confirm: if it's approximately 40, and it's going to be approximately 35, and we know that the gap actually increases with inflation, and it increases with devaluing of assets, are we going to be spending more than $5 million in the life of this Assembly to reduce the municipal funding gap?

Thank you, Member. Minister.

Thank you, Madam Chair. I just wanted to elaborate a little bit on the municipal gap. I had to get the briefings, and I had to understand where this municipal gap came from. I just want to really express that it wasn't just that it had happened one year, that $40 million. All the communities were cut. It was a number that was developed through a report, in a study that was done for the Northwest Territories. Since the report has been distributed, we have not cut back within our communities. The budgets have still stayed and remained the same. The communities have not been cut back as long as the announcement has been made. I am going to let Ms. Young elaborate on this topic. Thank you, Madam Chair.

Thank you, Minister. Ms. Young.

Thank you, Ms. Young. Member for Yellowknife North.

Thank you, Madam Chair. I appreciate that. That's exactly the answer I was looking for. I tried to ask this a couple of times, and I think that clarifies it. I'm very happy to hear that, which we will make a dent in it. Thank you, Madam Chair. No further questions.

Thank you, Member for Yellowknife North. Are there any other questions under regional operations? Member for Hay River South.

Thank you, Madam Chair. Is it reasonable to assume that that municipal funding gap will decrease over time considering the age of some of the infrastructure in the communities? Thank you, Madam Chair.

Thank you, Member. Minister.