Thank you, Mr. Norn. The motion is in order. To the motion.

Question has been called. All those in favour? All those opposed? Abstentions? The motion is carried.

---Carried

Tabled Document 130-19(2) will be reported as ready for consideration in formal session through the form of an appropriation bill.

Committee, we have agreed to consider Tabled Document 137-19(2), Supplementary Estimates (Operations Expenditures) No. 1, 2020-2021. Does the Minister of Finance have any opening remarks?

Yes, Madam Chair. Thank you. Madam Chair, I am here to present Supplementary Estimates (Operations Expenditures) No. 1, 2020-2021. The supplementary estimates document proposes a total increase of $65.1 million, comprised of the following major items:

• $36.8 million in support of the GNWT's emergency response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The funding is offset by revenues from the federal government.
• $13.7 million to support advancing the GNWT's mandate priorities.
• $7.4 million to continue the First Nations and Inuit Home and Community Care Agreement. These costs are fully offset by funding from the federal government.
• $1.9 million for additional investments recommended by Members of the Legislative Assembly in their review of the 2020-21 Main Estimates.

That concludes my opening remarks. We would be happy to answer any questions that Members might have.

Thank you, Minister. For the record, I will just recognize your witnesses.

Thank you. Madam Chair, on the left, we have Terence Courtoreille here, who is director of Management Board Secretariat, and on the right, Jamie Koe, who is the Assistant Deputy Minister of Finance.

Thank you, Minister. I now open the floor to general comments. Seeing no general comments, we will review the supplementary estimates by department. The committee has agreed to begin the review with the Department of Education, Culture and Employment. Committee have agreed to forego general comments on the Department of Education, Culture and Employment, operations expenditures, so we will proceed to the detail contained in the tabled document. Supplementary Estimates (Operations Expenditures) No. 1, 2020-2021, Department of Education, Culture and Employment, operations expenditures, culture, heritage, and language, not previously authorized, $150,000. Questions? Comments? Member for Yellowknife North.

Thank you, Madam Chair. I am really happy to see this increased funding for Indigenous languages. I am just curious, and I believe the Minister spoke to this previously, so I apologize. The difference between the $150,000 line item here for Indigenous language revitalization and the $450,000 line item for Indigenous language revitalization, I see they are in two different units of ECE, but if I could just get a distinction between those? Thank you, Madam Chair.

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

Thank you, Madam Chair. Sorry. I see the $150,000 line item that the Member is referencing.

I think he is referring to under "labour development and advanced education." There is a $450,000 line item. Minister.

Thank you, Madam Chair. I am looking over at the Minister of ECE, if we could go to him, please.

Thank you, Minister of Finance. Minister of ECE.

Thank you, Madam Chair. I know that we are on this number here, but these two numbers are connected. There is $600,000 total in here for Indigenous language revitalization. The $450,000 is being put towards the development of an Indigenous languages immersion pilot program, and the $150,000 is going to Indigenous governments with the idea that that can be used to cover the costs that aren't covered by SFA to have people attend this program. Thank you, Madam Chair.

Thank you, Minister of ECE. Member for Yellowknife North, did you have any further questions?

Thank you, Madam Chair. No, I'm very happy to see that. I just always like to see when Indigenous language funding is coming forward, that its focus is on immersion, because I think that's really how we create new speakers. I am very happy to see that. Thank you, Madam Chair.

Thank you, Member for Yellowknife North. Member for Yellowknife Centre.

Thank you, Madam Chair. My question is actually about the next section. Maybe you could put me on the list for that. Thank you.

All right. Do we have any other comments or questions under culture, heritage, and language? Seeing none, culture, heritage, and language, not previously authorized, $150,000. Does committee agree?

The next activity is early childhood and school services, $1,113,000, not previously authorized. Member for Yellowknife Centre.

Thank you, Madam Chair. I would like to know how the funding for additional childcare spaces is going to be made available. Is this money going to be made available for childcare associations, for day homes, for parents? What is the plan for this money? Thank you.

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

Thank you, Madam Chair. This is intended to create an opportunity to help subsidize the cost of space acquisition, renovations, and repairs. It is intended and directed towards early learning and childcare programs. This would be, for example, providing non-government organizations funding for facility repairs or to address code issues and undertake retrofits in order to support having more childcare spaces. Thank you, Madam Chair.

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

Thank you, Madam Chair. Thank you to the Minister for that answer. How do organizations access this money? What's the entry point? Thank you.

Thank you, Member. Minister of Finance.

Thank you, Madam Chair. This is a new program, and I am not sure how far along the Minister of ECE is on it, but he is maybe better placed to at least speak to what state that program is at. Thank you.

Thank you, Minister of Finance. Minister of ECE.

Thank you, Madam Chair. ECE has regional childcare coordinators in five regions, and they have relationships with the existing programs. They keep themselves apprised of organizations who may wish to start a childcare program. Right now, we have identified criteria. To determine the program's eligibility, there needs to be demonstrated need for physical space that will result in additional new licensed early learning and childcare spaces. The applicant must be able to provide a portion of the cost. Funding can be used to build new buildings or retrofit existing buildings, including both non-GNWT and GNWT assets, and projects will be prioritized to meet demands in areas of greatest need. Right now, we have identified Fort Smith as an area of great need, Norman Wells, and are consulting with the regional childhood coordinators to identify other needs for the remainder of the funds. Thank you, Madam Chair.

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

Thank you, Madam Chair. I thank the Minister for that information. Is it possible for the Minister to put that information in a letter and send it to the Standing Committee on Social Development? Thank you.

Thank you, Member. Minister of ECE.

Yes, I would be happy to share this information with the standing committee. As the Minister mentioned, it is quite new, so that information hasn't started flowing yet. I will make sure that happens. Thank you, Madam Chair.

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

Thank you. My last question in this area is the order in which the money will flow. Is it a first-come-first-approved situation? Thank you.

Thank you, Member. Minister of ECE.

Thank you, Madam Chair. It is a very new program. There are some places that need childcare, we have known for a long time that need childcare, and we know that infrastructure is the issue. We have identified those places and are working to identify others and are targeting those. I want to make sure that we get some things done. I want to make sure we get some childcare spaces that are going to be sustainable in place, especially where there isn't licensed childcare currently or not a lot of it. It's a bit more targeted, perhaps, but we're going to make sure that we get some things done with this money. Thank you, Madam Chair.

Thank you, Minister. Are there any further comments or questions under the early childhood school services? Seeing none, early childhood and school services, not previously authorized, $1,113,000 Does committee agree?

The next activity is labour development and advanced education, not previously authorized, $832,000. Questions or comments? Seeing none, labour development and advanced education, not previously authorized, $832,000. Does committee agree?

Total department, not previously authorized, $2,095,000. Does committee agree?

Thank you. Please turn to page 5. We are now considering the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, operations expenditures, and we will proceed to the detail contained in the tabled document. Supplementary Estimates (Operations Expenditures) No. 1, 2020-2021, Department of Environment and Natural Resources, operations expenditures, corporate management, not previously authorized, $322,000. Questions? Comments? Member for Frame Lake.

Thanks, Madam Chair. The increase to the Community Harvester Assistance Program, as I understand, this is probably even an over-subscribed program. Is there going to be some effort to continue to increase that, especially in light of the pandemic and so on? What is the status of that program? Thanks, Madam Chair.

Thank you, Member. Minister of Finance.

Thank you, Madam Chair. I believe, and I probably will hear whispers if I'm wrong, that this program is actually under review right now. There certainly is a recognition of the importance of increasing access to the ability to undertake harvesting, but there is a recognition that there needs to be a real encouragement to young people and to provide mentorship. This does, indeed, cover the shortfall. This covers the difference between the actual subscriptions and requests, as compared to the base funding. There is not an intent at this moment in time to necessarily increase that further, but I think there is certainly a desire to ensure that there is movement toward supporting young people to undertake mentorship. In the meantime, the shortfall on this program has been topped up. Thank you, Madam Chair.

Thank you, Minister. Member.

Thanks, Madam Chair. Any sense of when this review is going to be completed, and can I get a commitment out of somebody to share that with the Regular MLAs? Thanks, Madam Chair.

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

Thank you, Madam Chair. I don't have a date here, and I think, just in light of the fact that, sadly, again, with COVID-19 there may have been some delays, may or may not, but I will make the commitment that we'll get that confirmation of the target date to the Member.

Thank you, Minister. Member.

Thanks, Madam Chair. That was the first part of my question. There were two parts, though. The second part was: can I get a commitment out of someone, a Minister, to share that in draft form with standing committee before it's finalized and released? Thanks, Madam Chair.

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

Madam Chair, that makes sense, now, the whispers I was hearing behind me. Yes, they will make sure that the report does get shared with the committee. Thank you, Madam Chair.

Thank you, Minister of Finance. Any other questions, comments, under corporate management? All right. Corporate management, not previously authorized, $322,000. Does committee agree?

Environmental stewardship and climate change, not previously authorized, $1,468,000. Member for Yellowknife North.

Thank you, Madam Chair. I'm happy to see that we are establishing a climate change council. Is there a terms of reference, or do we know who is going to be on that climate change council? Thank you, Madam Chair.

Thank you, Member. Minister of Finance.

Thank you, Madam Chair. No, I don't think that those steps necessarily have been taken yet, but I'm fairly confident that the Minister of ENR will want to work with getting those forward and keeping committee informed as the steps progress. Thank you, Madam Chair.

Thank you, Minister. Member for Yellowknife North.

Thank you, Madam Chair. I see that there is $1.4 million here for Part 2 of the Climate Change Strategic Framework Action Plan. I believe part 2 is some of the most important work we're doing in the GNWT. There are a number of research components to it that will essentially show what the costs are. It will allow us to finish our hazard mapping for communities. It will allow us to get a lot more information for private owners of the risks their buildings are experiencing due to climate change, especially melting permafrost. I do think there is a lot of change and work that still needs to be done on the action plan, but first and foremost, when I look at Part 2 of the Climate Change Strategic Framework Action Plan, $1.4 million doesn't come close to even implementing what it's attempting, so can I get a sense from the Minister of whether this is sufficient funding to implement our action plan? Thank you.

Thank you, Member. Minister of Finance.

Thank you, Madam Chair. This funding is to get Phase 2 of the climate change action plan moving forward, but certainly, depending on the outcomes of what is found in that study, there may well be fairly significant asks that come forward as a result of that. However, this is certainly the next step, and this is a sufficient amount of money in order to be able to take that next step and to then provide the information required to determine what future steps might be needed. Thank you, Madam Chair.

Thank you, Minister. Member for Yellowknife North.

Thank you, Madam Chair. Yes. Part of the issues and why we're creating a climate change council is that the Auditor General said there is a lack of authority and clear direction of who is in charge of climate change in the GNWT, and some of that accountability is missing. Much of the research and work to be done in part 2 is addressing that. I'm looking for a commitment out of the Minister that the terms of reference of the climate change council will be shared. Ultimately, in order for them to succeed, we're going to have to really break down some departmental silos, and they are going to have to be able to make not recommendations, basically orders that we build things a certain way, we assess things a certain way, and really reach into departments to have that transformative adaptation, if we hope to remotely keep a stable budget in light of the costs we're going to see due to climate change. That's a lot I'm asking. Can I have a commitment from the Minister that the terms of reference and who is on the climate change council will be shared with the appropriate committee? Thank you, Madam Chair.

Thank you, Member. Minister of Finance.

Thank you, Madam Chair. Yes, the terms of reference will be shared with committee, and perhaps that will be an opportunity at that time for the Member to address the more detailed questions to the department when they are before committee at that stage. Thank you, Madam Chair.

Thank you, Minister. Any further questions or comments? Member for Frame Lake.

Thanks, Madam Chair. The line item on this page that my colleague from Yellowknife North just mentioned was the Part 2 of the Climate Change Strategic Framework Action Plan, and I was just looking at the document. It goes on for pages and pages. What specific parts is this going to fund? The value of that work has got to be probably in the neighbourhood of tens of millions of dollars. What specifically is this work going to accomplish? If the Minister can't give it to us now, it would be helpful to get that list and communicate that to the public, as well, because I have no idea what we're actually approving here. Thanks, Madam Chair.

Thank you, Member. Minister of Finance.

Thank you, Madam Chair. I know this is a particular project that involves collaboration between ENR, ITI, ECE, Health and Social Services, and MACA. Quite a number of departments have come together on this and are collaborating on their existing resources to advance this project. Some of this funding is, indeed, to secure additional staff between these departments so that there can be more dedicated resources to advancing some of the items that are contained within the action plan as it stands right now. I suppose a more detailed analysis of what each of these items will be related to those staffings, opportunities, we certainly can commit to providing that back to the Member. I hope that's at least somewhat helpful at this stage. Thank you, Madam Chair.

Thank you, Minister. Member for Frame Lake.

Thanks, Madam Chair. I want to be fair here. I support spending more on climate change, but without getting into the action plan itself, it is probably in the neighbourhood of about 50 pages. As I said, pages and pages and pages of action areas, potential partners, potential resources, but none of it is costed. This was a criticism of the action plan when it was being developed from SCEDE. We tried to encourage the Minister of the day to include some costing with some of this. Now we're being asked to approve $1.4 million without knowing what it's going to be spent on. I want to invest more on climate change, but I have no idea what this is for. We haven't gotten any information about that. I think this has been, anyways, how much else can I say? With some of the other items, we get additional information, but on this one, we don't have anything. I want to see more money invested, but I think we just need to be a bit more careful in explaining what some of these line items are in the future, as well. Thanks, Madam Chair.

Thank you, Member. Minister of Finance.

Thank you, Madam Chair. I actually asked Mr. Koe. I think it may not be very detailed. Some of it, we do, at least, have a list of the intended or expected activities in 2020-2021. If I could turn it over to him, please?

Thank you, Minister. Mr. Koe.

Thank you, Mr. Koe. Did you have any further questions, Member for Frame Lake?

Thanks, Madam Chair. That's helpful. I'd like a little more information about specific activities and staffing that are going to be associated with each of the departments that were listed off there. Thanks, Madam Chair.

Thank you, Member. Any further questions, comments, under this section? Seeing none, environmental stewardship and climate change, not previously authorized, $1,468,000. Does committee agree?

Forest management, not previously authorized, $3,998,000. Questions? Comments? Seeing none, forest management, not previously authorized, $3,998,000. Does committee agree?

Total department, not previously authorized, $5,788,000. Does committee agree?

We'll turn to page 6. Committee, we will now consider the Department of Executive and Indigenous Affairs operations expenditures and proceed to the detail on page 6. Supplementary Estimates (Operations Expenditures), No. 1, 2020-2021, Executive and Indigenous Affairs, Indigenous and intergovernmental affairs, not previously authorized, $300,000. Questions? Comments? Member for Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh.

Marsi cho, Madam Chair. I wonder, Madam Chair, what "expansion" means? I'm not quite clear what the definition of that is. Marsi cho.

Thank you, Member. Minister of Finance.

Thank you, Madam Chair. This is as a result of the fact that there's been an increased number of meetings that are being called with more frequency across the Northwest Territories. In order to support full participation by the Indigenous governments, this amount is being increased in order to provide the funding to the Indigenous governments to support their participation in those meetings, in that increased number and variety of meetings. Thank you, Madam Chair.

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

Marsi cho, Madam Chair. I meant to say, Minister of Finance. My apologies. Thank you for the response, by the way. How does the pandemic affect these numbers? Are there going to be changes with this? Are there going to be changes in spending for this fiscal year? Marsi cho.

Thank you, Member. Minister of Finance.

Thank you, Madam Chair. Yes. One of the biggest areas where there is expected to be some changes -- well, I shouldn't say, one of the biggest areas. There are a lot of changes. One area of significant changes in terms of travel funding, obviously, there may well be a lot less travel occurring. That said, these are internal NWT Indigenous governments, so it may or may not affect how much travel is occurring. Short answer is: yes, but it's uncertain. I'm not in a position to say that it won't necessarily require the full $300,000. We can certainly commit to providing updates as the next few months come forward and we start to see exactly what changes in demands there have been for travel funding. Thank you, Madam Chair.

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

Thank you, Madam Chair. I'm hoping our government can help Lutselk'e in the Internet issues because, if the chief wants and the council want to communicate, it's going to be tough. I'll leave that as a comment. I'm glad that there's extra money allocated for this because it's important. Like I mentioned before, we sat at the roundtable, all the governments. We got together and sat together. There were a lot of concerns there, and I'm glad to see that we're actually showing some commitment there. Marsi cho.

Thank you, Member for Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh. I'll take that as a comment. I will call the page again. Indigenous and intergovernmental affairs, not previously authorized, $300,000. Does committee agree?

Total department, not previously authorized, $300,000. Does committee agree?

We'll now turn to page 7. Committee, we will now proceed with the Department of Finance, and we'll proceed to the detail on page 7. Supplementary Estimates (Operations Expenditures), No. 1, 2020-2021, Department of Finance, operations expenditures, management board secretariat, not previously authorized, $36,840,000. Questions? Comments? Member for Yellowknife North.

Thank you, Madam Chair. I'm looking at the first line item to provide funding to respond to COVID, $23,400,000. I understand all of this money is essentially flow through, offset by the Government of Canada. I just want to clarify. Is this all money we've essentially already spent or programs that have already been announced, or is this new money? Thank you, Madam Chair.

Thank you, Member. Minister of Finance.

Thank you, Madam Chair. This is not new money at this point. This is money that's come in to date, and that has been provided, I believe, to the end of June. A mix of both planned and spent. I suppose it depends. If we're looking just at the first line item, the $23 million, that is a mix of on the planned and spent items coming in based on best estimates at this point of what's happening with COVID-19. Thank you, Madam Chair.

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

Thank you, Madam Chair. Yeah, I guess my understanding is there are quite a bit of programs, and most of them are kind of all wrapped up in this money. We have spent it, or it's kind of already allocated. The big question is: is there more money expected to come? Do we have any plans to increase our COVID spending ourselves? Thank you, Madam Chair.

Thank you, Member. Minister of Finance.

Thank you, Madam Chair. As a starting point, Madam Chair, the federal government just this week announced a further $14 billion that they will be engaging all provinces and territories in order to determine the allocation of those different funds. I certainly am not in a position to say, right now, what proportion of that the Northwest Territories will get, only that we certainly will get some share of that. The initial money that we received was, again, part of really an emergency response. Most provinces and territories, and indeed, the federal government, are still really quite in an emergency response stage, albeit it may be evolving. These projections and the money that was received was based, as I say, in fact, on projections on where we were at and where we would be. I'm sure there is more money coming from the federal government. As I say, there is the $14 billion, but whether or not there will be more, I'm certainly not going to make any commitments on behalf of a different Minister and a different level of government. Will there need to be more money coming from the GNWT? "Probably" is probably the best I can say. It's just that at this point, how much? It is going to be difficult to estimate. Much of that depends on whether or not we wind up facing a second wave that is worse this fall or if it is less impactful and more mild, which certainly isn't the prediction right now from a lot of different corners. That will have a big impact on where we're at financially. I hope that's sufficient information. I see the Member still has some time, so there may be more questions coming. Thank you, Madam Chair.

Thank you, Minister. Member for Yellowknife North.

Thank you, Madam Chair. No. That's very helpful. I just wanted to clarify for the public's sake that, when this $23 million shows up, it's largely money that we've already spent. Moving onto the next line item there, the $8,700,000 for passenger airlines. When this was announced, it was said that it was kind of part 1 of negotiations, and there was a potential second half for our cargo airlines. A number of our airlines that supply our communities in the NWT are fundamental to our supply chain, and they were unable to access this money because they don't carry passengers. Can the Minister provide an update when we're going to see money for those airlines? Thank you, Madam Chair.

Thank you, Member. Minister.

Thank you, Madam Chair. Yes. The first round of funding was really directed and really driven at the large airlines that provide scheduled passenger services. We were able to use some flexibility and to receive some flexibility so that we could direct it at airlines more across the Northwest Territories, more broadly than just one or two, which is certainly beneficial and there is a breakdown that was provided to five different airlines. Now, negotiations have continued with Transport Canada regularly. There have been regular communications between the Department of Finance and, I believe, the Department of Infrastructure, as well, regarding airlines. Also, at the Finance Ministers' table and, I believe, probably with the Premiers' table, as well, all three territories are saying that airlines are different up here and we need more than just the passenger airlines, that they really are essential services providing cargo and medical, et cetera.

With that said, the latest word that we've had from Transport Canada is that they will be taking some time and that the funding that will hopefully be coming from them is not necessarily imminent. I'm happy to be surprised and to be wrong if that's not the case, but right now, it's not imminent. It's coming but not imminent, and they're still doing quite a lot of work in order to determine how much they'll be able to provide. That said, we're working internally, as well, right now. It's our hope that we won't be waiting necessarily for the federal government, but that the Department of Finance and the GNWT will be able to take some steps to fill the gaps that we know exist right now for other airlines in the territories. Thank you, Madam Chair.

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

Thank you, Madam Chair. I'm frustrated to hear that Transport Canada is taking their time, and I'm happy to hear that we are considering filling those gaps. I think a number of the communities, if they lose those cargo airlines, we're putting food security and a number of supply chains at serious risk. Lastly, I wanted to go to the third item here, the $4,740,000 for the $18-an-hour wage top-up for a 16-week period. My understanding is that we probably haven't spent all this money yet and people have to apply through their employer to get it. Does this money expire? Is this program dependent on people accessing it? Thank you, Madam Chair.