Thank you, Mr. Koe. Member for Frame Lake.

Thanks, Madam Chair. I've said this in a Member's statement and through questions on the floor: I hate to think that we're actually going to roll back people's wages at the end of this. This is just unconscionable, that we would actually do that, especially for low-income workers. I understand from previous responses from the Minister that there is a minimum wage review committee that has apparently been appointed and is going to report on this, but even if we find a way to increase the minimum wage, it's still probably not going to be anywhere close to a living wage. I think we need to move toward a guaranteed basic income. Those are my views on this, and I want to encourage my colleagues on the other side of the House to make that happen. I'm prepared to do work on it on this side of the House, talk to my colleagues, as well, but we have to work together to make sure that we can provide the residents who are most in need with getting them out of poverty, quite frankly. Thanks, Madam Chair.

Thank you, Member. Did you have any further comments to that, Minister?

Madam Chair, I know the Member wasn't suggesting there was a question. I would note that this isn't a wage, Madam Chair. I agree that no one wants to roll back anything. There have been quite a number of initiatives that have rolled out in response to COVID that are having unintended benefits far and beyond the immediate stage of a crisis response, but this one in particular was really put in place by the federal government to make sure that no one in low-wage, often front-line work walked away from their job in the context of a crisis where they might perceive themselves to be at risk or perceive a fear or be otherwise struggling through what was a very unprecedented time. The future of this program, again with the federal government, is that it's not forever. Now, what might happen on their side, I can't say, but certainly from their end it was that this was not forever; this was meant to really cover the emergency stage of the pandemic. Beyond that, again, it will be up to them if there is some change in how they want to provide money and funding to the territories and provinces. Thanks, Madam Chair.

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

Thanks, Madam Chair. I don't want to relive this debate. The fact is that this was targeted by the federal government to support essential service workers, but our government made a decision and then negotiated this with the federal government that all low-wage earners in the Northwest Territories should be eligible. I want to commend the Minister for doing that. That was the right thing to do. Anyway, we made the decision to broaden the application of what was a federal program intended for essential services to cover everybody here who gets a low income, to help them get through the pandemic, as well. Hat's off to the Minister for doing that. Let's fix this permanently and move people toward a living wage and end poverty in the Northwest Territories. That's what we should be doing. Thanks, Madam Chair.

Thank you, Member for Frame Lake. I will take that as a comment, a good comment, and we will move on. Are there any further questions or comments under this section? Management Board Secretariat, not previously authorized, $36,840,000. Does committee agree?

Total department, not previously authorized, $36,840,000. Does committee agree?

Turn to page 8. Committee, we will now consider the Department of Health and Social Services, operations expenditures, and we will proceed to the detail on page 8. Supplementary Estimates (Operations Expenditures), No. 1, 2020-2021, Department of Health and Social Services, operations expenditures administrative and support services, not previously authorized, $405,000. Questions or comments? I will call it, then. Member for Yellowknife Centre.

Thank you, Madam Chair. Could I have some plain language about what this money is going to be spent on? Thank you.

Thank you, Member. Minister of Finance.

Thank you, Madam Chair. That involves workforce planning, so this is initiatives that are recruitment- and retention-related. There are quite a number of projects in terms of, for example, Aurora College is involved in proposing to deliver personal support worker and practical nurse programs. There is risk messaging there, modification of that, and provision of that program. As well, Madam Chair, there would be additional staff training, in terms of being able to staff the new long-term care facilities that are being delivered across various communities in the Northwest Territories, and again, similarly, ensuring that there is training available to provide in-place positions for new health and social services workers as they are coming out of the Aurora College's programs. Thank you, Madam Chair.

Thank you, Minister. Member for Yellowknife Centre.

Nothing further, thank you.

Thank you. Any questions or comments? Member for Kam Lake.

Thank you very much, Madam Chair. I'm just wondering if the Minister can please expand on the retention challenge as part of that piece. Thank you.

Thank you, Member. Minister of Finance.

Thank you, Madam Chair. There are some options, including focusing on employee development programs so that current employees are able to move forward and have better opportunities for advancement. Similarly, expanding the residency program again so that employees are better able to take advantage of having job-shadowing observerships and practicum, both focused in terms of then making the workplace one that is hopefully more satisfying and one that is more attractive to maintain and to keep workers in place. Thank you, Madam Chair.

Thank you, Minister. Member. No further questions? All right. Administrative and support services, not previously authorized, $405,000. Does committee agree?

Health and social programs, $8,413,000, not previously authorized. Member for Yellowknife Centre.