Thank you, Member. Madam Premier.

Thank you, Madam Chair. Again, I will commit that we will provide an update to standing committee and take their feedback. Again, that one involves even more parties at the table. Thank you, Madam Chair.

Thank you, Madam Premier. Member for Frame Lake.

Thanks, Madam Chair. You gotta love the way that we try to govern ourselves here, and that's the way it should be, that we try to find ways to work together. I appreciate that, and this side of the House has a legitimate role in that, as well. I wanted to ask a couple of questions, if I could. I'm trying to understand the difference between setting up the Gender Equity Unit, which I generally support, and what the relationship is to the Status of Women Council. If someone can just sort of explain the differences in roles and responsibilities there? I'm just a little bit worried that there might be starting to get a little bit of overlap, a fuzziness, there. Can I get an explanation? Thanks, Madam Chair.

Thank you, Member. Madam Premier.

Thank you, Madam Chair. I'm going to try to deal with this politically sensitive topic. The Gender Equity Unit will be working within the GNWT, as the deputy minister said, to look at things such as the Truth and Reconciliation of Murdered and Missing Indigenous Women, specifically, and some of the gender issues within our government. The Status of Women Council, within previous governments before that, were kind of used as a support for the Government of the Northwest Territories. However, in the last government, Members who were in that last government remember that the Status of Women Minister at that time was told, "Hands off. Do not work with them. Do not tell them what to do. Do not ask them for any guidance, except for taking their annual report."

Within this government, you will see that the problem was that the legislation says that that council was responsible to the Minister and to support the Minister. The last government bound the Minister's hands and didn't have any authority over that council. Because of that and wishing to support as many services as possible, what we're doing in this government is: we are actually looking at changing the act for the Status of Women Council. I can't say what that looks like yet, because we're working with the Status of Women, but recognizing that we need a unit. You cannot have a Minister responsible for the Status of Women, very critical, without having staffing, so this is about getting the proper support so that the Minister responsible for the Status of Women no longer, in this government, will only have one person trying to save the world. Thank you, Madam Chair.

Thank you. Member for Frame Lake.

Thanks, Madam Chair. Yes. I was in the last Assembly, too, and anything I can do to support the independence of the Status of Women Council, I am right there for them. They need to be independent and be able to give the Minister and this government whatever advice they see fit and have the resources to do so. I just wanted to get that on the record, and there should be no confusion about their independence whatsoever. I think it already exists in the current legislation. If we want to reinforce that and improve it, let's do it and let's do it quickly, but they are and should always be independent of this government and adequately resourced. Thanks, Madam Chair.

Thank you, Member. Madam Premier, do you have any comments?

Thank you, Madam Chair. I think the Member just answered his last question himself. Thank you, Madam Chair.

Does anybody have any further questions? Member for Nunakput.

Thank you, Madam Chair. Just for clarity, it's a thought to myself, when you start seeing an agreement by March 31^st for offshore oil and gas, that's like music to my ears because, this territory, we are resource rich and we're cash poor. Potentially this could get the whole Beaufort-Delta back to work. That being said, I'm in full support of what you're doing in regard to getting this done, because my riding, with all the oil and gas we have up there, we're going to make your diamond mine look small down here. That's all good, though. Thank you. I support you, Madam Premier, and thank you, Mr. Goldney. Keep up the good work. That's all I have to say. Thank you.

Thank you, Member for Nunakput. Do you have any comments, Madam Premier?

Thank you, Madam Chair. That's devolution. It's about having northern voices for the northern territories, and I am also a strong proponent of northern people. We live here. We have to have a say in what we do with our own, onshore and offshore. Thank you, Madam Chair.

Thank you, Madam Premier. Are there any further questions under the directorate? Seeing no further questions, please turn to page 119. Executive and Indigenous Affairs, directorate, operations expenditure summary, 2021-2022 Main Estimates, $6,511,000. Does committee agree?

Thank you, committee. We will now move on to the executive council offices, beginning on page 122, with information items on page 124. Questions? Member for Frame Lake.

Thanks, Madam Chair. The active positions on page 124, can we just get some explanation as to the extra position and whether there are other positions being deleted and added? That kind of information would actually be more helpful to have in the future, as well, if there are positions going in and out on that page, but what is the extra position next year going to be? Thanks, Madam Chair.

Thank you, Member. Madam Premier.

Thank you, Madam Chair. I believe it's the communications, but I'll ask Amy Kennedy for confirmation.

Yes. Ms. Kennedy.

Thank you, Ms. Kennedy. Member for Frame Lake.

Thanks, Madam Chair. I'm just trying to understand this. One of the communications persons who is working for Cabinet support is now going to be working for Cabinet communications? Sorry. Can I get another explanation? Thanks.