Thank you, Madam Chair. Yes, absolutely. That was the priority as they didn't know enough about the North. Again, because of COVID-19, we have been meeting weekly with the Prime Minister and Chrystia Freeland. I have access to the top Ministers. The meetings have increased because of it.

The other thing, too, is we work very closely with the Yukon government and the Nunavut government, and because of that tightness that we have formed, and really strengthened those relationships, as well, you are seeing things for the North. I think they are understanding. COVID is a great example. They identified Indigenous communities. They could have just said "reserves." That's often one of the problems that we had in the NWT was all of the money for Indigenous people went to reserves versus off-reserve, which is the majority of us, but because of the advocacy within Nunavut, ourselves, and the Yukon government, the three territories are getting vaccinations quicker than any jurisdiction in the whole country. That, in itself, Madam Chair, speaks to the relationships that we have formed with this federal government.

I do think that the federal government does have a better understanding. Do they understand us completely? Absolutely not. They will not understand us completely until they can at least come and fly here, not just in and out and stay at the Explorer Hotel and leave, but until they actually live here.

Like I say, Madam Chair, at this point, we do not feel that this position is necessary. In the spirit of trying not to leave the next government with no money, if we have a position that we don't feel is necessary, why would we continue with it? In fairness, the position was wonderful. The person did a great job, but it's not necessary at this time. Thank you, Madam Chair.

Thank you, Madam Premier. Member for Kam Lake.

Thank you very much, Madam Chair. One of the responsibilities of this position was to put together a federal engagement strategy to guide the relationships, and not only the relationships, but also the key messaging coming out of the Northwest Territories. Is this strategy something that still exists today or is being updated with this government? Thank you.

Thank you. Madam Premier.

Thank you, Madam Chair. Yes, that position is still responsible for doing it. In fairness to the position, and in fairness to my own office staff, that work has actually been done across departments. The principal secretary, the Cabinet secretary, have spent a lot of time with that. We are still using that position a little bit. It does not justify the amount of money. Thank you, Madam Chair.

Thank you, Madam Premier. Member for Kam Lake.

Thank you very much, Madam Chair. It's always wonderful to hear that relationships are going well. I think that's really important, and I am happy to hear that they are effective relationships, that Ministers are speaking with federal Ministers, and life in the North is becoming clearer to federal Ministers. I am wondering if the Premier feels that potentially we will be looking at 100 percent fully-funded infrastructure projects, then, given that federal Ministers understand life in the North better now. Thank you.

Thank you, Member for Kam Lake. Madam Premier.

Thank you, Madam Chair. It's part of my ask. However, we can't just say that a good relationship means that they are going to give us 100 because they are not giving 100 percent to any jurisdiction. I would like to say that the federal Ministers also have their own jurisdictions. They also want to get re-elected again. If they are not even giving their own, I can't expect that, just because they understand the needs, that they would just give us all the money. However, in saying that, it doesn't mean I'm not asking for it. Thank you.

Thank you. Member for Kam Lake.

Thank you, Madam Chair. My nod, sorry, was because I'm done, but since we're here: I think that, even though they have their own ridings to serve, the Northwest Territories is unique in its needs and is unique in its history. That speaks for something, and I think that anybody, regardless of where they live, wants to be able to see that people have a fair shot at basic infrastructure. I'm happy that Cabinet is asking for 100 percent infrastructure dollars, and I encourage them to keep doing so. Thank you.

Thank you. Members, we don't have enough time for another Member to get through their ten minutes of questions. I will turn it to Mr. Norn.

Madam Chair, I ask that we rise and report progress.

There is a motion on the floor to report progress. The motion is in order and non-debatable. All those in favour? All those opposed? Abstentions? The motion is carried.

---Carried

I will now rise and report progress.

May I have the report, please, Member for Inuvik Twin Lakes.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Your committee has been considering Committee Report 8-19(2), Standing Committee on Rules and Procedures Report on Motion 5-19(2): Referral of Point of Privilege Raised by Member for Monfwi on March 10, 2020; Minister's Statement 77-19(2), National Housing Co-Investment Fund; Tabled Document 165-19(2), Government of the Northwest Territories Response to Committee Report 1-19(2), Report on Long-Term Post-Pandemic Recovery, Recommendations to the GNWT; Tabled Document 166-19(2), Government of the Northwest Territories Response to Committee Report 2-19(2), Report on Long-Term Post-Pandemic Recovery, Recommendations to the GNWT; Tabled Document 167-19(2), Government of the Northwest Territories Response to Committee Report 3-19(2), Report on Long-Term Post-Pandemic Recovery, Recommendations to the GNWT; Tabled Document 286-19(2), Main Estimates 2021-2022 and would like to report progress, and, Mr. Speaker, I move that the report of the Committee of the Whole be concurred with. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Do we have a seconder? Member for Nahendeh. All those in favour? All those opposed? Any abstentions? The motion is carried.

---Carried

Item 23, third reading of bills. Mr. Clerk, orders of the day.

Thank you, Mr. Clerk. This House stands adjourned until Friday, February 12, 2021, at 10:00 a.m.

---ADJOURNMENT

The House adjourned at 6:01 p.m.