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

---Carried

Item 18, notices of motion for the first reading of bills. Item 19, first reading of bills. Item 20, second reading of bills. Item 21, consideration in Committee of the Whole of bills and other matters: 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; and Tabled Document 286-19(2), Main Estimates 2021-2022, with the Member for Inuvik Twin Lakes in the chair.

I now call Committee of the Whole to order. What is the wish of committee? Mr. Norn.

Mahsi, Madam Chair. Committee wishes to deal with Tabled Document 286-19(2), Main Estimates 2021-2022, Departments of Education, Culture and Employment and Executive and Indigenous Affairs. Marsi cho, Madam Chair.

Thank you. Does committee agree?

Thank you, committee. We will take a short recess and resume with the first item.

---SHORT RECESS

I will call committee back to order. Committee, we have agreed to continue on with Education, Culture and Employment, for labour development and advanced education on page 52, with information items from page 53 to 63. Minister, do you have witnesses?

Yes, I do.

Sergeant-at-Arms, please escort the witnesses into the Chamber. Minister, could you please introduce your witnesses for the record?

Thank you, Madam Chair. Back by popular demand, we have Deputy Minister Rita Mueller and assistant deputy minister of Corporate Services, Sam Shannon. Thank you.

Thank you. Welcome back for day three. We will begin with questions from the Member for Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh.

Okay. Marsi cho, Madam Chair. I am just going to turn your attention to page 54 on small community employment. It's not so much the numbers. I just have some questions about this line item. If I could just ask the Minister to explain what exactly these funds are for, we will start there. Thank you.

Thank you, Member. Minister.

Thank you, Madam Chair. The small community employment fund is a pot of money that the communities or employers and communities can apply for to create or subsidize jobs in centres outside of Yellowknife. It is very flexible, an easy application process and is just a way to help get people working in small communities. Thank you.

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

Thank you, Madam Chair. That is good to know, that there is some consideration, a pot of money, to get work going in small communities. Like I said, every dollar here matters. My next question is: is this pot of money, what's the word, being fully subscribed? Like where are we sitting? Is it undersubscribed? Thank you, Madam Chair.

Thank you, Member. Minister of ECE.

Thank you. Perhaps Mr. Shannon has details on the exact numbers.

Thank you, Minister. Mr. Shannon.

Thank you, Mr. Shannon. Member for Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh.

Yes. My last question for this line item is: can the Minister give us a breakdown by region? I ask that just to make sure that there is some fair sharing throughout the regions and the territories for our small communities. Thank you.

Thank you, Member. Minister of ECE.

Thank you. I can ask the deputy minister to provide that, and we can also give breakdowns by community as well as the number of jobs created in each community by this one. I will ask my deputy minister for some more information. Thank you.