Thank you, Madam Chair. I am here to present the 2021-2022 Main Estimates for the Department of Executive and Indigenous Affairs. Overall, the department's estimates propose a decrease of $458 thousand, or 2 percent, from the Main Estimates 2020-2021. These estimates support the mandate objectives for the Department of Executive and Indigenous Affairs while continuing to meet the Government of the Northwest Territories' fiscal objectives to prioritize responsible and strategic spending. Highlights of these proposed estimates include:
- $631,000 in new funding to establish a Gender Equity unit. This unit will work to ensure that government decisions, including financial decisions, consider their sometimes-unequal effect on people with different identity factors such as gender, race, ethnicity, religion, age, or abilities. This new unit will also be responsible for developing and implementing an action plan in response to the Calls to Justice in the Final Report of the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls;
- a sunset of $384,000 in funding related to the Deputy Secretary for Federal Engagement position; and
- a sunset of $705,000 in funding related to the Office of Devolution Initiatives.
These estimates continue to support the priorities of the 19th Legislative Assembly by:
- supporting residents in small communities by providing funding for single window service centres that provide these residents with support to access both GNWT and Government of Canada services;
- supporting a continued focus on respectful and meaningful relationships with our Indigenous government partners that facilitates the negotiation and implementation of self-government and land claims agreements throughout the territory; and
- supporting the ongoing collaboration with Indigenous governments to create and implement an action plan that will guide the changes required to ensure the further implementation of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous People.
Madam Chair, that concludes my opening remarks. Thank you.