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

That's a good explanation. I just wasn't sure, but I appreciate that. I have nothing further at this time. Thank you.

Thank you, Member. Member for Monfwi.

Masi, Madam Chair. Just on Small Community Employment Support, as well. Mr. Norn did touch on a few of them, so it has been answered. I'm looking forward to additional information that is going to be delivered to us on the regions and the communities. The funding was $5 million back in 2019, and now it's hovering just over $4 million. There has been an increase in funding, as well. With the last Assembly, actually, probably all outlying community MLAs pushed for it, and I think there's a high value for this. It creates employment in the communities. We've just heard on the numbers. Obviously, we would like to see more of that. The last time, it was a supplementary that it was brought in. Would the Minister be in consideration of bringing a supplementary on this particular subject area to increase the funding? Because I'll be supportive of that, and I think other Members, well, they have their own perspective. There has been a lot of support in this area, so I'm just wondering whether there's an appetite to do that, Madam Chair. Masi.

Thank you, Member. Minister of ECE.

Thank you, Madam Chair. As the Member stated, the increase that is seen in 2019-2020 was the result of negotiations between Cabinet at that point and Regular Members. There was a one-year increase. While I would love to be able to say I'm bringing something forward, we had to craft this budget based on all of the needs and wants across all departments. This is what we landed on. I would love to have, really, everything in ECE see a budget increase. The fact is that these are the main estimates, and there is not a plan to bring forward a supplementary appropriation for this item. Thank you.

Thank you, Minister. Member for Monfwi.

Thank you, Member. Minister of ECE.

Thank you. I appreciate the Member's comments. This is a great way to promote trades, get people involved in trades, and the Member is right to brag. I think his son was not just number one; he was number one in the territory. It was a big accomplishment, and I commend him for that. Skills Canada does get additional funding. To that point, I think that we talk about how can we promote trades, and maybe this is a way. I am happy to have those conversations with the department and with Skills Canada to see if perhaps we can expand it so it has more of a regional reach again, as well. I think that might be useful, also. Given that it is a relatively small contribution, I am happy to have those discussions with the department and the organization. Thank you.

Thank you, Minister. Member for Monfwi.

Masi, Madam Chair. I am glad that the Minister is interested in, I guess he can call it a gateway to empowering the regions, the communities. That was my next line of questions: how can we reach out to the communities, the most isolated communities where we are lacking journeymen plumbers and oil-burner mechanics for those homes? Madam Chair, the Minister has already committed to looking into this, so I just want to say thank you to the Minister for committing to that, and I am looking forward to a positive outcome. That's just a comment, Madam Chair. Masi.

Thank you, Member for Monfwi. I will take that as a comment. Are there any further questions? Seeing none, please turn to page 53. Education, Culture and Employment, labour development and advanced education, operations expenditure summary, 2021-2022 Main Estimates, $54,518,000. Does committee agree?

Thank you, Members. Please return now to the departmental summary on page 29. Minister.

Thank you. I just wanted to clarify that we provide Skills Canada $70,000 a year in this line item, but they also access another $85,000 a year from the GNWT, as well, through our labour market programs, so I just wanted to put that on the record. Thank you.

Thank you, Minister. All right. We are on page 29. Education, Culture and Employment, operations expenditures, 2021-2022 Main Estimates, $353,599,000. Mr. Norn.

Thank you, Madam Chair. I move that committee defer further consideration of these estimates for the Department of Education, Culture and Employment at this time. Marsi cho, Madam Chair.

Thank you, Mr. Norn. The motion is in order. To the motion.

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

---Carried

Consideration of the Department of Education, Culture and Employment, 2021-2022 Main Estimates, operations expenditures, total department is deferred. Thank you, Minister, and thank you to the witnesses for appearing before us. Sergeant-at-Arms, please escort the witnesses from the Chamber. Committee, we will take just a short, little break to give the Sergeant-at-Arms time to clean the desk, and we will introduce the next department. Thank you.

---SHORT RECESS

We will call Committee of the Whole back to order. Committee, we have agreed to consider Tabled Document 286-19(2), Main Estimates 2021-2022, the Department of Executive and Indigenous Affairs. Does the Minister of Executive and Indigenous Affairs have any opening remarks?

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 19^th 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.

Thank you. Does the Minister of Executive and Indigenous Affairs wish to bring witnesses into the House?