Thanks, Mr. Chair. You got it right. I appreciate that. One of the items in this section is found on page 312, the Northwest Territories Surface Rights Board. I raised this with the Minister back in January about whether the funding had been received from the federal government for this. Can the Minister tell us whether there's an agreement in place for the funding for this board? Thank you.

I'll start, and then with your permission, I'll turn to the deputy minister. Presently, we don't have an agreement in place, but we've been in negotiations and conversations with the federal government. We just recently had an update that I would like to share with the House and, with your permission, turn to the deputy minister. Thank you.

Thank you. Deputy Minister.

Thank you, Deputy Minister. Any further questions? Member for Frame Lake.

Thanks, Mr. Chair. Someone might want to start the clock going, but just can someone confirm for me that this board has been in existence now for eight years and that it has never, ever had a dispute brought to it? Is that correct? Thanks, Mr. Chair.

Thank you. Minister.

The Member is correct. We haven't had an issue brought forth to the board for the length of how long it has been there. I will ask the deputy minister for clarity on the duration. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you. Deputy Minister.

Thank you. Any further questions?

Thanks, Mr. Chair. This board has been in place for eight years. It has never had a dispute. Can someone tell me what the cumulative total of the money that has been spent for this board has been over the eight years? Thanks, Mr. Chair.

Thank you. Minister.

For that kind of detail, we'll probably have to get back to the Member, but just so everybody is aware, this is an in-and-out. This is an agreement with the federal government. They give us the money, and then we give it to the Surface Rights Board. It's no indication from GNWT to spend any of their money into it. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Minister. We will take that as a promise to provide additional information. Member for Frame Lake.

Thanks, Mr. Chair. I don't know. Based on what's in the current budget here and there are probably some start-up costs, it's probably safe to assume that probably somewhere between $2 million and $3 million has been spent to support this board. Look, I know some of the people who serve on it, the staff. This is not about the performance of any of these individuals. This is about an institution that has been set up and has nothing to do, quite frankly. I know I asked the Minister questions about this back in March. This board was set up under the previous Harper government. It was sort of forced on us, in my view, and really there are a number of issues and problems with the way the board has been set up. It's not a co-management body by any stretch of the imagination. All the board can really do is offer compensation. If there is a surface right holder and someone wants to mine under their property or where they are using something, all the board can really do is offer compensation. It can't actually say, "It's not a good idea to go ahead with that." With that in mind, is this act ever going to get reviewed by this government? Thanks, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Member. Minister.

For that, right now, no, we're not going to be reviewing this. The NWT Surface Rights Board Act meets Canada's obligations that arise from the Gwich'in, Sahtu, Dene, and the Metis comprehensive land claim agreements to establish surface rights legislation in the NWT, so it does meet that requirement. No, we have no desire to bring it forth. We have other obligations, legislation, and other work that we need to do that are priorities that we sent out from the mandate. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Minister. Member for Frame Lake.

Thanks, Mr. Chair. Yes, I think we have a difference of opinion about that. There were provisions in the land rights agreements, as well, for the arbitration panels to serve this function, and I think that would have been a far better way to deal with this than set up this separate legislation. We don't have the money secured for this. Why is it appearing in the budget if the money has not been secured, and what would happen if there was no agreement signed with the federal government? We would have to expend our own money? Is that what would happen? Thanks, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Member. Minister.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. First of all, yes, probably me and the Member are going to disagree on why we need it. First and foremost, I respect his opinion, but in regard to the funding through the federal government, it's like all other federal government programs that are out there that we as the GNWT are mandated to work with and utilize. Sometimes, a negotiation takes a little bit longer because it's on their timing and that, so we need to work with them. Right now, we would just move along based on the fact that we feel very comfortable that we are close to signing it and we are able to complete the work and bring the money forward. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Minister. Member for Frame Lake.

Thanks, Mr. Chair. Can the Minister tell me how long these negotiations have been going on with the federal government to secure funding? Thanks, Mr. Chair.