Thank you, Madam Chair. Yes, I do. I am here to present the 2021-2022 Main Estimates for the Department of Infrastructure. Overall, the department's estimates propose an increase of $7.4 million, or 2.7 percent, over the Main Estimates, 2020-2021. These estimates support the mandate objectives for the Department of Infrastructure while continuing to meet the GNWT's fiscal objectives to prioritize responsible and strategic spending.

Highlights of these proposed estimates include:

• forced growth increases of $3.1 million, which includes $1.8 million for increases in electricity rates and $1.2 million for increased costs to maintain Highway No. 8, the Dempster Highway, and $83,000 for increased maintenance and utility costs for ferry utilities;
• initiatives funding of $1.3 million, including $1.1 million for new lease costs for the Child and Family Services program, as well as $151,000 for a new occupational health and safety position in Inuvik;
• establishment for utility funding of $2.8 million related to the Stanton Territorial Hospital;
• a transfer of $3.6 million and related positions to the Department of Finance for costs associated with procurement shared services; and
• sunsets of $3.6 million, which consists primarily of time-limited funding including: $659,000 for Highway No. 8 maintenance and $390,000 for a permafrost data management and analytical system. Additionally, there was a sunset of $789,000 to adjust cashflow requirements for the low carbon economy leadership fund as well as an increase of $469,000 reflecting the sunset of term funding to ECE related to temporary accommodations for families attending Aurora College's Inuvik campus.

These estimates continue to support the priorities of the 19^th Legislative Assembly by promoting energy efficiency and sustainability and investing in the infrastructure that connects communities.

To continue working towards our goals outlined in the 2030 Energy Strategy, we will again provide $2.74 million in core funding to the Arctic Energy Alliance, as well as an additional $797,000 for community energy grants and $2.27 million for Northwest Territories-wide energy programs supplemented through the low carbon economy leadership fund.

The department will continue to invest in the Deferred Maintenance Program by upgrading and preserving our assets. When integrated with other GNWT programs, such as the Capital Asset Retrofit Fund, it has allowed the Department of Infrastructure to make efficient use of $11.8 million dollars of annual funding to significantly improve the overall performance of our assets.

For example, energy conservation and efficiency activities, including biomass boiler installations, LED lighting replacements, and other retrofit activities, have resulted in significant savings that allow additional resources to be redirected to advance other government initiatives.

The Department of Infrastructure also invests $1.5 million annually to continue to deliver the Community Access Program to improve local transportation infrastructure, including access roads, winter roads, ice roads, marine facilities, and trails. These help to increase food security through locally produced, harvested, and affordable food, and can also help towards economic diversification by supporting growth in non-extractive sectors, such as tourism. That concludes my opening remarks. Quyanainni, Madam Chair.