Mahsi. Ms. Nokleby.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Yeah, I think that this could play a really large piece back into sort of more of the traditional economy and such and then as well as providing those supplies. And I just see that -- I feel that our fur and our crafts and all of that is just a really untapped resource for the territory that we need to be looking at more. So I guess I just want to say that I support seeing more expansion of this type of a program and then along the lines of what my colleagues were saying around the tanning and such and the ability to produce hides that we talked about the other day. So more of a comment than anything. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Mahsi, Ms. Nokleby. I'm seeing no further questions or additional items. Please return now to the department summary found on page 69. Whoops, sorry, I've got Mr. -- is this for the 69? Okay, the overall summary. All right, Mr. Johnson.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Thanks, committee, for indulging me. I just had one more question. I know ENR is at the technical working group on at least one piece of legislation. I'm just wondering if we provide Indigenous governments money to support their work being there, and if so, how much, or whether that's an EIA question. Thank you.

Mahsi, Mr. Johnson. Minister.

For that detail, I'll turn to the deputy minister. Thank you.

Deputy minister.

Mahsi. Mr. O'Reilly.

Thanks, Mr. Chair. I don't have any further questions, but I'm going to -- at the appropriate time, I'll have a motion to bring forward. Thanks.

All right, no further questions on this section. Committee, I will now call the department summary, Environment and Natural Resources, operations expenditures, total department, 2022-2023 Main Estimates, $98,723,000. Does committee agree?

Mr. O'Reilly.

The motion is in order. To the motion?

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

---Carried

Consideration of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources 2022-2023 Main Estimates, operating expenditures, total department, is deferred. Agreed? Thank you, Minister, and thanks to the witnesses for appearing before us. Sergeant-at-Arms, please escort the witnesses from the chamber. Thank you.

We'll take a quick five-minute break. Mahsi.

---SHORT RECESS

All right, committee, we'll resume. We have agreed to consider Tabled Document 561-19(2): Main Estimates 2022-2023. We will now consider the estimates for the Northwest Territories Housing Corporation.

The Northwest Territories Housing Corporation is included in the Main Estimates as an information item, and the totals are not voteable. We will continue to review these estimates as we have for the previously considered departments; however, we will not vote on the totals. If Members have comments or questions, they can be raised at the appropriate time. Does the Minister responsible for the Northwest Territories Housing Corporation have any opening remarks?

Yes, I do, Mr. Chair.

Proceed with your opening remarks.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I am pleased to present the 2022-2023 Main Estimates for the Northwest Territories Housing Corporation.

Overall, the Corporation's estimate proposes an annual operating budget of $121 million, representing an increase of $2.84 million over the 2021-2022 Main Estimates. These estimates support the mandate objectives for the Northwest Territories Housing Corporation while continuing to meet the GNWT's fiscal objectives to prioritize responsibility and strategic spending.

Highlights of this proposed estimate include the following:

• • 1.1 million of forced growth funding from the Government of the Northwest Territories. This includes an initial allocation of $947,000 to provide operating funding for the first year's delivery of federal cost sharing housing units as well as
• 164,000 for property tax increase for existing housing inventory across the Northwest Territories;
• 752,000 of on-going initiative funding from the Government of the Northwest Territories for the new Hay River and Fort Simpson homeless shelters;
• 882,000 from the Government of the Northwest Territories for collective agreement increase; and
• 68,000 travel budget reduction as part of the GNWT-wide reduction.

These estimates continue to support the priorities of the 19th Legislative Assembly:

• Fostering strategic partnerships, including these with the federal and Indigenous governments to increase the number of affordable homes and reduce core housing needs, especially for seniors and vulnerable persons;
• Reducing the cost of power by investing in energy efficiency solutions for both new construction and repairs; and
• Delivering increased opportunities for homeownership.

This concludes my opening remarks, Mr. Chair. Mahsi.

Mahsi, Minister. Does the Minister wish to bring witnesses into the house?

Yes, I do, Mr. Chair.