Thank you. Member for Kam Lake.

Thank you very much, Madam Chair. My next question is in regards to utilities found on the same page. I notice that utilities is not seeing an increase in the 2022-2023 Main Estimates. And given the increase that we have seen in all costs, especially utility costs, I'm wondering why there's no increase to that line item for the 2022-2023 Main Estimates? Thank you.

Thank you, Member. Minister of Infrastructure.

Thank you, Madam Chair. Madam Chair, I'll get Mr. Brennan to speak to the details.

Thank you. ADM Brennan.

Thank you. Member for Kam Lake.

Thank you very much, Madam Chair. I'm going to move on to the next page, to page 241, which has Deh Cho Bridge opportunities at $200,000. And it's described as a grant for the purpose of creating community benefits and economic opportunities related to the Deh Cho Bridge. And so I'm wondering if the Minister can speak to what that 200,000 affords the people of the Northwest Territories? Thank you.

Thank you. Minister of Infrastructure.

Thank you, Madam Chair. Madam Chair, the Deh Cho Bridge opportunities grant was a 35-year annual grant that started in April 1st of 2013 under what was called the Community Operations and Involvement Agreement. So the agreement was signed in 2010, and Infrastructure has an agreement with the Fort Providence Deh Gah Bridge Limited for a payment of 200,000 annually. There is no funding criteria, rather a set payment. So the organization provides Infrastructure with annual financial and operation reports, and this funding is used by the organization for cultural well-being, education, training, economic development, and a small portion goes to admin.

Thank you, Minister. Are there any other Members who wish to ask questions under the infrastructure asset management? Seeing none, please turn to page 240, Infrastructure, asset management, operations expenditure summary, 2022-2023 Main Estimates, $16,593,000. Does committee agree?

Thank you. We'll now turn -- hello? We'll now turn to corporate management beginning on page 243, with information items on page 245. Questions from Members under this section?

Seeing none, please turn to page 244, Infrastructure, corporate management, operation expenditure summary, 2022-2023 Main Estimates, $7,989,000. Does committee agree?

Thank you. We will move now to energy and strategic initiatives. Sergeant-at-Arms, please, can you switch out the witnesses.

All right. So energy and strategic initiatives beginning on page 246, with information items on page 250. Oh, Minister, did you want to introduce your witness.

Thank you, Madam Chair. Madam Chair, I'd like to introduce Robert Jenkins. He's ADM for energy and strategic initiatives.

Thank you, and welcome. Are there any questions from Members on the energy and strategic initiatives? Member for Great Slave.

Thank you, Madam Chair. Madam Chair, this is an area with a lot of money going out to different organizations, which I think is great. I'm just looking at the -- sorry, I just wanted to ask some questions around the biomass energy and just where we're at in looking at diversifying our dependence on diesel, and could the Minister or the department speak a little bit more to perhaps if we would be seeing more money needed there, or there's not a change from last year to this year's? Thank you.

Thank you, Member. Minister for Infrastructure.

Thank you, Madam Chair. Since 2006, the GNWT has installed more than 40 more biomass boiler systems in all regions in the Northwest Territories. Our biomass program consumed approximately 8600 tonnes of wood pellets at GNWT assets during the 2020-2021 fiscal year, which results in displacement of approximately 4.38 million litres of fuel oil, which is equivalent to offset about 11,750 tonnes of GHG emissions.

Thank you. Member for Great Slave.

Thank you, Madam Chair. My next question is around the Arctic Energy Alliance. We're not seeing any changes there for the amount of funding that's being provided. Is the alliance on track to spend all their money this year, will they be overprescribed or undersubscribed? I think this is a great program so, you know, if there's opportunities to put more money there to help our residents, that'd be great. Thank you.

Thank you. Minister for Infrastructure.

Thank you, Madam Chair. The Arctic Energy Alliance receives about $2.74 million in core ongoing funding from the GNWT. So the funding supports alternative energy and efficiency programs as well as for our six regional offices, which is Yellowknife, Hay River, Inuvik, Norman Wells, Whati, and Fort Simpson.

So last year, the GNWT provided over $5.2 million. So, I mean, core funding for this year, for 2021-2022, is about -- including LSAP is $6.6 million. I understand where the Member's coming from in terms of, you know, perhaps the projects, given the uptake in the amount of assistance that we're giving, that this is something that we're able to work with Canada on. Thank you, Madam Chair.