No further questions, Madam Chair.

Thank you. Are there any further questions under Finance, human resources? Member for Hay River South.

Thank you, Madam Chair. Yeah, I just want to speak to that management and recruitment service as well and the Affirmative Action Policy.

Can the Minister tell me what authority this government has to provide preference to P1 candidates? Thank you.

Thank you. Minister of Finance.

Thank you, Madam Chair. So right now, Madam Chair, that would be the Affirmative Action Policy that creates the policy framework for that program, and -- yeah, thanks, Madam Chair.

Thank you. Member for Hay River South.

Thank you. Thank you, Madam Chair. And I understand that we have a policy and the policy is giving preference to a group of people. And I know people cite the Charter saying that, you know, everybody has a right to, you know, gainful employment in -- throughout Canada. What is it that provides the government to allow us to go -- to go around that and show that preference? Thank you.

Thank you. Minister of Finance.

Madam -- sorry, thank you, Madam Chair. So, yeah, the Charter of Rights and Freedoms does allow for programs that promote equity amongst distinguished groups that are otherwise disadvantaged. So I'm not sure if that's the answer that the Member's looking for, Madam Chair. But see where the next eight minutes take me. Thanks.

Thank you. Member for Hay River South.

Thank you, Madam Chair. Yeah, and that's the answer I wanted because I think that there are people out there that -- that feel that by giving preference to P1 candidates and showing -- you know, like I've got emails stating, you know, racism, and, but in reality it's the law that allows us to do what we're doing. And it's got nothing to do with racism or anything like that. I just want to -- I want to make that point because it's important that -- that people hear it.

And the other thing is, you know, like I said before, I made a statement in the House and -- with respect to this, and -- but, you know, I'd like to say that, you know, for P1s and P2 candidates, like, I've got no problem with people -- you know, people who are being -- who are born and raised in the Northwest Territory, you know, they deserve to be working here, whether it's public sector or whatever. But at the same time, what we're trying to do is increase the number of Indigenous people in the public service. We've been trying that for 30 years, and nothing seems to work.

I threw out a solution that we probably raise it pretty quickly but, you know -- and I know it probably wasn't -- you know, was probably not -- not well received. But at the same time, we have to do something. We have to have solutions if we're going to change this. And I'm glad to hear that we're going to review -- be revisiting this, this policy. I just want to be -- you know, I just want the government to be careful that we don't open up something that will -- that we can't go back into. That's my -- that's my -- you know, my worry. And, you know, I don't want to close by any, you know, any Charter challenges as well. So just keep that in mind. Thank you.

Thank you. Minister of Finance.

Yes, thank you, Madam Chair. Madam Chair, I was being cautious before but no, I do totally agree that there's a difference between equality and equity, and if there's groups that are historically and systemically disadvantaged, then bringing them to a place where they have equal opportunity means that that's different from saying everyone gets the same treatment. Some people have to have different treatment to actually be treated equally. So that is the fundamental difference. It is quite certainly allowable under the Charter. The question is how to achieve that when you have to overcome those historic disadvantages, but that's why you have something like the framework where we're trying to root out the things that systemic barriers and identify opportunities to bring people up to it so that we're all -- we're all at an actual equal level despite the fact of not necessarily starting from the same place. Thank you, Madam Chair.

Thank you, Minister. Member for Hay River South.

Thank you, Madam Chair. And you know, I'm just looking at the number there, you know, $6.8 million, $6.9 million we're spending on management and recruitment services. You know, I would hope that -- you know, that we would able to get it right at some point, and I'm not sure why we can't. But, you know, I -- it has to start somewhere and I'm hoping it starts with this Assembly, and I think, you know, we are off to a good start. So, you know, I just -- I just want to make that comment. That's all. Thank you.

Thank you, Member for Hay River South. Are there any further questions or comments under human resources from Members?

Seeing none, Finance, human resources, operations expenditure summary, 2022-2023 Main Estimates, $22,161,000. Does committee agree?

Thank you, committee. We will now move to page 147, Finance, Finance Management Board Secretariat, on page -- and yeah, 148, 149. Do we have any questions on the FMB or Financial Management Board Secretariat?

Seeing none. Going once. Financial Management Board Secretariat, operations expenditure summary -- oh, Member for Frame Lake.

Yeah, thanks, Madam Chair. The carbon tax offset line on page 148 is going up fairly quickly, but I think that's just a -- corresponds to the increase in the carbon tax that was put in place as part of the Pan-Canadian Framework. Can the Minister confirm that? Thanks, Madam Chair.

Thank you. Minister of Finance.

Correct, Madam Chair. Thank you.

Thank you. Member for Frame Lake.

Thanks, Madam Chair. So the NWT Heritage Fund; I know I've asked this before, I just don't understand. So the actuals for 2021 was about $2.5 million, and then it's just this straight line of $7.6 million. Do we actually know what the contribution is now for 2021-2022? And why don't we use some more accurate forecasts here. Thanks, Madam Chair.

Thank you, Member. Minister of Finance.