Minister. Oral questions. Member for Yellowknife North.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My questions are for the Minister of Infrastructure, and I'm hoping that after she finds $25,000 to implement an electric bike rebate program, she could find another $25,000 and maybe open the Yellowknife DMV for a couple hours on Saturday. My question, Mr. Speaker, is that something the Minister is willing to do? Thank you.

Thank you, Member for Yellowknife North. Minister responsible for Infrastructure.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Here we go again.

There's been no change since the Member last asked the question so the answer remains no. Thank you.

Thank you, Minister. Oral questions. Member for Inuvik Twin Lakes.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my questions are for the Minister of Infrastructure.

Can she give me a little brief update on when is the project at the Inuvik Airport going to be starting construction like beyond what it's already done now? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Member for Inuvik Twin Lakes. Minister responsible for Infrastructure.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, let's just get all surprise questions here, and I'll give it my best to be able to answer.

The Inuvik Airport ATB, the extension and the apron work and a lot of the projects, are ongoing. We are still having discussions with the contractor, and until we have an update I'd be able to provide the Member. Thank you.

Thank you, Minister. Oral questions. Member for -- oral questions. Written questions. Member for Frame Lake.

Merci, Monsieur le President.

Project Assessment Policy Review

My questions are for the Minister of Lands with lead responsibility for the Government of the Northwest Territories Project Assessment Policy.

In its report on the environmental assessment of the Tlicho All-Season Road, the review board made the observation that the GNWT whole-of-government approach to participation "has limited the ability of evidence and expertise from GNWT departments about the potential impacts, concerns, and mitigations on issues within their respective mandates and jurisdictions."

A lessons-learned evaluation on the GNWT's participation in the review process advised that a whole-of-government approach "cannot be successful without an explicit commitment to greater transparency and evidence-based decision-making."

Can the Minister explain the status of the process underway to revise the Project Assessment Policy, and

1. How the review will address the criticism that the whole-of-government approach muzzles scientists and subject experts preventing their presentation of evidence vital to the identification and assessment of environmental effects;
2. The timeline for completion of the review of the Project Assessment Policy;
3. How the review will provide opportunities for public engagement into the review of the Project Assessment Policy including reporting of public input and GNWT responses; and
4. How the input of Indigenous governments and co-management bodies will be solicited and incorporated into any revisions to the Project Assessment Policy?

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.

I have a second one.

My question is for the Minister of Industry, Tourism and Investment.

The department offers an extensive range of programs and subsidies for the mining industry, including:

• The Mining Incentive Program;
• Work requirement and lease payment waivers;
• A prospecting support program;
• A work credit program that gives mineral claim holders 150 percent credit for exploration work to keep mining claims in good standing; and
• Other programs.

Meanwhile, the department is developing new regulations to implement the new Mineral Resources Act, including royalties, fees, and other government revenues and charges.

Can the Minister provide a brief explanation for each of the programs and subsidies for mining provided by the Government of the Northwest Territories, and:

1. What are the calculated costs to the GNWT for each of the above programs, including administrative costs since devolution;
2. What are the lost value of exploration expenditures and work as result of the waivers, work credit program, and other subsidies since devolution;
3. What is the direct and indirect economic impact of the GNWT programs and subsidies for mining; and
4. Provide an explanation of how the costs and economic impacts of the mining programs and subsidies will be considered during the development of regulations under the Mineral Resources Act.

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Member for Frame Lake. Written questions. Returns to written questions. Replies to the Commissioner's address. Petitions. Reports of committees on the review of bills. Reports of standing and special committees. Tabling of documents. Notices of motion. Motions. Notices of motion for the first reading of bills. First reading of bills. Second reading of bills. Consideration in Committee of the Whole of bills and other matters: Bill 23, 29, and 38; Committee Report 24-19(2), Minister's Statement 202-19(2); Tabled Document 561-19(2), Tabled Document 567, 578, 579-19(2).

By the authority given to me as Speaker by Motion 1-19(2), I hereby authorize the House to sit beyond the daily hour of adjournment to consider the business before the House, with Member for Inuvik Twin Lakes in the chair.

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What is the wish of committee? Member for Frame Lake.

Does committee agree?

Thank you, committee. We will now take a short recess.

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Committee, we've agreed to consider Tabled Document 561-19(2): Main Estimates 2022-2023, Department of Industry, Tourism and Investment. Does the Minister of Industry, Tourism and Investment have any opening remarks?

Yes, I do, Madam Chair.

I am pleased to present the 2022-2023 Main Estimates for the Department of Industry, Tourism and Investment. Overall, the Department's estimates propose a decrease of $364,000, or 0.6 percent, under the 2021-2022 Main Estimates. These estimates support the mandate objectives for ITI while continuing to meet the GNWT's fiscal objectives to prioritize responsible and strategic spending.

Highlights of these proposed estimates include:

• Initiative funding totaling $2.05 million, which includes:
• $1.07 million to continue our support of the tourism sector under Tourism 2025 towards the five-year investment strategy for the tourism sector;
• $389,000 to support the continuation of advancing the knowledge economy;
• $300,000 to increase funding in support of the Mining Incentive Program to stimulate prospecting and exploration and increase resource exploration and development in the territory;
• $188,000 to support and develop the Northwest Territories agriculture sector, including financial support for commercial operators and Canadian Agricultural Partnership contributions; and
• $100,000 to support Indigenous capacity building in the resource sector in all Northwest Territories regions, to build awareness and understanding of resource sector project lifecycles, as well as training for Indigenous Northerners to participate in the resource sector.
• Forced growth funding of $169,000 for parks operations utilities to keep up with increases in usage and inflation;
• And other adjustments of $236,000 comprised of $804,000 for collective agreement increases;
• Offset by a reduction to the travel budget of $568,000; and
• Sunsets of $3.21 million.

These estimates continue to support the priorities of the 19th Legislative Assembly and supports the vision of Budget 2022, notably by:

• A regional approach to service delivery, where many of the department's programs are delivered in partnership with community organizations to support regional decision making and increasing employment in small communities;
• Focusing on economic diversification by supporting growth in a variety of sectors establishing regional economic development plans to increase economic opportunities across the Northwest Territories;
• Advancing the GNWT's procurement review and implementation, including the Business Incentive Policy, to ensure government procurement and contracting maximizes benefits to Northwest Territories residents and businesses;
• Public engagement on the royalty review discussion paper developed in collaboration with the Intergovernmental Council, in support of the development of the Mineral Resources Act Regulations, and review of the socio-economic agreement program to support adopting a benefit retention approach to economic development; and.
• Construction of the Hay River fish plant, and collaboration with the Ministers of Health and Social Services, Environment and Natural Resources, and Executive and Indigenous Affairs to support increasing food security through locally produced, harvested, and affordable food.

That concludes my opening remarks.

Thank you, Minister. Do you wish to bring witnesses into the House?

Yes.

Thank you. Sergeant-at-Arms, please escort the witnesses into the House.

Minister, would you please introduce your witnesses.

Thank you, Madam Chair. Madam Chair, on your right is Pamela Strand, who is deputy minister; and on the left is Nina Salvador, who is the director of finance.

Thank you. Welcome. The committee has agreed to forego general comments. Does the committee agree to proceed to the detail contained in the Tabled Document? Committee, we will defer the departmental summary and review the estimates by activity summary beginning with corporate management starting on page 208 with information items on page 210.

Questions? Any questions from Members? Member for Yellowknife North.

Thank you, Madam Chair. I was just hoping we could get an update on the MRA implementation and the MRA regulations and just whether that work is on track and when we can expect the MRA to come into force. Thank you.