This is page numbers 3837 - 3896 of the Hansard for the 19th Assembly, 2nd Session. The original version can be accessed on the Legislative Assembly's website or by contacting the Legislative Assembly Library. The word of the day was indigenous.

Topics

The Chair

The Chair Lesa Semmler

Thank you. The motion is in order. To the motion?

Some Hon. Members

Question.

The Chair

The Chair Lesa Semmler

Question has been called. All those in favour? All those opposed? Abstentions? The motion's carried.

Consideration of the Department of Municipal and Community Affairs 2022-2023 Main Estimates, operating expenditures, total department is deferred.

---Carried

Thank you, Minister, and thank you to the witness who appeared before us. Sergeant-at-Arms, please escort the witness from the Chamber.

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

Caroline Cochrane

Caroline Cochrane Range Lake

[Audio Unavailable] 2022-2023 Main Estimates for the Department of Executive and Indigenous Affairs. Overall, the department's estimates propose a decrease of $314,000, or 1.4 percent, over the 2021-2022 Main Estimates.

These estimates support the mandate objectives for the Department of Executive and Indigenous Affairs while continuing to meet the GNWT's fiscal objectives to prioritize responsible and strategic spending.

Highlights of these proposed estimates include:

  • The sunset of $250,000 of funding appropriated for the hiring of external facilitators as well as staff travel costs to assist with the implementation of self-government, resource, and land claim agreements;
  • A $554,000 reduction to the departmental travel budget as part of a GNWT-wide reduction to appropriations for travel in order to reflect the requirement for duty travel during the COVID-19 pandemic;
  • An increased compensation and benefits funding of $499,000 to reflect the salary increases laid out in the new collective agreement with the Union of Northern Workers.

These estimates continue to support the priorities of the 19th Legislative Assembly and support the vision of budget 2022 by:

  • Funding the GNWT's negotiation and implementation efforts with respect to the conclusion of self-government, resource, and land claim agreements with Indigenous governments; and
  • Providing support to the departmental activities related to the implementation of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous People.

That concludes my opening remarks. Thank you, Madam Chair.

The Chair

The Chair Lesa Semmler

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

Caroline Cochrane

Caroline Cochrane Range Lake

Thank you, Madam Chair.

The Chair

The Chair Lesa Semmler

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

Would the Minister please introduce her witnesses.

Caroline Cochrane

Caroline Cochrane Range Lake

Thank you, Madam Chair. On my left is -- right/left, Martin Goldney, the deputy minister of Executive and Indigenous Affairs. And on the right is Ms. Lauren Alexandra, the director of shared corporate services with the Executive and Indigenous Affairs. Thank you, Madam Chair.

The Chair

The Chair Lesa Semmler

Thank you, and welcome. Committee has agreed to forego general comments. Does committee agree to proceed to the detail contained in the Tabled Document?

Some Hon. Members

Agreed.

The Chair

The Chair Lesa Semmler

Thank you, committee. Committee, we will defer the departmental summary and review the estimates by activity beginning with Cabinet support, starting on page 112 with information on page 114. Questions?

Executive and Indigenous Affairs, Cabinet support, operations expenditure summary, 2022-2023 Main Estimates, $2,310,000. Does committee agree?

Some Hon. Members

Agreed.

The Chair

The Chair Lesa Semmler

Thank you.

We will now go to Executive and Indigenous affairs corporate communications on page 116. Questions?

Seeing no questions, Executive and Indigenous Affairs, corporate communications, operations expenditure summary, 2022-2023 Main Estimates, $1,512,000. Does committee agree?

Some Hon. Members

Agreed.

The Chair

The Chair Lesa Semmler

Thank you. Please turn to page 119, Executive and Indigenous Affairs, directorate. Any questions under the directorate? Member for Yellowknife North.

Rylund Johnson

Rylund Johnson Yellowknife North

Thank you, Madam Chair. I believe this $2.7 million under regional operations is where we find our government service officers. I've heard great things about the government service officers, and I believe they are now in most communities who desire them. I understand there was a bit of a review to be done on the staffing of those positions, and I'll note that, you know, some places, I think Behchoko was an example where they are overworked and then some are halftime and perhaps, you know, not as much in demand. Can I just get an update on the review of government service officers? Thank you.

The Chair

The Chair Lesa Semmler

Thank you. Honourable Premier.

Caroline Cochrane

Caroline Cochrane Range Lake

Thank you, Madam Chair. For that one, I'll turn it to Martin Goldney. Thank you, Madam Chair.

The Chair

The Chair Lesa Semmler

Thank you. Deputy minister Goldney.

Goldney

Thank you, Madam Chair. So that work and review is ongoing and we constantly monitor the work loads for GSOs. And with reference to Behchoko, we are filling an extra position there, recognizing, for the time being, the workload, and we will continue to monitor that arrangement. Thank you, Madam Chair.

The Chair

The Chair Lesa Semmler

Thank you. Member for Yellowknife North.

Rylund Johnson

Rylund Johnson Yellowknife North

Thank you, Madam Chair. I'm glad to hear about that extra position. I guess the giant question always here is whether there is any plans to expand government service officers into Yellowknife or, given the few years that this has been running and the success of it, whether there's some lessons learned and a transition to perhaps a Service GNWT model; is any of that work planned? Thank you, Madam Chair.

The Chair

The Chair Lesa Semmler

Thank you. Minister.

Caroline Cochrane

Caroline Cochrane Range Lake

Thank you, Madam Chair. No, not during this term of this government. In Yellowknife, we have a lot more services. We have the integrated service delivery model which provides people that are struggling to be able to get things. We are moving that into all departments. The government service officers are really to help people -- mostly our elders in smaller communities to be able to access services. Thank you, Madam Chair.

The Chair

The Chair Lesa Semmler

Thank you. Member for Great Slave.