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

Committee Motion 196-19(2): Motion 196-19(2):Tabled Document 561-19(2): Main Estimates 2022-2023 - Municipal and Community Affairs - Deferral of Department, Carried
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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Caroline Cochrane

Caroline Cochrane Range Lake

Absolutely. Thank you, Madam Chair. Thank you for giving me the opportunity because I had it down here, and now you gave me another chance at it.

So, yes, through the COVID days, we did have federal ministers in the last budget that wanted to come to the NWT, especially with the childcare agreement that was to be signed and big events like that, that wanted to come here, but they couldn't travel here because of COVID and our restrictions here, which was the right choice of the CPHO. However, now it's opened up, and we have invited every single federal minister, plus our prime minister to the NWT, and we are looking forward to a lot of them coming over the summer. As they come, I will be informing Members. I'm expecting that we will be doing as much publicity as possible. It's important, however in saying that, I also want the Members to know that our goal -- and I've talked to Cabinet -- is to get them out of Yellowknife. Yellowknife does not -- Yellowknife is our capital city but it does not reflect the NWT as what we have here. So we will be trying to get them into smaller communities, more northern communities, small communities, so that they can see the North as it is, to understand the strengths and the disparities that we have in the NWT. Thank you, Madam Chair.

Committee Motion 196-19(2): Motion 196-19(2):Tabled Document 561-19(2): Main Estimates 2022-2023 - Municipal and Community Affairs - Deferral of Department, Carried
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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The Chair

The Chair Lesa Semmler

Thank you. Are there any further questions from Members under the executive council offices?

Seeing none, executive and Indigenous Affairs, executive council offices, operations expenditure summary, 2022-2023 Main Estimates, $4,256,000. Does committee agree?

Committee Motion 196-19(2): Motion 196-19(2):Tabled Document 561-19(2): Main Estimates 2022-2023 - Municipal and Community Affairs - Deferral of Department, Carried
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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Some Hon. Members

Agreed.

Committee Motion 196-19(2): Motion 196-19(2):Tabled Document 561-19(2): Main Estimates 2022-2023 - Municipal and Community Affairs - Deferral of Department, Carried
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

March 8th, 2022

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The Chair

The Chair Lesa Semmler

Thank you, committee. Executive and Indigenous Affairs, Indigenous and intergovernmental affairs. Member for Kam Lake.

Committee Motion 196-19(2): Motion 196-19(2):Tabled Document 561-19(2): Main Estimates 2022-2023 - Municipal and Community Affairs - Deferral of Department, Carried
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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Caitlin Cleveland

Caitlin Cleveland Kam Lake

Thank you very much, Madam Chair. Madam Chair, I'm on page 126. The first line item is aboriginal consultation relations. During the 2021-2022 Actuals, we saw about half a million dollars more in expenditures, and I'm wondering if the Premier can speak to what that went towards. Thank you.

Committee Motion 196-19(2): Motion 196-19(2):Tabled Document 561-19(2): Main Estimates 2022-2023 - Municipal and Community Affairs - Deferral of Department, Carried
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 3856

The Chair

The Chair Lesa Semmler

Thank you. Honourable Premier.

Committee Motion 196-19(2): Motion 196-19(2):Tabled Document 561-19(2): Main Estimates 2022-2023 - Municipal and Community Affairs - Deferral of Department, Carried
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 3856

Caroline Cochrane

Caroline Cochrane Range Lake

Thank you, Madam Chair. For that level of detail, I'd like to turn it to Lauren. Thank you, Madam Chair.

Committee Motion 196-19(2): Motion 196-19(2):Tabled Document 561-19(2): Main Estimates 2022-2023 - Municipal and Community Affairs - Deferral of Department, Carried
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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The Chair

The Chair Lesa Semmler

Thank you. Ms. Alexandra.

Committee Motion 196-19(2): Motion 196-19(2):Tabled Document 561-19(2): Main Estimates 2022-2023 - Municipal and Community Affairs - Deferral of Department, Carried
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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Alexandra

Thank you. Yes, so overall a decrease of almost a half a million dollars. There was supplementary funding that was appropriated in 2020-2021 totalling $300,000 to increase the amount provided under the aboriginal intergovernmental meetings grant. This funding was a one-time increase; however, the department intends to provide similar amounts of funding for this grant through internal resources so that it's maintained. There was also a deficit in the division in 2020-2021 of a little over $200,000 due to two double-filled positions for portions of the year in order to accommodate increased consultation activities. Thank you, Madam Chair.

Committee Motion 196-19(2): Motion 196-19(2):Tabled Document 561-19(2): Main Estimates 2022-2023 - Municipal and Community Affairs - Deferral of Department, Carried
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 3856

The Chair

The Chair Lesa Semmler

Thank you. Member for Kam Lake.

Committee Motion 196-19(2): Motion 196-19(2):Tabled Document 561-19(2): Main Estimates 2022-2023 - Municipal and Community Affairs - Deferral of Department, Carried
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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Caitlin Cleveland

Caitlin Cleveland Kam Lake

Thank you very much, Madam Chair. So then does this key activity meet an increase in resources then to achieve its mandate? Does the -- or sorry, do the resources allocated to this key activity allow EIA to accomplish its goals as far as mandate items? Thank you.

Committee Motion 196-19(2): Motion 196-19(2):Tabled Document 561-19(2): Main Estimates 2022-2023 - Municipal and Community Affairs - Deferral of Department, Carried
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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The Chair

The Chair Lesa Semmler

Thank you. Honourable Premier.

Committee Motion 196-19(2): Motion 196-19(2):Tabled Document 561-19(2): Main Estimates 2022-2023 - Municipal and Community Affairs - Deferral of Department, Carried
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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Caroline Cochrane

Caroline Cochrane Range Lake

Thank you, Madam Chair. No, at this point, we don't. As stated, we will find the money internally to move it forward. Thank you, Madam Chair.

Committee Motion 196-19(2): Motion 196-19(2):Tabled Document 561-19(2): Main Estimates 2022-2023 - Municipal and Community Affairs - Deferral of Department, Carried
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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The Chair

The Chair Lesa Semmler

Thank you. Member for Kam Lake.

Committee Motion 196-19(2): Motion 196-19(2):Tabled Document 561-19(2): Main Estimates 2022-2023 - Municipal and Community Affairs - Deferral of Department, Carried
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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Caitlin Cleveland

Caitlin Cleveland Kam Lake

Yeah, thank you, Madam Chair. One of the -- well, one of the mandate items obviously is to settle I think we had said two land claims over the course of this Assembly, and if we're not giving one of our most important, or I guess they're all very important to us, but one of our strongest mandate items the resources that it needs, is EIA, being a smaller department, able to fulfill that mandate item by pulling those funds internally without them being allocated at this stage in the game? Thank you.

Committee Motion 196-19(2): Motion 196-19(2):Tabled Document 561-19(2): Main Estimates 2022-2023 - Municipal and Community Affairs - Deferral of Department, Carried
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 3856

The Chair

The Chair Lesa Semmler

Thank you. Honourable Premier.

Committee Motion 196-19(2): Motion 196-19(2):Tabled Document 561-19(2): Main Estimates 2022-2023 - Municipal and Community Affairs - Deferral of Department, Carried
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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Caroline Cochrane

Caroline Cochrane Range Lake

Thank you, Madam Chair. At this point, we do project that we should be -- we shall be fine. We'd be able to continue with things. But it's important to note, I think, that the monies that we spend on consultations with Indigenous governments changes every year and it's based on -- some of that is based on negotiations and the travel that we do with them. Some of it is based on what we call bilaterals, which is the groups that -- the meetings that we have regularly with -- annually or biannually with Indigenous governments. Some years, it all happens in Yellowknife and then we have to pay for them all to come here, which is very expensive, and other years, like this year coming up, it happens in their communities and so we go there, which is actually more affordable for us. So this year, we should be fine. Next year, I'm not sure. Thank you, Madam Chair.

Committee Motion 196-19(2): Motion 196-19(2):Tabled Document 561-19(2): Main Estimates 2022-2023 - Municipal and Community Affairs - Deferral of Department, Carried
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 3856

The Chair

The Chair Lesa Semmler

Thank you. Member for Kam Lake.

Committee Motion 196-19(2): Motion 196-19(2):Tabled Document 561-19(2): Main Estimates 2022-2023 - Municipal and Community Affairs - Deferral of Department, Carried
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 3856

Caitlin Cleveland

Caitlin Cleveland Kam Lake

Thank you very much, Madam Chair. I'm wondering if the Premier can speak to whether or not this mandate item or this mandate commitment, rather, is on track? Thank you.

Committee Motion 196-19(2): Motion 196-19(2):Tabled Document 561-19(2): Main Estimates 2022-2023 - Municipal and Community Affairs - Deferral of Department, Carried
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 3856

The Chair

The Chair Lesa Semmler

Thank you. Honourable Premier.

Committee Motion 196-19(2): Motion 196-19(2):Tabled Document 561-19(2): Main Estimates 2022-2023 - Municipal and Community Affairs - Deferral of Department, Carried
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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Caroline Cochrane

Caroline Cochrane Range Lake

By that mandate, I'm assuming have two negotiated agreements by the end of this term. We are very hopeful they are on track. Yeah, we're -- we are presuming that we will still have two at a minimum, and we're hoping for more. But like it's been said, things change day-to-day, leaders change, negotiation mandates change. We are doing the work currently right now. It's part of our mandate as well to look at the core principles and objectives, and I'm really -- I'm really hopeful that once we release that work that we will have more movement and hopefully address some of the trust issues I think that are at those tables. Thank you, Madam Chair.

Committee Motion 196-19(2): Motion 196-19(2):Tabled Document 561-19(2): Main Estimates 2022-2023 - Municipal and Community Affairs - Deferral of Department, Carried
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 3856

The Chair

The Chair Lesa Semmler

Thank you, Honourable Premier. Member for Kam Lake.

Committee Motion 196-19(2): Motion 196-19(2):Tabled Document 561-19(2): Main Estimates 2022-2023 - Municipal and Community Affairs - Deferral of Department, Carried
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 3856

Caitlin Cleveland

Caitlin Cleveland Kam Lake

Thank you very much, Madam Chair. I believe that committee was expecting to see the core principles in 2021, and I'm wondering if the -- or the Premier, rather, sorry, can speak to the new expected timeline on that piece. Thank you.

Committee Motion 196-19(2): Motion 196-19(2):Tabled Document 561-19(2): Main Estimates 2022-2023 - Municipal and Community Affairs - Deferral of Department, Carried
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 3856

The Chair

The Chair Lesa Semmler

Thank you, Member. Honourable Premier.

Committee Motion 196-19(2): Motion 196-19(2):Tabled Document 561-19(2): Main Estimates 2022-2023 - Municipal and Community Affairs - Deferral of Department, Carried
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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Caroline Cochrane

Caroline Cochrane Range Lake

Thank you, Madam Chair. I always say promise -- I can't even remember it right now. But don't promise too much and hope you can deliver better, is basically the philosophy. So what I can say is we just met with Cabinet on looking at them on our core principles and objectives. We're finalizing that work. That should be done fairly soon after session. I would presume that within -- and of course, we would provide a briefing to Members on that. And then I would presume, Martin might shoot me, but within the next six months that we should be able to have those released, the core principles objectives that the negotiating -- core principle and objectives for Indigenous governments. Thank you, Madam Chair.