Thank you. Minister of ITI.

Thank you, Madam Chair. So, Madam Chair, this is just the Business Development Investment Corporation, and it's just -- so the 15 staff mentioned here are really just for the BDIC. And they do -- a lot of their work, while based in headquarters, they support staff, ITI staff who will deliver their frontline work out in communities through the EDO offices that are based in communities around the Northwest Territories. And at this point, there's no intention necessarily to change the fundamental functioning of the BDIC. There is a lot of work underway right now to change -- well, to change their act for one, which I believe is before the House. There's a new corporate plan out for them. And there's a real drive to try to look at better positioning the range and the scope of business supports for micro lending through to the larger lending, which is what BDIC would be responsible for on a Northwest Territories scale.

As for the reorganization fundamentally of the administrative regions of the Government of the Northwest Territories, that is not something that I'm aware that there's any, you know, effort or initiative underway to fundamentally do that. That would be a fairly significant restructuring that would be fairly costly and would have to involve all the departments. Thank you, Madam Chair.

Thank you. Are there any further questions from Members on these information items? Seeing none, please return now to the departmental summary found on page 221, revenue summary, information items on page 222. Questions?

Committee, I will call the departmental summary. Industry, Tourism and Investment, operations expenditure, total department, 2023-2024 Main Estimates, $61,476,000. Member for Frame Lake.

Thanks, Madam Chair. I move that we defer further consideration of the estimates for the Department of Industry, Tourism and Investment at this time. Merci, Madam la Presidente.

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

Question has been called. All those in favour? All those opposed? All those abstaining? The motion is carried. Consideration of the Department of Industry, Tourism and Investment, 2023-2024 Main Estimates, operating expenditures, total department, is deferred.

---Carried

Thank you, Minister. Thank you to the witnesses for appearing before us. Sergeant-at-arms, please escort the witnesses from the Chamber. We will take a short recess.

---SHORT RECESS

I now call Committee of the Whole back to order. Committee, we've agreed to consider Tabled Document 813-19(2), 2023-2024 Main Estimates. We will now consider the Department of Executive and Indigenous Affairs. Does the Premier have any opening remarks?

Yes, I do, Madam Chair.

Go ahead.

I am here to present the 2023-2024 Main Estimates for the Department of Executive and Indigenous Affairs. Overall, the 2023-2024 Main Estimates continue to support the priorities of the 19th Legislative Assembly and vision of Budget 2023, by:

• Funding the GNWT's negotiation and implementation efforts with respect to the conclusion of self-government, resource and land claims agreements with Indigenous governments; and,

• Providing support for the departmental activities related to the implementation of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.

The Department's main estimates propose a one percent decrease from the 2022-2023 Main Estimates. This is based on a $120,000 reduction to the overall contract services budget to better reflect actual expenditures that the department has incurred year over year as there have historically been surplus amounts in this budget category. These main estimates support the mandate objectives for the Department of Executive and Indigenous Affairs while continuing to meet the government's fiscal objectives to prioritize responsible and strategic spending. That concludes my opening statements. Thank you, Madam Chair.

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

Thank you, I do. Thank you.

Thank you. Sergeant-at-arms, please escort the witnesses into the Chamber. Madam Premier, please introduce your witnesses.

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

Thank you. Welcome. Committee has agreed to forego general comments. Does committee agree to proceed to the detail contained in the tabled document?

Okay. Committee, we will defer the departmental summary and review the estimates by activity summary beginning with cabinet support, starting on page 124 with information items on page 125. Questions? Member for Frame Lake.

Thanks, Madam Chair. Can I get an update as to where we're at with an offshore accord? Thanks, Madam Chair.

Thank you. Madam Premier.

Thank you. Thank you, Madam Chair. The last I heard was the federal government was going to be -- the federal government extended their moratorium on the offshore. There's no doubt about that. They had scientific review that was done. The next steps were to be working with the Inuvialuit Regional Corporation membership to review that scientific review and then process would carry forward with the accord. The accord is three parties. The federal government -- well, four. The federal government, the Northwest Territories, Yukon, and the Inuvialuit Regional Corporation. So we're still waiting for the scientific review to be reviewed. Thank you, Madam Chair.

Thank you. Member for Frame Lake.

Thanks, Madam Chair. I don't really understand why an offshore accord needs to wait for these other things. Can the Premier shed some light on that for me? Thanks, Madam Chair.

Thank you, Member. Madam Premier.