Thank you, Mr. Chair. Mr. Chair, contract dollars are -- so there's the department amount that's coming in as a percentage of the annual budget from 2023-2024 but the remaining -- but their contract amounts are coming in at full value which is going to allow departments to enter into contracts that will last potentially for the full year assuming further approval by the Legislative Assembly. Thank you.

Thank you, Minister. I'm going to go back to the Member of Great Slave.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I guess I -- I'll rephrase what I guess I'm trying to seek which is I do understand that it is for contracts that are based for the full fiscal year, but I'm curious as to whether that contract amount has increased from the previous fiscal year. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

I'll go to the Finance Minister.

Sorry, Mr. Chair, I'm having some trouble hearing. I think it is -- actually maybe I think Mr. Courtoreille heard it so let me pass it over to him, please.

Thank you. I'll go back to the Member of Great Slave -- oh, Mr. Courtoreille.

Going back to the Member of Great Slave.

Certainly. Thank you, Mr. Chair. So just for clarification, I wanted to say thank you to the Minister, I understand that contract dollars are being represented in these interim estimates as for a full year, which is fine and dandy. I'm just curious if that contract amount for fire suppression, such as aviation contracts, has increased for this year compared to the last? Thank you.

Go to Mr. Courtoreille.

Thank you. Going back to the Member of Great Slave.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. That's okay.

Is there any other Members? Member from Yellowknife Centre.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I'll just be brief. I think the -- if I understood the Member correctly, I think she was curious if it included the forced growth cost reflective of certain contracts, and I think that's ultimately the question that was being asked. And then I have a clearer -- a separate followup. Thank you.

Thank you. We'll go to the Minister of Finance.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. So no, Mr. Chair, at this point there's no increases to the contracts amounts. These are amounts that are based on 2023-2024. Any changes that would be potentially made, whether through forced growth initiatives or otherwise, would be reflected in the full main estimates which would be tabling in May/June.

Member of Yellowknife Centre.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. The further qualification to the overall thing is this is a 90-day estimate or interim estimate, and maybe for the public's sense and on the record, that is -- and we'll just say by way of example, the Assembly doesn't support the contract or initiative called the Widget. I'm not going to pick on anyone in particular because we don't want anyone to get the wrong message here. So if the Assembly chose to support the Widget initiative that had currently being the 90-day proposal but we decide to vote against it, delete it in the -- at the -- let's say the advancement of the mains in May/June, what would happen in that particular case just so the public understands that we're passing an interim but if there's further reflection on business moving forward. Thank you.

I'm going to go to the Finance Minister.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Mr. Chair, any -- I think this actually often does come up in asking why we can't do multi-year contracts or multi-year funding agreements. Every appropriation is a year over year appropriation for the government. So in other words, we get the ability to spend public dollars only based on one year at a time approved here by the Legislative Assembly. So when we come forward in May/June, if the Legislative Assembly decides not to approve something that in this interim period we had proceeded with based on past activities or past practice, then those contribution agreements usually include or have to include a line that says, you know, subject to the approval of the House. So it can at that time, you know, again, we now have the ability to enter these contracts but it's always subject to the approval of the House.

So if Members of the House were to decide that they wanted something removed, it is still -- it is still possible that that provision can be enacted to say that something wouldn't come forward. I, to be honest, though, I will also serve a bit of assurance to the public and to the partners that we have that does rarely happen. Generally, contracts and contribution agreements are with providers of services out in the public and it's not usually where I've seen that occur but, again, it certainly is -- it's at the will of this House, Mr. Chair. Thank you.

Thank you, Minister. Member of Yellowknife Centre. No further questions? Any further Members that want to -- don't see anybody. Okay, I'm going to continue on. Summary of interim estimates, item 3, Environment and Climate Change, appropriation authority required, $57,282,000. Does the committee agree?

Thank you. Committee, we will continue with the Department of Executive and Indigenous Affairs. And are there any questions? Don't see any. I'll continue on.

Summary of interim estimates, item 4, Executive and Indigenous Affairs, appropriation authority required, $6,715,000. Does the committee agree?