Thank you Mr. Speaker. I would like to take a petition to demand a public inquiry into the Hay River-Kakisa-Enterprise wildfire. This petition does not strictly conform with our rules to be submitted as a petition, so I am submitting it as a tabled document. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Tabling of documents. Minister of Finance.

Mr. Speaker, I wish to table the following four documents: Supplementary Estimates (Infrastructure Expenditures), No. 3, 2023-2024; Supplementary Estimates (Operations Expenditures), No. 4, 2023-2024; Restoring Balance: A Fiscal Sustainability Strategy for the 20th Legislative Assembly; and, Evacuation Support Program Data as of February 14th, 2024. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Minister of finance. Tabling of documents. Member from Yellowknife North.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I am pleased to table the document entitled Priorities of the 20th Legislative Assembly. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Member from Yellowknife North. Tabling of documents. Notices of motion. Member from Yellowknife North.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I give notice that on Thursday, February 22nd, 2024, I will move the following motion:

Now therefore I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Hay River North, that the Member for Deh Cho, Sheryl Yakeleya; and, the Member for Sahtu, Daniel McNeely, are hereby chosen to be the deputy chairpersons of the Committee of the Whole. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Member from Yellowknife North. Notices of motions. Member from the Deh Cho.

Mr. Speaker, I give notice that on Thursday, February 22nd, 2024, I will move the following motion:

Now therefore I move, second by the Member for Yellowknife North, that the Government of the Northwest Territories provide a response to Tabled Document 27-20(1) and table it in this House within 120 days. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Member from the Deh Cho. Notice of motion. Member from Yellowknife Centre.

Thank you kindly, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I give notice that on Thursday, February 22nd, 2024, I will move the following motion:

Now therefore I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Kam Lake, that the following persons be recommended to the Commissioner of the Northwest Territories for appointment to the Northwest Territories Honours Advisory Council effective immediately for a term of three years:

• Ms. Jane Arychuk of Yellowknife; and,
• Ms. Denise McDonald of Inuvik.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Member from Yellowknife Centre. Notices of motion. Member from Yellowknife Centre.

Thank you again, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I give notice that on Thursday, February 22nd, 2024, I will move the following motion:

Now therefore I move, seconded by the Member for Kam Lake, that Ms. Renee Caron be appointed as the Equal Pay Commissioner in accordance with the Public Service Act by the Commissioner of the Northwest Territories as recommended by the Legislative Assembly;

And further, that the Speaker be authorized to communicate the effective date of the appointment to the Commissioner. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Member from Yellowknife Centre. Notice of motion. Motion. Notice of motion first reading of bills. Member from Yellowknife Centre.

Thank you, Member from Yellowknife Centre. Notice of motions for first reading of bills. First reading of bills. Second reading of bills. Consideration in Committee of the Whole and other matters. Minister's Statement 4-20(1), Minister's Statement 5-20(1), Tabled Document 13-20(1), Tabled Document 20-20(1), Tabled Document 29-20(1), with the Member from Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh in the chair.

I now call Committee of the Whole to order. What is the wish of committee?

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I would like to consider Interim Estimates Operations Expenditures April 1st to June 30th, 2024.

Thank you. Does committee agree?

Thank you, committee. We will proceed with the first item. Open the House --

At this time, we'll take a short break, 15-minute break, and we'll come back. Thank you.

---SHORT RECESS

Committee, we have agreed to consider Tabled Document 13-20(1), Interim Estimates Operating Expenditures April 1st to June 30, 2024. Minister, please proceed with your opening remarks.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Mr. Chair, I'm happy to be presenting this afternoon Tabled Document 13-20(1): Interim Estimates, (Operations Expenditures) , April 1st to June 30th, 2024, for the Government of the Northwest Territories. The interim estimates will allow public services to continue to be provided until the main estimates for the fiscal year have been fully debated and approved by the Legislative Assembly.

The estimates propose a total appropriation of $782 million for operations between April 1st and June 30th, 2024, and $1.3 billion in borrowing for the GNWT for the 2024-2025 fiscal year.

The last few years have been difficult for Northerners. Flooding, drought, wildfire events, and the global COVID pandemic have negatively impacted the government's financial capacity. In response to these challenges, the GNWT has updated its Fiscal Responsibility Policy to strengthen transparency and accountability, especially by linking the policy to the federally-imposed borrowing limit by requiring a $120 million cushion below the borrowing limit. In addition to this, our government renewal initiative continues to build a culture within the public service to maximize efficiency and value for money and aims to ensure that the GNWT does the right things at the right time in the right way.

The recently announced Fiscal Strategy of the 20th Legislative Assembly outlines the realities of the territory's fiscal situation and sets significant targets to help support the territory's economic recovery through the life of the 20th Legislative Assembly. The strategy represents our commitment to the territory's financial health and stability, not just for us but for future generations. These interim estimates will allow departments to integrate the priorities established by this Legislative Assembly into their 2024-2025 business plans and main estimates, which I will be bringing forward during the next sitting of the Legislative Assembly.

This concludes opening remarks. I would be happy to answer questions Members may have.

Thank you, Minister. Does the Minister of Finance wish to bring a witness into the House?