Thank you, Member from the Deh Cho. Notices of motion. Member from the Deh Cho.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I give notice that on Wednesday, February 28th, 2024, I will move the following motion:

I move, seconded by the Member from Range Lake, that the the Government of the Northwest Territories acknowledge housing as a human right by amending the Housing Northwest Territories Act to enshrine the right to housing in legislation;

And furthermore, that the Government of the Northwest Territories establish a Northwest Territories housing forum in legislation to provide recommendations and advice to the Minister;

And furthermore, that the Government of the Northwest Territories leverage the Northwest Territories housing forum to improve access to federal funding and implement culturally-appropriate housing solutions in collaboration with Indigenous governments;

And furthermore, that the Government of the Northwest Territories collaborate with the Northwest Territories housing forum to bring homes out of core need within the earliest timeframe;

And furthermore, that the Government establish a territorial housing advocate in legislation to review and evaluate the outcomes of the Housing Northwest Territories Act;

And furthermore, that the Government of the Northwest Territories provide a comprehensive response to this motion within 120 days.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Member from the Deh Cho. Notices of motion. Motions. Notices of motion for the first reading of bills. First reading of bills. Minister of Finance.

Thank you, Minister of Finance. Pursuant to Rule 8.2(3), Bill 4 is deemed to have had first reading and is ready for second reading. First reading of bills. Second reading of bills. Minister of Justice.

Mr. Speaker, I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Inuvik Twin Lakes, that Bill 2, Missing Persons Act, be read for the second time.

The proposed Missing Persons Act will enhance the RCMP's ability to investigate missing persons cases and will allow them to move more quickly with these investigations.

The bill also reflects the commitment made by the Government of the Northwest Territories to develop missing persons legislation as set out in the government's response to the Calls for Justice of the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Minister. The motion is in order. To the principle of the bill.

Question has been called. Bill 2 is ready for second reading. All those in favour? Opposed? Abstentions? The motion is carried. Bill 2 has been read a second time, and it's referred to a standing committee of the Assembly for further consideration.

---Carried

Second reading of bills. Minister of Finance.

Mr. Speaker, I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Hay River South, that Bill 4, Interim Appropriation Act (Operations Expenditures) 2024-2025, be read for the second time.

This bill authorizes the Government of the Northwest Territories to make interim appropriations for operations expenditures for the 2024-2025 fiscal year. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

(audio) All those in favour? All those opposed? Motion has passed. Bill 4 has been read for a second time.

---Carried

Second reading of bills. Consideration in Committee of the Whole of bills and other matters; Minister's Statement 4-20(1), Minister's Statement 5-20(1), Minister's Statement 17-20(1), Tabled Document 28-20(1), Tabled Document 29-20(1), with the Member from Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh in the chair.

Thank you. Call committee to order. I now call Committee of the Whole to order. What is the wish of committee? With the Member for Inuvik Boot Lake.

Thank you. Does committee agree?

Thank you, committee. Your committee will proceed with the first item. Thank you. And we'll take a short recess and resume in 20 minutes.

---SHORT RECESS

Thank you. We're going to start up. Do we have quorum? We do have quorum? Okay. Order.

Committee, we have agreed to consider Tabled Document 28-20(1), Supplementary Estimates (Infrastructure Expenditures), No. 3, 2023-2024. Does the Minister of Finance have any opening remarks? Yes, Member for Yellowknife South.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Mr. Chair, I am happy to present Tabled Document 28-20(1), Supplementary Estimates (Infrastructure. Expenditures), No. 3, 2023-2024. This document proposes a total decrease of $8.5 million, comprised of the following items:

• A decrease $18.5 million for infrastructure contribution funding to reflect changes in the timing of planned expenditures for the Fort Providence-Kakisa Transmission Line and the Fort Simpson Liquefied Natural Gas Project;
• $1.3 million to provide funding for the Canada North Fibre Loop Project. This amount is partially offset by revenues received from the Government of the Yukon;
• $225,000 to provide funding for the implementation of a new database to support the professional licensing office. The net impact on government is zero as these expenditures are fully offset by revenues from the Medical Council of Canada;
• A decrease $17.7 million for infrastructure expenditures funding to reflect changes in the timing of planned expenditures for the Tulita Health and Social Services Centre, the Yellowknife Wellness and Recovery Centre, and Hay River Long-Term Care Facility;
• A decrease $1.4 million for infrastructure expenditures funding to reflect changes in the timing of planned expenditures for the Mineral Administration and Registry System;
• $200,000 to provide funding for the purchase of software to support geological analysis of carbon sequestration;
• A decrease $11.2 million for infrastructure expenditures funding to reflect changes in the timing of planned expenditures for the Redknife River Bridge Project, fuel services division fuel storage capacity, and the Mike Zubko Air Terminal Building; and,
• An increase of $38.6 million for infrastructure expenditures funding to reflect changes in the timing of planned expenditures for the Inuvik Runway Extension Project and the Inuvik airport surface structure adaptations for climate change.

That concludes opening remarks, Mr. Chair. Happy to answer questions from committee.

Thank you, Minister Wawzonek. Does the Minister of Finance wish to bring any witnesses forward? Does committee agree?

Thank you. Sergeant-at-arms, would you please escort the witness into the Chamber. Thank you.

Would the Minister please introduce your witnesses, please.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Mr. Chair, on my left is deputy minister Bill MacKay, and on my right is the deputy secretary to the financial management board Terence Courtoreille.

Thank you. I will open the floor for general comments, and I'll give you ten minutes for each Member to speak. Is there general comments from Members? Okay, don't see no further general comments, does the committee agree to proceed to detail contained in the tabled documents?