And for compensation and benefits, okay, so that's a number of staff, that's the staff that we have here. Like, 89 in headquarters. So that represents that number, the budget? North Slave is four -- I mean, I'm just trying -- those are -- the one below is GSO.

Thank you.

And all these jobs are -- besides GSO, is there any other jobs that's allocated in small communities? Like, I know we have GSO. I know Tlicho community have four GSO. I just wanted to know if there was any other jobs, a high level, like -- you know, not regional -- well, hopefully regional. You know, like I just wanted to know if there were other jobs that were allocated in Tlicho region. Thank you.

Thank you. I'm going to go to the Minister of EIA.

Thank you. So in this division, I don't believe so. But we have -- or sorry, I guess the PUB is -- we do have someone in the PUB in Hay River. So that's one example. Thank you.

Thank you. I'm going to go to the Member from Monfwi.

Okay. Since we're still on this -- well, no -- regional allocations, Cabinet support, so community allocation, so headquarter regional offices. Where are these regional offices? Because it says six, is that in -- like, I know there's nothing in Tlicho because we're still part of the North Slave. So there's a South Slave. There's Dehcho. Sahtu. Are these jobs allocated in these regions?

Thank you. I'm going to go to the Minister of EIA.

Thank you. So I believe we're still -- we're in Cabinet support right now? That's where I sort of lost track of where things are going there.

we're still on (audio)

I just want to clarify that we're still on corporate communication. And so that's where -- we're on page 132. I'll continue on. Do you have any further questions on corporate communications? Thank you.

We're still on the community -- we're still on Cabinet support, because I'm looking at community allocation on page 129. So there's the headquarters. There's ten. But the active position here for the -- it's different, that's what I'm referring to.

(audio).

Okay.

Thank you. We just concluded Cabinet supports over on communication, corporate communications. Okay, I think next Member, I think Member from the Sahtu.

Yeah, thank you, Mr. Chair. I too wanted to add to my colleague, Inuvik Boot Lake, is the fact that if we're going to build relationships with our Indigenous community, that position as regional director as we previously mentioned last week -- I believe it was -- that position covers 13 out of 33 communities and represents the government in three settled land claim jurisdictions. So it just adds to the importance of the role and the functions of the role and, in particular, representing this government in those jurisdictions. So I just emphasize the need, and, for the record, I support the quicker the better we can fill this regional director position to help bridge the gap on communications and relationships and partnerships and dialogue for improvement to the 20th Assembly. Mahsi.

Thank you. I'll go to the Minister of EIA.

Sure, I won't comment. I believe that's in the previous section so I'll just -- I don't want to -- the puck drops in about an hour so I don't want to take up too much time with going back. Thank you.

Okay, thank you. Any further questions? Okay, don't see no further questions. I'll continue on.

Executive and Indigenous Affairs, corporate communications, operations expenditure summary, 2024-2025 Main Estimates, $1,417,000. Does the committee agree?

Thank you. Moving on to directorate beginning on page 133 with information items on page 135 to 137. Are there any questions? I'm going to go to the Member for Frame Lake.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I do have questions on this one, again related to the business plan, which contains all the juicy information, page 72 in this case. So there's a couple items in there with relation to a negotiating self-government and other Indigenous rights agreements. And so the first question I'll ask on that is just the actions to support the mandate commitment, is EIA working with departments who will review the GNWT principles and interests to explore possible updates? You know, I just -- I would note to the Premier that it seems at face value as a bit of an underwhelming commitment. It doesn't seem like a strong commitment to kind of get these agreements done. So I was just wanting to -- if the Premier or department could kind of speak to this item and what they are looking to achieve with it and what their goals are for the term of this Assembly with relation to self-government and Indigenous rights agreements. Thanks.

Thank you. I'm going to go to the Minister of EIA.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. So I think we're skipping ahead a couple sections this time, but I will say that in terms of the negotiations when it comes to the budget, I think that we can do what we need to do within the budget. I've been meeting with the negotiators. I've been talking to the departments. I've been expressing my views on how we need to proceed. And I've been meeting with Indigenous governments. And the department will be bringing forward options to try and get by some of these roadblocks on some of these negotiations. Thank you.