Thank you. I'll go back to the Minister.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Mr. Chair, I certainly have looked back at data and charts going all the way to 2005, and there's a few years which is right around the time when the mines were being built that things were relatively flat, but the increase over the 16th Assembly, the 17th Assembly, the 18th Assembly show a steady -- in fact, 16th has a particularly strong spike up, and then a sort of steady increase in debt levels through the 17th and 18th. 19th, again, sort of steady the first couple of years, spikes up a little over the wildfire year, not surprisingly, and now we are, as of this moment and projecting forward, looking to level that out. So, I mean, I can't necessarily compare dollar for dollar what might have been the budget at one time some time ago but just in terms of that debt, the growth of the debt, it does, as I say, have -- you know, there is a trajectory that you can look at. We then can also look at the gap or a lack of gap between revenues and expenditures, and that, too, over time tends to be pretty similar. You will see that we -- again, devolution saw a little bit of a bump in terms of revenues, but expenditures very quickly caught up in the 18th Assembly. And again, we're trying to create a bit of space now, be really one of the first times we create some consistent and intentional space between our revenues and expenditures. So the risk management of that, Mr. Chair, I -- you know, again, that's largely what Restoring Balance is premised on, is trying to create a culture and an approach that is about not simply increasing even with a debt limit increase. I realize the time; it's probably run out, Mr. Chair. It was kind of a complex question; I was trying to summarize as quickly as I could. Thank you.

Okay, thank you. Is there any further questions on these schedules from Members? Okay, thank you. Seeing no further questions, please turn to page 18.

Government of the Northwest Territories Supplementary Estimates (Operations Expenditures), No. 2, 2024-2025, Department of Finance, revised borrowing authorization, total government borrowing authorization, proposed adjustments, $50 million. Does the committee agree?

Thank you, committee. Do you agree that you have concluded consideration of tabled Document 279-20(1), Supplementary Estimates (Operations Expenditures), No. 2, 2024-2025?

I'd like to turn to the member from Inuvik Boot Lake.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Mr. Chair, I move that consideration of Tabled Document 279-20(1), Supplementary Estimates (Operations Expenditures), No. 2, 2024-2025, be now concluded and that the tabled Document 279-20(1) be reported and recommended as ready for further consideration in formal session through the form of an appropriation bill. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

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

Question has been called. All those in favour? All those opposed? Okay, motion carried. Thank you. Tabled Document 279-20(1) Estimates (Operations Expenditures), No. 2, 2024-2025, will be reported as ready for consideration in formal session through the form of an appropriation bill.

---Carried

Thank you, Minister, and thank you to the witnesses for appearing before us. Sergeant-at-arms, please escort the witnesses from the chambers.

Thank you. What is the wish of the committee? I'm going to go to the member from Inuvik Boot Lake.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Mr. Chair, I move that the chair rise and report progress. Thank you.

Thank you. There's a motion on the floor to report progress. The motion is in order and non-debatable. All those in favour? All those opposed? Motion carried.

---Carried

I will now rise and report progress. Thank you.

---SHORT RECESS

Mr. Speaker, your committee has been considering Tabled Document 279-20(1), and that motion's carried and that Tabled Document 279-20(1) is concluded, and that the House concur and these estimates are as amended. And that an appropriation bill be based thereon be introduced without delay. And Mr. Speaker, I move that the Report of the Committee of the Whole be concurred with. Thank you.

Thank you, Member from Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh. Can I have a seconder? Ah, may as well do it. The Member from Range Lake. All those in favour? Opposed? Abstentions? Motion passed.

---Carried

Third reading of bills. Orders of the day, Mr. Clerk.

Thank you, Mr. Clerk. This House stands adjourned until Tuesday, February 11th, 2025, at 1:30 p.m.

---ADJOURNMENT

The House adjourned at 5:34 p.m.