Thank you, Mr. Chair. I'm going to turn it to the A-Team. Let me start with deputy minister Loutitt, please.

Thank you. I'll go to the deputy minister.

Thank you. I'm going to go back to the Member from the Sahtu. Inuvik Boot Lake.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. That's okay, we're very similar, close, a lot of the same issues.

Any estimate -- estimation, Mr. Chair, on what kind of financial resources this would need as well as maybe what kind of staffing requirements; how big a department this would be. I guess not a department itself but how big this would be. Thank you.

Thank you. I'll go to the Minister.

At this point. And, Mr. Chair, no, I don't have that yet but, again, really creating -- this is something where there's already these existing pieces of framework of the National Building Code that exists that we already apply in the GNWT, so bringing that in and making it one that can be put into legislation that can be applied more broadly really should be manageable at this point. We're hopeful within the capacity that we have to put it in place. And then, as far as putting our inspectors out, Mr. Chair, again, inspectors already are out inspecting buildings but they're doing so without the benefit of having a unified and singular piece of legislation. So, you know, hopefully this doesn't necessarily require new -- it may require some training once we are rolling out, but hopeful that it won't bring about a significant increase in budgetary demands. Thank you.

Thank you. I'll go to the Member from Inuvik Boot Lake.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. And thank you for that. I appreciate that work is ongoing, and I appreciate the -- as the deputy minister said, that there's a firm commitment to getting this work done, and I'm sure a lot of contractors and a lot of builders in the territory would be happy to see that.

Just switching for a minute on some of the capital work, and I -- again, if I'm stretching, that's fine, someone can tell me. But on the -- at MTS, I know we did have that one-time contribution, $14 million. I know that that's not budgeted now. Are we happy; are we confident with the number going in considering what happened last year with low water that we are adequately funded here through infrastructure to make sure that we're able to deliver this important service? Thanks, Mr. Chair.

Thank you. I'll go to the Minister.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. So that was a one-time contribution because of the losses that arose from having a low water season. Now, we are planning this year around low water from the perspective of our fuel services division and ensuring that we bring a full 100 percent value of fuel into those communities that would have otherwise depended upon reservicing, certainly in the Sahtu, from having the barges on the anticipation that we may face, again, a low water season. The High Arctic communities are not expected at this point to require anything other than barging and so in that sense, we would have the adequate resources planned for similar to the last couple of years where we would rely on coming either around the top or up the Dempster Highway.

As for what might befall us this summer and whether any barges will get through and/or if not, again, without knowing that in advance, Mr. Chair, I can't say for sure. We are -- you know, I know that the director of MTS has had some discussions with mayors who are impacted to make sure that we've got an awareness of the needs and a plan to service them. Whether it will cost more than what is planned for, unfortunately, Mr. Chair, beyond saying that we will commit to making sure those communities have their resupply, in advance without knowing what we face from Mother Nature, I can't give a definite -- effectively whether we're going to be back for a sup or not. Our hope is not. Our hope is that by providing the hundred percent resupply of fuel, that we won't be. But, again, we'll have to unfortunately wait and see what's thrown at us. Thank you.

Thank you. I'm going to go to the Member from from Inuvik Boot Lake.

Thank you, Mr. Chair, and I appreciate we can't unfortunately see into the future. As I say, hope and pray. I opt for the pray rather than the hope so let's -- hopefully we'll pray we get there.

Just one final one on the Inuvik-Tuk Highway. And I know that there were some issues there around some of the low areas on that highway. I know it did cause some grief, and it wasn't the only reason, but certainly some grief with the additional snow that we had had up there. And I know that the Ministers were working with the contractors up there. There is a contract in place to ensure. So are we, again, now comfortable going into this season that we're able to get those -- that road adequately repaired so we don't deal with those low areas through -- that caused both flooding and additional snow build-up there, Mr. Chair.

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

Thank you, Mr. Chair. This is, indeed, a capital project that I am happy to say, after quite a bit of effort on both sides, Mr. Chair, we do now have contracts in place both for the operations and maintenance as well as to undertake the much waited-for and anticipated capital upgrades. That was -- both of those came in the fall of 2024 which means that by this construction season, we will see the upgrades beginning. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Okay, thank you. I'm going to go to the Member from Inuvik Boot Lake.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I thank the Ministers and the deputy minister, assistant deputy minister, for those answers. Certainly appreciate that. And wish Mr. Loutitt good luck in his retirement when he's not having to sit here and deal with us anymore. No more questions, Mr. Chair.

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

Thank you. Here, facilities management, there was an increase -- I mean, from 2023-2024, the increase in the budget has been consistent. So if the Minister can explain what is causing these -- why there's increase in these costs. So what is causing it? Thank you.

Thank you. I'll go to the Minister.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Thank you, Mr. Chair, let me see if the deputy minister wants to take this and if not, we might -- let's send this to Ms. Burt, please.

Thank you. I'll go to the director.

Thank you. I'll go to the Member from Monfwi.