Okay, thank you. I'll go to the Minister.

Thank you very much, Mr. Chair. So, Mr. Chair, between April 2005 to March 2024, Prosper NWT has supported 741 businesses across the Northwest Territories. So I certainly couldn't list them all out here but -- and then through those 741 businesses, they have disbursed approximately $128 million. But it might be of interest to Members -- and mind you these are regional areas, not political areas -- but:

• 162 businesses from the South Slave, that was 40 percent of the funds disbursed, $52 million;
• 386 businesses in the North Slave, that was $30 million, or 24 percent of funds disbursed;
• 60 businesses in the Deh Cho, which is $21 million or 16 percent of funds disbursed;
• Beaufort Delta is 106 businesses, $15 million or 12 percent of funds disbursed;
• And then finally in the Sahtu region, 27 businesses or $10 million which was 8 percent of the funds disbursed.

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Okay, thank you. I'll go to the Member from the Deh Cho.

Can the Minister tell me what support is provided in the support given by Prosper NWT to the companies. Thank you.

Thank you. I'll go to the Minister.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. So the programs and services afforded by Prosper NWT are everything from debt financing, which is primarily in the form of loans, venture investments, digital support programs, and also business services. So for example in the form of accounting or human resources support as well. Thank you.

Okay, thank you. I'll go to the Member from the Deh Cho.

Companies like Dene Fur Clouds, they're a for-profit company; correct?

Thank you. I'll go to the Minister.

Thank you very much, Mr. Chair. So, Mr. Chair, companies like Dene Fur Cloud are a subsidiary of Prosper NWT so is not counted in that previous area that I identified. So there a number of subsidiaries that Prosper NWT does support, and they are certainly for-profit companies, and Prosper NWT is working with them to continue to develop their business practices. Thank you.

Thank you. I'll go back to the Member from the Deh Cho.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Is it hoped that eventually Dene Fur Clouds would be totally independent and on its own? Thank you.

Thank you. I'll go to the Minister.

Thank you very much, Mr. Chair. So that is certainly my hope for every single one of the subsidiaries, that they are supported to develop business plans and business practices that make them wholly independent from Prosper NWT. I have asked the Prosper NWT, along with their board, and their board has made the same request to Prosper, to look at plans to move out of having to support these subsidiaries. So there's just under nine full-time staff that work at them across the -- well, in the communities where they are present, and the cost to Prosper is over a $1 million. And so ensuring that these businesses operate as a business and are empowered to become revenue positive is incredibly important to me and also to the board of Prosper NWT.

Okay, thank you. I'll go to the Member from the Deh Cho.

That's basically it for me. Thank you.

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

Thank you, Mr. Chair. My question is on the expenditure side on 238. It seems that the compensation and benefits went up and grants, contributions and transfers went down. Did we, or is it part of this activity going to see additional staff being hired because of that compensation and benefits increase?

Thank you. I'll go to the Minister.

Thank you very much, Mr. Chair. This isn't additional staff. It's additional compensation and benefits through the UNW collective agreement. Thank you.

Okay, thank you. I'll go to the Member in the Sahtu.

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

Thank you very much, Mr. Chair. And thank you to the Member for the question. I'd like to start off by acknowledging that it has certainly been a very difficult time for the Sahtu with the cancellation of the barge season and the impacts of climate change on Sahtu communities.

The barge cancellation program was a one-time program that we launched in recognition of the very difficult season that the Sahtu endured and certainly we, you know, hoped that water will come back. We know that it's predicted to be another dry year, and so we continue to encourage people to get insurance, especially businesses, to have shipping insurance beforehand and be prepared for low barging. We've encouraged people to try and bring as much stuff up on the winter road as absolutely possible now that we are in the leeway of that, to really work as hard as they can and as much as possible to prepare in advance. And I know that my colleague over at the Department of Infrastructure has equally worked very hard to make sure that fuel both on the part of the GNWT and has encouraged Imperial also to make sure that their fuel supplies and fuel sources are up on the winter road as well. Thank you.