All those opposed, please stand.

All those abstaining, please stand.

Colleagues, all those in favour, 7. Opposed, 1. Abstentions 6. Motion has carried.

Second reading of bills. Consideration in Committee of the Whole of bills and other matters, Tabled Document 340-20(1), Tabled Document 341-20(1), with the Member from the Sahtu in the chair.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Mr. Chair, committee wishes to consider Tabled Document 340-20(1), Supplemental Estimates (Infrastructure Expenditures) No. 1, 2025-2026; and time permitting, Mr. Chair, Tabled Document 341-20(1), Supplemental Estimates (Operations Expenditures and Borrowing Authorization) No. 1, 2025-2026. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Does committee agree?

Agree. Thank you to the Member. Committee, we have agreed to consider Tabled Documents 341-20(1), Supplementary Estimates (Operations Expenditures and Borrowing Authorization) No. 1, 2025-2026. Does the Minister of Finance have any opening remarks?

Thank you, Mr. Chair, I do.

Mr. Chair, I am here to present Tabled Document 341-20(1), Supplementary Estimates (Operations Expenditures and Borrowing Authorization) No. 1, 2025-2026. This document proposes a total appropriation increase of $47.15 million, $38.5 million of which will be offset by revenues from the Government of Canada and various provincial governments.

Notable items supported by federal funding include:

• $20.6 million to support health and social services cost share agreements, including $9.2 million for First Nations and Inuit Home and Community Care and $8 million for Northern Wellness;
• $8.1 million to provide funding for various Environment and Climate Change cost share agreements including $2.3 million for the 2 Billion Trees program and $1.3 million each for the Deh Cho Protected Areas and Section 11 conservation agreements;
• $2.6 million to support activities under the Canada-Northwest Territories national School Food Program Agreement;
• $2.2 million in support of the Canada-Northwest Territories Early Learning and Childcare Agreement and One-Year Merged action plan; and,
• $1.8 million to support access to legal aid services.
• Additionally, I am proposing the following supplementary expenditures:
• $2.4 million to provide funding for contributions under the School Funding Framework;
• $1.8 million to address transitional housing and shelter services in Yellowknife;
• $1.8 million to continue work related to the Hay River Harbour Restoration; and,
• $1.8 million to provide a contribution to the Physical Activity, Sport and Recreation Fund.

These Supplementary Estimates also propose an increase of $130 million to the authorized short-term borrowing limit established under the Appropriation Act (Operations Expenditures) 2025-2026.

These Supplementary Estimates will ensure the Government of the Northwest Territories is in compliance with the Financial Administration Act by reflecting the borrowing limit for debt less than 365 days for the 2025-2026 fiscal year at $880 million. The request is the result of significant increases within the proposed Supplementary Estimates and the limited contingencies allowed for within the Appropriation Act.

That concludes my opening remarks. We are prepared to answer questions that committee may have.

Thank you, Minister. Does the Minister of Finance wish to bring witnesses into the chamber?

Yes, please, Mr. Chair.

Committee agree?

Thank you. Sergeant-at-arms, could you please escort the witnesses into the chamber.

Would the Minister please introduce her witnesses.

Happy to do so, Mr. Chair. On my left, Bill MacKay, deputy minister of finance. And on my right, Mandi Bolstad, the deputy secretary to the financial management board.

Thank you. I will now open the floor for general comments. Seeing none, does the committee agree to proceed to the detail contained in the tabled documents?

Thank you. Committee, we will begin on page number 3, the Department of Education, Culture and Employment, Supplementary Estimates (Operations Expenditures and Borrowing Authorization) No. 1, 2025-2026. Department of Education, Culture and Employment, operations expenditures, early learning, not previously authorized, $2,392,000. Are there any questions? Member for Yellowknife North.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I have a question under education about the funding to support the delivery of the practical nurse program at Aurora College. That's the next section. We're just on the first -- one section at a time. Okay, I'll wait. Thank you for that.

Seeing no further questions, Supplementary Estimates (Operations Expenditures and Borrowing Authorization) No. 1, 2025-2026. Legislative Assembly, operations expenditures, early learning, not previously authorized, $2,392,000. Does committee agree?

Thank you, committee. Supplementary Estimates (Operations Expenditures and Borrowing Authorization) No. 1, 2025-2026. Department of Education, Culture and Employment, operations expenditures, education, not previously authorized, $5,507,000. Are there any questions? MLA for Yellowknife North.