Thank you, Mr. Chair. So Mr. Chair, there was challenges on this contract, if I recall, last year as well, and so the negotiations that went on over a fairly extended period of time last year -- sorry, well, I guess a year more than last year ago, there was effort undertaken to actually see what the actuals were in the course of a year because it was, you know, brought to our attention that the contract authority was not able to perform the services required at the cost that they had. So the -- yeah, and so with that, we entered into the negotiations together with in hand what the 2024-2025 costs were, and then we're able to conclude the negotiations to provide an amount that better reflected what the actuals were. And I think there's a question on -- a second question that I missed in all that, Mr. Chair. I am sorry.

Thank you. I will go back to the Member from Yellowknife North to repeat the last part of your question.

I don't think I heard the actual numbers of the the previous contract -- the amount of the contract that was assumed when we went into this 2025-2026 Budget and then what it's now increased to. That was the main question. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you. I will go to the Minister.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. So in 2025-2026, there was a shortfall of $4.2 million. 2026-2027, a shortfall of 4.7. And then going forward, the shortfall would have been just over 5. So what we are looking to do now is adjust the budget to reflect the fact that we now have a contract to -- that makes up that total, that total amount. The total contract costs expected for the coming year -- or sorry, for the -- that is in front of the committee right now is just over $6.9 million for 2025-2026. Thank you.

Thank you. Are there any further questions from Members? Yeah, I am going to go to the Member from Frame Lake.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Not a lot of questions left after that strong round from my colleague, but just the -- to build on some of the questions that she asked.

The line item for $9.1 million funding for -- to address high -- higher highway operations costs due to inflation, materials, and emergency response activities. Can the Minister help us understand the emergency response activities; what does that entail? Why -- like, how is that an unexpected and how does it relate to highway maintenance.

Okay, thank you. I will go to the Minister.

Sorry, Mr. Chair. Mr. Chair, if I can get the Member to repeat the question, please.

Okay, thank you. I will go back to the Member from Frame Lake.

Thank you, Mr. Chair, of course. What I was asking is how do emergency response activities relate to highway maintenance? It's in the -- in the substantiation for the increase, it says to provide funding to address higher highway operations costs due to inflation, materials, and emergency response activities. So I am just curious what those activities are and how they relate to maintenance. Thanks.

Okay, thank you. I will go to the Minister.

Sorry, Mr. Chair. So not specific to any of the one items but just in general? (audio) or the ADM, please.

Thank you. I will go to the ADM.

Okay, thank you. I will go to the Member from Frame Lake.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. And, yeah, sorry if it was unclear. I thought I was referring to a specific line item. But yeah, that makes sense to me, like if there had to be highway closures, the various guide vehicles and all that that happens along with that. So that makes sense to me.

Can they help -- can the Minister help us understand how much of an increase this is over our regular highway operations costs. I mean, $9.1 million seems like a lot for the end of a year for inflation. I mean, how is that something that we weren't able to budget for knowing that inflation has been sitting around 2 percent this year? Thanks.

Okay, thank you. I will go to the Minister.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. And sorry, the Member was clear. I just didn't have it large enough on my screen to see it. So it's not only inflation necessarily. There is rising material cost and contract -- there's also rising contract cost, increased number of response events, so that's not only necessarily related to inflation. And then too, Mr. Chair, would be if there's, you know, climate change events that result in an increase in the number of emergencies. All of those things can contribute to this. So, Mr. Chair, there's a base budget -- the other thing, Mr. Chair, is that we are dealing with Beaufort Delta region, Deh Cho region, North Slave region, and South Slave region, so it's not a shortfall in only one; there's shortfalls in all.

In the Beaufort Delta region, the shortfall was $4.4 million. Deh Cho was just over a million. North Slave, 650,000, and -- or sorry, North Slave. And then South Slave, just shy of $3 million, Mr. Chair, and all that together adds up to the $9.1. Thank you.

Okay, thank you. I will go back to the Member from Frame Lake.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. My next question is just about the additions to energy and strategic initiatives. I am pretty sure I know the answer to this one. But it looks like we got funding for the four different funds that are listed there. I won't list them for sake of time. But I know during the last -- the last review of the mains there was some concern about that funding lapsing. It looks like the feds did step up and fund those programs. Can the Minister just confirm that that's the case and that's why (audio).

Okay, thank you. I will go to the Minister.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Yes, this is the low carbon economy leadership fund, and there has been a renewal of that agreement now. Thank you.

Okay, thank you. I will go to the Member from Frame Lake.