Bob McLeod

Mr. Speaker, I wish to advise Members that the Honourable Glen Abernethy will be absent from the House today and tomorrow due to a personal matter.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. To my left, I have Michael Aumond, the deputy minister of Executive and Indigenous Affairs, and to my right, I have Chervahun Emilien, director of Shared Services. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. As we normally do, we would review how successful or not successful that pilot project was. If we feel that it would be successful and if the friendship centres are still all committed to it, I would hope that we could go forward. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I am pleased to present the 2019-2020 Main Estimates for the Department of Executive and Indigenous Affairs. These estimates total $22.1 million, which represents an overall proposed increase of $715,000, or 3 percent over the 2018-2019 Main Estimates.

The departments' proposed increase relates to forced growth initiatives and transfers partially offset by sunsets. Highlights of the proposed estimates include:

$250,000 in funding to assist in self-government implementation;

$50,000 in additional funding to match contributions to the Arctic Inspiration Prize; and

$38,000 in...

That is correct.

At this late stage, if it is on the mandate list for the next government, they could look at it, for sure. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I think the problem is a difference in opinion. When we first started with Single Window Service Centres, it was for small, isolated communities, not for the capital city and not for regional centres. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. On the larger ones, my assessment is that, probably, the one that we are making the most progress on is the Akaitcho. The NWT Metis Nation have put their negotiations on hold for the next couple of months until the new fiscal year. The Dehcho have determined that, instead of focusing on the land and resource development side, they are going to focus on self-government. Acho Dene Koe have a new negotiating team and advisors, and they are revisiting their negotiated-since mandates.

I think that we still can expect a lot of success in self-government agreements. Up and down...

Thank you. We responded to committee by letter on February 11th. That is our approach to dealing with this. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Not that we are aware of, Mr. Chair. My understanding is that money is a constant issue in negotiations, and everybody could always use more money, I am sure. Thank you, Mr. Chair.