Bob McLeod

Thank you, Mr. Chair. To my left, I have Penny Ballantyne, deputy minister of the Executive. To my right, I have Lisa Turner, manager of corporate services. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. It is just a title change. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I don't expect there will be any change at this time. Through you, I'll ask the Minister of Health to say a few words on this matter. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As the Member knows, the government of the Northwest Territories oversees the implementation of the socio-economic agreements and coordinates the Government efforts under each SEA while monitoring how well each developer carries out its respective responsibilities. I think the mines are very accountable for their respective SEAs. Through the environmental assessment process or the regulatory process, the Government of the Northwest Territories, when the first diamond mine was established, pushed for socio-economic agreements that came out as a recommendation from the...

Thank you, Mr. O'Reilly. I believe that as a rule, we keep track. I think 39 per cent of all the board appointments are women. Certainly our Minister responsible for Women is very vigilant about board appointments. I think it is incumbent upon all of us that make recommendations for board appointments to submit names of qualified, capable women to increase their representation if that is the wish of this Assembly. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. We are the only jurisdiction, I believe, that sponsored the Indspire Awards. The other provinces would only sponsor it when it was held in their province. Generally it's unusual for us to fund organizations that are outside of the Northwest Territories. Also it was felt that we could support it in other ways. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I'm pleased to present the 2016-17 main estimates for the Department of Executive. Overall, the department's estimates propose an increase of $207,000 or 1.8 per cent over the 2015-16 main estimates. These estimates continue to support the objectives of limiting expenditure growth in order to sustain the long-term sustainability of the fiscal framework.

Highlights of the proposed estimates include:

$660,000 in reductions primarily in operations and maintenance as well as the elimination of one vacant analyst position;

$851,000 increase for phase two communications...

Thank you, Mr. Chair. The funding is still there, but I think it is being determined that there is not enough work or activity to warrant that position. I expect that at some point the money will be moved to another community. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I believe that all of the Metis in Canada and in the Northwest Territories were very happy to see the Daniels court ruling. Our expectation would be that we are doing all of those things. If anything, we would expect the federal government to reimburse our government for expenditures on Metis health benefits, but that remains to be seen. The federal government, our understanding from Justice and our Aboriginal Affairs people is the Government of Canada will review it. They have no avenue to appeal, but they would look at how they would incorporate it. On the land claim...

It is under directorate, Mr. Chair. Thank you.