Julie Green

Madam Chair, I would like to call a different witness for this division, so I wonder if the Sergeant-at-Arms could escort Ms. Mathison out and escort the other witness in.

I haven't had a meeting like that, but that doesn't mean one hasn't happened. I will ask the deputy minister if he can elaborate. Thank you.

Thank you. I'd like the director of finance to answer that, please.

What I want to confirm is: is this a budget question? Is there a cost involved that the Member is seeking?

Yes. Thank you, Madam Chair: Mr. Bruce Cooper, the deputy minister of Health and Social Services, and Ms. Jeannie Mathison, the director of finance. Thank you.

Thank you. The Cabinet had a bilateral meeting with the Metis Nation in January, and this was an item on the agenda. Thank you.

Thank you. I can make that commitment.

Thank you, Madam Chair. This is another question for Mr. Elkin. Thank you.

Until these negotiations are complete and an agreement is reached, we are the service provider at the Department of Health and Social Services through our health authorities, including the Tlicho Community Services Agency. When Indigenous governments approach us to begin discussions about negotiations, we are very happy to provide them with a range of options which could be them creating and implementing their own law if they have the capacity to do it, or it could be a collaborative arrangement between the GNWT and the Indigenous governments.

To reiterate, at the time that the bill came into...

Yes. Thank you. I am not aware of anything going on with respect to that. Deputy Minister?