Katrina Nokleby

Thank you, Madam Chair. I think that's a conversation for all of us as a whole as to whether or not we're revisiting the mandate. I don't believe that we're at that point in the conversation, and if we are, I'm not aware of it. No, that's not ongoing at this point. Thank you, Madam Chair.

Thank you, Madam Chair. Yes, you're right, every contract is going to be different. I do recognize that, if we don't change the language in our contracts, we're just going to keep letting people game the system, which is what's happening. That's when you see the cutting of the cheque or, you know, the bait and switch of, "oh, we've got these people" and then, "oh, now we've got the contract we're going to hire these people." All of those types of situations are things that I'm pretty aware of and alive to and part of my motivations for getting into this seat in the first place. All parts of...

Thank you, Madam Chair. Yes, we buy at market, we sell at market, so you will see that change. Thank you, Madam Chair.

I do, and I don't stand up; right? I do. Thank you. I am pleased to present the 2020-2021 Main Estimates for the Department of Infrastructure. Overall, the department's estimates propose an increase of $11.6 million, or 4.4 percent, over the 2019-2020 Main Estimates. These estimates support our fiscal objectives to prioritize responsible and strategic spending while matching the modest expected revenue growth over the coming year.

Highlights of these proposed estimates include:

forced growth increases of $7.7 million, which primarily consists of $2 million for utility costs at the new Stanton...

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I am not an accountant. I misspoke. I apologize. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Madam Chair. I appreciate that you've raised the point of the fact that perhaps there are things we actually cannot tell you from an agreement, but definitely, everything that we can tell, I would like to provide that to you so you have comfort that the money is going out in a good manner. If it's not, that will tell us that we need to make some corrections there. So I definitely commit to reporting on whatever we can that is not in violation of any sort of accounting or agreements, but I would have to look into that, and I commit to looking into it, for myself. Thank you, Madam...

My apologies, I remembered what I was going to say. One of the things I've had a conversation with Joe about is that I would like to see some of the pathfinder-type service that we do in ITI start up in Infrastructure. I think we can learn some lessons. ITI does a very good pathfinding program, particularly around our mineral and resource sector. I'm going to look to have Dr. Dragon start implementing that. I also told him that, even if it's painful, people have to start answering their emails, because this has actually been something I have had from a lot of people, that a lot of...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Yes, I can commit to that. I also wanted to state that one of the conversations that I'm having with my deputy minister at this point is that I want to see a creation of an engagement unit within Infrastructure to deal with these exact types of situations and not have that be a tack-on, add-on to the project manager's or the technical project manager's role. While it's very preliminary, I would then also welcome your input on how you would like to see that unit get formed. That is my plan, that is what I've conveyed to my deputy minister, and we're going to start doing...

Thank you, Madam Chair. I guess, you know, that is part of the whole goal, is to have a whole-of-government revamp and look at our procurement dollars and what we are going to be doing. Everything that the Member has said is noted. We definitely want to ensure that we maximize our dollars. I know that I will only be hearing about it if we don't. I'm leery of creating more policies when all I heard through the campaign was that there are too many policies and procedures, and we're not doing great at executing them anyway, but I understand your point. I do commit to putting in language, or...

Thank you, Madam Chair. It is my understanding that that grant is fairly flexible and can be used for different items within the community, its cultural well-being, education and training, community economic development, a small portion going to administration. I will commit that we can give you an annual report. I think that is completely a fair and valid request, and so we definitely will do that.

Like a lot of the programming that we are talking about with the federal government or within our GNWT programs, we talked a lot around flexibility. You will see with the SEED funding under ITI that...