Kevin O'Reilly

Thanks, Mr. Chair. Yes, I guess I remain to be convinced that the GNWT contributing $400,000 in one year is going to lead to $3.28 million in exploration funding, but I guess at some point I am going to have to meet with the Minister and his staff to get a better explanation because I don't really quite understand or accept some of the figures that are presented here. I am happy to meet with the staff and the Minister if he will make that commitment. Thanks, Mr. Chair.

Thanks, Mr. Chair. That is kind of a creative way. Look, I don't run these things, but when an expense is incurred because of one operation and it gets charged to another, is that the way we handle this stuff? Thanks, Mr. Chair.

Thanks, Mr. Chair. Yes, well, whatever the figures the Minister has certainly don't square with what is in the business plan where, you know, the number of claims in good standing declined in 2014-2015: 2,256 down to 1,123 in 2017-2018. That is less than half. The number of leases hasn't declined quite that rapidly, but I just don't see an increase in workload here. I don't know what figures the Minister has that I can't see. That is not what I am seeing here, so, if the Minister could commit to share that information with me, that would be great.

Thanks, Mr. Chair. The MTS expenses that were incurred because of the failure to deliver fuel and other supplies to the coastal communities, is any of that being charged to the Petroleum Products Revolving Fund? Thanks, Mr. Chair.

Thanks, Mr. Chair. In the department's business plan which is found on the Department of Finance's website, there's an interesting figure there. It's 12, that shows the number of claims that are in good standing, number of leases in good standing, number of prospecting permits, and virtually all of those have declined from 2014-2015 to 2017-2018. There is this declining trend of either claims being kept in good standing, leases in good standing, number of prospecting permits. Why do we need another deputy mining recorder if all of these trends are in decline? Thanks, Mr. Chair.

Thanks, Mr. Chair. Let's start with the Petroleum Products Revolving Fund. The deficit is sort of jumping all over the place between 2017-2018 and 2019-2020. Can somebody explain what is happening here? Thanks, Mr. Chair.

Thanks, Mr. Chair. How do we go from $190,000 in 2017-2018 to only $30,000 in 2019-2020? That's what's in the main estimates here. Thanks, Mr. Chair.

Thanks, Mr. Chair. I have some questions about the revolving funds. Is this the appropriate place to ask them?

Thanks, Mr. Chair. On page 216 under grants and contributions I see the NWT Chamber of Mines for $30,000. When I looked at the 2017-2018 grants contributions report from the department, and I see that the Chamber of Mines 2017-2018 got $190,600. How do we go from $30,000 to $190,000? Because that seems to be a flat line over time, although it was more back in 2017-2018. What else is happening here that the Chamber of Mines is getting money from ITI? Thanks, Mr. Chair.

I want to thank the Premier for reciting the famous section 107 of the act. He didn't actually answer my question, but I am going to go on. In the statement I made, I discussed the Cabinet-approved Boards Policy that states, "The process for appointments to GNWT boards should be timely, consistent, and transparent." Does the Premier agree that all ministerial appointments should be timely, consistent, and transparent, and that the recent workers' advisor appointment met those tests?