Robert C. McLeod

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Good afternoon. Today I am presenting the 2019-2020 Main Estimates for the Department of Finance. These estimates total $258.2 million, which includes the GNWT's operating contribution of $70.4 million to the NWT Housing Corporation. Overall, the department's estimates propose an increase of $7.5 million, or 3 percent over the 2018-2019 Main Estimates.

Setting aside the changes in the contribution to the NWT Housing Corporation, which you will review with Minister Moses, highlights of Finance's proposed 2019-2020 Main Estimates include:

$15.3 million in inter-departmental...

Yes, thank you, Mr. Chair. We'll provide the round figure to the Member. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Of course it is a concern, as I mentioned earlier, about the dams that are going there and the water flow to the territory. We see it up in the Beaudel, where the water level sometimes fluctuates up and down. I know we have had some Aboriginal governments who have come to us say that they do have a concern with that and want to know how we plan on dealing with it, so we have been trying to work with them to assure them that the Government of the Northwest Territories is doing what we can to bring their concerns forward. At the end of the day, I believe the decision is...

Yes, thank you, Mr. Chair. My understanding is, from what I have been told, this was raised during discussions at business plans in the Department of Finance's proposed budget. As far as the third party goes, I think the Member in particular has been asking for the last few years that this be something that -- I mean, we were talking about public governance. Maybe that is the next step, but, for now, it has gone out for an RFP to have somebody administer it on our behalf, is my understanding. The public governance part, I will have to have a discussion with the official. I am not sure if that...

There are none.

Yes. Thank you, Mr. Chair. My understanding is there have been no further discussions, but I'd have to confirm that. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. To my left, I have Dr. Joe Dragon, who is the deputy minister of Environment and Natural Resources. To my right, I have Mr. Dennis Marchiori, who is our director of Corporate Services with Environment and Natural Resources. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. We would like to try and make as much progress with our partners as possible. We are always prepared to go to the table and do some negotiations. Negotiations involve two parties, and if our other party is not getting to the table as quickly as we would like, then that affects our ability to get this work done. I said before, when I was responding to the Member's question, that I know that I signed the one Transboundary Water Agreement with Alberta. My understanding is that a final BC-NWT agreement was also signed in 2015, and we are holding an information session with...

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I am a very sharing person, so I would be glad to share that, along with anything else that the Member might want. When the opportunity arises, we will give them an in-person briefing as well.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Recognizing the value of our Indigenous government partners through the knowledge agenda, I think that they are going to be a part of the process, and we will seek their input in any types of initiatives as we go forward. Thank you.