Bob McLeod

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’ll provide this document, which is a dec that was presented in December 2011 to the Standing Committee on Social Programs. Thank you.

I’ll try to be very careful about my tone, but the money was approved in the 2009-2010 budget through Canada’s Economic Action Plan. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would have thought the Member would have been right on top of this as this Betty House is in his riding, but the money was approved in the 2009-2010 budget through Canada’s Economic Action Plan. It was carried over and it was reviewed by the Standing Committee on Social Programs. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. We’re open to receiving any proposals that are brought forward by volunteers and non-government organizations and we would review them. In this particular case referencing Betty House, our government is only one contributor and generally the operator of the facility will be a non-government organization. In this case we found a way through the Building Canada Economic Action Plan to assist. I think in every instance we would try to find a way to assist.

The Member is correct; she got information in both 2010 and 2011.

There was no official signing and we are committed to sharing information with everybody, including the other side of the House. Thank you.

It’s my understanding that the Standing Committee on Social Programs was informed that work was ongoing on finalizing this agreement at a meeting in December 2010. Also through normal protocol and convention we give additional advanced notice at least an hour before we announce it, which we did on Friday of last week. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. We have an open and transparent government and we’ll continue that practice.

Mr. Speaker, on April 22, 1992, the Gwich’in Tribal Council, Government of the Northwest Territories and the Government of Canada signed the Gwich’in Comprehensive Land Claim Agreement. This coming April will mark the 20th anniversary of that historic day.

On behalf of the Government of the Northwest Territories, I would like to congratulate the Gwich’in people on reaching this significant milestone. Since 1992, the Gwich’in have worked hard to play an important role in the economy and benefit fully from the opportunities available to them.

The Gwich’in Comprehensive Land Claim Agreement was one...

Mr. Speaker, I wish to table the following document, entitled “What We Heard from Northerners about Poverty.” Thank you, Mr. Speaker.