Louis Sebert

I don't believe the federal government has been contacted about the specific lands that have been turned over to us from NTCL. As I did mention, there was a report made to the federal government about some barges moored off the dock in Tuktoyaktuk because that is their responsibility. We're still going through the paperwork of the acquisition of these properties, and I don't think we have been in contact with the federal government to discuss any potential longterm liability. Their position is likely to be that they have none in view of the time that has gone by, since NTCL was a federal Crown...

With respect to the situation in Nunavut, I understand that the sheriff's office does the transfers and prisoner court security only in Iqaluit. There is a possibility, of course, of changing our system to be more like that of Alberta and some of the southern provinces. However, that would also require the agreement of another party, which the Member opposite did not mention, the judiciary. The long tradition is to have RCMP officers in the courthouse, and any change that we might be planning would have to be vetted through them.

Mr. Speaker, until 2010, I believe all escorts were done in Yellowknife by the RCMP. I was looking at some statistics, which I can't seem to put my hand on at this time, but I understand about 80 per cent of the escorts now are done by the sheriff's office in Yellowknife. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

As we heard in the presentation at lunch, the government is going through a great number of documents that they did receive as part of the bankruptcy proceedings. We'll have to examine those documents to determine whether any responsibility still remains with the federal government.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As we did hear at lunch, of course, these assets have been turned over through the process, the bankruptcy process, from NTCL to our government. Detailed questions might be better addressed to the Minister of Public Works and Services.

The Department of Lands, of course, is regulator of these properties, and there has been a very preliminary inspection of the vessels and certain parcels of land, but there was no environmental testing of soil or land. I understand also that it was noted that there were some untended barges moored off the dock in Tuktoyaktuk which would be...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I'd like to recognize two constituents, Lynn Napier-Buckley, who you've heard about, Mayor of Fort Smith since 2015, and also my constituent Marcel Leguerrier, a parent of one of our pages.

Mr. Speaker, I wish to table the following document entitled "Follow-up Letter to Oral Question 436-18(2): Inmate Transfer for Court Appearances," and further to my Return to Written Question 14-18(2), a document entitled, "Commercial and Industrial Leases of Commissioner's Land Issued Since February 15, 2011." Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to recognize Brad Mapes, former mayor of Fort Smith, who is a chaperone this week for two of our pages, Caleb Brake and Joseph Leguerrier.

Mr. Speaker, openness and transparency are fundamental principles of democracy that contribute to government accountability. These principles underpin our debates and discussions here in this House, where government plans, policies, and budgets are presented for examination and approval by the public's elected representatives. Every day during session, Members ask Ministers to explain government proposals, decisions, and actions in a public forum open to anyone who wants to attend or watch our proceedings on television.

We see the commitment to openness and transparency in the Guiding...

Mr. Chair, my only comment on this is: whatever happened to transparency? Thank you.