Robert C. McLeod

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I think the activity description in page 301 is pretty well self-explanatory. It points out a lot of things that we're hoping to do and some initiatives that we want to undertake. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to use this opportunity to recognize two constituents from Inuvik Twin Lakes: Sarah Jerome, who we've spoken about numerous times already today; I appreciate the work you've done. With her is her husband, Freddy Jerome. So welcome to the gallery. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Mr. Chair, I think we still will have the capacity to carry out our inspections as we have done in the past. If you recall from MACA lands days, before it was converted over, one of the questions we kept getting was the amount of inspectors we had. I think since Lands has been formed, we have -- I am not sure of the exact number. I can get them, as far as our inspector division goes. We have a fairly robust inspection division that is adequately staffed. I will confirm that information, and I will share it with committee.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. The Member is correct that we are going to be looking at the acts because we have two acts that we're operating under right now. As far as having a line item for it, it's within the day-to-day operations of the division so there's no specific line item for it. If the Member's looking -- I'm not sure exactly what our budget is for that, but if the Member would like that information, I'm sure we could find it somewhere. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Mr. Chair, I am pleased to present the 2016-2017 main estimates for the Department of Municipal and Community Affairs. Overall, the department’s estimates propose an increase of $723,000, or less than one per cent over the 2015-16 main estimates. These estimates continue to support the objectives of limiting expenditure growth in order to sustain the long-term sustainability of the fiscal framework.

Highlights of the proposed estimates include

$1.578 million in reductions that the department was able to find without reducing core funding to community governments; and

$2.301...

Yes, thank you, Mr. Chair. Mr. Chair, that's just part of our ongoing work with all the inspections that we do after we got the Department of Lands formed in 2014. I would like to see us do a complete inventory of all the different lands that are out there. I'd like to say we're still learning the process, but we've been almost two years now. We'll put something together and make it part of my commitment to Member Beaulieu on giving the committee a briefing. Thank you. It's part of our ongoing work that we do, and we do the inspections and see what, try to catalog as much of the land that we...

Yes, Thank you, Mr. Chair. Mr. Chair, just being formed in 2014-15, we didn't do as much travel as we would normally do, but I think in 2015-16 and 2016-17 you see the 124 because there is a greater demand for us to be out travelling, be out inspecting, and just having the presence out there. I think that's probably why you see the increase. I can anticipate a figure of this much going forward.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Mr. Chair, the Member is correct. It comes from the feds, and it will go on forever. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Yes, thank you, Mr. Chair. Mr. Chair, if I could ask the Member if he's speaking of lands within the community that are selected as part of the interim land withdrawal, that the Aboriginal government negotiating the claim is eventually going to get ownership of and we're charging rent in the meantime? If I can just get the Member to clarify that, I'd appreciate it. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Yes, I would, Mr. Chair.