Thank you, Mr. Chair. I'll use my Deputy Premier voice.

---Laughter

We're not totally opposed to this motion. Just a couple things. The motion, as I read it here, is basically something that the government already does in working with communities. I noticed that there was a motion passed in 2013 from the NWT Association of Communities. We've given the communities a lot of responsibility, and they've taken on that responsibility with the construction of a lot of their infrastructure in their communities to make sure it's energy efficient and all that, but I look forward to having further...

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Mr. Chair, a one per cent reduction in small business rate is equivalent to about $700,000 in revenue in the total GNWT, as I've been saying the last little while, that is used to fund programs and services are projected to decline over the next five years. The reduction itself would only impact a small number of businesses in the NWT, and this reduction would not cause anyone to start a small business. The number of small businesses operating in the NWT has been declining over the last few years due to various factors impacting our regional economies, for example down in...

As I said before, we anticipate being completed during the 2016 building season and they have had some challenges on the terrain, but I think that the contractors are more than equipped to deal with it. If there are any foreseen circumstances or if there is some delay of any kind, then I will be sure to let the Members of this Assembly know.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Mr. Chair, the Heritage Fund Act was enacted on August 1, 2012, and the legislation establishes a trust fund as a long-term investment in which surplus funds typically received from resource royalties may be transferred at the discretion of a Legislative Assembly. Once transferred, these funds become part of the principal of the Heritage Fund. Under the Act, for the first 20 years once first contribution is made, both the principal and the interest, or the income generated by the fund, are retained in the fund. After 20 years have passed, transfers out of the fund for use...

Right now, we are doing some work on our land use sustainability. If there are lands that are identified outside city limits and it suits the purpose or it’s for the purpose, then I would assume that they would put in an application. Again, I will have to confirm the actual process, and share it with the Members and committee, the actual process that they would have to go through, the conditions they might have to meet. I will commit to the Member and all Members that I will confirm all that information. I will be pleased to share it with them.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. We see that as a valuable opportunity to produce a lot of locally grown food across Northwest Territories. One of the things we would have to do is see the land claims, all land claims settle, so land might be made available for that. Also, we do our land use planning and we need to identify that. We have the Agricultural Strategy, which would help us identify some of the issues that we have to deal with. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The total savings over the two years that we've enacted the freeze it will be approximately $3.8 million. That would include the excluded employees, senior managers, and the deputy ministers.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, if the Member is referring to those that are in the public service with Union of Northern Workers, there’s a process that we're going through right through negotiations, and whatever agreement they come up with we will adhere to that.

I take a different view of the progress of the liabilities and financial assurance division. In less than two years, within the department, we have successfully established a new unit that was not contemplated at the time of devolution. This unit has so far managed a significant body of work from Queen's University and commenced work on the policy foundation that will guide them through future operations; supported the GNWT in decision-making on an innovation form of $253-million security for Ekati; completed an initial scoping study of Cantung issues that prepared the GNWT on managing issues...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the Department of Lands is less than two years old and the financial liabilities and financial assurance division was added after the creation of the Department of Lands. Turnover and staff departures and difficulty recruiting these highly-specialized positions are just some of the challenges that the organization has faced since start-up. Despite that, we have moved quickly and the director's position now has been filled on an acting basis. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.