Robert C. McLeod

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Back when MACA had Commissioner’s land, we had started the work on a recreational policy framework on the area that we had covered or that was under our jurisdiction. Since devolution we’ve become responsible for 940,000 square kilometres, I keep reminding everybody. So we had to expand on the work that we’re actually doing. We’ve completed work through the MACA rec lease and policy, but we’ve had to expand on the work. Again, it’s building on the work that we were already doing through the Recreational Leasing Policy Framework that we were doing through MACA. I’m going...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I believe that they just met recently in the community, the administrator and officials, on the capital plan. I haven’t had an update on that yet. This may be part of the capital plan, because I know it was in the works before the public administrator was put in place and they may continue to do the work. But I would have to confirm that and relay that information back to the Member. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

For the NGO to access the money that a community gets, that’s not part of the process. When there is some money there, I think it was $350,000 that may come over to MACA for the NGO Stabilization Fund and it’s for governance and management and organizational development. So, as to actually purchasing infrastructure, again, that would have to go through the community.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. When the Member asked his original question, he mentioned a particular community, so I just assumed it was a community-owned asset. I didn’t realize that it was the council. But the communities do have the ability. As to the council itself, I’m not sure what programs might be there for them. I’m just speaking to it from a community perspective and my apologies for misunderstanding the question if there was a misunderstanding there. Thank you.

I can commit to informing the Member and committee when all the information is on the website.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I think the Member is absolutely correct. If the communities can work together to try and find good options for disposing of their waste oil and whatever else they may have. You go to a number of communities and you see a number of old trucks that are down at the dump. If they can come up with a way and cost share that, I think that would go a long way and get rid of a lot of their old oil, old vehicles and old tires. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. The Member is correct; we haven’t gotten it yet.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. With me from Municipal and Community Affairs, I have to my left Tom Williams, deputy minister; to my right I have Gary Schauerte who is our director of corporate services. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

I am pleased to present the 2015-2016 Main Estimates for the Department of Municipal and Community Affairs. Overall, the department’s estimates propose an increase of $4.02 million, or 3.8 percent, over the 2014-2015 Main Estimates.

Highlights of the proposed estimates include:

funding of $48.3 million to provide for community government operation and maintenance costs and $17.6 million for water and sewer costs, a total increase of $2.27 million from 2014-2015;

forced growth funding of $2.939 million is comprised of $469,000 for Collective Agreement increases, $613,000 in community government...

Through the programs that we offer the communities. Like, we work directly with the communities. If the communities want to purchase that particular piece of equipment and work with a local organization to operate it for them, I think that is allowed under gas tax and through the CPI funding again. Thank you.