Robert C. McLeod

We recognize the fact that some of our communities have gone longer without units being put in their communities than others. We are starting to recognize the fact that some of the smaller communities now are being left behind a bit, so they are going to need an investment. I can assure the Member that I will make a recommendation that the smaller communities and the one he brings up quite regularly, and rightfully so, Sachs Harbour, does need an investment in infrastructure on the housing side in their community. Thank you.

The Member’s questions are valid. As far as the Community Planning Act, I’m not sure how it fits in. To be quite honest, I’m not well aware of the situation the Member is speaking of, but we will have a look at it and see how all this occurred and we’ll communicate that to the Member.

That would be part of the Housing Choices Evaluation Program, if there is a difference in small communities versus small communities. As I said, it’s an evaluation we are undertaking right now. We are expecting to have -- as I said in committee the other day -- a preliminary report hopefully done by the end of our term here. So we are still available. We would be able to have a quick glance at it, and it would be a transition document and recommendations to the 17th Assembly. Thank you.

Whatever the land claim groups, present or future, settle, we intend to abide by it. We are not proposing to change anything within the land claim groups. It’s just enabling the communities to make these decisions and not imposing on anybody. Thank you.

I believe a lot of the work done on the rent scale review goes a long way in addressing some of the concerns that have been raised by Members of the Legislative Assembly and folks across the Territories. I think folks, for the most part, will be pleased with some of the information that will be coming out.

Again, because it’s such a major decision and one that requires a little more work, I think it would be best if it were put into a transition document as part of the 17th Legislative Assembly, and they can have a look at it and determine how early they want to roll this thing out. But most...

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I have with me today to my left, Mr. Mike Aumond, deputy minister of Municipal and Community Affairs; Ms. Bev Chamberlin, director of lands administration; and, Mr. Mark Aitken, director of legislation division with the Department of Justice. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’d like to recognize a former constituent of Inuvik Twin Lakes who is also the returning officer. She didn’t move out of the riding; they actually moved the line. So welcome Juanita Bourque. Thank you.

Mr. Chairman, I am here to present Bill 7, Community Planning and Development Act. This new legislation was developed in response to requests from municipal governments, the Northwest Territories Association of Communities, the Local Government Administrators of the Northwest Territories, and professional community planners.

I would like to acknowledge the hard work of representatives of the NWT Association of Communities and the professional planners on our Peer Review Group, who all made important contributions at various stages to the development of this bill.

Community planning can be simple...

I’m not quite sure of what’s in the contents of the agreement-in-principle as far as that is, but I can assure the Member that when we communicate and when we start making progress with devolution, that we’ll do what we can to ensure that all costs to clean Crown land are included. Thank you.

Mr. Speaker, obviously, that is a problem, and I did commit to the Members that I would have some discussion. I have had the opportunity. We had a FPT for Ministers of municipal government. I had the opportunity to discuss the situation with some of the members down there. Unfortunately, we didn’t get as much time with the federal Minister as we would have liked. We were very pressed for time. As I assured the Members, it is an issue that we have to continue to raise, and raise with the federal government to make them aware of their responsibility and the fact that there are a lot of people...