Wendy Bisaro

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’d like to continue with some questions, that I didn’t get time for, to the Minister of Municipal and Community Affairs relative to the recreational land lease policy.

The Minister, in answering my questions and my colleague’s questions, I understood him to say that he admitted that there are certain problems with the consultation that’s been done to date and with the report that’s been out there, that there are certain issues in regard to land ownerships and so on. I also heard the Minister say that he felt that those could be resolved by the final draft date of June...

Thank you, Madam Chair. I’ve got a few comments here. I’d like to first revert to the discussion that happened the other day with regard to Human Resources and the two unfunded positions which are now included in this interim appropriation. I have no qualm that the particular positions that are being added here are needed. I don’t have any concerns that the individuals that are going to be performing these duties are going to be competent, but I am a little concerned about the process.

I think I’ve understood, in looking at Hansard and listening to the discussions, that these positions were...

Again, thanks to the Minister. I would like to know from the Minister, because this is another area that, in my mind, where lack of information was glaringly obvious. There was no assessment of current use of particularly the Vee Lake and Walsh Lake areas and a couple of small lakes around it like Jackson and Banting, I believe. I would like to know from the Minister if we are talking about a June 30th final document, how will the department get that current use evaluation, that data, how will they get that prior to June 30th. I think it is vitally important that they have that data in order...

Thank you, Mr. Bromley. Mr. Miltenberger.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My questions today are addressed to the Minister of Municipal and Community Affairs. I want to follow up on some of the points that I raised in my Member’s statement. I attended one of the two public meetings that were held here in Yellowknife. In listening to the back and forth and in listening to the responses from Municipal and Community Affairs staff, there was an indication that there was a possibility for more consultation. I would like to know from the Minister what process is intended to be followed now. What steps will MACA take? What is MACA going to do going...

Thank you, Mr. Bromley. Mr. Miltenberger has deferred to the Minister of Health and Social Services. Mr. Beaulieu.

MACA’s discussion paper refers to the carrying capacity of an area. That is the amount of use a lake or a landmass can sustain. It is one of the concepts used for the study recommendations. But how can MACA accept the consultant’s recommendations without any idea of current use without any baseline data to measure the impact the addition of the new lots will have on the area?

A second most alarming issue is the inability of MACA to monitor and control land use in the study area and enforcement of the leases that they will let. The department has neither the manpower nor the equipment to do a...

Thank you, Mr. Bromley. Mr. Miltenberger.

Mr. Chairman, that’s all I have.

Sergeant-at-Arms, would you escort the witnesses into the Chamber?

Mr. Miltenberger, could you introduce your witnesses for the record, please?