Louis Sebert

No formal request to have that conversation has been made, but it is something that I think we should be looking into. After all, we are maturing as a jurisdiction. The Member opposite mentioned the excellent work that OROGO is doing, so, yes, we should have that conversation. It is time, in my view, to re-examine this situation. Thank you.

I may have to look further into that issue, of these straddle types of arrangements, so perhaps I can handle the question best by saying that I will get back to the Member opposite.

I thank the Member opposite for his kind words about OROGO. It is an established regulator now, and I believe that, at this stage, with this proven track record, both Canada and the Inuvialuit might be receptive to having a conversation around the benefits of replacing the NEB as regulator for in the ISR area. Increasingly, this government over the years is becoming master in our own home, if I may use the French phrase, "maitres chez nous."

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The National Energy Board was preserved as the regulator of oil and gas operations in the Inuvialuit Settlement Region through the devolution negotiations at the request of Canada and the Inuvialuit Regional Corporation. I understand also that Canada and the Inuvialuit had an interest in maintaining the existing relationship and that Canada in particular felt it was important to maintain as much consistency in the regulation of offshore resources with adjacent onshore resources as possible. That arrangement may have made some sense as an interim measure. OROGO, in my...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to recognize Vance Sanderson from Thebacha.

Yes, thank you, Mr. Chair. Thank you for the question. As I say, I wasn't aware of a shortage or an undersupply, if I can put it that way, of justices of the peace, but I am aware that people are retiring, of course, or taking on different occupations. Yes, certainly, I will look at that. We do need justices of the peace and they do fulfill a very important position in the community. Yes, it would be better. If there is a shortage, we should certainly look at it and attempt to recruit people, I agree. Thank you.

Thank you. It would be unusual to encourage people to spend down a surplus, but I think we do need to be more active and encourage them to bring forward projects that would be of the type that we should be funding, so I am committed to have our department become more active in this area because, clearly, there are surplus funds. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I understand that there are some vacancies that are going to be filled. I understand that the facility, while physically much larger, will have larger areas for meetings, and so on. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. We do understand the importance of special constables in the past history of the RCMP and the invaluable service that they did provide. We have been seeking federal expansion of the First Nations Policing Program. We do recognize that this is an important issue. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Yes. This is a modest increase. I mean, it is not something you pay every year unless you buy a new house every year. Again, if someone is contemplating buying a $400,000 house, a $300,000 mortgage, yes, they will have to pay $350 more in the example that I gave, assuming that my numbers are correct. That is not a huge amount when you are dealing with hundreds of thousands of dollars on a purchase. Thank you, Mr. Chair.