Robert C. McLeod

We do recognize them as the First Nation government and there’s no reason that they couldn’t serve on the interim corporation. We’re asking the band communities to form the interim corporation. Currently, we have seven of the eight band communities who have formed, or are in the process of forming, an interim corporation, so they can own real property and the capital money can flow to them. We’re sitting on close to $3 million, Mr. Speaker, in capital and gas tax money for the community of Lutselk’e. So it’s in their best interest to form a corporation and take advantage of that money. Thank...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, today we are wearing green to celebrate a milestone in northern history that will take place in Whistler, British Columbia, when Brendan Green of Hay River becomes the first Northwest Territories resident to compete in the Olympic Games since 1984 when Sharon and Shirley Firth competed in Sarajevo, Yugoslavia.

---Applause

In about two and a half hours, Brendan and his teammates will compete in the men’s 4 by 7.5 kilometre biathlon relay at the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Winter Games starting at 12:30 p.m. The race is scheduled to be broadcasted on TSN, and will...

I’m not quite familiar enough with the work that’s being done, but I will follow up on it. These are actually issues we’ve been hearing about from folks across the NWT. I will commit to the Member that I will follow up on it. This is part of the work that’s being undertaken right now. As I get more information, I will share that with the Member.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I have with me today, to my right, Mr. Mike Aumond, deputy minister of Municipal and Community Affairs. To my far left is Mr. Mark Aitken, director of legislation, and to my immediate left is Ms. Bev Chamberlin, director of lands administration with Municipal and Community Affairs. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Mr. Chair, Bill 5 has been brought forward as a result of a recommendation from the Standing Committee on Economic Development and Infrastructure, in May of 2009, to strengthen security requirements for commercial or industrial leases of Commissioner’s land.

The goal is to require enough security to cover the costs of any remediation required to return the land to a condition that is satisfactory to the Minister or a person authorized in the regulations.

The bill contains clauses making performance security a condition of commercial and industrial leases, it sets out the...

I do know that in the coming months we’re going to finalize our analysis to see about bringing an LP forward. I will follow up and see if we have enough in there with enough meat on it to bring an LP forward as soon as the May session.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I can inform the Member that there has been work going on behind the scenes. We have been reviewing the act with the intent of making revisions to it. I will commit to the Member that I will follow up with officials and see where we’re at with it and how soon we can bring an LP forward for consideration.

Thank you, Mr. Chair, I would.

We have consulted with interested stakeholders and that includes the tax-based community governments, the relevant GNWT departments, the NWT Seniors’ Society, and the Northwest Territories Association of Communities, and the Local Government Administrators of the NWT. They have been consulted and have had some input into the process that’s gone on so far.

There are many different areas of youth funding available across the Northwest Territories. We get applications from a lot of groups that are interested in hosting different activities. Again, if it meets the criteria, we have funded a lot of youth programs in the past and this is something that working with the regions and working with the folks in the regions is something we are looking at doing again. If it fits all the criteria, then normally they would get funding, but there are many different pots out there, Mr. Speaker. Thank you.