Thank you, Mr. Chairman. In my view, this is where each M.L.A. becomes very useful. All of the M.L.A.s are very able and they know what is going on. If they want to see their communities develop I think it should be an M.L.A. initiative. The department visits all the communities three or four times a year and in those meetings we offer them any help we can provide and we also talk about fiscal responsibilities of each community. Right now we are holding a workshop in Fort Simpson on band councils and Metis locals. Thank you.

From your statements, are you offering professional assistance to M.L.A.s to do some of this work?

I was just bringing it to your attention, Mr. Chairman.

Under areas such as the settlement of land claims, I am just curious as to what the impact is on your lands divisions, or the department. How is the department coping with the settlement of lands and the ability to transfer lands to the new land claimant groups?

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. The department is struggling with that. It is not an easy thing to do because it is quite far-reaching. However, we are part of an overall committee to assess the impacts on land claims and implementation. Part of that is that we play a big role in identifying community needs, both in the training area and also in the eventual transfer of lands to the communities. There is a great deal of preparation work to do and we are starting it slowly. We have to deal with the federal government. We are getting some money to do extra surveys so that land is easily turned over to the communities. I think we are getting ourselves well-positioned. We have a special person in the department assigned to coordinate it right now.

One of the things that used to be a problem area, I guess, is the responsibility of lands. I know we should be discussing it under lands but it is a departmental issue. Up until now, total responsibility for land administration has been in headquarters, or most of it. Is there a move to decentralize most of this to regions or the regional headquarters?

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. The department has been working on decentralization of the land administration for the last four years. We have now fully decentralized in the Baffin region. We have fully decentralized the Inuvik region. We are just about fully decentralized in the Keewatin region. We are just in the process of dealing with the Kitikmeot region and we still have to deal with the Fort Smith region. It is a bit awkward in the Fort Smith region because it is sort of split into three areas. It is a bit more awkward. We have a presence in the area offices but it is not fully decentralized. The intent is to fully decentralize that service as well as the assessment process.

In terms of some of the training and administration of lands, you mentioned in your previous statement that you are doing some of that. I imagine there are some business opportunities for groups and entrepreneurs in terms of land mapping and land surveys. Is the department utilizing as much as possible the technologies available in the regions to do land administration, land surveys and land mapping? Are you utilizing the local businesses?

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Yes, all of the mapping surveys done through contracts administration are still within the department. Thank you.

Are the contracts with local groups, and not people from the south with the technology? I am aware of certain groups who are developing the technology that can be used in these areas.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Where we can we use the local contractors. There are some cases where local contractors cannot do it. Also, in the area of new development of producing maps, we are using new technology.

Item 20, report of committee of the whole, Mr. Chairman.