For the purpose of municipal service and contracts, when this government is referring to community self-government you are looking specifically at municipal councils.

Thank you. Mr. Minister.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. The government is looking at all communities. I think Mr. Kakfwi would be able to tell you there are bands who are interested in the self-government type initiatives. Thank you.

Thank you. Honourable Member for Deh Cho.

Mr. Chairman, it bothers me that the government would make such a statement with regard to municipal and community operations where we are talking about municipal and community affairs, but we are not talking about any kind of government within that department. I believe it is the responsibility of the Department of Culture and Communications or Mr. Kakfwi's department. What is the purpose of putting it in your statements, as it does create confusion?

Thank you. Mr. Minister.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. We feel as a department we are here to help communities in terms of developing their community infrastructure and also developing community leaders such as mayors and councillors. If asked, we will assist a band council. If they want to know about government programs we can hold workshops. In fact, we held a workshop in Fort Simpson last week to give bands an idea of how to run a community. Perhaps, Mr. Chairman, it would be more appropriate if my deputy minister provided more details on how we help bands and other councillors in the communities.

Thank you. Mr. Menard.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. As the Minister was saying, this is all encompassing. Training and support is available to all communities in the Northwest Territories and not just incorporated communities. We have worked closely with quite a few communities dealing with band councils in the development of water and sewer services, how to run a council and how to organize themselves to respond to their own needs. We do that with everybody. We recently finished a workshop with the community of Fort Franklin where they are now combining their councils together. Training and development are available to all communities in the Northwest Territories whether they are bands, hamlets, villages or towns.

Thank you. Mr. Gargan.

Thank you. I am not sure of the initiatives taken by the department, however, by virtue of approving this budget of $47.213 million, you also have the mandate to support community self-government. If we approve this budget, we are also approving the initiatives for the creation of self-government. That clearly gives the mandate to the department to inform the band councils the budget has been approved and that the government is looking at this direction, this is the way it is going to go, and it has been supported by the Assembly. To have something such as this approved and giving the mandate to the government to start some initiatives in the area of community self-government, is misleading. I find it very difficult, Mr. Chairman, to deal with this when something such as this is included as part of their mandate for approval. It is clearly stated, if we approve this $47.213 million, we are then giving them a mandate for that initiative to occur. This is what I am concerned about.

Mr. Minister.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. If the wording "community self-government", or "self-government" is a problem, we are prepared to change the wording. What we are trying to say is that we tried to emphasize the training and development of municipal representatives including their officials. It is our interest to help community development in terms of councillors, mayors, their officials and bands, should they want help. If the wording is a problem we can change it. Thank you.

Mr. Gargan.

Can we change it to say, "to support communities, additional emphasis"?

Thank you. Mr. Minister, do you comply?

Yes, Mr. Chairman.

Thank you. Mr. Gargan.

Mr. Chairman, in order for us to do this, do we need to make a motion? What is the process? I want to make sure that we are not being mislead in any way.

Mr. Gargan, would you clarify which word you would like to change. Is it on page 11-15, which line, which paragraph?

Mr. Chairman, the second paragraph, the fourth line, "to support community self-government additional", that we change it to, "to support communities, additional emphasis is being placed." Delete "self-government" altogether.

Thank you, Mr. Gargan. You already clarified for the Minister and the Minister agreed he will comply. I do not think it is necessary to make a motion. It is in the record. Thank you. Page 11-15, municipal operations and assessment, total O and M, $47.213. Mr. Patterson.

Mr. Chairman, is this the area through which municipalities are given financial assistance to develop land for residential property construction?

Thank you. Mr. Minister.