Thank you. Minister of Municipal and Community Affairs, Ms. Mike.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. I believe that I said to help pay the salaries of trained local land administrators, which is to commence in July of 1996. But, to my understanding, there is a provision that was negotiated by the Nunavut Tunngavik Federation, at the time, that it was required of the federal government to pay or fund the municipalities once the land administration was turned over by July 1996. Thank you.

Thank you. Supplementary, Mr. Patterson.

Madam Speaker, thank you. I believe that the Minister had already stated earlier today in this question period that she understood the communities were already funded for community lands administration, at least to some extent. Madam Speaker, the municipality of Iqaluit had a lands officer, but the current financial restraint has resulted in the termination of that position and Iqaluit residents now rely on headquarters MACA officials to administer community lands. I would like to ask the Minister whether her department is prepared to assist the town of Iqaluit with the establishment of a person year to locally administer community lands. Thank you.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. If the position was eliminated due to the deficit that the town of Iqaluit incurred and the position was there, I'm sure the department would be willing to assist once the town of Iqaluit and the council have developed their recovery plan. Thank you.

Thank you. Item 6, oral questions. The honourable Member for Yellowknife South, Mr. Whitford.