Mr. Chairman, I have some opening remarks on behalf of the Standing Committee on Legislation on the Commissioner's Lands Act and it's based on case law. The department determined that the current authority for the Commissioner to delegate responsibility for the administration of Commissioner's land to a municipality was not as clear as it would be in our present legislation.

The amendment to the Commissioner's Land Act validates quarry fees and charges that have been levied by the municipalities under the act. The amendments indicate that if a municipality or land agent has operated a quarry on Commissioner's land before the provision came into force and had levied quarry fees or charges, those fees were authorized under the act. The amendment is considered a protection amendment. It is being proposed to protect current practices of municipalities with regard to administration of quarries which the government has delegated to them in good faith. There's that word again. Some amendments are deemed to have come into force on June 27, 1996 to further support that the Commissioner has always had the authority to delegate the authority to administer Commissioner's land. The remaining sections come into force after first reading.

The Standing Committee on Legislation held its public hearing on September 9, 1994. Bob McKenna from the city of Yellowknife made a presentation on this bill. The only concern expressed dealt with the fees and royalties in the regulation. Mr. McKenna stated he would like to see the fees and royalties subject to frequent reviews.

On September 9, 1994, the committee, with the concurrence of the Minister, made three minor technical amendments to the bill. The committee passed a motion that Bill 12 as amended

was ready for consideration in committee of the whole. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.