Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I would just like to say that I'm pleased that the department has been able to give some additional funding to the municipalities, including the tax-based municipalities, and has perhaps done so by restraining its own PY growth. I think these additional transfer payments are timely and will make it just a little bit easier for our municipal governments to survive.

Mr. Chairman, the one matter I would like to seek some response from the Minister on has to do with the subject of the recommendation by SCOF passed in this committee earlier today. That has to do with the clear guidelines for the dissolution of a council and its reinstatement. I understand that the department is open to this recommendation and perhaps feels that after the difficulties associated with the dissolution of

the council in Iqaluit it might be better for all concerned if a process is laid out.

My question is as follows, Mr. Chairman. While we're waiting for these guidelines to be developed and perhaps reflected in legislative amendments -- which I certainly appreciate takes some time -- in the meantime the Minister is going to have to deal with a real live situation in the second-largest municipality in the territories right now. The situation is that there is a growing degree of concern in my constituency about getting an elected council back. It comes not just from the members of the municipal advisory council who really are doing their best, I think. But they are feeling some reluctance about being there too much longer simply because they know they're not elected and they're vulnerable to being criticized because they're not elected. I think they'll be leading the charge by saying that there should be an election.

Then there are the ordinary citizens of the community who I think are generally very interested in the goings-on of the municipality. This may be one good aspect of this affair, that it's provoked a higher degree of interest on the part of the community in municipal affairs. But they're now anxious, I think, to really have a voice. My reading of the situation, Mr. Chairman, is that the high degree of interest that is evident in the community could translate into a very healthy effect. Namely, that there will be numerous candidates and there will be good candidates running for mayor and council when an election is held.

I guess what I'm respectfully suggesting to the Minister is that some time has passed since the decision was taken to dissolve the council. An experienced, able, senior, now retired, MACA employee has been there now for going on four months doing, what I'm told, is good work with the appointed municipal advisory council. The question now arising is what is the government now looking for to give the nod to restoring democracy in Iqaluit? I guess I would like to ask the Minister -- in a general way, because there are no guidelines in place now even though they will be developed I'm sure and I'm glad to see that -- what is required before an election can be held? What is standing in the way of an election being held in Iqaluit? In other words, what steps is the Minister going to expect of the administration of the community before we can get the town back on a normal footing with an elected council? Thank you.