Thank you, Mr. Chairman. The Standing Committee on Legislation has had a long history with this bill. The committee reviewed this bill as a tabled document in May

1993 and also as a bill in December of the same year. This is the third occasion the committee has had to review this bill. The committee held public hearings in both Fort Providence and Fort Simpson and also invited the surrounding communities of Kakisa, the Hay River reserve, Fort Liard, Wrigley and Yellowknife, on the principle of this bill. The committee would like to thank the Minister and his officials in the Department of Municipal and Community Affairs for presenting this bill in the communities and responding to the questions of the Members.

Bill 2 will amend the Charter Communities Act to clarify the municipal corporation's power to lease and subdivide lands and to set out land administration terms for the disposal of land by municipalities. Before being entitled to sell or lease their lands to others, charter communities would be required to pass a land administration by-law to provide guidelines for the disposition of the land. This by-law must be given public notice and must receive the approval of the Minister.

This bill also specifies when charter communities may dispose of personal property and clarifies that they may lease that personal property. As well, charter communities will be allowed to carry out a business to provide a service that may not necessarily be connected to the traditional municipal purposes if the Minister agrees it is in the public interest.

Members of the standing committee have reviewed this bill and are satisfied that the bill provides an appropriate structure within which charter communities may manage and administer lands.