Mahsi, Madam Speaker. I have some concerns with this particular bill. It relates to the use and administration of Commissioner's land. On April 22, 1994, the Gwich'in signed a comprehensive land claim agreement and so have the Inuvialuit and Sahtu. I am not sure of their particular dates. One of the objectives in these claims is to provide for the Gwich'in, specifically to provide for certainty and clarity of rights to ownership and use of land resources. In this bill, one of the powers is to authorize the making of an administration agreement respecting Commissioner's land. To me, that's the use of certain land resources. Under another section, section three, under the Gwich'in claim, that any government, when making changes to any programs or responsibilities of government, needs consent of the Gwich'in for use of lands within the Gwich'in settlement area. I'm just very curious and I know we can't ask questions in this forum, but whether or not consent was given by the Gwich'in for this particular act? The government needs to consult with the claimant groups and I'm just very curious as to whether or not proper consultation was done, not before the introduction of this bill in this House like yesterday, but much before that? We shouldn't be seeking consent after the fact, after the bill's introduced, but much before the bill was introduced.
Madam Speaker, times have changed. The responsibilities and authorities of land use are changing. There are land claims in place, there are regional governments in place that want to monitor and administer particular lands or have some say on the use of those lands within particular settlement areas or particular regions. I hope that the government abides... the government needs to abide by the spirit and the intent of land claims and should not be introducing bills like this before they get consent of particular regional groups or regional land claims. Mahsi.