Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I would like to state my dismay with this whole bureaucratic nightmare that we are in. When it comes to aboriginal people, it seems like the constitutional process is being kicked around from all sides and aboriginal issues, in regards to one of the items that we put forth in regards to this government, is the settlement of aboriginal claims and dealing with aboriginal issues, self-government, yet we agreed to 24 principles when we got into this House. It seems like every time an aboriginal organization wants to make an effort do something, it seems like it gets ripped apart, kicked around and put down by this government and people in this House. I think we have to stand up for what we state as our principles or change our mind every second day. In regards to the $1 million that they are putting forth, I would like to ask the Minister exactly how many aboriginal people do you have within the Aboriginal Affairs portfolio. How many positions are presently not filled, yet we are trying to settle the treaty entitlement process with Treaty 8, we are trying to settle the Dogrib claims process, we are trying to settle the self-government process and also we are dealing with a pretty intense aboriginal community out there, who are seeing their rights deteriorated by these budget cuts that are coming down in this government. We support those initiatives but when it comes to an aboriginal organization making an attempt to step forth or deal with their issues, I think, sooner or later the aboriginal community is going to step forth and make clear where they stand because with the amount of cuts we are taking, it is the aboriginal people in the smaller communities who are feeling those cuts and also the bands are having to carry those extra costs, yet this government spends a lot of money from the federal government on aboriginal programs and services. Yet that is where the majority of those cuts are being taken. My question to the Minister is, how many aboriginal people does he have within his portfolio? Also how many positions are presently unoccupied? Yet we are dealing with a whole slate of aboriginal issues.

I believe, Mr. Chairman, my question is in relation to the grants to aboriginal organizations and funds at the present time, and how they tend to deal with the outstanding issues of claims, treatment entitlements, programs and services. I believe that under grants is the item that I am talking about. I would like to ask the Minister exactly what resources and people we have in place to assist the aboriginal organizations in dealing with these outstanding issues.

Thank you, Mr. Antoine. Total grants, $225,000. Agreed? Total contributions, $95,000. Agreed? Total grants and contributions, $320,000. Agreed? Thank you. Page 2-48. Information item, active positions. No comments? Page 2-49, details of work performed on behalf of third parties. Page 2-50, total department, $581,000. Agreed?

I would now return to page 2-45, program summary, Aboriginal Affairs. Operations and maintenance. Total operations and maintenance, $2,377,000. Agreed? Total expenditures, $2,377,000. Does the Committee agree that consideration of the department's estimates is concluded?

I would like to thank the Minister and his witness, Mr. Bannon. We will now return to page 2-5, Executive, department summary in Executive. Department summary. Executive. Operations and maintenance. Total operations and maintenance, $53,445,000. Mr. Erasmus.

2-5. Okay, for information to the Members, this summary includes the Executive Offices, Financial Management Board Secretariat and Aboriginal Affairs. Total operations and maintenance, $53,445,000. Mr. Krutko.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. In regards to the grants and contribution, should that be increased in regards to the motion that was passed, in regards to the Status of Women and the Native Women's Association, to recognize that?

Mr. Krutko. There is no question on the program summary. If you would like to return to a certain activity, we would have to get consent from the other Members. Mr. Krutko, do you wish to follow up?

Yes, Mr. Chairman. My question was in regards to grants and contributions. Will the increase that was passed through the motion for the $25,000 for the Native Women's, and I believe it was $30,000 for the Status of Women, show up so it should be almost $8,610,000? Should that be what it reads?

Mr. Todd. Mr. Krutko, perhaps I would let Mr. Todd respond to that.

Thank you, Mr. Todd. Does that answer your question, Mr. Krutko?

Yes, maybe the chair can help me out on here. What is the use of passing a motion if it does not show up? We approve a number in the program, how come it does not show up in regards to the actual costs at the end of the day?

Thank you, Mr. Krutko. Mr. Todd, can you respond to that?

Thank you, Mr. Todd. Mr. Todd, just for clarification, could the Members be looking forward to something in writing from the Cabinet then in that sense?

Thank you. Mr. Krutko.