Thank you, Madam Minister. Mr. Christensen.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. The proposal we are considering presently is to provide funding to communities to recognize those situations where they contract out for services. Where the contractor offers a price for services, he includes a cost that is associated with the wear and tear on the mobile equipment that they use for contract of services. Presently under our funding formula, we do not provide assistance to communities in recognition of that cost premium. There is, in fact, disincentive to communities to contract out services.

Through the municipal financing review, we would anticipate that one of the recommendations that would be coming forth with the NWT Association of Municipalities would be a proposal to deal with that through the revised funding provisions under our formula funding policy. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

Thank you. Mr. Ootes.

Thank you. Madam Minister, would you like to respond?

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I think that was just a statement. I do not think there was a question. Thank you.

I have Mr. Erasmus, Mr. Krutko and Mr. Picco. Mr Erasmus, we are dealing with community operations. Mr. Erasmus.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I have a similar problem as Mr. Ootes brought up except it is a little closer to Yellowknife. I am talking about the community of Ndilo which is still not receiving funding for municipal services. It is not included in the capital funding process. It seems as though all the other departments are now recognizing Ndilo as a separate community and providing funding such as community wellness and all this other funding that has gone out in the past and is going out this year, except for funding for the capital process and for MACA funding for the community.

As I indicated last year, the Yellowknives' Dene First Nation has to make do with Detah's funding to run the gym and what not in Ndilo, as well as in Detah which is cutting down on the services they are able to provide. Funding is basically on an ad hoc basis. I am advised that there is a much better relationship as far as visits from MACA staff and the rest of this, and they are working much closer together.

As far as the funding for municipal services, there was a working committee put together some time ago, and they were apparently making considerable headway. In fact, there was a municipal agreement that was very close to being finalized between the band and the city of Yellowknife to get funding for Ndilo. Then the Twin Pines Hill situation arose where the city wanted to put an arena on top of Twin Pines Hill, and for one reason or another, it fell through. After that, the discussions came to an abrupt halt or came to a very different tone and nothing has materialized.

The assistant deputy minister said they are looking at the funding inequities between the communities. I am assuming this would also include an area where a community is not even being funded whatsoever. I would like to know if the Minister and the department can put these talks back on track and possibly to provide interim funding for Ndilo such as was mentioned would be available for Rae-Edzo. Thank you.

Thank you. Mr. Christensen.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Our understanding is that there is still a willingness on the part of the city to continue the discussion relating to administrative arrangements with the band and providing services to Ndilo. Up until this point in time, the funding that has been considered as part of those administrative arrangements, the funding we presently provide to the city of Yellowknife for services to Ndilo.

Certainly we will want to continue the discussions and get them back on track as they do seem to have been delayed somewhat in the last two or three months. We would undertake to get those discussions back on track. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

Thank you. Mr. Erasmus.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I am advised by the Yellowknives' Dene First Nations administration that MACA personnel has identified $94,000 of the Yellowknife block funding that should be attributable to the Yellowknives' Dene members in Ndilo. As well, Public Works Canada has indicated that $120,000 in grants in lieu of taxes is provided. This is a considerable sum of money that Ndilo sees virtually nothing of other than basically to clean the roads periodically and a few other odds and ends.

Mr. Chairman, I think this has gone on long enough. We have been talking for two years. The committee has been in existence for at least about a year, I cannot remember exactly, but it is time this should have been rectified.

I would want a commitment that in this new fiscal year, funding is available to the community of Ndilo so they can adequately supply recreational services and provide municipal services for their community as every other community in the Northwest Territories is able to do, including the city of Yellowknife through their block funding. Thank you.

Thank you. Madam Minister.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I know the Member had raised this when he first started as an MLA, and the talks have been going on for quite some time. I will make a commitment to see what we can do right away with my staff in the near future. Thank you.

Community operations. I have here on the list Mr. Erasmus, Mr. Krutko, Mr. Picco and Mr. Steen. Mr. Krutko. Thank you.

Thank you. Madam Minister.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. We have nothing to do with the taxation, but I understand the Member when he says it is hard for the elders or seniors to understand all those notices that are coming to them. I understand the frustration. I will ask my deputy minister to answer some of his questions. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

Thank you. Ms. Ballantyne.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Chairman, the issue the Member raises is one that we have also identified internally in the department. There is an interdepartmental effort going on to streamline seniors' programs generally. I think this would be a good issue to add to the list to see what we can do to make the process easier for elders.

There probably is some requirement to ensure that the elder still is resident in the property, et cetera, and I am sure that is the reason for the annual, just to check to make sure the information is the same as last year. The Member raises a good point. We could see what we could do to make that process more streamlined and easier for elders to access the Rebate Program which, I think, is what you are talking about there.

Thank you. Mr. Krutko.

Thank you. Madam Minister.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I

believe that was just a comment and we have taken it seriously. Thank you.