Yes, Mr. Chairman, thank you. The committee Members were concerned that comprehensive assessment has not been completed for all of the communities in the general taxation area. There was a concern that there may be a number of tax arrears and that their aggregate may be significant.

The committee requests a list of commercial, institutional and residential properties in the general taxation area that are currently in arrears by the community, their respective cumulative arrears and a list of communities that may not have up-to-date property assessments.

The Nunavut Incremental Infrastructure Program provides for the improvements to existing infrastructure in Nunavut and is funded by the federal government. This program is over and above the Infrastructure Program of the Government of the Northwest Territories. The Minister advised the Committee that these are not government funds but are flow-through dollars for improvement projects. These projects are not listed in the capital estimates. The department has agreed to provide the committee with a list of approved projects for the program .

The Keewatin regional leadership has made a proposal to manage the region's airports under the regional authority and is seeking appropriate block funding. The committee was concerned that this may be the beginning of another level of government. The committee is not aware of any other region in which mayors receive block funding for operations and maintenance and capital infrastructure. The committee was also concerned with the effects of division on this initiative and holds the view that this proposal should wait until after division. The committee was also concerned with the human resources implications at headquarters and in the region.

According to the department, this was a community generated initiative and is supported by the local mayors. Committee Members note that this is a profound change in the way the Government of the Northwest Territories does business.

In the committee's view, the initiative should be postponed until after division. The committee noted that the Standing Committee on Government Operations is of the same opinion. Both committees are of the opinion that this initiative will create another level and form of government The committee noted that regional structures are not envisioned in the Nunavut Implementation Commission's proposed government structure. In their response to the NIC report, the GNWT agreed that there should be only two levels of government in Nunavut, community and territorial. It is unclear whether the Interim Commissioner for Nunavut has been consulted or involved in any way in this substantive change to long-term service delivery in Nunavut.

In addition, the committee notes that there have been other concerns expressed with similar empowerment initiatives within the Keewatin region including health services delivery, mechanisms and various resupply proposals. Community empowerment initiatives within the Keewatin region appear to be taxing public sympathies, as well as government resources. Too many questions remain unaddressed to warrant consideration of this proposal at this point in time. However, after meeting this morning with the Keewatin mayors, we will again review the proposal. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.