Thank you, Mr. Chairman. The Member is referring to a case that we are not aware of, where negotiations are going on for years on end. If the Member can give us specific examples we can provide him details. We do not have, to my knowledge, concerns being raised about specific examples of negotiations going on and on for years. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

Thank you. Perhaps the honourable Member could be a little more specific. Mr. Krutko.

Thank you. Madam Minister.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman and thanks to the Member for giving us the specific case. This question is for Health and Social Services. This was being negotiated long before community empowerment came to MACA. It is not covered under community empowerment in MACA. Those are questions for Health and Social Services. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

Thank you. Community operations. I have Mr. Krutko.

Thank you. Madam Minister.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. We are not aware of negotiations in the east that are going on for years and years. As I said before, what he referred with this Joe Greenland facility and the negotiations going on and on for years and years, that is a question for Health and Social Services. We have just taken over community empowerment and under that initiative is block funding. I think that is what he is referring to. In the east, I am not aware of all these negotiations going for years and years. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

Thank you. Your time is up, Mr. Krutko. I have Mr. Miltenberger.

Thank you. Madam Minister.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I will ask my deputy minister to give the details as she has it in front of her. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

Ms. Ballantyne. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Chairman, the Keewatin pilot project is a proposal at this point and it is meant to cover a number of items. I will just list them for the Member's information. To transfer the management, maintenance and operation of all community based infrastructure to Keewatin community governments; to enter into management agreements for all regionally based community infrastructure with a Keewatin communities association, or similar structure; to implement one multi-department block funding formula financing arrangement for capital and related O and M requirements through contributions; and to transfer capital project management responsibility to the Keewatin communities association or to community governments.

It is important to point out this is very conceptual at this stage. It is really an idea that we are trying to work out in collaboration with the Keewatin communities to see if there is another better way from a community perspective to have these decisions made closer to the local levels. I would underline it is very much a concept at this point, that we are still working out with communities. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

Thank you. Mr. Miltenberger.

Thank you. Ms. Ballantyne.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I will answer the last question first. No, there has not been a comprehensive plan submitted to Cabinet at this point. We have developed a proposal outline which we are planning to discuss with Keewatin mayors, the Keewatin Inuit Association and the two boards in Rankin Inlet the week of February 17. This will really be the first formal discussion that we have had with those communities about what this project could potentially look like. It will be providing them with a greater level of detail than they have seen before, but what some of the issues are. Certainly, it is very complex. Following that, if the communities agree that the proposal outline looks like something they want to pursue and if we are in agreement with them on a time frame, then that is the point at which we would be bringing it back for a green light before doing the next step of developmental work. There have been a number of issues that have been identified in developing this proposal outline. They range from some of the liability and cross-indemnification issues, we just talked about earlier, through to some very complex issues around insurance, et cetera. We have been working through those issues not only with the communities, but also with the Association of Municipalities. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

Thank you. Mr. Miltenberger.

Thank you. Madam Minister.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I will ask my deputy minister to elaborate some more, but I would just like to say, the big difference is in the Beaufort Delta. It is a regional government that you are dealing with. In the Keewatin region, they are not trying to form a regional government as they told the committee, just a few days ago. It is a regional organization getting together to find a better way of managing their dollars. There is a big difference. A government that cannot make laws, they are not out to make laws, they are not trying to take your lawmaking authority. In the east, in the Beaufort Delta, we are dealing with a regional government. I will ask my deputy minister to give you some more details. Thank you.

Thank you. Madam deputy minister.