Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Chairman, the committee highlighted in its report a couple of areas of concern, and I'd just like to put out some information and time lines as to how things had evolved from a committee perspective in the area of main street paving for non-tax-based communities. During business plan review it had come up that the department was going to initiate the actions of a motion in the House. Upon further request for information, from the penof Minister Handley as Government House Leader, he forwarded information to our committee. In that information, I believe it was October, when we were given information as to what communities would be selected for the initial programs for paving for main streets. The committee was given the communities' list and maps attached. It was stated it was preliminary. The communities were Fort Resolution, Fort Liard, Fort Providence, Fort McPherson and Rae-Edzo, and that the paving style would be chipsealing. It wasn't until later on that the committee became aware that Tuktoyaktuk was on the list that was forwarded to us by the department near the end of our review of their draft main estimates. That's when it became a concern to Members. At no point during the review was the committee made aware that Cabinet had extended the mandate or the motion that was done in the House, that they extended the mandate to include other communities. The way the committee was operating was on the previous information, that it was fitting with exactly what the motion was in the House and that's the way the committee had approached it. When we received the further information of what communities would be funded during this fiscal year, we took our concerns up to the Regular Members at AOC, and a letter was sent to Cabinet as to the concerns of Regular Members about the funding going ahead for the community, which didn't fit the criteria as the committee had initially seen it.
It was after that, we were given the letter from Minister Handley that stated that in fact Cabinet had extended the program that now made the community of Tuktoyaktuk eligible for this funding. It's under the pretense, Mr. Chairman, that committee raised its concerns and put it in its report about the flow of information that we had and the understanding that committee had of the program and the criteria that was to be available. So I just wanted to put that on record so that Members and the Minister and his staff are aware from what side the committee was coming to when we reviewed the report, as well as for other Members of this House. It was an area of concern, and there still is some concern and there might be questions as we go through detail, as to what criteria, what type of crushing and other things that are going on at this point, Mr. Chairman. That would be all my general comments for now. Thank you.