Thank you, Mr. Chairman. With respect to Municipal and Community Affairs, once again, I would like to commend the department for listening to the needs of Nahanni Butte.
---Applause
You made mention in the opening remarks of the gymnasium for Nahanni Butte. I look forward to progressing further with that.
Throughout the year, the inquiries I get within Municipal and Community Affairs would be technical in nature. A lot of the smaller settlements and band governments are getting increasingly frustrated, Mr. Chairman, on their ability to purchase heavy equipment, and the limitations that are placed on the specs that are there and the funding available for it. I just thought I would mention that.
I don't know how MACA can best address this, but in the larger communities the band governments are finding it difficult to address the pipeline development and they see that the responsible agency is...Like Fort Simpson is getting pipeline funding, but the band governments cannot access that same funding. There must be a way in order to massage the money that's available to prepare our communities for the potential impacts of a pipeline. So that's what is happening. It's not only the band, but the Metis governments in the larger communities are having trouble accessing these funds, too. It would go a long way. I don't know how the department would care to administer that.
Just on those two points, if the Minister cares to comment on the structure or the guidelines used for purchasing equipment, Mr. Chairman, as well as the guidelines and structures used to access community pipeline preparedness funding.