Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Chairman, sorry. Initially, we had four positions on a term expecting hearings and negotiations to be completed by this coming year. However, as everybody knows, the project has continued to move forward not as quickly as everybody expected. We have done a lot of work in terms of working with the communities to do the baseline studies. As the Member has indicated, we would expect MACA to have these as a matter of course. However, that's not the case. We don't have the information as to what assets are in the community, what size, what the capacity is. We also developed a template of different things that the communities could use as part of the tool kit to talk with industry. There has been a lot of discussion; there has been a lot of work done in the areas. We are now looking for continued work in that area. We are looking for two positions. I guess the biggest part of the work that needs to be done is the negotiation of the access and service agreement. The larger centres are probably not aware because money has been provided to them to negotiate those agreements directly. In the case of all the other communities, the proponent has indicated that they are not willing to negotiate access and services with each community and they expect this government to do that on their behalf. So that was one of the bigger parts of what this ask is for. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
Michael McLeod on Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
In the Legislative Assembly on May 14th, 2007. See this statement in context.
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
May 14th, 2007
Page 177
See context to find out what was said next.