Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I just want to start by recognizing that the Department of Lands is now entering into its fourth year of operation, and my colleagues and I are certainly appreciative that Lands is obviously a complex department and it has a lot to deal with, especially with the merging of the two systems, the federal and the territorial system, after devolution.

However, we also recognize that, four years in, the department is seemingly having some troubles to try to hit its stride, and so I think that, during the business plan reviews, committee outlined a number of the aspects that they want to see Lands improve and focus on. One of the things is that we recognize land administration is not well understood by many people across the Northwest Territories, so for sure communication is key in that. The unauthorized occupancy is a major issue, as are tenure issues in parts of the Northwest Territories with unsettled land claims. As many of my colleagues have expressed in this House, it is unacceptable for people to find themselves in property tax arrears since devolution, when their homes are on Commissioner's land in areas with unsettled claims. They essentially keep paying for the value of their property many times over, but the land will never be theirs.

Lands has a crucial responsibility, of course, in managing active industrial sites, waste sites, and other areas that are entering the remediation phase. It is a focus we have got to keep on. Lands also has an important supporting role in the implementation of the agricultural strategy and as residents try to identify and secure lands for agricultural use in the areas with surrounding communities; this will be an important aspect in food security and reducing the cost of living going forward.

The committee has identified public communication, as I mentioned earlier, as an area for development within the department, especially as it relates to recreational leasing. I am pleased, however, to see that the Department of Lands, their commitment in working with MACA to help residents understand land tenure issues and get answers to their questions. So for sure my colleagues and I look forward to seeing that initiative roll out.

As it relates to matters that the Regular Members have presented to the Minister and the department with regard to the budget directly, we find ourselves in opposition to the increases of the lease revenue that is being proposed in the budget. There has been a request to implement a more phased-in approach to this aspect. We would still like the department to consider that.

There are proposed reductions to positions within the budget, of course, that we are opposed to. I will not go into the details of those positions specifically. I will let Members speak to them as we move through the budget. Those are my general comments for now, Mr. Chair. Thank you.