Thank you, Minister. Mr. O'Reilly.

Thanks, Mr. Chair. I think I almost heard a commitment from the Minister that he is going to get back and provide something in writing to help clear up this murky water between the NWT Centre for Geomatics, Mackenzie Valley Fibre Link, and the Northern Canadian Centre for Excellence for Remote Sensing. Am I correct that he is going to get back to me in writing within a reasonable period of time? Thanks, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Mr. O'Reilly. Minister.

Yes, I think we could do that. I am wondering if Mr. O'Reilly might be able to put the question in writing. It might make it easier to respond to it, to make sure that we properly and fully answer the question because it somewhat complex. I am simply asking that he put it in writing to us. That being done, I think we could undertake to respond in writing. Thank you.

Thank you, minister. Mr. O'Reilly.

Thanks, Mr. Chair. I can do that, but I don't think it is going to be any more complicated than something like, "Please explain what the relationship is between the Northwest Territories Centre for Geomatics, the Mackenzie Valley Fibre Optic Link, and the Northern Canadian Centre of Excellence for Remote Sensing and the timing of those initiatives." Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Mr. O'Reilly. Mr. O'Reilly said he would put that in writing for the Minister, or you could check Hansard tomorrow. Does that suffice, Minister?

I am sorry. Could you repeat that, Mr. Chair, so that I am certain what undertaking I might be making?

Will you provide an answer in writing to Mr. O'Reilly's question, Minister?

Thank you. Mr. O'Reilly, will you put the question in writing for the Minister?

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Yes. I will do a cut and paste from Hansard.

---Laughter

Thank you, Mr. O'Reilly. We have gotten to the bottom of that. Anything further with your last minute 20? Nothing further from Mr. O'Reilly. I see no further comments or questions. I will call this section on page 296, Lands, Informatics Shared Service Centre, operations expenditure summary, $7,076,000. Does committee agree?

Thank you, committee. We will now move on to the activity operations on page 299. Activity description on page 298 with accompanying information item on page 300. Comments or questions about Lands operations, pages 298 to 300? I'll give committee a moment. Mr. Testart.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I notice that this section of the department covers inspections. Actually, I'll just get the Minister to confirm if this includes the inspections? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Testart. Minister.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Yes, this is the section that deals with inspections. Thank you.

Thank you, Minister. Mr. Testart.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I just want to make sure we're all on the same page. So the amount of total funding for inspections has been decreased in this budget. I'm wondering if the Minister can explain the rationale clearly so we can understand why an important function like ensuring that our liabilities are intact and well understood are being cut? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Testart. Minister.

Mr. Chair, as I mentioned at the outset, the number of inspectors is not being cut; the money allocated for travel for inspections is being reduced. It's simply a function of the fact that there is less activity out on the land. Certainly, if that changed radically we would have to look at an increase, but we're not anticipating any drastic increase in this upcoming year, therefore we've made this projection that the money we set aside for inspections is sufficient. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Minister. Mr. Testart.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I think perhaps that speaks to the state of our economy right now, which is regrettable, but I think we need to ensure we have robust inspections even at a time of economic decline so we can maintain a high level of public certainty that we are ensuring our environment is protected and the people who use that environment are equally protected.

Snap Lake went to care and maintenance before this cut, so is that part of the reason the budget has been decreased, because one of our diamond mines has ceased full operations? Thank you.