Thank you. Minister.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Mr. Chair, this money is for additional positions to -- I've got to get my glasses on here -- establish two new positions to address equity leases over the next three years. That is in addition to the three positions that were already there. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you. Mr. O'Reilly.

Thanks, Mr. Chair. Can the Minister or his staff tell us where these three positions are going to be located? Thanks, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Mr. O'Reilly. Minister.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. In addition to the previous three that I have just spoken to plus the two that we are adding now, there are going to be two in Fort Smith, one in Inuvik, one in Fort Simpson, and one in Yellowknife. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you. Mr. O'Reilly.

Thanks, Mr. Chair. I think the three that were in the 2018-2019 budget itself, they were going to be located in Fort Smith. Is that correct? Thanks, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Mr. O'Reilly. Minister.

Yes, thank you, Mr. Chair. It was initially three, but two are going into Fort Smith, one in Inuvik, one in Fort Simpson, and one in Yellowknife. That gives us the five positions. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you. Mr. O'Reilly.

Thanks, Mr. Chair. Now I am more confused than ever. How many positions are there going to be created as a result of the supplementary appropriation and what's in the 2018-2019 budget already? How many total positions, and where are they all going to be located? Thanks, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Mr. O'Reilly. Minister.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Mr. Chair, the supplementary appropriation will add two new positions in addition to the three that were identified in the main budget document. I believe, in the main budget document, the three that were identified were actually going to go to Fort Smith, but after having some discussions with committee, we determined that we will add two new positions, recognizing that there are a number of leases that need to be taken care of. That would have brought the total to five, and we decided that two would go in Fort Smith, one would go in Inuvik, one in Fort Simpson, and one in Yellowknife; so two new positions as a result of this supplementary appropriation. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you. Mr. O'Reilly.

Some information was provided to committee in terms of where the outstanding equity leases were located. The most equity leases are actually found in Fort Providence at 58. There are only six in Fort Smith. Has there been any consideration given to having one of these positions located in Fort Providence where most of the equity leases are located? Thanks, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Mr. O'Reilly. Minister.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Mr. Chair, there are a couple of factors. I mean, I take the Member's point. I have seen the numbers. We would have to look at the availability of office space and being able to set up in the community.

I don't know if the final decision has been made yet. I suppose the Department of Lands would have to look at all of the information that is provided and then make a final decision as to whether it's going to be in Fort Simpson or Fort Providence. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Minister. The Minister of Lands has indicated that he would like to speak to this. Minister Sebert.

Yes. After the initial discussions, Mr. Chair, with respect to this matter, we went from three to five positions, as there was an interest to resolve this matter faster. We will have to make the allocation of positions dependent, of course, on office space and some other considerations. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you for that, Minister. Mr. O'Reilly.

Thanks, Mr. Chair. I think that one way to get this done faster is to actually probably move one of those positions from Fort Smith and put it in Fort Providence, where most of the equity leases are located.

I will just make that recommendation to my friend, the Minister of Lands, and to my colleague, the Minister of Finance. If they would like to respond, I would be happy to hear it, but that would be my recommendation. If you want to deal with this faster, put the bodies where the problems are. Not that there are problems with Fort Providence, but there is an outstanding number of equity leases there that is the highest number of any of the communities. Put the person there so that they can resolve it faster. Thanks, Mr. Chair.

Thank you. Do you wish to respond, any Minister? Minister McLeod.

Thank you, Mr. Chair, and recommendation noted.