Thank you. Minister.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Yes, we are looking at continuing to do that work. For maybe further detail, I will go to my deputy minister for where we are in that area, Ms. Young, please. Thank you.

Thank you. Ms. Young.

Thank you. Mr. Thompson.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. As I have previously mentioned, I am concerned about transferring assets to communities without them also getting the necessary funds for operation and maintenance. What is the department doing about this process? Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you. Minister.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. We are doing an asset management plan with each of the communities. It is something that we have been focusing on moving forward. It is not only the concerns of the communities that the Member has brought up, but it is something that we will have to have discussions with administration, as well as mayor and council, leadership, obviously, making sure that we are both working together to address the issue. We are going through an assets management plan for our communities and assure the Member that we are going to work with that. There is a responsibility on both sides. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you. Mr. Thompson.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. My next question: how is the department planning to secure any additional funds needed for surveys or land assessment? Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you. Ms. Young.

Thank you. Mr. Thompson.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Are the funds needed associated with these initiatives being factored into the calculations of the municipal funding gap? Thank you.

Thank you. Minister.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I think we just had a little bit of a discussion, as well as the Minister's statement that I just put out today, which the Member was aware of. This is going to be a discussion that we're going to have with the NWT Association of Communities this weekend, and also look in terms of how do we address these, some of the shortfalls, but also what our core needs are for the communities. I know I've had these discussions with committee previously, and it's going to be something that we will have a discussion about and focus on this weekend, in a very honest and open discussion with our other elected officials. Thank you.

Thank you. Mr. Thompson.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I understand that there is the Minister's statement and that, but these are some of the questions that have been asked of me by my constituents to ask, so I'm just making sure I'm going through my list here. I thank the Minister for that. In correspondence with the Standing Committee on Government Operations, the department noted that Municipal and Community Affairs will need to identify a long-term process to transfer assets and lands. What is involved in this work and what is the time frame for completion? Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Mr. Thompson. Ms. Young.

Thank you, Ms. Young. Mr. Thompson.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. What other progress has the department made with respect to addressing the issue of derelict properties in the communities? Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Mr. Thompson. Minister Moses.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. That's always been an ongoing issue, I think, in every community, and that's something that we need to work with our local governments on addressing. Obviously, we want to play a strong role in that. Any administration or municipal government that does feel that they need support and work on our behalf, I encourage them to come and speak with us to address those needs in terms of derelict properties and areas in their communities. I know, since I've been in the position, we have made some adjustments for some small communities to address these needs. Like I said, I encourage leadership and membership to contact our office, and we'd be more than willing and happy to work with them. Thank you, Mr. Chair.