Thanks, Mr. Chair. This section of the bill is all about this idea of restricted areas. This gives Indigenous governments the ability to request temporary restrictions on areas of up to one year, that can be extended to two years, for a number of purposes including areas that might have unique, archaeological, cultural, ecological, geological, or historical significance. Of course, they have to cover the minimum area, and the area can be no larger than something that might be prescribed by regulations.

This would add in to those reasons why an Indigenous government may want to seek protection of an area so that it could serve municipal purposes. Of course, some Indigenous governments actually serve as municipal governments; one being the First Nation Council in Lutselk'e or Sambaa K'e or Wrigley. I think even in Tsiigehtchic, the council is basically the First Nation government.

What this would do is give those Indigenous governments the ability to say, if there is something that serves a municipal purpose, say, water or sewage treatment or a landfill, that they could request that that area receive temporary protection and that they could request that of the Minister. It is about extending this to include municipal purposes. Thanks, Mr. Chair.