Thank you, Madam Chair. Madam Chair, I think that we'll certainly be able to provide that information in a high-level kind of generic to, you know, protect the privacy of the applicants. But I don't see why we couldn't provide that information for the Members. Thank you, Madam Chair.

Member for Monfwi.

Okay, my time is up for.

Okay. No further questions, please turn to page 93.

Environment and Climate Change, policy and strategic planning, operations expenditure summary, 2025-2026 Main Estimates, $13,294,000. Does the committee agree?

Committee, we're going to take a short break for the interpreters. Thank you.

---SHORT RECESS

Thank you. We are moving on to regulatory, assessment and authorizations, beginning on page 97 with information items on page 100. Are there any questions? Member for Frame Lake.

Thank you, Madam Chair. Just let me get my computer logged in here; still just coming off the break. Okay, thank you, Madam Chair.

I wanted to ask some questions about something that's come up a number of times about bulk land transfers. So I just really want to first ask what is getting in the way of transferring land to the city of Yellowknife? Thank you.

Minister of Environment and Climate Change.

Thank you, Madam Chair. Madam Chair, this has been an ongoing issue for the bulk land transfer with the city of Yellowknife. We've attempted -- we've had -- I won't say attempted, we've had many conversations with the city and we're currently in the process of looking at a smaller scale approach to the bulk land transfer than was initially envisioned. But I will pass to deputy minister to provide a little bit more detail. Thank you, Madam Chair.

Deputy minister Jenkins.

Member for Frame Lake.

Thank you, Madam Chair. And I am excited to hear that from the deputy minister. I'm glad to hear that you've been meeting. Glad to hear that you're making some progress and identifying specifics to move forward on. It's certainly a priority for myself, and I think for the Assembly generally, to ensure that land transfers are happening, and it's a priority for the department as indicated in the business plan.

Can the Minister perhaps elaborate a bit, do we have any legislation -- I know that the Land Titles Act is involved here. So is there anything the Minister can tell us about aspects of that Act that might, if changed, would be able to speed up this kind of process? Just noting that it's been taking quite a while from identification of the issue to being able to find a resolution; we're still not there. If the Minister or his staff could discuss it further, I'd appreciate some more information. Thanks.

Minister of Environment and Climate Change.

Thank you, Madam Chair. Yes, it certainly has been a challenging file from the perspective of -- within the legislation, there are certain requirements which impact more the small communities than the larger communities if you're talking about the need for like development plans, appropriate bylaws within communities that will meet the requirement under the Act to do the transfers. And specifically to the changes to the Act, I would rather have the deputy minister speak to that directly. Thank you, Madam Chair.

Deputy minister Jenkins.

Member for Frame Lake.

Thank you. Thank you, Madam Chair. And I do appreciate the department keeping the fire burning on that and setting it as a priority and moving that forward.

I am curious to know -- I mean, my understanding is that some of the issues related to kind of dated legislation were supposed to be addressed by the new Public Lands Act. Why have we not made more progress on implementing that Act? It looks to me like the review substantially happened five years ago, and yet we don't have it in place. Can the department kind of help us understand what's the hold up. Thank you.

Minister for Environment and Climate Change.

Thank you, Madam Chair. Yes, the department has been working on the PLAR for -- the Public Land Act regulations for a while. And if my recollection is correct, there's been a couple of particular points that have been somewhat challenging through that process, and we continue to work toward a resolution on those specific items. But I will pass to deputy minister Jenkins to provide a little bit more detail. Thank you, Madam Chair.

Deputy minister Jenkins.