Hi. I'll be speaking to the Canadian High Arctic Research Station Act, and my colleague here will be speaking to the application of an order in Nunavut.
The Department of Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada manages the construction of the Canadian High Arctic Research Station located in Cambridge Bay, Nunavut. Once finished, the station will house the offices of Polar Knowledge Canada. Transferring the land and the research station from Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada to Polar Knowledge Canada is the last step in the creation of the most recent federal research organization.
The Federal Real Property and Federal Immovables Act describes two situations whereby the transfer of federal real property from one federal organization to another can take place, either from one minister to another or via crown corporation.
Polar Knowledge Canada is a departmental corporation, and Minister Bennett is responsible for both Polar Knowledge Canada as well as the department holding the real property that is to be transferred. Therefore, neither condition is met. The proposed amendments to the act would address this inconsistency by allowing Polar Knowledge Canada to be treated as a crown corporation, solely for the purpose of transferring federal real property.
Thank you.