Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Mr. Chair, many people would be surprised to know the large scope of operations the NCC manages. Many people in Ottawa are not aware of it, the 17,000 properties and 400 staff members. I know that the NCC has always had a challenge with respect to resources. As national capital region members of Parliament, several times we have submitted a presentation to the government about the requirements of the NCC. We are so glad that the government listened to us and has given $55 million to the NCC, which is much needed, I should say. The staff and the management of the NCC have always been good with the us, the members of Parliament from the national capital region, in our frequent interactions with them.
However, let me go into the issues that still, in my view, should be addressed.
One is that the NCC manages very prime property and excellent assets like Gatineau Park, but also the greenbelt adjoining the suburban area, where the city is growing. Sometimes the NCC's one-size-fits-all rules and guidelines, in my view, act as a problem to many of us, say, in the Nepean riding. Whenever we have to deal with the NCC, this, I think, is an ongoing problem.
Mark, if you can recall, I think we first touched on this soon after our election, and I would like to know if anything has been done with this segregation of the types of properties you deal with and the guidelines applicable to them.