Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  Thank you, Mr. Chair. For an example, there's an area outside Pangniqtuuq, in Pangnirtung in Nunavut, that is so important to people for the beluga whale that they want it protected, with no development in this area. They have been unable to get government to help support managed land use in that area.

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  Absolutely. The land use plan can restrict access to subsurface lands and can restrict access to marine areas. The land use plan has great influence over managing areas special to Inuit and all Canadians.

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  The land claims agreement sets out the process by which land use plans apply to environmental protection. With the land claims agreement closely aligned with the bill, that is replicated and brought forward. It enhances the process through that.

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  The land use plan applies to all land, including Inuit-owned lands, so it's very important that the landowner be involved in the approval process of the land use plan.

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  A minor variance is a small change to existing rules in the land use plan. The draft land use plan must show you where you are eligible for a minor variance. Right now our draft plan has a setback from major road corridors of 30 metres, and you are able to reduce that. We have a 100-metre setback from potential alternative energy sites; you may be able to reduce that.

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  Thank you, Mr. Chair. As was mentioned, we haven't had adequate time to consider these amendments, but I would say in relation to timelines that the commission has worked with the government and NTI and the Nunavut Impact Review Board for at least seven years and has identified a reasonable timeline that we felt was suitable for the commission, with the two staff we have, to be able to process the huge number of applications that will come our way once the bill is enacted.

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  Thank you, Mr. Chair. On offences, again, it's standard legislation. I was surprised to hear that industry was unaware. “Unusual and unnecessary”, I think, was the phrase. We were just in Grise Fiord in Nunavut last week. People said that an airstrip had been ploughed and made without their knowledge and without their consent.