Mr. Speaker, we are doing a number of things. One of the areas that we are presently involved with is a data base collection in Coppermine which is the closest community to the activity. There has been some resource information gathering out of Cambridge Bay. We are trying to put together a report on how we can maximize employment and economic benefits. There has been some active work with Coppermine and Cambridge Bay, which have endorsed the fact that many members of their communities have worked in the Beaufort/Delta and they are encouraging transportation support so that once the activity starts, the people from the Beaufort/Delta could take part in the employment and business opportunities. It is going to be quite a large project. We are trying to put together as much as we can right now, just to get the maximum benefit from that activity.

I would be pleased to provide the preliminary reports of the areas that are complete. I can report what stage the other areas are at. Thank you.

Supplementary, Mr. Nerysoo.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Could I also ask the Minister if in her assessment she could consider ensuring that the statistics for other communities are included. For instance, those which have been involved in the mining industry in Yellowknife and Hay River so that there is a generally good assessment of the availability of the labour force in the Northwest Territories.

Ms. Cournoyea.

Mr. Speaker, yes, I can do that.

Item 5, Oral Questions. Mr. Pudluk.

(Translation) Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I have a question for the Minister of Renewable Resources, E51049. Back in the 1960s, in the High Arctic, there was work undertaken to pursue oil exploration. We are interested in saving the environment. They used to have some environmental assessments particularly in the smaller islands to ensure that the environment is protected. I wonder if they are still carrying on with the environmental assessments as before to ensure the protection of the environment? Do they still have these assessments going on? Thank you.

Mr. Allooloo.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to respond to the Member for High Arctic, E5776.

---Laughter

The people who are interested in exploring in the Northwest Territories need to have an exploration permit. If they are going to do anything in the N.W.T. in terms of development, they need a land use permit. If they are going to use water they need a water licence. Through this process the government monitors the activities in the N.W.T. Thank you.

Supplementary, Mr. Pudluk.

(Translation) Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Presently, they are using vehicles and a lot of times they have been dumped into the lake. I wonder if these incidents are reported to your department?

Mr. Allooloo.

(Translation) Thank you, Mr. Speaker. There is staff working to ensure that littering is not occurring in any lakes. We are aware that in the Northwest Territories beginning in the 1920s to the 1950s, there was a lot of activity. There was a lot of pollution, particularly in these lakes. Presently, there is a clean-up in process under the Green Plan. At the D.E.W. Line sites there has been abandoned metal, old vehicles and buildings. There is a clean-up under way under the Green Plan. Thank you.

Item 5, Oral Questions. Mr. Pudluk.

(Translation) Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Supplementary to my question, Mr. Speaker. In the community of Resolute Bay people are fearful that pollution might occur. I think this has been reported twice. Does the community have any jurisdiction to disallow this type of activity? Is it not up to a hamlet council? Thank you.

Second supplementary to E51049. Ten-four, Mr. Allooloo.

Ten-four, Mr. Speaker. (Translation) For people who want to dump waste into the lakes, we would inform the hamlet council as quickly as possible to ensure that they are consulted. We will try to keep the communities informed about not polluting our lakes. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Item 5, Oral Questions. Mrs. Marie-Jewell.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I have a question for the Government Leader who I believe is acting for the Workers' Compensation Board. Mr. Speaker, last week I tabled a survey which was entitled "Questionnaire for Northern Trades Unionists." It was about the N.W.T. workers' compensation system and it was dated October 14. The questionnaire states that the N.W.T. Federation of Labour is studying a possible workers' training program to help workers with workers' compensation issues. It asks a number of questions about respondent's general awareness of the workers' compensation system, but also focuses on whether there is a need for an independent workers' advisory system and for community based activities. I would like to ask the Minister whether she has been able to review that particular document and determine whether the Workers' Compensation Board had contributed funds to carry out this survey?

Ms. Cournoyea.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the Northwest Territories Federation of Labour did express an interest to the Workers' Compensation Board in doing more research on the assistance available to injured workers in dealing with the Workers' Compensation Board. They did submit a proposal for $15,000 to do a study of the Ontario W.C.B. system and the Ontario Federation of Labour system of worker's education. The board did approve this one-time grant of $15,000.

Supplementary, Mrs. Marie-Jewell.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Was that particular proposal an invitational tender proposal? Was it a sole source contract for $15,000?

Ms. Cournoyea.