Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I have a return to oral question 99-12(3), asked by Mr. Gargan on November 25, 1992 in regards to water quality monitoring on the Mackenzie River.

Water quality monitoring is the responsibility of the federal government. The Government of the Northwest Territories, through the Department of Renewable Resources, cooperates with the federal government on these initiatives.

There are several monitoring programs currently being conducted within the Mackenzie River Basin. These include studies on the Mackenzie River and the other rivers that flow into it.

Water quality sampling is carried out monthly, by the federal government, along the Mackenzie River at Fort Providence, Strong Point, Wrigley, Norman Wells, Fort Good Hope and Arctic Red River. Information such as the amount of oxygen and heavy metals in the water is measured.

Fish sampling occurred this year at Fort Resolution, Yellowknife Back Bay and the Mackenzie Delta. These fish samples will be analyzed for such contaminants as organochlorines and heavy metals. Information was also collected on turbot livers in Fort Good Hope from 1986 to 1989.

Monitoring programs on the Slave River and the Liard River examine contaminants in water, sediment and fish. These programs are located on rivers that flow into the Mackenzie River to detect contaminants entering the Northwest Territories from Alberta or British Columbia. Thank you.