Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to inform the Legislative Assembly of recent events concerning the environmental assessment of the proposed Great Whale hydroelectric project in northern Quebec.

In September 1992, the federal-provincial environmental assessment committees and panels issued the final guidelines for Hydro Quebec's Environmental Impact Statement. I am happy to report that the guidelines direct Hydro Quebec to examine potential impacts on the community of Sanikiluaq and to the marine ecosystem of the Hudson and James Bays. The guidelines also instruct Hydro Quebec to examine potential cumulative environmental effects. These issues are very important to the territorial residents of the Hudson Bay area. Over the past year the Department of Renewable Resources has been trying to secure intervenor funding from the federal government for northern organizations.

After persistent effort by the Government of the Northwest Territories, local communities and Members of the Legislative Assembly, the federal and Quebec Ministers of Environment awarded intervenor funding to two northern groups: the Sanikiluaq Environmental Committee received $480,000; and the Nunavut Environmental Coalition for Keewatin received $25,000.

The Department of Renewable Resources is coordinating the government's participation in the environmental assessment process through a working group which has representation from the Departments of Justice, Health and Social Services. The main tasks include reviewing the Environmental Impact Statement and intervening in the environmental assessment hearings.

The next major stage in the environmental assessment process will be the release of Hydro Quebec's Environmental Impact Statement. This is expected early in 1993. I will continue to update the Legislative Assembly on events related to the proposed Great Whale Hydroelectric project. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.