Mr. Speaker, the Minister of Finance or the Minister of Economic Development -- I do not believe the Minister of Justice knows about any illegal operations, sir. We realize that there are two egg operations in Hay River, and it has been rumoured that some of those eggs are walking across the line into Alberta, sir, but I could not prove that.

With regard to the quota, we are not making very much progress in that area as well, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I am sure that if there are some irregularities, that they would be merely unintentional, Mr. Speaker, because as everybody knows there is a discussion going on right now with regard to GATT, General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade, talks. There is talk of eliminating the system that controls egg marketing in Canada, so I would imagine that like Nelson, CEMA, Canadian Egg Marketing Association, would put their telescope to their blind eye in this regard. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

If I just could caution Members that right now, to the knowledge of this House, it is hypothetical; so unless this House becomes privy to some definitive facts, then I would caution the Member to be careful about asking a hypothetical question. Mr. Gargan.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I would like to direct my question to the Minister of Justice. I would like to ask the Minister whether or not he is aware that there is an egg operation in Hay River, and whether or not he is aware whether or not the operation is according to the laws of the Northwest Territories.

This is to a new Minister; therefore it poses a new question. Mr. Patterson.

Mr. Speaker, yes and no. Thank you.

Mr. Gargan.

Mr. Speaker, the Minister's response is "yes and no". Is it yes or no?

Mr. Patterson. Supplementary answer.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, yes, I am aware of egg operations in Hay River; no, I am not aware of illegal practices concerning those egg operations. Thank you.

Supplementary, Mr. Gargan.

I would like to thank the Minister for his response. Am I correct in saying that the operation that is happening in Hay River now is probably licensed to operate; they received an egg quota that was allocated to them from the Canadian Egg Marketing Board, and they also received export permits to ship eggs south?

That was really two questions. Perhaps the Minister would like to handle the first question and then, perhaps, as his last supplementary Mr. Gargan could pose a second question. Mr. Patterson.

Mr. Speaker, I am not sure who has the responsibility for licensing egg hatcheries, but I do not believe it falls within my responsibility.

There is an open question, the first part of a two-question series. Would the Minister of Economic Development like to handle this one?

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, both operations in Hay River fall within the town boundaries of the municipality of Hay River. As far as I know, sir, they are both legally operating. The Northwest Territories does not have a quota with the Canadian Egg Marketing Association, CEMA, and, therefore, neither of those operations, to my knowledge, has quotas from CEMA. I would add, Mr. Speaker, that to my knowledge they do not have export permits. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Oral questions. Supplementary, Mr. Gargan.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I would like to ask the Minister of Economic Development, if they do not have an export permit are they, then, selling the eggs only in the Northwest Territories?

Minister of Economic Development, Mr. Pollard.

Mr. Speaker, I know that you can buy those eggs pretty well anywhere in the Western Arctic. I assume they are selling the eggs into the Northwest Territories, Mr. Speaker, but I do not know for sure what their market area is. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

You have used up your supplementary allotment, Mr. Gargan. Oral questions. Mr. Todd.

Mr. Speaker, during the last session the Minister of Public Works reaffirmed his commitment to develop a business incentive policy that allows only northern-owned and operated companies to bid on all government contracts in the Northwest Territories. This commitment was consistent with the Minister's support for a motion passed in this House on April 11, 1990, that directed the Executive Council to draft and implement such a policy. My question to the Minister of Public Works is this: Is the Minister still committed to implementing a policy that will allow only northern-owned and operated companies to bid on Government of the Northwest Territories' contracts?

Minister responsible for the Department of Public Works, Mr. Morin.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I am committed to developing a range of policies that will meet the

end of what we tried to achieve in the last Legislative Assembly; that is, to maximize local labour in contracts and help Northerners to develop businesses. I think we can accomplish that with training programs in the communities by increasing the business incentive policy that now exists and making sure that people follow the rules. Thank you.

Oral questions. Supplementary, Mr. Todd.