Mr. Speaker, there are two phases. Phase one is a disposal of moveable assets and equipment, and departments will be asked to identify items that they are interested in. There will be a committee chaired by Government Services, a selection committee, and they will make selections. Municipal and Community Affairs will look after municipal interests. Economic Development and Tourism will identify assets which may be transferred to business interests and community-based organizations. The second phase will be the disposal of the fixed assets, and Public Works will review the capital plan to determine which buildings can be economically relocated.
This may be a little long, Mr. Speaker, but it will tell everybody where it is at right now: Transportation has requested that all abandoned airstrips be left intact so that we have emergency airstrips in the Northwest Territories; Social Services will represent institutional interests, and possibly social service recipients. Once dispersal of assets has been decided upon, a letter will be sent to Canadian Assets Disposal identifying items to be transferred; Economic Development and Tourism will arrange the distribution of assets with DND, Department of National Defence, and departments; the Science Institute is interested in having one or two buildings left standing at camp five, for use by the scientific community. There may be some interest in the private sector with respect to using abandoned sites; Renewable Resources and Health will be involved in the development of site-specific clean-up plans; Health, Social Services and Education will examine the possibility of selecting surplus inventory of various household items.
When final abandonment and clean-up begins, Economic Development and Tourism will co-ordinate efforts of the Department of National Defence to ensure that Northerners obtain contracts, training, and employment.
Mr. Speaker, with regard to the specific question about how the pie will be divided up, I think cabinet is waiting for some direction from the department, through the Department of Government Services, and making suggestions to us. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.