Good afternoon. Orders of the day for Monday, March 9, 1992. Item 2, Ministers' statements. Mr. Kakfwi.

Members will join me in welcoming the grade six French immersion class from St. Joseph School.

---Applause

Ministers' statement. Ministers' statements. Item 3, Members' statements. Members' statement. Mr. Pudluk.

(Translation) Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I stand today to express the concerns of our fellow Canadians, especially the people in High Arctic, on the decreasing population of the Peary caribou in Arctic communities, on Queen Elizabeth Island. We have known about the decreasing population of the Peary caribou. Without being told by government, the people in the High Arctic started using a conservation method and decided they would not kill a lot of caribou. In the 1960s the caribou were migrating from those islands to other parts. For many years the populations were decreasing, and now they seem to be increasing again in the Arctic Islands. We do not want these caribou to be depleted, so we have agreed up in the northern communities to conserve these caribou.

There have been some surveys done, and now they want to do a survey this spring, in May. I believe May is not an appropriate month to do a survey because the new calves will be born in and around May. They will be using airplanes and helicopters when they are conducting their survey, and they will be affecting these caribou, especially during the birthing periods. We, as Canadians, and the High Arctic people, have agreed to not have this survey conducted during the month of May. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I am not done but my two minutes are up.

Are you asking for unanimous consent to proceed, Mr. Pudluk?

Yes, if it is okay, I would like unanimous consent.

Are there any nays? There are no nays. Proceed, Mr. Pudluk.

(Translation) Thank you, fellow MLAs. This has been a question, especially from the community of Resolute. We are totally against the survey going on in the month of May, because of the conditions when these caribou calves are born. It is quite cold still in the month of May up in the Arctic Islands, and at night some of these calves get very weak. If there was to be a survey done with the airplanes and the helicopters, a lot of calves would go through a hard time with these disturbances.

The people doing the surveys would have to abide by the rules of our people in the communities about the Peary caribou, if we want to protect them and conserve them. If they are just going to be disturbing them, especially at the early stages of their young lives, it will not help with the conservation or increasing their population. I do not want the survey to be done in May. Either before May or after May would be an ideal time.

They have not exactly spoken about their opposition, but they have stated that the month of May is not an appropriate time to do these surveys. This is a big concern today, and we would like to work with these people who will be conducting the surveys and the conservation organizations of these Peary caribou. We would like to work with them and support them so we can reach a common goal. We have not totally opposed them, but I just want to let them know that the time they have stated for the survey is not appropriate. Mr. Speaker, that is the end of my statement. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

---Applause

Members' statements. Mr. Arvaluk.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The federal government has been carrying out research to find out whether dump sites and other materials left by US military during the post-war are contaminated with PCBs and other chemicals. They have found no PCB contaminants, and for that reason they may place the Coral Harbour clean-up as a low priority.

One can notice that if the federal government is stating that it will take three millions dollars to clean it up, then I can tell you there is a lot of garbage out there. There are barrels on the shoreline. There are old buildings that they have tried to collapse and they are still standing there; in fact, the old dump site is still very much present.

UMA Engineering Ltd., engineering planners and surveyors of Edmonton, have recommended that since there have been no PCBs found there, the clean-up should be done with the local workers with the available equipment. The community of Coral Harbour has commented that since there is a local contractor with heavy equipment, with qualified operators, the clean-up should be done by them, provided it is done over a five-year period.

Mr. Speaker, I urge this government to strongly recommend to their federal counterparts to initiate the co-ordination and funding for this project as soon as is practical. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Members' statements. Ms. Mike.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, May 31st will mark the first anniversary of the opening of the Uqqurmiut Centre for Arts and Crafts in Pangnirtung. This centre is owned and operated by the Uqqurmiut Inuit Artists Association, of which I have the pleasure of being a volunteer board member. Other volunteer board members are: Rose Okpik, the chairperson; Lazalusie Ishulutaq; Josea Maniapik; Ipeelee Alivaktuk; Judy Anilniliak; Geela Keenainak; Joelie Maniapik; Jamasie Mike; and Simon Shaimaiyuk.

The Uqqurmiut Inuit Artists Association was originally founded in 1987 when the community became concerned about the potential closure of our print shop. The association established itself as a corporation without share capital on April 27, 1988, thereby opening the door to accessing government assistance as a not-for-profit community venture. Membership in this unique organization is open to all Inuit artists of Pangnirtung for a nominal fee. The company is owned in common by the artists of Pangnirtung and all proceeds are used to benefit the arts community.

But, Mr. Speaker, Uqqurmiut is far more than just an arts and crafts enterprise. The association's mission is aimed at keeping the traditional and contemporary art of the Eastern Arctic alive. Emphasis is placed on allowing artists not only to participate in, but also to control, the development and marketing of their products.

The association also works to keep our heritage alive through educational programming. This will be the third year that high school students in Pangnirtung will be invited to participate in special programs which teach basic weaving skills.

The association offers regular Saturday workshops for any members of our community who wish to learn traditional artistic techniques, and it has sponsored our young artists to attend Arctic College workshops throughout the Baffin Region.

Ms. Okpik has also represented the North as a delegate to the federal task force on museums and First Peoples. Uqqurmiut has exciting plans for the development of carving, print making and archive facilities within its already successful arts centre...

Ms. Mike, you have exceeded your time limit.

I seek unanimous consent to conclude.

The honourable Member is seeking unanimous consent. Are there any nays? There are no nays. Proceed.

Uqqurmiut has exciting plans for the development of carving, print making and archive facilities within its already successful arts centre. The board will continue to take an active approach to fund-raising to support these new developments. It is my hope that the Government of the Northwest Territories will be able to assume an enabling role in assisting these fund-raising initiatives, rather than hindering the development of this unique organization with bureaucratic regulations. The people of Pangnirtung need and support Uqqurmiut. I trust that the government of the Northwest Territories realizes this. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Members' statements. Mr. Todd.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Over the past three weeks there has been a great deal of debate in this House regarding the Workers' Compensation Board. Members on this side of the House, myself included, are seriously concerned about that organization and its operation. We have raised many different issues and concerns; issues and concerns that have not been answered satisfactorily.

As most of the Members are aware, I served for eight years on this board before I was elected to the Legislative Assembly. It has recently been brought to my attention that members of this board and staff have been putting together a record of the time I spent travelling on that board, how I voted, what I said, when and where I travelled. I am not sure this information is true, but frankly, it does not surprise me the least bit. I do not know what purpose it serves to do this. Perhaps they hope that I will back off from holding them accountable in decision-making.

However, I want to assure the board, and more importantly, injured workers and Members of this House, I have no intention of refraining from performing my duties in this House. I will continue to question this board to ensure it lives up to its obligations to serve all injured workers in the Northwest Territories. I should think that the board has much better things to do than to dig up my old records. If not, they should perhaps read Hansard for the past three weeks and be reminded of the issues that it could begin working with. I am sure that Members and committees of this House will continue to examine the board and its operations in detail over the next two or three months. Thank you.

---Applause

Members' statements. Members' statements. Item 4, Returns to oral questions. Mr. Patterson.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. This is a return to an oral question asked by Mr. Antoine on February 27, 1992, about the community secretary's position in Jean Marie River. The community secretary position in Jean Marie River is a GNWT staff position. Unfortunately, we have not found a qualified candidate in Jean Marie River. As there is no accommodation in Jean Marie River, this position has not been staffed by an outside candidate. The Department of Public Works has been working with the community to construct a duplex on a lease-back basis for staff housing. It is likely that the unit would be available in the summer of 1993.

The department asked Public Works that consideration be given to temporary accommodation. Economic Development and Tourism officials met with the community March 3, 1992, to put together a proposal for the community's development corporation to purchase a trailer unit and lease it to the government for a staff unit. Depending on approval dates, a trailer could be delivered on the winter road or on the barge. Subject to approval of temporary accommodation, the department could staff the community secretary position in July 1992. In the meantime, the department is assisting the community by funding a works co-ordinator, part-time, in the community, and has hired a clerk in Fort Simpson to maintain their financial records. Thank you.

Returns to oral questions. Oral questions. Mr. Gargan.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to direct my question to the Minister responsible for the Workers' Compensation Board. Mr. Speaker, I believe that there is a definite need to review the existing Workers' Compensation Act, particularly with respect to the provision which grants exclusive jurisdiction to the board. I wrote to the Minister before the beginning of this session with regard to these concerns. It is unfortunate that information from or about the Workers' Compensation Act has still not come. I have no choice but to ask the Minister about the matter today. Could the Minister responsible for the Worker's Compensation Board advise the House whether or not an internal review has been initiated on the Workers' Compensation Act?

Minister responsible for the Workers' Compensation Board, Mr. Patterson.

Mr. Speaker, I have met several times now with the Workers' Compensation Board and the chairman, and it has been brought to my attention that in the view of the board and the chairman, the act needs updating. One obvious issue that has been discussed in this House is the year's maximum insurable remuneration, YMIR, which I have asked for advice on from the board. Mr. Speaker, I am not sure what the Member means by internal review, but to answer his question, yes, I am working with the board and also on my own, looking at the act with a view to improving it, updating it, to cover the YMIR and other issues that have been brought to my attention. Thank you.

Supplementary, Mr. Gargan.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Part of the problem with the Workers' Compensation Board is that the legislation states that the board has exclusive jurisdiction over the workers' compensation matters. Is it the Minister's position that this precludes the board from any sort of accountability to the Legislative Assembly or to the people of the NWT?

Mr. Patterson.

Mr. Speaker, the Workers' Compensation Board chairman reports to the Legislature through me, and therefore I would certainly answer the honourable Member that there is an accountability to this Legislature. I would also say that there are policies of this government which can give the Minister responsible for the Workers' Compensation Board authority to direct the board in certain matters. So there are several ways which the WCB is accountable to this Legislature through the Minister responsible.

Supplementary, Mr. Gargan.

I am not too clear on what the Minister is saying. In which ways is the Workers' Compensation Board accountable to this Legislative Assembly? The act says they do have exclusive jurisdiction over workers' compensation matters.

Mr. Patterson.

Mr. Speaker, I think the first obvious element of accountability is that it is the Minister who is appointed through this Legislature and assigned responsibilities by the Government Leader, who appoints the chairperson and the Workers' Compensation Board members. So in that sense they are creatures, indirectly, of this House. There is an accountability there.

I would say in response to the honourable Member's specific question about exclusive jurisdiction that it is certainly true that with regard to actual compensation cases and appeals of those cases, it is not possible for the Minister to overrule the board on a case or appeal. So in situations like that, I would agree with the honourable Member that they do have exclusive jurisdiction, which does put them beyond reach of the Minister of this Legislature. But I would also say that there are many ways by which they are accountable to this Legislature, one being the need to approve their budget, for example, which must be placed before this House in the usual fashion.

So it is not a simple question to answer, Mr. Speaker, but there are some ways in which they are certainly accountable, and I am open to responding as best I can in areas of concern that Members may have about the actions of the board. Thank you.

Your last supplementary, Mr. Gargan.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I was under the impression that the only way the Minister is involved with the Workers' Compensation Board was with regard to the appointments. I was not too sure if he is also responsible for the implementation of policies that have been developed by the WCB. Is the Minister involved with the policies that are being developed by the Workers' Compensation Board, and does it require his approval prior to it being a policy?

Mr. Patterson.

Mr. Speaker, I think section 8 of the Workers' Compensation Act does make if fairly clear that with regard to the settling of claims, determining the degree of disability, determining whether earning capacity has or has not been impaired by reason of an accident, determining the amount of remuneration, questions like that, I think it is quite clear, Mr. Speaker, that the board has an exclusive jurisdiction that gives them the final say apart from the possibility of a court reviewing for an error of law or failure to exercise natural justice.

So those kinds of policies, policies with respect to issues like the lump sum payment issue which I know is of concern to Members, I believe that the act gives the board, as the Member says, exclusive jurisdiction. Having said that though, Mr. Speaker, being a creature of this Legislature and the board and its chairman being appointed by a Minister accountable to this Legislature, I would hope that there would also be such a good working relationship that the Minister responding to concerns of MLAs in this House, can at least have an influence on policies relating to claims. I certainly am attempting to do that, to raise concerns of Members, to have an impact on the policies that are made with respect to cases and claims.

I am not trying to be evasive, Mr. Speaker, but I think that there is no clear answer to this complicated question, although the board does have an exclusive jurisdiction by virtue of section 8. I think there are other sections, including the responsibility for the very appointment of the board, that mean that the Minister and this Legislature through the Minister, can and should have a good deal of influence on how the board formulates its policies with respect to workers.

Oral questions. Mrs. Marie-Jewell.

Mr. Speaker, my question is to the Minister responsible for the Workers' Compensation Board. Since he has basically indicated in this House that section 8 of the Workers' Compensation Act gives the board exclusive jurisdiction, can the Minister indicate to this House how he intends to address the area of the lump sum payment policy, where basically now the act allows that policy to only be developed by the board in isolation, without participation from the Minister? Thank you.

Mr. Patterson.

Mr. Speaker, since the chairman of the Workers' Compensation Board reports to me, I intend to influence the board's policy and attitude on the lump sum payment issue, by discussions and advice to the chairman of the Workers' Compensation Board. Thank you.

Oral questions. Mr. Pudluk.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. This question is to the Minister of Renewable Resources. Earlier in my Member's statement I stated my concern over the decrease in the number of Peary caribou. There have been two teams, RNEW, Recovery of Nationally Endangered Wildlife; and the committee on the status of endangered wildlife in Canada. There is a team being formed to work with the local people. I would like to ask the Minister where those teams are from. I would also like to know if there are local people on those teams. Thank you.

Minister of Renewable Resources, Mr. Ningark.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. One mandate in my department is to inform the communities whenever a survey of that kind is being done around the community. One of the things that we like to do is get the communities involved in the surveys and studies. The main purpose of this is to protect the wildlife. As the Member stated in his Member's statement, May is the wrong time of the year. At this time I am not aware of the group that is going over to that area, but I will get back to the Member and take this part of the question as notice.

Question is being taken as notice. Oral questions. Mr. Todd.

My question is to the Minister responsible for the WCB. In my statement, today, I told the House of the information I had received from the Workers' Compensation Board; that they have been putting together a record of positions I have taken while travelling on that board, how I voted, where and when I travelled. Could the Minister inform this House whether he instructed anyone in the Workers' Compensation Board to search the minutes of the meetings, when I was a member of the board, to see what positions I took on the issues at that time?

Minister responsible for the Workers' Compensation Board

.

Mr. Speaker, emphatically, no.

Supplementary, Mr. Todd.

Could the Minister, therefore, confirm that someone else in the Workers' Compensation Board has done exactly that. Has anyone in the board taken these steps? Does he know?

Mr. Patterson.

Mr. Speaker, the honourable Member did ask a question about board travel, for which I have put together a return. I think that was a written question.

I should also say that, to be candid, the chairman of the board has told me or my staff of several motions or debates that the honourable Member had been involved in when he was on the board, and it has been brought to my attention, respecting certain positions which the Member took on certain issues while he was a member. That was brought to my attention by the chairman. Thank you.

Oral questions. Supplementary, Mr. Todd.

Would the Minister therefore give any statement to investigate this matter and find out if, in fact, the staff were looking into my position, and if so, would he be prepared to report back?

Yes, I will be prepared to do that, Mr. Speaker. Thank you.

Oral questions. Mrs. Marie-Jewell.

Mr. Speaker, my question is to the Minister responsible for the Workers' Compensation Board. Mr. Speaker, we all know in this House that there is a workers' advisor position which addresses concerns by or of injured workers respecting WCB claims. I would like to know, Mr. Speaker, if the Minister does support the workers' advisor position as presently established.

Mr. Patterson.

Certainly, yes, Mr. Speaker.

Oral questions. Supplementary, Mrs. Marie-Jewell.

Mr. Speaker, would the Minister advise this House as to whether or not there is a process currently in place of reviewing the workers' advisor position?

Mr. Patterson.

Mr. Speaker, when I was given this responsibility, I was curious to learn that the workers' advisor has been with the board for about two years, I believe, and has been paid on a contractual basis, on an hourly basis, for some two years. Initially the job began, as I understand it, as one that was intended to be a part-time job. It has now become a full-time job by virtue of the number of requests for assistance that the workers' advisor has been given. So, Mr. Speaker, I told the board when I first met with them that the rather ad hoc arrangement that I found in place should, in my opinion, be reviewed with a view to giving that person more stability and giving the position more recognition, and perhaps permanence, since it seems to be well used.

So, Mr. Speaker, to get to the point, I have asked the board for advice on how this job should be made more regular, and I expect any day now to receive the result of the board's deliberations on that position. Once I get that advice, Mr. Speaker, I will want to do something to make this job less of an ad hoc position. Thank you.

Supplementary, Mrs. Marie-Jewell.

Mr. Speaker, it seems ironic that the Minister would go only to the board to review this particular position that is supposed to be reviewing WCB or working in an advisory capacity for clients who have been treated unfairly by WCB. Therefore, seeing that there is a review, I would like to ask the Minister, why did he only ask the board to review the position, with no input from the public or from the MLAs or injured workers that were helped by this particular workers' advisor position?

Mr. Patterson.

Mr. Speaker, the board itself set the position up, and it is funded by the Workers' Compensation Board. When I looked into it, I found that the position had been set up with the proviso that it be reviewed after one year. That review never did take place. So I felt that it should be done and so it is being done. I would like to assure the honourable Member that advice from the board will be only one factor in my review of this position. I am well aware that it is intended to operate at some arm's length and some independence from the board, as it occurs in other jurisdictions. Therefore I want to assure the honourable Member I am not just going to blindly accept advice from the

board, and I am open to advice from MLAs. A number of them have already spoken to me, and a number of workers have already spoken to me, about the utility of this position. So I am going to approach it in a balanced manner.

Mrs. Marie-Jewell, supplementary.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Has there been a policy that has been directed to the workers' advisor in respect to the workers' advisor's office refraining from speaking to MLAs in this House?

Mr. Patterson.

Mr. Speaker, not that I am aware of. I believe the workers' advisor does speak to MLAs, and I believe there should be no reason why the workers' advisor should not. So if the particular incumbent is not talking to MLAs, it is not because of any directions coming from me. Thank you.

Oral questions. Mr. Arvaluk.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. In light of my Member's statement regarding a need to clean up military sites and surrounding areas near Coral Harbour, will the Government Leader assure this House that she will be vigorously pursuing this request to the Government of Canada?

Ms. Cournoyea.

Mr. Speaker, yes, we can assure the Member we are vigorously pursuing this. As a matter of fact, there has been a number of meetings with the Department of National Defence where they have had their people up here. As well, on that initiative as well and some of the concerns that have been raised in this House, in the past and today, there will be a full briefing on caucus on Thursday at 11:45, at which time specific questions can be asked of the military contingent that will be here. As well, they will have the opportunity to outline what is planned for the phased in clean-up approach they have.

Mr. Gargan.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I have a question to the Minister responsible for the Workers' Compensation Board. During the last session I questioned the Minister and his honourable colleague for Sahtu about the board's record of hiring aboriginal employees under this government's affirmative action policy. I understand there has been a five per cent growth in the number of aboriginal Northerners working at the board since December of 1988. Right now over 80 per cent of the board's staff is non-aboriginal, and there are no managers of aboriginal descent. I am also interested in other aspects of the boards' affirmative action record as well. Can the Minister advise the House what percentage of the staff at the Workers' Compensation Board qualify under the Government of the NWT affirmative action policy?

Mr. Patterson.

Mr. Speaker, I am advised that 79 per cent of the staff qualify under the Government of the NWT affirmative action guideline. That does not mean that 79 per cent of the staff are aboriginal persons. Our affirmative action guidelines also include non-aboriginal people who have spent more than half their lives in the Territories, in certain cases women, and in certain cases people who are handicapped.

Oral questions. Supplementary, Mr. Gargan.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Recognizing that the purpose of the board is to provide services to injured workers, and recognizing that the needs of injured workers can probably best be understood by people who have endured similar hardships, what efforts has the board being making to hire persons who qualify for affirmative action consideration under the priority classification of resident disabled persons?

Mr. Patterson.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I will have to take that question on notice. I am not exactly sure whether there are any people in that category employed by the WCB at present.

Question is being taken as notice. Oral questions. Mr. Todd.

My question is to the Minister responsible for Economic Development and Tourism. The importance of regional input was recognized when the former Minister of Economic Development brought forward a bill establishing the NWT Business Credit Corporation. This legislation included provisions which allow the establishment of regional boards that would advise the corporation's board of directors. I am concerned about centralization and that no regional boards have been appointed, and I am wondering, could the Minister please advise the House as to his plans for the development of regional advisory boards under the NWT Business Credit Corporation Act?

Minister of Economic Development and Tourism, Mr. Pollard.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I will take the question as notice.

Question has been taken as notice. Oral questions. Mrs. Marie-Jewell.

Mr. Speaker, I have a question for the Minister of the Workers' Compensation Board. Does he have any knowledge of the Workers' Compensation Board members approaching the workers' advisor in respect to long

distance calls made to my MLA office? Does he have any knowledge of what those calls were for?

Mr. Patterson.

Mr. Speaker, I am not aware of discussions about that issue between the board and the workers' advisor. I am not aware of what might have taken place.

Supplementary, Mrs. Marie-Jewell.

Maybe my question was not clear, but the Minister basically indicated he is not aware of these calls taking place. I would like to know, has he any knowledge of board members requesting what types of calls are made from the workers' advisor's office, and to whom they are made and for what purpose? Thank you.

Mr. Patterson.

Mr. Speaker, as I understand it, the workers' advisor is paid wages, by the hour, and expenses by the Workers' Compensation Board. The payments and the billing, therefore, are the responsibility of the Workers' Compensation Board. Since I have been Minister, I have been asked to approve a monthly invoice sent by the workers' advisor, but I cannot tell the Member about what might have happened after that. The payment is between the workers' advisor and the WCB. I am just not aware of discussions of the kind she refers to.

I will say, Mr. Speaker, that I was asked earlier today about a review of the workers' advisor position. I do know that the workers' advisor was invited to meet with a small panel of board members to discuss the position that the particular incumbent holds, but I was not a part of those discussions and I, frankly, do not know what might or might not have been discussed. I do not know whether telephone calls or whatever else might have been discussed in those interviews. I was not there, and I was not involved. Thank you.

Supplementary, Mrs. Marie-Jewell.

Mr. Speaker, since the Minister did indicate that the workers' advisor was to sit down and discuss issues with a small panel of board members, will the Minister take it upon himself to determine what the discussions were between the small panel of board members and the workers' advisor?

Mr. Patterson.

Yes, certainly, Mr. Speaker. I am expecting to get the recommendations of the WCB on the workers' advisor position any day now. I will go further and, as the Member asks, inquire about what discussions might have taken place when the workers' advisor was interviewed. I will do that, yes. Thank you.

Oral questions. Oral questions. Mr. Arngna'naaq.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My question is to the Minister of Economic Development and Tourism. In an effort to promote the NWT at Expo in Seville there are likely to be employees of the Government of the Northwest Territories who will be going. I would like to know how many and who will be going.

Minister of Economic Development and Tourism, Mr. Pollard.

Mr. Speaker, I will get a list prepared and provide it to the House. I will take the question as notice. Thank you.

The question has been taken as notice. Oral questions. Mr. Antoine.

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. I have a question for the Minister responsible for the NWT Development Corporation. Mr. Speaker, last week the NWT Development Corporation announced that Patterson Sawmill was purchased for a figure between $1.4 million and $1.7 million. The Minister indicated last week that the plan is to cut between six million to eight million board feet this year. Can the Minister inform the House how many trees are required to make one million board feet?

I am not sure if this is within the general knowledge of the Minister. Mr. Pollard.

Mr. Speaker, I do not know, but I will endeavour to find out for the Member. I will take the question as notice.

The question has been taken as notice. New question, Mr. Antoine.

Mr. Speaker, a new question on the same subject. I need to know that because the Minister responsible also indicated that Patterson Sawmill is going to be in operation for three to five years. My concern is that six per cent of the timber resources is in my region and the people of this region have established an interim committee to prepare a long-range land management plan for the Liard/Nahanni Valley region. The establishment of a viable forest harvesting industry may very well be one of the long-range objectives of this land management plan. Could the Minister tell this House where the logs for this sawmill will be harvested? Thank you.

Mr. Pollard.

Mr. Speaker, if the Member is talking about Patterson Sawmill, it presently has a timber birth in the Cameron Hills. The number that I quoted was five million board feet per year. The one million board feet, to bring it up to six, I was hoping to get from the Resolution area. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Supplementary, Mr. Antoine.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I am concerned that logging will occur in the Liard/Nahanni Valley region without proper consultation with the interim Liard/Nahanni Valley resource management committee and the communities in that region. Would the Minister assure me that no logging will take place in this region without the proper consultation with this committee, and the people of this region? Thank you.

Mr. Pollard.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I think I said at the last session, the very same thing; there is no intention of this government to go into that particular area of the Northwest Territories unless the communities and the people of that area are in agreement and in full co-operation. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.