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.

Oral questions. Mr. Todd.

My question is to the Minister responsible for the Workers' Compensation Board. The Minister stated he is willing to review the YMIR, the year's maximum insurable remuneration, and may bring amendments to legislation before the House before the next session. My question to the Minister is, what priorities of the Workers' Compensation Board are so important that it cannot complete an immediate review of the inadequate YMIR levels now and bring amendments before this House during the current session? What is so important that they cannot get to the heart of the problem?

Mr. Patterson.

Mr. Speaker, since I got this job there are days when I have certain thoughts about this job -- responsibility for the WCB. I discovered that the YMIR was an important issue, that it had not been reviewed for years, that it was out of date, and therefore I urged the board to make it a priority to give me direction on the appropriate level. Mr. Speaker, I understand that this question is not as simple as it might seem. It involves actuaries doing studies. It involved significant financial implications, and I understand that professionals were engaged to do that work, and that very shortly their advice will come forward to me. When that happens, Mr. Speaker, I will make it a priority to be dealt with on our legislative agenda, but I have to wait for the expert advice, Mr. Speaker. I cannot just come up with a number on my own. It is a priority, the work has been done I understand, and as soon as I get that formal recommendation I will take it to the House. I think that is all I can tell the Member at this point. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Oral questions. Supplementary, Mr. Todd.

Mr. Speaker, the WCB would like us to think it is complicated. It is not complicated. It is in the computer. It requires a number of equations that can be done quickly, but in the meantime injured workers cannot make ends meet. Is the Minister aware that many injured and disabled workers in the Northwest Territories are presently facing extreme financial difficulty as a result of the inadequate levels of the YMIR? It is not complicated. They make it complicated.

Mr. Patterson.

Well, I am glad to hear that, Mr. Speaker. I am aware that it is a matter of concern with workers and with workers' representatives on the WCB. That is why I have requested recommendations on a priority basis. Mr. Speaker, let me assure the honourable Member that I will do my best to see whether the YMIR amendment can be dealt with before the end of this session, with the co-operation of this House. Thank you.