Oral questions. Supplementary, Mr. Antoine.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to ask the Minister, what kind of assistance has your department provided to the community so far?

Mr. Patterson.

Mr. Speaker, I am not fully briefed on this matter, but I understand that aircraft, which have been provided through the emergency measures offices, have been involved in the search. Thank you.

Supplementary, Mr. Antoine.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I know that only one plane was chartered on Saturday morning and nothing else afterwards. Is the Minister saying that he is going to authorize more aircraft for use In this search? Thank you.

Mr. Patterson.

Mr. Speaker, I have noted the Member's strong concerns about the adequacy of support for this search, but I would ask the honourable Member's indulgence. The most I can do at this point is take the question as notice, and I will get back to the Member as soon as I can once I have received a full briefing on the current situation. Thank you.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. In 1989, many Members from the Eastern Arctic received a proposal from an eccentric sea dog on Vancouver Island to build two oceangoing vessels: one for the East and one for the West. I think the proposal also went to the Nunasi Corporation; the idea being that these two vessels would ply the Arctic Ocean and bring all kinds of well-heeled tourists to both the Eastern and Western Arctic. I believe that proposal was given a short shrift because of the cost of it and because of several impractical elements to it. I would like to ask the Minister of Economic Development and Tourism, is he now reconsidering that plan to purchase these two ocean-going vessels which would spend six weeks in the Arctic and the rest of the year in the Caribbean somewhere?

Mr. Pollard.

No, Mr. Speaker.

Oral questions. Mr. Arngna'naaq.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I have a question for the Minister of Social Services, much along the

same lines as Mr. Pudlat. On March 13,1991, the honourable Member for Yellowknife South spoke succinctly in the 11th Legislative Assembly against the proposed Great Whale hydro development. He noted that the project would result in a severe devastation of the lands and rivers of Northern Quebec. Now that he is Minister, I wonder if he has considered the overwhelming social impacts associated with the project as well. My question is, will the Minister confirm that his department has begun to consider the policy and planning implications to social services in Sanikiluaq, Arviat and other communities if the Great Whale project proceeds?, Thank you.

Mr. Whitford.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My question is for the Government Leader. Both my honourable colleague from Baffin South and Mr. Arngna'naaq have expressed increasing concerns about the spectrum of the massive environmental destruction from the hydro-electric developments in Northern Quebec. I believe the people across the Territories are equally concerned about this issue. The former Government Leader told the 11th Assembly repeatedly that the Government of the Northwest Territories should wait for the environmental assessment review process before taking a stand in opposition to the Great Whale project. My question for the current Government Leader is this: Will she take a stand now, before the environmental assessment process is completed, and tell the Premier of Quebec that the Government of the Northwest Territories is opposed to seeing the Great Whale project proceed?

Ms. Cournoyea.

Mr. Speaker, the intention I had was to go over the position with the people of Sanikiluaq and that region and to discuss with them the whole parameters of concern. I think up to this point in time, the project is on hold, and we have an opportunity to set the case with the people themselves. One of the concerns they have had is that we can develop any position we want here, but I believe there was some suggestion that there was not as much understanding and not as much input as they would like to have. Before I make an unequivocal yes or no at this time, I believe we could probably take a stand before the review and assessment have been completed, mainly because of the time element. But at this point, I am not prepared to take on a definitive statement today. I would really very much like to have the people involved discuss the issue, and I hope we can get it done quickly, but it would have to be at a time when we can travel to Sanikiluaq. Thank you.

Supplementary, Mr. Todd.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. If we are going to put our faith in the environmental assessment review process, the government should be aware that, of the two million dollars available to support intervenors, one third is going to the grand council of the Cree, one third is going to the Makivik Corporation, and our NWT communities - all of the Keewatin, not just Sanikiluaq - will have to compete with Quebec interests, organized labour and environmentalists to got intervenor funding. Will the Government Leader make a commitment now to ensure that the interests of the NWT communities affected are adequately represented in the environmental assessment process? We are not there right now.

Ms. Cournoyea.

Mr. Speaker, in that area, as I said previously, I would like to meet with the people affected because, at this point in time, I realize that they are competing with a very sophisticated group of people and are at a disadvantage. I will commit myself to make sure that we have that meeting, and that we find a way so that they can be represented. Thank you.