Oral questions . Mr. Gargan, did you have another supplementary from your last round? I am sorry, I saw your hand too late, but go ahead with your supplementary.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to ask the Minister responsible for the Workers' Compensation Board whether or not the appeals committee -- I do not know whether or not there are any claims right now under the definition of "principally engaged," but, in practice, how are they handling the section now that you no longer have the policy defining "principally engaged'" What are the appeals committee basing their decisions on now?

Mr. Patterson.

Mr. Speaker, I will have to take that question as notice. Thank you.

The question has been taken as notice. Oral questions. Ms. Mike.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I have a question for the Minister of Economic Development and Tourism. Mr. Speaker, I spoke earlier about my concern about the lack of response by the Department of Economic Development and Tourism to efforts of Pangnirtung business people to harvest the ripe scallop beds of Cumberland Sound. My question is, could the Minister advise the House what plans, if any, have been developed for the expansion and diversification of the fishery industry in the Baffin Region?

Mr. Pollard.

Mr. Speaker, as I said yesterday in the House, there is a long-term plan to develop the fishery there. We recognize the importance of it to the south Baffin. We recognize the importance of it to Pangnirtung. There are two competing interests in Pangnirtung. We are extremely interested in the scallops coming out of that particular area. I know there is a problem with the vessel there. I know the engines are out of it, and there may be some cracks in the hull. I am going to lqaluit and Pangnirtung in July. I hope to resolve the issue when I am in Pangnirtung at that time, Mr. Speaker. Thank you.

Supplementary, Ms. Mike.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Supplementary for the same Minister. Will the Minister table that plan sometime during this session?

Mr. Pollard.

Mr. Speaker, we do not know what the resource is there yet. We are presently seeking a vessel to do some exploratory work over the next few years in that area, so as far as tabling a plan in the House that says what the resource is overall and what our long-term goals and objectives are with that resource, it would be hypothetical for me to say that we had one. But I will get back to the Member with how we intend to proceed over the next three or four years with a view to the exploration of that fishery. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Supplementary, Ms. Mike.

Mr. Speaker, my supplementary to the same Minister. I had understood him to say that there is a long term development plan. Would it be possible to have that long-term development plan tabled in this House?

Mr. Pollard.

Mr. Speaker, I will table the EDA plan that pertains to fisheries in the Baffin. That is one I was talking about regarding exploration, but as far as harvesting that resource, we do not know what is there yet, so I do not have a harvesting plan. I will table the EDA plan for that particular area. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Supplementary, Ms. Mike.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Supplementary to the same Minister. I thought the Minister was aware that just outside of Pangnirtung Fjord there is a three-mile long, one and three-quarters wide, scallop bed that has been identified. There are two other areas that also have been identified. The one in Pangnirtung Fjord has been estimated to be 10 feet indepth. I am wondering if the Minister is aware of the scallop bed that I am talking about?

Mr. Pollard.

Yes, I am, Mr. Speaker. The vessel that presently has no engines, that is in Pangnirtung right now, is one of the vessels that was working in that area. I do not think it completed, before it lost its engines, all of the exploration in that area, so I know there is a resource there already but there may be more, Mr. Speaker, and that is what we intend to find out. Thank you.

I wonder it I could take this opportunity to welcome my former colleague, Mr. Peter Fraser.

--- Applause

We all miss Mr. Fraser's humour in this Assembly.

Oral questions. Mr. Zoe.

Mr. Minister.

Mr. Speaker, I am surprised that the honourable Member would question why people working on an aspect of the operations of the Workers' Compensation Board that came under great scrutiny and criticism in this House in the last session and previous session-- I am surprised that the honourable Member would question why people working on that review would not want to receive advice from this House that has undertaken a fairly extensive review of the WCB, including that issue. Let me make it clear, Mr. Speaker, the review is not paralysed while they area waiting the ABC committee report. It is ongoing, but they are going to take into account the advice of the ABC committee, if any, on that issue before they conclude their work. I do not think that is an unreasonable approach for them to be taking with regard to any committee of this Assembly.