Supplementary, Mr. Arngna'naaq.

Supplementary to the Government Leader. There has been some well-reasoned speculation that Quebec's motivation to proceed with this project is tied to prospective sovereignty issues. Is the Government Leader prepared to make the issue of transboundary environmental damage between provinces and territories a matter for discussion at national constitutional negotiations? Thank you.

Ms. Cournoyea.

Mr. Speaker, we can make an attempt to bring it forward, and I believe when Mr. Kakfwi and myself meet with the premiers at various meetings that are set, we do bring up these issues. it may not be discussed at the table, but in order to justify why we feel we should be part of the broader government discussion is because a lot of individual actions taken by the provinces really do affect us, and we will continue to take those key issues. In particular, this project has been brought up on numerous occasions but not necessarily at the table, and we will continue to do so.

Oral questions. Mr. Antoine.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My question is for the Minister of Social Services. In yesterday's Member's statement, I noted that the Northwest Territories Council for Disabled Persons has estimated that over 5000 persons with disabilities live in the Northwest Territories. During the 11th Legislative Assembly, this House was informed that work was proceeding on the development of a plan to establish disability pensions as opposed to the current process of forcing disabled people to rely on social assistance payments to meet their living needs. Can the Minister indicate to the House whether or not, under his administration, the department will set a priority on evaluating whether a system of indexed disability pensions could be developed to remove the stigma faced by disabled persons when they must turn to social assistance?

Mr. Whitford.

Supplementary, Mr. Antoine.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I have a supplementary to the Minister of Social Services. What community consultation has taken place to date with respect to identifying enhanced approaches to meeting the needs of disabled persons across the Northwest Territories?

Mr. Whitford.

Oral questions. Ms. Mike.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My question is to the Minister of Economic Development and Tourism. Yesterday when I asked him whether he was aware that there are three identified areas of scallop beds in Cumberland Sound, one being the mouth of Pangnirtung Fiord, his reply was, "Yes," and that the vessel that was used to do the resource assessment stopped due to the engine problem before the resource assessment was completed. I would like to know from where the Minister is getting his information.

Mr. Pollard.

Mr. Speaker, the resource was identified in 1987 and 1989. I believe that the vessel in question was working on those beds when it lost its engines, Mr. Speaker.

Supplementary, Ms. Mike.

Mr. Speaker, my supplementary to the same Minister. Is the Minister aware that P and L Services, who was contracted out by Economic Development and Tourism at the time, had to stop the resource assessment of scallop beds because the Economic Development and Tourism contract was not covering the costs incurred by P and L Services?

Mr. Pollard.

I am aware of some dispute with regard to that vessel, P and L, and the department, Mr. Speaker, yes.

Supplementary, Ms. Mike.

Mr. Speaker, a supplementary to the same Minister. The impression I got from his response yesterday was that the reason the resource assessment did not continue was because the P and L Services' vessel's engine broke.

Is the Minister aware that the reason why P and L Services discontinued their resource assessment was because they were losing money with the contract that was provided by Economic Development and Tourism?

Mr. Pollard.

As I have said, Mr. Speaker, I am aware that there is a problem, or that there has been problems in the past. I would advise the Member that we received an application from P and L with regard to this vessel. It was returned in March 1992 because it was incomplete. We are anticipating that their application will be tabled again tomorrow, Thursday, June 25, with a view to seeking assistance from us. Tomorrow there should be another application with regard to this vessel. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.