Can you repeat who you are asking that question to?

(Translation) The Minister of Environment.

Mr. Allooloo.

(Translation) Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Yes, I am aware of activities to do with the Great Whale River hydroelectric project. If the Member for Baffin South wants more information, I can arrange a briefing for him at his convenience. Thank you.

Item 5, oral questions. Member for Thebacha.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My question is to the Minister of Health. Mr. Speaker, over the past couple of days I have asked the Minister of Health in respect to the board of inquiry process that he has set up and announced last Thursday.

Mr. Speaker, he has indicated that he has referred the report of the College of Physicians to the board of inquiry. Mr. Speaker, I would like to ask the Minister, whether or not this report has been transmitted to the president of the board of inquiry? Thank you.

Thank you. Mr. Patterson.

I do not know, Mr. Speaker. Thank you.

Thank you. Supplementary.

Mr. Speaker, it just completely amazes me that the Minister of Health can send out a press release, and I read it in the House yesterday, which states that Health Minister Dennis Patterson has referred a report by the Saskatchewan College of Physicians and Surgeons to a board of inquiry established under the Medical Profession Act. Now today, he tells me he does not know whether he did or not. Can the Minister tell me, yes or no, whether or not he has transmitted this report to the president of the board of inquiry? Thank you.

Thank you. Mr. Patterson.

Mr. Speaker, I do know that the board of inquiry has not yet been fully constituted. I have named the President, Dr. Earle Covert, but there is at least one other member that has to be appointed. That is a representative of the medical profession from within the Northwest Territories, who will be nominated by the Northwest Territories Medical Association, very shortly.

Mr. Speaker, since the board has not yet been fully constituted, I am not sure whether the report has been transmitted, but it certainly will be transmitted by the time the board has been fully constituted. Thank you.

Thank you. Item 5, oral questions. Is that supplementary, Member for Thebacha, or a new question?

Supplementary, Mr. Speaker. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Can the Minister advise this House as to whether or not he has given instructions for this report to be transmitted to the board of inquiry and to Dr. Earle Covert in Hay River? Thank you.

Thank you. Mr. Patterson.

Mr. Speaker, I do not think it is necessary for me to give instructions. I signed a letter to Dr. Covert informing him that I would be referring the report in question to the board of inquiry; and my department, and the appropriate officials are aware of this letter. I have not felt it necessary to instruct anyone. It will be done though, Mr. Speaker, because I have committed to do so in writing, and I have committed in public to do so. It will be done, with or without formal instructions from me to anyone. It will be done. Thank you.

Supplementary, Member for Thebacha.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. On Wednesday, in this House, I asked the Minister when he feels this issue will be addressed. I quoted a section out of the act indicating that once the board of inquiry is set up, they would work promptly. I asked for a definition from the Minister. He indicated, as immediate as possible, I believe, but I do not have access to the Hansard right in front of me. However, Mr. Speaker, it astounds me that now he does not know whether they have possession of this report. I would like to ask the Minister whether or not, because of his urgency to address this issue, the president of the board of inquiry has possession of the College of Physicians report that he set up last Thursday.

Thank you. Mr. Patterson.

Mr. Speaker, again, I would like to explain the board has not been fully constituted because I am waiting for a nomination from the Northwest Territories Medical Profession which is meeting as soon as it can, within a matter of days, to nominate a representative of the Northwest Territories Medical Profession to serve on this board of inquiry. The board has not yet been fully constituted. As I said earlier, Mr. Speaker, I do not know whether or not a report of the Saskatchewan College of Physicians and Surgeons has been transmitted to the president, but, in any event, the board would not receive that report for a period of time because the board does not exist in its full complement at the present time. There has to be one person appointed before the board is fully constituted and fully operational. Thank you.

Thank you. Item 5, oral questions. Member for Iqaluit. Mr. Patterson.

If I may, Mr. Speaker, I have been informed that the report has been sent to Dr. Covert.

Thank you. Item 5, oral questions. Member for Baffin Central.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My question will be to the Minister of Economic Development and Tourism. The Minister is aware of the tremendous effort and the financial resources devoted, so far, to building a viable commercial fishery in Baffin Island. Although some market outlets have been identified in southern Canada, I am sure that the Minister realizes the importance of building an awareness of the product at consumer level. Would the Minister be willing to consider an initiative which uses television and radio advertising to make southern consumers more aware of the Baffin's high quality seafood products, and the environmentally friendly harvesting practices used by the northern fishery?