Item 5, oral questions. Mr. Antoine.

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. My question is for the Minister of Economic Development and Tourism. Earlier today I reminded the Minister of the commitments he made March 9 about respecting the wishes of communities with respect to logging in the Liard and Nahanni Valley. Can the Minister explain to the House why Patterson Sawmill Enterprise, which was purchased earlier this year by the Government of the Northwest Territories Development Corporation for $1.4 million, has gone ahead and applied for land use permits on August 12 without the prior consultation with the people of Jean Marie River and Fort Simpson? Thank you.

Mr. Pollard.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the Development Corporation, after having taken over Patterson Sawmill, now owns timber cutting rights in the Jean Marie River area and in the Cameron Hills. Each year, though, there has to be a land use permit if they want to go into those particular areas. There is no intention this year to do any logging in the Jean Marie River area. The intention was to go in there and clean up some of the debris from previous logging in that area.

I would apologize to the Member's constituents for the Development Corporation not having gone in and consulted before hand, and I will endeavour to get somebody down there, as soon as possible, to explain themselves to Jean Marie River.

Item 5, oral questions. Supplementary, Mr. Antoine.

Yes, supplementary, Mr. Speaker. The application calls for new cutting in the Deep Lake and McGill area. Is the Minister aware of it? These areas were not cut before, and that the application indicates that they would like to go in there and log.

Mr. Pollard.

Mr. Speaker. There will be no cutting of timber this winter in the Jean Marie River area. If the Development Corporation thinks that it is going to do it, by saying this today, I am telling them that they cannot do it. They have not followed, what I consider, the procedure, which is consultation. So, I am making a commitment that there will be no logging. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Item 5, oral questions. Mr. Nerysoo.

Yes, thank you, Mr. Speaker. If I could ask the Minister of Municipal and Community Affairs. Could the Minister indicate who I should contact, so that I can get the necessary financial support, for home owners who have serious insulation and structural damage, so that they can upgrade their homes to meet the winter conditions?

Mr. Allooloo.

Mr. Speaker, I believe that the Member could contact me, give me the details of the damages that occurred during the flooding, and I will review them again.

Item 5, oral questions. Mr. Todd.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I have a question for the Minister of Finance. In December, in response to a question to the economic proposals contained in the federal government's proposed constitutional package, the Minister stated categorically that he would fight any proposals that would weaken or eliminate the G.N.W.T.'s northern preference policies. Can the Minister tell me if that is still his and the Cabinet's position?

Mr. Pollard.

Yes, Mr. Speaker, it is our position. I cannot say that we are not concerned though, about Alberta's position at the present time, which points the gun north, and wants to gun down our Business Incentive Policy. It is of great concern, Madam Premier, and I discussed it this morning, and I will be making some representation to the Government of Alberta in that regard very shortly. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Item 5, oral questions. Supplementary, Mr. Todd.

Thank you. I understand that there will be a meeting of the provincial and federal Trade Ministers in November and that this policy will come under close scrutiny.

Will the Minister now give his assurances to this House, that he will not agree to any proposals that will adversely affect these important and vital policies without consultation of the Assembly?

Mr. Pollard.

Yes, Mr. Speaker.

Item 5, oral questions. Mr. Pudluk.

(Translation) Thank you, Mr. Speaker. This question is for the Minister of Renewable Resources. The people that hunt big game, such as polar bear and muskox, these sport hunters are taken by guides out to the land to hunt those big game.

I hear that the rates of the permits are going to be increased. What is the fee now for their permits since they have been increased? Thank you.

Mr. Allooloo.