Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I will review it today, and make a decision today. Thank you.

Oral questions, Mr. Lewis.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My question is to the Minister of Finance. I have had a chance to read what is going on with the money markets across this country, and I am a bit concerned about some of the information that was in the budget address, which I will reply to, Mr. Speaker. My

question has to do with the projection on investments. We know that the economy is dependent upon the development of human resources, development of infrastructure, and also your ability to attract capital. According to this document, the government projects that, although there will be a decrease of two percent in investment in the Northwest Territories in 1992, that there would be an increase of six per cent in 1993. Everything I have read since I have been back over the last week and a bit, Mr. Speaker, indicates that investment is down all over the country, and things do not look good for the future. Where does the Minister get the six percent increase in investment in the Northwest Territories in 1993?

Mr. Pollard.

Mr. Speaker, you can say that we are being somewhat optimistic, but the fact remains, Mr. Speaker, that there is a tremendous interest at the present time in the mining industry in the Northwest Territories, there has been an expression of interest in a gas pipe line in the Northwest Territories. There has been, to our pleasure, acceptance by aboriginal organizations, and I would stress, the Dogrib being receptive to proposals that are put before them, with regards to, as we have heard recently, the hydroelectric projects they are looking at right now. The climate is changing. People in the Northwest Territories are saying that they are open to business. We are getting a better climate for joint ventures. Consequently, we are forecasting that there will be more investment in the Northwest Territories.

Mr. Speaker, I should say that investment, although it may not all come from southern Canada, will be largely from the south, and it has been made clear to those companies that are anticipating benefits from the Northwest Territories, that it must be done on northerners terms. That northerners must be employed, that there must be spin offs to northern companies and that there should be some financial involvement of people in the north, in the large scale ventures.

Although we are forecasting a six percent increase, if those people who want to do business up here from the south, do not comply with our rules, we may not see that increase. Hopefully with today's climate, with everybody willing to sit around the table and discuss these things, we can go ahead, and we will get more investment in the Northwest Territories.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Supplementary, Mr. Lewis.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. We know that many native organizations have been advised by our consultants that if you want to make any money, do not invest it here, invest it in Vancouver or Calgary where the rate of return is likely to be better.

My question to the Minister, since he is optimistic that we will be able to attract capital from the south, could he give me an indication of the six percent increase in investment, and what proportion of that does he estimate would be from southern Canada?

Mr. Pollard.

I am flying on this one, Mr. Speaker, but I am going to say four percent. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Item 5, oral questions. Mrs. Marie-Jewell.

Mr. Morin.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It is standard to have a scope of work, and technical description of the project you want tendered. There is a tender document attached with every tender, for all interested bidders to look at, so that they know what they tendering on.

Item 5, oral questions. Supplementary, Mrs. Marie-Jewell. New question. Ms. Mike.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. On June 29, 1992, I had asked the Minister of Economic Development and Tourism to table, in this House, a summary outlining the reasons why it was necessary on April 19, 1992, to award additional dollars on a contract to Co-Pro Ltd. as continuation of this retainer, and the procedures used to call for proposals for services provided under SC310802 and SC310807.

Mr. Speaker, to date, although I have received the response, I have not seen the tabled reply to these requests that I made on June 29, 1992. Thank you.

There was no question there, Ms. Mike. Would you care to pose a question?

Will he table these two questions that I have asked on June 29, 1992, at this time, when we are sitting?

Mr. Minister.

Mr. Speaker, because the House was not sitting, I did write to the Member, and outline the contracts 801 and 807. I will table those documents in the House, Mr. Speaker. Thank you.

Item 5, oral questions. Mr. Todd.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My question would be for the Government Leader in her capacity as the Minister

responsible for the N.W.T. Power Corporation. Like other honourable Members, I was most interested in the news, which my honourable colleague from North Slave brought before this House on September 9, 1992, about start up negotiations between the N.W.T.P.C. and the Dogrib Nation.

I am sure that we all hope that this process will lead to exciting new hydroelectric development in the Dogrib region, in the sense that it reflects on forward thinking about involving local and regional government, in research and development within the power sector, and this is a commendable exercise. However, I am also interested in the way the Power Corporation will allocate resources for its participation in the negotiation process.

Can the Minister responsible for the N.W.T. Power Corporation indicate whether there are plans to hire consultants to coordinate, or participate, in the negotiation process?

Ms. Cournoyea.

Mr. Speaker, at this point in time, the answer is no, and whether that happens in the future, I can seek to find out what will happen, on how those negotiations are going to take place. The discussions are in the preliminary stages at this time, and the process, or the working relationship, has not been set up. I will keep the Member informed, Mr. Speaker.

Supplementary, Mr. Todd.