Thank you. My supplementary, Mr. Speaker, is the former Minister, Mr. Wray, spent a great deal of effort trying to secure funding from the federal department to implement the transportation strategy. Could the Minister tell me what steps the department has taken to negotiate with the federal government, to fund the projects that are set out in the transportation strategy?

Mr. Whitford.

Oral questions, Mr. Bernhardt.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I have a question for the Minister of Personnel. On September 15, I listened carefully to the statement which the Minister made in this House about northern hiring. I took particular note of his comment that, "our highest priority continues to be increasing the representation of aboriginal northerners in the public service". I also noticed that while he talked about the responsibility of the private sector, non-government organizations, and contractors, he made no reference to the role that organized labour should be playing to support aboriginal hiring principles.

My question is, Mr. Speaker, would the Minister of Personnel consider initiating consultations with the Union of Northern Workers, and the N.W.T. Teachers' Association, to develop strategies for increasing the profile of native people within the public service unions?

Mr. Kakfwi.

Item 5, oral questions. Mr. Pudlat.

Mr. Morin.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Yes.

Item 5, oral questions. Ms. Mike.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My question will be for the Minister of Economic Development and Tourism. Honourable Members may recall that on June 19, 1992, I made a Member's statement on the frustration that Inuit fishery workers in my constituency have felt about the waste of Greenland sharks, which were from the incidental catch in our turbot fishery.

Mr. Speaker, it offends our cultural values to see hundreds of pounds of shark left on the ice to spoil because it has not been possible to secure markets for the hides and meat. I understand that the Minister of Economic Development and Tourism has been considering this problem. My question is, could he inform the House on the progress he has made in finding markets for the export of shark products since I raised this issue last June?

Mr. Pollard.

Mr. Speaker, there has been some work done in that regard. I am informed that some of the sharks, or all of the sharks, may have some contamination in their flesh, and we are continuing to examine that situation. I will have a report back to the House at the next session, Mr. Speaker. Thank you.

Supplementary, Ms. Mike.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Supplementary to the Minister of Economic Development and Tourism. Since the Minister knows that there has been some concern in the past over the potentially high concentration of contaminants in the sharks caught in the Cumberland Sound, will he make arrangements with his Cabinet colleague in Renewable Resources to initiate a testing program so that he can provide a detailed assessment of whether these products currently exceed national and international standards?

Mr. Pollard.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I will certainly sit down with Mr. Allooloo and discuss it and see what we can do in that area, yes.

Item 5, oral questions. Supplementary, Ms. Mike.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My final supplementary, recognizing that in past years the department promised that Pangnirtung fisherman would be trained in salting and drying techniques that would reduce the cost for shipping the shark skins, but did not follow up, can the Minister indicate today whether or not he is prepared to provide such training at fisheries sites this winter?

Mr. Pollard.

Mr. Speaker, I am not sure that is in our work plan for Pangnirtung this winter, but I will certainly look into it and get back to the Member. Thank you.

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