Thank you, Mr. Speaker. In search and rescue, the primary responsibility -- and I stress primary -- is the R.C.M.P. The GNWT is working with communities at the present time to organize search and rescue committees under local emergency response committees. I don't think there is any doubt -- whether it was that large tragedy just out of Resolute Bay or the current situation we have in Mr. Arngna'naaq's riding -- that there's a need to reassess what we're doing with respect to emergency measures and rescue.

It's my contention in the short time I've had this department that we should perhaps be doing a great deal more. One of the things that I'm asking the department to pursue is the possibility of coordinating some of the work with the R.C.M.P., the local emergency measures group and the hunters and trappers, at least in the east. I think it's similar in the west.

The other area that perhaps isn't as coordinated as well as it could be is in the military rangers. It's my hope that we can come forward with a more coordinated approach to this. We should propose, at the territorial, regional and community level, some key groups of people and put plans in place. At the present time, it's my understanding -- for example, in the Arviat situation we currently have -- that it is being coordinated through the community and being coordinated by the R.C.M.P., the hunters and trappers, the municipal council and volunteers. Thank you.