Madam Premier.

Mr. Speaker, I believe that from the very first meeting with the Prime Minister, the outstanding issues were outlined to him. Although the housing issue and the health issues are the priorities that we would like to get off the table, the northern accord was also placed on the agenda of unresolved issues. The MP from Nunatsiak has also been given the same list of priorities, including the northern accord. The MP from the Western Arctic, Ms. Blondin, was also given the whole list and the issue of the northern accord. As well, the deputy minister of Energy, Mines and Petroleum Resources has had a couple of meetings with officials from the government and Indian Affairs on trying to push the issue forward and resolve the outstanding areas of concern. Thank you.

Supplementary, Mr. Patterson.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I'm happy to hear the matter is being treated as a priority and is being worked on. My question to the Premier and the Minister of Energy has to do with the content of the draft accord. Mr. Speaker, I believe that when the enabling agreement to negotiate the northern accord was signed in 1991, it very much focused on oil and gas. I think mining activities in those days were much lower than they are now, particularly exploration activities.

The draft accord, as I understand it, does not address mineral issues. So, my question to the Premier is, in working to resolve this issue of the northern energy accord, does our government plan to expand the accord to cover mineral responsibilities? Thank you.

Madam Premier.

Mr. Speaker, as the Member knows, when we developed the northern accord, it was anticipated that the principles and the overall management could very well have the mineral activity attached to it. The principles and the organization was there. In a recent discussion with officials we talked about what could be in a mineral accord. There has been a draft of a potential mineral accord which has been floating around for a little while. It has been acknowledged as an area which we should pursue.

We've made it a point because of the concern of benefits accruing to northern residents, and the fact that we have done the work on what could be a mineral accord which is fashioned after an oil and gas accord. The normal process we envisage has to take into account deliberations with aboriginal groups, although a framework has been done already. The discussion, I believe, is taking place this week, or took place a few days ago, with the deputy Minister in Ottawa and officials, is how we can move forward with the devolution of minerals, as well. Thank you.

Supplementary, Mr. Patterson.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I find that answer very enlightening and I'm sure the House will want to be informed, as developments occur, in light of the importance of this issue to this Assembly. Related to that, Mr. Speaker, I would like to ask the Premier another question. She has told this Assembly that a comprehensive mineral strategy was coming soon. I believe reference was made by the Premier on December 3. My question is, when will the comprehensive mineral strategy be tabled with this Assembly? Thank you.

Madam Premier.

Mr. Speaker, the paper is being translated. I thought I would have it today but, hopefully, it will be here tomorrow. Thank you.

Item 5, oral questions. Mr. Dent.

Ms. Cournoyea.

Mr. Speaker, I can give a very long answer. We have been working with the mining industry for about two years. We have worked extensively with the Chamber of Mines. We have tried to make sure that, at every level, the Northwest Territories' interest is recognized and what is happening here should be supported. We have tried, at every level, to work with the aboriginal groups. For example, in the projection of future requirements of energy for mining operations, we have had several meetings with the mining industry over the last two years to try to get some framework on their requirements, how far along they are with their projects and the anticipation of when they will come on stream.

There is a great deal of apprehension with the mining companies because they have their permits issued from the federal government, that we will be overlooked as a jurisdiction. As a result, we try to spend our time creating goodwill and the fact that we should be the people who are involved, along with the aboriginal groups, to have our foot in the door first, so we may take an active role, not only in businesses, but also employment and in ownership as well. The Dogrib Nation has been a group of people who have stepped forward in terms of trying to identify where they can be involved in supplying energy to mineral development projects in this area.

We have tried to focus on the area where we have a mineral development agreement with the federal government. This was difficult to negotiate in terms of the allocation under the EDA on how much is available for mineral development, as opposed to how much is available for economic development. We have put a very strenuous effort in trying to make sure the geological surveys and the areas where we could identify as being potential areas for aboriginal groups in terms of selection of land. One of the important parts of aboriginal claims is what lands you select, sub-surface and surface. There was a lot of work with aboriginal groups to try to get the work done so they would know where the highly potential areas are.

In terms of the TFN claim, they wanted to know where to select sites. We worked with that group over a number of years to develop the knowledge of their area so the site selections can be taken as part of their claims. All of the information we have been gathering, through the mineral development, geological surveys and information findings, has been presented as updated as possible to the aboriginal groups, so they can have a stakeholders' interest in those mineral developments. We have charted our course to try to make sure the stakeholders' interest gets developed in terms of selection of land.

In terms of working with the mining industry, I believe over the years, to have the mining industry acknowledge that the Northwest Territories residents should be the first they consult and deal with, has been a difficult task because they get their permits from elsewhere. But a great deal of work has been put in that area.

We have done an overview of the NWT operating mines, an overview of the 1993 NWT exploration and an overview of the 1993 diamond exploration projects. Those have been provided. With Mr. Antoine's group of people we have done development in that area as well. They want to be involved with the development of the Praire Creek Mine.

In terms of the Yellowknife/Coppermine corridor, I have asked the Minister responsible for Economic Development and Tourism to coordinate the transportation corridor and the people in the usage of that area. We have done extensive studies related to mineral development in that whole geographic province as well as the Izok Lake zinc/copper/silver deposit. There is also our continuation of work with the Government of Canada in terms of the Coronation Gulf study on where the money should go and what we should emphasize. The amount of work in terms of the Colomac Mine, we are again starting up our work with the Dogrib and Colomac to make sure they have a working agreement in that area.

The Mackenzie corridor has not been paid a lot of attention to in terms of the mineral projects there. We are trying to work on an interim arrangement so that until such time that devolution can take place, the aboriginal groups can have an involvement in rights issuance. We have a difficult time with that because the Government of Canada has always dealt with permits a certain way, which is a similar argument where we have northern benefits and open bidding processes.

So there is a tremendous amount of work, but it is exciting work. I think all of these issues can be planned around how people can be involved. We have done a number of assessments on hydroelectric potential for new mines. I presented this Legislative Assembly with a list -- or I can if you haven't got it -- of the hydro potential for new mines. This is work that has been carried out as well. Thank you.

I would like to remind Members that broad, general questions often lead to long, comprehensive responses. Written questions are a more appropriate vehicle for some of the questions. I will also remind Ministers to try to keep their responses a bit more concise. Mr. Dent, supplementary.

Ms. Cournoyea.

Mr. Speaker, this is an ongoing representation we make on behalf of the Government of the Northwest Territories. In supporting the mineral industry, there are certain areas we feel would be appropriate to support, in terms of feeding into the mining industry. We have taken the position, up to this point in time, that we are not supporting building of new towns, such as Pine Point or Nanisivik, where you have major infrastructure. But, what we do support is, if it is a fly in and fly out, that, at all opportune times, we would offer support to the mineral industry to come into existing communities, particularly Yellowknife, and use that as a base; particularly in supply and services, or Hay River, or some of the areas which are established already. Recently, we have two of the mining companies who have established their offices in Yellowknife and other companies are also looking at how they can, once they have decided whether they are going into the development stage, utilize communities such as Yellowknife. Thank you.

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

Ms. Cournoyea.

Mr. Speaker, we have not provided any commitment for any support, such as a winter road, or anything else, neither were we asked. We were mainly asked to deal with the community in terms of support, training programs, business opportunities, as we have been in the past. There was no request and we made no commitment. Thank you.

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