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.