Minister Todd.

I am not quite clear of the question. I wonder if the Member would repeat it. The liaison committee is currently in place. Is that what the honourable Member is saying, or is it a new process in place as it relates to the changing the Mine Safety Act. I just want to get clarification on that.

Mr. Whitford, do you want to clarify your question?

Minister Todd.

As the honourable Member knows, and everybody in the House knows, there was a great deal of controversy as it related to the development and the changes that were required. It was with respect to the Legislation and Mine Safety Act. There was a committee in place. When I took over the ministry, it lacked what I believe was a broader base of workers' representation. We added the workers' representation to the committee, in consultation with the Federation of Labour. At that point, if you like, the process broke down. I tried, on a number of occasions, to get both sides of the equation back to the table. They chose, for whatever reason, not to. Therefore, I shut down the committee. At that point, most of the Mining Safety Act was written. They were working on what they call the regulations and 70 per cent of the regulations were done at that point. The current status of the Mining Safety Act is, though close to completion of the regulations, the door is open. We have asked everybody who was involved, all the stakeholders involved, that they have ongoing input, through the chairman of the Mine Safety Act changes committee. We have provided every opportunity we can to those who want to be involved, whether they are from the federated labour, the mine ownership, organized or unorganized labour. I am confident that we should be able to conclude the Mine Safety Act very soon. I hope it is reflective of the concerns of the groups because it is a serious piece of legislation. The door is open. Those who want to be involved in the process are. Thank you.

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

The honourable Member is seeking unanimous consent. Are there any nays? There are no nays. Please proceed, Mr. Whitford.

Minister Todd.

No, Mr. Speaker. As I said earlier, we are proceeding to complete the regulations. The Chairman of the Mine Safety Committee that was in place, is proceeding to do that. He is doing that, in full consultation with those stakeholders who want to consult with us. If some have chosen not to, that is within their individual right. We are providing all stakeholders with as much of the information as we have and is provided on a regular basis, seeking their ongoing input into the process. However, if individuals or organizations choose not to provide their input, that is their individual right. At this time, the process...While it is not a committee, the door is open.

Item 5, oral questions. Mr. Allooloo.

Madam Premier.

Mr. Speaker, I am not quite sure about the Member's question about fisheries. Fisheries is still the responsibility of the federal government. In terms of the broader, general question on consolidation, we have to have some discussion on that. I haven't had time because we have been in session, and that work still has to be concluded. We are very close to coming to a decision on when we make those changeovers, but at this moment, we haven't concluded that work that has to be done.

Mr. Allooloo.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I know establishing quotas for char rests with Economic Development and Tourism. They have resources to establish quotas. Normally, the communities which are trying to find lakes to establish quotas, are served by ED&T. I believe it was the plan of the government to move that management portion of establishing and managing the quotas to Renewable Resources. Would the Premier direct the two ministries to work that out so that the management portion would go to Renewable Resources and the business portion will stay with ED&T? Thank you.

Madam Premier.

Mr. Speaker, I can make a commitment that we want to move ahead as quickly as possible, however, the Member was Minister of Renewable Resources, so he has more detail than I. We will try to address that issue of final consolidation on those issues but I'm not prepared, in detail, to direct or question the statement by the honourable Member. We will, however, move ahead as quickly as possible.

Item 5, oral questions. Item 6, written questions. That concludes this item. We'll take a short recess.

---SHORT RECESS

I'll call the House back to order. Before we start with the next item I would like to recognize Celina Kalluk, a page from Resolute Bay. You've done a good job.

---Applause

Thank you, very much. Item 7, returns to written questions. Mr. Clerk.

Mr. Speaker, Return to Written Question 1-12(4), asked by Mr. Ng to the Minister of Justice, concerning legal claims against the Government of the Northwest Territories.

There are two types of cases listed in the document: lawsuits being defended by the Department of Justice and lawsuits that have been referred to the GNWT's insurer. The second category involves areas of liability potentially covered by the GNWT's insurers, which are routinely referred immediately to the insurer, upon either the GNWT's becoming aware of a potential claim, or when a statement of claim is served on the GNWT. When a statement of claim has been served, the insurer appoints its own legal counsel to defend the claim.

Our insurers are currently dealing with 13 actions which involve the GNWT as defendant. The allegations range from failure to maintain infrastructure, to failure to regulate activities and enforce GNWT statutes. The total dollar amount of the various plaintiffs' claims is not specifically stated, as these would normally be quantified and proven at a trial, or quantified and substantiated for the purposes of any settlement. In each claim, if there is any liability found, the maximum exposure of the GNWT would be $5,000, representing the deductible amount payable under the GNWT's liability insurance policies.

Since October 1991, the GNWT's insurers have negotiated only one out-of-court settlement, in regard to a single motor vehicle accident on a GNWT highway. The amount of the settlement is not disclosed, in order not to prejudice the GNWT's insurers with respect to any future claims.