Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Chairman, the arts and crafts, such as carvings, provide a major source of income for many of the carvers in the smaller communities. In fact, thereby making welfare dependency to a minimum in places such as Gjoa Haven, Taloyoak, Pelly Bay and I am sure in other smaller communities within the territories. We have a group in Gjoa Haven who started a carving shop on their own initiative and using their own money. Up to this point in time I know they are not wholly developed yet. They still have some money problems, as most of the businesses in the territories have, in the early stages of developing to a full extent. I would

like to ask the Minister of Economic Development and Tourism if the department has a policy to provide financial assistance to a group such as the one in Gjoa Haven?

Mr. Chairman, depending on the kind of funding they require, there are a number of different avenues they can take with us. I will undertake to see that our people in Gjoa Haven get together with this group to see if we can address their needs. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I thank the Minister for his response to my question. It is my understanding from the Minister's response that the Minister will be instructing his staff to meet with the group in Gjoa Haven. Thank you.

Mr. Chairman, I think we are already working with them. If it is not going well, then I will see if we can improve the situation. If they are a bona fide group, we are working with them and they have a good idea then I do not see why they would not qualify to be able to access our programs. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. During the session before Christmas I talked about acquiring a building from the Department of Public Works, and they are already utilizing that building to the fullest. They even have their own inventory in that community, a very good stock of carvings. I am sure Economic Development and Tourism will be making every effort to provide financial assistance. That was just a point. Thank you.

Business Development

Mr. Chairman, part of the decrease is in the area of capital, and that is some $4 million. Members will recall that the capital budget for the development corporation this year, or the funding provided to the development corporation from ED&T's capital budget this year will be $6 million. So, there is a $4 million drop. Mr. Chairman, the development corporation has many assets out there and many partnerships right now, joint ventures and all kinds of things going on. I have said to this House before that I do not want to see this thing get so large and become unmanageable and start to fall down. I would rather consolidate what we have out there and do a very good job at keeping those people employed and keeping those businesses going, than getting too large and not being able to handle it. So, that is where $4 million has gone.

When we turned over all of our enterprises to the development corporation, you will see a reduction in other O and M because our enterprises are gone which the department used to handle. That is all with the development corporation now, except for one that is still in limbo at the present time. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

No, I think, Mr. Chairman, we will still be making some investments this year through the development corporation. We just will not have as much as we have had in previous years. I would advise Members that the development corporation is getting fairly large and I would like to see all those things operating properly, all those things operating efficiently before we start to tack on more and overload the ability of us to handle those particular ventures. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

Mr. Chairman, it is part of the privatization package that FMB and Cabinet will look at later on this month. We have already agreed to report to the Standing Committee on Finance on that. Yes, we feel the same, that it has good potential for privatization and it is one of the things that is on the menu. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.