Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Could you clarify if the economic development strategy concentrates on development industries which have significant impact on small traditional communities which will encompass the arts and crafts, small business and renewable resource sectors? What are you referring to?

Mr. Chairman, when we are talking about concentrating on the industries in the small communities, I think I have explained it this way before, there is a bunch of trained people in those small communities whether they are doing arts and crafts or doing something with renewable resources. The training is already there, so what we are trying to do is build on the strength that is already in the community, assist them to get more efficient, assist them to get some exposure and training, and assist them most of all to get markets for their products. That is what we are talking about, Mr. Chairman.

Mr. Chairman, back in 1967 they used to have a program in which women were paid to do hides and arts and crafts. They were on salaries. The program was beneficial to the communities. Has the Minister ever revisited that program in which women were actually getting paid for developing arts and crafts, and whether there is an incentive in there for revenue?

Mr. Chairman, we sort of do that in the development corporation in some areas. That is, we subsidize jobs for people to go to work. Our hope is that by subsidizing their jobs, ultimately they will become more efficient and productive and be able to sell the products they are making at a profit. We are doing it in a similar fashion. I want to tell you that when it comes to flushing hides and so on, there are not many ladies who want to do that any more. It is hard work, it takes a long time. I think the Science Institute has been looking at better and more efficient ways to do that because there is still a demand for the finished hide, but there are not many people who want to go through all the work. We are trying, through the Science Institute, to come up with some better ways to prepare the hides and make it easier for people to do it.

On the other aspect, yes, we are still subsidizing people to go to work in the arts and crafts area. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I am glad the Minister brought up this issue regarding women disliking preparing hides in the traditional way. This is one area in which it is a dying art. It concerns me, Mr. Chairman, that we should allow something like this to die. I do not think it is a question of the methods, it is a question of whether we wish to hang on to what little we have with regard to the way we do things traditionally. At least it should be put on record when you do those hides. In Fort Providence quite a few women still do this. I am not sure about Hay River but I am sure if Mr. Pollard were to go to the reserve he would see activities of this sort still taking place. I am concerned about hanging on to the process in which you develop moose hides and also other types of hides, and how you utilize every part of an animal.

I am not sure if this is the appropriate place to bring this up, but how is our sawmill doing? We have had the Patterson sawmill now for two years. We have not heard much more about it since we purchased it. We do not know whether it is making money. In a time of economic difficulties, I would think this government would move full force on this sawmill which could be an industry to give us a return.

Mr. Chairman, the sawmill fired up this year for the first time on February 17, 1993. I think it cut 117,000 board feet in the first week. We anticipate achieving 133,000 board feet a week once the mill is up and all of the bugs are worked out. It has just started this year. The price of lumber has skyrocketed. The price of lumber in some cases is almost $590 a 1,000. When we were forced to buy the sawmill the price of lumber was probably down around $225 a 1,000 board feet. It should not lose money this year. It did fairly well last year. I think it broke even compared to what we had anticipated that it would do. This year we would anticipate it to make money, particularly if the price of lumber stays up. We have expanded into Fort Resolution. There are logs being delivered to the mill from Fort Resolution this year. Providence has expressed an interest in doing some logging and delivering logs to the sawmill. We are also actively looking at making an arrangement with Fort Resolution whereby Patterson Enterprises Ltd. would take over the sawmill in Fort Resolution and make use of some of the wood from there to fulfil some orders that we certainly see in the south. There has been a big demand for lumber. The final part is that two companies have come forward and asked to look at the books, appraised value and other details of the Patterson Sawmill with a view to perhaps purchasing it. This is as much as I can remember right now, Mr. Chairman. Thank you.

Agreed.

---Agreed

Good afternoon, again. Item 20, report of committee of the whole. Mr. Chairman.

Seconder to the motion, Mr. Zoe. Motion is in order. All those in favour? All those opposed? Motion is carried.

---Carried.

Item 21, third reading of bills. Mr. Morin.

The motion is in order, Mr. Morin. All those in favour? All those opposed? The motion is carried.

---Carried

Bill 16 has had third reading. Item 21, third reading of bills. Mr. Clerk, Item 22, orders of the day.

Mr. Speaker, there will be a meeting of the ordinary Members' caucus at 10:00 am tomorrow morning and at 12:00 noon a meeting of the Nunavut caucus and of the western caucus. Orders of the day for Wednesday, February 24, 1993.

1. Prayer

2. Ministers' Statements

3. Members' Statements

4. Returns to Oral Questions

5. Oral Questions

6. Orders of the Day

Thank you, Mr. Clerk. This House stands adjourned until 1:30 pm Wednesday, February 24, 1993.

---ADJOURNMENT