Mr. Speaker, I have a question for the Minister of Economic Development and Tourism but, Mr. Speaker, I am somewhat concerned about questioning because of our conflict of interest guidelines. I have not had time to check with legal counsel of the House on my questioning because I have been in intensive meetings right up until the bell rang in the House.

Mr. Speaker, I want the Members to be aware that there was a fairly significant announcement made in Fort Smith this morning. No doubt the community and the residents are very disappointed and probably devastated that the Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce has decided to close its operations effective Friday, June 4. The reason why I have trouble with my questioning is the fact that our conflict of interest guidelines may come into play. I would like to know what the Minister of Economic Development and Tourism and Finance, has done to advise the community what this government has done in regard to preventing the closure of that bank in Fort Smith?

Before the Minister responds to the question, I would like to remind Members if they have any doubt about the possibility of running into problems with the conflict of interest legislation or regulations, they should seek legal advice themselves. It is their responsibility to do that. I would just like to caution Members always on that particular issue. Mrs. Marie-Jewell, knowing that, would you still like the question to go forward? Mrs. Marie-Jewell.

Mr. Speaker, I think it is of critical importance for my constituents to determine whether this government did anything to prevent the bank from closing. That is basically what I want to know. I believe I would be on safe ground to ask that question.

Thank you, Mrs. Marie-Jewell. Mr. Pollard.

Mr. Speaker, before I answer the question I should tell you that Mrs. Marie-Jewell and myself have spoken on this issue several times and she has never been more than forthright with me with what may be perceived as a conflict. She was upfront with me in my discussions with her during the past three months.

The issue is the closure of the CIBC in Fort Smith. It has been rumoured for some time. I have been in contact with the bank. They, first of all, contacted me last year, Mr. Speaker. They agreed to go into Fort Smith and hold a public meeting before making any decision and that was supposed to happen in January or February of this year. They advised me in January they were not prepared to go into the community because last time they were there they felt they were abused. There has been, I believe, two groups in there who have asked the bank to leave the community. I do not have copies of that correspondence, Mr. Speaker, but I have been advised by people in Fort Smith that there have been two groups who have asked the bank to leave. Grant Wilson from the bank phoned this morning at 8:40 am, he was in Fort Smith and was advising me they would be closing their operations in June. We have not done anything at the present time to prevent them from doing that. There is no hold of the government over that particular branch to make them stay there, however, I am still prepared to go to Fort Smith at my earliest convenience to meet with the people there to see what they would like to do. I have been advised in the past, Mr. Speaker, that there are residents in Fort Smith who believe there is another commercial bank willing to move into the community. Before I am willing to do anything I would like to visit Fort Smith and hold a public meeting and discuss with the residents what they would like to do. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Item 5, oral questions. Mr. Arngna'naaq.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to ask a question to the Minister of Renewable Resources. The Keewatin people have expressed concern with respect to the environmental damage that may be caused by the proposed hydro development of the Great Whale River project. The honourable Members may recall, when the Minister was in Inuvik last December, he announced that $438,000 in funding had been provided through the federal environmental assessment and review process for the Sanikiluaq environmental committee and that an additional $25,000 had been provided to the Nunavut Environmental Coalition for Keewatin. This funding will enable these community organizations to prepare submissions for the review panels. I also realize that Mr. Minister had answered some questions on Tuesday, the 23, with regard to this.

Mr. Speaker, in addition to the input from these community organizations I think our territorial government should be taking a leadership in this area. Can the Minister advise the House whether or not the Government of the Northwest Territories is also planning to intervene directly in the environmental assessment process?

Mr. Allooloo.

Yes, Mr. Speaker.

Supplementary, Mr. Arngna'naaq.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Just for clarification, does this mean the government will be carrying out any independent research activity in order to prepare a submission for the environmental hearings?

Mr. Allooloo.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. When the time comes to appear before the panel, we have sufficient staff that have had experience in dealing with environmental assessment panels. Also in-house we have an environmental protection section which deals with the pollutants that may come into the Northwest Territories or that may be generated within the Northwest Territories. Any research we do will be done in-house with the existing people who are doing this kind of environmental assessment. Thank you.

Item 5, Oral Questions. Supplementary, Mr. Arngna'naaq.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I am sure the Minister is aware that ITC and TFN have both expressed a strong interest in this process. I am wondering what consultation will be made with the communities in the Keewatin?

Mr. Allooloo.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. In the area of environmental assessment, our government does not have full jurisdiction. The environmental assessment is done by Environment Canada through their environmental assessment branch out of Hull, Quebec. When the proponent makes an environmental statement on their project, that generally goes to the panel and the panel makes the decision on whether the information is sufficient to go into a public review. When the public review takes place, our government will be one of the witnesses that will be appearing before the panel. Thank you.

I will take this opportunity to welcome to the gallery, Mr. James Eetoolook, the acting president of TFN.

---Applause

Item 5, oral questions. Mr. Dent.

Minister of Seville, Mr. Pollard.

Did you say Don Pollard? Mr. Speaker, there are some new developments in Europe. I will get the information and provide it in written form to the Member. There are some new contacts and new galleries that are a direct result of Expo. As I said, I will get the information to the Member in written form, then if he has any further questions I will answer them. Thank you.

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

Mr. Pollard.