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

Mr. Pollard.

Mr. Speaker, as I said before, the audit bureau is doing an audit which will give us the financial picture, the revenues and where that money was spent, et cetera. A comparison could be made at that time. I do not have those numbers right off the top of my head, Mr. Speaker, but they will be in the audit report. Thank you.

Item 5, oral questions. This is your final supplementary, Mr. Dent.

Mr. Pollard.

Mr. Speaker, I would have to say "no" to that one, too. I can say, however, there were many people who came through the pavilion who learned a great deal about the Northwest Territories. Did they learn about some of the cultures and the art and crafts in the Northwest Territories? The answer to that is "yes." Did they learn about some of the food that we have here? Muskox has become very popular, we have some technical difficulties in getting it to Europe, but nevertheless, it was very well received. Maybe we did not make a real dent into the fur issue, but we certainly exposed the Northwest Territories to the European people who attended the pavilion. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Item 5, oral questions. Mr. Koe.

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. I have a question for the Minister of Economic Development and Tourism. The question is about tourism and I hope that many of the Spanish people signed the guest book in the new facility I am going to talk about. In the budget address the Minister of Finance stated that the planning for the Inuvik regional visitors' centre is well under way. I am glad to hear that planning is well under way. What is the current status of this project?

Mr. Pollard.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I believe the lot has been chosen and plans are under way to develop the area. We are talking to Parks Canada to see if they are going to participate with us, we have discussed an arrangement with them similar to the one we have here in Yellowknife. We are in discussions with the Inuvialuit and the Gwich'in on the building and operation of that particular facility. That aspect has not yet been resolved, Mr. Speaker.

Supplementary, Mr. Koe.

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. It has been local understanding and the Minister referred to the Gwich'in, Inuvialuit and also the town as having been involved in this project. It has been the local understanding that the design, construction and ownership would probably be local. Can the Minister advise when he expects his department and the potential local owners will come to an agreement on the terms of ownership and operation for this new facility?

Mr. Pollard.

Mr. Speaker, we are preparing a work plan right now to itemize dates, times, places and people, so that everyone knows what the schedule will be. The problem we are running into with the ownership is, we are prepared to sit down and negotiate an arrangement for ownership and operations for that particular facility but it must meet the Department of Public Works' test. That is that it is not costing us more over the 20 year term, than it would be if we built the facility ourselves. I have been quite frank with Chief James Firth about that. If it is reasonable, if it will stand DPW's test, then we are prepared to enter into an agreement with them. That is the issue at hand. Can we come to an arrangement that suits both sides? I am hoping that will be resolved in the next six weeks, Mr. Speaker. Thank you.

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

Supplementary, Mr. Speaker. Is the Minister and his department committed to local ownership and the majority of the construction and design to go to local groups?

Mr. Pollard.

Mr. Speaker, if it is fiscally reasonable, yes. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Item 5, oral questions. Mr. Patterson.

Mr. Speaker, in December of this past year, this Legislature unanimously supported urging the Government of Canada to restore full funding to the fur industry defence program and from it to continue to support ISI international so that the defence of the Canadian fur industry in Europe and elsewhere may be supported and continued. I would like to ask the Minister of Renewable Resources, who I was pleased supported and spoke in favour of the motion last December, whether he can tell this House the current status of the fur industry defence program and the efforts of ISI to restore their core funding for the coming year. Thank you.

Mr. Allooloo.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I met with the Minister of Indian and Northern Affairs and I informed him that the Legislature was concerned. I gave him copies of the resolution that was passed and also the debate that went on in this House. I also informed him that ISI required core funding. He thought the restored fur industry defence program could provide core funding to ISI. Those were his words. He indicated it was his understanding that FIDP would fund the ISI. Since then, a letter was sent to ISI from Indian and Northern Affairs stating that no core funding would be provided to them. There has been renewed appeal through letters to Indian and Northern Affairs. I have written a letter to the Minister responsible for Indian and Northern Affairs. To date, we have not received a response as to whether ISI will be given core funding. I expect Indian and Northern Affairs will respond to us. I am still working to see if the federal government can provide core funding to ISI, however, they have not confirmed this. Thank you.