Mr. Chairman, I have one question with regard to the motion which was just passed. In your objectives, you said you would review and update the implementation of the strategy for the approval of the forest fire management policy. What is the status of this report? I realize you did have a

proposal for tender on this. Is this still being advertised, has it been implemented or is it concluded? What is the status of this?

Thank you. Mr. Minister.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. We put a proposal out for tender to do the forest fire management program, the contract was awarded. The contractor will complete his report by the end of May. Thank you.

Are there any further general comments? Mr. Gargan.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Who is the contractor?

Mr. Minister.

Mr. Chairman, Peat Marwick and Stevenson and Kellogg. Thank you.

Thank you. Are there any further general comments? Mr. Gargan.

Mr. Chairman, with regard to the motion which was just passed, what kind of effect would this have on the operations in Fort Rae, Fort Providence, Hay River, Fort Resolution, and Fort Smith. I would like to know if this sheds a whole new light on fire suppression and the way it has been operating for the last five years with regard to contribution agreements as opposed to contracts?

Thank you. Mr. Minister.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. We foresee that there is not going to be any significant change. I think the motion talked about those contracts which are given out to southern companies. The finance committee would like to see more of them taken up by northern contractors. Bands and corporations have been allowed to get a fire crew, the government will continue to do this. I am looking at options for this year. I have asked my department to continue to contract with the communities, for this year, until the new policy comes into play. That may also improve our contracting system in the communities after the report has come out. The motion would support the report with regard to hiring more local and also northern contractors. Thank you.

Thank you. Mr. Gargan.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Obviously the standing committee did get some information with regard to the amount of contracts which have been leaking out of the territories. I would like to ask the Minister if he can provide us with the breakdown of the contracts in general, both in and out of the territories?

Thank you. Mr. Minister.

Yes, we can provide that information. However, I would like to inform you in all the areas of contracts, we are not yet at a 50 per cent level. Most

of the contracts go to southern contractors, especially the air and helicopter contracts. Thank you.

Thank you. Are there any general comments? Mr. Gargan.

By virtue of this motion, are you anticipating that this year's awarding of contracts to helicopter operations will be going to northern firms? Thank you.

Thank you. Mr. Minister.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. For this year's 1993 fire season, there is not going to be any significant changes in terms of contracting for fixed-wing and helicopter services. I am hoping the report, which will come out in May, will suggest some ways of addressing the need to contract to more northern businesses. This will take effect starting in the 1994 fire season. Thank you.

Thank you. Are there any general comments? Mr. Gargan.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. With regard to the definitive objectives, under conservation, education and resource development, it says in the third paragraph they participate in the planning and delivery of an environmental day camp in one of the district or regional centres. Have you determined which district or region this will happen in? What is the purpose of this?

Thank you. Mr. Minister.

So far, we have not determined the community. We had an environmental day camp, last year in Yellowknife. We also had one in the eastern Arctic, in the Igloolik area. The one in Igloolik area was initiated by ITC. We ran it as an environmental day camp. Once we know where it is going to be, I will let the Members know. Thank you.

Thank you. Mr. Gargan.