Supplementary, Mr. Patterson.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I am pleased to hear those assurances from the Government Leader. Could I ask the Government Leader, since this is not a final decision and is not yet government policy, will the views of the Science Institute and Members of this Assembly be sought and considered before the government does finally make a decision on the future of this very important institution? Thank you.

Ms. Cournoyea.

Mr. Speaker, like I said, this is not a change in direction of decentralization, it is just making a decision on what is the best way to decentralize the Science Institute. How can the operation of government be placed in such a way that a coordinated effort can realize maximum benefits from any organization? Certainly, we are willing to consult if Members feel we are taking something away or want input into how that move takes place. Mr. Speaker, I believe

the responsibility of research is very important. As much as possible, in how we are trying to organize our activities, we can find mixes that will allow us to make the best gains from the resources we are expending in those various areas. This is what we are attempting to do. Thank you.

Supplementary, Mr. Patterson.

Mr. Speaker, these explanations are helpful and I want to make it clear that I may well conclude there may be merit in the proposed suggestion that came from the Minister of Education. Rather than have it floated at an Arctic College board of governor's public meeting, which is the first occasion Members of this Assembly might have heard this idea, I wonder if the Government Leader would agree that once a plan has been worked out, hopefully in consultation with the Science Institute board itself, something could be presented by way of a statement or an announcement to this Assembly so Members can be given notice of how this is going to work and perhaps have an opportunity to discuss this matter in this House. Thank you.

Ms. Cournoyea.

Mr. Speaker, I am sure the Minister responsible will be pleased to circulate the plan and consult with Members who are interested in how this is going to evolve. Thank you.

Item 5, oral questions. Mr. Whitford.

Mr. Allooloo.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. No, I have not received a response from the federal government yet, not from DFO or from Environment Canada. The company is required to have a permit in order to dump scrap metal into the ocean. They also require a blasting permit in order to blast the ice to make a hole to enable them to dump the scrap metal. They require two permits. To my knowledge, the federal government has not been very concerned about this. They say there is minimal impact if the scrap metal is dumped. DFO seems to be open to giving the company a permit to allow them to blast. In those two areas I am very concerned. I have given the federal government three options in order to look after this problem. Either they find a way to dispose of this, the same way that DND is doing to old DEW Line sites, or they take the material to land fill sites in a northern community or take it back down south where it came from. Thank you.

Supplementary, Mr. Whitford.

Mr. Allooloo.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Since Lougheed Island is on territorial land, any permit required would have to come from the federal government. We only give permits on Commissioner's land. This includes about two per cent of the Northwest Territories.

Item 5, oral questions. Mr. Koe.

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. I have a question for the Minister of Economic Development and Tourism. Mr. Speaker, the Minister responded to one of my questions about the establishment of a territorial park at Campbell Lake near Inuvik. In his response on March 5, the Minister stated that regional officials are developing a work plan for the park. That plan will be reviewed and agreed to by the parks committee and recommended for approval by the Minister. Once approved, the plan will be implemented. He also mentioned the make up of the park management committee. My question to the Minister is, what authority does the park management committee have?

Mr. Pollard.

I guess they would not have authority, but they would certainly have a lot of pull with me, Mr. Speaker. If they were not happy, then I would not be happy.

Supplementary, Mr. Koe.

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Would the park management committee have any decision-making responsibilities? Can they make decisions on allocations of budgets?

Mr. Pollard.

No, Mr. Speaker, they would not be able to make decisions, but they would certainly be able to provide advice. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.