(Translation) Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Yes, I will look into this study and report to the House what kind of effects the contaminants have had on the sea mammals. Thank you.

Item 5, oral questions. Mrs. Marie-Jewell.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I have a question for the Minister of Safety and Public Services. Mr. Speaker, earlier I had brought a concern to the Minister on an application which was submitted by an organization in our community which was called "The Warriors." However, their application was for some type of lottery licence which was denied. Apparently, it was denied because of the fact that their membership was not open to the general public. However, I would like to ask the Minister if this policy applies to applications, why are lottery licences given to bands where the membership is not open to the general public, the Metis Association where the membership is not open to the general public, the Elks where the membership is not open to the general public and the Legion which is not open to the general public? What are the determining factors in this policy?

Mr. Todd.

That is a good question. I will have to take that question as notice, Mr. Speaker.

The question has been taken as notice. Item 5, oral questions. Mr. Pudlat.

(Translation) Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I have a question directed to the Minister of Justice. I believe in the aboriginal languages being implemented in the Northwest Territories, and I also ask questions in my native language. I wonder if court documents, particularly summons for court appearances have always been translated into Inuktitut. Mr. Speaker, the unilingual people who have to attend court do not understand what kind of summons they have been issued. Mr. Speaker, using the Official Languages Act, can the Minister in the future get the documents translated into Inuktitut or into any other aboriginal language which is being used in the Northwest Territories? Can we hope to have these translated into Inuktitut in the future? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Kakfwi.

Supplementary, Mr. Pudlat.

(Translation) Thank you, Mr. Speaker. This is not a supplementary question. I will be asking further questions later. Thank you.

Item 5, oral questions. Mr. Lewis.

Mr. Todd.

No, Mr. Speaker, there is no financial commitment made at this time. As the honourable Member is aware, we are working with all the stakeholder groups in trying to develop a strategy as to how we would approach the federal government. Clearly, there is a need. At least initially, it appears there is a need for significant public infrastructure to make this mine a success, but at this time there is no financial commitment.

Supplementary, Mr. Lewis.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I know the Minister will be attending a meeting in Coppermine on May 7 and 8, I believe. I would like to ask the Minister, what is the purpose of this meeting? What does he hope will be achieved at this particular meeting?

Mr. Todd.

I have said many times since I have come over on this side, it is the politics of inclusion. This project is national in scale, even international I suspect. I want to ensure northern interests are protected, if that is the right term, that we look after the interests of all northerners on this issue. The intent of the May 8 and 9 meeting in Coppermine is to bring groups together such as the Inuit of the Kitikmeot, the Dogrib, the NWT Chamber of Mines, the NWT Chamber of Commerce, the MLAs and the Minnova people. I spoke to Dr. Watkins, who is the president, yesterday and he has agreed to attend. It is just an effort to develop a strategy of how we would approach the federal government and how we are going to approach this project in relationship to the public infrastructure which is required. It is just an initial meeting to determine if there is sufficient interests amongst the groups to provide me and the department with input as to how we would approach this whole project at this time.

Supplementary, Mr. Lewis.

What benefits does the Minister expect will accrue to this government and to the people of the Northwest Territories with the completion of this project? It is not a hypothetical question, Mr. Speaker, because we have been told it is going to go ahead.

Mr. Todd.

What benefits are going to be accrued? I suspect it would depend upon how well we negotiate and how well we become part of the process. That is the reason we are trying to get together with Minnova and the stakeholder groups. We need to develop a dialogue between the industry, between the government and between the stakeholder groups involved. The benefits, I suspect, could be numerous. There could be employment opportunities, equity opportunities for the aboriginal groups who will have land claims money and construction opportunities. There would be the opportunity to put significant public infrastructure in, whether it was a port in Coppermine or a highway. I could go on all day regarding the opportunities, Mr. Speaker. If I can quantify it in dollars at least initially the industry is looking at putting in $450 million and the infrastructure, again the numbers are not hard yet, would be somewhere between $400 to $600 million for the road and the port. We have to assume, if I may use that term, that there are going to be significant economic benefits derived, not only to the north but to Canada. It is certainly my intention to link into the process to ensure there is a dialogue ongoing and our interests are protected through discussion.

Item 5, oral questions. Mr. Arvaluk.