Good morning. Orders of the day. Item 2, Ministers' statements. Madam Premier.

Mr. Speaker, this is an emergency statement. Mr. Speaker, it is with great pleasure and pride that I advise this Assembly of a landmark agreement concluded last evening between the Dogrib Treaty 11 tribal council and the Northwest Territories Power Corporation for development of hydro potential in the North Slave region.

---Applause

Mr. Speaker, subject to regulatory approvals, this historic agreement provides for development of hydro sites at Snare cascades on the Snare River and Lac La Martre river system. These projects will be developed, constructed and owned by the Dogrib Power Corporation, a wholly owned Dogrib enterprise.

---Applause

As each site is completed the Northwest Territories Power Corporation will accept operating responsibility. Mr. Speaker, this agreement as represented by the Dogrib power project agreement and the power acquisition agreement reflects the spirit of goodwill, respect and cooperation that was evident throughout the negotiations.

The agreement, Mr. Speaker, that was reached today secures employment and training opportunities for the residents of Rae-Edzo, Snare Lake, Rae Lakes and Lac La Martre through control and ownership of each development. These projects have been made possible by the market security and operating experience that partnership with the Northwest Territories Power Corporation will provide.

Mr. Speaker, first and foremost this agreement is a commercial undertaking that balances the interests of both parties. Engineering and construction contracts will be awarded by the Dogrib Power Corporation on the basis of the tender process; all regulatory requirements including environmental, land and water issues will be addressed by the Dogrib Power Corporation; and the interest of Northwest Territories Power Corporation customers will be protected by the Public Utilities Board review of the power acquisition agreement. This agreement is really a true partnership.

The first phase of the proposed project calls for an investment of up to $35 million. The second phase has an estimated cost of $80 million.

Development of these sites will reduce the growing reliance on diesel for power generation in the North Slave region. With adequate power supply and the long-term price stability associated with hydroelectric power generation, the growing opportunities for economic development throughout the region are further advanced.

Mr. Speaker, I wish to acknowledge the dedicated and professional efforts of both Dogrib representatives and Power Corporation officials, many of whom are here in the gallery today, in concluding an agreement that will guarantee investment, development and employment in the North Slave region. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

---Applause

Item 2, Ministers' statements. Item 3, Members' statements. Mr. Zoe.

The Member is seeking unanimous consent. Are there any nays? There are no nays. Please proceed, Mr. Zoe.

Thank you, Mr. Zoe. Two of the key players in negotiating this historic agreement are in the gallery. I would like to recognize Grand Chief Joe Rabesca of the Dogrib nation, he is also the...

---Applause

...first chairman of the Dogrib Power Corporation. We also have Jim Robertson, the chairman of the Northwest Territories Power Corporation.

---Applause

Item 3, Members' statements. Mr. Ningark.

(Translation) Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I stand today to speak on behalf of the young people who are our future and the people who go to different communities to attend school, especially from the smaller communities. It is good they want to get their education and that their parents encourage them to get their education, but sometimes when they experience something for the first time they have a hard time because they miss their family in their communities. Whenever they are having problems and they do not see their family for a long time they have to phone them long distance and talk with their parents to make life better for themselves. Mr. Speaker, this is all right when the young people go to school to a different community from smaller communities.

I think this is great because I went to school in a different community myself, but the grade extensions have to be given to the smaller communities in this day and age. At the appropriate time I will be asking the Minister of Education regarding students who have to travel out of their communities to attend school. I know it is a good thing, but it is very hard for the students. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Ningark. Item 3, Members' statements. Mr. Lewis.

Thanks, Mr. Speaker. This is the budget session and we have all seen how difficult it is to maintain our levels of services just like other governments, especially watching the performances of other provincial governments in trying to stave off huge debts. Like other governments, we have been forced to live within our means, Mr. Speaker, through a combination of spending cuts and some small tax increases.

Last June, Mr. Speaker, when she was an ordinary Member, Ms. Mike made an observation. She did not believe Mr. Pollard should be both Finance Minister and Minister of Economic Development, since she believed there was a conflict. Economic Development Ministers like to spend money and if you are a Finance Minister you like to hang onto it. I did not feel there was a huge difficulty at that time, but I began to see some difficulties. We have heard the Minister of Finance's commitment to a balanced budget, as our Finance Minister, and his efforts to achieve that have been greatly appreciated by both the Members of the House and also the public.

Wearing his other hat, however, just one week ago, Mr. Speaker, Mr. Pollard went uncharacteristically wild. He talked about borrowing $250 billion to build an infrastructure to support mining. Yellowknife people, of course, are delighted that the Minister has shown such an interest in the sector of the economy which is very important to this region and there is no doubt that it will continue to be that way. The point I am making, Mr. Speaker, is that Mr. Pollard, after the weekend, goes somewhat wild. Since it is Friday, I would like to remind Members that this weekend he will be in Montreal, and I will be looking to see how restrained he will be on Monday when he returns as our Finance Minister to continue with the budget debate. Thank you.

...by the Montreal Canadians. Item 3, Members' statements. Mr. Pudlat.

(Translation) Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I rise today in regard to the petition coming from one of my communities in my constituency. Lake Harbour is a community which does not have much flat space to develop. The community is making a proposal through the capital budget. The proposal, to the Department of Public Works, requests the community be provided with a rock crusher.

Item 3, Members' statements. Mrs. Marie-Jewell.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. In reviewing the Social Services' budget yesterday, we were advised in this House that there is a surplus of funding of $300,000 in the youth initiative. Mr. Speaker, many of the Members were very disappointed to hear this. We recognize the need to address youth of the Northwest Territories, and the use this funding could have helped youth in the Northwest Territories.

Mr. Speaker, last night we met both with the concerned fishermen and the friendship centre regarding the amount of funding they are seeking. The friendship centres assist youth across the north. I will be asking my colleagues at the appropriate time for support for a motion that I would like to put forth in this House to request the Minister to use that surplus funding prior to March 31, instead of lapsing the funding to assist the friendship centres in the north that do go out and help the youth of the north. Thank you.

---Applause

Thank you, Mrs. Marie-Jewell. Item 3, Members' statements. Mr. Whitford.

Item 3, Members' statements. Mr. Antoine.

(Translation) I would like to speak about the agreement between the NWT Power Corporation and the Dogrib nation. They will be building a dam which will generate electricity. I have been thinking for quite some time about major projects on our lands. I think it is proper that the aboriginal people are involved in those projects. I would like to congratulate the Dogrib nation and the NWT Power Corporation. It is a start. The Northwest Territories is large, so if there are major projects occurring the native people should be involved. This agreement between the NWT Power Corporation and the Dogrib nation is a start. I would like to thank them for this.

Thank you, Mr. Antoine. Item 3, Member's statements. Mr. Gargan.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. On the lighter side of things, Mr. Speaker, it gives me great pleasure that your hockey team, the MLA Sharks, is ready to take a serious bite out of the Yellowknife Media Ravens.

---Applause

After months of gruelling practice, the last of which was last night, the MLA Sharks have developed into a finely tuned hockey machine.

---Laughter

They are, Mr. Speaker, poetry in motion. It is therefore my opinion, Mr. Speaker, that the MLA Sharks will deliver a crushing defeat to the Ravens tomorrow evening at the second annual media/MLA hockey game. Mr. Speaker, the coach of the MLA Sharks, Mrs. Jeannie Marie-Jewell, and the general manager, Mr. David Hamilton, have just released the MLA Sharks final roster for tomorrow evening. Representing the MLA Sharks squad will be Nellie Cournoyea, Titus Allooloo, Richard Nerysoo, Henry Zoe, James Arvaluk, Don Morin and of course myself. A most impressive line up would you not say, Mr. Speaker? I would advise the media to keep their heads up in the corners because I have heard Cabinet Members muttering something about "pay back time."

---Laughter

---Applause

Perhaps they were talking about the ordinary MLAs, I am not sure about that, Mr. Speaker. Also, wearing the MLA Sharks' blue and white uniforms with pride will be the Assembly staff of Joe Maduke, Craig Robinson, Vera Raschke, Kuluk Gamble and Sheila MacPherson.

---Applause

Just a fair warning to the media, Mr. Speaker, Ms. MacPherson is the Assembly's legal counsel and will be prosecuting all media infractions to the fullest extent of the law.

---Laughter

Last but not least, on the MLA Sharks' roster are deputy minister, Al Menard, assistant deputy minister, Conrad Pilon, and Andy Langford. The Ravens have also agreed to our special request to allow Archie Catholique to play with the MLA Sharks. This, Mr. Speaker, was a serious technical error on the part of the media. However, I guess we have always known that they are not playing with a full duffle bag.

---Laughter

In closing, Mr. Speaker, I would like to inform the public that the proceeds for the media/MLA hockey game will go to the Stanton Yellowknife Hospital intensive care unit. I encourage everyone to come out and watch the MLA Sharks pluck the Ravens beginning at 7:00 pm tomorrow evening at the Yellowknife Community Arena. Thank you.

---Applause

Thank you, Mr. Gargan. Obviously the media are worried, they are not here so they must be practising.

---Laughter

Item 3, Members' statements. Mr. Kakfwi.

Mr. Kakfwi will work his way back into the line up in due course. Item 3, Members' statements. Item 4, returns to oral questions. Mr. Allooloo.

(Translation) Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I have a return to a question, asked by Mr. Ludy Pudluk on March 12, 1993, regarding study of ecosystem of Arctic Ocean.

Environment Canada has recently contracted a researcher from the University of British Columbia to summarize all available literature on the impacts of dumping scrap metal into the world's oceans. It is anticipated that the report will be completed by the end of March, 1993, following which it will be made available to the public.

I will provide a copy of this report to Members of the Legislative Assembly when it becomes available. Thank you.

Item 4, returns to oral questions. Mr. Nerysoo.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I have a return to an oral question, asked by Mrs. Marie-Jewell on March 12, 1993, with regard to the criteria for education leave.

There are two eligibility criteria for education leave identified in article 47.03 of the collective agreement between the Union of Northern Workers and the Government of the Northwest Territories. It states that the applicants must have three years of continuous service with the Government of the Northwest Territories, although this requirement may be waived in unusual circumstances. It also states that no employee may be granted education leave unless there is departmental evidence of satisfactory performance and potential.

The interdepartmental staff development committee also uses criteria to rank the applications for education leave from eligible employees. I will provide a copy of the criteria used for ranking applications separately to Mrs. Marie-Jewell and to all Members of this Assembly.

Item 4, returns to oral questions. Item 5, oral questions. Mr. Gargan.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I believe the honourable Member for Natilikmiot made a statement with regard to students going back home. Mr. Speaker, I have a situation in which a young student from my constituency in Fort Providence has been expelled. She has three more months to complete grade 12 and then on to pursue her career. Unfortunately, she does have not have any relatives here, she does not have anyone she can stay with in order to complete her high school. So, she is now back home and her dad is one of the teachers in Fort Providence. I would like to ask the Minister whether there are any avenues for out of town students concerning students who are expelled, not from the school itself, but from the residence?

Good question.

Mr. Nerysoo.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. First of all, I do not know the circumstances the honourable Member is raising. With regard to the matter of expulsions, there is the option of home boarding if that particular student remains eligible to attend school. I think the honourable Member should be aware that I do not know the circumstances surrounding the situation he raises, therefore, I am not sure whether the individual would be eligible under any circumstances. I would have to know the details before I could clearly answer the question. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Item 5, oral questions. Mr. Arvaluk.

My question is to the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment Programs. I have asked a question during committee of the whole at one point and I was going to wait for an answer on it however, the tendering for contracts is drawing near as this fiscal year is ending and I have not seen anything emerge out of that yet. As I stated to the Minister before, there are kindergarten children enroling for August, 1993, in Coral Harbour and the grade 11 grade extension is also proceeding in August. At present, the Minister knows we are using part of the gymnasium as a classroom for Inuktitut classes because there is no room anywhere to conduct these classes. Also, grade ten students are occupying the Arctic College section of the school. In the O and M budget it is stated that there will only be design work for 1993-94 estimates. I hear there is a plan by Arctic College to renovate the portable school in Coral Harbour so Arctic College can be housed there temporarily. Can the Minister tell me the plan for the summer?

Mr. Nerysoo.

Mr. Speaker, I can indicate to the Member he is correct in the information that we intend to renovate the portables. We are working with the regional education board to ensure we have proper accommodation for those students who are going to be residing in Coral Harbour. It was upon the recommendation of the board that we agreed to the grade extension. It is with their support that we are reviewing the accommodation needs and will support the efforts of the regional education board to ensure we have proper accommodation for those students in the interim until we build the new school or new addition next year.

Supplementary, Mr. Arvaluk.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Arctic College students, I think the Minister would appreciate, through hard work and dedication were able to acquire $100,000 of IBM equipment through donations from the IBM corporation. They will require a fairly sophisticated electrical hook up. Will the portables which will be renovated for Arctic College have that capability?

Mr. Nerysoo.

Mr. Speaker, I am not aware of the actual details, only the idea that we are going to renovate. My assumption is that the renovations will accommodate the requirements for those students who are to be housed in those two portables.

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

Mr. Speaker, I need clarification on whether these portables will be renovated for the purpose of Arctic College or the school itself?

Mr. Nerysoo.

I am not quite clear on the details, except to suggest to the honourable Member that the renovations are going to take place. I will take the question as notice and advise him exactly which programs will be placed in the portables.

Item 5, oral questions. Mr. Ningark.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My question is directed to the Minister of Education. Mr. Speaker, I believe in

education, my life involves in and around education. I believe in home boarding and residential schools. I went through the system as have other Members of this House. I also believe that education should be the choice of the parent and the student. If the parent wishes to have the student go to another region for secondary education, so be it. However, there are other parents and other students who would rather have their education at home. That is the fundamental base, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, education starts at home, right in the arms of a mother. Here we see a balance between educator and the student. Mr. Speaker, my question to the honourable Minister is, how many of the students from the Kitikmeot region who have attended high school in Yellowknife have been sent back home because they are not able to function for various reasons during this semester year? Thank you.,

Mr. Nerysoo.

Mr. Speaker, I am not sure, so I will have to take the question as notice.

The question has been taken as notice. Item 5, oral questions. Mrs. Marie-Jewell.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I am trying to designate another coach so, perhaps the Minister of Justice can play defence. I do not have a question for him today, so I will try to get along with him, Mr. Speaker.

However, I do have a question for the Premier since the Minister of Economic Development has been out of the House this past week. I would like to ask the Premier, since we met with the concerned fishermen last night, if it would be possible for her to request the Department of Economic Development review the agreement we have with the Freshwater Fish Marketing Corporation to be able to determine how we can possibly be able to eliminate our participation?

Madam Premier.

Mr. Speaker, yes.

Item 5, oral questions. Mr. Whitford.

Mr. Allooloo.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. No, the department is not aware of this. The Member is correct, back in 1978 the Cosmos 954 Russian satellite came out of orbit and parts of the satellite landed in barren lands of the Thelon game sanctuary. An extensive military clean up started, and they completed the clean up of the site. Debris was found. The military used advanced technology to find and locate any material in that particular area. If there is anything left which was undetected, my department is quite satisfied that it would be very small. To our knowledge, no one has found pieces of the satellite. Thank you.

Supplementary, Mr. Whitford.

Mr. Allooloo.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. If there are going to be any scientific studies in the Northwest Territories, they require a permit from the Science Institute. If they are going to look for any historic artifacts, they require a permit to do exploration. If they are going to do anything which affects the land and the animals, they require a permit. Mr. Speaker, if there is any information which my department or I do not have with respect to this satellite that came out of orbit, I would be very interested to find out about that particular pilot who may have seen a large hole in the lake. I will look into this. I

will speak with the Member privately to try and locate this person to find out what he saw. Thank you.

Supplementary, Mr. Whitford.

You are bordering on asking an opinion of the Minister. I will let the Minister field this question. Mr. Allooloo.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Anyone can look for anything in the Northwest Territories. If they are going to do actual physical work or disturb the land, aside from the traditional type of use, they require a permit. Thank you.

Item 5, oral questions. Mr. Lewis.

I would like to follow-up on the question raised by the Member for Thebacha, to the Minister who is looking after the responsibility for Economic Development and Tourism. We heard last night, Mr. Speaker, and I know this issue has been around for 15 years now, about the problems of the fishermen on Great Slave Lake. We heard last night that the very best fisherman, Mr. Alex Morin, on Great Slave Lake can no longer make a living and he has to sell off some of his equipment. Can the Minister explain to this House the circumstances which lead to the very best fisherman not being able to make a living and having to sell off some of his equipment so that he can live.

Ms. Cournoyea.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to give a complete response, I have some ideas and I know some of the circumstances, but I do not know all of the circumstances. The Minister of Economic Development and Tourism has been following this item for three or four months. I would like to take the question as notice so that he may be able to give a full reply to the Member's question. I will take the question as notice. Thank you.

The question has been taken as notice. Item 5, oral questions. Mrs. Marie-Jewell.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I have a question for the Minister of Housing. Last year, Mr. Speaker, the Minister of Housing tabled the annual report of the NWT Housing Corporation. When will the Minister be tabling the report for the NWT Housing Corporation this year? Thank you.

Mr. Morin.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I do not know.

Supplementary, Mrs. Marie-Jewell.

Mr. Speaker, according to the act, the Minister is to table a report yearly in this House of the NWT Housing Corporation. The last report was tabled in March 1992. Will the Minister find out whether this report is being developed and advise this House when he will be tabling this report? Thank you.

Mr. Morin.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Yes.

Item 5, oral questions. Mr. Lewis.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to go back to fishing. I do not have a complex question, it has to do with policy. Is it the position of this government that the agreement which was made in 1969, which lead to the setting up of the Freshwater Fish Marketing Corporation, should be broken so that fishermen can find other ways of marketing their fish from the Great Slave Lake?

Ms. Cournoyea.

Mr. Speaker, there have been several attempts to come to this Legislature, over the years, to have a motion of support to do just that. As well, there have been numerous meetings to deal with all of the fishermen and to get a consensus to do that. Unfortunately, those efforts have failed. I am not sure about the deliberations that have taken place with the Minister of Economic Development and Tourism and what conclusion he has come to. I know in the past it has always been recommended to all parties who wished to change the letter of the agreement to create more free access to independent marketing, the general thrust was to try to get the consensus of all of the fishermen who are utilizing the Great Slave Lake fishery. We are tied into that agreement and there is a certain process so that we can get out of it. In past discussions, the pros and cons have been put on the table on whether it was better to get out or stay in, and

obviously the stakeholders themselves have not been able to come to consensus that it would be better to get out.

Mr. Speaker, there is a great deal of debate on that issue. Certainly, the Member also knows there is a big question in terms of the interprovincial trade discussion on the viability of the marketing boards, whether it is the egg marketing board or the hogs and logs situation. These have come under debate. The question is, would the fishermen be better off marketing themselves independently from the Freshwater Fish Marketing Corporation. I would like to say that the Minister of Economic Development and Tourism had been looking into this matter six months ago when the concerned fishermen had come forward and said that we have to take another real serious look at who is benefiting from the fishery, where do they live, whether the subsidy is encouraging or discouraging an open market or a creation of another market. I cannot tell you at this time about the best avenues because deliberations are still taking place within the Department of Economic Development and Tourism. Thank you.

Supplementary, Mr. Lewis.

I am getting tired of the word consensus, Mr. Speaker. There is a place for it and it is also the excuse for doing nothing. This agreement was made by governments, one government with other governments to agree to do something. What is the position of our government? The government acts on behalf of the people. However, there is a responsibility to lead and to do something. Does the government have a position on whether they want to keep the agreement or not?

Ms. Cournoyea.

Mr. Speaker, when the agreement was made, it was made on behalf of the fishermen. The fact is, people's economic viability rests in what you do. The last statement made by the Minister of Economic Development and Tourism was, "Can you get 51 per cent of the active fishermen in that area to give us a message to proceed to break the agreement and look into other marketing ventures?" They could not do that, they could not get the 51 per cent, for all kinds of reasons, but the issue is not dead. I believe if there can be another way of meeting the demands of the concerned fishermen, we will have to do that. I do not think we should say we cannot do anything. One attempt was tried. We said everyone should agree, then the Minister of Economic Development asked if we could get 51 per cent, but he could not get 51 per cent so I guess we will have to take the next step. Thank you.

Supplementary, Mr. Lewis.

Mr. Speaker, 51 per cent is not consensus, that is a majority. Is it the position of this government then if you can get 51 per cent of the fishermen on Great Slave Lake to agree that this agreement should be broken, that the government would take the next step to try to break the agreement if it is at all possible?

Ms. Cournoyea.

Mr. Speaker, the Department of Economic Development suggested to the fishermen that it would give them much more of a sound basis to act. It was not a position of the government. The issue is not dead and will proceed. I think the request to try to get 51 per cent does not take away the issue, we still have to deal with it. Thank you.

Item 5, oral questions. Mr. Ningark.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My question is directed to my honourable colleague, the Minister of Transportation. Mr. Speaker, most of the boat owners in my communities use their boats for either fishing or hunting. The boat is considered hunting equipment where one's livelihood depends upon the condition of the boat, and the hunter cannot afford to replace it over night when the boat is damaged by waves, or low and high tide. Therefore, Mr. Speaker, my question to my honourable colleague is, does the Minister of Transportation have a policy in place to deal with community wharfs or community landing docks?

Mr. Todd.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Yes, there is a policy in place with respect to marine community wharfs. The policy is with respect to capital allocation. If the community of Pelly Bay, for example, was to determine in a capital exercise that a wharf was a priority, we would as a department take a close look at that. We are trying to and we have over the last few years developed some wharfs in the Keewatin area, in Baker Lake and Arviat. We are looking at the possibility of a major wharf in Iqaluit and the expansion of one in Pangnirtung. We have a policy in place and we would welcome any suggestions from the honourable Member.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My question is to the Premier respecting economic development. Mr. Speaker, there was a feasibility study done by Stanley and

Associates for the NWT development corporation. The study was in respect to determining the feasibility of building a wood pellet plant in the Northwest Territories. Would the Premier be able to advise this House as to the status report of the findings of this feasibility study? Thank you.

Ms. Cournoyea.

Mr. Speaker, I will take that question as notice. Thank you.

The question has been taken as notice. Item 5, oral questions. Mrs. Marie-Jewell.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My question is for the Minister of Health. Mr. Speaker, last year we had considerable debate with regard to the abortion issue in this House. I would like to ask the Minister of Health, since the report has been completed as a result of the review, what is the status of the recommendations which the government commissioned in regard to the concerns expressed in this House on the abortion issue?

Minister of Health, Ms. Mike.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. This was also asked by Mr. Gargan on February 23, 1993. The Department of Health, in conjunction with Stanton Yellowknife Hospital and regional health boards, is closely monitoring all aspects of the abortion implementation plan. In the new fiscal year the Department of Health will prepare a summary of progress and specific actions taken to implement the recommendations. Stanton Yellowknife Hospital tabled their abortion recommendation response plan at the December 1, 1992, public board meeting. The board has directed the administration of Stanton Yellowknife Hospital to provide a quarterly update. The next update is due April 20, 1993, at their board meeting. Thank you.

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

Mr. Speaker, I recall one of the recommendations which recommended other hospital institutions perform abortions. Have these other institutions complied with that recommendation or are there still negotiations going on with respect to that recommendation? Thank you.

Ms. Mike.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I will have to take her question as notice. Thank you.

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

(Translation) Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My question is to the Minister of Health. In 1992, in the eastern Arctic there were questions regarding abortion. I have heard quite a few opinions regarding the abortion issue and many responses I heard were that it would be up to a woman to have an abortion. However, there was much opposition in my area. I know it is a woman's right to decide whether she wants an abortion. Will there be a part in the report about the responses and opposition we received on abortions from the general public?

I have heard the report will be released. We need to hear both sides of the story from the opposition and the pro choice, and have counselling services and family planning services for these women. Perhaps she can respond to my comments, Mr. Speaker.

Ms. Mike.

(Translation) Thank you, Mr. Speaker. With regard to the abortion issue, the people who reviewed this made some recommendations and they have been asked to be reviewed by the regional board. The Member's comments about the Baffin regional health board will be dealt with by them. I will look into this more and answer him later. Thank you.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I have a question for the Minister of Renewable Resources. In the budget review of the Department of Renewable Resources we were advised, previously in this House, that there is a management review on fire suppression being conducted by the Department of Renewable Resources. The Minister has indicated that this report will not be done until the end of April. Can the Minister indicate if this review is near completion. Thank you.

Mr. Allooloo.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The review is on track. It is to be concluded. The contractor must submit a final report by the end of May.

Supplementary, Mrs. Marie-Jewell.

Mr. Speaker, the Minister indicated a timeframe for the review to be completed. During the budget session I asked him if construction of a CL-215 base to be constructed in Fort Smith was going to be placed on hold because of this review being done. However, in the budget discussions, he indicated that he would direct his department to start addressing the planning of the CL-215 base with the Dene/Metis Holdings Corporation in Fort Smith. Is the Minister aware of his department having any discussions in respect to this planning for the CL-215 base since the budget has been discussed. Thank you.

Mr. Allooloo.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The department has not started communicating with the Fort Smith group. I would like to be in attendance at the initial discussions. I want to be involved at the outset. I want to have a chance to meet with the Fort Smith group and my department. I will do this once the session is over. Thank you.