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

Mr. Speaker, thank you. The Minister has somewhat set out the criteria in respect to the eligibility for lands in order to access the home ownership program. However, I have been advised that the Housing Corporation is changing its housing programs for the access, particularly because now it is seeking repayment for loans in connection with the houses which it builds. Can the Minister inform the House whether CMHC has placed any restrictions on the corporation as far as its housing programs are concerned, particularly when they are designated for band members? Thank you.

Mr. Morin.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Under the CMHC cost-shared program, we do not have any programs which are designated for band members. They are designated for the general public and we have to follow CMHC's programs and policies whenever we deliver any cost-shared program. Thank you.

Item 5, oral questions. You had your final supplementary, Mrs. Marie-Jewell. Mr. Patterson.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. There have been questions asked earlier this session about the proposed transfer of the parks division of Economic Development and Tourism to Renewable Resources. In her response on Wednesday, March 17, I believe in the absence of the Minister of Economic Development and Tourism, Ms. Cournoyea said this is not a new issue, it has been studied before. I would like to ask the Minister of Economic Development and Tourism, what studies or reviews have lead the department to consider this transfer and, particularly, was this motivated by the Strength at Two Levels report which was one of the first documents tabled by this government once it came into office? Thank you.

Mr. Pollard.

Mr. Speaker, I think when Madam Premier said that this was not a new idea, it was something which was discussed in the last Legislature, especially by committee, I believe. It was a suggestion from Renewable Resources, to the then Minister of Economic Development and Tourism, that the parks area and also the exploratory fishing area, areas which are of interest to Renewable Resources, be transferred over to Renewable Resources, and that the business side of using the parks, advertising for visitors to come to the Northwest Territories, encouraging people to start up fishing lodges and then encouraging people to use those fishing lodges be handled by the Department of Economic Development and Tourism. It makes some sense because then you are not setting the quota or determining the parks, and also trying to encourage as many people as possible to use those quotas in parks. That is where it came from, whether there was a formal study, Mr. Speaker, I do not know, but I know it was looked at by both departments in the last Legislative Assembly. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Supplementary, Mr. Patterson.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I can tell the Minister that the Strength at Two Levels report, which I think the government does give some currency to, studied the issue, and that may be the most recent study, and recommended that it is the integrated division of parks and tourism which should be transferred to Renewable Resources. Since parks and tourism are obviously linked, if the tourism division is not being proposed to be transferred to Renewable Resources, does the Minister agree, in light of this close linkage between parks and tourism, that new resources will be required in the Department of Renewable Resources which are not there now, to develop products, to promote and market the parks and to train outfitters and the like. Have these additional staff requirements been developed and calculated? Thank you.

Mr. Pollard.

Mr. Speaker, I would not say we were into that kind of detail at the present time. I know there have been discussions between the deputy minister of Renewable Resources and the deputy minister of Economic Development and Tourism. This stems from the practice in other jurisdictions. If I could give a small example, Mr. Speaker. For instance, in Banff National Park, the visitors to that park became so many and the hikers, in particular, wanting to travel a particular trail became so many, that there were only so many people allowed on the trail at any given time. It becomes a question of wise use of land resources and what other jurisdictions have looked at, what we are looking at, and someone has to say "How much can the land take? How much fish can you take? How much use can you make of a particular park area?"

On the other side, there is a group of people out there saying "Let us bring more visitors to the park, let us bring more visitors into the Northwest Territories." So, it is very difficult to be the promoter of a park, in my opinion, and also be the person who wants to conserve the park. For that reason, I personally support the division of these two responsibilities, so there is a balance. Then, people can say "Renewable Resources says you cannot do this and it is getting overcrowded." It is not seen as a conflict, Mr. Speaker.

There is also a clarification of roles, who does what and who trains people. This can be done by dividing the two responsibilities. There may be some requirement in future for more resources, that is yet to be worked out. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Supplementary, Mr. Patterson.

Mr. Speaker, I am intrigued that the Minister says we are not into that kind of detail, such as person years and budgets, and roles and responsibilities. The Government Leader said earlier the plan has not been concluded, the work has not been done and it would be premature to put anything on the table or present anything to the working group. In light of all of these comments, which indicate a great deal of work is yet to be done, why have the staff in the department been told that they are working to a preconceived July 1 deadline, if all this work and thinking has yet to be done? Thank you.

Mr. Pollard.

Mr. Speaker, we do not want to keep it a secret from the people who are going to be ultimately affected by this change, and obviously if they are the people delivering the programs, then we are going to have to consult with them to find out what these details might be. We cannot run around like thieves in the night and say "I guess it is going to be this much." We are trying to involve those people and, ultimately, they are going to have to give us their expertise and tell us what those details, allocations and responsibilities have to be, and if there is any legislation that has to change as a result of a transfer. There has been no date decided upon. They may have been told July 1, which may be the date we are requiring implementation by, but to my knowledge there is no firm date of July 1, Mr. Speaker. Thank you.

Mr. Patterson.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. This is all very helpful to me in understanding what is being planned. I take it, from the Minister's previous comments, that regional staff, superintendents and the zone and regional tourism associations will be consulted and have a chance to have input into this major reorganization before the plan is finalized? Thank you.

Mr. Pollard.

Mr. Speaker, obviously we will be consulting with our staff, and the staff in the regions will give us the views of the people who ultimately might be affected. Their views will be taken into consideration, Mr. Speaker. Thank you.

Item 5, oral questions. Mr. Dent.

Mr. Allooloo.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Through the normal process, in order to get more money and programs into a department, would be through the OPPLAN process. Thank you.