Good afternoon. Orders of the day. Item 2, Ministers' statements. Mr. Allooloo.

Mr. Speaker, in the eight years between 1983 and 1991 there were 111 drownings in the NWT. Most of the victims were between the ages of 15 and 24 and more than half of the tragedies were caused by careless boating practices where none of the victims were wearing life jackets. Even more sadly, the misuse of alcohol was at least part of the cause for 35 per cent, or 39 of these drownings.

Mr. Speaker, during 1993, my department will be renewing the call to the boating public to practice water safety. We will be distributing new water safety literature, hosting a territorial-wide poster contest, and training summer aquatic instructors in communities to teach the merits of safe practices on the open water.

It is important for boat owners and operators to remember that under the law, enough life jackets must be carried on board for all passengers. The Royal Canadian Mounted Police are responsible for enforcing the law. The Department of Renewable Resources promotes water safety through the sport fishing guide and courses on firearm safety. With the boating season approaching I would encourage all residents to follow safe boating practices. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

---Applause

Thank you, Mr. Allooloo. Item 2, Ministers' statements. Item 3, Members' statements. Mr. Gargan.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Once again I would like to speak to Members about the establishment of a First Nations trust company. The need for First Nations to get involved and provide financial services to aboriginal governments and their citizens has been clearly identified. The Peace Hills Trust in southern Canada demonstrates that such an institution is possible and can be successful even in recessionary times. Federal government transfer monies provide a guaranteed source of depositors. Land claims money requires financial administration. It is only reasonable that an aboriginal institution be established to manage the investment of such monies. Development corporations which follow the settlement of land claims also require an institution for the management of their monies. An aboriginal financial institution can serve private aboriginal businesses that, at present, have difficulties with conventional banking systems.

Mr. Speaker, it is clear that an aboriginal financial institution will benefit the indigenous population. However, I should point out that it will also benefit the economy of the Northwest Territories as a whole. Such a financial institution will keep monies in the Northwest Territories and will prevent leakage to the south. A number of options for First Nations to deliver a finance service to First Nations government and their citizens were considered. A federal incorporated trust company would be the best choice. Initial development work to create a First Nations trust company in the Northwest Territories has begun. Contacts have been made to discuss a joint venture. Discussions have taken place with Indian and Northern Affairs, the territorial government and various legal businesses and accounting personnel.

The initiative to establish a federal institution has been divided into three phases. Phase one will involve identifying and organizing shareholders. In phase two we will undertake detailed planning. In phase three...

Mr. Gargan, your allotted time has elapsed.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to seek unanimous consent to conclude my statement.

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

Phase three will implement these plans. At the end of phase three, Mr. Speaker, the financial institution will have its doors open for business. I hope this government views these plans and actions as positive steps toward our inherent right to self-government. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I have raised this issue before, however, it bears repeating, Mr. Speaker. I have raised the issue, on at least two occasions, about the inadequacy of police service in the city of Yellowknife. The government is stretched and it is very difficult to come up with the resources required to provide the level of service which people expect. I should point out that things have escalated in this city to the extent that we have had seven armed robberies over the last few months. I spoke to two business people this morning, Mr. Speaker, and they tell me if they have a break-in in their premise and they phone to get help, it is just not there. This is not because the police do not want to help, but because they are so stretched on other cases they cannot immediately respond to an emergency. I think the government should look at this as a problem that has to be resolved, because many citizens in Yellowknife are becoming concerned for their own personal safety.

Item 3, Members' statements. Mr. Patterson.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I had the pleasure of attending the second Nunavut business conference and trade show in Iqaluit on March 15 to 19 and I want to say what a success it was, Mr. Speaker. I was able to attend some of the very useful and informative sessions such as the one on Nunavut business which identified various business opportunities. Experienced businessmen such as Simon Merkosak, Joshua Kanguq, Kenn Harper and I participated in these sessions. Later that day, there was the launch of the Baffin handbook, which received very favourable reviews in a recent Globe & Mail article as a "must read" for visitors to Baffin. We also heard an inspiring speech from Paul Quassa at a banquet attended by over 200 people. There was a fascinating session on banking and project financing which featured senior bankers from the Toronto Dominion Bank, the Bank of Montreal, the CIBC and FBDB. Perhaps, we should have invited Mrs. Marie-Jewell to that session on northern banking. There were informative sessions on northern purchasing and other subjects.

The trade show on Saturday, March 20, was a resounding success. There were over 70 booths, including some which were shared by more than one business. About 700 people visited the trade show. Booths ranging from Northport Construction's new inverter to the latest technology in waste oil heating to producers who served fabulous food. I might mention that there were no less than 32 members of the business community from Val-d'Or, Quebec, including the mayor, who attended the conference and participated in the trade show.

So, Mr. Speaker, it was a success and I know there are plans to repeat the trade show again, perhaps in another location in Nunavut. I hope the Minister of Economic Development and Tourism will be able to attend the third annual Nunavut trade show. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

---Applause

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

(Translation) Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I rise today to talk about the carvers in the Northwest Territories with bone, soapstone, ivory and other materials. Often times the carvers have a hard time to try to get materials to make a carving. Being a carver is very hard, and some people say the dust is not good for your health. Many items are becoming more expensive today and the carvings which are carved by the Inuit and Indian seem like they are not in demand as much as they used to be. If the carver gives the carving to a retailer or a person who buys it, they send it to another place. By the time it is to be bought by a consumer it is very expensive and the retailer makes a profit. When it goes to the retailer it gets more expensive and the carver does not get as much as he is entitled to. How can we help the carvers? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. For the past couple of years, since 1990, Fort Smith has been the home of the western Arctic leadership program. The western Arctic leadership program was initially started by the previous Minister of Education, the Honourable Stephen Kakfwi. The program has been in existence for the past couple of years and has been accepted as one of the most successful programs within the Department of Education, from the community viewpoint and I am sure from the viewpoint of many people in the west.

The western Arctic leadership program is a program for students, and currently they have students there from Colville Lake, Cambridge Bay, Fort Good Hope, Fort McPherson, Fort Smith, Inuvik, Norman Wells, Rae and Yellowknife. Also, Fort Providence and, I believe, Trout Lake. Many of the students come from across the north to learn many different things in this particular program. The program utilizes many different types of skills which are taught to the students. These include survival skills at a camp which they go to, firearm safety and other safety type programs. They take these camps every year, generally in the month of March. Even though on occasions camps have experienced 40 below weather, these students live under a tent in this type of weather. Not only do they survive, they seem to thrive on the experience they have gained through this particular program.

In spite of being involved in a full program, the students have two hours of study at night. The students find time to attend many meetings. I have seen them and observed, in the community, their attendance at many meetings and forums throughout the year, particularly when issues affect the Northwest Territories are discussed or at the local...

Mrs. Marie-Jewell, your allotted time has elapsed

.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I seek unanimous consent to conclude my Member's statement.

The honourable Member is seeking unanimous consent. Are there any nays? There are no nays. Please proceed, Mrs. Marie-Jewell.

Thank you, honourable colleagues. The leadership students fully participate in the life of the P W K High School and are members of different sporting clubs in the community, and represent the school in team and individual events.

This program has been, as I stated earlier, a very successful program. However, Mr. Speaker, they have had some difficulty in the past, particularly with regard to the amount of funding they are granted. In the past, we were pleased to give them the support of $50 through the Department of Social Services as a youth initiative program to assist them. Looking at future leadership for the Northwest Territories, I thought that was a good way to use funding.

Mr. Speaker, the western Arctic leadership program is finding somewhat of a difficulty with their current level of funding. It is a program which I give my full support to as an MLA and I give full support to the concept of the western Arctic leadership program. I certainly hope that the same type of concept would be looked at for the east. Mr. Speaker, I would encourage the Minister of Education to assist the South Slave divisional board in continuing such a successful program for northern youth. Thank you.

Thank you, Mrs. Marie-Jewell. Item 3, Members' statements. Item 4, returns to oral questions. Mr. Pollard.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. This is a return to a question asked by Mr. Lewis on February 26, 1993, and it concerns the internal audit of Expo '92. Mr. Speaker, the audit of Expo '92 came about as a result of communications between the comptroller general and the acting deputy minister of Economic Development and Tourism.

The Audit Bureau was not directed to emphasize any one or more aspects of the Expo project; in fact, no constraints whatsoever were placed upon the bureau in scoping the audit. After a preliminary survey of the project, the Audit Bureau determined that the scope of the audit should be extensive, and should include a review of the financial projections and operating plans for the restaurant and the management process that led to them, the accuracy and the timeliness of project financial information, the adequacy of inventory records and storage controls, the arrangements for and ultimate disposition of inventories and other assets following the conclusion of the project, and the extent to which significant relevant costs have been included in financial reporting.

Departmental management concurred with this approach and the audit encompassed the agreed upon scope. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I have a return to an oral question asked by Mr. Pudlat on February 22, 1993, concerning a vessel for Sanikiluaq. Mr. Speaker, I understand that the HTA in Sanikiluaq has given their damaged vessel to Mr. Joanasie Arragutainaq to salvage for materials. Mr. Arragutainaq will be using the salvaged materials to repair another longliner in the community.

I am also advised, Mr. Speaker, that the economic development officer under contract to the community of Sanikiluaq has been working with the HTA and Mr. Arragutainaq on this matter. We have been informed that an application to the economic development agreement will be submitted in April for funds to bring in a marine mechanic to assess what repairs are required on the longliner. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Item 4, returns to oral questions. Item 5, oral questions. Mrs. Marie-Jewell.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I have a question for the Minister of Education. Mr. Speaker, many concerns have been expressed to me by different constituents and from individuals from Hay River with respect to the management and recruitment practices by the South Slave divisional board. Because these concerns seem to be coming along at a quicker pace, and recognizing the divisional board is still trying to get started, will the Minister make an attempt to meet with the divisional board to ensure he has discussions with them with respect to the public concerns which are being expressed on the practices used. Thank you.

Mr. Nerysoo.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I have indicated to the chairperson, Mr. Cooper, that I wish to meet with the South Slave school board. I will be discussing a number of the concerns which the honourable Member has raised along with some concerns which I have as the Minister responsible for the delivery of educational programs.

Supplementary, Mrs. Marie-Jewell.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The Minister has indicated that he has spoken with the chairperson but did not indicate whether he will be meeting with them. Has he set a time frame to meet with the chairperson of the South Slave divisional board? Thank you.

Mr. Nerysoo.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. To be clear to my honourable colleague and to the colleagues in this House, I do intend to meet with them. I have already indicated that I will meet with them. However, one of the confining restraints on my ability to specify a particular date is my commitment to Members of this House until we conclude discussion. I have asked my staff to contact Mr. Cooper to inform him that we would like to meet as early as possible after the session has concluded.

Supplementary, Mrs. Marie-Jewell.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. That is good to hear. Mr. Speaker, the Minister of Education, in his budget opening remarks, indicated in this House, "As I have already mentioned, improved accountability is one of my priorities. Evaluating divisional boards to ensure that they are operating efficiently is one way of improving accountability." After the Ministers discussions with the South Slave divisional board, will he evaluate the South Slave divisional board to ensure that the work they are doing is enhancing and improving accountability for the delivery of education in the South Slave? Thank you.

Mr. Nerysoo.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to indicate that this is one of the issues which we will hopefully discuss with the board chair and the executive of the South Slave board of education. I also want to be clear to ensure that whatever decisions I undertake have the support of my Cabinet colleagues and the Members that are affected by any decision of that magnitude or on that basis.

Item 5, oral questions. Mr. Ningark.

(Translation) Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I have a question for the Minister of Economic Development and Tourism. As mentioned earlier in my Member's statement, for the people who make arts and crafts or print makers, the price of their crafts are very low. Once their craft goes retail the price increases. How can the Minister review the price of the

arts and crafts? Can he assist them through the department? Thank you.

Mr. Pollard.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Very early on last year we realized that the problem was marketing arts and crafts out of the Northwest Territories. We have been addressing that issue. In fact, there is going to be a meeting in southern Canada today between the cooperative and some representatives from other agencies that buy arts and crafts in the Northwest Territories, and a person who we were using in Europe, Angel Cosmos, to see if we can move more of the products into Europe.

Mr. Speaker, we have also made some in roads into the Japanese market, but it is becoming apparent to us that carvers are not necessarily being paid enough money for their carving. In other words, the mark-up takes place either at the wholesale level, or certainly, at the retail level. We are looking at that right now, Mr. Speaker. I am not sure what we can do about it, but we can certainly look at it and point out where the mark-ups are occurring and we may come up with the fact that carvers are not getting enough money for their art work. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Item 5, oral questions. Mr. Patterson.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. In reviewing the Hansard on the issue of the transfer of the parks division of Economic Development and Tourism to Renewable Resources, I am becoming more and more confused about what has been decided and what will happen. When the Government Leader was asked about the transfer, on page 2713 of Hansard of last Wednesday, and whether it was to be done on July 1, she said the statement was true, although, later in the exchange, she said, "plans were not finalized." Yesterday, the Minister of Economic Development and Tourism suggested that "there would be consultation, details would have to be worked out and there has been no firm date decided upon." I was quoting from page 3060. Has a decision been taken to transfer this division to Renewable Resources? Thank you.

Madam Premier.

Mr. Speaker, at this time, the decision has not been made. We are looking to where parks could fit best and how it works with the various departmental responsibilities. We have suggested, by July 1, an implementation plan on how that would work should be done. At the moment, there has been no decision to take that step. Thank you.

Supplementary, Mr. Patterson.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. That is very helpful. I understand that July 1 is the deadline for the implementation plan, not the implementation. That is helpful to me. I would like to ask a follow-up question to the Minister of Economic Development and Tourism, since yesterday in this House, he said he supported the separation of those two responsibilities. In this proposed transfer, which is still being considered, which department would have responsibility for visitors' centres if the transfer of the parks division goes over to Renewable Resources? Thank you.

Is this question for the Premier?

It is to the Minister of Economic Development and Tourism.

On the first question, the Premier has the authority to take the question, so I will consider this as a supplementary to the first question. Mr. Pollard could answer it.

Mr. Speaker, as the House knows, with regard to museums, visitors' centres, libraries and all of those kinds of things, we have been directed to look at how we can make better use of putting things together. That detail has not been decided upon. There are people in the government who are working on the museum and the visitors' centre issue and other areas that may be joined together. That has not been decided upon, Mr. Speaker.

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

It has not been decided on, but the Minister has expressed preference that parks go over to Renewable Resources. The Unikkaakvik Visitors' Centre, for example, in Iqaluit, features the parks of Baffin Island and particularly the Kokvik and Katannilik territorial parks, for which it is a gateway. The Armalik Centre in Pangnirtung features the Kekerten Park and to some extent Auyuittuq. It is also a gateway to Kekerten. Would the Minister agree that it would make sense to have those running the visitors' centres on the same team and working in the same department as those running and managing the parks? Thank you.

You are asking an opinion of the Minister. Mr. Patterson.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Perhaps I can re-phrase that. Would it not be more operationally effective if the people running the visitors' centres were in the same department as those who are running the parks. Visitors' centres and parks are closely linked. Thank you.

That is very close to asking an opinion again, Mr. Patterson, but Mr. Minister, do you want to try that one?

Mr. Speaker, those are the kinds of things that are being discussed right now, and I will take counsel from the Department of Economic Development and Tourism, and also listen to the views of Renewable Resources. Obviously, the rest of it will have to go to Cabinet for their views as well. I will wait for more information on that one, Mr. Speaker. Thank you.

Supplementary, Mr. Patterson.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Since there is a plan being developed and since, at least for my riding, this is a major reorganization and a major shift of responsibilities in a critical, economic area, parks and tourism, I wonder if I could get the commitment from the Minister of Economic Development and Tourism that the plan, once developed, will be presented to the reshaping northern government working group and, through them, to this Legislature. Thank you.

Mr. Pollard.

Mr. Speaker, that was always the intent. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Last week, I asked the Government Leader a question, when the Minister of Economic Development and Tourism was out of the House, and I have not received a reply to my oral question as it was taken as notice. I will wait a couple of more days. Mr. Speaker, I do have a question for the Minister of Economic Development and Tourism. There has been some concern expressed with respect to the department not having an agricultural development policy. Can the Minister indicate whether or not a policy has been developed or is it currently in the stages of development? Thank you.

Mr. Pollard.

Mr. Speaker, the department has been looking at an agricultural policy for the Northwest Territories for some time. Part of the problem has been that there are no large tracks of land that are readily available to people in the Northwest Territories. It is because of the land claim situation. One of the things that the department is working on is an agricultural policy. There are many things

going on in the country. There are meetings between agricultural Ministers with regard to the boards, whether they are milk boards, pork boards or CEMA, there are many things changing with the agricultural industry right now. I do not have a policy which I could bring forward to this House right now, but certainly much of the work has been done, Mr. Speaker.

Supplementary, Mrs. Marie-Jewell.

Mr. Speaker, since the Minister indicated there has been no policy developed as of yet and since there has been much work with respect to the agriculture area, when would the Minister anticipate a policy could be developed? Thank you.

Mr. Pollard.

Mr. Speaker, I think we could probably develop a policy leaving the land issue outside of it, in this coming year. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Item 5, oral questions. Mr. Patterson.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I understand that the Minister of Finance attended a meeting of Canadian Ministers, federal and provincial, in Montreal last week, about eliminating interprovincial trade barriers. I understand from reading newspaper reports on this meeting that there is an initiative, particularly on the part of the federal government, to eliminate interprovincial trade barriers. Mr. Michael Wilson, who I thought was the Minister of International Trade, will now be assigned to work on eliminating trade barriers within Canada. I hope I have the subject of this meeting correct from my understanding in the newspaper. What is the position of the Government of the Northwest Territories with respect to this revived movement to eliminated interprovincial trade barriers? Thank you.

Mr. Pollard.

Mr. Speaker, the Member is indeed correct. The discussions centred around the removal of barriers to trade interprovincially and territorially/provincially in Canada. Our position is that we will participate. We will be at the table. We will have a senior negotiator there and our position is that we will keep an open mind, yet we will seek to protect the BIP, we will seek to protect the affirmative action program, to name but two. There may be other things we will seek to protect. That is our situation at the present time, Mr. Speaker. Thank you.

Supplementary, Mr. Patterson.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Is there now in place an agreement on eliminating interprovincial trade barriers signed by all provinces and the territories which basically exempts the Northwest Territories from the moves which have been made in this direction? Is there an agreement now in place? Thank you.

Mr. Pollard.

Mr. Speaker, there are two agreements that we have put our names to, and I think Mr. Patterson, in his former life, is a signatory to one of those agreements. There is a beer agreement that the majority of provinces and ourselves have signed, and there is also a procurement agreement that was also signed a couple of years ago. So, there are two agreements which we are participating in right now. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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

Mr. Speaker, is it the Minister's intention, in participating in new discussions on further reduction of trade barriers given the federal government's strong desire apparently to promote free trade within Canada, that we should continue to seek to carve a special niche for the territories in these national agreements which will recognize our developing economy because northern businesses need protection while they are still developing and while they are unable to compete with larger national corporations? Thank you.

Mr. Pollard.

Mr. Speaker, that is indeed our position. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Supplementary, Mr. Patterson.

Mr. Speaker, the Minister referred to me in my former life. Does that mean he thinks I am now deceased? Thank you.

---Laughter

Take it as notice.

I think an afterlife would be the proper terminology, Mr. Patterson.

Mr. Speaker, my apologies if I offended the Member. I was referring to when he was the Government Leader of the Northwest Territories. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Item 5, oral questions. Mr. Ningark.

(Translation) Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I am directing my question to the Minister of the NWT Housing Corporation. In one of the original HAP housing programs, the people who have their own private business were unable to get HAP housing but now with the new access project we have been told that it will be easier for the business people to obtain a house. In the Natilikmiot area there was one person who applied for HAP housing and was told the second time he would be able to receive a house. He tried to access this program but still he can not get it. Is it going to be easier to gain access through the new access program for the people who own their own businesses? Thank you.

Mr. Morin.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As long as a private business has its financial statements in order so we can verify the applicants income, he should be able to apply for the program and be eligible for home owner's assistance through one of the access programs. Thank you.

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

(Translation) Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Can the Minister tell me, for people who have their own business, is there a ceiling on their income that will disqualify them from the access program?

Mr. Morin.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. If they are a higher income family, then they could apply for the forgivable loan program. Thank you.

Supplementary, Mr. Ningark.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My question is to the Minister responsible for the NWT Housing Corporation, with respect to the small business operator who applies to own a house under the access program. How much money would the person make before he is no longer eligible for this program? Mr. Speaker, what is the maximum limit that an individual person, who owns a business, can apply for? Thank you.

Mr. Morin.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Under the access program, there are different types of programs to suit different needs to encourage home ownership. There are special projects for the lower income people who fall through the cracks. Then, for lower incomes that fall under CNIT, it is lower and it varies. The CNIT is the amount of money that you make and anything above that, you should be able to afford to own your own home. We are also going to have a forgivable loan program above that. That takes everyone into consideration. Coordinated income threshold for the Baffin is: Arctic Bay, $75,000; Broughton Island, $70,500; Cape Dorset, $67,500; Clyde River, $68,000; Grise Fiord, $69,500; Hall Beach, $69,500; Igloolik, $71,500; Iqaluit, $66,000; Lake Harbour, $66,000; Pangnirtung, $68,000; Pond Inlet, $71,000; Resolute Bay, $76,000; Sanikiluaq, $59,000.

In the Hay River region it is: Enterprise, $46,500; Fort Liard, $47,000; Fort Providence, $48,000; Fort Resolution -- Mr. Speaker, the list goes on. Would the Member like me to table it?

Please.

You asked for the coordinated income thresholds for the communities.

Supplementary, Mr. Ningark.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I guess I am not at liberty to answer a question now. Will the Minister table that information? Thank you.

Mr. Morin.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. With pleasure.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I have a question for the Minister of Renewable Resources. Mr. Speaker, in Monday's Yellowknifer there was an advertisement looking for antlers. I know it is illegal to sell meat that you go out and harvest, but I know as native people, we always share

and do not think of selling meat. It is usually the custom to give it away. Because the policy applies to the sale of meat being illegal, is there a policy that applies to other areas of the animal such as antlers being shipped out of the Northwest Territories to the south, or to other countries? Is there a policy which addresses that issue? Thank you.

Mr. Allooloo.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. With respect to caribou parts, I believe under the act a person wanting to ship antlers needs a permit from our department. Thank you.

Supplementary, Mrs. Marie-Jewell.

Is there a policy that allows for such parts to be shipped out of the Northwest Territories? Is it just a matter of anyone going and getting an export permit and then shipping these parts to other countries? Thank you.

Mr. Allooloo.

I will have to take the question as notice to give a proper answer. Thank you.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Last week I asked the Government Leader about fishing. She indicated that the expert on the Great Slave Lake fishery was Mr. Pollard. So, I would like to ask the Minister a question. Last week we had several fishermen who came to Yellowknife and sat down with Members, it is my recollection that people have been coming to Yellowknife for about 12 years now with problems relating to the fishery. We are told that the fishery is having problems because of the existence of the Freshwater Fish Marketing Corporation. I would like to ask the Minister, what is the problem in the fishery with regard to the Freshwater Fish Marketing Corporation as far as his department has been able to analyze?

Mr. Pollard.

Mr. Speaker, I do not know if you can call it a problem. I think there is definitely some unrest amongst fishermen with FFMC. It is a sense of frustration more than anything, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the FFMC was formed to protect fishermen. There were a number of companies in the Northwest Territories in Hay River. They were purchasing fish from the fishermen and the same thing was occurring that Mr. Ningark raised today with arts and crafts. That was that the fishermen were not getting very much money for the fish and the fish were being sold in the United States and there was some considerable dollars being made. The fishermen were very unhappy. So, the Freshwater Fish Marketing Corporation was formed and it has worked relatively well. As costs have increased, as gasoline has gone up, parts for bombardier have gone up, nets are much more expensive, you have to pay people more to go out on the lake to fish, to get a boat these days costs considerably more money than it used to, so the fishermen, rightly so, believe that the price of their fish has not gone up accordingly. So there has been some frustration with fishermen saying that FFMC is not aggressive enough, is top-heavy, is not efficient enough, they process all the fish in Winnipeg or sell the fish into the United States and when they do process in Winnipeg, jobs are lost to people in the Northwest Territories.

There was enough discontent to convince the federal Minister, Mr. Crosbie, to commission a study of FFMC to look at the concerns of fishermen in all of the areas FFMC serves. That report has been delivered to the federal Minister. I anticipate that I will get a copy of that report and be able to determine from that what the problem is. I think the report is going to reveal, Mr. Speaker, that one of the problems is that whitefish is not as popular as it used to be. There has been a change, orange roughy has moved in, we have seen groundfish species move into areas and whitefish has been losing its market share. I believe this is one of the problems we are experiencing at the present time. Those are some of the problems which people see. My position remains the same, Mr. Speaker, that the federal Minister of Fisheries has said that if we were able to present to him a better plan for marketing fish for the Northwest Territories then he would be willing to look at it. There are two pieces of legislation, ours and one which is federal, so it is not an agreement we can opt out of. The other position which I adopt is that before we go and look for substantial new markets for fish from the Great Slave Lake there would have to be, at least, a 51 per cent consensus or vote in favour of looking for other markets, and that would have to come from the fishermen who are making their living on the lake. To date, the fishermen have never delivered that letter to me, Mr. Speaker. Thank you.