Mr. Speaker, I have a return to an oral question asked by Mrs. Marie-Jewell on March 16, 1993, regarding Renewable Resources policy on donated charters.

In early November, 1992, two respected trappers from Lutsel K'e drowned in Nonacho Lake. The Lutsel K'e wildlife committee requested assistance in paying for the charter to allow people to attend the funeral.

The total cost of the air charter was $4,699.53. The Department of Renewable Resources agreed to provide $1,500.

Whenever possible, the Department of Renewable Resources tries to accommodate requests from hunters' and trappers' associations. For example, we often assist in searching for lost hunters and trappers. The department will continue to provide such assistance in the future.

I have a further return asked by Mr. Whitford on March 19, 1993, with regard to inspection of importation of Christmas trees in the Northwest Territories.

Christmas trees grown on tree farms cannot cross provincial or international boundaries unless the farm has been certified by Agriculture Canada. Since Agriculture Canada does not inspect every tree, problems can sometimes occur.

In the Northwest Territories, anyone importing Christmas trees or other forest products with the bark attached must obtain a timber import permit from the Department of Renewable Resources. This regulation is only two years old and the department has advised Christmas tree retailers of the need for a timber import permit.

The purpose of the permit is to monitor where products come from. If the product comes from an area with a forest insect or disease problem, the permit will not be issued. For example, two years ago, European gypsy moth eggs were found on Christmas trees in Calgary and Edmonton which had come from the eastern United States. Departmental staff checked that no Christmas trees brought to the territories came from there.

The gypsy moth that caused concern in British Columbia last year was the Asian gypsy moth. It came in on Russian cargo ships, not trees. All moths or eggs found were destroyed.

Lastly, I would like to clarify that a number of tree insects and diseases occur naturally in the Northwest Territories. The spruce budworm is one of these.

I have a further return, Mr. Speaker, asked by Mr. Lewis on March 19, 1993, concerning bugs in the Northwest Territories.

Mr. Speaker, the Department of Renewable Resources sent samples of the firewood sold at a local service station to Forestry Canada in Edmonton to identify. Forestry Canada was unaware of any restrictions on selling this firewood.

No live or dead insects were found in the samples. However, the type of damage seen in the wood was attributed to two types of insects -- ambrosia beetles and bark beetles.

The only beetle that could emerge alive from the wood is the ambrosia beetle. Several species of this beetle occur naturally in the territories.

Forestry Canada has kept the samples to see if these or any other insects emerge from the wood. If any live insects emerge, they will let us know what they are.

The department, with assistance from Forestry Canada, monitors forest insect and disease problems in the territories and we regularly receive concerns from the public.

We encourage any member of the public, who has concerns relating to forest insects and pests, to notify or bring samples to the nearest departmental office.

If staff cannot identify the problem, we will request assistance from Forestry Canada. Last summer, a number of samples were analyzed by the head of Forestry Canada's insect and disease section. He was in the territories as part of our joint spruce budworm survey program. The other option for analysis is to send samples to Forestry Canada by courier to ensure freshness and prevent contamination. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. I have a question for the Government Leader. This government has in place a policy development directive which details, among other things, the review of government policies. One would think, therefore, that all government policies especially this one, are examined periodically to make sure that the policies are up-to-date. Mr. Speaker, I noticed this document was revised last in 1983-84, almost ten years ago. Can the Government Leader explain why she has not revised the policy development directive since becoming Government Leader?

Madam Premier.

Mr. Speaker, frankly I do not know. In that area of responsibility, looking at how we are structured, it is one of the areas which we have some concern about and how much we pay attention to bring it up-to-date. Mr. Speaker, I will take the question as notice. To my recollection we have not looked at it in the last year. 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 Economic Development and Tourism with respect to the number of definitions given to business in the government's policy manual. The directive for the energy efficiency incentive policy provides a definition of a small business, the directive to the business development fund policy defines a Northwest Territories, and the government's new revised business incentive policy deals with northern and local businesses. Mr. Speaker, in drafting the new business incentive policy were other policies such as those which I have mentioned reviewed to ensure that the two policies are consistent as far as the definition of business is concerned? Thank you.

Mr. Pollard.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The business incentive policy falls under the Department of Public Works. I know there has been quite a dialogue going on between DPW, other deputy ministers and my deputy minister of Economic Development and Tourism to try and get the definitions straight. That work is not complete. The Department of Economic Development and Tourism is undergoing a study of how it works and what it does within its jurisdiction, how it describes businesses and how it describes the work which it does. That is one of the things which we will consider. Once we have straightened out our shop, Mr. Speaker, we will pass that on to the other departments. Thank you.

Supplementary, Mrs. Marie-Jewell.

Thank you. That is good to hear, Mr. Speaker. I would like to further ask a question with regard to the directive for government's new business incentive policy defining a northern business, somewhat slightly different than the definition of a northern business provided in the directive to the commercial renewable resource use policy. I recognize, Mr. Speaker, that these are two different definitions for different directives, but somehow in general terms it could become a bit confused for people reviewing the policies and directives. Recognizing the Minister has indicated they are going to be looking at these and straighten out his shop with regard to them, and recognizing the date the commercial renewable resource use policy was developed in December, 1986, I would like to ask the Minister whether the two definitions, which are purposely different in policy formation, refers to different issues or is it just that the commercial Renewable Resource policy requires revision to make it consistent with the other policy? Thank you.

Mr. Pollard.

Mr. Speaker, I am not that quick so I will take that question as notice. Thank you.

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

Madam Premier.

Mr. Speaker, to my knowledge in the one year and three months which I have been Premier, all the policies have been referred through Priorities and Planning. Thank you.

Ms. Mike.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As far as I know there have not been any revisions since the policy was put in place. Thank you.

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