Mr. Chairman, Mr. Juriansz is still assisting us with regard to the process and also our position before the human rights commission. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

Thank you. Labour relations, $50,000. Agreed?

Agreed.

---Agreed

Thank you. Employee benefits, not previously authorized, $1.148 million. Agreed?

Agreed.

---Agreed

Thank you. Personnel, operations and maintenance, total department, $1.095 million. Agreed?

Agreed.

---Agreed

Department Of Renewable Resources

Thank you. Renewable Resources, operations and maintenance, directorate, not previously authorized, $240,000. Agreed?

Agreed.

---Agreed

Thank you. Wildlife management, not previously authorized, $205,000. Agreed?

Agreed.

---Agreed

Thank you. Forest fire management, not previously authorized, $190,000. Agreed?

Agreed.

---Agreed

Thank you. Total department, not previously authorized. Member for Thebacha.

Mr. Chairman, I would like to go back to forest fire management. I would like to ask the Minister of Finance, when was the last review with the Department of Renewable Resources with respect to a departmental review?

Thank you. Mr. Minister.

Mr. Chairman, I believe that was in 1987. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

Thank you. Forest fire management, not previously authorized, $190,000. Member for Thebacha.

Thank you. Mr. Chairman, I am still trying to figure out why the department is doing this forest fire management review. I know that some of the intention is to provide greater economic benefits to the territories as opposed to all of these benefits being leaked to the south. Was this forest fire management review also part of a departmental review which was done in 1987, and if it was, why was this particular review not done then with regard to looking at the same type of concerns which are being expressed now. Thank you.

Thank you. Mr. Minister.

Mr. Chairman, this review came about as a directive from the Financial Management Board to Renewable Resources. It was triggered by the fact that we were going to put a base in Fort Smith, a hangar, and the question was asked, what size, what shape, and what exactly are we going to do with that hangar, which led to how we are going to fight fire in the Northwest Territories, and how can we get more of the $10 million or in excess of $10 million which we spend in the Northwest Territories on fire suppression. The department was directed to go and hire outside expertise and report back to the Financial Management Board.

With regard to whether this is a duplication of work possibly performed in the department in previous years, I will defer to the Minister responsible, Mr. Chairman. Thank you.

Mr. Allooloo.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. When our government first took over the responsibility of forest fire management back in 1988, the federal government put in conditions when turning the responsibility of forest fire management to our government, their policies would apply, their fire management zones, and their fire fighting attack areas would apply even after the transfer for some period of time. When we completed their requirement to apply their policies and apply their way of fighting, our government started to

develop forest fire management that would suit the Northwest Territories' requirement to fight fires. After the policy was developed, Mr. Chairman, it was thought that we could improve on the policy to further utilize more northern businesses and the work force in this particular area. As the Minister of Finance has stated, the Financial Management Board directed my department to further review our forest fire management program to determine whether more could be done to promote local employment and business opportunities, as well as to determine the most cost-effective means to achieve forest fire suppression. This is what this is. To further look into the program to see if we can improve it to better suit northern requirements. Thank you.

Thank you. Member for Thebacha.