Mr. Speaker, I would like to ask the Minister of Economic Development and Tourism a follow-up question from my honourable colleague from Deh Cho. He indicated the direction of economic development in the Kitikmeot, Sahtu and Delta regions with respect to the renewable resources sector on selling more fish and marketing more arts and crafts. However, he did not give an indication of his plan for the Deh Cho, South Slave, Baffin and Keewatin regions. What is the Minister's plan for these regions? Thank you.

Minister of Economic Development and Tourism.

Mr. Speaker, I guess if I start with the Baffin, that is where much of the fish is being sold out of, Arctic char and turbot. That fishery is becoming a major industry for Pangnirtung and some of the benefits overflow into Iqaluit as well. In the south Baffin, the big thing that is taking off there, Mr. Speaker, is tourism. There are many people who are coming to the two parks there. Although one, Kitannilik, is not even built yet, people were there last year and they are coming in quite sizeable numbers again this year. Just recently, there was an announcement that will affect all of the Arctic, from Baffin all the way across to the Kitikmeot. The Blythe and Co. will be bringing cruise ships up in those areas this year. It looks like it is going to be successful. We could look for more of those visits from offshore dollars to the communities along the Arctic coast.

Mr. Speaker, in the Keewatin, the decentralization aspect which I referred to, has really done a great deal for Rankin Inlet, helping develop their fishery as well and their new fish plant. Baker Lake's arts and crafts centre is also contributing. All of those communities will be sending fish into Rankin Inlet for processing. They will also be harvesting caribou this year and reselling into the local market. The relocation of the resupply point, which is now Churchill into Rankin Inlet, is being looked at. Rankin Inlet is looking at a health centre there which would handle many of the cases that are presently going to Winnipeg, which will keep more of the dollars in the Northwest Territories. Tourism is not as strong in the Keewatin, but it is not bad either, Mr. Speaker. We will keep working with those people to get more visitors up into the area.

When we get into the South Slave region, we are actively pursuing the opening of the Fort Resolution sawmill again. Lumber prices are extremely high this year. We are also looking at receiving lumber from Fort Providence. Fort Providence has expressed an interest to us. That would create some jobs for local people in the area. We would hopefully be exporting some of that lumber out of the Northwest Territories to increase our exports.

In Fort Smith we are interested in tourism, but I think one of the things which must be addressed is the likelihood of a road south. The Department of Transportation recently attended a meeting in Fort McMurray. There has been all kinds of suggestions from Fort Smith about a road, linking it to Alberta. Some people say it will let more dollars out, but in the long-term, we at Economic Development and Tourism believe it will be beneficial for the town of Fort Smith, and that more dollars will come in than go out. I am interested in putting a greenhouse into Fort Smith. I have had recent discussions with some people from Fort Smith. I think it has the potential to become a place where we can grow green vegetables, lettuce, et cetera, and sell it into this particular area.

Mr. Speaker, when you move across to the Deh Cho, in that area the Inuvialuit petroleum corporation and the Dene reserve in Hay River are actively looking at participation in the Cameron Hills project, and being participants in the ownership of the company. This is very exciting because it is a major development.

The community of Fort Simpson is giving us a great deal of cooperation as far as decentralization is concerned. I would say that in the South Slave, decentralization also affects Fort Smith, Hay River and Fort Simpson. Fort Simpson and also the Deh Cho Tribal Council, have recently had talks to see about extending the gas pipeline from the Pointed Mountain gas wells into the Deh Cho region. The Deh Cho, in our opinion, has good potential for lumber. There will be a test cut this year, Mr. Speaker. It also has excellent potential for gas in that particular area.

Mr. Speaker, we have run into a snag with the tanker base going into Fort Smith. It came up as a result of us looking at a long-term plan about how we intend to fight fires in the Northwest Territories. That came about when we thought about how can we get more dollars into the hands of northerners, and are we fighting fires properly. Mr. Speaker, if I am going on too long you can stop me. Obviously, you will. How we can fight fires more effectively in the Northwest Territories is another way to get northerners jobs because the more people we hire up here, the better it is for us.

So, we are still committed to putting that tanker base in Fort Smith. We just do not know the dimensions yet, what its capabilities need to be and Renewable Resources are conducting a study for us in this regard.

Mr. Speaker, in the Delta, they are already looking at a tannery. Mr. Zoe has an experimental project going on in his communities with the tanning of hides. If we can correct the problem of the tanning, then we may be able to do some tanning in the Northwest Territories and stop people having to ship hides out. There has been some activity in this area and this will be the next challenge for us in that renewable resource area, our ability to tan in the Northwest Territories.

Mr. Speaker, here and there, we are trying to build on the strengths of communities. We are trying to build on the resources they have around them. I did not mean to leave anyone out before, but I was going on at some considerable length, Mr. Speaker. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Pollard. I would like to remind Members that if Members want to ask a complex question to consider using written questions, because complex questions lead to long detailed answers which takes up much of the time in question period, and takes away the opportunity for other Members to ask questions. It is a matter of balance and fairness on both sides. Item 5, oral questions. Mr. Koe.

I hope this is not too complex. During the previous session, Cabinet announced decentralization initiatives, the moving of staff from various departments to various communities. The Minister of Finance, in his speech, also made reference to this initiative. I have a question for the Premier. What is the status of these decentralization initiatives?

Madam Premier.

Mr. Speaker, we are on track. Training programs are in place. There has been one change in the Keewatin, in Rankin Inlet, since the presentation to the Standing Committee on Finance last year, that is we have dropped our requirement from 32 housing units down to 28. As far as the numbers of people who are moving around or out of Yellowknife for the new positions which are being created, everything is going according to the plan, which we laid down to the Standing Committee on Finance last year, Mr. Speaker.

Supplementary, Mr. Koe.

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Some of these transfers were to be done and completed by April 1. Can the Minister confirm if initial timetables are going to be met?

Mr. Pollard.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I have not been advised that any of the timetables will not be met. Mr. Speaker, I still anticipate that there will be a snag or two, which we will have to work out. However, at the present time, it is my understanding that we are on track. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Item 5, oral questions. Mr. Antoine.

Mr. Nerysoo.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to indicate to the honourable Member that I have no difficulty in reviewing the program and finding out whether it would be available in Denendeh. However, I do wish to indicate to the honourable Member the ability for us to deliver that particular program would obviously be affected by the financial resources that we have. I will look into that particular matter.

Supplementary, Mr. Antoine.

The notice indicates there will be a total of almost $12,000 in prizes associated with this competition for the Minister's information. Can the Minister indicate whether

this is all money contributed from the Government of the Northwest Territories? Mahsi.

Mr. Nerysoo.

Mr. Speaker, I do not know the details with regard to that particular event. I will take the question as notice and return the report to the honourable Member.

Question has been taken as notice. Item 5, oral questions. Item 6, written questions. Item 7, returns to written questions. Mr. Clerk.

Mr. Speaker, return to Written Question 19-12(3), asked Mrs. Marie-Jewell to the Government Leader, concerning business travel undertaken by Cabinet Ministers.

I have circulated today a report on business travel undertaken by Ministers of this government during the last twelve months. The following information is contained in the report: business travel undertaken by all Ministers, past and present, during the period February 1, 1992 to January 31, 1993; dates of travel; destinations; and, purpose of travel.

Item 8, replies to opening address. Item 9, petitions. Item 10, reports of standing and special committees. Item 11, reports of committees on the review of bills. Item 12, tabling of documents. Item 13, notices of motion. Item 14, notices of motion for first reading of bills. Item 15, motions. Item 16, first reading of bills. Item 17, second reading of bills. Mr. Nerysoo.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Tu Nedhe, that Bill 19, An Act to Amend the Student Financial Assistance Act, be read for the second time. Mr. Speaker, this bill would repeal all references to the student financial assistance board in the Student Financial Assistance Act. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.