Thank you, Madam Speaker. Madam Speaker, I would like to ask the Minister of Economic Development and Tourism, what is the current status of the economic development agreement between the Northwest Territories and Canada? Thank you.

Thank you. Minister of Economic Development and Tourism, Mr. Todd.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. It is good to be back. We are still under the current EDA agreement. Negotiations will be beginning very shortly with respect to a new agreement. As I indicated in my speech earlier, what I would like to see is an agreement that addresses the particular interests of each geographical location in the territories, but it would be negotiated as a whole. I think that's correct, Madam Speaker.

Thank you. Supplementary, Mr. Patterson.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Madam Speaker, along with Mr. Todd and other Members of the Assembly, I was at the Nunavut Tunngavik Search for Tomorrow conference on an economic strategy for the Inuit of Nunavut. I heard a lot of support at that conference for localized decision-making and for a reduction of red tape in programs to assist business. Delegates seemed especially convinced that the EDA agreement has become unduly centralized and bureaucratic.

So, my supplementary question to the Minister is, does the Minister agree with these concerns about an overly centralized and bureaucratic process acting as a barrier to businesses seeking assistance under the present EDA? Thank you.

Thank you. Minister of Economic Development and Tourism, Mr. Todd.

Well, the short answer, Madam Speaker, is yes. We are trying to streamline the EDA. I think anybody who has been involved in politics or out of politics knows, historically, how time consuming it is. I would like to point out that, hopefully, the new EDA, as it is negotiated, would bring about the kinds of changes that were not only identified at the economic summit in the Keewatin last week, but have been identified over the last three or four years by many Members of this House, and in particular by many people directly affected by it.

It is our intention, if it is at all possible in government, to try to streamline it and to make it a little more effective in its delivery. Certainly, we are trying to reach that accommodation with the federal government at this time. Thank you.

Thank you. Supplementary, Mr. Patterson.

Thank you. The Minister, in his answer, referred to more effective delivery. I would like to ask the Minister, does he believe that more effective delivery could be accomplished by more localized and regionalized decision-making on EDA applications for assistance? Thank you.

Thank you. Minister of Economic Development and Tourism, Mr. Todd.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. I think everybody in this House knows my position when it comes to decentralization and when it comes to improving authority. I believe I've demonstrated, certainly in my departments of Transportation and Economic Development, where we've improved and increased the spending authority at the regional

level. I would hope we would be able to, in the new EDA agreement, do exactly that: bring the authority into the regions and hopefully we would be more responsive to the client needs. That's certainly our intention in this new agreement.

Supplementary, Mr. Patterson.

Madam Speaker, in referring to the uncertain fiscal climate of today, the Minister expressed his hope that a new EDA agreement would be negotiated. I would like to ask the Minister, is there any doubt that the federal government will renew the economic development agreement? Thank you.

Thank you. Minister of Economic Development and Tourism, Mr. Todd.

Well, I can't speak for the federal government. From the discussions that we've had, the indication is that they're prepared to sit down and negotiate the new arrangement. However, the Minister of Finance, the Honourable Paul Martin, is making an awful lot of decisions these days at the federal level. And, who knows; as far as I'm aware, right now the federal government is prepared to sit down at the table and try to negotiate a new EDA agreement that would enhance and add to the economic activity that is required in this part of the country. Thank you.

Thank you. Item 6, oral questions. The honourable Member for Yellowknife Frame Lake, Mr. Dent.

Thank you. Minister of Public Works and Services, Mr. Morin.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. I'm not sure whether or not our leases are asking for a wet lease or a dry lease, but I'll get a briefing on it and make that available to the Member. Thank you.

Thank you. Supplementary, Mr. Dent.

Thank you. Minister of Public Works and Services, Mr. Morin.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. I'll take that question as notice.

---Laughter

Thank you. Item 6, oral questions. The honourable Member for Baffin South, Mr. Pudlat.