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

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Good question. The honourable Member is correct, I did undertake to determine whether or not there was a policy with respect to the utilization of renewable resources by government agencies and others. Much to my surprise, the utilization of renewable resources was somewhat limited. I believe I did provide the honourable Member with a list of each department and what they have expended. I undertook to write to my colleagues who were directly responsible for education, corrections, et cetera, to try to encourage them to encourage their departments to purchase more.

We are in the throes right now of developing a policy with respect to greater utilization of renewable resources and I'm optimistic that we will be able to accomplish that in the coming months. Thank you.

Thank you. Supplementary, Mr. Ng.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. I would like to ask the Minister, then, did he have any positive responses to his letters to his colleagues, requesting the use of renewable resources? Thank you.

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

I'm optimistic that we will see greater utilization by government agencies -- whether it is a hospital, corrections facility or an educational facility -- of the renewable resources we have across the territories. Yes, the Ministers have indicated to me that they're onside with this issue and they're going to find a method to accelerate greater purchases of northern foods. Thank you.

---Applause

Thank you. Supplementary, Mr. Ng.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. I believe the Minister recognizes that this is a fairly important issue. Is it one of the priorities of his department to complete this policy? Thank you.

Minister of Economic Development and Tourism, Mr. Todd.

There is an old saying, actions speak louder than words, and I guess the policy is one thing -- which we are going to complete -- but the other thing is to get people at the buying and bureaucratic levels to recognize that there is an obligation and responsibility to use the renewable resources which all our constituencies harvest.

I made this a priority when I was an ordinary Member. I've made it a priority as a Minister of Economic Development. And I want to assure the honourable Member, that particularly in the Kitikmeot area with these new $1.2 or $1.3 million meat and fish plants, we will make every effort to accelerate the use of the renewable resources from that area, as well as others. Thank you.

Thank you. Final supplementary, Mr. Ng.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Final supplementary. I would like to ask the Minister then, when you would anticipate tabling such a policy for our consideration? Thank you.

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

Shame, shame.

I agree. Shame. That's one way that we can evaluate whether there's been any significant change because we know exactly what was spent last year and we want to ensure that more is spent in the coming years. Thank you.

Thank you. Item 7, oral questions. The honourable Member for Yellowknife South, Mr. Whitford.