Thank you, Mr. Chairman. To my left is the deputy minister, Mr. Joe Handley, and to my right is our director of finance, Mr. Rick Feil.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. A few weeks ago, I asked the Minister a question regarding the policy for community freezers. Since then, he has clarified that his department is undertaking a review of the existing community freezers throughout the NWT. What is the timetable for the completion of the review and are they planning to address some of the needs through their capital estimates? That is, the communities that require community freezers where they haven't been established and the communities that require major upgrading of their existing community freezers which aren't in good operational condition. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. To the Member's question, I made a response to a request made by Mr. Gargan on travels of the individual who is making the assessments of community freezers. I don't have the specifics of his travel right now, but I believe he will be into every region and every community that has community freezers. His travels should be completed by the end of the fiscal year. I could find out exactly when this individual might be in honourable Member's region, if that is the wish of the Member. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I appreciate the fact that he is sending the individual around to communities, but I have a concern that there are some communities that have freezers and there are others that don't. In particular, I had mentioned that there are two unorganized communities in my constituency that don't have any power. So I would like to think that recognizing that, they might have a priority over communities which have power. In the community of Cambridge Bay, they used to have a community freezer, but it is no longer used because individuals store their own meat in their own deep freezers because it is just the way things have evolved. So community freezers aren't really wanted in all communities, but they certainly are in some. During this assessment, will that come out in discussions with community representatives? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I believe the individual going to the communities will be finding out from the communities about the efficiency of their particular freezer and if there is any way to save any costs to those freezers. With the information that is received by the report made by Mr. Mike Stevens, we will be looking at alternative ways of making use of freezers or the power that is used for freezers. Any way that we are able to save money in the use of these freezers will be looked at. At this point, we are holding back until Mr. Stevens has made his travel. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Is the individual going to be consulting in communities without existing community freezers? Thank you.

Mr. Chairman, I believe that where communities have asked for freezers, this individual will consult with those communities.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Is the Minister's department responsible for the establishment of community freezers? I noticed that currently, in this capital estimate and in last year's there weren't any, but in prior years, there was some government agency involved in establishing community freezers. Is his department now responsible and if it isn't, do they plan on renewing their responsibility for establishing and maintaining some of these community freezers? How will they address this issue? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I don't think that it is the responsibility of the department to build or initiate freezers. Rather, it is the department's responsibility to assess freezers and the best use of freezers once they are in the communities. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I would like to ask the Minister if he could clarify that then. If he is saying he isn't responsible for establishing community freezers, where do communities go to acquire these facilities? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I don't know, at this particular time. The Department of Renewable Resources had agreed to make an assessment of community freezers and was given that responsibility by Cabinet. At this time, I don't know that there is a department that is responsible for initiating community freezers. We are able to submit it to Cabinet and they would make the final decision. Thank you.