Thank you. Mr. Todd.

Mr. Ng asked this question in the last session. We are working at trying to fast-track a policy, through the policy committee of Economic Development, as to how we can encourage and insist that commercial institutions that this government runs, as well as others, make greater utilization of our natural resources when it comes to fish, wild game, et cetera. I am hoping that that policy will be complete fairly soon and then I will be able to provide it to Mr. Ng so we can seek his comments. Thank you.

Thank you. Item 5, oral questions. The honourable Member for North Slave, Mr. Zoe.

Thank you. Mr. Zoe, we're not in committee of the whole, so I'm not Madam Chair. Minister of Social Services, Ms. Mike.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. One of the first steps we tried to address are the alcohol and drug treatment centre counsellors, to increase their wage levels to the equivalent of a government worker. The second step, is we are looking into the community projects, not only alcohol and drug workers, but also other non-government organizations that we fund. The department is the phase of planning, so I would say the plans would be completed by September of 1994. Thank you.

Thank you. Supplementary, Mr. Zoe.

Thank you. Minister of Social Services, Ms. Mike.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. These are the kinds of things that the department will consider. Thank you.

Thank you. Item 5, oral questions. The honourable Member for Yellowknife Centre, Mr. Lewis.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. My question is to Mr. Kakfwi. Madam Speaker, yesterday, I talked to one of the elders here who I've known for a long time. About a year ago, I began discussing with him the possibility of building a house out at Prelude Lake where I have title to a lot. I've had it for a long time, but only squirrels and other little animals live in the shack I have there right now because it wasn't very well built. So, I want to build a decent one that my wife and I can stay in.

In light of the new developments in relation to land claims in the Yellowknife area, whereby instead of a negotiated land claim agreement, the Treaty 8 people want to have a clarification of what Treaty 8 really meant, and the fact that they claim they have not seeded the land, I would like to ask the Minister of Aboriginal Affairs -- and I'm using this personal example because it applies to lots of other people who own land outside of Yellowknife, what form of protection I have. I have to decide whether I'm going to build a good, decent sized house that will cost money, or just a little one that I won't worry about. What form of protection will I have, or other people like me, to build on titled lots outside of municipal boundaries?

Thank you. Minister of Intergovernmental and Aboriginal Affairs, Mr. Kakfwi.

Supplementary, Mr. Lewis.

I would like to ask the Minister, since the negotiations that would take place between the Treaty 8 chiefs and the federal government would not be to get a new treaty, a new agreement or a new deal, but on the basis of a treaty that already exists, does that change the nature of negotiations from the one that the Minister is familiar with, whereby the federal government always honours such things as current ownership of title?

Thank you. Minister of Aboriginal Affairs, Mr. Kakfwi.

Thank you. Item 5, oral questions. The honourable Member for Nahendeh, Mr. Antoine.

Mahsi, Madam Speaker. My question is for the Minister who is responsible for the buy north policy. With regard to the community of Fort Liard, this policy is not very flexible and not very reasonable. It doesn't use common sense when you live in Fort Liard, because 20 miles away is the BC border and with a two-hour drive by highway, you're in the community of Fort Nelson where the prices are a lot cheaper. That's where the community of Fort Liard has been buying all their goods in the past. Since this buy north policy came into effect, they have been in a dilemma about where they're going to get their goods. It's causing a lot of problems for them. It was brought to my attention and I would like to ask the Minister if this policy could be flexible enough to allow the community of Fort Liard to continue to buy their goods and supplies in Fort Nelson. Thank you.

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

Thank you, Madam Speaker. People can buy their goods or food wherever they want, but if they're spending GNWT money on projects or business, then our policy will apply. There will be a percentage applied to their tenders. Thank you.

Thank you. Supplementary, Mr. Antoine.

Specifically, the problem is that government-funded operations like the school and the different government departments were buying supplies from Fort Nelson in the past. However, with this new buy north policy, it's costing them extra money to buy things from other places. The next

biggest centre is Fort Simpson, which is about a four-hour drive. In comparison, you have a four-hour drive and more expensive material, and a two-hour drive where you can buy things a lot cheaper. One of the purposes of the government is to try to save money and you balance that by trying to buy in the north. It doesn't make sense for citizens in Fort Liard. That is the problem we have. Is the Minister willing to look at this situation and see if we can be flexible and reasonable in some of the policies that we have been passing? Thank you.