Good morning. Item 2, Ministers' statements. The honourable Member for Hay River, Mr. Pollard.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Madam Speaker, the Honourable John Todd will be absent from the House today and Monday on personal business. Thank you, Madam Speaker.

Thank you. Item 2, Ministers' statements. Item 3, Members' statements. The honourable Member for Inuvik, Mr. Koe.

Mahsi, Madam Speaker. In February 1993, during debate on the proposed payroll tax initiative, the Minister of Finance made many compassionate pleas and arguments regarding the objectives and merits of the payroll tax. The main argument used, in one of the objectives of the payroll tax, is to obtain tax revenues from individuals who work in the Northwest Territories, but do not reside nor pay income tax in the Northwest Territories.

The Minister also stated that after years of study, the payroll tax system was determined to be the only feasible method to meet the objective of taxing temporary and non-resident workers. In the recent budget speech of February 14, the Minister of Finance stated that, "This government remains convinced that all individuals who are employed in the Northwest Territories must share in the tax burden. The payroll tax is the most effective way we have to ensure that such sharing takes place." However, on February 15, 1994, in response to an oral question made by my colleague, Mr. Whitford, the Minister of Finance admitted that not everyone who works in the Northwest Territories has been trapped in the net, for example, self-employed people.

Madam Speaker, these comments and statements give some mixed messages. Initially, when the Minister of Finance was seeking support for the payroll tax bill, he used the argument that the burden be placed on workers from outside of the Northwest Territories. Now he states that this government remains convinced that all individuals who are employed in the Northwest Territories must share in the tax burden, through the payroll tax. Madam Speaker, the public deserves a consistent message. Mahsi.

Thank you. The Speaker would like to recognize in the gallery, Lucy Filion, from Edmonton and Diane Wearden, from Peace River and their competitive skipping team representing the Heart and Stroke Foundation. Welcome.

---Applause

Item 3, Members' statements. The honourable Member for Yellowknife Frame Lake, Mr. Dent.

Thank you. Item 3, Members' statements. The honourable Member for Yellowknife Centre, Mr. Lewis.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. I am not what is called a "linear thinker," Madam Speaker. So I try to get as much in my Member's statement as I possibly can and hope that people can take the messages from it. My statement today owes its origin to three different sources. The fact that we met with the representatives of the Treaty 11 chiefs last night and I had a chance to think about the way things must have been in 1921. This week we also discussed the extension of benefits to hunters and trappers and the fact that there is some concern that perhaps things that go on in the bush are not that serious and we should be looking at their benefits.

Also what prompted my statement today, Madam Speaker, is the continuing debate between smoking and health. I read the other night, Madam Speaker, in the case of snow blindness, many, many years ago it was the custom that if a man were to become snow blind -- on the kinds of days that we're having just about now -- to drag the partner into the bush, open up the eyelids and then proceed to wipe the person's eyeballs with the tongue. That, in fact, cured snow blindness. However, the text I read from by a Metis elder, which was recorded about 100 years ago, was that you don't allow your partner to do that if he is a smoker. Because, if you smoke and you try to cure snow blindness, then the nicotine from your tongue would, in fact, make your eyes even worse than they were before.

The message I'm giving today is that those people who live in the bush really are afraid of becoming sick, they're afraid of injury, they're very careful and this little incident from the past indicates the degree to which people were really concerned about safety and conducting themselves in a way that make their way of life a safe occupation. Thank you.

Thank you. Item 3, Members' statements. The honourable Member for Sahtu, Mr. Kakfwi.

Thank you, Mr. Kakfwi. Item 3, Members' statements. The honourable Member for Amittuq, Mr. Allooloo.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. I would to inform the House of the meeting that recently took place in one of the communities in my constituency, Igloolik.

During the week of February 7, 1994, the first ever conference on Inuit archaeology in Nunavut took place. The name of the conference was "Ittarnisalirijiit," which means those who deal with ancient artifacts, in Inuktitut. The main purpose of the conference was to find a way for Inuit to work more closely with archaeologists and cultural groups, and also to set up guidelines for a conduct for archaeologists working in Inuit lands.

I've been informed by the co-chair of the conference, Deborah Kigjugalik-Webster, that the meeting went extremely well. I will be tabling, later on during this session, the 20 resolutions that were adopted at the conference. These resolutions range from encouraging archaeologists to involve local people in projects, ensuring projects have the approval of the hamlet councils, the involvement of elders, the translation of reports into Inuktitut, the set-up of regional museums and many others.

I encourage the organizers of the conference to continue with the good work started at this first-ever conference of its type in Nunavut. I want to also assure them that I am committed to actively supporting the continuation of this valuable work in the form of ongoing dialogue and future conferences.

For the information of Members of this House and the public, the conference proceedings will be aired on CBC North, Inuktitut Current Affairs program, "Aqsarniit", on February 23. Thank you, Madam Speaker.

Thank you. Item 3, Members' statements. The honourable Member for Yellowknife South, Mr. Whitford.

Thank you. The honourable Member is seeking unanimous consent. Are there any nays? There are no nays. Please proceed, Mr. Whitford.

Thank you. Item 3, Members' statements. The honourable Member for Iqaluit, Mr. Patterson.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Madam Speaker, last week on the inspiration of Mr. Kakfwi, we had a debate on family violence. It was described in his opening address, "...as a very significant problem that deserves our serious attention." We were reminded that reported violence in the Northwest Territories in the family area is six times the national average. Mr. Kakfwi stated, "This is more than a disgrace, it is a tragedy." And he proposed a demonstration of leadership and commitment in the form of a declaration of zero tolerance. He acknowledged that this would be a significant step, but cautioned that it would also only be a symbolic step. Madam Speaker, I commend Mr. Kakfwi for clearly leading the way in bringing this critical issue to the fore in this Legislature and in Cabinet and tabling the very thoughtful, Building a Strategy for Dealing with Violence in the Northwest Territories, last fall.

However, Madam Speaker, many people who are anxious for action in this area, are wondering if Mr. Kakfwi is a lone voice in Cabinet. Is he so far ahead of his Cabinet colleagues that he has left the Premier, the Minister of Finance and the Minister of Social Services behind? The Standing Committee on Finance has observed that despite the attention paid by this government to family violence, there is no increase whatsoever in grants and contributions, in family violence prevention services, child sexual abuse programs and family counselling. These are areas where we would have expected to see funding increased in order to make meaningful progress towards zero tolerance.

Madam Speaker, I hope we will soon see that our government's commitment to zero tolerance is more than just words. And I can do no better than quote the presentation from the Status of Women in this House a few days ago. "If this Assembly would commit to healthy citizens as its priority, what then? The dollars, limited as they are, would go to healing first. Everything else waits in line. Do you have the courage to do that?" Thank you, Madam Speaker.

---Applause

Thank you. Item 3, Members' statements. The honourable Member for Deh Cho, Mr. Gargan.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Madam Speaker, I have listened with amusement to a CBC Radio interview on February 11 with Peter Hollingsworth, a representative of the Native Animal Brotherhood - Aboriginal People Against Furs for Fashion. In his statement, Mr. Hollingsworth said that the fur trade was morally and ethically wrong and that the fur trade did not exist before the Europeans introduced it to the aboriginal people. Madam Speaker, I would not want to guess what planet this individual is from. What did we wear if we did not use furs for fashion?

When I listened to the interview, the image of natives running around buck naked kept leaping into my mind. I then had this vision of grass skirts and spruce bras.

---Laughter

Perhaps leaves, one for the men, three for the women, step on the blue suede shoes.

---Laughter

Then I thought about the weather up here. Then I thought about the mosquitos. I decided that we probably did wear clothes of some kind. I know for a fact that our people ate wildlife meat and used their skins long before the white man ever showed up. Ceremonial dress, in most aboriginal cultures, involves the use of small animal skins, such as rabbits or beavers. When this gentlemen says that we, as people, should get out of trapping, that it is no longer economically viable, that our people should become part of the wage economy, that is all well and good, Madam Speaker, when you are from Guelph, Ontario like Mr. Hollingsworth, and have the opportunity to participate in the economy. But I would like to point out to Mr. Hollingsworth that trapping in this day and age is more often a means to an end for aboriginal people.

A person needs to be able to buy guns and bullets in order to hunt so he can eat. To buy these things, you need money. To get money, you have to have a job. There are hardly any jobs up here. So a person has to trap to get money. A vicious cycle, indeed, Madam Speaker.

Madam Speaker, except for...

Mr. Gargan, your time has lapsed. Does the honourable Member seek unanimous consent?

Madam Speaker, I seek unanimous consent to conclude my statement.

The honourable Member is seeking unanimous consent. Are there any nays? There are no nays. Please proceed, Mr. Gargan.

Thank you, Madam Speaker and honourable Members. Madam Speaker, except for the natives who sold Manhattan Island for $26 in glass beads, our people are some of the smartest, most resourceful and environmentally conscious people in the world. We have adapted to the most inhospitable climate and conditions in the world. I do not blame my ancestors for wanting to trade with the Europeans for things that would make their lives easier in this harsh land. If the white man wanted ten muskrat pelts for a tin pot, it seemed like a good deal at the time.

Madam Speaker, my message to this House, and to the media, is to please not give too much credence to the position of the Native Animal Brotherhood of Guelph, Ontario, an organization that I think has lost touch with most of their identity and does not speak for a majority of aboriginal people in Canada. Thank you, Madam Speaker.

---Applause

Thank you. Item 3, Members' statements. Item 4, returns to oral questions. The honourable Member for Kivallivik, Mr. Arngna'naaq.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. I have a return to oral question asked by Mr. Gargan on February 14, 1994, regarding community contribution policy for recreation facilities.

The policy with regard to municipal capital infrastructure has evolved over the years in order to reflect the current needs of communities in the Northwest Territories.

The most recent change in policy regarding community contributions to recreation facilities has come as a result of Cabinet's approval of the municipal capital assistance policy, which will take effect April 1, 1994.

The municipal capital assistance policy is a comprehensive policy that applies to all communities in the Northwest Territories for all Municipal and Community Affairs capital programs. MCAP, as it is referred to, ensures a consistent, equitable and fair distribution of all capital programs of the department.

Community contributions under MCAP are based on an ability-to-pay criteria. As a result, all communities will benefit. Thank you, Madam Speaker.

Thank you. Item 4, returns to oral questions. The honourable Member for Sahtu, Mr. Kakfwi.

Thank you. Item 4, returns to oral questions. The honourable Member for Baffin Central, Ms. Mike.

Madam Speaker, I have three returns to oral questions. The first one was asked by Mr. Patterson on February 16, 1994, regarding the location of additional housing units.

The Financial Management Board approved 16 new staff housing units to meet the 1994-95 staff housing shortfall.

The 16 units approved by FMB are for the following communities: Pangnirtung, one unit; Igloolik, two units; Cape Dorset, two units; Broughton Island, one unit; Clyde River, two units; Pond Inlet, one unit; Sanikiluaq, one unit; Arviat, one unit; Coral Harbour, one unit; Pelly Bay, one unit; Fort Good Hope, one unit; Rae Lakes, one unit; and, Snare Lake, one unit.

Madam Speaker, I have another return asked by Mr. Gargan on February 15, 1994, regarding communities considered as off-highway.

Madam Speaker, on February 15, 1994, Mr. Gargan, the Member for Deh Cho, asked me for a list of the communities that are considered off the highway system for the purposes of government benefits. This question arose from the earlier discussion about the settlement allowances being provided for the staff of the alcohol and drug treatment centres. When Mr. Gargan originally asked me why the staff of the Hay River Alcohol and Drug Treatment Centre were not eligible to receive the settlement allowances, I incorrectly indicated that it was because Hay River was on the highway system and settlement allowance was not payable on the highway system.

Rather than providing the list Mr. Gargan requested, I would like to correct the record and provide more accurate information. I decided to provide settlement allowances to treatment centre staff equivalent to those provided to government employees. These settlement allowances are outlined in the collective agreement between the Government of the Northwest Territories and the Union of Northern Workers. The allowances are intended to compensate staff for the higher cost of living in communities outside of Yellowknife and are not related to whether or not the community is on or off the highway system.

My third return to oral question asked by Mr. Dent on February 17, 1994, regarding Social Services' response to family law review recommendations.

Yesterday, Mr. Dent asked when the discussion paper from Social Services on the family law review would be available for distribution. The paper will be mailed this weekend to a wide distribution list including Members of the Legislative Assembly, hamlet and band councils, aboriginal organizations, the Native Women's Association and Pauktuutit.

This paper was prepared in consultation with the Department of Justice and is intended to provide potential solutions to the problems identified in the family law review.

I and my colleague, the Minister of Justice, realize the need for a timely response to this report and for an early start on the legislative changes that will be required.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Those are my responses.

Thank you. Item 4, returns to oral questions. Item 5, oral questions. The honourable Member for Inuvik, Mr. Koe.

Mahsi, Madam Speaker. The Payroll Tax Act is now implemented and taxes are being collected. I have a question for the Minister of Finance, based on the statement made in the budget address dated February 14. Can the Minister clarify what is meant by the statement made in the budget address, and I quote, "The government remains convinced that all individuals who are employed in the Northwest Territories must share in the tax burden. This tax is the most effective way we have to ensure that such sharing takes place." Mahsi.

Thank you. Minister of Finance, Mr. Pollard.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. What that means is that people who earn a living in the Northwest Territories and pay taxes elsewhere in Canada and other jurisdictions were not contributing to the Northwest Territories, prior to the payroll tax being introduced. So what I'm saying

is that we remain convinced that those individuals who earn a living here and file their income taxes elsewhere in Canada, should share in the tax burden of the Northwest Territories. Thank you, Madam Speaker.

Thank you. Supplementary, Mr. Koe.

I thank the Minister for that response but I don't read those things into that statement. My supplementary question to the Minister is, have the objectives of the payroll tax now changed whereby all residents of the Northwest Territories who are employed or who work are expected to share in the tax burden through the payroll tax equally with those of out-of-province employees?

Thank you. Minister of Finance, Mr. Pollard.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. People who reside in the Northwest Territories and file taxes here, who earn a pay cheque, are entitled to a tax credit that only people who file in the Northwest Territories can get. That means that most of the people in the Northwest Territories who are employed here contribute to the payroll tax and they are entitled to the tax credit. I say most of them because there are a number of people who earn investment income, people who draw dividends from companies, people who are shareholders in companies and have some form of receiving funds from those companies, who do not pay the payroll tax. That has been a matter of concern with the Standing Committee on Finance and it has been raised in this House, Madam Speaker. We are aware of the fact and I have tried numerous ways to get all of the people in the payroll tax and I haven't come up with a way to capture those other people yet. Thank you, Madam Speaker.

Thank you. Supplementary, Mr. Koe.

Mahsi, Madam Speaker. The Minister mentioned the payroll tax credit for northern residents. If most people are like myself, I usually file on the last possible day, which is near the end of March. Can the Minister, in the near future, table in this House the forms that residents will have to use in claiming this tax credit?

Thank you. Minister of Finance, Mr. Pollard.

Madam Speaker, those forms are provided to people in their tax package that comes from Revenue Canada. I will table a facsimile of that form. As I said earlier, we will be putting ads in papers and advising people across the Northwest Territories that they should fill in that form to get their tax credit from the Government of the Northwest Territories and they should also fill in the forms with regard to child tax credits. Yes, I will table a facsimile in this House, Madam Speaker. Thank you.

Thank you. Item 5, oral questions. The honourable Member for Baffin South, Mr. Pudlat.

(Translation) Thank you, Madam Speaker. My question is directed to the Minister of Finance. It has been a day or two since I indicated that the unemployed people are numerous in the Northwest Territories and they are having difficulty getting their income tax returns done. Can the Minister of Finance indicate to me whether he has considered the concerns I addressed during my Member's statement regarding income tax returns? Thank you, Madam Speaker.

Thank you. Minister of Finance, Mr. Pollard.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Yes, I am more aware now of the problem raised by the Member. I am looking at the situation, but I must tell this House, that the government has no program whereby it could send accountants into communities. I am looking at the problem. We have also been in touch with the federal Department of Revenue and sent down information with regard to the difficulty people have in filling out their tax forms, the language difficulty and I have taken the liberty of sending down copies of letters that I have sent to Mr. Pudlat in his own language, to make the federal Finance Department more aware of the problem. So I am looking at it. I don't have an answer, at the present time, but I will next week, Madam Speaker. Thank you.

Thank you. Item 5, oral questions. The honourable Member for Iqaluit, Mr. Patterson.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. The Minister of Justice will recall my statement expressing concern about the presently serious and possibly growing problem of contraband in Iqaluit. I wonder if the Minister has had an opportunity, as I had suggested, to pursue the matter of acquiring federal enforcement officers in Iqaluit, and perhaps elsewhere in the Northwest Territories, through the RCMP? Thank you.

Thank you. Minister of Justice, Mr. Kakfwi.

Thank you. Supplementary, Mr. Patterson.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. I am pleased to hear that. I would like to ask the Minister, was my assumption correct that these, I think they are called FES officers, if they are approved, would be paid for 100 per cent by the federal government, rather than under the cost-sharing arrangement for regular members of the RCMP? Thank you.

Thank you. Minister of Justice, Mr. Kakfwi.

Thank you. Supplementary, Mr. Patterson.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. I would also like to ask the Minister if I am correct that part of the federal government's response to the cigarette smuggling issue in Quebec and Ontario has been to allocate more money to the RCMP nationally to deal with this smuggling problem in Canada? Thank you.

Thank you. Minister of Justice, Mr. Kakfwi.

Thank you. Item 5, oral questions. The honourable Member for Deh Cho, Mr. Gargan.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. I would like to direct my question to the Minister of DPW and it is with regard to telecommunication services to small communities. I understand that this government hasn't supported NorthwesTel's rate increase because of the fact they are not providing some services to small communities. I appreciate that. But has any progress been made with regard to NorthwesTel providing telephone services to the small communities such as Kakisa, Jean Marie River, Trout Lake, Colville Lake, Nahanni, et cetera?

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

Thank you, Madam Speaker. As Members know, I made a presentation to CRTC and we intervened on NorthwesTel's application to raise the rates in the Northwest Territories. It must have done some good because CRTC didn't allow them to raise the rates. CRTC also directed them to come up with a plan by June 20, 1994 to present back to them as to how they would service the non-serviced communities, and also how they would upgrade the service in those that have minimum service. Thank you.

Thank you. Item 5, oral questions. The honourable Member for Aivilik.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. My question is to the Minister of Education. Respecting my question yesterday, I was still unsure from his response whether there is a mutual understanding and acceptance from his department, especially from student services and Arctic College, respecting Mr. Comerford's letter rejecting the applications for financial assistance for Coral Harbour arts students that are being held right now.

Thank you. Minister of Education, Mr. Nerysoo.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Just to indicate to the honourable Member that from the analysis that has been done, the program and project that has been proposed in Coral Harbour does not fit within the guidelines of the student financial assistance program. What I will do and commit to the honourable Member is to review the circumstances and ensure that there is a fairly reasonable

understanding about how the financial support can be provided to that particular program. But under the present circumstances the program falls outside the student financial assistance program.

Thank you. Item 5, oral questions. Supplementary, Mr. Arvaluk.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Is the Minister then indicating to me that there is disagreement between Arctic College and the Department of Education, financial assistance section regarding this particular arts course?

Thank you. Minister of Education, Mr. Nerysoo.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. There is no disagreement on the matter of the program itself. Arctic College has the responsibility and the right to initiate programs with the communities with the advice of the communities. However the programs that are instituted in the communities don't necessarily comply with the terms and conditions of student financial assistance, therefore the student financial assistance administration does not determine programs. However, they do determine whether the programs that are being offered fall within the terms of the student financial assistance program.

Thank you. Supplementary, Mr. Arvaluk.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. This particular course I'm talking about is sponsored in Coppermine, Coral Harbour and Hall Beach. Three communities in which the same course is organized and sponsored by Arctic College. Isn't it ordinarily the case that students in most Arctic College sponsored courses are automatically approved for Northwest Territories student financial assistance?

Thank you. Mr. Nerysoo.

No, Madam Speaker, thank you. No, not all students are automatically approved. It depends on the program itself, the manner in which that program is designed, and whether or not it is an acceptable credited program, and as such is considered to fall within the student financial assistance. There are some other financial programs that are available to students. It depends on what financial programs they are associated with.

Thank you. Final supplementary, Mr. Arvaluk.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. My final supplementary, will the Minister find out why there was a disagreement between Arctic College, if there are any, in Mr. Ernie Comerford's letter of rejection, and show the cause why there is particular...This case seemed to be kind of remote because most of the Arctic College sponsored ones are usually accepted by the Department of Education, naturally. Would the Minister report why this one is somewhat odd?

Thank you. Minister of Education, Mr. Nerysoo.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Yes, I will look into the matter. However, again, I want to advise the honourable Members of this House that not all programs are financed under the student financial assistance program because they don't fall within the categories of the assignments that are made. I will look into the matter for the honourable Member and advise him of the nature of the discrepancies and the differences of the program that is offered by Arctic College.

Thank you. Item 5, oral questions. The honourable Member for Kitikmeot, Mr. Ng.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. My question is to the Minister of Justice with regard to a change of name procedure issue which was raised during the last session, and the difficulties in the legalities and the costs associated with the process. At the time, the Minister stated he would look into the matter and prepare some sort of response. At this time, I would like to ask the Minister what kind of progress he has made in that regard. Thank you.

Thank you. Minister of Justice, Mr. Kakfwi.

Thank you. Item 5, oral questions. The honourable Member for Yellowknife South, Mr. Whitford.

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

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Food mail subsidy program is a program of the Department of Indian Affairs and Northern Development. The Department of Indian Affairs has made an annual contribution of $15 million to Canada Post Corporation, since 1991. The reason for this program is to bring down the rates of mailing food to isolated northern communities. That program has been successful in reducing the costs of shipping nutritious and perishable foods, such as dairy products and vegetables, to a number of remote communities in the Northwest Territories that are only serviced by air. Thank you, Madam Speaker.

Thank you. Supplementary, Mr. Whitford.

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

Thank you, Madam Speaker. My understanding is that this program is designed to service the remote communities, it's not designed to be a subsidy for mining companies or construction companies. I guess there has been some concern raised because there is a possibility that there might be a reduction in this program. So I have written a letter to the Minister of Indian Affairs on this issue, already, basically letting him know how valuable a program it is for Northwest Territories residents and encouraging him to keep it in his budget. Thank you.

Thank you. Supplementary, Mr. Whitford.

Minister of Public Works and Services, Mr. Morin.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. I would like to thank the Member for raising this issue in the House and raising it to the public. I was unaware that mining companies or other people were trying to use this program, other than it being used for getting food into small, remote communities. I will follow up on that issue. I have followed up already on the issue that people have raised a concern of a reduction in the program, but I will follow up to see if people are trying to misuse the program. Thank you.

Thank you. Item 5, oral questions. The honourable Member for Yellowknife Frame Lake, Mr. Dent.

Thank you. Minister of Finance, Mr. Pollard.

Madam Speaker, it has to do with cross-referencing who was working for what companies and whether they were from the Northwest Territories. Thank you, Madam Speaker.

Thank you. Supplementary, Mr. Dent.

Thank you. Minister of Finance, Mr. Pollard.

Madam Speaker, I'll have to go and check whether it means payroll tax or it means total tax. I would point out to Members that in the legislation, as I recall, there are allowances in there for overpayment or underpayment by employees. So I think what we're looking for is to ascertain if employees paid too much tax or too little tax, mostly if they paid too much tax because I think in the legislation they have the ability to appeal that they have been taxed too much. I think that's our way of checking it. I'll take the question as notice and provide an answer next week, Madam Speaker.

Thank you. May I remind Ministers that when you take a question as notice you don't need to explain that you're going to take it as notice. Thank you. Item 5, oral questions. the honourable Member for Amittuq, Mr. Allooloo.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. I would like to direct my question to the Minister of Renewable Resources. In his statement earlier this week, he mentioned that the European market for furs is very important and we need to protect it. I agree with that statement. I know, Madam Speaker, that there has been a group who are working on trapping standards. This is an international group, to make sure that the trapping research is done by each country and province. I wonder, Madam Speaker, what stage are they at in terms of allowing the trappers to use methods that are acceptable to the trappers. Thank you.

Thank you. Minister of Renewable Resources, Mr. Kakfwi.

Thank you. Supplementary, Mr. Allooloo.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Is the request from Canada to extend the period for one more year to allow trappers to use the old method still in place?

Thank you. Minister of Renewable Resources, Mr. Kakfwi.

Thank you. Supplementary, Mr. Allooloo.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. The international working group that was setting standards met in Ottawa. My information is that the meeting -- I believe there are 12 counties involved in that working group to set up a trapping standard -- broke down. Eight countries didn't want to pursue trapping research. Only four countries agreed that they should work towards trapping standards. Does that group still exist or has it been abandoned by eight countries? Thank you.

Thank you. If I could just remind Members, when you are doing your supplementary, please keep it as brief as possible. Minister of Renewable Resources, Mr. Kakfwi.