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

Thank you. Supplementary, Mr. Ballantyne.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. I think it is very important that we send out a clear message to industry and that we have a clear, fair approach here that will protect our interest but also gives them the opportunity to have some certainty that if they go through an approach, they can proceed. If they meet all the requirements, they can proceed with their development.

Have any of his officials sat down with the mining industry to, at least, have preliminary discussions about potential problems, with a view to looking at positive solutions early in the game, as opposed to waiting later on in the game and slowing the whole process down needlessly?

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

Thank you. Supplementary, Mr. Ballantyne.

Supplementary, Madam Speaker. My understanding is that the technology used in modern diamond mining is more benign than a lot of the technology used in other forms of mining. I think it is important that the Minister and his department become as familiar as they can with the actual technology that will be used. I wonder if I could ask the Minister for a commitment that the Minister will have his officials have a good look at the possibility of diamond mining, with a view to developing some positive relationships with the industry so that problems can be anticipated and solved in a timely manner?

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

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

Thank you. Minister of Energy, Mines and Petroleum Resources, Mr. Todd.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. It is my understanding, in discussion with the exploration companies and the mining companies, that there is no policy as we understand it from a GNWT perspective. However, there is a commitment, if you want, that as they move towards the development of this industry, there has to be significant benefits to the Northwest Territories. Otherwise, we would view the development somewhat unsympathetically. I suppose that would be the best way I could answer, at this time. But, the way I understand it, there is no specific hire north policy. We are trying to provide them with some encouragement in terms of relocating in the north. We did recently provide some financial support to the Colomac mine in an effort to hire Mr. Zoe's people in his area, so some efforts are being made. There is a great deal more that have got to be made, but some efforts are being made at the present time. Thank you.

Thank you. Supplementary, Mr. Lewis.

Thank you very much. I will pursue this probably as a written question if I can't get the feel for it that I need. I would like to ask the same Minister if he is aware of any company who is committed to this, at present. Many of them talk about the future and what is going to happen in the future, but is he aware of any company at all right now that is committed, apart from the example he has given of Colomac, to hiring northern people?

Thank you. Minister of Energy, Mines and Petroleum Resources, Mr. Todd.

I am not trying to evade the question. I can't speak on behalf of the corporations but certainly, in discussions with them, they have indicated that an important part of their corporate strategy, if you want, in the development of this industry, is the recognition that there has to be significant benefits and job opportunities accrued to northerners. I have indicated as loud and as very clear as I can be that this is an important issue and if it wants the GNWT's support, it has to be negotiated to the development of these mines. Hence, the reason, to some extent, for trying to move expeditiously in trying to get some legislative control through the mining accord. So, I think that in the 1990s, there is a recognition by the major developers that they have to behave in a responsible manner. But from what I understand, there is no specific policy that says they will hire north first versus going south or something to that effect, if that is what the honourable Member is looking for. Thank you.

Thank you. Supplementary, Mr. Lewis.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. I hate to put anybody to unnecessary work, but it seems to me that we have to have this kind of information. I would like to ask the Minister whether he will undertake to write to the mining companies that are heavily involved in northern exploration and to get from them, in writing, what their policies are with regard to hiring people.

Thank you. Minister of Energy, Mines and Petroleum Resources, Mr. Todd.

I want to assure the honourable colleague and the House that is the number one priority for me in the development of a mining accord and in terms of trying to get some legislative influence over these developments. I would be more than happy to write to these companies and ask them if they have a specific policy as it relates to northern hire. But, I think it is one thing for me to write and ask them. The other thing is for them to enact it if the mines go into place. If I may, I would suggest to you that what we really need here is some serious legislative clout to protect, not only the jobs, but the business opportunities that will arise should this development come forward. But, I will be only too happy to do what the honourable Member has asked. Thank you.

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

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Madam Speaker, newspaper reports in Alberta last week suggested that the Premier of Alberta is starting to feel pressure to lower tobacco taxes. Mr. Klein was quoted as saying that what is now becoming a problem is cigarettes coming from Quebec, Ontario and other jurisdictions where taxes are lower and that pressure is starting to mount to lower taxes. I would like to ask Mr. Pollard, I think the Minister of Finance assured us that there was a wall of western solidarity that had been achieved through Ministers of Finance. I would like to ask the Minister are there cracks and fractures in the western wall of tax solidarity on the tobacco issue? Thank you.