Thank you, Madam Speaker. I would like to take this opportunity to inform Members of this House of the results of my trip to Toronto and Ottawa last week.
On March 7 and 9, Mr. Kelvin Ng, Mr. Henry Zoe, Mr. Michael Ballantyne, Mr. Charles Dent and myself attended the annual Prospectors and Developers Association meeting in Toronto.
I was pleased to note the large northern component to this conference and the general excitement amongst participants about mineral development, particularly with regard to the potential of the ongoing diamond explorations in the Northwest Territories.
Aside from the Government of the Northwest Territories' booth, Nunavut Tunngavik Incorporated, the city of Yellowknife and several northern businesses had booths in the main pavilion.
Madam Speaker, the Toronto conference provided the opportunity for our delegation to meet privately with Dr. Klaus Zeitler, president and chief executive officer of Metall Mining Ltd and Mr. John Stephensen, president of Kennecott Canada Inc to discuss their companies' plans for mineral development in the Slave geological corridor.
During our meeting with Metall, Dr. Zeitler confirmed that the Izok Lake Project has been delayed because of low base metal prices, the record stockpiles of metal and the high transportation costs associated with this project.
However, both Metall and Kennecott indicated that there is some requirement for transportation infrastructure to ensure the economic viability of mining projects in the Slave geological corridor.
While all parties recognized that sole government financing for this type of infrastructure is highly improbable, I stressed our government's commitment to look for new and creative ways to finance transportation infrastructure in partnership with industry and the aboriginal claimant groups.
Both Metall and Kennecott agreed to participate in a joint government/industry working committee to identify infrastructure needs and financing options for the orderly development of the mining potential in the Slave geological corridor.
In Ottawa, the Honourable John Pollard and myself met with the Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development to discuss, amongst other issues, mining developments in the Slave corridor and also the government's role in assisting the orderly development of the mining potential of this region. To this end, Minister Irwin has agreed to identify a senior departmental staff member to participate in the joint working group on infrastructure.
Madam Speaker, the Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development also agreed to begin negotiations for the eventual devolution of responsibility for oil and gas and minerals to the Government of the Northwest Territories.
As I have stated previously in this House, such an agreement is essential to ensure that the interests of all northerners are protected should major non-renewable resource projects proceed.
Over the next several months, the Department of Energy, Mines and Petroleum Resources will be meeting with all interested organizations, including all the aboriginal claimant groups to discuss this initiative and ensure that they are kept fully abreast of these negotiations.
Madam Speaker, this trip also provided the opportunity to introduce the transportation agenda to several federal Ministers. Although no substantive discussions were held on the financing for the agenda, I intend to pursue this matter with my federal counterparts in the immediate future.
I also met with the Honourable John Manley, Minister of Industry, on March 8, to discuss the current negotiations on internal trade. This issue is of great importance to the Northwest Territories as we require assurance that our business incentive and affirmative action policies are protected prior to entering into any agreement that would reduce internal trade barriers.
I intend to reinforce this point with Minister Manley and my provincial counterparts again in Halifax next month at the meeting of Ministers of Internal Trade.
Madam Speaker, before I conclude, I would like to particularly thank our two Members of Parliament, the Honourable Ethel Blondin-Andrew and Mr. Jack Anawak, for taking time out of their busy schedules to attend the meetings in Ottawa and for lending their support to the Government of the Northwest Territories' position on these issues. Thank you.
---Applause