Final supplementary, Mr. Speaker. This is a different type of exploration from the what my previous honourable colleagues had questions on. It is a different type of exploration in mining. Where are the northern businesses getting the assistance that they require at the present time? Thank you.

Mr. Todd.

I think it's important to point out that diamond exploration is new to Canada, it's not just new to the Northwest Territories. My understanding is that right now the expediting firms, the airline companies like Buffalo Airways, and some of the Weaver and Devore type businesses are getting a significant amount of this business.

The technical aspect of it, which I think is what we're alluding to here, is something we're attempting to quickly see what is required. Specifically, what type of infrastructure is required and how would we get in behind it if it was going to be northern? We really don't have a full understanding of that right now, to be quite frank with you. But, at the present time, at the exploratory stage, I understand that there are a significant amount of northern businesses contributing to this project. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Todd. Item 5, oral questions. Mr. Patterson.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my question is to the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment. It has to do with diamond mining and exploration. The way diamonds are mined is different than how gold, lead/zinc and other mineral deposits are mined in the Northwest Territories. I would like to ask the Minister, what is the Arctic College or his department doing to prepare Northwest Territories residents -- most particularly in the North Slave and the Kitikmeot -- for jobs that may emerge in any new diamond mines? Thank you.

Mr. Nerysoo.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The partnership that originally was developed was, as the honourable Member should recall, with the Kitikmeot Inuit Association, Human Resources Development Canada Limited and Metall. The issues being addressed were to develop training initiatives to allow for the participation of people in the Kitikmeot region in mining, generally. Not specific to the Izok Lake area, but in the whole area of mining participation. We are working with those groups.

Thank you, Mr. Nerysoo. Mr. Patterson.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I appreciate the efforts that are being made in the Kitikmeot but I believe that the diamond prospects are most likely to occur in the North Slave region. I would like to ask the Minister, are there initiatives planned to allow residents of the North Slave region to take advantage of diamond mining jobs? Thank you.

Mr. Nerysoo.

Mr. Speaker, as I just indicated to the honourable Member, the issue was to deal with overall training in the mining area and we are developing a strategy as to how we should respond. What is important for us to do is to identify the training requirements, the total amount of jobs available in a particular area, and specifically target the possibility of training in certain sectors, whether it is for electricians, carpenters, heavy equipment operators or specialized equipment operators. That information is required

and we need to work with the North Slave, and we are in fact working with them and with the Kitikmeot so we can respond to those needs. It would be applied right across the Northwest Territories for people involved in mining training programs.

Thank you, Mr. Nerysoo. Mr. Patterson.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I'm pleased to hear that there's a mining training strategy in the process of being developed. I would like to ask the Minister, when can Members of this Assembly get more information about the process that's being followed and the elements of this strategy which is very important to all of us? Thank you.

Mr. Nerysoo.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I'm working in conjunction with my colleague, the Minister of Economic Development and Tourism and the Minister of Energy, Mines and Petroleum Resources, to develop an overall strategy so that we deal with a number of factors that have to be dealt with. That includes training and education programming, because part of that deals with possible requirements for financial resources. Our view is that it should be a package arrangement as has been suggested by other Members on how we develop programs. So, I am working now in conjunction with my colleague.

Thank you, Mr. Nerysoo. Final supplementary, Mr. Patterson.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I'm sure that Members would be very pleased to get more information before this session ends on progress in this training strategy. I would like to ask the Minister one specific question about this strategy. I think it's well-known, Mr. Speaker, that we are still feeling the impacts of the largest staking rush in the world in virtually every region of the territories, including even the Baffin region. I would like to ask the Minister of Education, will the proposed mining training strategy also deal with the tremendous opportunities that are still available for northern people who know the land to get involved in prospecting? Thank you.

Thank you very much. Mr. Nerysoo.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would hope it would deal with all aspects of the mining industry. I think the problem that people have is focusing only on a particular region. The fact is that mining potential in the north, right across Nunavut, right across the western Northwest Territories, has significant potential. The whole matter of training that we want to propose is not for the short-term, but for the long-term. It's certainly our intention to address those particular needs that the honourable Member has raised with me today.

Thank you, Mr. Nerysoo. Item 5, oral questions. Mr. Antoine.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. To the Minister of Renewable Resources. This is with regard to the fact that the Northwest Territories government has regulations to govern the acceptable level of sulphur dioxide emissions by NWT companies. Does the Government of the Northwest Territories have the authority to press charges against a company which exceeds the acceptable levels? Thank you.

Mr. Kakfwi.

I think it's just repeated, not rephrased. Would you repeat the question, please, Mr. Antoine.