Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, starting this weekend there will be a prospectors' conference in Toronto, and a large number of northerners will be attending with the goal of letting mining and exploration companies know about products and services which are available in the north. Representatives of private companies as well as the Yellowknife economic development authority will try to pitch mining and exploration companies on using and buying goods and services in the north.
Mr. Speaker, the Department of Economic Development and Tourism has played an important part in helping coordinate these approaches, and I thank the Minister for his support in this area.
Mr. Speaker, to date, the history of mineral development in the Northwest Territories has shown very limited benefit to northerners. There is relatively little employment of northerners and, according to the response of Mr. Todd to Mr. Pudluk's written question earlier this week, only about ten per cent of those employed in mining in the Northwest Territories are aboriginal. Mr. Speaker, this failure needs to be addressed.
This government has expensive responsibilities in mine safety and inspections, yet receives no royalties; in fact, no tax revenue other than the small amount of payroll tax, unless the employees are northerners or the company chooses to file as an NWT company.
Mr. Speaker, I think it's time to get aggressive in seeking a financial understanding with the federal government, as well as devolution of responsibility over all aspects of mineral development in the Northwest Territories.
Mr. Speaker, this government needs to involve all the players, including aboriginal groups in the process. But let's get moving towards an accord on minerals with the federal government...(inaudible). Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
---Applause