Minister Todd.

It's a far larger question than just trying to acquire the expertise for the Department of Economic Development. If this diamond venture does take off, it will have an enormous fiscal impact on the Northwest Territories. What we've done is put a committee together in conjunction with my colleagues to try to put a plan in place to determine the kinds of issues that will come about should this take place, the kinds of economic benefits that are going to be derived from it, the kind of support we're going to have to provide to the industry and to the people in the area, the type of training required, the employment opportunities, et cetera.

So, what we need, I think, anyway -- and I've asked Mr. Bailey to head it up along with Mr. Gerein, Mr. Nicholls and Mr. Handley -- is a kind of a blueprint should this exploration come into being. We have to determine how we're going to protect the interests of northerners, whether it is in the economic field, the training and employment field or the environmental field. This thing has come about very quickly and I'm trying to move quickly to put a paper in place that at least attempts to address all these issues for debate in this House.

I'm hoping to do that within the next 90 to 120 days. In the meantime, we are looking at the kinds of economic opportunities that would be derived from this exploration and where we can provide both the technical and financial support to it. I know that in each of the Ministers' departments...For example, in Mr. Nerysoo's department they are looking at how they would develop the type of training and employment opportunities that are going to come forward. We need to package it in some order for debate, to see if we're going in the right direction. We're trying to do that quickly at this time. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Todd. Mr. Antoine, first supplementary.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. So, there's a plan being developed. This exploration is taking place at the current time. What is in place at this time for northern residents to take full advantage of the opportunities? Is there expertise in place in this department to help these northern residents take full advantage of these opportunities at this time? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Antoine. Mr. Todd.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. We don't have anybody specifically designated to this project at this time within the Department of Economic Development. I spoke to the business community two weeks ago and what we are saying is that if they require support from us, whether it is fiscal or technical, we're prepared to give that. This thing is moving at a pace which is, quite frankly, way faster than government, but we're trying to catch up with it and we're in the throes of trying to develop a blueprint for where we can all fit, and to determine the fiscal resources that are going to be necessary to respond to this exciting and phenomenal national and international mining venture. But, I don't have anybody specifically designated for that at this time.

Thank you, Mr. Todd. Mr. Antoine.

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.