Thank you, Mr. Speaker. In the last Assembly, Mr. Speaker, we had a Special Committee on the Northern Economy. I would like to point out that the current federal Minister of Finance, when he visited the city while we were doing that debate, read the report of our committee and said it was one of the best analyses of economic problems and one of the best proposals for solutions that he had ever read, which is great praise coming from such an individual. One of the problems that we identified was capital. There have been some proposals by Ministers to raise capital. I would like to ask Mr. Todd, the Minister who indicated he would like to develop a Mortgage Investment Corporation, whether in fact negotiations are still taking place to attract capital into the Northwest Territories in the form of mortgages so that we can build houses.

Minister of Economic Development and Tourism, Mr. Todd.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Yes, the second phase of the strategic plan to determine whether a Mortgage Investment Corporation would be feasible and viable in the Northwest Territories is under way at this time. Thank you.

Thank you. Supplementary, Mr. Lewis.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to ask the Minister, how much money have we spent to date on this work that is being undertaken by some very excellent consultants? Thank you.

Mr. Todd.

I believe when they initially made their first presentation, in terms of what they thought the overall costs would be to do the work necessary to put a Mortgage Investment Corporation in place, they were somewhere around $700,000 or $800,000. I stand to be corrected, but I think it was somewhere in that area.

To date, I believe, we've expended or are expending at this time close to $250,000. Thank you.

Thank you. Mr. Lewis, supplementary.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to ask the Minister, by what date does he expect this work to be completed?

Mr. Todd.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. At this phase of the plan, it should be complete by March 31, 1995. Thank you.

Thank you. Item 6, oral questions. Mr. Patterson.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I would like to ask a question to the Minister of Intergovernmental and Aboriginal Affairs. I was pleased that the Minister made it possible for us to meet privately with Mary Simon, the new first ambassador for circumpolar affairs, and learn of her efforts to promote the establishment of an Arctic council and to include the experience of the Northwest Territories in the Canadian component of the Arctic council.

At that meeting, I suggested it would be useful to Ms. Simon if she could receive, from this government, some kind of a chronicling of the efforts that have been made in circumpolar contacts, economic cultural intergovernmental relations over the years, dating back from the time of Commissioner Hodgson. I would like to ask the Minister of Intergovernmental and Aboriginal Affairs, is he prepared to ensure that this interesting information is gathered and provided to the ambassador for circumpolar affairs, Ms. Simon, in future. Thank you.

Minister of Intergovernmental and Aboriginal Affairs, Mr. Kakfwi.

Thank you. Item 6, oral questions. Mrs. Marie Jewell.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my question is to the Minister of Renewable Resources. Some time ago, the Department of Renewable Resources commissioned a consultant to develop a report for fire management and fire suppression. This report, I am quite sure, cost his department in excess of $200,000 to develop. Would the Minister be willing to provide to me a copy of the report, which Peat Marwick formulated? Thank you.

Minister of Renewable Resources, Mr. Arngna'naaq.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I do have a copy of the report. I also provided a copy of the same report to the Standing Committee on Finance, so there are a couple of places that the Member is able to find it if she may be looking for it. Either from the Standing Committee on Finance...I don't have one in my office at this particular time, but I would be willing to provide a copy.

Thank you. Mrs. Marie-Jewell.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. First of all, I am not a Member of the Standing Committee on Finance, so I am not privileged to their reports.

Mr. Speaker, would the Minister of Renewable Resources also advise the House of the cost of the report which was completed by Peat Marwick? Thank you.

Mr. Arngna'naaq.

Yes, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you. Item 6, oral questions. Mr. Patterson.