Thank you, Mr. Speaker. If the Member is questioning who the consultants are speaking to, then they're speaking to senior managers of the department, some MLAs, some Cabinet Members, some community representatives such as mayors and senior administrative officers, the Association of Municipal Administrators and other stakeholders. Thank you.

Thank you. Supplementary, Mr. Zoe.

Mr. Ng.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It's anticipated that a draft report will be available by March 15th, at which time there will be a final review by the steering committee before it goes to Cabinet, and hopefully can be tabled in this House in early April. Thank you.

Thank you. Supplementary, Mr. Zoe.

Mr. Ng.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Yes, I'll make that available to Members. Thank you.

Final supplementary, Mr. Zoe.

Mr. Ng.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I don't have that information at hand, but I will include that information along with the terms of reference for the Member. Thank you.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I was pleased to hear today the statement from the Minister of Renewable Resources. Mr. Speaker, Minister Arngna'naaq said, and I quote, "it's our objective in both the environmental assessment of the BHP diamond mine project and the Slave geological province regional study, to promote exploration and development of mineral resources in ways that provide lasting social and economic benefits to northerners while preserving the environment." I could say it's a very good statement and I think it's very important that, as a government, we do promote mineral development because if we don't exploit our mineral resources, we're doomed to be a long-term welfare state, I believe.

My question to the Minister is, is the Minister aware that in the setting up of the EARP panel, there were unnecessary delays? Is the Minister satisfied that the panel has the sufficient resources to be able to carry out their work in the 18-months' time that has been allotted to them? Thank you.

Minister of Renewable Resources, Mr. Arngna'naaq.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Under the resources that the panel will have, I believe that there are contributions being made by the federal government as well as by the Government of the Northwest Territories on support being given to the panel. I believe that the resources that they will have at their disposal will be sufficient to cover the work that they will be doing. Thank you.

Thank you. Supplementary, Mr. Ballantyne.

Thank you. I think we all agree, Mr. Speaker, that we want the panel to do a good job, to do a thorough job and to do an objective job within that time frame, because I think that time frame is long enough for them to achieve their review. My second to the question to the Minister has to do with the Slave geological province regional study. I think we all agree that that baseline data is necessary . My question to the Minister: do you think that there is enough of a distinction between these two studies, that they don't run into each other and that the Slave province study slows down the BHP diamond mine project study? Thank you.

Mr. Arngna'naaq.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I believe that the work that is being done by the environmental assessment review panel and the regional study that is being done by a consortium of groups will not hinder the process which the environmental assessment review panel is working on. There may be some insights that we'll get from the regional study that will be done; however, I do not foresee that the regional study is slowing down the process of the environmental assessment review panel. Thank you.

Thank you. Supplementary, Mr. Ballantyne.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I think we all acknowledge the importance of both of these studies, and I think all of us are very strongly committed that any new mine uses the most modern environmental technology possible. I would like to ask the Minister if he will give an undertaking to do whatever he can do to ensure that both these studies are done in an objective, professional way and that they're not pushed around by ideological, political reasons by either the mining industry or by the environmental groups out there across the country. Thank you.

Mr. Arngna'naaq.