Minister of Renewable Resources, Mr. Arngna'naaq.

Thank you. Supplementary, Mr. Lewis.

I appreciate that the mining industry these days is very much involved in what we call environmental management. I would like to ask the Minister, Mr. Speaker, since it seems to me that this is a study group that has a long-range plan and which sometimes has to deal with immediate problems, and since at this moment there is a controversy about a 26-kilometre all-weather road which is still at the exploratory phase, as I understand it, between Koala Mine and Misery Lake, whether this regional study group has made any recommendations with regard to that road?

Mr. Arngna'naaq.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I believe that this study will cover all of what is considered the Slave geological province. It is a regional study which will address the environmental concerns of industry, the various environmental organizations and our two levels of government, and set an environmental strategy for the Slave geological province which could be used by industry and by other interested parties.

The BHP Environmental Assessment Review Panel has a mandate which, I believe, will end after a period of...I'm sorry, I don't have the time frame at this present time. There are seven or eight steps that they will have to go through. At the present time, they are in their scoping session, as I mentioned earlier. They have hearings for that stage and will hold hearings for a number of the other stages whereby interested groups and parties will be able to make their presentations and make their concerns known. The BHP Environmental Assessment Review Panel is specific to the area where BHP exploration is going on so will likely take less time than the Slave geological study. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you. Supplementary, Mr. Lewis.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The regional study group is looking at long-range issues, the development of data and so on that will help everybody involved in the business. But there has been an application to build and I quote: "A permanent all-weather tote road." Now, as I understand it, the word "permanent" means that it is there forever, that's it, until you decide to get rid of it. So, since this is going to be there permanently, what is the position of the regional study group with regard to building something that is permanent without establishing whether it will have permanent good effects or permanent bad effects, even though, I agree, it is part of the exploratory phase, and not the development phase. What process is there in place to determine whether this permanent road will have any permanent effects?

Mr. Arngna'naaq.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I think that the application that has been made by BHP is at the DIAND office at the present time. It is still being discussed by DIAND officials as to whether this permanent road, as Mr. Lewis puts it, will be approved or not.

We are, as a department, taking a very close look and talking with BHP as well as to the Department of Indian and Northern Affairs as to what impact these permanent roads will have. The roads that we are talking about are approximately 28 kilometres, and it is only in the area that BHP is exploring at the present time. I believe what is being proposed by BHP are gravel roads which will allow them to be able to transport themselves. It would be a one-lane road that goes from one site to two other sites in their particular area.

Mr. Speaker, we are, as a department, watching very closely to what is happening. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you. Final supplementary, Mr. Lewis.

I think the public is very much interested in this issue, Mr. Speaker, and we wouldn't want the debate to get out of hand. I would like to ask the Minister, has the Slave province regional study group made any recommendations about how this should be handled, and whether in fact the Minister of DIAND has received such recommendations so that he can make a decision?

Mr. Arngna'naaq.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I believe that the first meeting of the regional study took place in early February. The first planning workshop is scheduled, at the present time, for February 28th to March 2, 1995 here in Yellowknife. The objectives of this workshop will be to develop a common vision for the regional study, to achieve consensus on terms of reference and goals and objectives for the study, and to define the planning process and management structure for the study. So I don't believe that the Slave geological province regional study, at the present time, is in any position to be able to assess the proposals that are being made. Thank you.

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