Minister of Energy, Mines and Petroleum Resources, Mr. Todd.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I'm not sure off the top of my head whether we have a provision for an environmental analyst. I will look into that; I can't remember, quite frankly. I know that the department is taking a great deal more interest in environmental issues as they relate to exploration because it is becoming very high profile and we need to be much more proactive in making sure that the mining industry meets the requirements of the different types of panels that are before us, like the EARP panel that is currently reviewing the BHP application. This is done in a spirit of cooperation in trying to expedite timely decision-making on the issues surrounding the development of the industry as it relates to the environment. Thank you.

Thank you. Supplementary, Mr. Lewis.

(Microphone turned off)...does have -- and I know he's very well aware of it -- provision for an analyst and the Minister has given us an explanation of why he wants to have that. I would like to ask the Minister, since we already -- and I quote some people in the mining industry -- have "environmentalists up the yin yang in government," why is this government adding even one more?

Mr. Todd.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I don't believe that we're adding an environmentalist to the staff complement. I think what we're doing, which we haven't done in the past, is taking a much more active interest in the environmental aspects of the industry, if I'm correct. And we're trying to assist the mining industry and others in moving forward with their applications to develop different mines and different infrastructure. We're trying to assist them so that we can move quickly to meet the requirements of the environmental review-type panels that the industry has to face. Certainly, it isn't our intent to add to the growing environmental groups, as there are enough of them out there. Thank you.

Thank you. Supplementary, Mr. Lewis.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The Department of Renewable Resources -- and I don't have the precise numbers -- has a large number of people involved in environmental matters and they have them because there is a concern that industrial development has to be balanced and it could have an impact on wildlife. So, what I would like to ask the Minister is, what impact can wildlife have on the industry? Since you now want to have your own, are you afraid of moose knocking over people or bears killing people? What is the purpose of you having an environmental person in your department? So that the mining industry will be protected from these animals?

Mr. Todd.

Thank you. Final supplementary, Mr. Lewis.

Thank you. This is the budget session, Mr. Speaker, and I've already been told that we have lots of people who are great at analysing things. So, I would like to ask the Minister, instead of adding to the public service, did he consider the possibility of seconding somebody from somewhere else inside the government so we wouldn't have to increase the costs to this government of adding more staff?

Mr. Todd.

Mr. Speaker, it is my understanding that Mr. Lewis and some of his colleagues from Yellowknife want to see an orderly, expeditious development of the mineral industry. I believe this position enhances that, it doesn't take away from that. It provides us with the expertise to provide advice to the industry so it can hopefully avoid some of the delays we have seen recently because the industry didn't address all the issues the RERC wanted, and that was the BHP application. I suppose we perhaps could have considered secondment. We didn't and that's why it is in the budget. Thank you.

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