Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Four years ago, Mr. Chairman...Sorry, Mr. Speaker. Four years ago, the government established a round table on the economy and the environment and agreed to develop a policy on sustainable development. The government, in 1991, disbanded the round table on the economy and the environment and it still has no clear position on sustainable development.

Our Special Committee on the Northern Economy in the 11th Assembly made a strong recommendation to this government to get its act together to prepare for major economic development. The Government of the Northwest Territories has no policy on sustainable development and lacks focus in addressing the major projects associated with mineral development.

I mentioned previously in this House the problems we face because we have no policy on sustainable development. Any time we raise mining and mining issues, we are deemed by many to be in support of development at all cost, full-steam ahead and don't worry about the consequences. If we raise environmental issues, many assume we are anti-development and very likely raving radicals.

Our government has had ample opportunity to develop a sustainable development policy, which everyone has the chance to buy into. It hasn't done this, Mr. Speaker. We have only a very small say in the development of mining in the Northwest Territories. What small say we do have, must be coherent. We can't speak in an ambiguous way. Without a policy, it is becoming a free-for-all. The public really doesn't know who is responsible for what. Before we do take over mining from the feds, we had better have a sustainable development policy, Mr. Speaker.

The Minister of Renewable Resources in his statement yesterday, made reference to sustainable development, but we are still waiting to hear whether the government has any intention of developing one. Thank you.

---Applause