I just want to make a few comments on this particular department.

I guess we can't over emphasize the need here in the north, as most of my colleagues have already mentioned one way or another, to develop some kind of northern accord and have all the groups and everyone in the Northwest Territories support the particular accord.

I know that lately there has been a lot of emphasis on minerals, but we have another sector that I think we should pay some attention to and that is the oil and gas sector. In the 1970s and early in the 1980s, there was a lot of oil and gas activity up through the Mackenzie Valley. We got a pipeline out of the deal and a lot of exploration went on in the Beaufort-Mackenzie Delta area. The resources are still there. There are proven finds of oil and of huge gas resources that we have to consider when doing an economic plan for the Northwest Territories. We have to also consider ways and means of enticing and enhancing the development of those resources.

We also, as I mentioned, have to ensure that the peoples of the north are fully involved from the initial discussion levels in the development of these accords. I know the Minister has been active in ensuring that the aboriginal groups especially have opportunities to participate in the discussions, and for that, I thank the Minister and his departmental staff for those initiatives.

One other area the department is responsible for is the investigation and looking at of alternate uses of energy. One thing that we don't hear too much about these days is energy conservation or using different sources of energy. We know there have been a lot of studies and a lot of work done in those areas. I think we have to keep pursuing them. With taxes being raised every year for oil and gas and whatever else we use, we have to look at ways of conserving energy or using different sources. The initiatives in the Dogrib country using hydro is one that I think would benefit and should benefit all Northerners.

We have to ensure these activities through an accord or whatever mechanisms, are tools that not only this government but the federal government can use. We have to ensure that we get the maximum benefit that we can and have that provided to the north.

I just wanted to make those few comments, Mr. Chairman, on this department. Mahsi.