Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. (Translation) I am going to speak in my own language. What I wanted to mention today is apparently in one of the communities in my constituency, Fort Liard, they are going to be starting to drill for oil where Fort Liard sits, right at the edge of the BC border. It is good country for oil.

Last December, the federal Minister Ron Irwin and Harry Deneron, the chief from Fort Liard, met and discussed the possibility of drilling for oil in Fort Liard. (Translation ends)

The opening of land in the Fort Liard region occurred when the federal government approved a partial lifting of the ban on exploration in the north. The ban was there to give aboriginal people time to settle their land claim negotiations.

The winning bids, Mr. Speaker, included a large piece of land about 150,000 hectares, which is about 575 square miles, that has opened up in the immediate area of Fort Liard. Mr. Speaker, the following companies were successful in their bids in this area: Ranger Oil Limited, AMOCO Canada Petroleum Company Limited, Chevron Canada Resources Limited, Ocelot Energy Limited, Shell Canada Limited, and Paramount Resources, all of Calgary. Mr. Speaker, approximately $22.7 million has been committed by these six companies in assessing the region's potential, and this is for the next four years.

Mr. Speaker, the federal government awarded the exploration licence early this month, but it was effective from late December of last year. Mr. Speaker, this is what Mr. Irwin, the Minister of Indian Affairs, had to say about the arrangement: "By working in partnership with the federal government and the Fort Liard band council, we have successfully reopened this highly prospective area. The results will be much-needed employment and business opportunities for the Fort Liard residents." This statement was also endorsed by the chief, Henry Deneron, who said: "I am pleased that the federal government worked with my community to ensure that exploration activities will be managed in a way that meets our needs. These investments will not only create opportunities for the people of Fort Liard, but will benefit our region as a whole."

Mr. Speaker, I would like to take this opportunity to recognize the efforts of Fort Liard and their cooperation with the federal government in taking the initiative for establishing economic opportunities for the community and the region. Mr. Speaker, using Fort Liard as an example, it is imperative that we ensure that any economic activity generated by the presence of southern companies must benefit the community and the region first. Mr. Speaker, if the necessary resources are available here, then there is no excuse to preclude employment and business opportunities for local residents and businesses in the community as well as in the region. Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.

---Applause