Mr. Speaker, I'm hearing rumours from officials that Parks Canada operations in the Northwest Territories will be substantially curtailed. Offices will be closed, personnel will be reduced and, perhaps, Parks Canada will be reconsidering commitments it has made to this government to develop new parks and tourism facilities in the Northwest Territories. I would like to ask the Minister if he's prepared to intervene at the political level, particularly if Parks Canada, under the guise of budget restraint, is entertaining the idea of withdrawing from commitments it has made to the Government of the Northwest Territories to jointly participate in parks and tourism projects. Thank you.

Mr. Todd.

Yesterday Mr. Martin did outline the budget to the Canadian populace. I think it's clear, in the analysis that took place over the last evening and today, there are real cuts, as he said. The extent of how these cuts will affect Parks Canada, EDA, this government, et cetera, I think we have to carefully examine in the next two or three weeks. It will take that long for it to trickle down. I want to assure the honourable Member that we recognize the importance, particularly in his area, of parks expenditures both in capital and O and M. And we're going to be vigilant in analysing where these real cuts will take place.

But I don't think I'm in a position today, less than 24 hours since the budget was announced, to be able to tell him, in terms of project specific, if and where cuts may take place. I want to assure him that once we've done a careful analysis of the budget, I will be reporting any cuts that may be getting made outside of our jurisdiction as well as within our jurisdiction. Thank you.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I have a question for the Minister of Renewable Resources. I would like to ask the Minister; last year, he indicated to Members of this House that his department was going to undertake a fire review to determine how they address fire suppression. I would like to ask the Minister whether this review has been conducted and completed. Thank you.

Minister of Renewable Resources, Mr. Arngna'naaq.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Yes, the department officials have spent time in every community except Fort Smith, consulting with people in the communities to find out exactly what their concerns are with regard to our forest fire management program. The reason our staff have not been into Fort Smith at this point are the various groups in the town of Fort Smith have not indicated to the staff of the Department of Renewable Resources that they are ready to be consulted. I am hoping that very shortly we will be able to

meet in Fort Smith and be able to come up with a report on the consultation. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you. Supplementary, Mrs. Marie-Jewell.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Can the Minister confirm whether his department did submit to the various organizations the need to meet for this particular undertaking of a fire review on behalf of his department? Was a letter sent to these organizations indicating that his department wanted to meet with them? Thank you.

Mr. Arngna'naaq.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I don't know that a letter was written to the various organizations in the town of Fort Smith; however, I do know that department staff have made contact with the various organizations in Fort Smith and have asked when an appropriate time would be for a meeting to be held in the town. Thank you.

Thank you. Supplementary, Mrs. Marie-Jewell.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Can the Minister indicate to me, were the undertakings of this fire review through private meetings or public meetings? Thank you.

Minister Arngna'naaq.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. All the meetings that were held in the other communities in the western Arctic were all public meetings.

Thank you. Final supplementary, Mrs. Marie-Jewell.

If I can suggest, Mr. Speaker, why doesn't the Minister's department officials announce a public meeting with regard to the fire review to undertake how his department addresses fighting fires, and hold a meeting in order to avoid many of the costly efforts that his department takes at times in order to address fires? Will he undertake to just set a date and hold a public meeting on how they address fire suppression in Fort Smith? Thank you.

Mr. Arngna'naaq.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I believe that the department staff wanted to be sure that the people who are leaders in the various organizations in the town would have the opportunity to be able to make representations on behalf of their organizations. The staff then decided that they would wait for all, or if not all, then most organizations in the town to be available for this public meeting.

If this is the advice that the honourable Member is making about the consultations for the town of Fort Smith, then I have no problem with that. Thank you.

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

Mr. Speaker, I'm just wondering whether that was my final supplementary, or if I do have one more question.

Go ahead, Mrs. Marie-Jewell.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My final supplementary to the Minister. When does the Minister plan on this fire review? The Minister is well aware that the intention of this fire review is to try to find ways to cut the costs of fighting fires. He recognizes that his department came in last year with in excess of a $20 million supp with regard to fighting fires.

Mr. Speaker, I'm just wondering when the Minister's department initiated the undertaking of the fire review. When do they plan to conclude this fire review in order to take the recommendations and implement them accordingly? When does he intend for this fire review to be completed? Thank you.

Mr. Arngna'naaq.