Minister of Economic Development and Tourism, Mr. Todd.

The short answer, Mr. Speaker, is yes, we are going to provide some assistance. The long answer is we'll have to be creative in providing it, given the fact that there are limited funds. We've asked the ITC to break out where they need some assistance and that assistance will come from existing budgets within the regions. Thank you.

Supplementary, Mr. Patterson.

Mr. Speaker, I'm told that this should be a tremendous opportunity to sell lower-priced arts and crafts -- jewellery, handicrafts -- to the many visitors. I would like to ask the Minister if he's open to the idea of assisting in creating and buying an inventory of arts and crafts through the good offices of ED&T or through the Development Corporation so there will be a good inventory available for sale at this pavilion this summer. Thank you.

Mr. Todd.

Two weeks ago, the CBC called me the "Minister of Poverty" and that's where we are today. We're not prepared to fund the inventory for the CNE exhibition. As I said to the honourable Member, we're prepared to provide ITC and other groups with assistance within the existing resources we have. We've already distributed all the money into the regions and suggested to ITC that they seek regional support for any assistance they require, whether it is sending musicians, artists et cetera. I'm optimistic that, through some regional support, we'll be able to reach the fiscal target they've asked us to meet. Thank you.

Thank you. Supplementary, Mr. Patterson.

Mr. Speaker, I understand the financial constraints that we're all operating under. I would like to ask the Minister, since this is clearly an opportunity to sell our very unique arts and crafts from the Northwest Territories to a sizeable audience of Canadians who will be visiting the CNE, wouldn't it be possible for the government to establish a revolving fund to begin purchasing arts and crafts now which will be replenished and paid back from the sales that would take place in this intense 18-day period in August and September. Couldn't it be done that way, without a loss of funds to the Government of the Northwest Territories? Thank you.

Mr. Todd.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It sounds to me what the Member is suggesting is Spain all over again. What I would suggest to the honourable Member is no, I'm not prepared to do it at this time. We are prepared to provide ITC and others with a significant amount of money from the regional budgets, provided the regions agree with it. We've given the fiscal responsibility for those dollars to the regions. That's what it's all about.

I'd also like to point out that while the CNE is one very exciting opportunity for northern artists, there are also others out there. There's a massive arts and crafts festival, for example, in Santa Fe that we're active in and a number of others we're getting involved in. We're endeavouring to increase the exposure of northern artists on the North American landscape but I'm not prepared at this time to fund an inventory or a revolving fund because I've given all the money away to the regions so it will be closer to the people in making the appropriate and right decisions on behalf of the artists. Thank you.

Thank you. Final supplementary, Mr. Patterson.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Since the money and the authority has been given away, as the Minister says, to the regions, if it should be determined in a region that it would assist the economy of the region and artists to market their products outside the Northwest Territories through establishing a revolving fund and purchasing inventory for sale and replenishment at the CNE, would this option have his support, if it's developed and approved in any region? Thank you.

Mr. Todd.

I would be concerned that we were establishing a dangerous precedent for this one particular exhibition when there are others that will be held in the future and others that are in the works right now. However, if Mr. Patterson feels that he can convince the region that this is in their best interest, I would be prepared to look at a proposal of that nature. But I'm concerned about getting government too involved in the marketing of arts and crafts at this time. Thank you.

Thank you. Item 6, oral questions. Ms. Mike.