Thank you. Mr. Todd.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Actually, English is my second language too.

--- Laughter

Anyway, I'm sorry. I appreciate the clarification. It is my understanding that in the capital planning process, the Premier does write or call out to the communities, seeks their input about what the priorities are and asks them for advice on the capital planning process. Secondly, we do go through the Standing Committee on Finance where the honourable Member contributes in terms of giving advice on the capital planning process.

Agreed.

If we've missed something, we would be only too happy to hear from the Member what additional consultation he would like us to make. As everybody knows, I'm a politician of inclusion, rather than exclusion, and I'd be only too happy to make an accommodation with whoever the honourable Member wishes us to make it with.

Thank you. Item 6, oral questions. Supplementary, Mr. Zoe.

Mr. Todd.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I have in my hand a letter received from the chiefs of the Dogrib Treaty 11 Council requesting a meeting with respect to transportation planning. It was addressed to me on May 31st and I received it on June 5th. I intend to meet with these gentlemen in an effort to reach the appropriate accommodation that includes them in the consultation process as it relates to the spending on these highway systems. Thank you.

Item 6, oral questions. Mr. Allooloo.

The Minister of Transportation, Mr. Todd.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. No.

Item 6, Oral questions. Mr. Allooloo.

Mr. Speaker, it the communities are interested in extending their airports to allow bigger aircraft to land in their community so that the economy could be better for the community ... If the community would like to own a runway so that they could extend it since the government will not or cannot afford to extend the runway for a jet airstrip, would the government at least entertain a proposal from the community for the ownership?

Mr. Todd.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I don't think that at this time we would entertain a proposal for the community to own the public airport. Thank you.

Item 6, oral questions. Mr. Koe.

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. I have a question for the Minister of Economic Development and Tourism. Last summer I visited the Yukon on behalf of the department and attended some tourism meetings with government officials from the Yukon territory. The western Arctic has very close links with the Yukon by airline and by the Dempster Highway. At a meeting with the Yukon's honourable Minister of Tourism, it was suggested that a memorandum of understanding be drafted outlining some cooperative measures between our government and the Government of the Yukon.

I would like to ask the Minister of Economic Development and Tourism, what is the status of the MOU that was supposedly drafted between both governments?

The Minister of Economic Development and Tourism, Mr. Todd.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The honourable Member is correct, there are currently discussions under way between the Yukon and ourselves. I have exchanged letters between the Tourism Minister of the Yukon and myself in an effort see where closer cooperation would be beneficial, particularly to Mr. Koe's area.

(Microphone turned off)

Sorry, the honourable Member is addressing the question to me at the present time.

The current position...

(Microphone turned off)

I'm trying, Mr. Speaker, very hard.

The current position we have right now is that the western Arctic territory...We're discussing with the Yukon the possibility of including their Yukon vacation guide. They've asked us if we're prepared to let a western Arctic Member become a member of the Yukon Tourism Marketing Council. I think this is a good idea. This is a private sector group, by the way, that advises the Yukon Minister on issues and programs.

I'm told that western Arctic tourism information is being provided to six Yukon visitor reception centres. In addition, I'm also told that the NWT representative will be invited to attend the Yukon's travel counsellor training program. I would also

have some access -- it says here in the notes -- to the Tourism Yukon's database.

I think there is some discussion and some practical application of cooperation With both governments. There's a great deal more that needs to be done. I'm optimistic, given the way the traffic flows out in that area, and given the importance of tourism, particularly in the Inuvik area with the development of the new visitors' centres, at cetera that this cooperative joint venture effort will bring about, hopefully, more tourists for the NWT and will bring about a more cost-effective way of promoting that particular jurisdiction. Thank you.