Mr. Morin.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I am announcing the conditional go ahead of this project. The Minister responsible, Ron Irwin, said he wanted to see some substantial progress on these negotiations. We believe that the way things are going today, the last report I got is that the negotiations are going fairly well and we are looking at hopefully concluding these negotiations so that northerners do benefit not only from jobs but the spin-off of industry. Thank you.

Thank you. Oral questions. Supplementary, Mr. Erasmus.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Can the Premier confirm what actions this government has taken to ensure that the north and Yellowknife is attractive to new mining development initiatives such as the BHP project?

Mr. Morin.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. We have always, since we got elected a year ago, been a very strong supporter of mining, a very strong supporter of encouraging people to come and develop the Northwest Territories. But, we have always said we wanted to make sure that when people came in to develop the Northwest Territories and the development of renewable resources. We wanted to make sure that northerners benefited. We got the jobs and we got the service industry work for our companies in the Northwest Territories and we will continue to say that to any new company coming. That is what we have done. We have taken every opportunity to make sure that northerners benefited from the projects -- Yellowknife and other communities as well. Thank you.

Thank you. Oral questions. Mr. Henry.

Thank you. Just to remind the Members that the government is in the process of negotiating the best possible deal for the people of the North and, of course, this all depends on what the positions are of the other parties. If we give away too much, it might be to the disadvantage of this government. I would like to caution the Members. I would also like to caution the government on the level of information you provide to the Members. Mr. Premier, if you would like to respond.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It is now 3:30 p.m., and I do not know what outstanding issues are outstanding at this time. Our negotiators are in negotiations right now and they are doing the best possible job to ensure the North's interests are protected. That is our job. Also, some of the BHP team is in Lutsel K'e today negotiating with Treaty 8 as well. I would be able to update Members probably better on Friday. To me, the information I got so far, negotiations are going very well. All parties are coming to the table with an open mind with the want to start a diamond project in the Northwest Territories and the want to make sure that northerners do benefit from that type of project. Thank you.

Oral questions. Mr. Ootes.

Mr. Premier.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It is all part of our negotiations so, like I said earlier, we will make an update to Members possibly on Friday. Thank you.

Oral questions. Supplementary, Mr. Ootes.

Mr. Morin.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I will take that under consideration. I will think about it and take this question as notice. Thank you.

The question is being taken as notice. Oral questions, Mrs. Groenewegen.

The Minister of Finance, Mr. Todd.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker I want to assure my colleague that the payroll tax is not under consideration at this time. It was an issue I was asked a question in a meeting, am I getting good at the payroll tax, and my response was that like everything else we were considering. That is the best way I can answer my honourable colleague today.

Thank you, oral questions. Mr. Henry.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My question is to the Premier, once again, on these negotiations. Was there an agreement between the company and the government that there would be no releases of information during these talks? Thank you.