Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Forest fires this year, concentrated in the area between Yellowknife, Fort Simpson, and Norman Wells.

In 1996, 350 fires burned 364,000 hectares of forest. This is one tenth the amount that was burned in 1995. Despite twice as many fires as last year, expenditures of fire management remained within budget. These expenditures included the number of prescribed burns near Fort Providence and Fort Resolution for habitat management purposes and the trial use of CANSO's in communities where the larger air tankers can not be stationed. In total, the 3 CANSO's flew about 50 missions. A cost/benefit analysis on the use CANSO's will be completed this fall.

Reducing the cost of forest fire management has been one of our priorities. After cost-saving measures were introduced in 1995 by the previous Minister, forest fire suppression expenditures dropped from $27 million in 1994 to $14 million in 1995, and approximately $11 million dollars in 1996. These cost-saving measures will be evaluated this winter including the forest fire prevent program. Through this million dollar program, communities could apply for funding to reduce the threat of forest fires around areas important to communities. In 1995, the Department of Municipal and Community Affairs matched funding and 18 communities initiated work to construct new or complete old fire guards.

The work was contracted to local corporations or band councils and provided seasonal employment both before and after the peak fire season. This year, about $750,000 in funding has been provided to projects in 11 communities. Projects include burning scrap piles, brushing areas and seeding cleared areas or planting with aspen. As well, several communities have begun developing long term plans to incorporate habitat and forest management objectives into community protection needs.

The level of compensation available to harvesters for losses due to fire was also increased to offset damages from fires that are too large to suppress. In these cases, efforts are still made to protect localized values-at-risk such as cabins or graveyards.

Mr. Speaker, the purpose of the forest fire management program is to protect areas prioritized by communities. Therefore, community consultation continues to be an important component of the forest fire management program. Our staff will again visit communities to discuss the 1996 forest fire season and I look forward to suggestions of further ways to increase the authority of communities in making decisions on forest fire management. Mahsi cho.