Thank you, Mr. Speaker. To the Minister of Transportation, the Hamlet of Pangnirtung has stated, in a letter, that they would not like to see the airport be moved to the valley area, the Pangnirtung hamlet would like to see it closer to the shore.

I would like to ask the Department of Transportation, if this will be done, to relocate the airstrip to the shore?

Mr. Antoine.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The department just recently received this letter and are still looking into that request. However, the position of the Department of Transportation at this point in time is that the present airport will continue to be used. In fact, the request to move the airport, or to lengthen it, we have been looking into it, it would be very costly to lengthen or relocate it at this present time.

However, the department has gone ahead and made some improvements and have recently completed construction of a new airport terminal building in 1996. The department has also begun to replace the lighting at the airport, with the majority of this work to be undertaken in 1997. As for the requests of the hamlet, the department is still looking into it, and will be responding to the hamlet at the appropriate time. Thank you.

Oral questions. Mr. Evaloarjuk.

(Translator) Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My question will be directed to the Minister of Resources, Wildlife and Economic Development. Mr. Speaker, back in 1974-75 when I was elected as a member of this House, the community of Hall Beach, was given a quota of polar bear and, to this date, they have never been given an extension of that quota number. Can the minister indicate to me, if they plan to amend the amount of quota for polar bears in that community? Thank you.

The Minister of Resources, Wildlife and Economic Development. Mr. Kakfwi.

Oral questions. Supplementary, Mr. Evaloarjuk.

(Translator) Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I think that the people of Hall Beach have indicated numerous times that they wish to see a higher number of polar bears quota. They have a big problem with nuisance bears in that community. As a matter of fact, last summer a polar bear approached one of the camps and marauded the tents of one of the communities.

But as far as the laws go they are still not able to catch these polar bears legally. So, we wish to see a higher number of polar bear quotas for that community, Mr. Speaker. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Kakfwi.

Thank you, Oral questions, Mr. Henry.

Mr. Premier.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I did not pay enough attention when the member was making his statement, so I will not say whether I agree with his statement or not. But what I will say is that we, as a government, believe that Canadian Airlines is very important to the Northwest Territories. It is one of our few major air carriers. We would be very supportive of Canadian Airlines. I know they are going through some difficult times right now, and as a government, we are also very supportive of Canadian's approach to working together with their employees, unions and other partners to try to find a solution to their current circumstances.

I think we in the north can relate to their consensus style of negotiation problem-solving better than anyone else in Canada. Like I said earlier, Canadian Airlines is very, very important to the north. We have to fly everywhere. So Canadian is needed. Thank you.

Oral questions, supplementary, Mr. Henry.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker, I would just like to let the Premier know that I listened to every word he said, when he made his presentation today, so I am sure in the future, he will probably listen to mine.

Just this week, Mr. Speaker, the Premier of Alberta announced that he had planned to cut the cost to Canadian Airlines of the fuel tax that would be charged by that province.

This is reportedly to save Canadian Airlines approximately 1 million dollars. Has the Premier, in conjunction with the Minister of Finance, considered introducing a similar tax cut here as a means to further encourage the survival of Canadian Airlines? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Morin.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It is my understanding that we collect approximately 8 hundred thousand dollars a year and the percentage of tax on that is a cent per litre for us as a government, that is it, so it would not make a big difference. But we will be keeping track of this issue. I have talked to Mr. Remple, President of Canadian Airlines Regional, and he keeps us well informed. We are hoping that they come to a successful agreement with their union and we encourage all parties to continue to negotiate and we look forward to assisting which ever way we can, but it is very limited from the Government of the Northwest Territories. Thank you.

Thank you, oral questions supplementary, Mr. Henry.

Thank you. Mr. Speaker. Will the Premier be willing to consider the fuel tax incentive and other initiatives that would assist Canadian Airlines out of their present predicament? Thank you, very much.

Mr. Morin.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I apologize to the members if I misled them in my previous answer because it was $800,000 for all airline tax, for all the airlines, not just Canadian. So it is a fairly small portion and as I said earlier, we are going to be as supportive as we can. Financially, I do not know what we can do, we have our own problems that we have to address. We have to take a look at it and make sure of the support as much as possible, but financially, as my good colleague always says when I talk to him, there is no money. Thank you.

Thank you. Oral questions. Mr. Barnabas.