Detail of grants and contributions, contributions, $265,000. Mr. Henry.

Thank you, Mr. Henry. Mr. Kakfwi.

Madam Chair, I understand that there are always people out there who need people who are prospectors by trade. They occasionally need a grubstake in order to do the job that they know how to do. There are many people in Yellowknife who do this type of work and sometimes need financial support to do it. That is what this program is for. We average somewhere between $3,000 and $8,000.

Thank you, Mr. Kakfwi. Mr. Miltenberger.

Thank you, Madam Chair. I have a question to the Minister about the development impact zones contributions. How many of these are still in existence and where are they?

Thank you, Mr. Miltenberger. Mr. Kakfwi.

There is one Development Impact Zone Society still operating and it's in Norman Wells.

Thank you, Mr. Kakfwi. Mr. Miltenberger.

Could the Minister indicate if this is still a functioning committee or is it just on the books? Are they doing anything constructive?

It is functioning with the ... (inaudible) ... regional council. The board for the DIZ society and the board for the Sahtu regional council were one and the same, so we now have to decide how to get a new board for the society. But it is operating and it's operating very well, I would say. It provides a tremendous amount of information to us, as a government, to industry and to the Sahtu communities in terms of the activity of oil companies, the impact of some of the exploration leases that have come down recently, in projecting the numbers of jobs and types of jobs that would become available as a result of these new developments and suggestions on how we could maximize the benefits to the region and to the communities within the Sahtu. So, seeing it first-hand, I know what a

great job that society is doing for a limited amount of money. Members are aware that these DIZ societies are funded by the federal government, the territorial government and industry, so we don't fund them totally. We just fund a part of it, so we get very good mileage and product for the amount of dollars we put into it. Thank you.

Mr. Miltenberger.

Thank you, Madam Chair. Would this type of organization be considered in other areas where there is definite development impact; say, Lac de Gras with the Dogrib people, or other areas in the North where they are looking at other kinds of mining developments? Would the department or the government be considering the institution of this kind of structure to provide that same service? Thank you.

Mr. Kakfwi.

Yes, I believe that these are excellent vehicles for all the different parties that are involved when development happens; sort of a central clearing/coordinating house for information from industry to industry, from aboriginal leaders to aboriginal leaders, to the territorial government, to the municipalities and to the private business communities. When development happens, we need some sort of a one-stop shop, as the current phrase is used, and DIZ societies -- at least in the one I see operating right now -- provide that in a very efficient way. So I believe that other communities or regions that are enjoying the benefit from development, whether it's oil and gas or minerals, should look at this as another way to enhance the positive impact of development. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Kakfwi. Mr. Steen.

Thank you, Madam Chair. My question is with regard to the prospectors' assistance program as well. I am not at all familiar with this program. Perhaps the Minister could give me some indication as to who would qualify for these grubstakes and what the terms are for someone to qualify for a grubstake.

Mr. Kakfwi.

Madam Chair, I believe that most of the prospectors who have previously prospected are known to people in government. Other individuals would show that they've taken some courses in prospecting, for instance. So these are the type of people that we would finance in much the same way as we would help trappers. People know that for certain individuals, their only occupations are hunting and trapping. There are other individuals who primarily prospect for a living. So we will very soon be advertising to let people know that courses are available for people who are interested in prospecting and that we will be taking applications from people who are interested in prospecting and may require a grubstake in order to get out to do the prospecting. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Kakfwi. Mr. Steen.

Thank you, Madam Chair. I am wondering if the Minister could give me an idea as to how many prospectors we would be helping with $100,000. What is the department's goal? How many do they see us being able to assist? Is there a limit to how much a person can apply for?

Mr. Kakfwi.

Madam Chair, we expect that with $100,000 we should be able to help between 20 and 25 prospectors; probably approximately $5,000 to $8,000 per prospector.