The Minister of Justice, Mr. Ng.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the jurisdiction for policing administration goes with the RCMP, although we finance it through contractual agreements so that we have some input in that. I cannot say at this time whether

or not there are plans in respect to what the honourable Member is asking. I will request that information and advise the Member. Thank you.

Thank you. Oral questions. Mr. Barnabas.

(Translation) Thank you, Mr. Speaker. (Translation ends)...and to my constituencies. As my colleague had questions about the fuel fungus and bacteria in the fuel, I would like to ask the question to the Minister responsible for Petroleum Products, Mr. Arlooktoo. Mr. Speaker, has the Minister received any new information about the possible problems with the fuel supply in the eastern Arctic, or is he still waiting for test results on this situation? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The Minister of Public Works and Services, Mr. Arlooktoo.

Mr. Speaker, I have just received, in the last hour, some information on the test results and I can share it with the House, if the Members wish. Thank you. I will paraphrase some of the information. A question has been raised about possible problems with fuel supply by petroleum products division in Iqaluit. The questions imply that the government has purchased a supply of cheap fuel that is contaminated. This has caused many people in the NWT to become worried that their own furnaces or community generators are about to fail. This is simply not true, and I would also point out that the Power Corporation, along with our petroleum products division and fuel contractors in the communities have apparently received a large number of calls last night and this morning after airing of the story on Northbeat. The problem centres around sudden difficulties experienced by the NWT Power Corporation with the fuel used for their generators. The problem is isolated to the NWT Power Corporation's main generating station in Iqaluit which uses a unique system to preheat the fuel. The NWT Power Corporation has conducted a study to isolate the cause of the problem, the condition within their secondary fuel storage tank. They have dealt with the issue and it is no longer causing problems.

I would like to add one more thing, that during question period, the Member from Iqaluit also spoke of possible problems with water in the fuel supply in another community. We have checked with that community, and there have been no complaints. The local contractor is unaware of any difficulties. I have some more information that the Member wishes to receive.

Oral questions. Supplementary, Mr. Barnabas.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My supplementary question to the Minister is, can the Minister confirm that the fuel in question was purchased from Italy, at a savings of $5 million to this government?

Mr. Arlooktoo.

Mr. Speaker, I do not know where the fuel was purchased or how much it cost. As I indicated yesterday, we do try to get the best possible deal when we make these purchases. I would also like to say that the fuel supply we have is subjected to exhaustive testing that conforms to the Canadian General Standards Board specifications, which is, for the north, enhanced for cold weather specifications. What we do is, test the fuel when it is loaded into the tankers, at the source, at the point when we off-load in the communities and after it has been mixed with the existing product.

Oral questions. Mr. Erasmus.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My question is for the Minister of Resources, Wildlife and Economic Development. It is also concerning the protected areas strategy. Mr. Speaker, the Minister had indicated that to develop the protected area strategy, he has invited groups to a conference in Inuvik during the first week of March. I was wondering if this government is paying for that conference and for the travel?

The Minister of Renewable Resources, Mr. Kakfwi.

Oral questions. Supplementary, Mr. Erasmus.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As the Minister indicated yesterday, to be successful in developing our strategy, people must work together. How can people who are not invited to the conference contribute to developing this strategy? Thank you.

Mr. Kakfwi.

Oral questions. Supplementary, Mr. Erasmus.

Mr. Speaker, presumably the territorial government is not going to pay for 60,000 people to go to a conference. How will the remaining people, who do not go to the conference, how is this government going to make arrangements? What type of arrangements will this government make, so that the people who do not attend the conference can contribute towards the strategy of this protected area? Thank you.

Mr. Kakfwi.

Thank you. Oral questions. Final supplementary, Mr. Erasmus.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I wonder if the Minister could indicate, what happens once the protected area strategy has been developed? I am referring to whether the federal government is willing to implement whatever we come up with. Once the strategy has been developed, because we are going to have all these different stakeholders and people contributing, has the federal government indicated their willingness to implement the strategy that is developed? Thank you.