Mr. Todd.

Not under my leadership, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, if my memory serves me correct, Mr. Alan Downe who was a well-known researcher in this House, and did a considerable amount of work on behalf of the former Minister, and the ministry in consultations with the communities as to the changes that they felt, the communities at large felt, were necessary in the liquor legislation, in the Liquor Act. My understanding is that Mr. Downe was working on, and probably still is working on some changes that would then go forward to committee and go through the normal process. Now as to the status of that right now, I do not have that answer this morning, but I do recognize the importance of it. As a matter of fact, another Member mentioned it to me this morning. I will speak to the department and find out what the status is of the development of the new legislation and the changes that were being recommended based upon discussions that took place within the overall territorial constituency. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Todd. Oral questions. Mr. Henry.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my question is to the Minister responsible for Aboriginal Affairs, Mr. Antoine. Mr. Todd in his budget address talked about a million dollars being contributed, and I think Mr. Steen has talked about it earlier today. This million dollars, Mr. Speaker, I would like the Minister to tell me what this money is for. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The Minister of Aboriginal Affairs. Mr. Antoine.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the million dollars that is going to be used by the Ministry of Aboriginal Affairs is to participate in the different claims talks that are going on. We have in the Beaufort Delta, the Gwich'in, Inuvialuit are currently beginning the negotiations on self-government. At the present time, we just have one person at the table from Aboriginal Affairs participating, and this is the beginning of these negotiations, and we need more resources at the table. We need somebody from Justice. We need somebody from FMBS, and we also need people from MACA so that we keep a good representation at the table, so that the feds and the Beaufort Delta negotiators have a good counterpart to protect the interests of this government.

At the same time, we have Dogrib negotiations on lands claims and self-government starting up. There again, on the self-government side, we have one person at the table, and the South Slave Metis will be starting their negotiations. Again we have one person at the table, at the current time. With talks beginning with Treaty 8, with the treaty lands entitlement discussion with the Salt River and Fort Smith Dene, we have one person at the table. With the Treaty 8 talks beginning here with the Yellowknives, Fort Res and as well Lutselk'e, we just have one person at the table, and with the possibility of talks starting in the future with other regions like Deh Cho. Now the Sahtu region is interested in talking about self-government. If all these tables start with the resources that we have today, we will be stretching pretty far. We have only three negotiators, and if all these different talks are starting today then we will be in a heck of a lot of trouble here because we do not have the resources, and the million dollars is for the Ministry of Aboriginal Affairs, and the Department of Justice, FMBS and MACA so that we have people at the table representing the interests of the government during the negotiations. Thank you.

Thank you. Oral questions. Mr. Erasmus.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My question is for the Minister of Education. First of all, we have laid off a lot of people. This government has laid off a lot of people in Yellowknife and, of course, other areas, but we do know as well that the BHP mines are going to be starting up around here, and there may be other mines starting up. Many of the people in the north are not adequately educated and trained to take advantage of those jobs, even though we have impact benefit agreements between ourselves and BHP for instance, and between various communities and BHP. I would like to know first of all, what is being done for the many people from the GNWT that are being laid off? What is being done to assist those types of people to getting jobs into the mining industry such as BHP. Thank you.

Thank you. The Minister of Education, Culture, and Employment. Mr. Dent.

Oral questions. Supplementary, Mr. Erasmus.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I will have to ask the proper Minister at a later time on that area. The Minister of Education had indicated that the training that his department provides is for people in general. I would like to know what is being done in the area of mining training? What has been proposed for the coming year? Thank you.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Will the Minister be kind enough to give us an update on the activities and perhaps the recommendations or whatever, that has come from this mine training committee.

Mr. Dent.

Thank you. Oral questions. Mr. Erasmus.

Point of order.

We have a Member asking questions. You are interrupting. You do not have a point of order. Mr. Erasmus.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Would the Minister indicate whether one of the things that the Mine Training Committee would look at is the feasibility of establishing a mining institute in the Northwest Territories.

Mr. Dent.