I did have the opportunity to read the latest in the Globe and Mail, Mr. Speaker. It indicates here from a renowned capital investment firm called Deans Knight Capital Management. They have shares in the Aber Company and they also manage about 2.3 to 2.4 billion, so that gives them some credibility. They figure that the two Canadian diamond mines, once they are in production, would be one of the top world's diamond producing nations. They also indicate the rewards for diamond miners can be enormous. A top notch diamond mine can be worth ten times as much as a comparative sized gold mine. I think that kind of illustrates that it is not only us that is saying it, it is national finance and investment firms that are saying the same thing that we are. The rules and engagement as it relates to diamond mines should be different than other industry or nonrenewable resources industries out there. We hope at the end of day that the federal government will see the need to protect Canadian interests, as well as the other ones at the same time. Thank you.

Oral questions. Mr. Roland.

Thank you. Mr. Premier.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. We have had the opportunity to have the initial meeting as well as follow up meetings with the panel on the economy with the Premier's Business Panel. They have made recommendations to this government and I have presented that all to the committee when I presented my business plan. I would be pleased to give the Member a copy of that, and all Members a copy. Thank you.

Oral questions. Supplementary, Mr. Roland.

Mr. Morin.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The Premier's Panel made recommendations through that panel to this government on a few of the issues that we have moved forward on. One of the issues, for example, is this spring in the Legislative Assembly, the Minister of Finance announced a $16 million initiative of this government to top up our economic development programs, our lending institutions as well as to top up the Minister of Education's budget as well as Resources, Wildlife and Developments' budget on investing in people's future as well as investing in business. Thank you.

Oral questions. Supplementary, Mr. Roland.

Mr. Morin.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The future for the Northwest Territories in general, looks fairly well. What we have to make sure is, as things develop in the Northwest Territories that we seize on the opportunities that will exist and that will come to the attention of this government, as well as the communities that are surrounding the development in the Northwest Territories. We have to ensure that we have properly trained people ready to go into the work force. One of the major issues that people addressed in the Premier's Panel, that we have to make sure that we are in sync with the private sector and working with private sector to make sure our people are trained, so they can take the jobs that are coming available. Thank you.

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

Mr. Morin.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I cannot foresee the recommendations or what the panel will recommend to us. I know that we do have a good working relationship with the business people of the Northwest Territories. We know that in order for the north to develop, and move ahead, those partnerships have to be strengthened. We have to work together as two partners. We also know, and we made it very clear, that the government no longer can be the engine of the economy. It has to be the private sector and we have to work in conjunction with them. So, that is the overlying issue we have to address with the private sector, as to how we can work better together to enhance what the private sector is doing on behalf of all the people of the Northwest Territories. Thank you.

Thank you. (Translation) Our MP, Ethel Blondin-Andrew is amongst us. (Translation ends) Oral questions. Mr. Krutko.

The Minister of Transportation, Mr. Antoine.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, in the case of Aklavik. I must say this is the first time I am hearing there was such a request for an all-weather road to Aklavik. The department will have to take a look at where Aklavik is, in conjunction to the existing highway system and look at the possibilities. What are the possibilities of connecting it into the existing system? Personally, I am not very familiar with that part of the country, so I cannot say how that is going to be done. The department will receive a request from the community, and what we could do is take a look at what the possibilities are. It is a starting point. Thank you.

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

Mr. Antoine.