Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I see the Minister has corrected the Hansard statement which was 27 miles. I understand now it is 27 kilometres of access road. Mr. Speaker, obviously there is a process or program in place that is more efficient than what we quoted or what is being used as the department's estimates to arrive at the department's estimates of constructions of roads. Now, Mr. Speaker, some people will refer to the road from Jean Marie River to a highway as an access road. I believe the Minister stated that is, in fact, the fair-weather road and some other people call it an all-weather road. But the end result is that it is a road and people can drive on it. We are not talking four-lane highway from Inuvik to Tuktoyaktuk. We are talking something very similar to what you have at Jean Marie River. I believe we are asking the department to be more realistic in putting forward the figures and estimates. Therefore, I would be asking the Minister if he would again, work closely with the communities of Tuktoyaktuk and Inuvik to come up with a reasonable estimate of what that road incurs?

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. In regard to the strategic plan that we are expecting to materialize in Hay River between the members of the fishing community with support from the MLA and officials from my department, I am pleased to hear a meeting took place. The idea of a rebate on fuel was raised as one of the elements that could possibly be requested by the fishermen in the meeting I had with them in the spring. There were a number of other issues and points of interest that were raised. I would expect that a package should be developed, some sort of a proposal from the fishermen, that would suggest a number of ways in which this government could act to help make fishing more economically viable and that if a fuel rebate is one of the points that is requested by the fishermen, then we would look at it as part of an overall package at that time. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As I mentioned before, time is critical on this and while this strategy is under way, I would like to ask the Minister, is he aware that if a rebate program were developed, what the necessary red tape or hoops that would have to be gone through in order to implement it? Would it have to come back to this House, for example, to be approved or could it be concluded as a departmental initiative in collaboration with the Department of Transportation and Finance? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, I believe that once a strategic plan is packaged by the fishermen, then I would be prepared as a Minister to work on it. As we say, time is of the essence. Any type of support or indication of positive action on the part of this government, I know, would certainly be welcome by the fishermen. By the same token, it is my view that they should take responsibility for initiating the development of a strategic plan presented to myself. I will work with the Minister of Transportation, the Minister of Finance and the Premier to see how we should respond to their plan. I would think that we can act fairly quickly. Maybe not on all the elements of that plan as they will present to us, but certainly most of them. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. A question of a slightly more technical nature. I was wondering if the Minister would be aware that if a rebate program is arrived at, would it be fiscally possible to make such a rebate program retroactive. In other words, should I tell the fishermen to start saving their receipts? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I do not believe that is possible, but as I say, if time is of the essence, then they should put together a proposal or plan for consideration by this government as soon as possible, and we will act on it . If we do make some decisions then they will come into effect probably as of the day when these decisions are made and not be retroactive. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My question is for the Minister of Renewable Resources, Wildlife and Economic Development. I have been informed that the officers from the Department of Fisheries and Oceans, when they are in uniform, they wear guns, but I understand that at times these individuals are in the downtown area of Yellowknife, for example, going into the buildings. I am wondering if the Minister could tell us if he has the ability to find out why they are allowed to carry guns, for example, in the City of Yellowknife. Are there other officers from perhaps our government or other federal government agencies permitted to carry sidearms? Thank you.

Mr. Speaker, I have heard as well, unofficially, that there are officials working in the federal Department of Fisheries and Oceans who are either obliged or feel obliged to wear sidearms in the course of their office duties in case they may be called to work in an environment that requires sidearms. I do not know of any situations recently where they have faced such situations, but it has been expressed as a concern by certain members of the public in the past. I am sure if we asked the federal Minister as to the reasons for such a need, there may be somewhere a rational explanation for such carryings on, so to speak. Thank you.