No, Mr. Chairman. I will wait until we reach the breakdown of the grants.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. One of the things noted by the committees on the $1,362,000 which is identified as mineral, oil, and gas consultant funds, out of that, almost 80 percent of that fund is being spent at headquarters level. One of the questions raised is in regards to distribution of those funds on a more equitable matter to other areas and all communities and regions, especially in regards to the large mineral exploration activity that is happening from the Yellowknife area all the way up to the High Arctic, oil and gas activity in the Cameron Hills area, Fort Liard, Mackenzie Delta, and the Sahtu. What has the Minister done to ensure there is a more equitable way of distributing funds to the other regions so they can be involved in the consultation with industry, oil and gas, and mineral companies? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. We have done some work in this area. For instance. It has come back from a one day visit to Calgary to meet companies actively working in the territories, meeting with some people who are expressing an interest in renewed activity up here, as well as people from the regulatory regimes that have some issues and concerns, as well as some from the environmental sector. In the Deh Cho, we inquired about the willingness of the communities to look at working in partnership with industry and the communities on a regional basis, along with ourselves, through a DIS type of model. Some resources can be channelled to communities to work in promoting oil and gas activities and their own particular interests in the Beaufort and Mackenzie Delta. At this time, there is almost no interest from industry to engage on an active basis in any type of work. We are uncertain as to what money would be useful to provide to communities to assess that. We continue to explore with companies, ways and means by which they may find renewed interest in spending exploration money in that particular area. Right now, we have not found it. That might partially explain the lack of any particular money allocated for communities to get involved in the oil and gas business again. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I did not think this government was responsible for evaluating where the interest was, I thought it was up to the communities and the companies. When you make the response that there is no interest in the Mackenzie Delta, apparently there is a company under discussion with the Gwich'in Development Corp and the communities in the Delta called High Level Energy, which presently have oil and gas leases along the Sahtu - Gwich'in boundary lines. They have two leases. Under the arrangement, they have to develop those leases within a certain time period. I think that is the reason for this particular discussion. It seemed like those who come to the trough and this government determining who will get the funding and a large portion of that money is being held back at headquarters to evaluate what they feel is their priority list versus the ideas in the communities. On one hand, we are telling the communities we have a deficit problem, we cannot generate jobs, we cannot generate employment, it is up to you to go do it. Yet this is one area the communities and regions could start marketing themselves to the oil industry, the mining industry and other industries in Canada. These funds have been used on consultants and everything else, but I think it is time we let the communities start marketing themselves. That is what this money should be spent for. With that, I would like to table a motion regarding the whole idea of distributing these funds in a more equitable manner than having 80 percent of it sitting at headquarters.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I want to make a motion to extend sitting hours, Mr. Chairman.

Thank you Mr. Chairman. Mr. Chairman, in the area of parks and tourism, I had asked the Minister if there was any policy or agreement with the Yukon government in the area of tourism. I would like to know if he has uncovered anything. Thank you.

Mr. Chairman, I am not aware of any agreement with the Yukon government or the Yukon First Nations in the area of tourism. I do know some interest has been expressed over the last year. At the official level, there is some discussion about looking at signing some sort of agreement to work in partnership with the Yukon. Thank you.

Thank you Mr. Chairman. Mr. Chairman I would like to move that we extend sitting hours to conclude the estimates of the Department of Resources, Wildlife and Economic Development.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. In the area of tourism, will the Minister keep myself and the Inuvik region informed of what is happening in the area of tourism agreements with the Yukon, because we have a significant tie to them through the Dempster Highway? Thank you.