Thank you. Oral questions. The honourable Member for Nunakput, Mr. Steen.

Thank you. The honourable Minister responsible for the environment, Mr. Kakfwi.

Mr. Speaker, in response to the question, no, I am not aware that this had taken place. The federal government maintains total jurisdiction over inland waters and jurisdiction offshore. In spite of that, we do expect the courtesy of being informed and in a timely way of their activities up here that affect the future and well being of the

residents of the Northwest Territories for which we, unlike them, are totally and directly accountable to. I will be requesting my department to inquire immediately to get information on this, the rationale for the action that was taken and to see if there is any way that something more satisfactory could be done in regard to the action that the Member referred to. Thank you.

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

Thank you, Mr. Kakfwi.

Yes, Mr. Speaker. We will ensure that this is communicated in clearest and strongest terms possible in requesting a meeting with the next Minister of Environment, I believe, since all the current Ministers are fighting for their lives, so to speak, until Monday, once the smoke clears, we will see who is still standing and see who walks into these hallowed halls of power and we shall request meetings with them to put our shopping list in order and brief them properly of the issues that require immediate attention here in the Northwest Territories. Thank you.

Thank you. Oral questions. Mr. Erasmus.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My question is for the honourable Minister of Education, Culture and Employment, Mr. Dent. It is in relation to the statement that he made earlier today on the Nunavut Unified Human Resource Development Strategy in which he indicated that the federal government is investing almost $40 million in incremental training programs over four years in Nunavut and that there are 40 training positions being created with the GNWT as well as 17 courses involving more than 150 Inuit. This, of course, is in addition to what is already been put on by the college and the rest of the public education system. I would like to know if there is a similar plan in the works for the western aboriginal people over here?

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

Thank you. The Member for Yellowknife North, Mr. Erasmus.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Actually, that training goes on in both east and the west, not only the west. What I would like to know is, has the Minister or any other Minister approached the federal government for similar funding for training in the west? Thank you.

Thank you. Mr. Dent.

Thank you, Mr. Dent. Second supplementary, Mr. Erasmus.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The Minister had indicated that this $40 million was a result of land claim negotiations. Is it our government's position, we have negotiators in all these land claims negotiations, is it our position that all the western land claims should also have those very similar training dollars included in the claims that have yet to be completed? Thank you.

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

Thank you. Final supplementary, Mr. Erasmus.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The Minister indicated in his statement that there were quite a few positions for Inuit that have been created with the Government of the NWT. Are all of these positions being funded through that money that has been put forward by the federal government or are we paying for some of those positions? Thank you.

Thank you. Mr. Dent.