Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Earlier today, as you may recall, during Members' statements I raised the concern over the possibility of losing another part of our culture. I would like to direct my question to the honourable Minister of Education, Culture and Employment, the honourable Charles Dent. I would like to know what the department is doing to assist our residents from losing their culture and traditions within our communities, more importantly, within our education system? Thank you.

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

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

Yes, thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to direct my question to the honourable Minister of Resources, Wildlife and Economic Development, Mr. Stephen Kakfwi.

This will be a new question so you will have to wait until I get to another Member first. Oral questions. Mr. Erasmus.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my question is to the Minister of Finance in regard to the revenues from the diamond industry. Mr. Speaker, the diamond industry as we know is a multi-billion dollar industry. Upon reflection, we must admit that it was a diamentaire other than Mr. Burne in London who was not familiar with Yellowknife's modern buildings. The situation still exists that non-northerners and even non-Canadians heavily influence the amount of benefits that northerners will receive from the diamond industry. Could the Minister refresh our memories on the magnitude of revenues that will go to the federal government from the diamond industry in the north? Thank you.

The Minister of Finance, Mr. Todd.

Yes, thank you, Mr. Speaker. While based on the projected revenues of a 20, 25-year life cycle, the BHP mine is somewhere in the region of $14 billion. It is projected the overall royalties, taxation and income tax et cetera will be derived from that. At the federal government level it is somewhere in the region of $4.4 billion, Mr. Speaker.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The Minister had indicated that the GNWT would get so little money out of this that we might introduce a tax that would choke a mule. Would he please refresh our memories on how much the Government of the Northwest Territories will receive from this industry? Thank you.

Mr. Todd.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I was just having a discussion with my colleagues, I would like to get it accurate. I believe it is somewhere in the region of about $400 million on a gross basis, but the actual net at the end of the day when you discount the formula we have, it is somewhere in the region of about $200 million. Thank you.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. That is a couple of hundred million dollars as opposed to $3 billion or $4 billion. Can the Minister indicate what we can do to increase our revenues and benefits from the diamond industry in the north?

Mr. Todd.

Mr. Speaker, as my honourable colleague knows, I am in discussions with Mr. Martin, the Finance Minister, with respect to the tax window. I just remind everybody there was a 20 percent tax window the previous Finance Minister managed to get into our last formula which we signed off. I am optimistic that we can reach an arrangement with the federal government that allows us to increase this tax window to bring new revenues into the territory. I have said on a number of occasions that these tax revenues are incremental revenues that were not expected. In fact, the net cost to the Canadian taxpayer will be nil. I am hopeful that we can make a sound, both political and economic argument, for the federal government to improve that tax window. However, should that not occur, then like any other good government across the country, we have both the responsibility and authority to introduce taxes and that is an option of course, that we would look at in the coming year.

Oral questions. Final supplementary, Mr. Erasmus.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. In the past, this government was involved in discussions on the Northern Accord which would provide royalties and other taxes to the north. Can the Minister indicate just where the discussions with the aboriginal governments, the Northern Accord discussions are at?

Mr. Todd.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I just want to get the latest update from my colleague, the Premier, and Mr. Kakfwi. The Premier, and of course Mr. Kakfwi, the Minister responsible for RWED, are the lead Ministers on the need for devolution. My understanding is there are some discussions underway with the Minister of Indian Affairs, the Honourable Jane Stewart in relationship to the need for devolution and also the integration of some of the discussions that are underway with respect to some of the constitutional change that would occur in the new Western Territory. I believe that is where we

are right now. Thank you.

Thank you. Oral questions. Mr. Picco.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, following up on my Member's statement which I was paraphrasing from a letter from Mr. Kakfwi on the reform secretariat. Mr. Speaker, on regulatory reform, the secretariat has now been set up. How many PYs are associated with the Regulatory Reform Secretariat? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The Minister responsible for Resources, Wildlife and Economic Development, Mr. Kakfwi.