Yes, I would. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. On my left, deputy minister, Joe Handley and on my right, the director of finance, Jim Kennedy. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I have some brief opening comments. I would first like to start by agreeing with the Minister that RWED has done a lot of good work. They have had some very tough times in the last two years. My own personal observation and working relationship with the regional office in Fort Smith is a very good one. I value the support and assistance that I get from the staff in the region. At the appropriate time, Mr. Speaker, I will be asking some questions about the Mackenzie River Basin Agreement, the type of agreements that have to be signed to get this board up and running, basically a work plan. I also have some questions at the appropriate time on community futures, especially as it relates to the south slave and specifically in Fort Smith. As well, I will be interested in some more information on the forest, timber inventories that are going on and timeframes for that as well as some questions in relation to forest management. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Like the Department of Transportation, I have been somewhat concerned about cutbacks that have taken place. Certainly, in the Department of Transportation, it was quite heavy and in this department as well, certainly from year to year, and in the last two years holding the line. I am concerned about the fact this department is not getting more funding simply because it is one of the departments where there is potential for job creation. I am concerned about areas, like tourism, where at one time the tourist industry was supported very heavily with promotional money which has been cut back substantially of which there are many other areas. This particular department is responsible for employment throughout the territories, the fishing and forestry industry, all of our cottage industries and arts and crafts. If we do not allocate funds to this particular department for potential growth, then in essence, we get back to the old question, no jobs then what happens to people? They are dependent upon the social safety net. This means they have to be put on either income support or whatever means they can, but if we create jobs then they can be taken off that safety net and become healthy contributing citizens who feel good and they are not dependent anymore. In my mind, we need the Minister to be constantly aware of that and to fight for more dollars for this particular department.

This is a difficult time for us here in the territories and there are several departments that have increasing needs because of forced growth. We cannot do anything about that. At the same time, if we do not concentrate and put money into this particular department as well as transport to create jobs, then we are heading for problems. For example, tourism, there are many people in this territory who are dependent upon tourism for their livelihood, either on a full-time or part-time basis to supplement their income. From what I hear, we had a decrease in Yellowknife tourism in the last year. If we do not get out there and promote, have an advertising program to draw people and make them aware of the tremendous attractions we have here, all of our residents are going to lose out in the long run. We have to concentrate on job creation. I see this department as having a potential to solve some of those problems. Naturally, the mining industry, the oil and gas industry are huge employers, but we need to build a solid base behind that, something the people in the communities can work on for all of us to benefit in the long run because of the reductions in various other departments. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I would like to get into detail. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I was wondering if the Minister could elaborate on the type of work that has to take place on the Mackenzie River basin board secretariat to get it up and running and the type of bilateral agreements that have to be negotiated along with the work plan over the next coming months? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Probably the best thing to do is to get a short written update on the work we have done to date with the different governments from the Yukon, Alberta, Saskatchewan and BC on the work done to set up the boards and draft agreements we are working on, so that the Member would have a detailed report on which to work. We can provide that. We are going through the process of nominating members to sit on the boards, doing it with the federal government. We have put forward a name, Mr. MacLeod from the department because we think in the first year in establishing the board and secretariat there is a lot of work that needs to be done internally within government to get it up and running. We have done that, the following the year, we will consider nominations from the general public. There is also a nominee to come from the aboriginal side which is being finalized at this time. Thank you.