Thank you, Mr. Speaker. In regard to the whole area of marketing, the reason I asked the question is there two institutions in my riding, the Aklavik Fur Shop and also the Fort McPherson Canvass Shop, which make quality products, but I think we have to start linking it to the whole marketing, as the Minister stated, where we seem to be lacking. The reason I asked the question of the Minister is, is there a report or basically, a marketing strategy or plan which is presently being developed in-house through his department in relation to marketing of northern crafts and products through the Arctic Co-operative Institute?

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. There is not a single document which I can provide for the Member that would provide the information he is seeking. I think I can prepare some sort of paper which could summarize in general terms the approach we are taking to this problem. The NWT Development Corporation has been reorganizing for the last two years some of the goods that they have historically produced through subsidiaries have been assessed as to whether or not there is actually a market for the things. A classic case is moccasins made by Dene craft people. We produce literally hundreds and hundreds of moccasins. They flood the stores for a certain price. The question comes up, is that really what the southern market is interested in or would they be more interested in some sewing to hang on the wall that is the sewing part of the flower designs and have those produced on a smaller scale for wall hangings or place mats. These types of questions have been asked.

We produce tents in Fort McPherson, but we do not have a reliable client who says we will require so many of a certain type of your goods every year. We look for it and we have been looking throughout Europe and the United States for markets and we are trying to identify ones which we can realistically accept, knowing that we can meet the requirements of the people whom we are dealing with. The Co-operative movement would be another agency that you would have to actually inquire as to their strategies in dealing with marketing of the goods that are produced. I can produce a summary document that would explain the work we have been doing and marketing for the Development Corporation for the last couple of years. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. That is exactly the point I am trying to get at, is that there has to be more initiatives made by this government to work along with organizations such as the Arctic Co-operative Limited, aboriginal organizations and the Development Corporation to assist us in regard to what they do best, which is basically selling products. I think we are good at making them, but we have to have someone out there to do the selling where there are a lot of stores throughout the Northwest Territories. We have to start taking advantage of the experience and the skill that these organizations have in regard to the Arctic Co-operatives Limited who has been here for 25 years. It has taken them years and years to develop that skill and quality, so I think it is important. If the Minister can tell me or report back to this House on the number of initiatives that have been taken not only with the Arctic Co-operatives Limited but other institutions and agencies such as aboriginal corporations? Can you do that?

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would be pleased to provide a prepared document that would explain what the difficulty is and some of the ways in which we are trying to address the particular problem we face, how we think it can be resolved and how the Co-operative movement is addressing it as well. We would be prepared to look at it and provide detail with the different initiatives and projects and development corporations we have, and subsidiaries across the north. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my question today is for the Minister responsible for telecommunications. Mr. Speaker, on February, 1997, 69 first-world and developing countries agreed to liberalize their basic telecommunication services under the general agreement on trade and

services, negotiated through the World Trade Organization. Most participants in the agreement, including Canada, subscribed to a pro-competitive regulatory principal. How will NorthwesTel's request for this $30 million subsidy be reconciled in view of the general agreement on trade and services signed by Canada and 68 other countries? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I believe that Mr. Antoine may have had this within his answer some place, but could I find out, please, what this government's position is on the subsidy proposal for Northwestel?

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It would appear that there has been a subsidy in some remote and rural areas for the past seven years. It would appear that a subsidy of approximately $2.5 million per year was ample to address that. Does the Minister know why NorthwesTel projects that with the introduction of long distance competition, they are going to require $30 million worth of subsidies? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It does not sound like NorthwesTel is very optimistic about their fortunes when competition arrives. In fact other large monopolistic companies have had to sharpen their operations and have done very well in competitive market places in other jurisdictions. Would the Minister concede or acknowledge that competition may actually lower costs to consumers and actually improve local and regional service as has been proven when monopolies have been challenged by competition in other areas in the past? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.