Thank you, Mr. Krutko. I have been informed by legal counsel then the clerk. Your question is outside the scope of this bill, therefore it is ruled out of order. Mr. Krutko.

Thank you. Mr. Todd.

No, Mr. Chairman.

Thank you. Mr. Krutko.

Thank you. Mr. Minister.

Mr. Chairman, I am advised by the power that be and the people who work for us, this assistance program we have provided to Giant Mines, in no way, relates whatsoever, to any environmental liability that may or may not be determined at a future date when that mine closes down. Thank you.

Thank you. General comments, Mr. Krutko.

Thank you. Mr. Minister, Mr. Todd.

I am on public record today, which is as good as a written commitment, that this government is in no way being held liable whatsoever, because of the assistance that we are asking this House to vote on today, of $1.5 million. Thank you.

Thank you. General comments. Mr. Picco.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Just a general comment on the appropriation. This year there was a large appropriation in the bill for the forest fire fighting. I am wondering if there is some type of policy the government actually has in place when we are looking at expending those monies to fight fires do you target, for example commercial stands of wood first, before you would fight a fire? Do you look at cabins that might go down as private property? It seems like a large amount of money. How does the department decide which fire to fight, when you look at the budgeted amount? Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

Thank you. Mr. Premier.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. The department works with all the communities in the western arctic to develop priority zones. You have priority one, which is life and property and then priority two, that may be certain areas of maybe commercial property or commercial harvest lumber as well as some trap lines and trapping cabins. Then you have priority three, which is further away from the community. The department develops those priorities with the communities and work in consultation with the communities on what fires to fight and which not to fight. We can not fight them all, it would cost too much money. Just for the Member's information, prior to this Legislative Assembly four or five years ago, we spent up to $30 million a year on fighting fire. The dollars that are spent this year, are going to northern companies and northern people. I believe approximately $3 to

$4 million of those dollars requested are going directly into labour costs only. So there is a priority system and it is kept to strict controls and it just costs a lot of money to fight fire.

I think one quote one day was approximately $400,000 a day, when we were burning up.

Thank you. General comments. Mr. Picco.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Chairman, that was indeed good information from the Premier. In the appropriation it leaves about $9 million in the appropriation special force fire fighting. I am wondering, maybe we could see with the Minister of Finance or with the Premier, if he would like, to let us know indeed, what was expended on a level one, level two, level three, because a lot of jurisdictions, and Mr. Morin is correct, but this jurisdiction is not unique. Indeed a lot of jurisdictions where fire is not invading a commercial or private property or commercial stand of wood, then indeed, the fire is left to burn as mother nature allowed. Indeed the last figure I saw was about 80 percent of all fires in the Northwest Territories are caused by lightening or natural causes, so I am wondering if that breakdown is possible to see how that money was being spent. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

Thank you. I have Mr. Picco and Mr. O'Brien. Mr. Premier.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I do not know whether or not we will be able to get that specific breakdown but they will be, Renewable has committed to Cabinet and FMB to get a break down of actual expenditures of that $9 million. Most of those breakdowns will be tied to fire numbers. Then Mr. Kakfwi could supply you with a map where the fires were and in what areas. In some cases it pays to fight a fire in area three, for example, a priority three area, because it then does not grow and come into priority two or priority one. In some cases it makes more common sense to jump on fires and get them out as quick as possible, when they are small, if possible.

Thank you. I think we are getting into detail of the Supplementary Appropriation No. 2, 1998-1999. Shall we get into detail? Mr. Picco.

Thank you. Mr. O'Brien, general comments.

Mr. Chairman, I had a question if I may?

Thank you. If it is general in nature of the item we are reviewing. Go ahead with your question, Mr. O'Brien.