Mr. Chairman, as I said the GNWT or the NWT Environmental Protection Act has been in force for a number of years. We continue to work on regulations to that act. For example, areas such as used oil waste, agricultural waste, we are continually working on regulations, but the act itself is in place. The Canadian Environmental Protection Act though has been under development for about five years. Over a year ago it was passed. There was considerable controversy over it because of some of the changes that were being proposed in it. The Canadian Environmental Protection Act is the body through which the Mackenzie Valley Resource Management Act is implemented, and so on, but I think the legislation that has been under review and consideration in the last couple of years is federal legislation, it is not our legislation.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Perhaps it was regulations then. Did we have some new regulations that would be a little bit stricter, that we were going to put into place and have not?

Mr. Chairman. Yes. There has been discussion about putting in some more stringent regulations on sulphur dioxide, for example. We have essentially adopted the national standards as being what our regulations are.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Did those discussions ever go beyond discussions and actually evolve into drafting of regulations, but not put into place?

Mr. Chairman. I believe we have some draft regulations which are still in the office.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Could I ask why those draft regulations were not put into force? I recall meeting with some doctors here at the Legislative Assembly and they had felt strongly that the emissions here were contributing to an abundance of respiratory problems to the residents of Yellowknife so I would like to know why those regulations were discarded or not put into place. Thank you.

Mr. Chairman, I do not recall those specific discussions, but we essentially have been monitoring the emissions at Giant Mine. We have basically adopted the national ones. I do not recall the exact reasons. I am not even sure I was in the department when the draft regulations were being discussed as the Member mentions.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Perhaps the Minister or the deputy minister could look into it and get back to me as to why they decided not to adopt these new standards. There must have been a good reason why the department felt that they should have stricter regulations. Thank you.

Yes, we will look into it and provide the information.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I believe this would fall under the Environmental Protection and it regards comments that were made by, I believe, the director of DIAND regarding the responsibility for cleanup of the arsenic at Giant Mine. The federal government, DIAND, does not seem to be quick at assuming the responsibility. They have noted that certainly above ground that they wish to share the responsibility with the Government of the Northwest Territories. Could the Minister advise us as to what responsibility or what regulatory authority this government has in regard to regulating pollutants on the surface? Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

Thank you, Madam Chairperson. Could the Minister tell me in what point within the life of the Government of the Northwest Territories did this government take over the responsibility for surface environmental issues? How many years has this government been responsible for this and it was not federal responsibility? Thank you, Madam Chairperson.