Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I am aware that over the past three or four years, the department has been reviewing the land pricing policy. I think it was under a program called land reform within the communities, and it is related to eventually turning over the control of these lands including the pricing of these lands to the communities. Now, at what stage this program is sitting, I am unable to indicate to the Member exactly where we are with that program. However, I am prepared to review with the department where the program is sitting at this time and get back to the Member with the information. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, can the Minister also tell me what is the government doing to implement a more reasonable property appraisal system that is incorporated in reflecting a more northern approach in regards to properties in the North? In my riding, for instance, you are dealing with permafrost, you are dealing with people who develop a lot of these properties, but you do not have the luxury of pavement or other necessities for property development, but a lot of people have put sweat equity into these properties over time. I would like to ask the Minister, are you considering also looking at that as a possibility?

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, can the Minister tell me if the government is considering looking at the remote communities in light of the problems that they have versus the larger centres and try to find a more marketable system of appraising properties in isolated communities than they do in larger centres?

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the whole question is relating to pricing of lands and exactly what the criteria is used to arrive at the price of lands in, for instance, communities with highly developed streets and properties including running water and sewage facilities versus

the smaller communities. There is no doubt, there is a different criteria used for the pricing. All I can say to the Member is that I am going to have to review with the department all the related items that would apply to the pricing and get back to the Member with that information. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would also like to ask the Minister if his department or himself can look at the hardship that this has caused, especially in a lot of the smaller communities like Aklavik. I have heard from a lot of constituents that this is a real problem. From seniors and also people who are wanting to own their own homes but also seeing that there is a significant increase which they were unaware of that it would be such a drastic increase. Could the Minister consider that this is causing hardship to the people in the Mackenzie Delta and will he also take a look at those hardships? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Yes, the department would take into consideration the suggested hardships on the citizens and residents of these communities. But I would like to point out that the department is not doing the land Reform Pricing Policy in isolation. We are working, and we have worked in the past, with the Association of Municipalities. Through that organization, we assume that communities have had input to the department's policy. These types of concerns are addressed at that time. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, just on the whole point of the communities I represent and the Association of Municipalities, I think the one thing that the Minister has got to be made aware of is that there are two differences between a tax-based community and communities who have the CTA community status. That is where, I believe the problem lies. We have to treat these two institutions differently. The circumstances are different in the smaller isolated communities. That is the point I am trying to make. There is hardship in a lot of those communities to develop property where you do not have the luxury or roads or you do not have the luxury of accessing gravel at a reasonable rate. I would just like to make the Minister aware of that. Also, the communities that I represent are settlement councils and also municipal councils, but they are not classified in the larger sense of cities, villages or towns for those instances which should be treated differently because of the titles. I would like to make the Minister aware of that.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Earlier today, I spoke about the Giant Mine situation and the importance that it places on the community and on the economy of the Northwest Territories and should we lose this mine, then we potentially lose 280 jobs directly and, in all likelihood, 250-300 jobs indirectly. I am wondering if the Minister from Renewable, Wildlife and Economic Development could tell me if he has been in touch with the Department of Indian and Northern Affairs with regard to not the arsenic problem because there is a program in place on that and it was a very successful conference that was held here, and a great many experts are working on that particular area. But I am very interested in the continuing operation of the mine. I am wondering if the Minister could tell me what his negotiations have been and what subject and is he making progress with the Department of Indian and Northern Affairs in regard to supporting any potential buyers for the mine and to ensure that it keeps going? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The department has been carrying on discussions with federal officials and various private interests to explore options and possibilities for ensuring that the mining operations continue at Giant Mine, plus as well to deal with the arsenic issue and the environmental liability. It is still possible to find someone from the private sector to assume some interest and responsibility for carrying on the operations and ensuring that the mine continues to operate. We still have an enormous amount of work to do with the federal government to clarify how the environmental liability, specifically the arsenic problem, should be addressed. It has to be addressed before I think there is definite commitment, if any, by the private sector, to assume some role and some responsibility. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I am more concerned about the type of assistance and the initiative that both our government is using and the Department of Indian and Northern Affairs is using to attract a potential buyer and what the hurdles in that may be. Could the Minister tell me if they have a program in place or if they are working on that to assist potential buyers and in what way they may be looking at assistance for buyers? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I know that there are discussions ongoing, as I said, with federal officials, as well as some private sector interests to make a deal. One of the issues that needs to be addressed and clarified is who is going to assume liability for the environmental aspect of Giant Mine, that is, the surface clean-up, as well as the arsenic that is stored underground. We are working with the federal government and the private sector to try to make a deal. We could, perhaps, discuss with my staff what more I could say. It is very insensitive and difficult to speak of it off the cuff. Perhaps I can try to make a more definitive statement later on this week on that. Thank you very much.

Thank you. I would appreciate if the Minister could prepare a detailed statement on this that he could present in the House. I am interested, for example, in the area that should a potential buyer not come forward, then will this government provide assistance to a local group, be it as individuals such as the Canadian Auto Workers who have expressed an interested and, I understand, are looking into the potential of carrying on. But they need assistance, and there may be interest on the business sector here in the North combined with the union people. I am interested in knowing from the Minister what this government is prepared to do to assist those groups in order to look at a potential carrying on of the mine in the event a buyer is not found. Thank you.