There is a motion on the floor to defer community access roads, $101,000. The motion is in order. To the motion. Question has been called. All those in favour? All those opposed? The motion is carried.

We will move to the next page. Resources, Wildlife and Economic Development, operations expenditures, resource management and economic development, not previously authorized, $863,500. Mr. Braden.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I wanted to see if I could get a bit more information on a $500,000 provision for funding to support the first phase of work to be completed by the Aboriginal Pipeline Group. The issue that I wanted to explore is not that I do not support this initiative, in fact I think in this Assembly and elsewhere in the public, we have been great supporters of this initiative. I think this demonstrates that we are ready to put our money where our mouth is, if you will, Mr. Chairman.

The initiative itself is not in question, but I did want to find out a bit more about the business plan for it. Specifically the question is, does $500,000 need to be expended in this fiscal year? Has that full amount been committed or is it something that could be cash flowed perhaps over a two or three year period, something that would go a little easier on our books and still enable the Aboriginal Pipeline Group to go about its work? Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

Mr. Handley.

Mr. Chairman, this money is only committed when it is voted. Can the money be expended this year or is it required this year? The answer to that is, yes. The discussions on pipeline routing are moving along very quickly. In fact, the budget for the Aboriginal Pipeline Group is greater than the $500,000 that the GNWT is contributing. It also includes a contribution from the federal government of almost $400,000.

Yes, the money is needed this year. If we were to try and cash flow it over a couple of years we would miss the pipeline decision altogether. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Handley. Mr. Braden.

Thank you for that explanation. I would like to say further, if that is the amount of money and with the federal contribution in there we are looking at close to $900,000, is it anticipated that we will be counted on to supply any additional funding or is this a one of a kind, one time contribution? Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

Thank you, Mr. Braden. Mr. Handley.

Mr. Chairman, no. We do not anticipate needing to supply any more money than this. We fully expect that by the end of March next year, the decision on a pipeline will have been made. If the Aboriginal Pipeline Group have not progressed to the point where they have essentially a proposal in hand, then they are too late.

Thank you, Mr. Handley. Mr. Braden.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. If I could ask one more question, and I do not anticipate that the Minister will speak for the Aboriginal Pipeline Group, but what is the objective of the group? What is the deliverable going to be for this fairly substantial investment of public money? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Braden. Mr. Handley.

The Member is right. I really cannot speak for the Aboriginal Pipeline Group but my understanding in discussions with them is their objective is to own one third equity at least, in a pipeline, in a joint venture with the producers and a pipeline operator.

Thank you, Mr. Handley. Mr. Braden.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I fully support the objective. It sounds like a business objective. Did the department look at making this kind of contribution as a loan or an advance on what would clearly be a money making proposition for the Aboriginal Pipeline Group? Was there some advantage there? Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

Thank you, Mr. Braden. Mr. Handley.

Mr. Chairman, we have put it forward as a contribution to the Aboriginal Pipeline Group. To have asked them to come up with an agreement to jointly take a loan out for that amount would probably have been impossible within the timeframe we have to work with here.

We view this very much as seed money that is going to result in a huge investment or return on investment for the Government of the Northwest Territories. If we can get the pipeline down the valley, get confirmation in place, get the regulatory processes streamlined, get a proposal together, have aboriginal equity in the pipeline, have it come down the valley in advance of the Alaskan one going whichever route they choose, then we will get many times our money back. It is not a loan. It is a contribution towards a future return.

Thank you, Mr. Handley. Mr. Bell.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I have a couple of questions about this line item as well. Although I agree that we have to make sure we do not miss the boat and it is an important initiative, certainly something we want to be investing in, the time is now to make the stand. I am wondering if the Minister can tell us if any of this money has been spent yet?

Thank you, Mr. Bell. Mr. Handley.

Mr. Chairman, as I said earlier, there is no commitment until the money is voted. The Aboriginal Pipeline Group have been meeting. I assume they have been meeting on their own account until now. They are depending on this money. They are depending on money from the Department of Indian and Northern Affairs. They may have that already, I do not know.

Thank you, Mr. Handley. Mr. Bell.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I also believe you indicated yesterday that they will be coming forward with a business plan before the money is released, that your department will approve. I believe that is the case.

I also think your department has already announced that this money will be forthcoming and it has not been voted on. I would suggest that maybe it is a technicality that we have to vote on this money first, but it has already been announced. Is that correct?

Thank you, Mr. Bell. Mr. Handley.

Mr. Chairman, we are not asking them to bring forward a business plan before we give them the money. The money is for them to prepare their business plan which will set out in a legal form their financing plans, a draft agreement with the gas producers and their various partners, an agreement-in-principle between these northern components, regulatory strategy and so on. This money is to have their business plan fully developed.

The department has not announced this money. It may have been mentioned, I do not know. In some occasions, I have heard it has been but it has not been announced by the department.