Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Integrated resource management is under our fish and wildlife division. It is one aspect of it. It is the way our department is dealing with the different aspects in regard to resource management and the renewable resource side of things.

It includes all of the different areas of development in that field. In that division, we are attempting to capture all of those activities in those areas. It is also spread out over a number of regions as well. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. McLeod. General comments. Mr. Roland.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. When I look at the summary of contracts committed for the full year, there were a number of questions earlier on that. There seemed to be some differing responses. In this one area, where it totals $9.7 million, that is a full-year commitment. All of those numbers in here are full year commitments. Is that correct?

Mr. Minister.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. We can provide a definitive list of which ones are and which ones are not full-year commitments. We do not have that information readily available. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Minister. Mr. Roland.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. That would definitely be much needed, because if we look under resource management, economic development, for example. Under activity 313, trade and investment. There is an area here for Mackenzie Valley, $20,000. Then I go further down to activity 330, minerals, oil and gas, you have an area of $30,000, world petroleum congress. Those are the only two areas I see that I think refer to the Mackenzie Delta Oil and Gas work that is going on.

Then I see the one where it comes to diamond industry consultation. That was discussed to some degree earlier, but my comparison is oil and gas versus diamonds.

As we have heard much talk lately, oil and gas is going to be the future development of the Northwest Territories. It is going to keep us in a cycle of positive growth if we can get beyond this funding crisis we seem to find ourselves in on an ongoing basis? Is that correct? As I read this, under 313 trade and investment, you have the Mackenzie Valley at $20,000. This is the document that says summary of contracts committed for the full year and other expenses originally required during interim period. Is that $20,000 Mackenzie Valley and this maxim of $30,000, those are the oil and gas? Or are there other oil and gas areas within this? Thank you.

Mr. Minister.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. In the oil and gas initiative, we tentatively plan to request over $700,000 for the entire year. For the interim appropriation, I think we asked for about $185,000. Most of this money will go outside of headquarters. It will go to the communities and regions. It is a different approach than we have taken on diamonds. At this time, it is the new money we are going to expend in support of the interest of oil and gas and promoting economic opportunities and supporting communities and regions. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

Thank you, Mr. Minister. General comments. Mr. Roland.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Under the briefing that the department gave during a committee, work under diamond projects, at a total of $541,000, was being expended or proposed to be expended by the department. How does that figure tie into the contracts that have been let? Is the $225,000 also part of the $541,000, or is that over and above?

Mr. Minister.

Thank you. That would be part of it. Thank you.

Thank you. Mr. Roland.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. That $225,000 for the consultant is part of the $541,000. Does that come under operations and maintenance? Under the $541,000, we have compensation benefits of $101,000, grants and contributions of $60,000 and operations and maintenance of $380,000. What area would that come out of?

Mr. Minister.

Mr. Chairman, I am not clear on the question, but if he is asking where the money is coming from, it comes out of the operations and maintenance allocation of the contracts.

General comments or questions for the Minister? Mr. Minister.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I forgot one part of the question asked by Mr. Nitah, as to whether or not the assignment of Resources, Wildlife and Economic Development is too big for one Minister.

I just wanted to comment that in the previous government the Department of Resources Wildlife and Economic Development was assigned to one Minister, along with the Justice portfolio. That was managed. The intent all along I think was, and it was never finessed to any large extent, was to share the responsibility for some of the work with, for instance, Finance, the Premier's Office and with the Department of Education.

In this scenario, we have an agreement that the Minister of Finance, the Minister of Aboriginal Affairs, the Minister of Education, the Deputy Premier, will all assist in carrying out the work of the department. They are attending meetings, functions, and giving speeches on behalf of the government.

These large time commitments are always difficult for one Minister to manage. It was always the intent to spread it out. At this time, there is a very good agreement amongst the Cabinet to share in the opportunities and the events that fall under this portfolio. It has created an opportunity to work together very well and to let everyone have a part in carrying out this responsibility. I just wanted to comment on that, which I missed earlier. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Minister. General comments or questions for the Minister? Mr. Nitah.

For Members, we are dealing with interim appropriation at this time. I think if you are asking questions, it should be directed to the interim appropriation. I am not too sure if there is anything in the interim appropriation regarding the Mackenzie Valley Resources Act, but if there is, maybe the Minister can add to that. The Minister can answer the question if he wishes. Mr. Minister.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. There is some suggestion that this is a very unwieldy, cumbersome regulatory regime. In fact, it is a new regime. At least in the Sahtu, the regime presiding over the Sahtu part of the Mackenzie Valley Resource Management Regime has been working very well and processing applications and permits on a very timely basis. If the fear was there previously, there is reason to believe it should be unfounded. People setting up the boards and undertaking the work are working and moving to carry out their mandates and responsibilities in a very expeditious way. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Minister. Questions for the Minister? Detail? We are on tab 6 of your binders, page 8 - 6, interim appropriation. We are dealing with Resources, Wildlife and Economic Development. Total Resources, Wildlife and Economic Development, operations and maintenance, $41,134,000. Agreed?