The deputy minister, Mr. McLeod.

Mr. Dent.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Because it is not an equal amount expended every month, then it is difficult for me to calculate what the expected annual figure might be. I understand the range that this can take. I am looking at suppression. Since we have taken over suppression, I understand that the range has been from $5.7 million in 1997-1998 to as high as $27 million in 1994-1995. So I know there is a significant range. But what I am trying to get now is an understanding of what is the expected figure for the full year. What is the holding figure that is in our budget for the full year?

Mr. Minister.

Mr. Chairman, we are not clear exactly what it is the Member is asking. Perhaps he could ask the question again.

Mr. Dent, can you restate your question?

The deputy minister said that the figure we see here is based on historical figures and we are seeing what they were expecting to spend through July.

My question is, using those historical figures, what number would we expect to see by the end of September? I am just asking for a ballpark figure. The deputy minister mentioned a holding number. What is the holding number for fiscal 2000-2001?

The deputy minister, Mr. McLeod.

General questions or comments. Mr. Dent.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I appreciate that information. It was what I was looking for. Following up on a question that my colleague had in terms of contracts that are contained within this current interim. One of them that I noticed was for David Elliott Diamond Industry Consultation, for $250,000.

As I understood, he was providing us with consultation when we received applications for assistance to set up polishing factories and so on. He was assisting us by evaluating those projects. I am wondering about this amount of dollars for somebody, when I am not aware that we are going to have any reason to have applications within the next year. I do not believe that there is going be an increase in the quota of diamonds available from BHP in that period of time. We know that Diavik is not going to be producing diamonds in that period. So why would we have to maintain this contract for the next year?

Mr. Minister.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. The fact is we realized early on in this development that we know very little about the diamond industry. We need a presence in Antwerp in order to keep abreast of some the development and activities in the diamond industry. So we have contracted Mr. Elliott to advise us globally about activities that should be of concern and interest to us, to keep us current in our thinking and about what is going on in the diamond community.

We have retained him. We also know that the facilities that are operational here, we need to be advised about whatever information we get from them, to understand it as is relative to the international activity. This is what the consultant provides to us. That is what my understanding is. Thank you.

Mr. Dent.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I know the first time I met Mr. Elliott, he was running his own firm that was called Diamond Tenders. For this amount of money, do we get the services of anyone else? Or is this for information provided just by Mr. Elliott? Is he still running his firm in addition to this?

It still seems like a large amount of money for the amount that I expect that we will get from him in the course of the next year. Are there any special projects that we are expecting to undertake? Does he travel here to provide training, to save us the cost of sending our people overseas? I really have not heard anything in the Minister's answer to justify the $250,000. I wonder if I could get some more information on this.

The Minister for Resources, Wildlife and Economic Development.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I think that it is fair to say that without international and outside expertise, it is very difficult for us, with any confidence, to say that we are on top of the game. In order to have some level of confidence that we know what we are doing, we need someone established from the diamond community.

For instance, we are looking at the idea of trying to create a niche in the market for Northwest Territories diamonds. Perhaps Canadian diamonds, perhaps specific, Northwest Territories or Arctic diamonds.

We need advice on how that can be done, and to get some assistance so that whatever we do is done in a context that would helpful. We have also said for a couple of years now that we would like to see the North, and Yellowknife perhaps, being designated and recognized sometime in the future as a diamond centre. Essentially where we can see people coming to do business with diamonds, where diamonds will be sold and marketed.

By ourselves, we are not able to move in that direction with any confidence. So we need advice on how that can be done, what type of activity and planning we need to do in order to move in a cohesive direction. Those are two very specific things that we are working on and that we need advice on. Thank you.

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

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I have a question for the Minister. It relates to departmental vision and how he sees the mandate of the department.

Some time ago when this department was amalgamated, economic development was merged with wildlife. I was wondering if the Minister can talk a little about that. I am not suggesting that the preservation of wildlife and economic development are mutually exclusive. But at times, we have seen that they can have conflicting mandates.

Can the Minister discuss a little bit about why the marriage of these two departments, at the time that it occurred, was relevant at the time? Does he still feel that it is relevant? I am also wondering if he would possibly consider the establishment of a department of industry that might concentrate its efforts on some of the major economic development priorities that this government has.

So while I appreciate that this is not directly related to the interim, I am hoping that the Minister can just quickly discuss these couple of questions. Thank you.

Mr. Kakfwi.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I thank the Member for the question. It is always good to get clear again what the vision and mandate of the department is.

I cannot read it word for word, but it is usually available somewhere. I think that it is good to have a department that is responsible for ensuring that the wildlife, the environment and the land is utilized and kept for our future generations as well.

That the wildlife is well-managed, that the land and the water and wildlife itself are not disrupted and negatively impacted to a point where it can be available for future generations or for the present, for that matter.

Economic development activities and initiatives should be pursued actively to ensure benefits to the North, aboriginal peoples, to communities and to this government, in a way that balances a need for economic benefits as well as protecting the wildlife and the environment.

In general terms, that is the vision and the mandate that we have. We know that to have anybody, whether it is a company or a department espouse a singular purpose, such as to pursue mines and mining activities, is no longer acceptable. What we look for are companies like BHP and Diavik, who actively pursue diamond or mining activity, but at the same time make very strong statements and commitments to protecting the wildlife and environment.

The government is the same. We bring our wildlife and environmental interests and concerns together in the same shop with our interest of promoting oil and gas development, mining, and economic development. It is the in-house type of approach we take. We think that works best towards taking a balanced approach.

Our highest priority is to make sure that wildlife and the environment are protected. If we can do that and at the same time promote economic activity, then we are prepared to do it.

I think the idea of putting everyone in one shop and forcing them to work out a balanced approach that takes every interest and concern under consideration before initiating work was the right decision to make. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Kakfwi. Mr. Bell.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I would like to thank the Minister for his comments. I would just like to add that what I am suggesting is that we create a specialized and specific department of industry. I am saying this with the understanding that industry today, in order to be successful, has to look at sustainable development and has to be in business with the idea and with the mandate of being a good corporate citizen. I think we have seen that companies that do not operate under these principles and guidelines are not successful in this day and age.

I would suggest to the Minister that we could possibly have a department or area that focuses strictly on industry, but keeps within these guidelines and mandate. Thank you.