Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, yes, the certification program we have and are intending to put in place will certify that the diamonds are actually mined and produced in the Northwest Territories. I must say, Mr. Speaker, that the certification program is voluntary. We cannot force the producers to follow it. If they do not, then their diamonds might be questioned in terms of their origin. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Handley. Supplementary, Mr. Dent.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, at the World Diamond Conference later this month, will the Government of the Northwest Territories press other players in the diamond industry to adopt a global certification process?

Thank you, Mr. Dent. The honourable Minister responsible for the Department of Resources, Wildlife and Economic Development, Mr. Handley.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I am not sure what the honourable Member means by a global certification process, but certainly we will, and when I speak at the conference, I intend to underline the importance and the economic benefits from having our own certification program. As well, we will make it very clear that this will differentiate our diamonds from those that are referred to as conflict or blood diamonds. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Handley. Final supplementary, Mr. Dent.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I mean that there has to be a chain of custody globally adopted as one of the standards so that we can prove that diamonds are not conflict diamonds.

Mr. Speaker, the journal's chief editorial writer wrote a column, calling for a global boycott on diamonds. Will the Minister contact her to discuss the importance of the diamond industry to Canada, and our efforts to set up a process for certification?

Thank you, Mr. Dent. The honourable Minister for the Department of Resources, Wildlife and Economic Development, Mr. Handley.

Mr. Speaker, definitely, we would oppose any move for a global boycott of all diamonds. We are proud of our diamonds. They are important to our economy and we believe that it is a good, viable business, if it is properly monitored and certified.

To answer the question, I have not seen the article but yes, Mr. Speaker, we will contact the writer. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Handley. Item 6, oral questions. The honourable Member for Range Lake, Ms. Lee.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My question today goes to the Minister responsible for the Department of Municipal and Community Affairs and it is in regard to what happened in the last Session, where the tax-based municipalities had to experience cuts in funding but, moreover, that it was done without any notice to Members or officials.

I know that the Minister made a commitment in Fort Simpson at the Association of Municipalities Annual General Meeting, as well as to the committee. I wonder if the Minister could update us as to what he has done, and how he is planning to address that issue? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Ms. Lee. The honourable Minister responsible for the Department of Municipal and Community Affairs, Mr. Antoine.

Thank you, Mr. Antoine. Supplementary, Ms. Lee.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I appreciate the Minister's answer but I do not believe that is the question I asked. My question, Mr. Speaker, has to do with the notice, not about formula financing. I understand that is under review.

I think that there was a cut, but the cut was made without notice to the communities or to the Members. Municipalities are suggesting at least a three year notice, but our committee is suggesting a one year notice, which I think is fair. I do believe the basic principle that this government espouses is the principle of partnership, and partnership has to come with respect for other levels of governments. Cutting their major budgets without notice, I think, is contrary to that principle.

I am very interested in knowing where the Minister stands with respect to giving sufficient notice to municipal governments when there are going to be major changes to their funding. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Ms. Lee. The honourable Minister responsible for the Department of Municipal and Community Affairs, Mr. Antoine.

Thank you, Mr. Antoine. Supplementary, Ms. Lee.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I am fully aware that we dealt with the Department of Municipal and Community Affairs, and every other department, for hours and hours for the last two weeks, but I would like to remind the Minister that this issue came up way back in March. There has been four months in which the Minister should have given this due consideration.

I am still interested in knowing where the Minister stands with respect to giving notice to the municipalities. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Ms. Lee. The honourable Minister responsible for the Department of Municipal and Community Affairs, Mr. Antoine.

Thank you, Mr. Antoine. Final supplementary, Ms. Lee.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I just want to say again that it is not about funding. It is about giving respect to our partners, which the community governments are. I am looking for leadership from all Ministers, in that they are not just waiting for the department to come to them about what the options are, but the Minister is directing his other department.

May I ask the department as to the course of action, and may I have the commitment from the Minister that he will direct the department to find ways to bring in legislation to make sure that there is at least one year of notice? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Ms. Lee. The honourable Minister responsible for the Department of Municipal and Community Affairs, Mr. Antoine.