Mr. Speaker, certainly I would make myself available to meet with any of the affected parties or any of the stakeholders regarding the hydro potential on the Taltson River. There are a number of stakeholders who have certain rights in the area. I would meet with them collectively or separately, as they wish. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Minister. Supplementary, Mr. Miltenberger.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I appreciate the response from the Minister, but I think it is important for the Minister to recognize that the government is initiating this process and it is important for the government to be seen to be trying to coordinate and bring the players together. We could invite him to the region, but I think it is important for the government, with all the resources and work that they have done, to coordinate the meetings so that in fact their agenda can be advanced, working with the people of the South Slave. Would the Minister consider using that approach? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Miltenberger. The honourable Minister responsible for the Financial Management Board Secretariat, Mr. Handley.

Mr. Speaker, certainly we would be willing to coordinate the meeting, to set it up, to have it in whichever community they want to have it in, assist the people to attend the meeting. We would do that, but I want to be clear that in doing that we are not trying to sell a particular proposal to them. We are making them aware of what the potential is and they have to make their own decision to the extent that they want to take advantage of this opportunity. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Minister. Supplementary, Mr. Miltenberger.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, Could the Minister indicate what would be the most appropriate mechanism or process to advance this particular initiative? Would it be best if I wrote to him directly again to outline the request and to work directly with him or are there other officials who would be best consulted? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Miltenberger. The honourable Minister responsible for the Financial Management Board Secretariat, Mr. Handley.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It could be a letter directly to me or to the secretary to the Financial Management Board, Lew Voytilla, who takes a lead on this initiative for me. I also take the Member's questions as an expression of interest in it and I have noted that. Thank you.

Thank you, Minister Handley. Final supplementary, Mr. Miltenberger.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I would also ask the Minister if he could speak briefly to the issue of Alberta's apparent renewed interest in the work that was done 50 years ago or so, and $30 million was spent looking at the feasibility of a dam across the Slave River and whether his department is aware of that. What steps are they taking to ensure they are fully involved in any kind of process that may result from Alberta's interest? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Miltenberger. The honourable Minister responsible for the Financial Management Board Secretariat, Mr. Handley.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I too have heard that Alberta is reconsidering a hydro dam on the Slave River on the Alberta side. That does create tremendous concern for me and my other portfolios, RWED being responsible for the environment. I think it can have huge impacts, not only on the Slave River but also the whole watershed, including the Mackenzie River.

We are in the process of gathering information. I do not believe that Alberta has filed an application yet for building that dam. I think if we are going to be impacted by hydro projects that, as much as possible, we want to be in control of which projects are happening where and what the impacts will be. Any additional project on the Slave or Peace River system is certainly of great concern to us. Thank you.

Thank you, Minister Handley. Item 6, oral questions. The honourable Member for Hay River North, Mr. Delorey.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, as I alluded to earlier, our volunteer firefighters throughout the Northwest Territories go above and beyond the call of duty on a regular basis. They give selflessly of themselves with no regard to their personal safety. Would the Minister responsible for MACA please advise this House as to what forms of recognition the territorial government currently bestows on our volunteer firefighters? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Delorey. The honourable Minister responsible for the Department of Municipal and Community Affairs, Mr. Allen.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Yes, I am pleased to advise the Member that the individual fire departments are eligible to be recognized for their service throughout the Northwest Territories through the Outstanding Volunteer Service Award. That is one of several possible awards that they can receive in the Northwest Territories at this point. Thank you.

Thank you, Minister Allen. Supplementary, Mr. Delorey.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I believe I speak for all of my colleagues in sincerely thanking our volunteer firefighters for the sacrifices they make so that we may be safe. I also believe that we as legislators should reward our volunteer firefighters with tangible forms of recognition.

Would the Minister please advise this House if he would be willing to institute a recognition program for volunteer firefighters whereby they would receive a medal for every increment of dedicated service they complete? For example, a five-year medal, ten-year medal, et cetera. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Delorey. The honourable Minister responsible for the Department of Municipal and Community Affairs, Mr. Allen.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Yes, as occurs in other jurisdictions across the country, I am pleased to say that we will support our own Northwest Territories firefighter organizations so that they do receive some recognition. I am sure we will be able to work that out with the fellow Members here who have an active interest in volunteers in their community. Thank you.

Thank you, Minister Allen. Supplementary, Mr. Delorey.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, when I was reviewing the issue of volunteer firefighters and what we as a government could do to recognize our firefighters, I found that our volunteer firefighters receive a very small stipend from municipalities for the fire and ambulance calls they attend.

The federal government currently gives our volunteer firefighters a tax-free yearly allowance of $1,000. Would the Minister agree to work with the esteemed Minister of Finance to have the territorial government match the federal tax-free allowance for volunteer firefighters? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Delorey. The honourable Minister responsible for the Department of Municipal and Community Affairs, Mr. Allen.