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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, yes, I heard the Nats'enelu people talking about the need to have more northern tanned hides available. RWED would be very interested in any proposal to establish a tannery.

In fact, we have tried it in the past on a number of occasions. People want fur and hides that are tanned in a traditional way and it is a very labour-intensive way of doing it. However, if there is a good proposal, I would be interested. In fact, I am asking RWED to talk to Nats'enelu about what the possibilities might be. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Minister. Supplementary, Mr. Lafferty.

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

Yes, Mr. Speaker, in about '94 or '96, somewhere in that period, RWED -- or Renewable Resources at that time -- did start a tannery program here using very simple basic materials, but materials that would help make it easier than the traditional way of tanning in order to attract more people into it. We had trained a number of people and then the interest seemed to die away. There were not a lot of people who were willing and ready to take training or devote themselves to this very strenuous task of tanning hides. If there is a renewed interest in doing that, then we are very definitely interested in it. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Minister. Item 6, oral questions. The honourable Member for Mackenzie Delta, Mr. Krutko.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I too have a question for the Minister of Resources, Wildlife and Economic Development in a similar area of questioning with regard to trying to find programs to enhance the fur industry, the craft side of it; beaded jackets, muskox ties and also people who are in the cottage industry of making slippers and other crafts like fur pants. There is the quality of craftsmanship out there, but we do not seem to be doing much by way of assisting them through program dollars, resources. We assist in the diamond industry. We assist with training for oil and gas.

I think we have to start looking at a program specifically designed for the fur industry. I would like to ask the Minister, are you looking at any new initiatives to establish a program on its own to assist the cottage industry dealing with fur products?

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Yes, I take the Member's concerns very seriously because the traditional economy is very important to many of our people. I think producing northern products from fur and other northern materials is more than just an economic activity. It is cultural. We have, through the NWT Development Corporation and RWED, undertaken a number of areas of support, Mr. Speaker. We are still working on opening Tuktoyaktuk and Aklavik fur shops. There are discussions going on with the Development Corporation right now. Dene Fur Cloud is in operation. The Nats'enelu do their own marketing and are showing a great deal of promise. In fact, D'Arcy Moses just returned recently from a trip to Germany with the Governor General where he is promoting northern products, aboriginal products. The Arctic Canada Trading is moving some fur but not large amounts. So there are a number of initiatives and if there are interests in communities and if the projects seem viable, then definitely -- either through RWED or through the NWT Development Corporation -- we are interested. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Minister. Supplementary, Mr. Krutko.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, there is a segment of our population that has some very unique skills and I think we have to build on that, especially with respect to crafts and being able to produce things and also being able to promote it. Mr. Speaker, I am looking more in line of what they have done in the Eastern Arctic and how they are able to take a segment of their economy, especially the seal harvesting aspect, and they have been able to go miles with that. That is one of the areas where I think we as a government can also consider maybe adopting a similar process to deal with fur products, like how they were able to deal with the seal products. Has the Minister had a chance to meet with his colleagues from the east to see if that program can be adopted here in the west?

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

Mr. Speaker, I have talked very generally with my colleagues in Nunavut on this issue. I am going to Nunavut some time in mid-November and will certainly make a point of following up on that at that time. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Minister. Supplementary, Mr. Krutko.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Has the Minister, through his Department of RWED, met with the federal government in trying to look at the new economic development agreement and ensuring that we have a program specifically designed to assist the fur cottage industry in the Northwest Territories?

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

Mr. Speaker, my department, RWED, has been working very hard in trying to negotiate an economic development agreement with the federal government over the past two years and they continue that effort. The traditional economy is very much a piece of that economic development agreement, if we are successful in negotiating one. I agree with the Member, it is an important part of our economy. We cannot get too focused on oil and gas and diamonds and forget that piece. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Minister. Final supplementary, Mr. Krutko.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I would like to put a challenge out to the Minister to show me physically that he really supports this industry. I would like him to wear this tie for a day in this House just to show us that he really supports the fur industry.

-- Laughter

Thank you, Mr. Krutko. In the light of the day, yes, Minister Handley, you may or may not answer that question.

Mr. Speaker, I would be very pleased to wear that necktie. Next Halloween would probably be appropriate. Thank you.

-- Laughter

-- Applause

Thank you, Mr. Minister. Item 6, oral questions. The honourable Member for Tu Nedhe, Mr. Nitah.