Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my question today is for the Minister of Justice. As our newest Minister for Health stated this morning, we know from past experience that along with development comes a social impact that must be planned for.

Mr. Speaker, I think we have all recognized that fact and we have seen an increase in nurses. We have seen an increase in social workers. As the crime rates have been on the increase lately, we have not seen an aspect that is very important in our smaller communities, the RCMP. We are starting to hear the complaints coming from the smaller communities, and I think right across the board, for that fact, that the RCMP are under-resourced.

I would like to ask the Minister if there is an increase in the resources coming down the tubes at some point. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. McLeod. The honourable Minister responsible for the Department of Justice, Mr. Antoine.

Thank you, Mr. Minister. Supplementary, Mr. McLeod.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I am glad to hear that the Minister and the department is going to be reviewing the document that has been submitted. I would like to ask if he could tell us what has been the percentage of increase to the RCMP over the last ten years or so? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. McLeod. The honourable Minister responsible for the Department of Justice, Mr. Antoine.

Thank you, Mr. Minister. The question has been taken as notice. Item 6, oral questions. The honourable Member for Frame Lake, Mr. Dent.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Minister responsible for Resources, Wildlife and Economic Development. I would like to ask the Minister if he can tell me what is the purpose of the Business Incentive Policy Interim Manufacturing Directive?

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

Mr. Speaker, the Interim Manufacturing Directive was established in the light of the previous government. The purpose of it at that time was to provide some interim support to the manufacturers until such a time as the government was able to come up with a revised Business Incentive Program that at that time, the thinking was, would replace the directive. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Minister. Supplementary, Mr. Dent.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, from that answer, I would assume that this government does not agree with that policy because he said at that time, that things were going to change. What is the current government's purpose in having the Interim Manufacturing Directive?

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

Mr. Speaker, the purpose of the current government having the Interim Manufacturing Directive is exactly the same as it was for the previous government; until we have a Business Incentive Policy that answers the response and the concerns of all sectors of our industry, then we will continue to have that interim policy in place.

As the Member knows, we are currently in the process of revisiting the Business Incentive Policy. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Minister. Supplementary, Mr. Dent.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It seems to me that it is kind of a never-ending story. Can the Minister advise me, is the process to be recognized as a northern manufacturer onerous? What does it take to become recognized as a northern manufacturer?

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

Mr. Speaker, we have a pretty broad definition of manufacturer. In some cases, it is very clear and certainly not an onerous task at all to be recognized as a northern manufacturer. In other areas, it may be less clear, depending on the amount of value added that the company is producing. If someone is simply bringing something in from the south and bolting it together here, they may not qualify. If someone is actually manufacturing something, whether it is trusses for roofs or wall panels, they might very easily be recognized. Thank you.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I am a little bit puzzled by the Minister's response because I know of a business that has applied for recognition as a northern manufacturer that does, in fact, construct all their materials in the North. They have been denied. I was wondering if the Minister would table in this House the section of the policy that allows the senior management preference committee to deny a company, which actually manufactures something in the Northwest Territories, recognition as a northern manufacturer?

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

Mr. Speaker, certainly I would be ready to table the whole policy and attempt to highlight the relevant section for the Member, if he wishes. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Minister. Item 6, oral questions. The honourable Member for Yellowknife South, Mr. Bell.