Mr. Speaker, I have a return to written question asked by Mr. Robert Hawkins on June 2, 2004, regarding the Northwest Territories Business Credit Corporation.

Mr. Hawkins requested that I use my directive capacity and report back to Members a list setting out to whom the BCC had lent money and how much they had lent in the last 10 years.

As Mr. Hawkins had acknowledged, section 15 of the BCC Act limits release of information regarding specific applicants. I do not have any directive capacity to change this statutory limitation. Changes to a statute would require passage by the Legislative Assembly.

The specific client's name is only allowed to be released if the loan is in default and the Legislative Assembly reviews an act to write off or forgive the loan or, alternatively, with the consent of the borrower. Therefore, it is not possible for me to provide Members with a list of whom the BCC has lent money to and how much they received over the past 10 years.

I would like to note that the BCC does make public the number and amount of loans, together with a regional and community level breakdown, as well as a summary of sector assistance; however, the BCC does not provide the names of clients. This information is contained within BCC's annual report, which is tabled annually in the Legislative Assembly.

In the near future I hope to introduce legislation that will create a new corporation to amalgamate Government of the Northwest Territories business assistance programs. This may provide an opportunity to review this issue and enhance reporting and transparency.