Minister of Resources, Wildlife and Economic Development, Mr. Bell.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As the cooperation plan unfolds and as we get down the road toward the joint environment impact assessment hearings, and we are preparing for these coordinated regulatory hearings with the NEB, the Mackenzie Valley Land and Water Board, the Gwich'in Land and Water Board, and the Sahtu Land and Water Board. We will make sure that they are holding hearings in the same area so as not to have such a cumbersome process that we are tied up in consultation for the next 15 years. Certainly, the Government of the Northwest Territories will come forward, make an intervention, represent the interests of the people of the Northwest Territories, ensure our interests are upheld, ensure that northerners are involved and heard, and make sure that the management of our environment and wildlife is first and foremost and that the benefits that flow from not just this development, but any other development, as has been our past practice. We will stand up and make the case that the benefits need to remain in the North, as well as the job opportunities and the business opportunities. You can expect to hear that message loud and clear from this government. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Supplementary, Mr. Allen.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I am pleased to hear that. But, I will also hold the Minister accountable for those words. I want to elaborate and be more proactive from the political perspective rather than from a managerial or administrative one. I want to reference a comment made to industry on January 26th, where I said in my follow-up meeting with Petro Canada and ConocoPhillips, that I would continue to support the exploration activities in the Mackenzie Delta/Beaufort area from a constituency perspective. I will make this same confirmation to the company. So, again, I will ask the Minister if he would provide us with the political details as to what position of this government would be in this approach to making statements to the environmental assessment review. Thank you.

Minister of Resources, Wildlife and Economic Development, Mr. Bell.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. We are certainly supportive of continued exploration, continued economic development, not only in the Member's riding but in all ridings in the Northwest Territories. Obviously, if there is a need to balance economic development with the preservation of our environment...But that is something that doesn't come with any surprise. Anyone in the Northwest Territories or anyone in this House, that has always been our message. We will continue to be consistent with that. I have also had the chance to meet with industry, with the Mackenzie Valley Producers Group and other industry representatives. Our message is the same. I'm glad to hear we are on the same page with the Member, that we are certainly supportive of development. Wherever we can lend a hand, certainly engage us, because we are prepared to do that. Thank you.

Supplementary, Mr. Allen.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Again, I take the Minister's question in stride. I am very pleased to hear that he is on the same wavelength as I am. It brings to mind, Mr. Speaker, that in the political process, we also deal with adversarial positions. One of the key stumbling blocks to our prosperity seems to be that canvass governments appear not to trust Canadians to make their own economic decisions. In the context of my questions on the pipeline issue, I am going to ask the Minister if he would raise that as an important profile in the deliberations to the success of a potential pipeline development. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Minister of Resources, Wildlife and Economic Development, Mr. Bell.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I think it is our nature, unfortunately, to tend, at times, to get hunkered down in adversarial positions. I think we have to move past that. I think we have to look at what is in the best interests of northerners and NWT residents. Certainly, this government will act and make sure we are working toward achieving the best interests of all northerners. I think it is important for us to move past adversarial positions. I don't think we are trying to restrict northerners who are going out, making an effort to be entrepreneurial, looking to be involved in businesses and looking to take advantage of this development. I want to support that. I know this government wants to support that. That certainly is our intention and will remain so. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

--Applause

Final supplementary, Mr. Allen.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I certainly respect that response. I recognize that our political system in the Northwest Territories is not always conducive to the approach of economic business development. I am going to ask the Minister if he is willing to enter other regions of the Territories to help promote the prospects of a Mackenzie Valley gas pipeline to see if we can somehow influence some of the political institutions that come onside. I think that is one of the systematic problems we are having in the Territories. Again, I am going to ask the Minister if he is prepared to go into other regions and see if he can influence the political process at this point. Thank you.

Minister of RWED, Mr. Bell.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. We as a government feel that we have an educative role to play and need to be able to ensure that communities have all of the necessary information before them when they are making these very important decisions about whether or not to support economic development. Certainly at times the NWT and the jurisdiction here are no different than other jurisdictions. At times economic development can be at odds with political development, sometimes it is in lockstep. I think we have to look at these things on a case-by-case basis, offer all of our support as a government, and certainly agree to work with community groups, whether it is pipeline, hydro, mining, any of these economic development opportunities. I think the best thing that we can do is be willing to support and buttress the efforts of local community groups. Certainly, we will commit to continue to do that. Thank you.

Item 6, oral questions. Member for Tu Nedhe, Mr. Villeneuve.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Today I just want to raise a question to the Premier of the NWT with regard to the NWT Power Corporation's latest rounds of community consultations in Fort Resolution, Hay River and Fort Smith. Mr. Speaker, I have had a lot of issues on impact development and compensation being raised by constituents and people who used to be constituents of the Treaty 8 area during this latest round of community consultation. I just want to ask the Premier how this government plans to address these issues, to resolve the issues of compensation of the trappers and their families who have lost cabins, traplines and equipment in the wake of the last dam development.

Mr. Premier, Minister responsible for the Power Corporation, Mr. Handley.

Mr. Speaker, I am assuming that the honourable Member is referring to the compensation for damages that occurred a number of years ago when the Taltson Dam was first put in place. To the best of my knowledge, this issue is still before the courts, and I believe the courts and the other parties are waiting for action on the part of the claimants. So I really can't get into a lot of detail on this one. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Just to warn the Member, if an item that you are raising is before the courts, we are not to debate it in this House. So it is just a question of caution in regard to how you phrase your question. Supplementary, Mr. Villeneuve.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Basically, I just wanted to ask the Premier how this government will present these individuals with options or avenues that would assist them and help this government take on some responsibility as owners of this current dam, how they would help these individuals who have been seeking compensation for the past 20 years in dealing with recent developments and in the future developments of this project.

Mr. Villeneuve, I have to rule that question out of order. It is referring to an issue that is before the courts, so the question is out of order.

---Ruled Out of Order

Item 6, oral questions. Member for Hay River South, Mrs. Groenewegen.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my questions are again for the Minister of Health and Social Services, also responsible for Persons with Disabilities. Mr. Speaker, now that I have ascertained that this new Hay River association for community living could submit a funding proposal, I was just wondering if that should go directly to the Minister or should it go through the Hay River Community Health Board? What would be the normal course of action for such a funding proposal? Thank you.

Minister of Health and Social Services, Mr. Miltenberger.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the Member could suggest both. I know when we dealt with the acts in terms of a dementia facility, that they did involve Yellowknife health and social services and the department before it came across my desk. So either way would be fine. Thank you.