Thank you, Mr. Yakeleya. Item 5, recognition of visitors in the gallery. I would like to recognize a friend of mine, Ms. Kat Nicholson in the gallery who is no stranger around the Legislative Assembly. I would like to welcome everyone who is in the gallery today and taking part in our proceedings. Welcome to the Legislative Assembly.

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Item 6, oral questions. The honourable Member for Inuvik Twin Lakes, Mr. Allen.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It is not often that we would debate an issue of a sentence. In the Minister's statement today there was reference made to a specific economic development matter that respects, and it goes on and on. I won't quote it all, but it is important to know that the Minister's statement is in contrast to actions taken by the Department of Transportation with respect to MOUs signed between the Gwich'in and the Government of the Northwest Territories on a highway contract in Inuvik. I want to ask the Minister of Transportation if he is willing to sit down with the president of the Gwich'in Tribal Council to resolve all the outstanding concerns that are included in the letter. Would he do that? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Allen. The honourable Minister of Transportation, Mr. McLeod.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I am not sure what document the Member is referring to. We did meet with the Gwich'in Tribal Council, the president, and a number of the chiefs. We had a fairly lengthy discussion about contracts, the Gwich'in MOU, and how we would deal with some of the issues rising from the previous year, and there are a number of issues that we are currently working on. That was just two weeks ago, so I am not sure why the Member wants us to get together again so quickly. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. McLeod. Supplementary, Mr. Allen.

Thank you, Mr. Allen. Mr. McLeod.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, we certainly commit to that. I don't believe I am in receipt of that same letter that the Member is referring to. We would certainly follow up on any issues that are in the letter. It is difficult to speak to a document I don't have, but we'd certainly follow it up. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. McLeod. Item 6, oral questions. The Member for Nahendeh, Mr. Menicoche.

Mr. Speaker, at lunch today we heard Claudia Barlow from the Council of Canadians speak about the negative effects of globalization whereby foreign companies will be able to override local laws of interests with impunity. In the future, these companies will not be required to provide any benefits locally. They will be free to come and exploit our resources, and take all the profits from those resources home with them. But, Mr. Speaker, in some ways we are already in that situation. Southern owned big game outfitters in the Deh Cho are not required to provide any benefits from their use of local resources to local people. On both a small scale and a large scale, the prosperity of our northern citizens is threatened. In the face of this threat to our economic well-being, will the Minister of Renewable Resources take a stand to ensure in policy that northerners benefit from all activity on their land? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Menicoche. The Minister of Resources, Wildlife and Economic Development, Mr. Bell.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker, and I thank the Member for the question. In his statement today the Member referred to an new era, and a new era of doing business in not only the Northwest Territories but I believe the country, and I think those businesses in the Northwest Territories embrace meaningful partnership with aboriginal organizations. Meaningful partnership with community groups will be successful businesses. I think that makes good business sense in this day and age, and I think we all recognize that. So I would certainly urge all businesspeople, any proprietors throughout the Northwest Territories, to sit down, meet with local people, understand their needs, understand their desires and do what they can to make sure that benefits accrue locally. That to me, Mr. Speaker, as I say, just makes good business sense. But I am certainly willing to discuss with communities and with regional organizations any concerns they might have with specific outfitters. I am willing to do that at any time, and will certainly make the time to do that. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Bell. Supplementary, Mr. Menicoche.

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased with the Minister's answer, and I am sure the Minister is aware that the Deh Cho First Nations has taken a stand against the outfitters in the Nahendeh riding. As well as that, the Government of the Northwest Territories required diamond companies to negotiate impact agreements before they use our resources. Will the Minister of Renewable Resources require the same commitment from the non-NWT-owned big game outfitters by requiring them to negotiate benefits agreements as part of their licensing process? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Menicoche. Mr. Bell.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The Member is certainly correct that we do sit down and, as a government, negotiate socioeconomic agreements with big industry. We've done it with a couple of the diamond mines; a third one just recently completed. We look to do that with the Producers Group and the Aboriginal Pipeline Group in terms of oil and gas development. These are negotiations between our government and industry, and they speak to opportunities, benefits for northerners right across the territory. As it relates to access agreements or IBAs between regional groups and industry, we are not specifically involved in those negotiations and are not privy to them. We do get involved in the respect that we generally work toward helping local organizations build capacity. But, Mr. Speaker, I would certainly encourage industry and business to be willing to sit down and work with local people to make sure that there are meaningful, tangible local benefits, because obviously without those, businesses, I think, can expect resistance. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Bell. Supplementary, Mr. Menicoche.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As a result of the firm stand that the DCFN has taken, our local businesses in the Nahendeh riding do not want to be impacted more than necessary. Will the Minister at least provide guidelines by which southern companies are expected to operate if they want to be considered as good corporate citizens operating in our North?

Thank you, Mr. Menicoche. Mr. Bell.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I think that I will certainly commit to sitting down first with committee Members to discuss the kinds of things that might be involved in a framework in dealing with industry. Even with small individual businesses I think there is certainly merit in sitting down to discuss the kinds of benefits that can be left behind. So I am certainly willing to meet with regional organizations to understand their concerns, and will also meet with industry if I can play a role in supporting the efforts of local and regional organizations. I think it is very important that we do recognize this is a new era in the Northwest Territories of doing business. As I've said, those that embrace it, acknowledge and accept it, and try to work within that framework, I think will be successful businesses. So I certainly look forward to further discussion with committee Members and with the Member opposite on this very important issue, and let him know that our department and our government does not take this lightly. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Bell. Your final supplementary, Mr. Menicoche.

Mr. Speaker, mahsi cho. There is at least one outfitter whose licence is due this summer. I am just wondering if the Minister knows of a process or at any stage of the permitting system where there is allowable room for input from the communities and local interest groups with regard to having these outfitters provide more benefits locally. Mahsi cho.

Thank you, Mr. Menicoche. Mr. Bell.