Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the Norman Wells oil field is a classic example, in terms of the types of things that the federal government will do to us if we don't keep track of them. Mr. Speaker, there are millions of dollars that the federal government is taking, and I think the Premier is well aware of this as we have spoken many times on it. I'd like to ask the Premier if he or his government will, within the lifetime of this government, have any type of plans in terms of bringing forward an energy legislation that will give us protection and not fall into something like the Norman Wells oil field where we get zero, nothing, in terms of the resources and royalties. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Yakeleya. Mr. Handley.

Mr. Speaker, the Member is correct; the Norman Wells oil field and the arrangement the federal government has with the producers in that area is one that has been frustrating for us. The federal government has taken the position that their part ownership in that project is not in lieu of taxes or royalties, and we're of the view it is. We will continue that argument. Mr. Speaker, I am optimistic that the federal government will realize that doing a fair devolution and resource revenue sharing arrangement with us is not only a good deal for all northern fuel, but it's also a good deal for Canada, because that's how we're going to see maximum benefits come out of our resources in the Northwest Territories. That is what's going to encourage people to promote development, not stand in its way. So, Mr. Speaker, I'm optimistic we can achieve this through negotiations. I hope that we can do it this fall. If we can't, I intend we do it within the next few months.

Mr. Speaker, if that is not possible, then it may be necessary for us, collectively as legislators, to put our heads together and figure out what other vehicle, legislation or whatever it may be, that we have to put in place to achieve what is right for northern residents. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Handley. Final supplementary, Mr. Yakeleya.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the federal government has been taking enough from the Northwest Territories, and it is time that Mr. Premier has taken a position that enough is enough. They have taken a lot of resources out of the Northwest Territories and now we are asking for what is rightfully ours, and they are having a hard time with that. I ask the Premier, in terms of supporting him and having all the people in the Northwest Territories support him, when will he be able to come forward to this House in drafting up energy legislation that gives us some clout with having this made in the North and for the northern people? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Yakeleya. Mr. Handley.

Mr. Speaker, the commitment I have from the Prime Minister, a commitment that he made publicly, is that we work toward an agreement-in-principle on resource revenue sharing that would give us what is rightfully ours. We would have that agreement-in-principle in 2005, and that we would have a final agreement in 2006, and implementation of that agreement in 2007. I am going to hold him to that in every way that I possibly can. If that doesn't work, then Mr. Speaker, as I said, we will have to look at alternatives. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Handley. Item 7, oral questions. The honourable Member for Tu Nedhe, Mr. Villeneuve.

Thank you, Mr. Villeneuve. The honourable Premier, Mr. Handley.

Mr. Speaker, the seniors' subsidy is actually the responsibility of the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment. Mr. Speaker, the amount of subsidy that we provide to seniors is based on the quantity of fuel, whether it is wood or fuel oil, or propane, or whatever they are using. It is not based on the price.

Mr. Speaker, they will get the same amount of fuel under this scheme as they did last year, and if we take fuel oil, it is 2,400 litres of fuel in communities in the southern part -- what we call zone 1 -- and up to 3,200 in zone 3.

Mr. Speaker, there is a formula for wood on the same kind of scale. I want to emphasize it is based on quantity, not on the price. The price should not be a factor for seniors who qualify for this subsidy. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Premier. Supplementary, Mr. Villeneuve.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. If we are talking quantity, I know that from seeing seniors and the way they live, I know that as they age, the thermostat seems to be going up every year. They are obviously using more fuel every year, and I just wanted to ask the Minister -- because with these new, higher fuel costs today, more seniors are going to be using woodstoves and such -- whether the rates that are in the subsidy program are going to be reflective of the increased use in woodstoves and the increased consumption of fuel? Are they going to be changing at all? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Villeneuve. Mr. Handley.

Mr. Speaker, right now, I don't believe that there is any plan to change the amounts of fuel that eligible seniors could apply for. Mr. Speaker, the amount on wood, for example, is five cords in zone 1. Mr. Speaker, I should also emphasize that this is a subsidy. It is not meant to cover all of their costs, but to subsidize their costs that they are facing. It is based on amount, not on price.

Mr. Speaker, I should also point out that I believe lower income seniors would also be eligible -- again, I say this without a lot of the detail -- for the federal Fuel Subsidy Program or heating rebate that has recently been announced. There is some increased assistance to seniors and others. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Handley. Supplementary, Mr. Villeneuve.

Mahsi. I just need to ask the Minister why the Seniors' Fuel Subsidy Program doesn't include wood pellets, for instance, Mr. Speaker. They are environmentally sound, it is cheaper than a cord of wood, and more seniors are starting to use it because it is easier to use, for one thing. Why aren't wood pellets included in the Fuel Subsidy Program, Mr. Speaker? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Villeneuve. Mr. Premier.

Mr. Speaker, the wood pellets are included, if seniors choose to use wood pellets. Again, if I can, for example, in zone 1 -- that is communities in the south -- eligible seniors would be entitled to up to 10,000 pounds of wood pellets in a year. That is what is called five skids of pellets. So pellets are included, as is cut wood, fuel oil, propane, natural gas and electricity. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Handley. Final supplementary, Mr. Villeneuve.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Ten thousand pounds of wood pellets, Mr. Speaker. That is quite something. I don't know...

---Laughter

I was just looking at the Fuel Subsidy Program, and I'm sorry, Mr. Speaker, but I didn't see wood pellets included in there, and I got some inquiries from seniors who are on wood pellets. Let me just ask the Minister, the income threshold that is included in the Fuel Subsidy Program is approximately $40,000 as the means threshold for that. As far as I am concerned, I think that any senior that is here, that is residing in the NWT, is entitled to some subsidy, regardless of their income level or whether they are still working or not. That is a good thing, if they are still seniors and still employed and making over $40,000 to $50,000 per year.

Is the department willing to entertain the idea that the mean income threshold should either go up with the rising costs of living in the NWT, or should it be adjusted to reflect the rising costs of living here in the North? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Villeneuve. The honourable Premier, Mr. Handley.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The maximum net household income currently for zone 1 is up to $39,999. Is that enough? I don't know, Mr. Speaker. Right now, we don't have a plan to move that up, but certainly, like all of our policies, we are interested in hearing what people have to pay. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I should say that if there is a thought that we would somehow be able to help every senior -- that is every person over 60 years old, regardless of income -- then that would be an expensive program and one that likely won't happen. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Handley. Item 7, oral questions. The honourable Member for Range Lake, Ms. Lee.