Thank you, Mr. Dent. Supplementary, Ms. Lee.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I am looking forward to hearing from the Minister when the investigations are concluded. I'm not sure if this will result in someone being charged or anything like that, but just to get an update on the case. But, Mr. Speaker, I don't believe that this issue only has to do with those six dogs that were found. I had made a reference to those two puppies that were found frozen to death in a dump in Hay River. We've also had a report in Tuktoyaktuk where there were some animals frozen in the ice storm. I think really there is a role for the government to play in terms of just making aware and there's the NWT Dog Act that

speaks to how to treat dogs and the inhumane ways. So I would like to know from the Minister what if anything he has done with his Cabinet colleagues to have people more aware of this issue. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Ms. Lee. Mr. Dent.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the NWT Dog Act says that no person shall punish or abuse a dog in a manner or to an extent that is cruel or unnecessary. So we have legislation in place that is intended to ensure that dogs are treated humanely. It is an issue that under this law is administered by Municipal and Community Affairs, because of their relationship with municipalities. The municipalities can pass bylaws respecting the care and control of dogs, as well. So in terms of what Cabinet has done to change our approach, the Cabinet hasn't, at this point, done anything. I think we are expecting to hear further from the RCMP. The carcasses from the incident in Yellowknife have been sent to the University of Saskatchewan to be autopsied by specialists there to determine whether or not the method of disposal was inhumane, and if so then there is the likelihood or possibility of charges if a suspect could be identified. However, we're at a very initial stage in that investigation. I think that the events that the Member spoke about in Hay River and in Tuk and Yellowknife have certainly led to a heightened awareness. It's an issue that MACA and the municipalities will have to also take some interest in in making sure that municipalities follow up on their responsibility as well. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Dent. Supplementary, Ms. Lee.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I believe municipalities have jurisdiction over this area within their own jurisdiction, but there is a little bit of a gap in situations where these situations happen outside of the municipality, which is the case with the latest six dogs that were found. Mr. Speaker, I understand that there is overlap of jurisdiction not only between these two administrators, but between the levels of government as well, but I don't think there have been strong statements from the government as a government to say that this is not acceptable. What sort of resources are there, even to the municipalities, to make sure that the legislation in the books is being enforced? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Ms. Lee. Mr. Dent.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the government hasn't taken a formal position. I can say personally I was certainly supportive of the federal legislation that was proposed before the last election, and I personally would enjoy seeing the federal government bring that legislation back onto the table. But our government can't create a criminal offence and that is what I think is necessary in order to properly protect animals in our jurisdiction and across Canada. In terms of what we can do further, I expect that my colleague, the Minister of Municipal and Community Affairs, and myself will examine the current legislation and discuss whether there are ways that we need to take a look at modifying the legislation or bring forward proposals for change to strengthen it. At this point though we haven't had time to follow up on that concern. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Dent. Final supplementary, Ms. Lee.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I thank the Minister for what he's suggesting. Mr. Speaker, the Minister has indicated that autopsies are being done, but the final reports are not out. It is encouraging to hear that the RCMP has decided, after a few moments of hesitation, to work with the SPCA and such. Would the Minister commit to work with Minister McLeod and with these two agencies to see how we can tighten up what we have and how to improve what we have? Thank you.

Thank you, Ms. Lee. Mr. Dent.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I will certainly discuss with Mr. McLeod what the options might be for us to examine our legislation. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Dent. Item 6, oral questions. The honourable Member for Sahtu, Mr. Yakeleya.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker, and I'd like to thank the Member for the question. The Member knows and I thank him for his interest, but the Member will remember the meeting that we had in my office with some conference organizers who were proposing to do and put on just the type of conference that the Member is speaking of. That was back, I believe, Mr. Speaker, last

October. We did have some discussion about what their plans were. I thought it was a very worthwhile initiative and agreed to help them in planning the conference and had provided them some funds to do so. We are waiting on an update to understand better where they are proposing to go and when the time frame would be. I would certainly offer my support and participation in such a conference, especially after having come back just recently from Norman Wells and understanding exactly how important this will be to the region. I think the Member is right; we do have to make every effort to ensure that meaningful, tangible benefits stay in the North and do accrue from these business opportunities that are coming the region's way. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Bell. Supplementary, Mr. Yakeleya.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Thank you, Mr. Minister, for the reminder. I want to ask the Minister of RWED, in light of the support you have given our region in terms of allocating your resources in the region of RWED to assist with this planning, I know the dates have been moved around. I want to ask if the Minister would commit to his department sitting down with our planners and look at some dates that we could actually have a conference. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Yakeleya. Mr. Bell.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Absolutely. It would be my pleasure to do so. I expect that our Sahtu regional staff are in current discussions with the planners of the conference. I know that we have a Sahtu regional petroleum advisor who was working on this initiative, as well. I will certainly ask them for an update. If there is anything I can do personally to lend my support, I am more than happy to do that. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Bell. Item 6, oral questions. The honourable Member for Great Slave, Mr. Braden.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My question this afternoon is directed to the Honourable Michael McLeod in his capacity as Minister of Municipal and Community Affairs. It relates to the whole issue of being able to provide affordable housing, Mr. Speaker. One of the biggest barriers, the first barrier that communities and developers experience is the lack of access to affordable land for building and development. I wanted to see if the Minister could advise the Assembly what ways he has looked at to make land more affordable and available to community governments. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Braden. The honourable Minister of Municipal and Community Affairs, Mr. McLeod.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, we had a number of discussions over the last while with the City of Yellowknife. We have also had a number of discussions as recently as this week with the Yellowknives Dene on the issue of land. Land issues are a big issue in the city of Yellowknife. Affordability is one issue and availability is another. There are, right now, discussions with the aboriginal governments on a process of making land available. We have signed an agreement with the Yellowknives Dene to be able to identify some lands that we could identify in terms of making available in the future. There have also been meetings set up with the Yellowknives and the city to talk about issues that are preventing some of the land acquisition. I have not seen a document yet, but we understand the city is coming forward with a land acquisition request that we will be reviewing very shortly as soon as we see it. Thank you.