Mr. Speaker, the Minister mentioned, in his answer, that we're talking to the pipeline folks about distribution along the pipeline route, and about powering the pipeline with potential hydro from the Bear River project. When the diamond mines were set up, we weren't quite on our game here. We should have made it a condition, I believe, of diamond mine development that they would take our hydro energy. Can the Minister advise whether we are taking this kind of bold and progressive step with the Mackenzie gas project? Are we looking at making it a condition or a discussion with them, that they will make natural gas available to communities along the pipeline route? Is that a condition of our acceptance of a pipeline, Mr. Speaker? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Braden. Mr. Miltenberger. Honourable Premier, Mr. Handley.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The question is outside of the Minister's mandate. It is a question of whether or not the pipeline will provide gas to communities that it goes along. That remains yet to be negotiated. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Handley. Oral questions. The honourable Member for Monfwi, Mr. Lafferty.

Thank you, Mr. Lafferty. The honourable Minister responsible for Environment and Natural Resources, Mr. Miltenberger.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I can assure the Member that as long as the Wekeezhii board is operational and in business, we will be working very closely with them, as well as all the other wildlife boards up and down the valley, to look very carefully at what's happening with the caribou herds, the declining populations and the short-term steps we're taking, but, more importantly, the long-term planning that's going to be required that we all do collectively. That commitment is there, with the goal to sustainability and preserving the herds. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Miltenberger. Supplementary, Mr. Lafferty.

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I would like to ask the Minister of ENR if the Minister has discussed the caribou problems or challenges with the Wekeezhii Renewable Resources Board, and also if that was shared with the Tlicho communities, Mr. Speaker? Mahsi.

Thank you, Mr. Lafferty. Mr. Miltenberger.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, our initial discussions were with the Tlicho chiefs where we discussed the issue, got some initial feedback from them prior to the Wekeezhii board coming into force and into operation. The plan now, very clearly, is to work with the board as we move forward with all the work that's to be done. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Miltenberger. Final supplementary, Mr. Lafferty.

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my final question is relating to the predators. I want to ask the Minister what he plans to do about the increasing problem of predators in the communities. Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Lafferty. Mr. Miltenberger.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. We have heard the concerns from a number of different areas, including from the Tlicho region. As I've indicated in my statement today, we're going to be doing some studies on predators, initially looking at the wolf population. As well, we've raised the tags from one to two. As well, my understanding is the prices for wolf pelts are very, very high. There's an opportunity for people to help thin out the population as they go about their business of trapping. We're going to be doing some predation studies to give us some baseline information, and we can decide, very clearly, once again in cooperation with all our partners, what the next steps will be. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Miltenberger. Oral questions. The honourable Member from Nahendeh, Mr. Menicoche.

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. I'm just going to follow up on my Member's statement and ask questions on the strategic infrastructure for northern economic development, to the Premier, Mr. Speaker. It's been said time and time again that the GNWT or the Northwest Territories, Mr. Speaker, is having unprecedented growth. However, there are still disparities that are occurring throughout the North in the different regions. One can argue that even the region that I represent is facing some economic hardships. It's kind of hard to believe, but that's the case. One can make the business case by using stats. So when this fund was announced in 2004, I thought that as an MLA here's an opportunity to get some funds to stimulate my region of Nahendeh. Since this fund has been in place, maybe the Premier can tell me and this House how has our North benefited to date from this special fund, and where is this fund at. Mahsi cho.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. When the fund was announced, and I believe it was in the federal budget address for 2004, we also anticipated that that money would flow like the previous northern economic development funds; or, better yet, flow directly to our government through our lending institutions to be available to small businesses.

Mr. Speaker, over the years since then, myself and the other two territorial Premiers argued that that money should be divided up to each territory and through the existing institutions. The Minister responsible for northern development of the day thought it should be managed by the federal government. We were not given direct access to it. Mr. Speaker, late in the last calendar year, our government was approached to see if we could use some of the money. Two point four million was largely for geotechnical work. Other than that, I believe one or two business may have benefited, but, Mr. Speaker, it's been frustrating because we have not had an ability to be able to manage that money. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Handley. Supplementary, Mr. Menicoche.

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. Just with respect to that fund, it's a $30 million fund available through the GNWT; $90 million for the three territories. However, in the two years that it was utilized for our territory, there was just over $2 million expended. There was $150,000 on five separate projects in total, and, as well, $2 million invested in geoscience. It's strange that they imported $2 million in stimulating an already-growing sector. It's not that sector that needs the help in the North there, Mr. Speaker. So I'd like to know, does the Premier and does this government have a strategy in order to tap into this fund that's there? I know that we created a beautiful package called Corridors for Canada II. Do we have a similar vehicle for the federal government, Mr. Speaker? Mahsi.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. This one is fairly simple. We want the federal government to have the $30 million allocated for the Northwest Territories made available through our institutions to then be flowed, on application, to small businesses where it should be. Mr. Speaker, today the Minister for ITI is going to be speaking to the Minister of DIAND and will be raising this issue. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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