Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, we try to do everything we can to be as compassionate as we can to our clients. We realize that without them, we won't be in this business. But again, we are trying to find solutions to these problems. But in this case, again, it's before the courts. The individual has retained a lawyer, and that's why we're unable to proceed. Until it goes through that process, we are unable to move until we work out an arrangement where we can try to resolve it outside the legal process. But because it's before the legal process, we are unable to discuss or debate it at this time. We are willing to work with the individual on this. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Krutko. Oral questions. The honourable Member for Great Slave, Mr. Braden.

Mr. Speaker, Mahsi. My questions this morning are for Mr. Miltenberger in his capacity as the Minister for energy and natural resources in regards to the caribou strategy, Mr. Speaker. Information contained in the strategy document tells us that at least among the known harvest we're looking at a minimum of 11,000 animals. Mr. Speaker, it also tells us that at least with the best information we have, and some of this information is eight or 10 years old, it also tells us that existing herds in the NWT probably number around 600,000. So something that's plain to me is that we are not in a panic or emergency situation. But paying attention to what seems to be rapidly declining numbers is, as I said earlier in my statement, a good position to take.

Now, long-term measures continue to be worked out. In the meantime, the government has taken some steps as precautionary measures. One of them, Mr. Speaker, is that a bulls-only harvest restriction has been imposed on all residents and sport hunters. Mr. Speaker, the question that I'd like to ask regards whether this restriction also applies to aboriginal harvesters, who I know, and understand, are covered under some land claim agreements. But, Mr. Speaker, if it makes good sense to protect the cows at this time, why is it or how will aboriginal harvesters be considering whether or not this kind of restriction should apply among themselves, as well, Mr. Speaker?

Thank you, Mr. Braden. The honourable Minister of Environment and Natural Resources, Mr. Miltenberger.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, one of the main goals here is to get good blue chip information, both on the herd numbers as well as the number of animals being taken. We can track the sports hunters and the resident hunters. The one gap on the number of animals taken is the aboriginal harvest piece, and we're working with all the management boards to look at how we set up monitoring stations and such to be able to get a better handle on the number. That's one thing. The bulls-only, at this point, applies to resident hunters. As the Member will note in the information I gave out to the Members on interim measures, there have been decisions made by some of the boards that are putting very strict limits themselves on the harvest, limiting the commercial harvest and the amount of quota in general that they're allowing on, for example, the Cape Bathurst herd, as well as the Bluenose West. So we're going to work collaboratively with the boards to get the best information possible, then we're going to come back next fall and look at what all this information tells us and then plan for some next steps. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Miltenberger. Supplementary, Mr. Braden.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Also related to the bulls-only harvest restriction for non-aboriginal hunters is a concern that I've heard expressed is that, especially at this time of year, Mr. Speaker, it's very difficult to tell, under the kind of conditions that we hunt, the difference between bulls and cows. But I also understand, Mr. Speaker, that there are penalties and they can be quite severe if a hunter is convicted of killing a cow, whether or not by accident. I was wondering whether, in applying this restriction, has ENR considered the potential for mistakes to be made? Have they considered the consequences that it may have in the case of mistakes and accidents that it may have for a hunter, and whether or not this could potentially result in even wasted meat as hunters decide to shut down their hunt and not report this kind of thing, even though it may be an accident, Mr. Speaker?

Thank you, Mr. Braden. A couple of questions there. Mr. Miltenberger.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Clearly, when you make rule changes there is going to be a transition period, but, once again, clearly the person whose finger is on the trigger is going to have to be sure and be responsible for the animal that he or she decides to shoot. If they have trouble distinguishing between a bull and a cow, then I would suggest they have to take the appropriate measures for certainty before they pull the trigger. Will there be mistaken identities? Possibly. I understand, for the most part, the bulls and cows are not necessarily together and that there's a clear ability to distinguish them, to do an equipment check or look at the antlers, those type of things, and make the decision. So the person who's pulling the trigger will be ultimately responsible, so they better be sure.

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

...(inaudible)...just to give us a basis for this, what are the penalties? What are the consequences of conviction for mistakenly or otherwise killing a cow caribou for non-aboriginal harvesters, Mr. Speaker?

Thank you, Mr. Braden. Mr. Miltenberger.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, as the regulations are drafted up and that level of detail is provided, I will be sharing that with Members so that they're aware, as well as with the general public. At this point, I can't give the Member a specific answer to that. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Miltenberger. Oral questions. The honourable Member for Yellowknife Centre, Mr. Hawkins.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. With respect to my Member's statement made earlier this morning, I have questions that will be directed to the Minister of Housing. Mr. Speaker, I have talked at length in this House about the need for our government to be in touch with the needs of the seniors and disabled communities, how they struggle through day to day, as I mentioned earlier. I've had a chance to work with this good Minister of Housing on making a commitment to bring forward a barrier-free housing project here in Yellowknife. So this is something that will have a positive effect to people's day-to-day life. So, Mr. Speaker, my question to the Minister of housing is, can he give me an update on where this project is? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Hawkins. The honourable Minister of the Housing Corporation, Mr. Krutko.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the unit the Member is talking about is the eight-plex for persons with disabilities here in Yellowknife. The contract has been awarded. We have awarded it and are going to proceed with this project. Again, Mr. Speaker, I'd like to thank the Member and the Council for Disabled Peoples in the Northwest Territories who worked with us in designing and putting out this tender so we are able to assist people with disabilities. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Krutko. Supplementary, Mr. Hawkins.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker, and thank you, Minister, for that answer because that was a good news answer. My next question to the Minister is, will this project be started this year and completed this year? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Hawkins. Mr. Krutko.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, like I mentioned earlier, we have awarded the contract. We are hoping to have the project concluded by this fall. That's the timeline that we're looking at. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Krutko. Final supplementary, Mr. Hawkins.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Well, this is excellent news today and I want to assure this House, through the Minister, if he could give us some details on any type of consultation that we are getting this project right, because I would like to see this as a new model that we deliver good, solid, barrier-free housing to the Northwest Territories and to the people. To ensure that we

have the project right and to make sure that we can continue this model throughout the North, could the Minister tell me what we're doing to make sure that this project is being done right and we can expand it throughout the North to meet our housing needs? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Hawkins. Mr. Krutko.