Mr. Speaker, the issue of oil, fuel, and the associated costs, and supply is certainly something that we wrestle with on a daily basis. Today I think the price of oil is pegged at over $1.28. All our communities across the North face the challenges of not only the high costs but the additional costs of transportation and having it delivered to our communities. In most cases our communities are responsible for their own supply. There is a market in most of the communities.

We, on the other hand, as a government look after the supply and storage and sale in 15 communities across the North. More recently we've also incorporated supply for the Power Corporation, and that's brought on an additional 20 sites, which has given us a lot more flexibility in terms of economies of scale.

We have had numerous discussions with suppliers across the North, and we have looked at alternate methods of getting the fuel into the communities, especially the communities on the north end of the Northwest Territories, from Norman Wells north along the river system in the Beaufort area. We are looking at markets in California and also in Asia that will allow us to have flexibility. If there’s a short supply in one area, that will allow us to go to a different area. So we've had quite a bit of discussion.

In terms of an emergency fuel supply it's something that's always, of course, an issue. We deal with it on a situation-by-situation basis. However, we've not had that situation in isolated communities. It's something we continue to work on.

All our communities are responsible for energy plans, and this is something that they would look at also. We've had a number of communities move forward on those plans, and we continue to work on that.