Thank you, Mr. Ramsay. Final, short supplementary, Mr. Dolynny.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Again great news and thanks for sharing that information from the Minister.

We know that it’s pretty hard to argue that a bicycle or a skateboard helmet will not save lives. We know they do. Unfortunately, as I indicated earlier in my statement, we might be a bit premature to bring in the legislation to debate into the House. But in order to assist municipalities prepare for their future agenda on this topic, would the Minister of Transportation provide municipal and territorial data on head and brain injuries due to road sports in the past five years and would he table such information in this House? Thank you.

Thank you. We could certainly take a look at compiling those statistics for the Member and sharing with the Members of this House. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Ramsay. The Member for Hay River North, Mr. Bouchard.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As I indicated, I’m making a presentation to Avalon public hearings today. My questions today are for the Minister of ITI related to that project. Has the Department of ITI begun to create a socio-economic agreement for this project and this company? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Bouchard. The Minister of Industry, Tourism and Investment, Mr. Ramsay.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. We’ve been discussing, with Avalon, their plans for the development of a mine at Thor Lake for a

number of years now. Last October Cabinet gave us the mandate at ITI to look at the establishment of a socio-economic agreement with Avalon. We are currently in negotiations with Avalon on a socio-economic agreement and we hope to see that agreement put in place within the next several months. Thank you.

Thank you. As I indicated in my Member’s statement, we’re excited to see this project in the South Slave and I’m just wondering what the Department of ITI is doing to support Avalon in their ventures to complete this project.

Thank you. We’ve done a number of things. In the South Slave ITI office, we’ve looked at a feasibility study for a limestone quarry in the south part of the Northwest Territories that would help in supplying limestone to the potential hydromet facility at the old Pine Point mine site. We continue negotiations, as I mentioned, on a socio-economic agreement. We’re looking at the establishment of a special economic zone in the old Pine Point mine site. I know the Mackenzie Valley Pipeline preparedness office or petroleum planning office now in Hay River has also done a preliminary examination on the potential models and associated management of such a specialized economic zone at the old Pine Point site.

So we’re doing a number of things, and just yesterday I appeared at the EA for Avalon here in Yellowknife and provided comments, and I’d be happy to share those comments with the Members, as well, on behalf of all the government. Thank you.

The Minister indicated the special economic zone for industrial areas set up for the old Pine Point site. I’m just wondering if the Minister can elaborate on when the department will be able to formalize the industrial area to take advantage of the potentially lower power in that area.

As plans for the establishment of that mine move forward and it gets through the regulatory process, we will certainly be ramping up discussions on that specialized economic zone. We are also looking at the possibility of putting wholesale power into that area, as well, to make it more economical to have a hydro facility and the jobs coming to the South Slave region. So we continue those discussions. We want to see the regulatory process play itself out. Again, we do look forward to the jobs and the opportunities that such a development would bring.

Thank you, Mr. Ramsay. Final, short supplementary, Mr. Bouchard.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. What is the department doing to maximize the economic benefit impact for Northerners, workers and northern companies to take advantage of this project?

Avalon has gone out. I know they have an IBA in place with the community of Fort Resolution. For us, it’s through the socio-economic agreements and, again, we are negotiating an agreement with Avalon that would see maximized benefits for local businesses and people on jobs and business opportunities associated with both the operation at Thor Lake, the mine itself, and the hydromet facility south of the lake. We’re working on that and we will continue to try to get the best deal for Northerners. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Ramsay. The honourable Member for Yellowknife Centre, Mr. Hawkins.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I use the opportunity to ask questions to the Minister of Municipal and Community Affairs. In my Member’s statement I talked about consumer protection. My questions really come down to the moves that Manitoba and Nova Scotia have taken to cap cancellation fees, stop auto renewals and, certainly, build a communication line between cell phone service and their customers.

What is the Minister of Municipal and Community Affairs, who is also the Minister of consumer protection, aware of and what can he enlighten the House about? Thank you.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Manitoba, Ontario and Quebec currently legislate contract requirements for cellular phones and so we follow that quite closely. I do know that CRTC does regulate the telecommunications in the country and they have initiated a consultation process to see if the telecommunications sector is getting to the point where they may need some intervention from the commission. Thank you.

Clearly, two if not three provinces have felt that the regulation that exists is not enough and they’ve taken appropriate steps to show that their citizens matter. I am asking the Minister of MACA what he’s prepared to do to demonstrate that our northern citizens matter by providing them good, solid consumer protection. Thank you.

Our citizens in the North matter all the time and we do whatever we can to protect their best interest. MACA is of the view that we will wait until CRTC completes their consultations to see if the next steps we take is any

introduction to any kind of legislation. I think before then would be premature. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The cell phone rates are clearly a problem to three large provinces. I’m surprised to think the Minister thinks it’s premature that they took action by stating that the NWT will wait until CRTC responds.

Would the Minister be willing to seek some consultation from the consumers in the Northwest Territories to get some input from their point of view as to how they feel about cell phone rates and how it impacts them? As I pointed out, cancellation fees are high, contracts are troublesome and there are ways to solve these things. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Absolutely, we would like to hear from consumers out there. We do know that some consumers have some issues with some of the services they are getting. I think we have to recognize, too, that with the cell phone service capabilities in the Northwest Territories expanding, then there is going to be a need to have a look at something. We’re not quite sure what it is yet, but I can assure the Member that we are working on this issue and we will come up with something that protects consumers across the Northwest Territories.

It’s really nice the Minister is assuring me they’re going to do this and I’m really happy when he says they like to hear from consumers. I guess my question now is: What should consumers expect and what type of activity is the Minister going to take to demonstrate that they’re going out and getting input from consumers? Because an office buried in a department doesn’t advertise far and wide enough to draw this type of discussion. So if he says he cares about them and he wants to hear from them, how is this Minister going to rise to that challenge? Thank you.

I’m going to rise in this House and let them know we are going to look after their best interest. We are having a lot more concern with lots of consumer affairs issues out in the public. Our consumer affairs department, though it may be a small office, works very hard to ensure that the residents across the Northwest Territories are protected. So I can assure residents across the Northwest Territories that we will do what we can to protect their interest, and with the ever-expanding cell phone market in the Northwest Territories, I think that warrants serious consideration. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.