With regard to the initiative, because there is a possibility of duplicating tracts; one is the negotiation tract where you're dealing directly with the federal government regarding the land claims agreements, and also the goals that are spelled out in those agreements with regard to different programs, taking over initiatives Such as health, education, being able to look at taxation and other elements which are in those agreements. What I do not want to see is that there may be a possibility of having too much process and not enough work being done to have these processes concluded in the time frames that are set forth. The Gwich'in and the Inuvialuit are presently in the process of negotiating self-government agreements with the federal government and the GNWT to establish an agreement in principle by next year. What I would like the Premier to answer is does he see a process in which these people will be involved through consultation, or is it a process which is already spelled out in the establishment of this new initiative. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My question is to the Premier regarding the changes to dissolving the regional directors' offices and allowing MACA to implement programs such as community transfer initiatives. I would like to ask the Premier regarding that approach. As he is aware, from my earlier statement, presently in the Beaufort/Delta we are in the process of self-government negotiations. In those negotiations, we are looking at programs and services. How does the Premier see the aboriginal organizations, band councils in communities, Metis locals and aboriginal regional councils such as the Gwich'in Tribal Council and the Inuvialuit Regional Council being involved in those deliberations or discussions coming up to those transfers taking place to the communities through community empowerment?

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My statement is with regard to the establishment of the regional council in the Beaufort/Delta, which consists of the Inuvialuit and Gwich'in tribal councils. Also with the financial restraints in mind and the restructuring of government, this is the opportunity that we have to take over more initiatives, especially in the area of empowering communities and also empowering the region to manage and administer programs and services within that region.

Right now, the Gwich'in and Inuvialuit are presently in the negotiation process with the federal government for self-government. They are also in the process of establishing a regional government within the constitutional process and through the aboriginal summit.

The goal we see in the Beaufort/Delta region is to eventually eliminate or take over the establishment of boards such as education boards and health boards. We want to look at things such as health, housing, justice, economic development and tourism potential within that region. I think, at the end of the day, we have to allow the process to continue to empower communities and regional and aboriginal groups within those regions, so that they can eventually take over more responsibilities and control of those programs.

Also, what we say with regard to this process is fundamentally on the back of everyone's mind is financial restraint. We see a very large financial savings in establishing one body to oversee the operation of the whole region. Instead of establishing several boards and agencies, we will just have one administrative body that will oversee programs and services delivered in that region. I have a question which I will be raising later with the Premier. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My question is to the Minister of Transportation regarding the water supply in Fort McPherson. The hamlet council of Fort McPherson has great concerns regarding the fact that no action has been taken to protect the sole source of water that they have, due to the proximity of the Dempster Highway which is adjacent to the water supply source in the community. They do have concerns in case of an accident on that stretch of the highway, or of contamination caused by calcium which is being used on the road, or dust which is carried into the water supply. Is there anything that the department is doing to deal with this concern of the community.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. My comment is with regard to the mandate of the commission. I feel they might have overextended their mandate, especially in areas such as constituency funding to run our offices and travel to our communities, especially in my riding where I represent three communities. They have cut our O and M budget by about $5,000. 1 think for us to have access to the people we represent and to be able to meet with our constituents as often as we can, we have to have the available resources to do that. I believe there also has to be adequate funds for us to carry out our responsibilities to our constituents.

I have no problems with regard to reviewing the salaries, indemnities, allowances and benefits, but I think that they may have overextended their mandate to encompass reviewing the operations of our offices and how we consult with our constituents. That is the area I have a concern with. We have to keep in mind that we have to have that communication open between ourselves and the communities that we represent.

One of the main election issues in my riding was having access to the Member. We have to keep that in mind when we do this review. We have to make sure there are adequate resources to carry out our responsibilities to the people we represent. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. If that is not the case, could the Minister give the House a list of all the contracts that have been released to individuals and names of those individuals so we could determine for ourselves if there has been patronage given to individuals for these contracts and which ones have been publicly tendered and which ones have been sole-sourced?

Thank You, Mr. Speaker. My question is to the Minister of Economic Development and Tourism. It is with regard to consultant contracts which have been released over the last few months and years. There seems to be a tendency to issue these contracts without going to public tender. They are given to individuals who are former employees of the department or individuals who presently have loans with the Government of the Northwest Territories through different programs. Is that the practice of this government?

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My question is in response to my opening statement with regard to the fur trade in Europe and the possibility of looking at alternatives to deal with the problem with countries like Holland. They are boycotting our products so what's the possibility of this government and perhaps the Government of Canada considering looking at boycotting products from those countries that are presently passing motions on boycotting fur products?

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As you all know, the fur industry has built this country and also lined the pockets of the Europeans for hundreds of years. Yet, the fur industry in Europe is still a major problem to people in the North, especially the aboriginal people who have depended on the furs for thousands of years. Countries in Europe, like Holland, have passed motions to boycott furs from Canada. How do we allow Europeans to boycott our products and we do not do the same? As an example, the Royal Family in Holland owns Shell Oil; yet the government has contracts for fuel products with Shell Oil for people to run their vehicles and snowmobiles. The people who are trapping for furs are using this product, yet the same country that is selling us the product is boycotting our furs.

Fur products in Canada have been a wealthy industry for hundreds of years. I think it is time that government consider that we start fighting fire with fire and stand up for trappers, especially in the North, who depend on that industry. Thank you.

--- Applause