(Translation) Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I wish to report to the House on my recent meetings in Vancouver and Ottawa. In Vancouver I met with the Hon. John Crosbie, Minister of Fisheries and Oceans. Our discussions concerned the developing Baffin fishing industry. Mr. Crosbie was able to assure me of the following commitments:

1) The Tungavik Federation of Nunavut land claim provisions will be considered in decisions relating to the management and harvest of inshore and offshore marine resources;

2) No new northern shrimp licences will be issued. Any increases to the quota will be divided among the existing 17 licence holders, of which 1.5 licences are held by territorial companies; and

3) The Government of the Northwest Territories will continue to participate in the Atlantic Council of Fisheries Ministers and its advisory committees. Through this council, decisions are made on the management of Atlantic marine resources. I extended an invitation to co-host the next meeting of this Ministers' council in Pangnirtung next summer.

After this meeting with Mr. Crosbie, I went to Ottawa. At the National Forest Congress, I and the other Ministers of Forestry signed an accord supporting the new Canadian forest strategy. This strategy sets the direction for forest management in Canada. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to report that this strategy follows the direction that our government has already established in our forest management programs.

The strategy states that: a) forests should be harvested on a sustainable basis; b) forests are also important as wildlife habitats, for subsistence uses, and for leisure activities and should be managed accordingly; c) forests should be managed with involvement from residents; d) traditional uses and knowledge should be part of forest management.

At the National Forest Congress, I met with Mr. Paul Ramsey, who represented the British Columbia Forest Minister. We discussed the problems being created for trappers by forest companies in the Liard area. Mr. Ramsey made a commitment, on behalf of the Minister, to investigate the problems and to report back to me.

While in Ottawa, I had the opportunity to meet with several other agencies: the Fur Institute of Canada; Indigenous Survival International; the Canadian UNESCO committee; and the organizers of an international environmental education conference called ECO-ED, which will be held in Toronto this July. Each meeting related to promoting the use of renewable resources at national and international forums.

Mr. Speaker, I was encouraged by these meetings because one of my objectives as Minister of Renewable Resources is to educate the people throughout the world about the way we live. Two of these agencies are highlighting the importance of traditional knowledge, especially in resource management. The Government of the Northwest Territories is recognized as a leader in this field, in large part because of the efforts of Mr. Jim Bourque, the former deputy minister of Renewable Resources.

Although I was busy, I can also report that it is already spring in Vancouver, still winter in Ottawa, and I am glad to be home. Mahsi cho.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to table Tabled Document 18-12(2), a document on fish sampling methodology for monitoring programs in the Northwest Territories and Alberta.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, in 1977 the United Nations passed a resolution recognizing March 8 as the day for celebrating women's rights. All Northerners should be proud of the contribution women have made and are making in their communities. They are providing commitment and dedication, not only in this House, but in our schools, in the economy, in social development and in keeping our families strong.

The NWT's theme this year is "Celebrating Together." For the week of March 5 to 16 women in the Northwest Territories will be participating in a number of activities. I encourage all Members to join the celebration in their home communities and in Yellowknife. Again, Mr. Speaker, I want to extend my congratulations to northern women on this International Women's Day. Thank you.

--- Applause

(Translation) Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I rise today to fulfill a commitment I made to this House. As Minister responsible for the Status of Women I said I would consult with women's groups to get first hand their comments and concerns on the situation involving PaulQuassa, his recent court case, and his position within the Tungavik Federation of Nunavut.

I can tell you that the women I spoke to were very concerned about the fact that Mr. Quassa received an absolute discharge from the court, concerned about the message this sends toothers who may commit offences of this type, about whether there are consequences for such actions.

Mr. Speaker, I share the concerns expressed by the leaders of NWT women's organizations and others about what sorts of messages we send to those who commit offences against women. But while I am concerned with what happens to offenders in the courts, I am also aware that the Northwest Territories has the highest rate of imprisonment in Canada, and that even with that rate, we still have a serious problem with offences involving violence. So I want to direct our efforts toward what we do about the attitudes which give rise to these offences, what we do to prevent the assaults, what we do to change people's behaviour.

--- Applause

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Yes, I will provide the Member with the paper. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. You wanted a reason why I decided to attend the Canadian Council on Forestry meeting in Ottawa. As the Member, and every Member of this House, knows, where I come from we do not have any trees, and this is new to me. I would like to go there and inform myself of forestry management within the Territories and within the country. Also, forestry management is very important to the western part of the Territories. It is part of the economy. If I am not informed on forestry management, then I am not going to be in a position to speak for the people and to this very important forestry management which people from the western part of the Territories rely on for their economic well-being. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I agree with my honourable colleague, Jeannie Marie-Jewell, about retaining our way of life, especially giving financial support to the hunters and trappers who wish to go out camping and live off the land. This occupation, as most Members in this House will agree, is a healthy occupation. It is environmentally healthy; it is environmentally friendly. It is also cost-efficient to the Government of the NWT.

I would like to explain why it is cheaper for this government to have outpost camps within the Territories. One is that when you are living in the outpost camp, then your dependency on welfare is cut drastically, as the honourable Member has mentioned. Secondly, there are virtually no crimes in outpost camps. Thirdly, there is no structured classroom type of school in the outpost camps. The mother or father should get some type of funding from the government for educating their kids in how to survive living off the land.

As the Minister responsible for Renewable Resources, I support the initiative to have people live off the land. The money that we grant from my department, trappers' incentive grants, the harvesters' assistance program and outpost camp grants -- one of the solutions in solving the problem is to encourage people to live off the land. The money under this program is not sufficient to encourage people to live off the land. As a government, I think different departments should get together to try to come up with initiatives to make sure camping and hunting survival is a means of living. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

Mr. Speaker, that is one of the elements, that we would like to have the communities affected by the agreement between jurisdictions involved, and I will inform the communities.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I have a return to an oral question asked by Mr. Nerysoo on February 24, 1992, regarding the Peel River watershed. The government of the Northwest Territories is a member of the Mackenzie River Basin committee. The committee is involved in the preparation of a co-operative water management agreement for the entire Mackenzie River Basin. The agreement will consist of two parts: an overall agreement for the entire Mackenzie River Basin and agreements between each of the jurisdictions within the basin.

The Peel River is part of the Mackenzie River Basin. It will be included in the overall agreement and the agreement between the Northwest Territories and Yukon. The Department of Renewable Resources has contacted their counterparts in the Yukon to begin negotiations with the intention of completing the agreement in 1992. Thank you.