Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Any time there is any oil spill it is very important to our environment. Yes, I will, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I am told that there is.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I have a return to a question asked by Mr. Lewis on December 11, 1991, concerning legislation regarding the establishment of a northern brewery. Alcohol abuse is such a large problem in the NWT that anything to do with alcohol causes a lot of emotion. In my own riding, two out of three communities have prohibition. Recognizing the emotional response this legislation is likely to receive, I will review it carefully and will discuss it with other Members of cabinet. Until this is done, I have no intentions, one way or the other, regarding brewery legislation. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I intend to take the policy, which is not in place yet, to the cabinet. I will be doing that in the next while.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I have a return to Question O66-12(1), asked by Mr. Gargan on December 11, 1991, regarding renewable resources funding allocations. The Department of Renewable Resources provides support to harvesters through its grant and contribution policy. The policy covers a variety of programs. The grant and contribution policy contains a policy directive for each program. The directive explains how to calculate the amount of funding an organization is eligible for. The total amount of funding received by an organization depends on the number of programs it applies for and the departmental budget for a program.

I have provided Mr. Gargan with a copy of the Renewable Resources grant and contribution policy. The policy contains more detail on the types of grants an organization may apply for and the funding formula for each grant. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, and Members of the House, I am pleased to appear before you today in my new role as Minister responsible for the Status of Women. I have had the opportunity to meet with the staff of the Women's Directorate and the Status of Women Council and support the initiatives that are presently under way.

The prevention of violence against women continues to be in the forefront of everyone's mind. On December 6 a vigil was held in Yellowknife in commemoration of the 14 women killed in Montreal. Men also held a service at the same time here in Yellowknife to show their commitment to ending violence against women. In many places across the country men wore white ribbons to symbolize support, and I noticed men in this Assembly and in Yellowknife who were also wearing the ribbons in support of ending violence against women.

As Minister responsible for the Women's Directorate, I am concerned about child sexual abuse in the Northwest Territories. To address this problem, an interagency committee works toward identifying viable treatment options and resources.

Mr. Speaker, investigation of the needs of victims of violence is ongoing and is being addressed by the Department of Justice, the Women's Directorate, Social Services and non-governmental groups such as Arctic Public Legal Education and Information Society, the YWCA and the Native Women's Association.

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Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I will be able to provide the Member with the information this week. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Since anything to do with liquor becomes a big issue throughout the Northwest Territories, not only in Yellowknife and in bigger centres, I would like to take that question as notice. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, the culture and lifestyles of many people in the Northwest Territories are based on hunting, trapping and fishing. These activities are healthy occupations, both mentally and physically.

As the Minister of Renewable Resources one of my priorities will be to educate people throughout the world about the way we live. This needs to be done because traditional lifestyles continue to be threatened by the activities of the anti-hunting and anti-trapping lobbies who use written materials and television to promote their cause.

Mr. Speaker, our ways of trapping and hunting do not hurt the environment. The land, water, fish and wildlife have always provided food and clothing. Our survival as a people depends upon their survival. We must send this message to the rest of the world. Because of this, we will be working on a new strategy to promote the trapping and use of furs, both here in the Territories and elsewhere. In addition, we will take our message to the United Nations Conference on the Environment and Development to be held next June in Brazil. There will be people there from all countries of the world.

In the NWT we will be broadcasting television spots that profile and promote individual trappers and their lifestyle. We are also working with the schools to help our children learn about our ways and our environment.

Mr. Speaker, Members of the Legislative Assembly have emphasized over the years that we must continue to protect the rights of our people to harvest our renewable resources. I agree. All of us care deeply about our great land, and over the term of this government we will be working hard to help ensure that the hunters and trappers in the Northwest Territories will be able to continue their traditional pursuits. Mahsi cho.

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