Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Earlier, during question period, we directed a great deal of our questions to different departments. There were some regarding transportation, education and training opportunities, and some directed to the Minister Responsible for Energy, Mines and Petroleum Resources. I also, in looking at the departments overall, recognize that Economic Development and Tourism is also involved, I guess, because of some of the business opportunities from mining developments. I would like to ask the Premier, which department has the ultimate responsibility to coordinate all of the mining initiatives of the government to make sure that one department knows what the other department is doing, in relation to ensuring that our benefits are met for northerners?

For those staff who are geared toward mining activities, what are they doing to ensure northerners are involved in and have a fair share of the action in the mining developments?

Supplementary, at one time the Department of Energy, Mines and Petroleum Resources was staffed primarily by oil and gas experts. The department now seems to have a mineral policy division with four people and a mineral development agreement division with six people. Can the Minister advise this House whether the department is, in fact, focusing more on mineral development, which are the pressing issues of the moment?

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My question is to the Minister responsible for Energy, Mines and Petroleum Resources. The current Department of Energy, Mines and Petroleum Resources has a staff of 24. This department used to be very small, but grew significantly in the past four years. It is difficult to determine what work is being done by the department or why it is structured the way it is. My question to the Minister is, is the department really an understudy, learning the role of the federal government in anticipation of being able to play the part after a transfer of responsibility to the GNWT?

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. The committee accepts the department's substantiation for the modest capital budget put forward for the fiscal year 1994-95. This budget includes mine rescue, occupational health and environmental equipment and an inspection vehicle. Committee Members assume that these items are required to comply with enforcement provisions under the various acts that the department administers.

Supplementary question to the Minister. Is it the intention of the government, in assuming operational responsibilities of these airports, to internally operate them, to privatize them or to devolve the responsibility to the municipalities?

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Since we all missed the honourable Member from Keewatin Central, I would like to direct another question, in his capacity as Minister of Transportation. It is my understanding that the government is negotiating with Transport Canada to assume responsibility for the Arctic A airports in the NWT. These are the only remaining airports that are still under federal government jurisdiction. As there are some immediate future capital needs apparent in at least two of these Arctic airports, that I'm aware of -- namely Resolute and Cambridge Bay -- I would like to ask the Minister if these short-term and long-term funding requirements are part of the negotiations which his department is undertaking?

I ask the Minister, what criteria will be used for evaluating these proposals?

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My question is to the Minister of Finance. In view of the lack of formal financial institutions in most of our communities, and in some cases some entire regions, such as Kitikmeot, I'd like to ask the Minister what the status is of the government's proposal call for banking services to the Northwest Territories and to the government.