Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Okay. Okay, let's get off the topic of dates and interruptible power. But I want to ask the Minister, now that we have this pilot project on the way, I'm not sure how much the government is willing to spend on this pilot project. If the Minister could maybe inform this House of what the budget is for this pilot project, because I don't want to spend all this money on these pilot projects to find out, yes, they are viable, but like he says in his note that we got Tamerlane, we got pipe coating plants, we got so much development all of a sudden happening in the South Slave, why are we taking it on now when it might not even be feasible two years from now, Mr. Speaker? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I want to ask the Minister why we haven't taken on this pilot project back in 1983 when Pine Point mine shut down and we had 10 extra megawatts of power. I thought that would probably have been a good time to look at this initiative. Thank you.

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I just have a couple questions today for the Minister responsible for the NWT Power Corporation with regards to the pilot projects going on in Fort Smith. I would call it a long delay in assessing what we could do with the excess power that we have at the Taltson today. Mr. Speaker, I just want to ask the Minister, my first question is, with the distribution system that has to be upgraded in order for this interruptible power or for these pilot projects basically to become viable and maybe for the whole town of Fort Smith to become viable and maybe Res and Hay River to follow, why has the Power Corporation, in all their wisdom, only decided to consider using interruptible power today? The Power Corporation has been making money for years and years and years. Why haven't they put some of that money, I know a lot of it goes to subsidy programs, but why hasn't a lot of it gone into upgrading these systems for this very reason and why are we only doing it now? Thank you.

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, today I would like to use my Member's statement to talk about some issues of due diligence, respect and adherence to addressing concerns raised by First Nations organizations, groups or elders and many northerners when southern corporations or individuals come north looking for minerals or claims for their own benefits.

Mr. Speaker, we hear about southern exploration companies poking around in the North here every day, many times without the knowledge of locals or First Nations groups simply due to the fact that no one requires First Nations approval before being issued staking permits. The respect issue first lies with the federal government's hands, Mr. Speaker. Part of Indian and Northern Affairs' responsibility is to inform the First Nations groups of who they have issued staking permits to and why. How hard can this be? The second lies with the southern companies or the individuals who are coming snooping around on our First Nations lands without our knowledge or approval, whether they may be looking for minerals, wildlife or a place to put a tent frame, perhaps, or even plotting just a nature trail. It only makes sense to inform and inform and then inform.

By informing First Nations people who use this land and know this land better than any one else, Mr. Speaker, many of these people and companies will realize what is acceptable and unacceptable and the reasons why prior to moving ahead on these projects. The adherence to recommendations received by the people who will be affected will avoid any confrontations or rejections by the First Nations people or the locals in many areas of development or exploration.

In closing, Mr. Speaker, I would just like to edify all of the potential exploration companies or the individuals who want to venture north and stake their claim and possibly make their fortune or misfortune. You need to consult the First Nations first and foremost. If you are unsure what the First Nations consultation is, it is whatever the First Nations say it is, Mr. Speaker, nothing less. Mahsi.

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Thank you, Mr. Chair. I just have a quick question on the Bison Control Program for the Wood Buffalo National Park and also for just basically bison here and around Yellowknife too. Is that sunset, this program, because I don't see the funding for '07-08? Thank you.

Yes, just one more quick question. Since we make contributions to support all these research projects or small one-time projects, do we get copies of those?

Yes, thank you, Mr. Chair. I see those are actuals. So if we got $322,000 in contributions going out in 05-06, does that mean that in '06-07 we didn't have any applications coming in for similar contributions from the similar organizations?

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I guess I just wanted a little more detail on why is it just one time. What are these people doing that it's just a one shot deal here with wildlife management? Thank you.

Yes, thank you, Mr. Chair. Could Ms. Magrum maybe just give me or the Members here an example of one-time contributions in that area? Thank you.