Thank you, Madam Chair. I'm sure that the Minister has anticipated the comments I'm going to make and it's fairly lengthy. Just to address some of the key questions that I was indentured by my constituency to respond to. I will certainly try to put them in the proper context, Madam Chair.

The very first sentence on development of the renewable resource sector puts it into proper context, that the standing committee continues to be concerned with a convoluted regulatory process affecting the renewable resource sector. Certainly we feel that there are a number of them that cause us great concern as we develop a better understanding of the regulatory process. Certainly, I'll say this further, with our constituents the level of investment in the regulatory process rather than a practical application of harvesting methods and trying to develop worldwide markets for big game hunting and certain species, we feel there is an abundance in the population. Also the methodology in trying to collect certain animal parts. I'll use the qiviut, for example, in trying to introduce new methods of combing it off which was at one time deemed to be inhumane, but in practice it isn't because they do already take large herds of muskox on long journeys and that should be used as an example of being non-inhumane.

I think being an advocate for diversification of our small-scale economies in our small communities, we need to really look at how we can assist individuals to become economically self-sufficient, Madam Chair. I want to say that I'm pleased to hear that the Minister, in earlier discussion with myself, had indicated his support to change the philosophy of the department, where there's less emphasis on enforcement and more into the renewable resource sector. So it brings me to the point where I think we really need to emphasize that in terms of modelling the staff, we need to look at resource economists that would help the communities change the way they approach wildlife and also wildlife harvesting, and put more into the commercial end rather than into the domestic harvesting levels. We need to look at taking people...If I can use a case in point in my discussions in one of my trips to Alaska, they said that we need to look at our Dahl sheep and look at the breeding stock. We need to harvest the older rams so the young rams can become breeders. One person said that if the conditions that people were concerned about the level of if somebody

failed, then they suggested rather than having to expend a lot of time and money trying to train guides, allow the hunters to bring in guides and that would mitigate any concern that the hunter may have in terms to trying to identify what is a prize animal.

So those are some of the things that we look at very closely in terms of development of the renewable resource sector. There are other things that I'm glad the Minister made reference to in his opening comments with regard to putting more resources into the commercial fishery. As you know, the Mackenzie Delta, under my inquiry, the fishery people had indicated that there is a quota for the Mackenzie Delta for 66,000 kilograms. Although it doesn't equate to very much in terms of overall revenue, it would still help the trappers and the harvesters to generate some income on a seasonal basis. They could supplement that with other renewable resource sector industry participation.

Certainly we're very, very concerned with regard to the regulatory process, and I am pleased to see that the dialogue has been continuing between myself and the department on what we feel is with the chronology of events that we need to talk about how we could help speed up the process that would give our investment community greater comfort in trying to resolve what we see as some delays. Again I refer to specific hard copy information. I go back to the March 12th NewsLine where the Premier states that he's back from the energy conference, telling where the pipeline project has been discussed. Apparently there was some dialogue between he and the Yukon Premier. In the final sentence it says, "Handley says that if Alaska pipeline goes first, there likely won't be much need right now, at least for the Mackenzie Valley line." Subsequent story lines certainly give us some concern.

I wanted to make reference to another issue that's of a similar nature on the same date, Mackenzie Valley pipeline environmental assessment. Again it talks about the criteria for Imperial Oil's environmental impact statement. Further down, March 19th, "A spokesman for Imperial Oil says delays in the regulatory process could delay a proposed Mackenzie Valley pipeline." Madam Chair, as I stated in my oral questions to the Minister today, this certainly alludes to the uncertainty as we deal in the context of the regulatory process. I want to give my constituents the comfort, especially the investment community, that the department will continue to work on behalf of its residents and asserting that we do need to be on top of the game here. I'm still trying to convince the public that we need to work diligently within the regulatory process. I think that was one of the main reasons that I questioned much of our constitutionality in the past, that I'm not certain that no matter how much of an effort we make in trying to make the regulatory process more progressive and deal more in timelines, it's out of our bailiwick. So I think we need to, as a government and as an assembly, take a very aggressive approach to reaffirm where we stand in terms of having influence over the regulatory process. I'm not here to debate the issue. I think we're trying to be helpful in making public knowledge that we have a functional role to play as a government and as an assembly. That is critically important for ourselves and we need to take a collective approach.

There are other more minor issues I will raise throughout the evening, but I just wanted to confirm what I stated in my reply to the opening address and how it affects my riding and the mandate they have given me to go forward with the Mackenzie Valley pipeline issue, and I am prepared to deal with my fellow colleagues throughout the Mackenzie Valley to ensure that we are well represented and our issues are taken into consideration.

In closing, Madam Chair, we are on the exploration side of the pipeline issue and I still need to advocate, at some point later on, that our investment in the exploration centre is well represented, and certainly I will be asking the Minister specific details as we go through line by line. With that, I conclude my opening comments. Thank you, Madam Chair.

Thank you, Madam Chair. Specific to the motion again, I want to speak in the context of the cost to this government, as Mr. Braden pointed out. I believe that the power subsidies to the domestic and commercial consumers should be based on the fact that we need to really look at introducing levelized rates that would help cushion those hit hardest by crushing power bills. I also strongly believe that we have to retain some economic incentive to shift to more affordable, sustainable, environmentally-friendly power sources. I believe that if we were to use that model it would help reduce the power subsidies to those users. I strongly believe as well, from a domestic point of view, that the NWT Housing Corporation is one of the biggest consumers of power in our territory. Knowing the amount of inventory they carry, it perhaps contributes to the high cost of consumption.

The interesting point I would like to make in the context of speaking to the motion, Madam Chair, is the fact that there is quite a misnomer out there in the public that the high cost of delivering power to a little community like Colville Lake with a very small number of consumers is the reason we should levelize rates. I don't think that is fair to the large consumer base. I would again suggest through the motion that we look at different incentives to try to reduce or at least minimize the impacts that this PSP would have on our consumer base as well as government. Those are my comments to the motion. Thank you.

Thank you, Madam Chair. I have a committee motion, Madam Chair. I move that committee recommends the government bring back to the committee before the next draft business plan reviews options for measures to stabilize power subsidy costs at current levels. Thank you, Madam Chair.

Thank you, Madam Chair. I suggest we conclude the Financial Management Board Secretariat and continue on with the review of the Department of Resources, Wildlife and Economic Development in that order, Madam Chair.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My written question is to the Minister responsible for the Northwest Territories Power Corporation.

Has the Minister responsible made any proposals to the NTPC board to reform its corporate policy which would allow private power generators to sell their excess power to the power grid?

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Certainly it generates concern from our constituency in the fact that there was a news release by the spokesman for Imperial Oil saying that they may be looking at Alaskan gas as another prospect. I'm just wondering if we can get a commitment from the Minister if he would now direct his officials to perhaps define whether our gas remains still a priority to the North American gas market. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. With all due respect, I want to express my gratitude to the Minister for that. Although it still talks a little bit about the pipeline, we still need to give certainty to the exploration companies and that their investment is protected as well. I want to ask the Minister again if he's prepared to develop an intervener status type of an approach that we can give all of our industrial investment some priority in this manner as well, besides the pipeline issue. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I'm going to make reference to my Member's statement. It's in regard to the oil and gas development exploration sector in the Inuvik region. I'm going to ask the Minister of RWED if he would direct his secretariat or directorate to approach the regular process with the intent that we need to have our message clearly given to the various members of that board so that we have certainty in the exploration side of the industry. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It gives me great pleasure today to recognize someone who made a great contribution to this vast northland in terms of his sporting career, a fellow team mate and a fellow collegian from Grollier Hall, I would like to recognize Mr. Ernie Lennie, 1976 Olympian.

---Applause