Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I think that the panel that has been created has started work. I believe at the present time they have received the environmental impact statements and they are presently going into these scoping sessions which will identify the communities that could be affected by the project. The purpose of these scoping sessions will be to provide residents with an opportunity to learn about the project and the panel's work, and help to identify issues and receive public comments on the draft environmental impact statements or guidelines that have been created. I believe that the individuals who have been selected for the panel are going to be able to carry out their work without being pressured to go in whatever direction either the mining companies or the environmental groups or the governments would like to see them go in. I think they will be able to carry out their mandate in the period of time that that has been allotted, and will be able to give an objective report.

As far as the regional study is concerned, I believe the work that is going to be done by the regional study includes enough groups and organizations in the Northwest Territories and across Canada that they will be able to come up with information to assist any new development that will take place in the Slave geological province. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I believe that the work that is being done by the environmental assessment review panel and the regional study that is being done by a consortium of groups will not hinder the process which the environmental assessment review panel is working on. There may be some insights that we'll get from the regional study that will be done; however, I do not foresee that the regional study is slowing down the process of the environmental assessment review panel. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Under the resources that the panel will have, I believe that there are contributions being made by the federal government as well as by the Government of the Northwest Territories on support being given to the panel. I believe that the resources that they will have at their disposal will be sufficient to cover the work that they will be doing. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Today I would like to express my sincere sympathy, with my home community of Baker Lake, over the tragic loss of a young but capable hunter, Moses Anautalik.

Moses set forth on a short hunting trip, but when storm conditions unexpectedly arose, he became the centre of a large search coordinated by the Baker Lake Search and Rescue Committee. As is often the case in crises, this crisis brought out the best in the residents of the Keewatin. The entire community of Baker Lake participated in the search for Moses by either physically searching, preparing food and support for those searching, soliciting cash donations to cover the cost of the search, and/or by praying for Moses' safe return.

When the community was exhausted yet unwilling to give up, people began arriving from Rankin Inlet and Arviat to assist with the search. The participation of searchers from these other communities boosted the morale of all those involved. And on behalf of all Baker Lake residents, I want to say thank you to these individuals.

Also to be commended are Robert Jaynes and the staff of the Department of Municipal and Community Affairs emergency measures organization at the regional and headquarters level, the RCMP, Canadian Forces Northern Area, the GNWT's Department of Renewable Resources, the Rescue Coordination Centre of the Canadian Forces that sent a twin otter and a crew from Trenton, Ontario to assist in the search, and all those individuals who contributed financially to keep this search operational.

I would like to thank the Northern stores and the Sanavik Co-op for supplying food. I especially want to thank Nunasi Corporation which donated $30,000 to ensure that the search planes would be able to continue searching for up to an extra week after the RCMP had called off their air search.

Above all, however, it is the residents of Baker Lake who should be commended for their dedication and their willingness to search for days in the hopes of rescuing Moses.

Mr. Speaker, although this search ended tragically, it was a fine example of the kindness of people and the willingness of individuals, businesses and various levels of government to pull together in a time of crisis. This incident also highlights the need for emergency shelters on the tundra and for an official policy on funding once the RCMP have fulfilled their initial mandate. I spoke with Eric Anautalik, who is the brother of Moses, this morning and he once again expresses his appreciation to all those who were involved. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, most people in the NWT and outside the NWT have followed with interest the various announcements about the valuable mineral deposits that have been identified in the area geologists refer to as the "Slave geological province." Generally there is consensus that some of the exploration activities will result in mines in the near future. The most likely is BHP's diamond exploration activity in the Lac de Gras area.

The potential for mines in this area has raised many questions about the impact of development of wildlife, water quality and traditional activities. There have also been many questions about the economic opportunity development could bring to the north. Mr. Speaker, I want to assure this House that through the Department of Renewable Resources, this government is carefully monitoring the impact of this exploration activity on the environment. We are working closely with other government departments, DIAND, aboriginal groups and industry.

Mr. Speaker, over the past three months, two major initiatives have been announced that are directed at responding to environmental concerns. In December, the federal government announced the appointment of a four-member environmental assessment panel to review BHP's diamond mine project in the Lac de Gras area. At the same time the panel was announced, I and the Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development announced a major regional study of the environmental, social and economic issues related to mineral development in the Slave geological province. The partners involved in this study include government, industry, aboriginal groups and environmental groups.

I would like to take this opportunity to update my colleagues on both these initiatives. Mr. Speaker, the BHP diamond mine project is being reviewed under federal environmental assessment legislation. My department is currently coordinating GNWT participation in the review process. We are doing this through an interdepartmental working group which includes the departments of Economic Development and Tourism; Education, Culture and Employment; Energy, Mines and Petroleum Resources; Health and Social Services; Justice; Safety and Public Services; and, Transportation. This working group will be responsible for developing GNWT input throughout the environmental assessment and review process which will include written submissions and formal presentations before the federal panel.

On the second initiative, the Slave geological province regional study, my department has met with each of the partner groups. Their response to this regional study has been positive. The first workshop for the regional study will take place on February 28th, March 1st and 2nd in Yellowknife. Representatives from industry, environmental groups, aboriginal groups and government will be attending the workshop. The objectives of this workshop are to develop terms of reference and goals and objectives for the study, to define the management structure for the study and to agree on the next steps in the study process. By working together, the concerns of all parties can be identified and addressed. This is the first step towards achieving a sustainable future for the area.

Mr. Speaker, it is our objective, in both the environmental assessment of the BHP diamond mine project and the Slave geological province regional study, to promote exploration and development of mineral resources in ways that provide lasting social and economic benefits to northerners while preserving the environment. Mr. Speaker, I will continue to update my colleagues on progress on both the BHP environmental assessment process and the regional study. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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(Translation) Mr. Speaker, I will look into the events that happened at that time that the Member is talking about. In a letter we will include why the meat was confiscated. Thank you.

(Translation) Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The question that Mr. Ningark is asking, I could respond to him to say that currently in wildlife legislation, the females that are harvested, if they go beyond the quota by harvesting too many females, they have to confiscate the hide. I have to find out from my officials if the meat should not have been confiscated, as well. Perhaps, if the polar bear had a collar, it would have been tranquilized. I believe that's the way the regulation reads, but I don't think it was the intention, or it wasn't right of them to confiscate the meat as well. Thank you.

The second return, if I may, Mr. Speaker, is a return to an oral question asked by Mrs. Marie-Jewell on February 17, 1995 regarding a shortage of muskox hides for constituents. Both the departments of Renewable Resources and Economic Development and Tourism have advised Mrs. Dube of sources for muskox hides. These hides are available from the organizations that conduct commercial harvests. Because the hides belong to the organizations and not the government, Mrs. Dube will have to negotiate terms for purchase of the hides with them. The Department of Renewable Resources will provide Mrs. Dube with a list of organizations that will be conducting commercial harvests of muskox this spring. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

First, asked by Mrs. Marie-Jewell on February 17, 1995 with regard to a woodcutting permit in Fort Smith. A copy of the free timber cutting permit has been provided to the honourable Member as requested, as well as information on the investigation that was conducted.