Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I have written a number of letters to the Minister of Fisheries and Oceans. I have also just recently met with Mr. Tobin with regard to concerns that have been raised by Inuit fishermen in the Baffin region.

I recently received correspondence from Mr. Tobin indicating to me that, with respect to the permanent licensing for offshore ground fish, the Department of Fisheries and Oceans, with the help of the harvesting adjustment boards, is working to permanently reduce the number of ground fish licenses in the Atlantic provinces over the coming months. Now, I am sure the Member is very aware of the efforts that Mr. Tobin has made with the Spanish vessels and the difficulties he has faced with the struggle on the ground fish in the Atlantic. I believe one of the conditions was that there would be some reductions, and this is the indication that he has given to me at this point. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I'll take the question as notice.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I have a return to an oral question asked by Mrs. Marie-Jewell on March 27th regarding the status of recommendations for fire management review.

The recommendations in the report on the review of the Government of the Northwest Territories forest fire management program and policy were reviewed by a steering committee chaired by the deputy minister of Renewable Resources and consisting of the secretary to the Financial Management Board and the deputy ministers of Public Works and Services and Economic Development and Tourism.

Two of 33 recommendations were not accepted by the steering committee. One recommendation and portions of four other recommendations were not commented on by the steering committee because they referred to the proposed aircraft maintenance facility, which was outside the terms of reference for the review.

In February 1994, the Financial Management Board accepted the steering committee's assessment of the report's recommendations. A copy of the steering committee's assessment has been provided to the honourable Member. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the Department of Renewable Resources' mandate involves working closely with those pursuing traditional aboriginal lifestyles. Our field officers in smaller communities

work with local harvesters to responsibly manage our resources.

I would like to inform the Members of an innovative approach recently undertaken by Renewable Resources to facilitate contact between community harvesters and senior management staff. A snow machine trip from Yellowknife to Coppermine and return was undertaken during the sessional break. On March 15th, the deputy minister of Renewable Resources, Mr. Joe Handley, and four others left Yellowknife by snow machine and travelled to Deline, then across Great Bear Lake to Hornby Bay and to Coppermine.

They then travelled back to Yellowknife via Contwoyto Lake through Lac de Gras area, reaching Yellowknife on March 27th. They were accompanied and guided along the way by many people from the various communities to which they travelled.

This trip proved an excellent way to meet people who live in smaller communities, and especially those who depend on the land for their livelihood. These people now know our senior departmental staff understand at least a small amount about what it's like to be out on the land.

Grand Chief Joe Rabesca and the other Dogrib chiefs met with the group in Rae Lakes, checked their equipment and clothing, went over the travel plans and arranged a guide for them to Deline. Moise Rabesca provided accommodation for a night at his outfitting camp headquarters at Rae and loaned some equipment he felt they should have. Walter Bahya and his family travelled from Deline to Hornby Bay, guiding the group across that huge lake and over dangerous pressure ridges. Walter is quite proud that his wife is the first Dene woman to have travelled to the Hornby Bay area, probably since the turn of the century, at least. Colin Adjun, Stanley Klengenberg and Josh Hunter guided the group from Hornby Bay to Coppermine. Bobby Algona, a Coppermine hunter and trapper born and raised in the Contwoyto Lake area ensured the group was able to make the trip from Coppermine to Contwoyto Lake.

Mr. Speaker, this trip provided an opportunity to meet with outfitters like Moise Rabesca and Gary Jaeb, with the Dogrib chiefs, with HTA members and generally with people from the communities. The meetings were informal and relaxed, which is the way we do much of our business in smaller communities.

It was unfortunate that my schedule prevented me from participating in this trip. I know the people in the communities were pleasantly surprised to see a deputy minister travelling by snowmobile over such long distances. This trip allowed staff to visit remote locations; to demonstrate their understanding of travel on the land; and, was completed at less cost than if the staff had simply flown directly to Coppermine without managing to visit the camps in between.

This innovative approach to fostering better relations between the department and communities was an overall success. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

---Applause

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I have indicated that the report is a management tool and I believe any management tools that are produced are for internal use. I have indicated that I will make it available to Members who, I believe, would make constructive use of it. But as far as I understand, our intention in coming up with this report was to use it for internal purposes and that's the way I intend to keep it. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I think there are many, many reports that are written by and for the Government of the Northwest Territories that the public doesn't see which the government uses as management tools. I have indicated that I don't intend to table the document but would make it available to any Member who would like a copy of it. This report is a 14-volume report, Mr. Speaker, and it would require extensive work to try to make copies of it. I have no objections to any Members asking for copies and seeing the report. Where I stand at this point is, I will make it available to any Member who wants it but I am not going to table it in the House. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The department, in consultation with the various departments of the government as well as with people in the affected areas, has been working on a strategy they'll be able to work with this coming summer. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The intention of the department in the use of this report is to use it as a management tool. That was, I believe, the only intention of the department in having this report prepared, to use as a management tool with which they could form a forest fire management strategy for the Northwest Territories. So, I do not intend to table the document. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, I just have one more return. It is a return to an oral question asked by Mr. Ballantyne on March 29th, regarding the strategy for monitoring air quality.

The problem of airborne pollutants is not restricted to the Northwest Territories. It is a global problem that requires global solutions. The Government of Canada has taken a lead role in promoting new international agreements on the management of pollutants, such as through the United Nations economic commission for Europe's convention on long-range transboundary air pollution. While Canada no longer allows the use of pollutants such as DDT and toxaphene, many other countries have not yet done so.

The Government of the Northwest Territories, primarily through the Departments of Renewable Resources and Health and Social Services, continues to urge the federal government to take any actions necessary to reduce international sources of airborne pollutants. The Premier has brought this concern to the attention of the Prime Minister. Where appropriate, our government participates directly on task forces or Canadian delegations to ensure that northern concerns relating to airborne pollutants are heard and addressed. Most recently, at the February meeting of Canada's Energy and Environment Ministers, the Department of Renewable Resources spoke of northern concerns and the need to promote new agreements to manage these pollutants.

To respond to concerns over territorial sources of air pollutants, the Department of Renewable Resources has prepared air quality guidelines which recommend local limits for certain airborne pollutants. Compliance with the guidelines is voluntary. The Government of the Northwest Territories will continue to participate in programs that monitor the levels of air pollutants in the air, water, wildlife and people. The most recent information shows that levels of airborne pollutants in country foods are not increasing or affecting the productivity of territorial wildlife. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.