Thank you, Mr. Speaker. We haven’t had any of that type of discussion because we are really not there yet. I want to give the assurance to everybody out there listening, we are not talking at this point about a reduction in tags. So I think it’s premature to start talking about what we do if the industry fails. We are not there. I want to give that assurance. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. We are going to sit down now and talk to the planning committee that put this document together about the next steps forward in terms of public consultation. Obviously we have had many discussions. The groups involved with the planning committee are those charged with management of the herd, but there are many more stakeholders who have an interest in the management of caribou and need to be consulted. We need to have that discussion with them prior to anything taking place in terms of changes to the plan or, as I have indicated before, adoption of the plan. None of...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The grubstake program that’s available at the beginning of the season for trappers who harvested a certain number of pelts the previous year -- I can’t remember exactly what the number is, but I think it’s around 20 -- those who have met that threshold are eligible for the grubstake amount of money and I think it's in the neighbourhood of $5,000 to help them get their equipment up and ready for the season. So if they want to do repairs to their snow machine or purchase additional traps, that’s what that money can be used for. We have had a program in past years in...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. These programs that we set up some couple of years back, I believe two years now running, continue on. What we are seeing is an increased uptake and an increase in the level of trapping. I think that much of it has to do with the prices that these furs are fetching at auction. The market has been particularly good. The Asia Pacific market is opening up for our furs, along with the traditional interest we have seen from the European trading area. So this is all good news for our trappers. I think in addition, anecdotally, we have noticed that people who are...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. We are very aware and believe that with development come some negative impacts and implications. I think that is why we were so enthusiastic in our support for the Protected Areas Strategy and that action plan. Together with the federal government and with industry, we recognize there is a need to protect areas that have been identified by communities as culturally or environmentally sensitive. That is one of the good approaches I think we are taking as a government and as a territory, to make sure that where there are very important areas to the people, communities...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. RWED has agreed to organize this consultative process, which should, we think, with current timelines, culminate in a forum to be held in May of this year. At that point, we will have solicited public input and feedback. The planning committee has asked for that feedback to happen by the end of April. So we think in May we can provide that, have that forum in May of 2005 and then have a discussion around what we do next. If the report is not already posted on the web site, it will be very shortly so that everyone can have easy access even if they are from outside the...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Maybe the Member can provide me with more clarification by what he means by peer review. As we go out to consult with stakeholders, many, through that consultation, will have a chance to weigh in on the recommendations, discuss the potential ethicality, or lack thereof, as they see it, of some of some of the options. If he’s referring to technical experts, academics, scientists or other hunters, I am not exactly sure. But there will be a broad-based consultation on this and I think that’s what the Member is looking for. Thank you.

Yes, Mr. Speaker, we believe it’s the most effective tool. It will build on many of the access agreements that are being negotiated right now. I think it will fill gaps and it will provide some certainty for all NWT residents and all businesses, beneficiary and non-beneficiary in the NWT, and that they will, in fact, see tangible benefits and opportunities from this pipeline development. That’s important. We want to make sure that there are benefits that stay here in the North because that really is what will make this development worth it for the Northwest Territories. Thank you, Mr...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Specifically to social impacts, which I think is really outside the NEB process, which will be focused more on technical issues, on tolling issues, those kinds of questions specific to social impacts, we want to work with communities. We are certainly going to find some dedicated resources to coordinate this government’s approach to that. I know that the social envelope Ministers are going to sit down, and one of the first steps is to take an inventory of programs and services currently available in communities and then to sit down and recognize that different...

I can give the Member that assurance. I also want to say to the Member and other Members, if issues do come up and there are things that arise and Members believe it is as a result of the transition process, I want to make sure they bring them to my attention as quickly as possible. We want to work with our regional staff, as I said, to make sure this is a seamless transition. We want to make sure there’s no interruption for our clients and this is of utmost priority. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.