That is exactly what MLA Blake and I were doing on our recent trip, is trying to talk to producers to ensure that rough diamonds are available here in Yellowknife. Again, that’s my goal as Minister, to get agreements in place that will see that happen. We’re looking at Gahcho Kue and, again, the landscape has changed with Harry Winston purchasing BHP, it’s going to be called Dominion Diamond Mining now, and the prospect, I know Rio is interested in looking at their operation when it comes to diamonds. There’s a prospect there that one company could own both of those mines and that certainly...

As plans for the establishment of that mine move forward and it gets through the regulatory process, we will certainly be ramping up discussions on that specialized economic zone. We are also looking at the possibility of putting wholesale power into that area, as well, to make it more economical to have a hydro facility and the jobs coming to the South Slave region. So we continue those discussions. We want to see the regulatory process play itself out. Again, we do look forward to the jobs and the opportunities that such a development would bring.

Thanks, Madam Chair. Yes, we could look at putting a separate line item for that. Thanks.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. We’ve been discussing, with Avalon, their plans for the development of a mine at Thor Lake for a number of years now. Last October Cabinet gave us the mandate at ITI to look at the establishment of a socio-economic agreement with Avalon. We are currently in negotiations with Avalon on a socio-economic agreement and we hope to see that agreement put in place within the next several months. Thank you.

We’d be more than happy once this gets complete, hopefully sometime this spring, and that we’ll get it to the Executive Council and share it with Members. I think it’s going to be very, very telling. Some of the preliminary numbers I’ve seen – and I know the Member was there at the readiness session and when we met with the chamber of commerce and business leaders in the Sahtu after that session – if you had 10 wells there what it would translate into straight up economic opportunity and it’s tremendous what would happen there.

What has to happen is the development has to be done in a...

Thank you. I’m sure our staff have talked to the staff at ECE and that dialogue will have to continue. I think getting the message into schools around the Northwest Territories is very important, and we will continue to work with ECE to make sure that any programs that we do have, any educational component reaches out to schools and young people across the Northwest Territories. Thank you.

Thank you, Madam Chair. The issue that Mr. Dolynny brings up is a good one. I think it’s a discussion that all Members probably should have. From my perspective, we stand up as Ministers and if a department’s falling down in an area or has questions in an area, we answer that on the floor of the House or through the business plans. That has been the process. It’s been political, questions asked, issues addressed through the department and that goes down through the corporate management of the department to whatever manager or director is responsible for a certain area. If we want to delve a...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Yes, getting back to the head injuries, DOT does not regulate the use of helmets for uses like with snowmobiles, bicycles, skateboards or ice skates, in-line skates or skis. That is left up to the municipalities to deal with and that’s how that’s completed.

On a going-forward basis, DOT has initiatives under the Healthy Choices Framework. I know the Member talked of the Use Your Head Campaign that was used last year with a commercial with an Aboriginal elder wearing a helmet, a public awareness campaign. We also help with giving out funding to communities outside of...

There wasn’t a competition, no. The stipulation for interest earned through the NWT Opportunities Fund was to be earmarked for economic opportunities and pursuits in the territory. We are currently putting together a proposal through FMB to look at what we do with the remaining balance that’s there. As soon as we get that proposal complete, we’d certainly look at taking it to FMB and Members will also get to see that proposal.

It was a payment when the government decided to roll up the NWT Opportunities Fund. That loan came back and the interest that accrued on it was in the account. So, yes, the answer would be yes.