Wally Schumann

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Its role is to determine the research priorities of the fund, set the budget, and establish the policies and practices for its future. So this is all up to the Environmental Studies Management Board and how they see fit moving forward. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would have to probably look into that. I imagine every section may have different appendices to it, but if he wants to ask on a specific contract I can look into that for the Member. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. So first of all, the differences in this particular file, we have the resources and the people qualified within the petroleum resources side to deal with it. On this side, first of all we're going to need some legal staff because the specialist has got to work in conjunction with the Department of Justice when we draft this up, and we have put that out to look for a unique individual who can help us move this file along. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I guess the short answer is, yes, we're going to have a review of the Mining and Mineral Strategy moving forward. So thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Yes, that's exactly what I said. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I guess the other side of it is, besides just waiting for the markets for commodities to come back, we are developing an oil and gas strategy legislation. That is going to take a number of people to put that together and bring it forward. As the Member is well aware, there is a lot of pressure on Cabinet to get our LPs to the table, and we have got to work on these initiatives and moving them forward. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. From the 2015-16 that the Member is asking for, there were 14 positions. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I think that'd be a little premature until we get all these studies back. I believe also the City of Yellowknife is having a different look at their strategy on how they're going to involve tourism and the City of Yellowknife in the downtown core. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. This is based on proposals that come in and that the board sees that they're going to follow up on. One of the things I want to make clear, this isn’t government money in this fund. This is money that comes from levies from industry, and that is their money that is invested in this fund. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

These are agreements that are presently in place. When they were signed back in the early 90s and later 90s, we never had the regulatory authority over this; this was done under the federal government, the system that was in place at that time, and we have to live up to what was taking place then. When we move forward, as we try to attract new mining companies to the Northwest Territories, we will try to enshrine the stuff that's important to Northerners and the Northwest Territories and ensure we get the best deal for the people of the North.