Hon. Nick G. Sibbeston:

Honourable senators, my question is similar to the question I asked before the break. It relates to the Mackenzie Valley Pipeline. The Mackenzie Valley Pipeline would be a very big project, and it is important for the North and for all of Canada. In fact, the Aboriginal people in the North are supportive of the project and would have one third interest in it. The proposal has been dealt with in all the communities. A number of years ago the proponents of the pipeline went to the communities and met with the people, and there have been environmental hearings. Review boards have approved the pipeline and, more recently, the National Energy Board gave approval to the project, as has the cabinet.

What is now left is for the federal government to agree on some fiscal arrangement with the proponents so the pipeline can go ahead. Considering that in the last year the federal government made a fiscal arrangement on a hydro project in Labrador, it is believed that, perhaps, a similar arrangement could be made regarding the pipeline in the North.

I ask the Leader of the Government whether she would confer with her colleague in the same tone: Hurry up and make a decision with respect to the project.

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