The leadership side, the side that ultimately makes decisions in consultation with all members of the House.
As the parliamentary secretary has made clear Devco's mandate is still commercial viability. We expect projects to go forward on the basis of commercial viability. In other words, if the Donkin mine is to be developed it will have to be on a commercial basis.
The word true has a certain air of quality about it in this hallowed Chamber. It is a versatile word. This is particularly true given the government's record of fiscal responsibility to all Canadians.
In his magnificent, magnanimous, munificent budget last February, the Minister of Finance indicated that the government would stay the course on its effort to eliminate that terrible and dreadful thing called the deficit.
Canadians recognize and appreciate that progress has been made in this regard. Far be it for me to pre-empt our fantastic Minister of Finance, but deficit elimination will more than likely be achieved in fiscal year 1998-99, but that does not mean the government can abandon its policies of fiscal restraint and accountability.
Hon. members will recall that the previous minister of natural resources, during an appearance before a special Senate committee this past March, indicated that she would entertain private sector proposals to study the feasibility of developing the Donkin mine. The government fully supports Devco's decision to allow the private sector to explore development of the Donkin mine on a commercial basis.
As hon. members have been informed, a private company, Donkin Resources Ltd., is currently conducting a feasibility study to examine the availability and quality of the coal deposit, the market opportunities and the technical details associated with opening the mine. The study was financially supported by the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency through a contribution to the Cape Breton County Economic Development Authority. This contribution—