Manley Justin Edwards
Liberal
Mr. EDWARDS:
I presume the information gained through this seismograph work is made available to the public as soon as it is obtained, and I should like the minister to tell us how that is done. I wish to know also whether there is any general policy in regard to doing seismograph work in areas already leased to development companies. I have in mind one area west of Rocky Mountain House, for instance, where there is a very large potential field. One well has been drilled there at tremendous expense, costing something over $500,000. I should assume that it would be desirable to do more intensive work in examining the potentialities of that area, but I can see also that such work would be to the benefit of a company which is already in there with a very large leasehold. The work being done by the department is desirable and commendable, but I was wondering whether the department was confining its exploratory work to areas not already leased, or whether it was giving some assistance to companies possessing areas not yet proven up.