Just hang on, Mr. Dent. I am sorry. Mr. Antoine, you have to respond.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Chairman, the question of Mr. Morin was, am I going to hold the line on the budget position that we have taken over the last three years? It was a difficult job of balancing the books, and yes, all the replies and the answers that I have given in this House are from the understanding that we will hold the line. I thought that was the understanding, but if it is not, then I want to say categorically that all the answers I answered in the House here pertaining to the different questions from different honourable Members in regard to the areas of where we should be concentrating our resources, are based on the fact that we have a balanced budget and I would like to maintain that.

However, I have also gone on to say that, in some areas, I will have to get familiarized with the certain situations and I will have to look further into these, but if the findings are there, then we should do the different types of work that has to get done, to get it done. I have also said that we may have to look at the existing budget. If a certain program and service needs some additional funds into the base, then we have to look within the system to try and get it from some place else. Within the line of these answers, I was assuming that people are aware that I am in the position of keeping a balanced budget. Thank you.

Mr. Dent. I am sorry, again.

Thank you. I will start with Mr. Antoine. Okay, Mr. Kakfwi first.

Mr. Antoine.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. To that question, yes, I will commit myself to working with the Finance Minister to look at the total budget, to see where we are at and what we have, and where we are going. Certainly and with the concerns that are raised here, today, we are going to have to re-look at the direction that we are going. At the same time, we are trying to maintain a balanced budget, going into division. That is the key factor there, it certainly means that we will have to look at the existing budget of each department and then if working along with the Cabinet and along with the Finance Minister if there is areas on how we could add to the base of the social envelope, then we certainly would have to look at that very seriously. It is going to be hard work and it is going to be a struggle. If that is the direction we have to go, then we will have to do it. It is going to be a tough decision. Thank you.

Your second question, Mr. Dent.

There is no one else that is in the Chamber who has not asked questions. Mr. Rabesca.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I would like to ask the candidates a question regarding the balanced budget that we are expecting and then the deficit has dropped approximately since we have been working at it the last three years. I would imagine it would be easier to manage the whole administration as funding might be available in the future. I would like to ask the two candidates whether they foresee any more funding made available to every department within the whole administration, such as Municipal and Community Affairs and Transportation and, if so, if they foresee any unfinished projects, such as my community airport to be completed? Would there be any money available since we will be out of deficit as we are approaching the balanced budget? Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

Thank you. Mr. Antoine.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Chairman, in regard to the balanced budget, there is no deficit. In fact, there might be a slight surplus there that was indicated earlier on. It is projected to be there. At this point of time, like I said, I would like to maintain the balanced budget line and not get into any deficit. Whatever funding that we are going to have has to come from within the system.

Some of the areas such as the social envelope issues cannot be dealt with like a one-shot deal. You cannot take a few dollars from say, the surplus and put in for it in the one year. You have to deal with it on the longer term. You have to find existing dollars some place within the system and put it into the base so that the budget grows on a yearly basis. If you have a surplus, it does not mean that a certain department is going to get additional dollars on an ongoing basis. That is not the answer for the bigger issues that we have here. The departments need additional dollars on an ongoing basis, but in the specific cases like, for example, the airport that you mentioned in Rae-Edzo. It is a one-shot deal. There is something in place now to try to identify extra resources for that as a one-shot deal. Thank you.

Thank you. Mr. Kakfwi.

Thank you. Mr. Rabesca.

Top Priority As Prospective Premier to March 31, 1999

My second question, both candidates have expressed a really good concern about all the activities that they foresee as being during their Premiership within our term in this office. What is their top priority on the whole events that we might see in the next coming months before our term is up? Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

Mr. Kakfwi.

Mr. Antoine.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Chairman. I am of a similar view as well. In my Member's statement in the House a couple of times, and even in my opening address and in the debate that happened the last couple of days on last Friday and Monday, was that there is a lot of activity going on in our communities. We went through a very painful process here that we just concluded and that the public perception is that it is pretty negative towards us here as a government.

People in the communities are saying that life has to go on and that we have to carry on with what we are here to do until it is finished. I am committed to do that, to carry on the work here. I guess putting my name forward is that I am saying that I am here, I am ready to work, let us get on with it. There are a lot of concerns out there that we still have to deal with. There is quite a bit of negative fallout on the part of the government here and people are questioning if we have the ability here collectively to run their affairs in the north. I think that I have faith in the people in the north. I think we are very smart and intelligent people. A lot of us have survived bigger hardships than that in our communities and that life has to go on.

What I am saying is, we have to show to people, the public and people outside the Northwest Territories and Canada that we are capable of managing our own affairs. We can do the job and we can do it in a very transparent and good way. That I hope will develop trust in us as a government by the people in the remaining months that we have here. It will show the public that we are sincere in what we are doing, that we have a job to do and we would like to finish it. That is the top priority that I see right now. Thank you.

Is there anybody else for questions? I will just read to you, in accordance with the procedures, I would like to advise that I have received notice that the honourable Member for Baffin Central has authorized the honourable Member for Baffin South as proxy. We have two booths here. The Members are now asked to proceed to those booths and cast their votes and then put it in the box right there. Again, just to remind the Members that are out there listening, that it is only after all the votes have been cast that we would proceed with the counting of the ballots. Any of the Members that are out of the chamber, I would request them to come back to vote.

Secret Ballot Election

--Voting by Members

I declare the voting process closed. The ballot box will now be taken to the Clerk's office where the ballots will be counted. The bell will ring for five minutes to bring the Members back once the results are determined.

--Break

I will call the committee back to order. I wish to advise that you have elected the Member for Nahendeh, the Honourable Jim Antoine, as your Premier- elect.

--Applause

This will also be confirmed by motion in the Legislative Assembly tomorrow. I would like to offer Mr. Antoine and Mr. Kakfwi the opportunity to say a few words. Mr. Antoine.