Minister of Economic Development and Tourism.

Mr. Speaker, the deputy minister of Economic Development and Tourism was a contract employee and became an indeterminate employee shortly before the last election. Thank you.

Oral questions. Mr. Koe.

Supplementary, Mr. Speaker. So you are advising that there was a change in terms of employment from a contract to an indeterminate position?

Mr. Pollard.

Yes, Mr. Speaker.

Supplementary, Mr. Koe.

Supplementary, Mr. Speaker. This is very interesting. Who authorized this appointment?

Mr. Pollard.

I would hazard a guess, Mr. Speaker...

Point of order, Mr. Speaker.

Point of order, Mr. Patterson.

Point Of Order

Mr. Speaker, I believe there are rules that cover questions that apply to a previous administration and I would just ask for guidance from the Chair on that issue, Mr. Speaker.

Speaker's Ruling

I think the point of order is well taken and I will quote Beauchesne's, the section "oral questions", 409(6): "A question must be within the administrative competence of the government. The Minister to whom the question is directed is responsible to the House for his or her present ministry and not for any decisions taken in a previous portfolio." Oral questions. Mr. Nerysoo.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to ask the Government Leader if she could indicate to this House if there has been a change in the status of the deputy minister of Economic Development and Tourism and at what time did that status change.

Madam Government Leader.

Mr. Speaker, I could not tell you the day, but the change took place just prior to the election.

I want to emphasize that that particular knowledge or fact is not within the present responsibility of the present Government Leader, as per my ruling on the point of order. Oral questions. Mrs. Marie-Jewell.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to direct a question to the Minister of Personnel. The Minister of Personnel now has a policy in place that reduces housing allowance benefits to employees that live in subsidized government units in excess of one year. Recognizing that there are many employees that probably are in these units over one year, and some communities do not have any surplus private units for employees to go into, will the Minister of Personnel consider the sale of government units across the NWT, particularly where they may have a surplus of these units. Thank you.

Minister of Personnel, Mr. Kakfwi.

Supplementary, Mrs. Marie-Jewell.

Mr. Speaker, will the Minister of Personnel be able to advise this House as to what time frame he anticipates some of the surplus units, if they are deemed surplus, going on the market for sale? Thank you.

Mr. Kakfwi.