Can the Minister explain, because I am confused

as well, how signing a 10-year franchise agreement with the Power Corporation will benefit the communities? Does this franchise agreement not effectively eliminate the communities or the regions looking at alternate sources of power, hydro power, et cetera?

Minister responsible for the Power Corporation.

Mr. Speaker, the reason for a franchise agreement is to ensure there is an agreement that the Power Corporation will be serving those communities on a longer-term basis so that the Power Corporation can decide on their long-term expenditure patterns for capital installations. As for looking for alternate power, it does not preclude a community from looking at alternative power, such as hydro or wind generation or whatever.

Mr. Nerysoo.

I wish to ask the Minister responsible for the Workers' Compensation Board, whether he could make available to Members of this House the memorandum of agreement regarding the removal of hunters and trappers from coverage from the Workers' Compensation Act.

Mr. Patterson.

Mr. Speaker, I already took a question on this as notice and I will therefore ask the Member's indulgence if I could also take this related question on notice and get back as quickly as possible.

Mr. Chairman, I heard Mr. Kakfwi's response on the affirmative action policy. Under this policy it does give preference to an aboriginal person if the qualifications are fairly even. In the event that it is only aboriginal people who do apply for a position, what is the criteria for a position to be filled?

Minister responsible for Personnel.

Supplementary, Mr. Gargan.

The qualifications are based on who you know then, not what you know.

Minister responsible for Personnel.

Mrs. Marie-Jewell.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to ask the Minister of Finance, recognizing the number of restraint measures he has placed in the government in different departments, recognizing there will be a savings realized from these measures, how much of an anticipated realized savings does he expect to have accrued by the end of March?

Mr. Pollard, Minister of Finance.

Mr. Speaker, I know some specifics. We heard some $80,000 or so would be saved by the bill that the Member introduced into the House yesterday. It will be in the region of $100,000 with regard to Ministers' salaries and deputy ministers' salaries. But as far as an overall amount for the Government of the NWT, I cannot tell you that simply because it is not a total block, it is not a total cut. There are things getting through the system at ministerial and Government Leader discretion and I am not aware of all those things. So this is not an arbitrary percentage. This is a restraint measure that is slowing the government down without trying to hurt too many people out there. So I cannot give you an definitive number. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Supplementary, Mrs. Marie-Jewell.

Mr. Speaker, realizing that probably as a result of the various reports that the government does, will the Minister be able to advise us as soon as possible as to the anticipated amount of realized savings that he may have as a Minister of Finance by these restraint measures he is placing forth on the different departments?

Minister of Finance.

Mr. Speaker, our supp reserves have run out, so I guess what we are trying to do is trying to get some savings right now in the government that would offset supps that we know are going to come forward. But I would commit to the Member to report to this House the savings that we have garnered from these restraint measures. I guess my earliest opportunity would be in the February session and I would say I would give the House an update at that time.

Mr. Koe.