Ms. Mike, would you like to clarify the question?

Mr. Speaker, I am getting tired to repeating my questions. I would suggest to the Minister he look up the questions in the unedited transcripts tomorrow and respond to me at that time.

Mr. Allooloo.

Okay.

Oral Questions, Mr. Pudluk.

(Translation) Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I have a question for the Minister of Renewable Resources. He may not understand my question, however, at the last meeting we spoke about polar bear meat that had been injected with a tranquillizer. He could not answer my questions at the time as he indicated he did not have the results of the review. Can he indicate to the House as to how long the tranquillizer can be in the polar bear, without effecting the meat itself? Thank you.

Mr. Allooloo.

(Translation) Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The doctors have reviewed these tranquillizers after the polar bears have been injected and they informed me that after 24 hours the tranquillizers have affected the meat and they indicated to me that after three days the tranquillizer is no longer in the body of the polar bear. We usually tell the communities there will be some studies on polar bears that have been tranquillized and we have warned the communities not to eat the polar bear during those three days. After three days is up it no longer affects the meat. Thank you.

Mr. Pudluk.

(Translation) Yes, we believe your response but I would like to ask how many polar bears have been studied? Thank you.

Mr. Allooloo.

(Translation) Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I am not sure how many polar bears were studied but I will get this information to the Member. Thank you.

The Member is taking the question as notice. Item 5, Oral Questions. Mr. Ningark.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Subsequent to the return to oral question which was made by the honourable Minister of Social Services this is regarding the payment of social assistance to recipients. I am not questioning the decision made by the Kitikmeot Regional Council. In fact I feel like I am in a difficult position. I brought this matter up earlier this week because when I met with the Social Services Appeal Committee, they made it very clear that there is not much flexibility when dealing with vouchers. People want to go shopping at the local Co-op, the Northern Store or sometimes they want to buy country food from local hunters and trappers or send money to their kids residing outside of town.

I am wondering if the Minister would seek input from the local Social Services Appeal Committee which currently administers under this policy option, which is rather restrictive. Thank you.

Mr. Minister.

Mr. Speaker, I think the attitude of the department is to try to issue social assistance payments in the most appropriate way, looking at the needs of the individual person and the community. Yes, I will be open to accepting advice from the local Social Services Appeal Committee in that community and will ask my officials to get their input in looking at the current policy. Thank you.

Oral Questions. Mr. Pudluk.

Ms. Cournoyea.

Mr. Speaker, yes I will discuss the issue with the Chairman of the N.W.T. Power Corporation to see if there could be more easily identifiable markings so that travellers can see much more quickly where the guy wires are. If there are any particular instances which we should be looking at, I would like to have more detail on those. Thank you.

Supplementary, Mr. Pudluk.

(Translation) Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I agree with the Minister and I think this should be done right away because in many communities which I have visited it needs to be done. About a week ago a man from Resolute recently died bumping into those wires. Quite a few days after that they put a warning sign up. Perhaps before another accident occurs the Minister could consider talking to the Chairman of the N.W.T Power Corporation to install those warning signs. Thank you.

Ms. Cournoyea.

Mr. Speaker, as I said before, I certainly will discuss this immediately with the Chairman of the N.W.T. Power Corporation.