Ms. Cournoyea.

Mr. Speaker, any progress we make is certainly not going to be without a great deal of effort to keep up the momentum that we have under way at this time. As you know, there are many different areas of almost every department in which we have been asked to provide significant progress in. Not to take away from any other departmental responsibility, I believe that one area in which we will continue to make progress is the housing initiatives that have begun. I hope we will be able to have the communities fully aware of those new programs so that they will not feel frustrated in trying to gain access to them. We will continue to make more progress in getting out of government housing, where it is appropriate. We realize that there are some areas that are going to be slower, where the market is not there. In terms of trying to look at employment initiatives, I hope that between now and when we come back together again, we will be able to map out some kind of framework for employment initiatives. Other than that we will continue to formalize more clearly and try to detail some of the areas that we have for a more solid approach on how we are going to do the consolidations, and finalize those consolidations that are yet to be finalized such as the consolidations of the Departments of Finance, Economic Development, Health and Social Services.

Item 5, Oral Questions. Mr. Patterson.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Recognizing that new Ministers have been sworn in publicly by the Commissioner and that their portfolio assignments have been announced to the public and this House, and recognizing that this may be the last opportunity to ask questions, I would like to appeal to the Government Leader to allow me to ask a question to the Minister of Social Services on a matter which is not of a highly technical nature nor unknown to the honourable Member. I would like to ask the new Minister of Social Services if she is committed to the present government policy of requiring all community alcohol and drug projects in the Northwest Territories to commit to the so-called "abstinence clause" as a condition of receiving contributions from the Department of Social Services.

Ms. Cournoyea.

Mr. Speaker, I believe that earlier I indicated that the Cabinet Ministers did not know of their portfolios until 12:30 today, and that I have not received back the instruments from the Commissioner to fully, legitimately have these people as Cabinet Ministers. Would the honourable Member give due respect to the circumstances we are in at this time? Thank you.

Item 5, Oral Questions. Mr. Patterson.

I would like to ask the Government Leader a supplementary question, Mr. Speaker. Recognizing that the transmittal of appointments under seal from the Commissioner is really a technical matter and may or may not have been accomplished as we speak, I would appeal to the Government Leader that these announcements have been made in this House today and the Members have been sworn in. I think the people of the Northwest Territories have the right to get some idea from these new Ministers what their views are on issues that are not detailed, or highly technical, and issues that are well known to the Ministers and within their competence to answer, even upon early assuming of their portfolios.

I would like to appeal to the Government Leader. Is she going to insist on hiding behind a technicality or is she willing to let this reasonable question be posed to a new Minister while we still have the opportunity before this House imminently adjourns. Thank you.

I would like to say to the House that, in the rules, there is nothing that compels the Minister to respond to a question. The Premier, I think, has responded twice to your question. I will allow one more response. Madam Premier.

Mr. Speaker. The attitude that I am hiding behind a technicality, I take as a bit of an insult because I believe I said that the first Member was notified at 12:30 today. The last was at 1:15 today. I was asking for the indulgence of the Members to at least give these new Members of Cabinet a little bit of time to look at the policies that are there. Given the fact that some of the Members did take a very high profile approach to certain areas, that they really should have time to assess their position in relationship to the policies that are here. The policy on sobriety does exist. It still exists today. Thank you.

Item 5, Oral Questions. Mr. Patterson. Supplementary.

Yes, thank you, Mr. Speaker. Recognizing the wisdom of the Government Leader's suggestions that new Ministers should have time to give due consideration to the implications of their new status, I wonder if I could ask the Honourable Premier, Mr. Speaker, whether she will be recommending to the new Ministers that they obtain briefings or advice from outgoing Ministers on current issues affecting their departments? Would she, in the spirit of becoming well-prepared to deal with the complicated issues that these new Ministers are facing, recommend that they seek a briefing from outgoing Ministers soon so they can fully understand the background of some of these complex issues? Thank you.

Ms. Cournoyea.

Mr. Speaker, I think that many of the new Members can read Hansard to know all the expert opinions that each Minister has given in the past. However, yes, I will. It is only good business to talk to people who have held the portfolios before. I think that advice is appropriate and it is advice I am sure other Members have already considered. Thank you.

Item 5, Oral Questions. Mr. Whitford.

Ms. Cournoyea.

Mr. Speaker, I certainly can make that commitment.

Item 5, Oral Questions. Mrs. Marie-Jewell.

Mr. Pollard.

Mr. Speaker, I have discussed with the Department of Transportation this problem that has been brought to our attention. Obviously this will be a decision of the new Minister, but the deputy minister is willing to travel to Fort Smith to discuss it with the community. There is some suggestion from hunters and trappers in that area, Mr. Speaker,

that the dust control that is being put on that road is not good for the chickens down there and there have been not as many in that area.

So the suggestion has been that we could make some arrangement about discussing with the community the possibility of doing a little less on dust control and doing a little more on chip seal. I think the department is willing to go down and discuss that with the people of Fort Smith, Mr. Speaker. I will be recommending that to the new Minister. Thank you.

Supplementary, Mrs. Marie-Jewell.