Would the Government Leader like to respond to that?

I would like to note that the "Northwest Territories Way" and the other documents, in trying to reconcile how we deliver government services, are all part of a total package, and a consultation process will take place once a process is out. Any report that was provided by this government is not a bible that you live and die by. It is a fact that we have to take a number of recommendations to provide some direction on how to finally come up with the objective, as the honourable Member states. We have to deliver a service that is fair and equitable to all residents of the Northwest Territories, taking into consideration the regional differences. There is no intention of this government to take one report and rubber stamp it and say that is the way it is going to be.

There will be a consultative process, and there will be due respect to all the regional health boards so that they will be involved. It is of no sense to us to go without their input. The communities and the regions will be consulted and involved with the deliberations as we go forward. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Oral questions. Mr. Nerysoo.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. This is a question for the Government Leader. It is a supplementary to the question by Mr. Todd. Is the consultation process also going to involve the Members of the Legislative Assembly when you are dealing with the review of the delivery of programs and services to the people of the Northwest Territories?

Madam Premier.

Mr. Speaker, it goes without saying that at several different levels, the Members of the Legislative Assembly are involved. They are involved at the standing committee level. They are involved in the process as to how we are going to deliberate. Changes have to be brought to this House. Yes, indeed, I would not think we would proceed, because we are only eight people here as cabinet and we would like to see that whatever we ultimately come forward with is something that not only reaches and encompasses the desires of people but also brings in as many people as possible so that it is understood that a lot of the decisions we have to make are decisions that have been accumulated in the last 10 or 15 years as we have evolved as a territorial government. Unfortunately, it would have been nice if we could have made these changes when we were in a healthier situation financially; however, I believe that with all of us working together and with total involvement, we can meet those objectives for the betterment of the people that we serve. Thank you.

Oral questions. Mr. Lewis.

My question is to the Minister responsible for Economic Development and Tourism. I listened with great interest to his Minister's statement yesterday about our fiscal position and his note that one of the things we may want to consider, much the same way the federal government is considering, is the sale of assets as one way of generating some revenue, thereby reducing some operating costs to ourselves. I would like to ask the Minister what he has in mind in the way of assets which we may want to sell.

Mr. Pollard, Minister of Finance.

Mr. Speaker, I was merely indicating to the House that we are prepared to look at the sale of assets. We have not compiled a list of the assets that we may wish to sell, but it is an option that we are looking at, sir. I do not have a definitive list.

Supplementary, Mr. Lewis.

Minister of Finance, Mr. Pollard.

One example, Mr. Speaker, is that we could sell off some of the houses that we own. Thank you.

Oral questions. Mrs. Marie-Jewell.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to pose a question to the Minister of Renewable Resources. With respect to the transboundary water agreement with Alberta, would the Minister of Renewable Resources be able to give this House a status report on the negotiation of the transboundary water agreement that is now in process with the Alberta government? Thank you.

Mr. Ningark, Minister of Renewable Resources.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Once I have my officials prepare a report, I will do that. Thank you.

Oral questions. Supplementary, Mrs. Marie-Jewell.

Recognizing that the Minister indicated he would be able to give us a status report, Mr. Speaker, I would like to know if he now knows whether or not the negotiations are nearing conclusion, or are they still at the negotiating stage? To what degree are these negotiations taking place? Thank you.

Mr. Ningark.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The negotiations have not started.

Oral questions. Supplementary, Mrs. Marie-Jewell.

Mr. Speaker, on July 5th of last year, the previous Minister of the day had indicated that they were in negotiations with the Alberta government with respect to the transboundary water agreement. Therefore, initiations have been started with respect to this agreement, and I would like to know whether or not they are nearing conclusion. I would like the Minister to advise me. Thank you.