Mr. Speaker, yes, we can assure the Member we are vigorously pursuing this. As a matter of fact, there has been a number of meetings with the Department of National Defence where they have had their people up here. As well, on that initiative as well and some of the concerns that have been raised in this House, in the past and today, there will be a full briefing on caucus on Thursday at 11:45, at which time specific questions can be asked of the military contingent that will be here. As well, they will have the opportunity to outline what is planned for the phased in clean-up approach they have.

Mr. Gargan.

Mr. Patterson.

Mr. Speaker, I am advised that 79 per cent of the staff qualify under the Government of the NWT affirmative action guideline. That does not mean that 79 per cent of the staff are aboriginal persons. Our affirmative action guidelines also include non-aboriginal people who have spent more than half their lives in the Territories, in certain cases women, and in certain cases people who are handicapped.

Oral questions. Supplementary, Mr. Gargan.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Recognizing that the purpose of the board is to provide services to injured workers, and recognizing that the needs of injured workers can probably best be understood by people who have endured similar hardships, what efforts has the board being making to hire persons who qualify for affirmative action consideration under the priority classification of resident disabled persons?

Mr. Patterson.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I will have to take that question on notice. I am not exactly sure whether there are any people in that category employed by the WCB at present.

Question is being taken as notice. Oral questions. Mr. Todd.

My question is to the Minister responsible for Economic Development and Tourism. The importance of regional input was recognized when the former Minister of Economic Development brought forward a bill establishing the NWT Business Credit Corporation. This legislation included provisions which allow the establishment of regional boards that would advise the corporation's board of directors. I am concerned about centralization and that no regional boards have been appointed, and I am wondering, could the Minister please advise the House as to his plans for the development of regional advisory boards under the NWT Business Credit Corporation Act?

Minister of Economic Development and Tourism, Mr. Pollard.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I will take the question as notice.

Question has been taken as notice. Oral questions. Mrs. Marie-Jewell.

Mr. Speaker, I have a question for the Minister of the Workers' Compensation Board. Does he have any knowledge of the Workers' Compensation Board members approaching the workers' advisor in respect to long

distance calls made to my MLA office? Does he have any knowledge of what those calls were for?

Mr. Patterson.

Mr. Speaker, I am not aware of discussions about that issue between the board and the workers' advisor. I am not aware of what might have taken place.

Supplementary, Mrs. Marie-Jewell.

Maybe my question was not clear, but the Minister basically indicated he is not aware of these calls taking place. I would like to know, has he any knowledge of board members requesting what types of calls are made from the workers' advisor's office, and to whom they are made and for what purpose? Thank you.

Mr. Patterson.

Mr. Speaker, as I understand it, the workers' advisor is paid wages, by the hour, and expenses by the Workers' Compensation Board. The payments and the billing, therefore, are the responsibility of the Workers' Compensation Board. Since I have been Minister, I have been asked to approve a monthly invoice sent by the workers' advisor, but I cannot tell the Member about what might have happened after that. The payment is between the workers' advisor and the WCB. I am just not aware of discussions of the kind she refers to.

I will say, Mr. Speaker, that I was asked earlier today about a review of the workers' advisor position. I do know that the workers' advisor was invited to meet with a small panel of board members to discuss the position that the particular incumbent holds, but I was not a part of those discussions and I, frankly, do not know what might or might not have been discussed. I do not know whether telephone calls or whatever else might have been discussed in those interviews. I was not there, and I was not involved. Thank you.

Supplementary, Mrs. Marie-Jewell.

Mr. Speaker, since the Minister did indicate that the workers' advisor was to sit down and discuss issues with a small panel of board members, will the Minister take it upon himself to determine what the discussions were between the small panel of board members and the workers' advisor?

Mr. Patterson.