Thank you, Mr. Nerysoo. Members' statements, Mr. Antoine.

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. (Translation) I would like to also say something. When you do interpreting, there are many among us who do not speak the English language, well, so they only speak in their language. For them to communicate in the English language, I would like to say thanks to the people who are interpreting for them.

Also the people from the land, and in our constituencies who do not understand English well they only understand their language well. It is good we are able to communicate to them what is going on here. I would like to thank them as well, both the male people and female people who are interpreting and translating.

I, myself, started speaking South Slavey first, so sometimes when I speak English I find it a little bit hard. When I speak Dene I find it easier. Also in the communities, the Inuit and the Dene, whoever worked as M.L.A.s in promoting the native languages and the people that interpret for them, I would like to thank the people who initially started the interpreting/translating.

That is why we are able to preserve our language. Last week I talked about language development, I feel that is why we are able to preserve our language. I thank you all. Thank you.

---Applause

Thank you, Mr. Antoine. I would like to take this opportunity to recognize in the gallery Mr. Bill Lyall, a former Member of the Legislative Assembly.

---Applause

Members' statements. Mrs. Marie-Jewell.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I want to take the time to thank the Minister of Health for his decision on granting a public inquiry at the Fort Smith Health Centre. However, Mr. Speaker, the Minister so readily stated that his board of inquiry, which was established, was also being pursued. I wonder what the board of inquiry that he established is going to cost?

Since the Minister so quickly estimated the cost of the public inquiry, and has never once told this House how much his board of inquiry costs, I certainly hope, as a Member, he does not ask me to approve an initial supplementary appropriation for funds for his board of inquiry. Mr. Speaker, I believe that this Minister has his priorities mixed up. He is a Minister to meet the public needs, not the departmental needs, and his actions displayed the contrary.

However, Mr. Speaker, the public inquiry that is granted to Fort Smith is totally, and most appreciated by my constituents, and I am pleased that their wish was granted. I want, again, to thank my colleagues for the support that they have given me in the House to acquire this board of inquiry. I know, without their support, we would not have got one. Thank you.

Members' statements. Mr. Ningark.

(Translation) Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I also wish to thank all the interpreters/translators and I am also very proud of their achievements. During our session in the Assembly, we can speak in any of our languages, whether it is Inuktitut or the Dene languages. I know, for a fact, that the interpreters/translators go through a stressful time when we are having meetings within this House. We are all aware of that.

Sometimes we tend to forget that there are interpreters in the booths, and some people tend to start talking too fast without thinking that the interpreters/translator might not be able to keep up with the speakers. If we did not have interpreters/translators here, we would not be able to communicate effectively. (End translation)

I would like to share the appreciation with my colleagues, of the services that we are privileged to have with our interpreters/translators. When a Member speaks, namely Mr. Todd, sixty words a minute, the interpreters have to speak 120 words a minute.

---Laughter

When other Members speak 100 words a minute, the interpreters have to speak 200 words a minute. When a word comes out in English that is not in our language, for instance, association, organization, agency, or corporation, the interpreters have to invent new terminology in this regard. Therefore, Mr. Speaker, I thank the interpreters for all their services. Thank you.

---Applause

Members' statements. Mr. Kakfwi.

Members' statements. Item 4, returns to oral questions. Item 5, oral questions. Mrs. Marie-Jewell.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to ask the Minister of Health, can he give an estimated cost of the proposed board of inquiry that he has established under the Medical Profession Act? Thank you.

Mr. Patterson.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I do believe that I estimated the costs of the medical board of inquiry when we debated the honourable Member's motion earlier in this session. At that time, I estimated the costs at between $50,000 and $100,000, and that is based on previous experience with inquiries of this kind. Thank you.

Oral questions, supplementary, Mrs. Jewell.

Mr. Speaker, can I ask the Minister how he estimated the costs of the public inquiry to be $500,000? Thank you.

Mr. Patterson.

Mr. Speaker, the main gauge for estimating the cost was our experience with previous inquiries of this kind, and a recent example we have to follow is the so-called Bourassa Inquiry, which cost, I believe, in excess of $500,000. Mr. Speaker, the reason for the difference in the estimate of cost between a medical board of inquiry, and a public inquiry, is that the public inquiry has a much broader range of issues that can be examined, and also a much broader scope for the calling and the compelling attendance of witnesses who have traditionally demanded legal counsel and it is those legal fees, Mr. Speaker, that will be a particularly heavy component of the estimated costs. Thank you.

Oral questions, supplementary, Mrs. Jewell.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Generally, it is the process of Cabinet to ask for supplementary appropriation for funding. That is required under a proper justification for these funds and, Mr. Speaker, he is basically taking a ball park figure from out of the air, coming here wanting to ask Members to approve an initial supplementary appropriation of $500,000. Mr. Speaker, we have half of the year left out of the budget process, does the Minister feel that it is not more appropriate to ask for a lesser amount of this House for a public inquiry, and then ask for money as he requires it? Thank you.

Mr. Patterson.

Mr. Speaker, the budget for the proposed inquiry will be tabled and presented to this House when the supplementary estimate is presented. Mr. Speaker, I am quite confident that $500,000 is in fact a low estimate of the costs. So looking at the issues, and the extent of public concern in the Member's constituency, I think that experience will show that in fact we will be fortunate if it only costs $500,000. Thank you.

Oral questions, this is your final supplementary, Mrs. Jewell.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I recognize that this is my last supplementary. It must be a real mess that is why there is an estimated cost of $500,000, and I think that was why I asked for this public inquiry, to try to get to the bottom of it.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to ask the Minister, when does he intend to bring forward the request for the Members to approve the supplementary appropriation? Thank you.

Mr. Patterson.

Mr. Speaker, I understand that Ms. Cournoyea who will be acting for Mr. Pollard in connection with this matter, will be conferring with the chairman of the Standing Committee on Finance about how quickly this supplementary request can be expedited, so it will be a matter as I think it traditionally occurs, to be discussed between the acting House Leader and the chairman of the Standing Committee on Finance. I cannot answer the question today for that reason. Thank you.