Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Yes, yes, yes, yes.

Mr. Patterson.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. That is good to know. Since the Minister was aware of my keen interest in this very serious situation, in the second largest community in the Northwest Territories, and since I was in my office every day the week that the decision was made, notwithstanding whatever efforts the Minister might have made to get hold of me, was it the Minister's intention that I should be kept in the dark until after the decision was executed in my riding? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Allooloo.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I agree the process that took place could have been handled better. I attempted to contact Mr. Patterson prior to my meeting in Yellowknife and also to attend federal and provincial meetings. I was told he was in the standing committee meeting. Normally the standing committee cannot be disturbed, unless it is by a staff person. Since I was leaving shortly after my call, I asked my deputy minister to inform Mr. Patterson that this was coming to a head. My deputy minister called Mr. Patterson's office on November 10. He was not successful. Then he came over to the Legislative Assembly to talk to Mr. Patterson and he was still in the standing committee meeting, but he waited for him to come out. At that time, he was able to give him a copy of the letters sent to the town of Iqaluit and to the new administrator. It was not my intention to keep the MLA in the dark. I agree, Mr. Speaker, this could have been handled better and I apologize to Mr. Patterson for the shortness of consultation.

Supplementary, Mr. Patterson.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I do acknowledge the apology. But, Mr. Speaker, I have to say to the Minister of Municipal and Community Affairs, we work in a building that many people have commented has many glass walls. I think the Minister is aware of where the Standing Committee on Finance meets. I think the Minister is aware of the strong commitments, reiterated by the Government Leader, to open government. I have to ask the honourable Minister, did he really think that I would object to being called out of a week-long standing committee meeting to be told that the duly elected mayor and council of the second largest municipality in the Northwest Territories were being fired? Did he really think it was inappropriate to ask the clerk to get me or stand outside the glass walls of that meeting room and indicate his interest in seeing me? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Allooloo.

(Translation) Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As I have stated before, the procedure we followed could have been handled a lot better. I truly apologize to Mr. Patterson that I didn't inform him. I attempted to inform him ahead of time. This was done on November 10 in the afternoon and I attempted on November 11, but I only had one hour because I had to leave on that day. I apologize to the Member that the procedure we used was not appropriate. Thank you.

Mr. Patterson.

Mr. Speaker, I'm told that the Minister attempted to call me but was afraid to interrupt the meeting of the Standing Committee on Finance to tell me that democracy was over in Iqaluit. I am told, Mr. Speaker, that his deputy minister tried to call me on November 10, but was unsuccessful. I would like to ask the Minister -- because he received a letter from me on November 12 objecting to my not have been informed or consulted in any way -- when he says that the deputy minister was unsuccessful in reaching me, how precisely was the Minister unsuccessful?

Did he phone and there was no answer? Did the phone connection not work? Was he unable to leave a message on my voice mail machine, which was working all that week and gave me many messages while I was at the standing committee meetings? How was it that his deputy minister was unsuccessful in getting a hold of me on November 10? Thank you.

Mr. Allooloo.

(Translation) Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I phoned the Legislative Assembly for Mr. Patterson and I was told by the staff that he was in a meeting. I didn't have a whole week. I think I had only about four hours. After the Cabinet made the decision, my deputy minister telephoned the Legislation Assembly and Mr. Patterson's home. One of his children answered, saying that he was not home. That was the night of November 10. The next day, my deputy minister

attempted to come here and see Mr. Patterson to advise him. Thank you.

Final supplementary, Mr. Patterson.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Valiant efforts were made to get a hold of me after the decision was made on November 10. I'll accept that. I was only informed on November 12 at the same moment the deed was being executed in my riding. After I was informed, Mr. Speaker, I called the Minister's office. I called his executive assistant. I wrote him an urgent letter, expressing my grave concern about not having been given the courtesy of being consulted -- let alone informed -- before a decision on a matter I was very much interested in, was made. In spite of these efforts to reach the Minister, it wasn't until the caucus meeting on the following Tuesday, November 16, that the Minister even approached me to discuss this issue.

My question is this, Mr. Speaker, if the Minister felt it was important that the MLA be involved in this decision and if he failed to consult me prior to the decision being made, why did it take him four days following my letter of outrage to reach me, discuss the matter with me, or to get a hold of me in any way to apologize or explain why I had been left out of the matter? Why was I not informed before and then had to wait four days before I even had the pleasure of seeing the Minister, let alone bringing the matter up, at my instigation, at caucus? Why did it take so long? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Allooloo.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Like I said, Mr. Patterson was informed by my deputy minister on November 12. The reason I was not able to see Mr. Patterson was because I was out of town. During that week, my intention was to go back to my constituents after the executive council. I was not able to go home so I thought I'd take a little break before session. During that weekend, I had a federal/provincial meeting in Saskatoon. I left on the afternoon of November 11. I drove to various places before attending the federal/provincial meeting. I came back, Mr. Speaker, on the night of November 15. The next day, I was able to approach Mr. Patterson. Thank you.

I would like to take this opportunity to welcome a former colleague and former MLA, Mr. Arnold McCallum, who is in the gallery.

---Applause

Item 5, oral questions. Mr. Pudlat.

(Translation) Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to ask the Minister responsible for the environment a question. It has been over two years that I have been raising this question in regard to the Great Whale hydro project. It will have a great effect on the people around the Sanikiluaq area who are my constituents. They are very afraid that this is dangerous to the wildlife in the area and it will have a different effect on the people. I often go to Sanikiluaq and try to get their views. They were consulted about the Great Whale hydro project, and were asked questions which had nothing to do with the area itself, the area of Sanikiluaq.

It would have been more appropriate if those people who went to listen to the concerns about the effects it would have within the community, concentrated on this Sanikiluaq area. I would like to ask the Minister if there is going to be further consultation about this. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The Minister of Renewable Resources, Mr. Allooloo.

(Translation) Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I had a brief meeting with the mayor of Sanikiluaq -- I believe he is still in town -- about this topic. He wanted our support. The Member for Baffin South wants to find out more about the issues. There are a lot of issues that are being discussed. I can meet with him in person and update him on what is happening. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Supplementary, Mr. Pudlat.

(Translation) Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The Minister said he had a brief meeting with the mayor of Sanikiluaq. Maybe he could get more information on the hydro project because the Sanikiluaq residents want to be informed. If he gets more information, perhaps he can report back to the Legislative Assembly and not just to me, individually. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Allooloo.