Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I have a situation in my community. A local person bidding on an electrical contract who is registered in the Northwest Territories as a northern contractor was not given a single percentage, not 15 per cent or 20 per cent. A person from outside the community was given 15 per cent. The Housing Corporation, in explaining to the local contractor, said the reason why the other person was given 15 per cent was because his electrician had health care registration with the Northwest Territories. How can a Newfoundlander who has never resided in the Northwest Territories get health care from the Northwest Territories? Thank you.

Thank you. Madam Premier.

Mr. Speaker, that's a very specific question about a specific situation. I will take that as notice and seek further clarification on the details of the particular problem the honourable Member has expressed to this Legislative Assembly. Thank you.

Thank you. The question has been taken as notice. Item 5, oral questions. Mr. Whitford.

Mr. Todd.

Mr. Speaker, both the board of directors and the administration of WCB are well aware that perhaps one of our failings in this new direction we've been taking is the fact that we have been unable to speed up the appeal process. I'm told that the appeal process -- and it is almost embarrassing to say -- takes somewhere between 300 and 400 days. We currently have a backlog of somewhere around 44 appeals. I understand there are about three or four pending, so we should be looking at somewhere between 40 and 50 appeals. If it takes 300 to 400 days I will probably be dead by the time we get them all done.

We do recognize the seriousness of this and the frustration, particularly if you're the worker who is injured and have brought forward the appeal. Just recently, we've initiated -- through the chairperson of the appeals committee, Mr. Bourque -- a commitment to sit for a full six month period to try to clear up those appeals. It is recognized as an issue. It is a long, drawn-out process. It is not a simple one. I have a commitment from the chairman and the committee that they will make every effort to bring the backlog of those appeals to some conclusion, as quickly as possible. Thank you.

Thank you. Supplementary, Mr. Whitford.

Thank you. Mr. Todd.

Mr. Speaker, I'm not sure whether there are any conditions which say in what period of time we have to do those appeals. I will tell the ordinary Member, we do recognize that it's one area of priority concern to the Workers' Compensation Board and to the appeals committee. We also recognize that it's taking an inordinate amount of time to try to deal with these appeals and that it's extremely frustrating for the injured workers. We are endeavouring, effective immediately, to sit for a full six-month period -- I'm told by Mr. Bourque, the chairman -- in an effort to resolve these appeals we now have before us. Whether we're required under statute to answer those appeals in a specific period of time, I really at this point in time can't answer that. I will get the answer for the honourable Member by tomorrow. Thank you.

Thank you. Item 5, oral questions. Mr. Koe.

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. During the last territorial election campaign and during the last session, there was considerable interest in the development of the access to information legislation. I'd like to ask the Minister of Justice, what is the status of the development of information legislation?

Mr. Kakfwi.

Thank you. Supplementary, Mr. Koe.

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. I always thought the intent was to prepare the legislation. To me, a legislative action paper means another year or two year delay because it has to go back for public input. Can the Minister clarify the intent of the legislative action paper?

Thank you. Mr. Kakfwi.

Thank you. Supplementary, Mr. Koe.

Thank you. During the discussions when the Standing Committee on Finance did their community reviews, there was talk of an ombudsman position. Can the Minister indicate whether the position of an ombudsman is going to be included in this draft legislation?

Thank you. Mr. Kakfwi.

Thank you. Item 5, oral questions. Mr. Allooloo.