Supplementary, Mr. Patterson.

Mr. Speaker, I'm not referring to advice given by the Minister. This was a grave matter, I presume the Premier would agree. A matter not to be taken lightly, especially the week before an Assembly session and a Cabinet review. I'd like to ask the Premier again, did the Department of Municipal and Community Affairs and the deputy minister -- who is ultimately accountable to the Premier -- advise against the option of dissolving the council of the town of Iqaluit?

Madam Premier.

Mr. Speaker, at the time, the Minister advised of the best course of action he thought should be taken. The Minister, upon his familiarity with the subject over a number of years, took that course of action. The other options were disregarded because that option was the desired option and what the Minister felt was the appropriate option at this time. Thank you.

Supplementary, Mr. Patterson.

Mr. Speaker, I'm sure the Premier is aware that in the November 19 issue of Nunatsiaq News, the deputy minister of MACA -- who was appointed by the Premier and is ultimately accountable to the Premier -- is quoted as saying that his department had nothing to do with Cabinet's decision. The action Cabinet took was a "surprise" to him and that "we didn't recommend it." Is this an accurate description of the advice given by the Department of Municipal and Community Affairs who had been working intensively on this issue, according to the chronology, since 1987, and certainly intensively in recent months. Is this the advice given by the Department of Municipal Affairs on this issue, not to dissolve the council? Thank you.

I'd like to remind Members that Ministers can't be expected to confirm or deny the validity of newspaper articles. Having said that, Madam Premier, if you like to respond to the question.

Mr. Speaker, I was just going to say the same thing. I can't confirm or express an opinion on a newspaper article. Thank you.

Oral questions. Your final supplementary, Mr. Patterson.

Mr. Speaker, then my question to the Premier is, on such an important matter -- the dissolution of the second largest municipality in the Northwest Territories -- in considering the matter and in considering how to advise the Minister of Municipal and Community Affairs who the Premier has already said sought the advice of Cabinet, did the Cabinet seek advice, on such an important matter, from the Department of Municipal and Community Affairs who have been intensely involved with this issue in making their decision? Thank you.

Madam Premier.

Mr. Speaker, the Minister represented the department. The Minister is in charge of the department and the Minister advised us the course of action he felt -- in the best of his ability in dealing with the issue over a long period of time -- he would take. That was the advice, or not even the advice, but that is what he indicated or he said was the direction he was going to take. The Minister is responsible and I know he was dealing with this issue for a long period of time. I believe at some point in time we have to take what the Minister feels is the best course of action. The Minister represented the situation over a period of time, and at the time he told us what he was going to do. Thank you.

Item 5, oral questions. Mr. Zoe.

Madam Premier.

Mr. Speaker, we acknowledge there was a problem, and I believe the chronology would show as well, there were difficulties that we have had with the administrative arrangements of the town of Iqaluit. The Minister responsible at that time was also taking into consideration that problem when he made his decision. Thank you.

Supplementary, Mr. Zoe.

Madam Premier.

Mr. Speaker, the whole issue of the financial problem of Iqaluit has been going on since 1987. The Minister responsible felt he had taken every opportunity with his department to resolve the situation, other than the final action he took. I believe the work that has been done with the department can show there was a lot of effort to try to help the community to resolve those issues. I believe what may have transpired...I trusted the Minister, because of the seriousness of the situation, that all the avenues were exhausted. This is why the past Minister decided to take that action. Thank you.

Supplementary, Mr. Zoe.

Madam Premier.

Mr. Speaker, I would assume that might have been one of the options. But my understanding is that all the areas of trying to resolve the problem were taken over a number of years. The Minister probably looked at other options, but he decided that the situation was such that he should remove the council. Mr. Speaker, I would assume the Minister would have looked at all the options over a number of years before taking this final course of action.