Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My question is for the Minister of Transportation, with regard to his Minister's statement today. Mr. Speaker, the Minister indicated he had signed an agreement with the federal Minister of Transportation for $10 million in additional federal funding to upgrade and improve transportation infrastructure across the Northwest Territories. I'd like to ask the Minister of Transportation, how was this funding deemed to be allocated for transportation infrastructure across the territories?

Mr. Todd.

Do you mean how was the decision made as to where the money should be spent? I don't want to make a long story, but I may as well tell you the history of this thing.

Last Christmas, there was an announcement made by the previous federal Minister, Mr. Mazankowski, that there would be a significant infrastructure, half a billion dollar program, across the country. It is my understanding -- and I stand to be corrected, of course, by Mr. Pollard who is the Finance Minister -- that the Northwest Territories wasn't a part of any discussion that took place to get some of this money.

Through Mr. Pollard's efforts and others, we were able to get, as they say, on the agenda. The federal Department of Transportation has made up their mind they were going to put the money in infrastructure that it already had money in place to do. I was determined to ensure that the $10 million we were trying to get would be in projects that would be reflective of our needs across the territories.

The federal Minister of the Department of Transportation wanted to put the money somewhere else. On top of that, we had the former Minister of Indian Affairs -- the now deposed, the Honourable Tom Siddon -- sorry, defeated I meant -- who also wanted to put the $10 million into hydrographic work in the Coppermine area. Again, I felt this was not the kind of priority that this government and this Assembly would support.

Based on consultation -- I had to do this thing in a hurry -- it was during the Christmas period, I remember, because it was done long distance. I was in St. Paul, Quebec. Based on the advice I got from the department, based on looking at what I thought the needs were and the direction I wanted to take the department -- and that is the improvement of the basic infrastructure in the territories -- and based upon the fact that Members from the east had indicated a need for some marine infrastructure, and the Members in the west had asked for upgrading of their airports, I decided, in consultation with the department in one day, to put the money where it currently sits.

Supplementary, Mrs. Marie-Jewell.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It's interesting that this Minister is in consultation with his department to determine where the money should be spent. It's generally the practice of this particular Minister to consult Members of this House, where we feel we should advise the Minister where the money should be spent. In the Minister's statement today, all this funding for transportation is to look after airports -- which I certainly welcome -- to also look after breakwater and wharves. I see an improved resupply facility in Rankin Inlet, even though we took funds out of the budget to attempt to address that. Mr. Speaker, I'd like to ask the Minister why have no funds from this $10 million, from the federal government, been addressed to look after any of the highways across the territories? Thank you.

Mr. Todd.

I inadvertently forgot to tell you that the federal government had to approve where this money was spent and public highway infrastructure wasn't part of the agreement. You're right, the Member is correct, I have said and I believe I have done significant consultation in my role as the Minister of Transportation and the other portfolios I have. In this particular case, I was given 24 hours to try to put together something that I felt was reflective of the needs of the Northwest Territories.

If I may, for a moment, just go through it. Deline airport, it was my understanding that was a priority of that particular area. There are some serious accidents that have occurred there, resulting in death, as in Fort Good Hope, Pelly Bay, and all airports that needed improvement, et cetera. The upgrade of the Coppermine airport, I felt was absolutely priority one. I remember saying that because of the Izok Lake project and perhaps the ability for Coppermine and the people of Kitikmeot to be a major player in the development. The Snare Lake airport construction, I think that goes without saying. On the hydrographic survey work, that was a concession I had to make at the time with the Minister of Indian Affairs, to ensure I got the rest of it because he wanted all of it. The Pangnirtung harbour, to me, was an obvious one. We have a significant fishery in that area, I understand somewhere between 30 to 40 people are involved in that activity and I felt at the time that it was an economic initiative. The Coral Harbour marine facilities, similar. Rankin Inlet, it goes without saying, we've discussed that already in the budget. I believe that I'll be able to demonstrate clearly in March, somewhere between $1.5 million and $2 million worth of savings to this government, money which can be put to better use elsewhere. The Iqaluit marine facility, that's a long, long, long history. I thought in my best judgement, we should stop deploying for a reasonable marine facility in that area because of the long, complicated and costly expenditures incurred with the unloading of their sea-lift on an annual basis.

So, there was a rationale for every expenditure. I didn't have the opportunity at the time to discuss it with everybody. Highways were not part of the agenda. I think, more importantly, we managed to get most of the dollars spent in areas certainly that both the federal Department of Transportation and the Department of Indian Affairs didn't want us to spend it on. Thank you.

Item 5, oral questions. Supplementary, Mrs. Marie-Jewell.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I didn't ask the Minister to justify where he was going to spend the money, I just wanted to know why none of the funding wasn't allocated for highways. However, Mr. Speaker, I'd like to ask the Minister a supplementary question, with regard to his Minister's statement. He has indicated in his Minister's statement, and I quote, "A total of $1.5 million has been allocated to improve a marine resupply facility in Rankin Inlet. This will support improvements to resupply activities in the Keewatin aimed at major cost-savings." I would like to ask the Minister, why has he allocated $1.5 million of these funds to improve a marine resupply facility in Rankin Inlet when this House just yesterday, I believe -- or the day before yesterday -- deleted $50,000 for pre-engineer studies? Knowing that this was done, he came in to make a Minister's statement stating this funding will be allocated. I would like to ask the Minister why. Thank you.

Mr. Todd.

My Minister's statement was based upon the agreement that we signed previous to the recommendations being provided by the Standing Committee on Finance, and which I believe I have responded to in a positive manner. Thank you.

Item 5, oral questions. Supplementary, Mrs. Marie-Jewell.

My last supplementary, Mr. Speaker, with regard to recognizing the motion that has gone through this House, with respect to the capital budget. I'd like to ask

the Minister, does he still intend to allocate these funds, even though a motion to delete funding for a pre-engineering study has been passed in the House?

Mr. Todd.

I thought I had answered that while I was up before on my budget. You have passed a motion recommending certain action to take place. I've acknowledged that motion is going to take place. I've acknowledged your action, and I will act accordingly.

I'd like to take this opportunity to welcome, in the gallery, Mr. Les Carpenter from Sachs Harbour. He is with the Inuvialuit Regional Corporation.

---Applause

I have Mr. Whitford, next.

Mr. Pollard.

Mr. Speaker, the denturist in question was licensed by the Government of the Northwest Territories on June 22 of this year. The license allows the denturists to make upper plates, total plates and total lower plates. I will admit it doesn't allow this particular person to make partial plates. I realize the problem. The legislation at the present time does not cover partial plates. There were some reasons for that, because partial plates are usually in the vicinity of teeth that are still connected to the person, still alive.

---Laughter

(Microphone turned off)

Yes, the teeth and the person.

---Laughter

For that reason, Mr. Speaker, at the time this act was put together, it was felt that because of pressures that could be put on those teeth et cetera, that that was best left with a dentist.

Mr. Speaker, the status at the present time is that the gentleman in question, the denturist, will meet with the assistant deputy minister of Health on Wednesday of next week. We have inquired from three provinces as to how they're treating this particular situation, and their legislation is coming in to show us what they're doing. We understand Ontario is considering a change, possibly Alberta. If that's the case, and we can come to an agreement with the denturist, then I will make every effort to consult with the Dental Association and make changes to the Dental Mechanics Act, Mr. Speaker. Thank you.

Item 5, oral questions. Supplementary, Mr. Whitford.

Mr. Pollard.