Mr. Pollard.

Mr. Speaker, this is not the first time this issue has come up in this House. Over the past few years, it has been raised a couple of times. At those times, departments did take action. It is my understanding that they asked travel agents to advise their patrons of the necessity to carry insurance. I will undertake to do that again. As Mr. Whitford says, there is a need to perhaps revitalize that information because people will be often travelling this winter to warmer climates.

First of all, I will undertake to find out if there's anything we can do, generally, through the Department of Health in our health centres, our hospitals, doctors offices, regional offices and so on and so forth. I will also undertake to send a letter to all travel agents and airlines in the Northwest Territories to reiterate to them that they should advise people, who travel

internationally, that a little bit of extra insurance would go a long way. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Supplementary, Mr. Whitford.

Minister Pollard.

Mr. Speaker, the blade cuts both ways. Canadians are generally treated well when they are in foreign countries. Northwest Territories' residents are generally treated well by health professionals when they are travelling and get sick outside of Canada and outside of this territory. Conversely, when people are visiting the Northwest Territories, if they get sick or injured, the first thing we're concerned about is their well-being.

I would inform this House that they are, first and foremost, treated and we don't worry at that particular time who is eventually going to pay the bill, Mr. Speaker. The majority of visitors to the Northwest Territories -- particularly the Japanese people who Mr. Whitford referred to -- are very well organized by their travel agents and tour agents.

The majority of them are carrying insurance. Some of them carry insurance from their employers. The majority of American visitors to the Northwest Territories have some kind of insurance. If we exhaust those insurance aspects, we would eventually go to the person and ask them to pay. But, certainly, we wouldn't be sending them bills while they're in their hospital bed, Mr. Speaker. We would do it in a sensible manner. However, we would try to recover the costs from those people who don't carry any kind of insurance. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My question is to the Minister of DPW. Mr. Speaker, recently I received a couple of letters from my constituents. Prior to the session, I heard many concerns with regard to the parking fee that is imposed by this government. The fee is apparently for plugging in the vehicles or parking the vehicles.

I did write to the Minister of DPW to see if there was a policy developed on the fee that is imposed on many of the government employees. In responding, the Minister indicated that there was no policy developed and the user-pay was in the system in Yellowknife, Inuvik and Fort Smith and it would be implemented in Hay River, Fort Simpson and Iqaluit.

First of all, I would like to ask the Minister, what exactly is the charge for? Is it for a fee for the vehicle to be plugged in or is it for the parking space? Thank you.

Mr. Morin.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The fee is for both.

Supplementary, Mrs. Marie-Jewell.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. In addition to that, the Minister indicated that the user-pay is in place in Yellowknife, Inuvik and Fort Smith but it is not in place yet in Hay River, Fort Simpson or Iqaluit. I would like to ask why was this parking fee not imposed in an equitable fashion in every community in the Northwest Territories? Thank you.

Mr. Morin.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I don't know.

Supplementary, Mrs. Marie-Jewell.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It seems it is difficult for the Cabinet to know why things are not done in an equitable and fair manner. Mr. Speaker, I would like to ask the Minister if he would, by any chance, have available to him now -- through his briefing notes -- the rates imposed for parking? What are the user-pay rates that are being imposed? Thank you.

Mr. Morin.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The rates in Yellowknife are $45 monthly and $15 in the summer. This includes average winter and summer electricity costs -- which are $180 annually -- and winter and summer maintenance -- which averages $180 annually -- for a total of $360. It is spread out over the 12 months. Private parking lot rates in Yellowknife are $120 per month at the Centre Square indoor parking lot, $90 monthly at the Centre Square outdoor parking lot, and other downtown outdoor lots with no plug-ins cost $50 per month. The Legislative Assembly building parking rates are not set by the regional office, they are set right here. Thank you.

Supplementary, Mrs. Marie-Jewell.

Mr. Speaker, the private rates in Yellowknife are imposed by a private firm. There is no doubt there is possibly a need to provide parking for the residents of Yellowknife, but across the territories there is a lot of room and a private enterprise would go broke if they brought forth parking fees to park a vehicle. There is a lot of room in many of the communities. This is why I can not understand why this government is trying to implement a user-fee system for parking.

This fee is being imposed on my constituents at a rate of $30 a month right across the board, for $360 a year. It is a burden, especially on single people. I would like to ask the Minister if he would review -- since he has already said that it hasn't been implemented in a fair manner -- this parking fee for the communities of the territories, with the view that if it is needed it be done in a fair manner? Thank you.

Mr. Morin.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Agreed.

Item 5, oral questions. Mr. Lewis.