Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Still on page two, the Minister indicated that the trainees from Rankin Inlet are due to finish in December, however in Fort Simpson, trainees will not be completed until 1995. On the last page, it says that the Minister will be giving a detailed placement report once all the courses are completed. Is he saying that we will not be able to hear about placement of Rankin Inlet students until 1995?

Mr. Nerysoo.

Mr. Speaker, I believe that a question requesting information is always in order in the House. I'm not saying, at this particular time, if they ask for information, they won't be provided that information.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I just want to be absolutely clear that we want to participate in encouraging decentralization trainees to do well, et cetera. Is the Minister saying that no matter what kind of questions we ask -- if we ask for any kind of interim report on how well they are doing, and if they are being placed and things like that -- we will not be answered?

Mr. Nerysoo.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to say to the honourable Member that there is nothing in the report that suggests that no interim reports would be made available. In fact, if anything, I would be most pleased to make a statement in the House articulating quite clearly the successes we've had with decentralization training.

What is indicated on page three is the detail placement report. In other words, the overall result of the training and the placement of all people who have been part of the decentralization training. That is what is suggested there. On the interim report, I would be only too pleased, along with my colleagues, to make Members aware of the success we've had with the placement of those individual training programs for each particular community, once those are concluded and once placements have taken place.

Item 5, oral questions. Mr. Ng.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. In my Member's statement, I have already pointed out my concerns regarding what I see as the lack of initiative on the part of the government to ensure that our renewable resource commercial quotas are maximized. My question is to the Minister of Economic Development and Tourism. I would like to know if he still feels that a policy isn't required to ensure that we maximize our commercial quotas in our NWT institutions?

Mr. Todd.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I don't know whether it is just a coincidence or mental telepathy, but earlier this morning I had a meeting with some fisherman from Hay River who were expressing the same concern that was expressed by our colleague from the Kitikmeot.

I believe earlier last year when I was an ordinary Member, I had written on the same issue. Perhaps, if it still is a problem, as it appears to be, it is time for a territorial-wide policy to ensure that the government -- and particularly government institutions -- are utilizing all the products. After my discussions with the Hay River people, I have asked the department to take a look at whether it is part of the menu planning for Stanton Yellowknife Hospital, the YCC, the education facilities, et cetera, and, if it isn't, why isn't it.

So, perhaps, now is an opportune time to look at a territorial-wide policy and I want to assure the Member that it was a priority for me in February of last year and it is certainly a priority for me today. Thank you.

Supplementary, Mr. Ng.

I just wanted to clarify this, you are committing to developing a policy on behalf of the government? Is that correct?

Mr. Todd.

I will check to see in fact if there is a policy in place and, if there isn't, I'm suggesting to you that I agree with you that we need to take a look at one. I will commit to it, yes, absolutely. It is absurd if our government institutions aren't utilizing the renewable resources, whether it is white fish, char, caribou or whatever.

It seems to me to be incumbent upon the government to find the mechanism for that to be on the menus, if you want, of these institutions. Yes, Mr. Speaker. I will undertake, if there is no policy in place, to develop one and bring it forward. Thank you.

Item 5, oral questions. Mr. Lewis.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I wasn't able to attend the conference I referred to earlier, Keeping the Circle Strong, last week. But I did get a briefing on it. I would like to ask the Minister responsible for Social Services, in light of public comments made by Dr. Wheeler on the issue of people with alcohol syndrome, that this was not being treated as a social or moral issue, but that it was a health issue. I would like to ask the Minister of Social Services if this is, in fact, the position of the government on fetal alcohol syndrome?

Minister Mike.

Mr. Speaker, I think the Department of Health and Social Services both have roles regarding fetal alcohol syndrome. Because it is alcohol-related, the department can assist through the alcohol and drug agencies in the communities that are funded by Social Services. It can be tackled through local agencies and local authorities. On the prevention side, I think it is also the responsibility of the Department of Health. Thank you.

Supplementary, Mr. Lewis.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Again, to return to Dr. Wheeler's public statement, as a member of the planning committee for this major international conference. People came from all over the states to attend, too. I would like to ask the Minister, in the case where a woman has already had one fetal alcohol syndrome child and is carrying a second child and continues to drink, is that a health issue or a social and moral issue?

Minister Mike.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It is all three.

Supplementary, Mr. Lewis.