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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I have with me an update on the 1992-93 expenditures on the financial statements, with regard to the Canada/NWT agreement on contributions for French services. Mr. Speaker, when I look over this amount, it indicates that there are $980,000 of funds that weren't used. In fact, these funds appear to have been lapsed. I would like to pose a question to the Minister of Government Services and Public Works. Was he aware that his department had lapsed $221,000 under this particular agreement? Thank you.

Mr. Morin.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. No.

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

Mr. Speaker, since the Minister was not aware these funds were lapsed, would he make a commitment to ensure that his department attempts to utilize the dollars that are allocated for 1993-94, to ensure that this amount of funding is not lapsed in the future. Thank you.

Mr. Morin.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I agree.

Item 5, oral questions. Mr. Pudlat.

(Translation) Mr. Speaker, I will be directing my question to the Minister Responsible for the NWT Power Corporation. Last spring, the Minister and some staff were going into the communities. Cape Dorset has a problem with regard to their power plant. They have been getting some funding assistance for the operation of the power plant. At the moment, the power plant has no emergency back-up. The community of Cape Dorset has problems with regard to this. Has the Minister done anything with regard to the request of the Cape Dorset power plant operation? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Madam Premier.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The present plant in Cape Dorset is centrally located. To deal with the shortfall, the corporation has delivered a generating module to the community. The module is presently stored at the Northwest Territories Power Corporation site, but hamlet permission to connect the unit has been withheld, pending resolution on the community's request to have the power plant relocated to a remote site, likely near the petroleum products tanks. The cited reasons for the relocation from the community are non-conforming land use, safety and noise. Mr. Speaker, it is the opinion of the power corporation that the current site is an acceptable location and that a plant upgrade can result in adequate generating capacity at least cost-wise while dealing with the issue of land use safety and noise. The plant relocation would result in a significant price increase over that of a plant upgrade. The corporation has participated in a series of meetings with the council. The ability for backup is presently on site, and it can be hooked up in a few minutes, if the hamlet will agree and give us the necessary permission to do so. Thank you.

Item 5, oral questions. Mr. Arngna'naaq.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I have a question for the Premier. With the search that has been going on in Arviat, the family has incurred a substantial debt. This is a partial responsibility of either the Government of the Northwest Territories or the federal government. I would like to find out if this government would either reimburse parts of costs incurred, or make a request to the federal government on behalf of the family.

Madam Premier.

Mr. Speaker, there is a meeting that is going on presently in the community. I believe that is one of the areas that they are going to talk about. I don't have any idea about what the dollar figure is. I believe I can present that to the House as soon as the report comes back in, to see what the outcome of those discussions were. Thank you.

Item 5, oral questions. Supplementary, Mr. Arngna'naaq.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I realize that the meeting is being held in Arviat at the present time. However, I would like to know if there is a request from the family or the community of Arviat, and whether the government would be willing to commit to assisting in the search. Thank you.

Madam Premier.

Mr. Speaker, at this time, I would like to see the outcome of the meeting to see what has been decided at the community level. I know our people are in the meeting. I would prefer to wait for the outcome of that meeting. Perhaps, because we delegate certain emergency responsibility to the region, it may very well be taken care of. I would like to see what decisions have been made at the meeting and move from there. Thank you.

Item 5, oral questions. Supplementary, Mr. Arngna'naaq.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Would the Premier be able to give a response from the government, to this House, when the community meeting is complete?

Madam Premier.

Mr. Speaker, I will make a commitment to have a response on that matter by tomorrow. Thank you.