Ms. Mike.

(Translation) Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The vouchers given to social assistance recipients were proposed by the Kitikmeot Regional Council, and that is why we give social assistance in the form of a voucher rather than cash. Thank you.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would think the government's overall policy would override the Kitikmeot Regional Council's ability to change that role. Therefore, I wonder if the Minister would use the government's overall policy and give the social worker the ability to give cash to social assistance recipients rather than of vouchers? Thank you.

Ms. Mike.

(Translation) Thank you, Mr. Speaker. When the Kitikmeot Regional Council meets next time I will relay that message to them. The people of Spence Bay and the other communities have asked to keep the social assistance payment in the form of a voucher. We will try to do what the communities want. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Supplementary, Mr. Ningark.

(Translation) Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I understood the Minister to say that when the Kitikmeot Regional Council next meets, the Minister will talk to them about my request. Thank you.

Ms. Mike.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. At the next meeting of the Kitikmeot Regional Council this will be discussed and probably the changes will be made at that meeting. Thank you.

Item 5, oral questions. Mr. Dent.

Ms. Cournoyea.

Mr. Speaker, I believe if the record can be checked it has already been provided, however if it has not been I will check that out. I know there was a question and I did sign off the information.

Item 5, oral questions. Mr. Arvaluk.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My question is to the Minister of Transportation. The Minister knows I met with Calm Air in Arviat shortly after Christmas and we discussed the matter of poor scheduling and services in the Keewatin region. The Minister knows that Calm Air has agreed to review the scheduling services and make recommendations to reflect the passenger connecting requirements, especially those who are in the hospital in Churchill and Winnipeg and other flight connections coming from Yellowknife and Iqaluit. However, looking through the new scheduling, it seems they amended the scheduling but it has worsened. The gap has widened between other connecting airlines. Can the Minister tell me has he been advised of the new changes that have widened the potential connecting flights?

Mr. Todd.

Mr. Speaker, this issue is a long-standing one in the Keewatin region. We have a bit of a difficult situation. We have two competing airlines and as they say "never the two shall meet." I am not aware of the new changes within the current schedule, but I have in my previous life attempted to bring together both principles of NWT Air and Calm Air. All I can do is assure the honourable Member that I will attempt to do that again and try to have both companies reach some reasonable compromise so their scheds meet going east and west, and north and south. I do recognize the frustration that we all work under in the Keewatin. Thank you.

Supplementary, Mr. Arvaluk.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I think we know very well that these are not two different airlines serving the same area, they have a monopoly on each of those routes, except they happen to meet in Rankin Inlet, but not anywhere else. Other airports, such as Yellowknife, seem to make an attempt to meet arrival and departure times with different airlines. Will he be talking to the airlines again for the Keewatin and get them to try to follow a similar procedure for the convenience of the passengers, especially those who are unilingual and are coming in or out of the hospitals? Thank you.

Mr. Todd.

We have no direct jurisdiction in terms of airlines determining what their schedules are. However, I do concur with Mr. Arvaluk's concerns and the difficulty is you have a jet going east and west, north and south, and you have a smaller aircraft doing the region. I will endeavour to speak with the CEOs of both airlines and attempt to try and get a coordinated approach to the airline services within the Keewatin.

Supplementary, Mr. Arvaluk.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Will the Minister then be informing the Keewatin Members of the Legislative Assembly in written form the results of their meetings?