Ms. Cournoyea.

Mr. Speaker, I will take that as notice and provide a response to that question tomorrow. Thank you.

The question has been taken as notice. Item 5, oral questions. Mrs. Marie-Jewell.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I have a question for the Minister of Government Services. Mr. Speaker, last year on June 29, specifically, I asked an oral question to the Minister of Government Services, however at the time the Minister of Government Services was absent so Mr. Pollard took my question as notice. I still have this question unanswered to date. I would like to ask the Minister of Government Services, according to Government Services the department imposes a licence fee to retailers in the NWT in respect to liquor licensing. What is the purpose of the licence fee which is imposed to retailers in the Northwest Territories?

Minister of Government Services, Mr. Morin.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I will have to take that question as notice and get back to the Member.

The question has been taken as notice. Item 5, oral questions. Mr. Koe.

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. I have a question for the Minister of Finance. On Saturday, March 6, the Minister of Finance spoke to the Northwest Territories Chamber of Commerce at their annual general meeting. Apparently the Minister spoke about the state of the economy in the territories, and about ways to invest in the development of new roads in the Northwest Territories. My question to the Minister is, I assume the Minister had some prepared text for his hour long presentation to the chamber. Can the Minister provide us with a copy of the presentation which he delivered to the Northwest Territories Chamber of Commerce?

Mr. Pollard.

Mr. Speaker, I did not speak from prepared text so I am unable to give the Members of the House prepared text. I just spoke off the cuff, Mr. Speaker. Thank you.

Supplementary, Mr. Koe.

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. I heard that the Minister stated in his speech that this government might borrow up to $250 million to invest in new roads for resource development. Can the Minister confirm as to whether or not he stated that this government might borrow up to $250 million to invest in new roads?

Mr. Pollard.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, if I could just set the scene, the question being asked was about a road from Yellowknife to the Arctic Ocean with a port at Coppermine. There was a question about how something that size gets paid for, and I explained that there has been some discussion between industry and the federal government and as far as the Government of the Northwest Territories is concerned, if it could be proven to me that it was going to benefit the Northwest Territories, if there was going to spin-offs for jobs, if there was going to be northern businesses put to work, if there was long-term economic benefits over a period of 20 or 25 years, then I would consider going to Cabinet with a recommendation that we borrow $250 million. That number was pulled out of the air, last July it was $200 million, but I think now it is closer to $250 million, Mr. Speaker, and it may be more, I do not know. I did mention that number and did indicate that I would be prepared, if all those conditions were met, to recommendation to Cabinet that we borrow against that specific project. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. If this government was to borrow this money, obviously it would have to put up some kind of security. With the state of the budget and our fiscal framework the way it is, how does the Minister propose to provide the security for a $250 million loan?

Mr. Pollard.

Mr. Speaker, I should clarify that Mr. Todd is the lead Minister in this particular project, which is the road north of Yellowknife. Specific to Mr. Koe's question of how we would borrow that money, the Government of the Northwest Territories does have borrowing capacity, Mr. Speaker, it does not have an accumulated debt and there is an agreement between the Northwest Territories and the federal government whereby we do have borrowing capacity. As to how much it would be, the number I placed upon it was $250 million. Mr. Todd's work may prove me wrong. Once we had ascertained the amount that would be required and once we had seen who else was in this arrangement with us, then it may be that there is an overall financing package for the total deal including the federal government. If we were to go it on our own, then obviously we would be looking around for where we could get the best deal for borrowing that kind of money, Mr. Speaker. Thank you.

Supplementary, Mr. Koe.

Yes, I assume with the statements the Minister made that this would be a sign of the times with a new trend being pursued by this government in that major investments such as this, deals can be made and maybe we may go into a deficit by borrowing. Can the Minister confirm whether that is a new direction this government is taking in terms of future major investments?

Mr. Pollard.

Mr. Speaker, it would not necessarily take us into a deficit position. We would be borrowing against the specific project. It would not be the first time we have done it, we bought the Power Corporation and we still owe money on that. We owe Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation $93 million and we are still paying on that. It would not be anything that has not been done in the past. I would point out to the House, Mr. Speaker, that there has been several innovative suggestions, one from the Dogrib communities about how this road could be built with us not necessarily having to borrow the money. There have been suggestions that arrangements could be made with industry. I know Mr. Todd has all of those suggestions before him and is combing through them to see whether he can put some arrangement together that will be innovative and will be least costly to us. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Item 5, oral questions. Mr. Gargan.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, on Friday when we concluded question period I asked the Minister with regard to the inmates exchange program between the penitentiaries and corrections. The Minister responded by saying, under the agreement, when an inmate is transferred back up here, then they are under our laws and legislation. I would like to ask the Minister, under this agreement, how is a decision determined for who stays up here and who does not? Is it the Government of the Northwest Territories or is it the federal government that determines that?