Madam Premier.

Mr. Speaker, as a matter of informal policy, we do encourage Ministers to attend the long service award dinners. I know it is important. As well, we try to inform the Members of the Legislative Assembly, through the regional directors, when these occasions are staged for the recognition of employees. We try to attend these occasions. Thank you.

Supplementary, Mrs. Marie-Jewell.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Is it normal practice to send the public affairs officer from the Premiers' press secretary's office to attend these dinners?

Ms. Cournoyea.

Mr. Speaker, not to my knowledge.

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

In reviewing the Mackenzie Times of March 10, I understand the Minister of Renewable Resources attended the long service awards dinner in Fort Simpson. I always thought it was the practice of the Minister of Personnel to attempt to attend these dinners. However, sometimes I know that one Minister covers for another. Could the Minister indicate if a charter was used to take the Minister and his party to the Fort Simpson long service awards dinner.

Madam Premier.

Mr. Speaker, I will take the question as notice.

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

Mr. Nerysoo.

Mr. Speaker, yes.

Item 5, oral questions. Mr. Koe.

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. I have a question for the Minister responsible for the NWT Housing Corporation. On February 23, I expressed my concerns about the number of annual meetings proposed by the Housing Corporation and, the input of members of the community into the Housing Corporation's programs and policies. Mr. Speaker, it is the people in the community who will be affected by the Housing Corporation's programs and they must have an effect on these policies made. They do not attend meetings just to blow steam or socialize, they want to have some kind of say and some kind of impact. So, I asked the Minister, on that date, how concerns from the community and district meetings would be conveyed to the Housing Corporation's senior management to impact on policy development. The Minister took the question as notice.

Now, after having received approval for his new plans and his new working committee, can the Minister tell me how he expects those community concerns will be conveyed to the senior management so that they can affect policy development?

Mr. Morin.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The communities should have a yearly meeting to talk about policies and programs. Then, from that yearly meeting, make recommendations at the regional meeting that is going to be held yearly. They would send representation to the regional meeting and those recommendations would be forwarded to the advisory committee on housing. Thank you.

Item 5, oral questions. Mr. Pudlat.

(Translation) Thank you, Mr. Speaker. First of all, I would like to thank the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment Programs with regard to the question I asked recently about grade extensions. I would like to ask another question. In Lake Harbour, they want grade extensions also. I talked with an individual yesterday, and I have to get this request done before the beginning of the new school year. I have not received a response from the Minister as of yet. Will the Minister be approving the grade extension requested by the community of Lake Harbour? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Nerysoo.

Mr. Speaker, the matter of grade extensions requires the support and approval of the Baffin regional education board. My suggestion to the honourable Member, and if I can be of assistance to him, will be to work with the board so we can properly organize the school year so all the requirements to accommodate his grade extensions will be met, but it requires the Member to work with and through the Baffin divisional education board. Once that approval is received, normally I will accept the recommendation that is made.

Supplementary, Mr. Pudlat.

(Translation) Thank you, Mr. Speaker. When the chairman of the Baffin regional education board was here, I spoke to him and he asked me to ask the question to the Minister. I have talked with the chairman of the Baffin divisional board of education, and there is some information that he was not clear on, so that is why I am asking the Minister of Education. Perhaps the Minister could look into this and get back to me. Thank you.