Mr. Speaker, I am aware there are some outstanding questions and of the request to have the responses as quickly as possible, hopefully we will have them by the end of the week. Thank you.

Item 5, oral questions. Mr. Antoine.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I have a question for the Minister of Finance regarding the health billings dispute statement he made today. My concern is, the people who are affected by this legal action which is taking place do not know what is going on and how this issue is going to affect them. What is the Minister doing to inform the public about this crises to the treaty and Inuit people? Thank you.

Mr. Pollard.

Mr. Speaker, last July, I believe it was, our Premier called together the leaders of the aboriginal groups in the Northwest Territories and from southern Canada, and there was a discussion on this health billings dispute and how it affected aboriginal people in the Northwest Territories, and how it might affect people south of the 60th parallel, as well. We had agreement at the table at that time, that we would keep those people updated as to the status of our claim. That has been done and there is another letter which has just gone out, I believe yesterday, that did the same sort of thing. There will be information provided to MLAs so they can advise their constituents. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Supplementary, Mr. Antoine.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. According to the statement that the Minister made earlier today, there is legal action that the federal government is not reimbursing to the territorial government for hospital care services for status Indians and Inuit people. I would like to ask the Minister, what is the nature of this dispute? When did this dispute start? Thank you.

Two questions for Mr. Pollard.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to take the question as notice and I would like to reply in writing because it is fairly technical. It involves the Department of Indian and Northern Affairs, the federal Department of Health, transfers into our base, our formula funding agreement with the Department of Indian and Northern Affairs and it is a very complicated situation which has arisen. I would like to reply in writing, taking the question as notice to read it into the record, Mr. Speaker. Thank you.

The question has been taken as notice. If I can make one comment, this particular issue is a difficult one for the Legislative Assembly to deal with because it is a matter before the courts. It is a civil matter and the line of questioning as put forward by Mr. Antoine I will allow, because I can see no harm to an individual coming from those questions. I ask both Members and Ministers to be very cautious in the questions that are asked and the responses that Ministers may make on this particular issue. However, the question has been taken as notice. Item 5, oral questions. Mr. Dent.

Mr. Kakfwi.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I have a question for the Minister of the NWT Housing Corporation. Mr. Speaker, on February 19, I asked the Minister of the Housing Corporation a question on the new home ownership program. I asked if a person could own the land outright, or whether a band could grant land. The Minister said that people could own the land outright or have a lease on the land. I wanted to make it clear, Mr. Speaker, that I am referring to band lands. Can the Minister advise if a person can have a lease on band lands in order to get access to a home ownership program? Thank you.

Mr. Morin.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I do not think the bands lease the land to their members. I think it is done by band council resolution. Thank you.

Supplementary, Mrs. Marie-Jewell.

I recognize that band lands, Crown lands for band members, are designated for use by a particular band member. However, Mr. Speaker, I am not clear as to whether the new home ownership program allows for the band to designate that land, or whether they have to be under a lease through a band council resolution in order to be eligible for the new home ownership program. Can the Minister clarify that, please?

Mr. Morin.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My understanding is that the bands assign the lots to the clients. Thank you.

Supplementary, Mrs. Marie-Jewell.

All right, maybe I will try it in another context, Mr. Speaker. On February 19, I had asked the Minister of the Housing Corporation if he would review and

determine the eligibility for lands which are to be used in order to access the new home ownership program and to advise the House of the particular criteria. Mr. Speaker, the Minister said at the time that he would do this, however I have not received a response with respect to that as of yet. I will make my questioning simpler in order to get an answer. Can the Minister tell the House today what is the eligibility for lands which are to be used in order to access the new home ownership program, particularly for band members? Thank you.

Mr. Morin.