I have had two vague answers to the first questions I have asked, Mr. Speaker. I am assuming that this will go ahead and that it must have been part of the planning when this was first put together. What would be the benefits to the people of the Northwest Territories from undertaking such a trip? The Minister mentioned there were several companies doing business in the old Soviet Union. I would like to ask him to give us a bit more detail about who they are and what kind of help he can give them.

Thank you. Mr. Morin.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The benefits to the north would be jobs. Ferguson Simek Clark is working over there. They are the ones who designed the village. Also, Clark-Bowler is working over there, there are other subcontractors from the north, as well, but I do not know the names of them all. I know there is an electrical company from Yellowknife that is working over there. My understanding is when you deal with these people that they prefer to deal between government and government, and that is why we are involved in it. Thank you.

Final supplementary, Mr. Lewis.

Since this Minister takes his job seriously and since he has indicated that to do business in the Soviet Union, it is absolutely essential that the government play the role in putting together some kind of cooperative venture between companies, will the Minister give this House his assurance that he will take his job seriously, and play the role that the people in the part of the world where we are doing business expect him to undertake as a lead Minister in this government?

Thank you. Mr. Morin.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I will take my job seriously.

Thank you. Item 5, oral questions. Mr. Patterson.

Thank you. Mr. Morin.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. With the assistance of this government, the Department of Public Works and the Government Leader's office, Ferguson Simek Clark managed to get a contract in US dollars for $25 million to build that village. Thank you.

Thank you. Supplementary, Mr. Patterson.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Would the honourable Minister inform this House whether there may be other contracts of that magnitude being let by the Republic of Sakha in the future? Thank you.

Thank you. Mr. Morin.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My understanding is that right now Ferguson Simek Clark is the low bid on other work over there. As well, there is potential for more villages, hospitals, schools, nursing stations and recreation facilities. People from Yakutsk are coming here and using Canadian contractors and Northwest Territories contractors because of the technology developed in the north over the past 20 years in construction. They are very impressed with it and they want to continue to use it. Thank you.

Thank you. Item 5, oral questions. Member for Thebacha.

Mr. Speaker, I have a question for the Minister of Finance. The Minister of Justice has indicated to this House that there will be no structural changes to the young

offenders' facilities, whether they be in Hay River or Fort Smith. Knowing there will be no structural changes and the cost will not be any more, can I ask the Minister of Finance to assure this House that there will be no supplementary estimates and no special warrants in regard to additional funding expended for structural changes required to accommodate both secure and open custody? Thank you.

Thank you. Mr. Pollard.

Mr. Speaker, I have not seen any requests for any supplementary funding from the Department of Justice in that regard. Whether there will be any, I do not know. Mr. Speaker, although I may be the Minister of Finance, I do not have the ability to block submissions to the Financial Management Board, which ultimately make financial decisions for Cabinet. I have not seen any at the present time. If they come forward, Mr. Speaker, to be honest with you, if they fit within the criteria that the board establishes, my job will be to pass them on to the board for consideration. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you. Supplementary, Member for Thebacha.

I recognize that the Minister chairs the Financial Management Board, however there have been some fairly significant statements in this House by Ministers who have said there will be no additional funding spent. I know the Minister of Finance is trying to keep a balanced budget. The concern of many people in Fort Smith is the additional cost to try to get the flexibility out of this building. The Minister is fairly adamant that he will not spend any more money on it. The Minister of Finance is the person who takes the Financial Management Board submissions to the House requesting supplementary funding through the Standing Committee on Finance and presents them to this House for consideration. Will the Minister of Finance assure this House when these requests come through the system, that he will remind the Minister and his department of their commitment not to spend extra taxpayer's dollars to address these changes? Thank you.

Thank you. Mr. Pollard.

Mr. Speaker, Mr. Kakfwi at times accuses me of not ever getting excited, but I was fairly excited when he was saying he was not going to spend any more money. I like to hear that from Ministers and I would like the House to know, Mr. Speaker, that when Ministers make commitments in this House to do things or not to do things those commitments are taken notice of by Cabinet and by FMB. Certainly, I would be uncomfortable bringing forward a supplementary appropriation to this House which contained appropriations that a Minister in this House had said they had not required, unless they said there were excellent reasons for it, Mr. Speaker. The answer to the question is yes, I will remind Ministers they have made commitments in this House if they do come forward with financial submissions. Thank you.

Thank you. Item 5, oral questions. Mr. Lewis.