Mr. Speaker, dealing with the problem which the Member raises would have been a piecemeal approach to some of the other problems which we see need addressing in the Department of Finance and other departments. It was decided to encompass all the changes at the same time, Mr. Speaker. That is how it involves other departments. Thank you.

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

If Members have a question, there should be a preamble before the question, not after. Mr. Pollard.

Mr. Speaker, there were some changes we felt needed to be done. So, addressing the changes we felt were required along with the changes suggested by the Auditor General's report made it a larger

task. As I said, Mr. Speaker, we are only a couple of weeks behind with it. It is better to do one job and do it properly than to do it piecemeal. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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

That is two questions. Mr. Zoe, would you like to ask one question, please? Mr. Zoe. You asked two questions. Would you like to ask one?

Mr. Pollard.

Yes, Mr. Speaker. Thank you.

Item 5, oral questions. Mr. Lewis.

Mr. Nerysoo.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to make some clarifications to the remarks the honourable Member has made. Firstly, to correct the record, a decision has already been made to move the Science Institute and the staff to the regions. That decision has been made. The whole matter of re-assessing the relationship of the Science Institute and Arctic College in terms of research, program delivery and reorganized administration is the result of a suggestion and recommendation of myself since I became the Minister. There has been some concern expressed by the chairman of the Science Institute board about the matter of disseminating and decentralizing the Science Institute as it now exists. If the organization is disseminated, what would be the results in terms of administration? Obviously, we would have to look at administrative services, either in one location, three locations or two locations. That was not clear in the decision.

Secondly, the matter of a study of whether they were performing the duties, that was to be part of the review. If the honourable Member is not aware, I asked Arctic College, the Department of Education, Culture and Employment Programs and the Science Institute to sit down on a working committee to come up with a solution. Since the board has met, some two weeks ago, they have indicated that they do not want to work to re-assess the working of the Science Institute, the relationship they could have with Arctic College or the future relationship that they would have in the Northwest Territories to other organizations. The Science Institute board and the staff are the ones who have refused to sit down to assess the workings of their own organization and the relationship they might have to any other organization in the future.

That is, in fact, the way the whole thing is borne out. I have still asked Arctic College and the department to pursue what might be options.

Supplementary, Mr. Lewis.

I will re-phrase my original question. In the proposals for giving the Science Institute a new kind of mandate, does this mean that the mandate which the Science Institute has now will not be the same as the mandate it will have when it is amalgamated, affiliated or joined with the Arctic College system?

Mr. Nerysoo.

Mr. Speaker, so as to be very clear to the honourable Member, the whole nature of the working group was to look into the relationship. The Science Institute board and the staff do not want to participate on that particular working committee. It is very hard to suggest to the honourable Member that this Science Institute board and this Science Institute staff are prepared to even consider the options. Arctic College staff and the staff of the Department of Education, Culture and Employment Programs are the ones who want to review this whole thing. It may be that the restructuring completely retains the structure the way it is. What is clear, from my perspective, is there is a need for Arctic College to consider the relationship it would have with the Science Institute in the development of new science technology programs and improving the ability of Arctic College in the area of research for the Northwest Territories. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Supplementary, Mr. Lewis.

I appreciate that there are all kinds of different opinions. The board obviously has one significant opinion. The most significant opinion is the opinion of the Minister who may have the responsibility. Does the Minister intend to give the Science Institute a new mandate to do different work, something different to what it does right now?

Mr. Nerysoo.

Mr. Speaker, again, very clearly I do not know what mandate they should have. That is the nature of the review which was to take place. If I am going to ask Arctic College to assume responsibility in the area of research and science technology programming, then my question is, what is the role of the Science Institute of the Northwest Territories? It is important that we try to figure out the relationship. If we do not figure out that relationship then what is the nature of two colleges in the Northwest Territories, two Science Institutes of the Northwest Territories with no relationship at all? Even the Special Committee on Education in 1981 came back with a recommendation of, in fact, trying to put together that relationship. It is only now occurring, some 12 years later. We are trying to respond to an initiative and, in fact, a recommendation that was made.

I think there is a change in the relationship. The honourable Member should realize the Science Institute only advises on matters of research. They do not, and have not, participated in actual research. They have contracted other organizations to do the research work. It is my view that surely we can recognize the need to utilize the institutions of the Northwest Territories to assume responsibility in that area. I do not know in the end what the solution is going to be. That is why I have asked this working group to sit down and advise me. I need the advice of people who have the expertise in this area. They have, in fact, refused to participate in advising me.

Final supplementary, Mr. Lewis.