Supplementary, Mr. Antoine.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Government agencies in other jurisdictions have developed programs which provide management service and training to business owners. An example would be the Alberta opportunity company. There is also the federal business development bank which has a program designed to provide business management support to business owners. Has the Department of Economic Development and Tourism studied examples of such programs in other jurisdictions and assessed how they might work in the Northwest Territories? Mahsi.

Mr. Pollard.

Mr. Speaker, we are well aware of the federal business development bank program because it operates in the Northwest Territories as well. Have we studied it to see whether starting a program such as that would be advantageous to the Northwest Territories? No, we have not, but I am quite prepared to go and talk to the Minister of Education to see if, in fact, it would fit into one of the programs for Arctic College. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Supplementary, Mr. Antoine.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Does the department have the necessary resources to provide business management assistance to communities where needs have been identified? Thank you.

Mr. Pollard.

Resources usually means money or PYs, Mr. Speaker. Our department is no different than any other department, we do not have enough money and we do not have enough PYs. Where we have to work with businesses more than we have in the past, we will do it out of existing budgets. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Supplementary, Mr. Antoine.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Can the Minister describe the process his department uses for measuring whether they have been successful in promoting self-sufficiency in the communities? Mahsi.

Mr. Pollard.

No, Mr. Speaker, I cannot. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Item 5, oral questions. Mr. Patterson.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My question is to the Government Leader. Mr. Speaker, I know the Government Leader has been pursuing certain economic and other initiatives with the Government of Canada and with the Prime Minister. Now that the Prime Minister has announced his intention to step down, following the leadership convention in June, I wonder if the Government Leader will be discussing these initiatives with the Prime Minister. What can be done to follow through on them before he leaves office?

Ms. Cournoyea.

Mr. Speaker, much of the discussions regarding the Northwest Territories at the Premiers' level are ongoing discussions. We have, on the agenda, an entire multitude of things that are going on in the Northwest Territories. I realize, in many people's minds, it seems as if there is not anything going on, but there are many initiatives which require some coordination between the federal and territorial governments to realize the goals and objectives of the residents of the Northwest Territories.

One of the outstanding issues which I would like to have the Prime Minister's commitment on is the northern accord. The Prime Minister did sign the initial document. I am hoping we can overcome a couple of difficulties we have with it. As well, I intend to talk about the health billing dispute we have with them in regard to our court action and some of the concerns we have involving health billing and the federal government's responsibility. I would hope that we would have time to discuss a Nunavut claim to see if he can give some assurance that the integrity of the claim can be realized before the change of government. As well, we have an outstanding issue of our formula funding and how that is arranged with them. We have the ongoing issue of how to encourage economic develop in the Northwest Territories, so we will also be discussing the Izok Lake proposal and the transportation infrastructure in the Northwest Territories. Those are the immediate topics we have for discussion purposes. We would like to get a commitment to conclude a few of those items before the Prime Minister retires from office. Thank you.

Supplementary, Mr. Patterson.

Mr. Speaker, I take it from the honourable Government Leader's response that she has made arrangements to meet with the Prime Minister before he leaves office. Has a firm date been set for a meeting with the Prime Minister? Thank you.

Ms. Cournoyea.

Mr. Speaker, the meeting with the Prime Minister is set for Thursday, March 11, 1993, at 5:00 pm. Thank you.

Item 5, oral questions.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My question is directed to the honourable Minister for Health and Social Services.

On February 26, 1993, I asked the Minister the following question. Would the Minister look into the possibility of getting a group home for the mentally handicapped in Gjoa Haven? She indicated that a group home to be located in Gjoa Have was identified for 1988 and 1989. Subsequent inquiries revealed that there was no demand. Mr. Speaker, I went to Gjoa Haven in February, 1993, with the Honourable Nellie Cournoyea, and met with the hamlet council. The need for a group home for the mentally handicapped was one of the requests made by the hamlet of Gjoa Haven. I wonder if the Minister would seriously look into the possibility of building a group home in Gjoa Haven for the Kitikmeot region? Thank you.

Ms. Mike.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. This decision was made prior to my appointment to the department. I will look further into what other initiatives the previous Minister of Social Services had made and I will provide the Member with the information he requires. Possibly we could have a meeting on this matter. Thank you.