Shame, shame.

Did he pursue the matter yesterday afternoon as he assured this House he would at this time yesterday? Thank you.

Thank you. Minister responsible for the Public Utilities Board, Mr. Todd.

I think maybe the honourable Member swallowed his pocket thesaurus. Madam Speaker, I did pursue it with great vigour yesterday afternoon, however the Public Utilities Board was involved in meetings defending the constituencies that Mr. Patterson is concerned about. But I did talk late last evening with the deputy chair, Mr. Mercer who assured me that steps were going to be taken to visit with communities where the rate increases are most affected, and seek an opportunity for those that are most affected to express their views. I did do what he told me to do.

Supplementary, Mr. Patterson.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. So that I don't further exhaust my few precious questions in question period, could I ask the Minister if he will, by statement or otherwise, inform the House when he forthwith deals with the matter as he pledged to do so yesterday. Thank you.

Thank you. Minister responsible for the Public Utilities Board, Mr. Todd.

This is an exhausting exercise. I want to assure the honourable Member that I'm taking the matter seriously, that we're going to make the appropriate moves to ensure that the Public Utilities Board in future does meet in the constituencies that are affected. I know this matter with respect to the power rate changes and increases, as expressed by Mr. Koe earlier in his statement, is an important one. I should be in a position soon to be able to advise them when, where, and how these meetings will take place. But he has my assurance in the meantime.

Thank you. Item 6, oral questions. The honourable Member for Inuvik, Mr. Koe.

Mahsi, Madam Speaker. Madam Speaker, on Tuesday, October 11th, my colleagues, Mr. Antoine and Mr. Zoe, posed questions to the Minister of Municipal and Community Affairs about the current reorganization of the department at the headquarters level. I would like to ask a couple of follow-up questions for more clarity.

The Minister, when asked for rationale behind the reorganization, stated, and I quote from unedited Hansard of October 11th, "the rationale for the reorganization of this department was based on realigning the resources that we have within the department, to realign the divisions that fall under two deputy ministers which is now one. It was just to get the department streamlined within the existing divisions that the department has with the number of resources and staff." So based on this statement made by the Minister, I would like to ask the honourable Minister what divisions within the department at the headquarters level are being restructured, streamlined or eliminated as a result of this reorganization.

Thank you. Minister of Municipal and Community Affairs, Ms. Mike.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. When I made the response to Mr. Zoe's question on October 11th, in my return I mentioned the department had been reorganized with divisions under two deputy ministers, and changes were made to realign under one. I meant to say the department was organized with divisions under two assistant deputy ministers and now there is one.

This, Madam Speaker, in the last two days has been my struggle that I tried to make a Minister's statement on, to correct any confusion that I may have caused yesterday.

Further, to answer Mr. Koe's question, on the divisions that have been realigned are: lands, planning and surveys have been combined from three into one division; the municipal operation assessment division has been deleted; municipal operation functions have been combined with the capital and community works area from the former community works and capital planning division which is now community development division; and, the corporate affairs division has been deleted and has the position of director of strategic planning and special projects. The result has been the deletion of five director positions. I think that is the current status of Department of Municipal and Community Affairs' reorganization, Madam Speaker. Thank you.

Thank you. Supplementary, Mr. Koe.

Mahsi. I would like to thank the Minister for that enlightenment. Within these divisions, you mention that several divisions are being deleted; specifically, corporate affairs and I think I heard municipal affairs. I believe in the division of municipal affairs there is a significant number of people. At noon I looked in the phone book, and I think there are 29 people in that specific division. So what is going to happen to these positions which were allocated to these specific divisions? What happens to the positions that are within those divisions?

Minister of Municipal and Community Affairs, Ms. Mike.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. The positions are still there. In fact, the telephone numbers, along with the present staff, we have not changed. Thank you.

Thank you. Supplementary, Mr. Koe.

Maybe I can clarify a little more. I should have asked, what is going to happen to the people who are in these positions in those divisions which are going to be eliminated.

Thank you. Minister of Municipal and Community Affairs, Ms. Mike.

The only position that has been eliminated, I believe, is corporate affairs. Thank you.

Final supplementary, Mr. Koe.

Regarding that position, I hope the individual hasn't been eliminated but I assume the position has been eliminated. Has that person then been given lay-off notice or what's happening with that specific individual?

Thank you. Minister of Municipal and Community Affairs, Ms. Mike.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. The position has been eliminated but the person has not. Every effort has been made to retain all staff within the department. The affected personnel or staff, due to the reorganization of the department, have received letters if their jobs are affected in the change of reorganization.