Thank you, Madam Speaker. My reason for questioning is not to interfere or short circuit any quasi-judicial board. I'm here to represent the members of my constituency and their concerns about the huge increase that they expect to incur once this proposal has been reviewed and if it's approved by the Public Utilities Board. So I would like to further ask the Minister responsible for the NWT Power Corporation whether these hearings have been concluded, or if there's opportunity for people in communities to express their views on this. Thank you.

Minister responsible for the Power Corporation, Madam Premier.

Madam Speaker, I will have to take that as notice. Thank you.

Thank you. Item 6, oral questions. The honourable Member for High Arctic, Mr. Pudluk.

(Translation) Thank you, Madam Speaker. My question is directed to the Minister of Personnel. In the Baffin region, there is a shortage of housing, mainly in Arctic Bay. This is with regard to staff housing. What is the Minister going to do about the shortage of staff housing in Arctic Bay? Thank you, Madam Speaker.

Thank you. Minister of Personnel, Ms. Mike.

(Translation) Thank you, Madam Speaker. On July 11th, we did a survey as to how many staff houses might be needed. According to the July 11th document, we have 36 employees in Arctic Bay and they have 16 units. Seven of them are presently occupied. The other units are occupied by people in the Department of Health. I think there are some units that are not occupied. We did a survey on July 11th. After the survey, there were other units that were not occupied. I will look into this and find out what we can do. Thank you, Madam Speaker.

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

Mahsi, Madam Speaker. I have a question for the Minister of Health. Over the past several years, there has been a lot of work going on in terms of reviewing the status of the Department of Health and health boards. There has been work on the memorandum of understanding to clarify the roles of the Department of Health and the roles of the health boards. Can the Minister advise this House as to what the status of that MOU is? Thank you, Madam Speaker.

Thank you. Minister of Health and Social Services, Madam Premier.

Madam Speaker, I am pleased to say the arrangements between the health boards and the Department of Health are moving along very quickly. We have a very high degree of cooperation at this time. I am hopeful that in the immediate future, the MOUs will be concluded. Thank you, Madam Speaker.

---Applause

Thank you. Supplementary, Mr. Koe.

Mahsi, Madam Speaker. The Minister is responsible for appointments to health boards. Can the Minister very briefly advise as to the responsibility of an appointee to a health board in relationship to the Minister? What is the relationship between an appointee and the Minister once an appointment is made?

Thank you. Minister of Health and Social Services, Madam Premier.

Madam Speaker, the process for the appointee is names are solicited and recommendations are made to the Minister responsible. The person then being selected is appointed. Those representatives are community representatives and they are responsible for communicating health needs and concerns to the health board, Madam Speaker.

Thank you. Supplementary, Mr. Koe.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. I thank the Minister for her response. So once an appointment is made, what are the duties of an appointee? Do they have a job description?

Thank you. Minister of Health and Social Services, Madam Premier.

Madam Speaker, I believe so and that would be at the board level. Thank you, Madam Speaker.

Thank you. Supplementary, Mr. Koe.

So would that job description be included in this memorandum of understanding that is being developed?

Thank you. Minister of Health and Social Services, Madam Premier.

Madam Speaker, I would have to take that as notice.

Thank you. Item 6, oral questions. The honourable Member for North Slave, Mr. Zoe.