Thank you. Minister of Justice, Mr. Kakfwi.

Thank you. Supplementary, Mr. Ballantyne.

Supplementary, Madam Speaker. In the Minister of Justice's discussions with the federal Minister, perhaps the Minister could outline to us some possible remedies to this situation that have been indicated to the federal Minister of Justice.

Thank you. Minister of Justice, Mr. Kakfwi.

Thank you. Supplementary, Mr. Ballantyne.

Supplementary, Madam Speaker. That answer, Madam Speaker, is satisfactory. I just want to ask for the Minister's assurances that as soon as there are substantive discussions taking place and substantive options, he'll bring them to the attention of this House. Thank you, Madam Speaker.

Minister of Justice, Mr. Kakfwi.

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

Mahsi, Madam Speaker. Madam Speaker, I have a question for the Minister of Health on a long outstanding issue. This is the issue of Metis health benefits. There has been considerable work done over the last few years in enumerating the Metis by the Metis Nation and trying to determine the numbers of people involved. The whole issue of Metis health benefits is trying to provide benefits to Metis people equal to those of Inuit and treaty people.

My question to the Minister of Health is, what is the status of the review on Metis health benefits.

Thank you. Minister of Health, Madam Premier.

Madam Speaker, as the Member has indicated, this is a long outstanding issue and we feel we have a good working relationship with the Metis Association to determine what it is, in terms of financial obligations, that would be placed on the already-strained health budget. To do a historical summing-up of what has been done, we had a contribution agreement of $200,000 between ourselves and the Metis Nation, then there was a further extension of $57,000 which was given in September of 1994. As of July, the enumeration was reported to be 80 per cent complete, with a population of 3,358.

What we are doing is continuing to deal with the matter. We expect to continue to have a working dialogue with the Metis Nation to see how we could achieve the extended benefits for the Metis of the Northwest Territories, Madam Speaker.

Thank you. Supplementary, Mr. Koe.

Mahsi, Madam Speaker. It is a long outstanding issue. Does the Minister have a time frame for trying to resolve this problem?

Thank you. Minister of Health, Madam Premier.

Madam Speaker, I hope that the conclusion can be reached somewhere between now and the beginning of the new financial year. However, that is dependant on whether we can get a right mix of options of how to handle it and who is to be covered. As you know, Madam Speaker, there is an argument about what group of Metis we're considering. That would have a great bearing on what financial resources would be required. As well as what type of plan, who administers it, and what is the best, most efficient, effective and financially-responsible way of dealing with this outstanding issue.

I would like to say that the biggest concern was the number of people and who they were, so we can begin to work out the financial issues and come to some resolution; hopefully, in part at least, by April 1, 1995.

Thank you. Item 6, oral questions. The honourable Member for Yellowknife Frame Lake, Mr. Dent.

Thank you. Minister of Finance, Mr. Pollard.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Good afternoon. Madam Speaker, it was negotiated by the Department of Finance for the Government of the Northwest Territories. Thank you.

Thank you. Supplementary, Mr. Dent.