Madam Speaker, I believe that, for whatever we try to do in the Northwest Territories, we are trying to readjust our thinking to accommodate the new time line we have for 1999, and to plan in that direction no matter what we do, whether it is a readjustment of resources or decentralization. As we are moving ahead, we are trying to work, keeping in consideration that fact that Nunavut will be here in 1999.

Even in the thinking of government, we are trying to make decisions along those lines. I think that can be done from a central agency or by putting out people in the field. We are trying to make sure we are ahead of the game but, at the same time, not taking away from the fact that the federal government has clearly indicated that they would financially support the upgrading of requirements for two territories. At the same time, life has to go on, and we try to program our thinking with the realization that a decision has been made and our thought patterns have to reflect those decisions. Thank you, Madam Speaker.

Supplementary, Mr. Ng.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. I recognize that Madam Premier is saying that there are processes in the department now for addressing issues in relation to division. But, I would like her to be more specific. I asked if there are plans currently under way in other departments for dividing up their responsibilities, in preparation for division. Thank you.

Thank you. Madam Premier.

Madam Speaker, in attempting to address this issue, I don't want to leave the impression that a magical division of powers is necessary at all times. There is an attitude of addressing issues as they come up. We have to begin to think about the time of division. Now, whether it is moving people around with the resources we have, or having a different way of doing things, we, as a government, are committed to trying to think in a forward fashion.

There is going to be division in 1999 and the fact is, we have to continue to support programs and services and cause the least amount of disruption possible. At this point in time, the process is to try to accommodate the fact that changes have to be made and accommodation has to be made to the differences in the level of program services and direction between two territories. Thank you, Madam Speaker.

Thank you. Item 6, oral questions. The honourable Member for Yellowknife North, Mr. Ballantyne.

Thank you. Minister of Economic Development and Tourism, Mr. Todd.

Thank you very much, Madam Speaker. I concur with the honourable Member; it was a good decision made by the Liberal government. The discussions are under way right now. The Prime Minister has appointed -- I don't remember the gentleman's name right now off the top of my head, but he will be in the Yukon, I believe, sometime in the next couple of weeks. My office is communicating with his office to come to Yellowknife to discuss where we may participate in this highly new, creative, innovative and exciting proposal.

So there will be discussions with respect to our involvement. At this time, we haven't sat down with the organizers. Thank you.

Thank you. Supplementary, Mr. Ballantyne.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Madam Speaker, I think we're all overwhelmed by the magnitude of this particular program; $50 million in 1994 is an extraordinary amount of money. However, my understanding is that the federal government is looking at coordinating the tourism approaches of the federal government with the provinces. I wonder what discussions have taken place or are anticipated between our government and the federal government in order to coordinate our approaches to tourism.

Thank you. Minister of Economic Development and Tourism, Mr. Todd.

Well, there are always ongoing discussions with respect to our relationship with the federal government; whether it's tourism in the EDA program or just co-management of some of our marketing strategies. This is a very specific initiative announced by the federal government. It was only recently announced in the Globe and Mail; I believe a week or so ago. As I indicated earlier, we intend to sit down with the gentleman who has been appointed by the Prime Minister to see where we're going to participate in this important initiative. Thank you, Madam Speaker.

Thank you. Item 6, oral questions. The honourable Member for Iqaluit, Mr. Patterson.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Madam Speaker, my question is to the Minister of Finance. I have just received a press release from the Government of Canada announcing the signing of the formula financing implementation agreement for 1994-95. It states, in the voice of Mr. Irwin, the federal Minister responsible, that "formula financing has been instrumental in the evolution of responsible and accountable government in the north, and it will continue to provide stable funding to the territorial government."

The response doesn't say how long this stable funding will continue, Madam Speaker, but I suspect that it refers to the fiscal year 1994-95 which only has five months left in it. I would like to ask the Minister of Finance, since we all hope that stable funding continues, when will we know the funding levels from the Government of Canada to the Northwest Territories for the coming fiscal year, 1995-96? Thank you.

Thank you. Minister of Finance, Mr. Pollard.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Good afternoon. Madam Speaker, there were some telephone conversations last week back and forth with Ottawa, both with ourselves and Yukon. I think each of us was stressing the fact that there needs to be some certainty as to how much money will be in the new formula for the next fiscal year as we are preparing budgets for next year. I think we now have got the point across to the federal government that there needs to be some certainty for us. So I would anticipate that sometime in the next three months we should get some certainty from Ottawa if we cannot get it faster than that, Madam Speaker. Thank you.

Thank you. Supplementary, Mr. Patterson.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Madam Speaker, I believe that the Minister of Finance and his officials are well advanced in preparing the operations and maintenance estimates for the Government of the Northwest Territories for the new fiscal year. In fact, I believe that the Standing Committee on Finance is scheduled to review those main estimates in January of 1995. I would like to ask the Minister of Finance, on what assumptions as far as the federal deficit grant is concerned has he and his officials prepared the O and M budget for 1995-96 for the GNWT? Thank you.

Thank you. Minister of Finance, Mr. Pollard.

Madam Speaker, we have not yet concluded the O and M budget for next year, which I know the Standing Committee on Finance is anxious to see before Christmas. The assumptions that are always used when putting together budgets are trying to ascertain what the economy of Canada will be next year, trying to look at what the population increases or decreases might be. So it's just the normal kind of premise. Even though we will not have a signed agreement effective April 1st, we're using what we would normally use in the existing formula to project revenues for next year, Madam Speaker. Thank you.

Thank you. Supplementary, Mr. Patterson.

I understand, Madam Speaker, that the budget will be prepared assuming the very best; that present funding levels will continue to be stable, as Mr. Irwin stated in his recent press release. I guess I would like to ask the Minister of Finance, if he expects to find out firm details within three months, could we receive news about the levels of funding to the Northwest Territories in the federal Minister of Finance's budget, to be brought down sometime in February, 1995? Is that when we might hear for sure where we stand? Thank you, Madam Speaker.

Thank you. Minister of Finance, Mr. Pollard.