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

Thank you very much, Madam Speaker. First of all, I don't see them as major changes. I think they are part and parcel of an orderly transfer of what is going to happen in 1999 and, no, at this time, I haven't discussed this with the committee.

Supplementary, Mr. Lewis.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. The question of whether something is major or minor is obviously a question of judgement. I would like to ask the Minister, since he's responsible for other departments in addition to the Department of Economic Development and Tourism, and since this reflects the way he would like government to be administered, does he have plans to do the same thing with any of his other responsibilities?

I think it is incumbent upon all departments and all services in government to prepare an orderly plan for the division of the territories in 1999. Thank you, Madam Premier.

Just to correct you, Mr. Todd. It is Madam Speaker. Thank you. Supplementary, Mr. Lewis.

Thank you very much, Madam Speaker. I would like to ask the Minister, Madam Speaker, since he's a member of the Special Joint Committee on Division and since he is there because he holds Cabinet rank and has responsibilities, if these are just minor things, then what kinds of things is he referring to that committee that we need to look at, in anticipation of division?

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

Madam Speaker, I'm sorry, I don't understand the question. Maybe the honourable Member could assist me in clarifying it.

Thank you. Mr. Lewis, do you want to try to rephrase your question?

Madam Speaker, maybe it is the wrong interpretation of this document, but as I understand it, two senior level people are going to be established to look after

economic development; one in the east and one in the west. Since this, in effect, creates two departments -- which I consider to be major and which Mr. Todd obviously doesn't -- would he give us an example of what major things are being referred to the Special Joint Committee on Division? Because, establishing two departments, or virtually two departments, I consider to be major.

Could he give us an example of the kinds of major things that he is referring to this committee, from his perspective as a Cabinet Minister, so that the issues of division can be properly dealt with in the committee, which we set up especially to deal with division issues?

Minister of Economic Development and Tourism, Mr. Todd.

There seems to be some misinterpretation by the honourable Member, Madam Speaker. I'm not talking about creating two new positions, I'm merely talking about assigning current positions for the specific purposes of developing a strategy for the orderly transfer of those departments for 1999 in Nunavut. And, of course, any of the stuff that would come forward by these people would be vetted through the Special Joint Committee on Division. Thank you.

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