Thank you. Madam Premier.

Madam Speaker, perhaps the Member could further clarify what type of information he is requesting. As the Member knows, we have a policy in various departments about what is permissible to release. There is confidential information in various departments, portfolios and programs. There are policies about what is to be kept confidential. I would request further clarification. Thank you.

Thank you. Supplementary, Mr. Ng.

Supplementary, Madam Speaker. I am speaking about information that is non-confidential, things like government programs, costs of operating government facilities, those types of things that would normally be public information. Thank you.

Thank you. Madam Premier.

Madam Speaker, information on matters of program information and of a non-confidential nature, according to general policy and practice, is available to Members of this Legislative Assembly, whether it is at a community, regional or head office level. Thank you.

Thank you. Supplementary, Mr. Ng.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. I would like to clarify, when a Member requests information at a regional level, does that information have to be cleared through headquarters, or can it be released at the regional level to Members requesting this information? Thank you.

Madam Premier.

Madam Speaker, I would suggest that any information of a non-confidential nature that has been requested by a Member of the Legislative Assembly at the regional level would not require further approval from head office, unless there is some question at the regional level about whether certain information is confidential or not yet ready for release. Oft-times in government work, there are some areas where the head office would say, in an area of a development program, that work is not conclusive. So, that may be an area where a person would contact head office to see if the information is ready for release, but, by and large, there should be no hesitation to release information at the regional level.

Thank you. Final supplementary, Mr. Ng.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Final supplementary. In some instances, I've encountered difficulties with certain departments in releasing information, where they say that approval must come from the Minister and where I'm

requesting non-confidential public information. I would like to ask, is it up to the individual Ministers to decide whether that information must be released, under their signature? Thank you.

Thank you. Madam Premier.

Madam Speaker, if there is public information being requested, I see no reason why that should be denied to a Member of the Legislative Assembly. If there are circumstances where the Member has a concern about information being held back, I would be very pleased to address those specific issues. Thank you.

Thank you. Item 7, oral questions. The honourable Member for Nahendeh, Mr. Antoine.