Thank you. Minister of Intergovernmental and Aboriginal Affairs, Mr. Kakfwi.

Thank you. Point of order, Mr. Gargan.

Point Of Order

Madam Speaker, is my question out of order?

Mr. Gargan, your question is not out of order, but I should caution you that that motion is on the order paper for today and it can be discussed today at the prerogative of the mover of the motion. We all know that motions have two days, which would be today and Tuesday, for discussion. Since the motion is on the order paper, your questioning should be cautious, depending on whether your question can be debated. I'm saying that your question is not out of order, depending on how you phrase the question.

The honourable Member for Deh Cho, Mr. Gargan.

Thank you. I understood the response that the Minister gave, that there are a number of issues and concerns that the Cabinet and this House would like to address with Mr. Irwin. Has the Minister of Justice been in contact with Mr. Irwin regarding potential issues and agenda items for discussion?

Thank you. Minister of Intergovernmental and Aboriginal Affairs, Mr. Kakfwi.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Madam Speaker, under our rules we cannot ask questions regarding motions. You can speak to the motion, that's the reason why I've been asking the questions the way I've been asking them, so it doesn't have an impact on whatever the motion is. I have not referred to the motion at all. I would like to ask the Minister whether the discussions in committee of the whole will be structured and limited to only those items that the Minister wishes to talk about, or can we ask questions following his presentation?

Mr. Gargan, just reviewing the motion placed on the order paper for today, in determining your question and I just want to indicate to the Members of the House that the motion does read: "Whereas the Legislative Assembly has requested the Premier and Minister of Intergovernmental and Aboriginal Affairs to follow up and seek clarification from the Prime Minister and DIAND Minister on federal policies and initiatives relating to division of the Northwest Territories public and aboriginal government and devolution."

It seems to me, Mr. Gargan, that within this particular paragraph there is a possibility to seek clarification from possibly the questions that you may be wanting to ask of the Minister today. So, anticipating that, I feel that your question may be answered within the motion that is being posed. Therefore, I would like to ask you to rephrase your question so that it does not reflect anticipated discussions that this motion is presenting to our House and being discussed today. Mr. Gargan.

Thank you. I'll rephrase my last question, then. Madam Speaker, in committee of the whole the rules are quite open with regard to asking questions back and forth between the witnesses in committee of the whole and Members here. I would like to ask the Minister whether that same type of arrangement is going to be used when Mr. Irwin appears as a witness.

Unfortunately, Mr. Gargan, I have to rule your question out of order. On the last portion of our motion it states "Now therefore I move, seconded by the Honourable Member for Nunakput, that the Speaker be authorized to invite the Honourable Ron Irwin, Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development, to appear before the Legislative Assembly in committee of the whole on a date certain convenient to the Minister and the Speaker."

In the event this motion passes in the House, it will allow the Minister to appear in committee of the whole. Therefore, your question is anticipating the same type of reply that this motion is on the order paper for today. Therefore, I have to rule your supplementary question out of order.

---Ruled Out Of Order

Item 7, oral questions. The honourable Member for Inuvik, Mr. Koe.