Item 6, oral questions. Mr. Patterson.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. This is also on the Arctic Winter Games to the Minister of Municipal and Community Affairs. In comments made surrounding the awarding of the 1998 games, there seems to have been some confusion emerging about the authority of the Arctic Winter Games International Committee. In statements made by Mr. Thick, in a CBC radio interview, he gave the impression that the international committee may have felt that it didn't have the authority or mandate to consider altering the format of the games to a split games format. Does the Government of the Northwest Territories give direction to their international committee representatives on the Arctic Winter Games International Committee? Thank you.

Thank you. Ms. Mike.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, to clarify Mr. Patterson's preamble, I do have the Arctic Winter Games International Committee breakfast meeting with political representatives minutes. Mr. Cooper, in looking at the minutes, summarized that the consensus was that in 1998, the Northwest Territories proposal for a split-week venue situation would be acceptable, if the cost was about the same. He further stated that this split-week venue would not become an Arctic Winter Games International Committee policy. In answering Mr. Patterson's question, whether this government gives directions to the committee, that committee is at arm's length and I don't know where Mr. Thick got the idea that we can influence decisions that they make. Thank you.

Thank you, Ms. Mike. I would like to remind Members that, as the Speaker informed us yesterday, we should try to keep our preambles short, so the Ministers know where the question is. Mr. Patterson.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the information provided by the Minister on this issue of concern is very interesting. Would the Minister be prepared to make the minutes of this breakfast meeting available to the Members of this House? Thank you.

Thank you. Ms. Mike.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I can make the minutes available to the Member. Thank you.

Thank you, Ms. Mike. Mr. Patterson.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to ask the Minister if she believes that the international committee has the authority and mandate to alter the format of the games, changing the format to accommodate split-week games. Thank you.

I believe the question was whether the Minister believes it or not, but perhaps you could respond on the basis of the facts you have. Ms. Mike.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As I have said already, whether it is my belief or not, the international committee is at arm's length from this government and in Mr. Cooper's summarized report, they made it very clear that the split venue situation can be acceptable if the costs are reasonable. However, they made it clear also that it would not become their policy. Thank you.

Thank you, Ms. Mike. Final supplementary, Mr. Patterson.

Mr. Speaker, I am frankly surprised that the Minister feels that members of the Arctic Winter Games International Committee, who are recommended and appointed by the Government of the Northwest Territories, should be immune from any influence from the Government of the Northwest Territories.

Mr. Speaker, in light of the fact that in the past initiatives of this government, including Greenland and the Soviet Union in the Arctic Winter Games, have resulted from active involvement of the Government of the Northwest Territories in the Arctic Winter Games through the representatives on the international committee, would the Minister reconsider the position of the Government of the Northwest Territories that the government should not provide advice and direction to their representatives on the international committee in future? Thank you.

Thank you. Ms. Mike.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. In listening to his preamble, my reply is yes, we can provide direction and work with the representatives that we have on the international committee. However, in terms of the whole committee, I think

it would not be proper for this government to be giving direction to the committee as a whole. I agree that we can work with our representatives and give some direction. Thank you.

Thank you, Ms. Mike. Mr. Antoine.

Thank you, Mr. Antoine. Ms. Mike.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It is my intention to deal with this issue as soon as I can. My preference would be to get some input from the sporting groups and associations, as well as from the Members of this House. Thank you.

Thank you. Mr. Antoine.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. One of the criticisms of the current international committee is that members don't reflect the ethnicity of the people who participate in the games. It is important that our representatives reflect northern communities and northern values. When the Minister is looking for new representatives for the international committee, will she ensure that consideration be given to those people who would reflect the population of the Northwest Territories? Thank you.

Thank you. Ms. Mike.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Yes, that is my intention. That is the reason why I would like to get involved and get input from MLAs and the sporting associations across the north, so we get a good selection of people.