Mr. Whitford, I know what you are attempting to ask the Minister of Finance, but supplementaries are intended to follow suit with the initial question. You initially questioned the Minister of Health and then went to the taxes applied by the Minister of Finance. Now, you're attempting to seek an answer from the Minister of Finance with respect to alcohol. I would like to ask you to rephrase your question to either ask a question about taxes or a question that relates to your initial question to the Minister of Health. That is the intent of supplementary questions. Thank you. Mr. Whitford.

Thank you, Mr. Whitford. Not everyone smokes and drinks at the same time.

---Laughter

Item 5, oral questions. The honourable Member for Nahendeh, Mr. Antoine.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. My question is for the Minister responsible for Government Services. It is in regard to Trout Lake. For two weeks now, the furniture for their new building has been sitting in Simpson. They have a new water truck and sewer wagon that is supposed to go on the loader. I would like to ask the Minister if the supplies have arrived in Trout Lake by this time or not?

Thank you. Minister of Government Services, Mr. Morin.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. The truck that was supposed to haul this material and the fuel pump belong to a local contractor. I've instructed the department to get the office furniture, the water tank and the sewer tank in the community today. It is supposed to be there. Thank you.

Thank you. Supplementary, Mr. Antoine.

I don't know if this is the result of the equipment not being in the community sooner, but a building burned down the other night. The chemicals in the fire truck weren't useful and the water tank was too small and froze up, so this building burned down. Sixty chickens got fried to death.

---Laughter

The chicken coop burned down and they lost their chickens. The community doesn't have any more eggs, I guess. It is funny but, at the same time, if it were a bigger building with people living in it, I think they would have had some problems. The community wanted me to ask the Minister when this equipment was going to be in, and the sooner the better. If it is confirmed for Friday...I don't know if there is a question in this, Madam Speaker, but...

---Laughter

Could the Minister tell me for sure that this equipment is going into the community today? Thank you.

Thank you. Minister of Government Services, Mr. Morin.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. I've instructed the department to do everything possible to get the water tank, the sewer tank and the furniture for the office into Trout Lake by today. Their response was that it was a local contractor that had the contract and the fuel pump is on a truck that is awaiting parts. I know the Fort Simpson area and I know there are other tractors available in the area, so I've instructed them to hire another tractor and take that equipment over. Thank you.

Thank you. Item 5, oral questions. The honourable Member for Iqaluit, Mr. Patterson.

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

Am I aware? I know that Mr. Harper, your constituent, has written a letter expressing concern about the impact this will have, both on the business community and more importantly, on where people spend their income. That is as much as I know at this time.

Supplementary, Mr. Patterson.

Madam Speaker, I think Mr. Harper believes the solution is that the territorial government should lower prices by lowering taxes on cigarettes to avoid leakage of purchasing dollars to the south. I'm also aware that Mr. Pollard has, at present, taken a very firm stand that there will be no reduced taxes for reasons that I understand and respect. I would like to ask the Minister of Economic Development and Tourism, given that this tax policy -- which I'm not adverse to -- could have an adverse impact on an important retail sector which employs many local people in Iqaluit, will the Minister undertake to have his officials look into the situation and monitor the business impacts that this tax policy might have on the retail sector in Iqaluit? Thank you.

Thank you. Mr. Todd.

I'm having a difficult time being objective because I'm a non-smoker. I suppose I have to qualify that. I think perhaps, with all due respect to Mr. Harper and others, they may be overreacting at this time. I think what we've got to do is look at the percentage of their sales in cigarettes, in comparison with everything else they do. I suspect that when you're running a large retail operation like Mr. Harper and others, it doesn't have the same effect as it does on the small smoke shop in Ontario and Quebec where there was concern raised.

However, what I am prepared to do is sit down with the retailers if there are some specific issues like Mr. Harper raises and take a look at them. I think, perhaps, with all due respect, we have to put this thing into perspective. What is the percentage of sales and the return on investments with the sale of cigarettes, in comparison to selling cabbage, potatoes or Carnation milk? I suspect, from my previous experience, that the return on cigarettes is marginal. I also suspect, and it is only a suspicion, that the impact on somebody's bottom line in sales is probably marginal. We will look into it and we will specifically look into the case in Iqaluit. But I want to look into it from that perspective. Thank you.

Thank you. The allotted time for oral questions has lapsed. Item 6, written questions. Item 7, returns to written questions. Item 8, replies to opening address. Item 9, petitions. Item 10, reports of standing and special committees. Item 11, reports of committees on the review of bills. Item 12, tabling of documents. The honourable Member for Deh Cho, Mr. Gargan.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Madam Speaker, I wish to table the following, Tabled Document 18-12(5), Deficit Management Options, Interjurisdictional Survey.

Thank you. Item 12, tabling of documents. Item 13, notices of motion. The honourable Member for Natilikmiot, Mr. Ningark.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Madam Speaker, I give notice that on Monday, February 14, 1994, I will move the following motion. Now therefore I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Sahtu, that this Legislature adopts a principle of zero tolerance of violence against all people and endorses the goal of eliminating family violence by the year 2000;

And furthermore, that this Legislature invites all northern leaders, such as leaders of aboriginal organizations, municipal governments, trade unions, boards, agencies and societies to make a similar commitment by adopting this declaration in spirit and in practice.

Madam Speaker, at the appropriate time, I will be seeking unanimous consent to proceed with my motion today.

Thank you. Item 13, notices of motion. Item 14, notices of motions for first reading of bills. The honourable Member for Sahtu, Mr. Kakfwi.