Thank you, Madam Speaker. I think what the honourable Member is referring to -- I am sure he is -- is about the CARS program, which is...

(Microphone turned off)

...the atmospheric environmental service currently operates the CARS program in Cape Dorset, Clyde River and Pond Inlet, and it is, at the present time, on a 24-hour, seven days a week service. It's funded by Transport Canada. We were told several months ago that Transport Canada intended to discontinue the 24-hour, seven days a week service, and we are going to reduce it to five days a week, 24 hours a day; in other words, an eight hour day. I discussed this matter with the honourable Doug Young, who is the Minister of Transportation, in Ottawa two weeks ago and asked him if he was prepared to reconsider or look for an appropriate compromise. Our compromise was to ask if he would consider 70 hours a week and the reduction to be phased in over a period of time. I was told just a short time ago that the only concession we have so far is in Clyde River. Transport Canada has agreed to 65 hours a week over a seven day period. That is the latest I have with respect to this, Madam Speaker.

Thank you. Item 5, oral questions. Supplementary, Mr. Allooloo.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. I am told the contractor has been instructed by the federal government to cut off the power going into the weather station at midnight on March 31. Why would they be instructed to cut off the power and the heat if they are merely reducing the hours? Thank you.

Thank you. Minister of Transportation, Mr. Todd.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Yes, in Pond Inlet and Clyde River, the CARS program is located in the atmospheric environmental services buildings. The atmospheric environment services wants to transfer these buildings to the GNWT for the continued operation of CARS. I suspect that what we have got here is a delay in communications between the transfer from the federal government to the GNWT, Madam Speaker. I will look directly into the request as it relates to Pond Inlet and Clyde River, but I believe it is perhaps just an overlap, if you want, or a lack of overlap in terms of the transfer responsibility. Thank you.

Thank you. Item 5, oral questions. Supplementary, Mr. Allooloo.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. I checked with the Minister's department to confirm what I was told by my constituents that they will not have a weather station from midnight on the 31 of March until April 5, which is when the Minister's department will take over CARS. Because that period is a very important period, the planes will not be able to know how high they are flying, how low they are flying, what the conditions are like on the ground. It's going to be dangerous for airplanes, pilots and the passengers in my constituency. I wonder if the Minister would look at taking over the responsibility on April 1 so that service will continue to be provided to the communities. Thank you.

Thank you. Minister of Transportation, Mr. Todd.

It was my understanding that negotiations were under way between the federal government and ourselves to take over this particular service in Clyde River, Cape Dorset and Pond Inlet, effective April 1. If there has been some change in that status, I will look into it immediately and try to get back to the honourable Member in an effort to ensure that adequate transportation services are provided in these communities as quickly as we can, Madam Speaker. Thank you.

Thank you. Item 5, oral questions. The honourable Member for North Slave, Mr. Zoe.

Thank you. Minister of Education, Culture and Employment Programs, Mr. Nerysoo.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. I listened, with interest, to the honourable Member's statement. I thought it was extremely constructive. We will try to resolve the issue. We're doing research into the whole matter of educational services and the arrangements that were made for transfer resources. We will try to resolve that particular matter.

Thank you. Supplementary, Mr. Zoe.

Thank you. Minister of Education, Culture and Employment Programs, Mr. Nerysoo.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. We will certainly try to get it resolved by the next school year, however the whole issue is a matter -- as the honourable Member pointed out -- of a difference of opinion between two governments. If the federal government is not prepared to accept the responsibility that we feel they should continue to have, then it may become a much more difficult matter to resolve. If that happens, I will report back to the honourable Members and advise them of the circumstances, as to why we cannot resolve this particular matter before the next school year.

Thank you. Item 5, oral questions. The honourable Member for Yellowknife Centre, Mr. Lewis.

Thanks, Madam Speaker. Yesterday, in the House, the honourable Minister agreed to strike an independent committee -- this is to the Minister of Social Services -- in response to a request by the Groenewegens and their conduct or respect of social service workers in Hay River. I would like to ask the Minister, could she elaborate on the details of this investigation, particular who would be involved and what time frame she expects it to take place within?

Also, Madam Speaker, I would like to ask for unanimous consent to extend question period.

The honourable Member is seeking unanimous consent to extend question period. Are there any nays? There are no nays. Minister of Social Services, Ms. Mike.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Yes, I did agree that the independent review would take place. The terms of reference has to be established for this enquiry. There is nothing much else to say, other than what I have already made commitment to in this House, yesterday. Thank you.

Supplementary, Mr. Lewis.