Thank you, Mr. Speaker. With that, does the Minister intend to introduce a supplementary appropriation to fund this community action fund if he is successful in convincing his colleagues on the Financial Management Board? Thank you.

Mr. Pollard.

Mr. Speaker, the community wellness fund has yet to be discussed at Cabinet level or at the Financial Management Board level, so if there is agreement that the initiative should proceed, then my question to the Members of that particular board is going to be, where do we get the money from. They are going to say to me, well, what do you suggest. So if there is agreement that the fund is required because FMB says this program is required, and if we can reach agreement on how to raise those funds or where to get that money from then, yes, we would propose bringing that issue back to the floor of this House and amending the budget or department somehow so that it is reflected in the 1995-96 budget. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you. Your final supplementary, Mr. Antoine.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It is amazing that the government would suggest a plan without providing means for funding it. I recognize that the government is in a very difficult situation trying to balance expenditures and revenues, but I don't think it's appropriate for government to bring up a program without proposing a means of funding it. Can the Minister explain why means of funding the community action fund were not included in the budget? Thank you.

Mr. Pollard.

Mr. Speaker, the program is not in this budget. It is not in the documents before this House. It was a reaction from the social envelope committee to questions about how you are going to deal with these particular issues in communities. It was a way of showing the Standing Committee on Finance a way of addressing these problems. But, certainly, the program hasn't been adopted. It is not in the budget and it is not intended to be delivered at this particular time. Although we know that it is something that a lot of the Members in this House want to have happen, we know that it is something that communities want to have happen, but it is certainly not there at the present time. Until such time as there is agreement on (a), the program; and, (b), where the funding comes from, it will not be brought back to the floor of the House. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you. Item 6, oral questions. Mrs. Marie-Jewell.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My question is to the Premier. Mr. Speaker, we all know last year that the Cabinet made a decision to allow negotiation of the Dene-Metis Holdings to address fire suppression. And when that decision was made in August -- specifically, August 10, 1994 -- a time frame of 90 days was granted. Could the Premier advise this House who determined the 90-day time frame? Thank you.

Madam Premier.

Mr. Speaker, it was a Cabinet decision.

Thank you. Supplementary, Mrs. Marie-Jewell.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Could I ask the Premier as to why 90 days was used? Thank you.

Madam Premier.

Mr. Speaker, I would have to go back to the discussion paper, but the 90 days -- if my recollection is correct -- is sufficient time for a person to prepare and come back with the proposal. So it was in the general limits of what is normally allowed to give adequate time for the proponent to come forward with a proposal. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you. Supplementary, Mrs. Marie-Jewell.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Recognizing the proposal that Cabinet wanted developed was to address the multi-million dollar contracts -- specifically, in excess of $5 million -- I would like to ask the Premier, was there any

consideration for an extension of 90 days prior to the decision being made? Thank you.

Madam Premier.

Mr. Speaker, I will have to take that question as notice. Thank you.

The question is taken as notice. Item 6, oral questions. Mr. Ningark.

Thank you, Mr. Ningark. I would just like to remind Members that question period is for questions and not for statements. Minister of Health and Social Services, Ms. Cournoyea.

Mr. Speaker, I believe even though the Rankin Inlet project evaluation has not been done, we are talking to the health interest group in Taloyoak on how that could happen. So, even though that assessment hasn't been done, we are in the process of trying to understand what the community wants to do so we would be ahead of the game. These things take some time and discussion. In the Kitikmeot region, there are some health facilities which are presently being either renovated or redone. I feel it is appropriate to have the discussions along with health planning for that region. It is not as though we are not discussing it just because an assessment hasn't been concluded. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you. Item 6, oral questions. Supplementary, Mr. Ningark.