Mr. Speaker, the Premier did attempt to get the procedures in place prior to notification of lay-off, working in conjunction with a person who works with my office known as a regional director. Also, given notice that we should be trying to coordinate, if necessary, the function so that they would be full-time functions. As a result, this did not happen and the procedures fell in place. Thank you.

Thank you. Final supplementary, Mr. Patterson.

Mr. Speaker, I'd like to ask the Premier why should the employees suffer if the Department of the Executive couldn't get its act together to develop an alternative plan by a certain deadline? Thank you.

Madam Premier.

Mr. Speaker, it was not our intent for employees to suffer. Thank you.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I have a question for the Premier. In her reply for transfer of responsibility of staff housing to the NWT Housing Corporation, the Premier indicated as of April 1st all staff housing will be transferred over to the Housing Corporation. I'd like to ask the Premier, the Housing Corporation, as we have been advised in this House, is a corporation even though they don't have a body of directors. In some replies, it's referred to as an "agency." Taking on the responsibilities of providing staff housing as of April 1st, I'm wondering whether or not the corporation is going to remain with its stature as a corporation, as it appears to be looking like a department, taking on these type of departmental responsibilities. Can the Premier identify for this House, what the corporation will be after April 1st? Thank you.

Madam Premier.

Mr. Speaker, on April 1st, the Housing Corporation will be the Housing Corporation in its present form. However, it's recognized that we'll have to look at it as a different entity very soon because it is taking over some staff housing as well as some of the other housing. On April 1st, it won't change but hopefully after that we can get our implementation plans together to see what type of a structure would best serve the needs of an umbrella department to look after the two types of housing. Thank you.

Thank you. Supplementary, Mrs. Marie-Jewell.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I'd like to ask the Premier what type of implementation plans are now being developed. Thank you.

Madam Premier.

Mr. Speaker, these are just plans to facilitate the transfer of the staff housing to the Housing Corporation.

Supplementary, Mrs. Marie-Jewell.

Thank you. I'd like to ask the Premier, is it possible that one of the options or plans, with regard to the process of transferring the units, may be identified as a departmental plan? Thank you.

Madam Premier.

Mr. Speaker, it's a possibility but if I sit down and leave it at that I'm sure the Member will bring up the second issue of how does that fit in to the relationship with the federal government and financing of public housing. We would have to carefully pursue that so that we would not jeopardize that funding. Thank you.

Thank you. Item 6, oral questions. Mr. Patterson.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My question is to the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment. Mr. Speaker, I've noticed two major studies impacting at least my constituency recently: the evaluation of the Arctic College environmental programs and the residence study and I believe another major study undertaken by the department has been done by Avery Cooper Consulting. I'd like to ask the Minister, is this the only consultant the department uses? Thank you.

The Minister of Education, Culture and Employment, Mr. Nerysoo.

Mr. Speaker, no. The basis on which the reports are done are based on proposal calls and, generally speaking, we favour northern companies and do business with all northern companies. As such, there is no particular preference but they are coming in with the appropriate proposals within the dollars that have been assigned to those particular contracts.

Thank you. Supplementary, Mr. Patterson.

Mr. Speaker, I'd like to ask the Minister, has this consultant been getting most of the work from the Department of Education lately? Thank you.

Mr. Nerysoo.