Jeannie Marie-Jewell Thebacha

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Can I ask the Minister why he doesn't plan to table the report after spending $392,000? Thank you.

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Mr. Arngna'naaq.

Silas Arngna'naaq Kivallivik

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I believe that the report was intended to be a management tool whereby the department will be able to use the material in the

report to make decisions regarding forest fire management in the Northwest Territories. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Thank you. Supplementary, Mrs. Marie-Jewell.

Jeannie Marie-Jewell Thebacha

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I've had constituents who have asked for this report to be tabled and I have a copy of it but I find it only appropriate if the government tables this report. The Minister indicated that it is to be used as a management tool by his department officials. Does the Minister not feel his department officials have the expertise to provide the proper advice for fire management suppression? Thank you.

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Mr. Arngna'naaq.

Silas Arngna'naaq Kivallivik

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I think that the staff we have in the forest fire management section of the department are very well qualified and have been working in this area for quite some time. However, with the hiring of the consultants, I believe it was the intent of the department to have an independent group who would be able to consult with all residents and all those who would be involved in forest fires in the Northwest Territories; to get their views and then be able to take the recommendations and be able to come up with a forest fire management strategy. But I think that the department has gone further by taking a look at the report and consulting directly with communities at the same time, to try to come up with a strategy that will not cost the government the fiscal or financial resources that we used last year. I think that the report will be made very good use of by the forest fire centre in Fort Smith. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Supplementary, Mrs. Marie-Jewell.

Jeannie Marie-Jewell Thebacha

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to ask the Minister, through you, whether or not he is going to plan to table this fire management suppression report in the near future.

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

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

Titus Allooloo Amittuq

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to ask the Minister of Finance about his department, which was Personnel. When a government employee's dependant is sick and requires a doctor's attention, if there are no babysitters or any other people to look after them, that employee is able to take special leave, with pay, to go and see the doctor. But I am told that if the dependant has to go outside the community, the same employee requiring a doctor's attention has to take annual leave. Is that true? Is that the government policy? Thank you.

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

The Minister of Finance, Mr. Pollard.

John Pollard Hay River

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I will take the question as notice. Thank you.