Minister of Finance, Mr. Pollard.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, it's no secret that my preference would be that benefits accrue to the government from points earned by government employees, MLAs and people working for the government and spending government money for those tickets. The points should be used for either negotiating a discount with airlines and saying we won't accept points, or using those points for travel for the GNWT as it moves people around. I haven't met with a great deal of success, Mr. Speaker, in convincing even Members of this House that that is the way it should be. But it has been considered and looked at. I know for a fact that the offices of the Auditor General of Canada use the points for department travel, and I'm certainly interested in having those points accrue to the people of the Northwest Territories through the government. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would just like to ask the Minister whether he would consider borrowing from the federal government a policy they have in place for their point system and consider developing one similar for the Northwest Territories. Thank you.

Mr. Pollard.

Mr. Speaker, I'm aware of the federal government policy and, yes, I am interested in making that a similar policy apply to this particular jurisdiction. Thank you.

Supplementary, Mrs. Marie-Jewell.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Could I ask the Minister when he will consider something like this? Thank you.

Mr. Pollard.

Mr. Speaker, I'd consider it tomorrow. I should say, though, that it really needs to be handled in the context of Mr. Patterson's question which is about general travel in the Northwest Territories and how the government books that travel. We know there are some efficiencies there and when we do eventually come to grips with that problem, that's when the points would have to be decided as well. As I said to Mr. Patterson, I'm still interested -- before the life of this government is over -- in doing something and I'll continue to push the issue. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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