Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Good afternoon. Mr. Speaker, I have a return to an oral question asked by Mr. Allooloo on March 28, 1995. It concerned the government's policy on out-of-community medical leave.

Mr. Speaker, an employee that escorts a member of the immediate family to a medical centre outside of a community may be granted special leave for non-elective medical evacuation. Special leave is also available for an employee that needs to escort a dependant to another health care facility under the following circumstances:

1. If a dependant is referred for specialized medical examination, treatment or surgery and is sufficiently ill to require medical attention which is not immediately available in their home community, special leave may be granted for an employee to escort the dependant if clear medical documentation is provided from a medical practitioner;

2. In non-emergency situations if clear medical authorization is given, an employee is permitted special leave to serve as a non-medical escort as care giver to a sick dependent.

In all of the above circumstances, Mr. Speaker, the department head may grant employees special leave with pay for a period of up to five consecutive working days and, where warranted by unique circumstances, over five consecutive working days. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.