The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Item 6, oral questions. Supplementary, Mr. Patterson.

Dennis Patterson Iqaluit

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I am very impressed with the Minister's generosity. But I don't think they'll get a trip out of that one because I think the Prime Minister is coming to Iqaluit. I understand that there's going to be an important fund-raiser in Ottawa later this year which will feature the leader of the Conservative Party of Canada, the Honourable Jean Charest. I would like to ask the Minister if he would be prepared to fund two prominent members of the Conservative Party -- there are two of them in Iqaluit that I know of -- to take a trip to this fund-raising dinner in Ottawa.

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Mr. Todd.

John Todd Keewatin Central

(Microphone turned off)

---Laughter

Sorry, Mr. Speaker. It should be an interesting evening. You could probably hold it in a telephone kiosk.

---Laughter

No, I don't think it would be appropriate to invest any of our limited fiscal resources to meet with the Conservatives because they are not currently in power and probably will have no opportunity of being in power in the coming years. Thank you.

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Item 6, oral questions. Supplementary, Mr. Patterson.

Dennis Patterson Iqaluit

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Speaking of limited fiscal resources, I would like to ask the Minister, just out of curiosity, what task and activity within the department would be employed to fund such important lobbying activities at political party functions? Thank you.

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Mr. Todd.

John Todd Keewatin Central

I know it's Friday and we're supposed to be humorous, but I think it's important to address the issue because obviously Mr. Patterson, who frequently talks about the NDP, occasionally talks about the Conservatives and now is talking about the Liberals, wants a response.

The fact of the matter is that in 1992 there was a roads steering committee. It was set up in Fort Smith. This committee has been actively pursuing the need for additional money from the federal government to expand their road into Alberta which would bring about significant economic benefits to the people of the north. We funded two members of that committee to meet with the Prime Minister to see if he would move up on the priority list the requirement for a joint cooperative approach to the expansion of this highway. Thank you.

---Applause

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Item 6, oral questions. Mr. Pudlat.

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Madam Premier.

Nellie Cournoyea Nunakput

Mr. Speaker, in recognizing the realities of restraint, the increased role departments are playing in regional communities and the increased abilities of the communities to tend to their own affairs, a total of 11 government liaison officer positions were flagged for reduction, from full-time to part-time, in the Executive offices main estimates on April 1, 1995. Two of these GLO positions were in the Keewatin region, while the remaining nine were in the Baffin region.

Amended job offers were issued to all 11 incumbent GLOs with a request to respond within a five-day period as to whether they wished to accept the amended offer of part-time employment or if the Government of the Northwest Territories should proceed with a lay-off action.

The two Keewatin incumbents responded to the job offer within the requested five-day period. The GLO in Arviat accepted the offer of part-time employment, while the GLO in Baker Lake chose to receive notification of layoff. None of the nine GLOs, having received part-time job offers in the Baffin region, responded with an acceptance of the offer.

Commitments have subsequently been received from the departments of Health and Social Services and Education, Culture and Employment to fund four part-time positions in some of the affected Baffin and Keewatin communities. Where applicable, amended job offers were made.

It's rather lengthy, but I can provide to the Members and circulate by community who has part-time offers and where they are shared with other departments and where the offers are, Mr. Speaker. Thank you.

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Item 6, oral questions. Supplementary, Mr. Pudlat.

Kenoayoak Pudlat Baffin South

(Translation) Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to thank the Premier for her response. My supplementary is brief. In the Baffin, you were saying that there are some who haven't responded, so I wonder if you can give me an update

as to what has happened to date if they haven't responded to their offers? Thank you.