The Minister responsible for Education, Culture and Employment, Mr. Dent.

Thank you. The question is taken as notice. Oral questions Mr. Erasmus.

Thank you Mr. Speaker. My question is for the Minister responsible for Resources, Wildlife, and Economic Development, and it is in relation to a statement on the Business Development Fund Annual Report. It indicated that there was 246 contributions during the '95-'96 fiscal year. Does he have any indication how many jobs were created by the 246 contributions?

The Minister responsible for Resources, Wildlife, and Economic Report, Mr. Kakfwi.

Thank you. Just to reminder the Ordinary Members that you do have written question in the order papers if Members require detailed information, those are the times when you have the opportunity to get those details. Because I do not think the Minister will have the information that you need and it requires time to get it so I would like to ask the Ministers that, or the Members, if you have detailed information that you wish to get that you do it in the form of a written question so that the Ministers can have the time to get that information.

Oral questions. Oral questions, Mr. Roland.

The Minister responsible for Public Works and Services, Mr. Arlooktoo.

Mr. Speaker, I would not be able to say whether or not we have an agreement, I could find that out. What I can say is that the government of the Northwest Territories is probably the largest single customer for that company.

Oral question supplementary, Mr. Roland.

Mr. Arlooktoo.

Mr. Speaker, this is not the first time I have been asked by MLAs for such information and we are in fact putting an information package together for the MLA from Hay River so once that information comes forward, we will pass the same on to the Member.

Thank you. Oral questions, oral questions, Mr. Henry.

Thank you Mr. Speaker. My question is to the Premier. We have, over the past couple of weeks noticed and discussed the changes which took place in the capital budget. We have noticed that amounts originally in the capital budget have in many cases been revised and again, in many cases, increased. Some up to as much as 40%.

I realize that some of these projects come in higher than what is anticipated, coming from the private sector, this practice is not the case. If a project comes in over budget, you look at the size of the project, look at down sizing it, you look at the scope of the work. Can it be increased or decreased to bring it in closer to the budget?

What my question to the Premier is, is there any guidelines for the bureaucracy to take these projects that come in drastically over what was estimated, to work them down to something that is previously budgeted to if it means decreasing the size of the project? Thank you Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Premier.

Thank you Mr. Speaker. It is pretty tough to respond to a question of, I guess, general application on all capital projects. As Mr. Henry would know that every project is a unique project in its own, and we do have projects in place to bring projects in on budget. The majority of capital projects are brought in on budget, or below budget. But there is a process in place that in some cases, things change from the time that the dollars are passed in this Assembly to the time of actual building of the capital project, and it may mean that there is an extra classroom added on because the numbers justify to do it, or whatever project it is. So those things happen, but everything is defendable. We are accountable to Members of this Assembly and we are accountable to public accounts. I

believe it is. So the Ministers that are in charge of those projects will be accountable to Members of this Assembly, so everything should be justifiable. If there is a specific project he is concerned with I would be pleased to look into that project more. Thank you.

Thank you. Oral questions. Oral questions, Mr. Krutko.

The Minister of Finance, Mr. Todd.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I want to assure my Honourable colleague that we in fact have spoken to all Departments, and not just this last time, this last twelve months, but under the previous Government. There is an understanding that, where possible, that all Departments make every effort to get the most cost-effective air transportation for any travel they make South, or for that matter, North. I believe on a number of occasions where there have been large groups going to meetings say, in Rankin Inlet, which is my home town, that there has in fact been bulk purchasing, if you want, of tickets that have saved us money.

So I think there is clearly an understanding in the system right now that we are in a time of not just fiscal restraint, we are responsible for spending our money, and spending it wisely, and we should be treated no differently than anybody else. I think, in short answer to my colleague, yes, we make every effort to provide cost-effective transportation routes and yes, we do try to, in most cases, utilize accommodation facilities where Government rates are available, and I think, I hope anyway, and if anybody knows otherwise let me know, I think the days of the Four Seasons are, frankly, over. Thank you.

Thank you. Oral question. Supplementary. Mr. Krutko.