Pardon me, Mr. Speaker, I didn't realize that the honourable Minister was absent from the House.

---Laughter

I still am hearing from here the Member making reference to a Member being absent in the House. I just finished telling the Member that it is against the rules to make reference to any Member who is absent from this House. Mr. O'Brien, oral questions.

My apologies, Mr. Speaker, and also to the honourable Minister. Mr. Speaker, my question is directed to the Minister of Public Works; it involves the construction of the tank farm in Rankin Inlet. I'm asking the Minister if he can provide to this House information regarding the environmental impact study, the terms of reference for this study and also a breakdown of how these savings are going to be achieved once this tank farm is constructed. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you. Minister of Public Works and Services, Mr. Arlooktoo.

Mr. Speaker, previously through Caucus I had told Members that we would be providing background information today. That will be provided. This will help Members to become familiar with all aspects of the project in preparation for the detailed briefing on February 22nd.

Thank you. Item 6, oral questions. Mr. O'Brien, supplementary.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Is it possible that this information as background can be discussed here in this House? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Again, Mr. O'Brien, it's a hypothetical question. The Minister and none of the Members have the material necessary to respond in the House, so I must rule the question out of order.

---Ruled Out of Order

Item 6, oral questions. Mr. Picco.

Minister of Education, Culture and Employment, Mr. Dent.

Thank you. Item 5, oral questions. Supplementary, Mr. Picco.

That wasn't my question. My question was if the Minister was prepared to table that information in the House. The reason for my question, of course, is that public money spent by this government should be available to the public. I appreciate the information coming to me, personally, but I would like to have that information tabled in this House for the public to see these costs. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Dent.

Hear! Hear!

Thank you. Supplementary, Mr. Picco.

Mr. Speaker, having been an employee of Arctic College from 1987 to 1992, I am fully aware of the philosophy behind the college. Mr. Speaker, again I have to reiterate that I am not against the decentralization of college programs if it makes administrative, logistical and financial sense to do so. Mr. Speaker, this House keeps talking about financial cutbacks, reductions and lay-offs, yet we continue on to spend $1.30 to liberate $1. Mr. Speaker, this is not the issue. The issue is the cost of the decentralization of programs. Mr. Speaker, the cost has not been proven to me. Has the Minister looked at the transfer of programs that are currently being offered in the West and having those programs devolved to Nunavut instead of transferring programs within Nunavut to other campuses?

Thank you. I would like to remind Members when you are directing questions to Ministers that you limit it to one question and not a multiple of questions. Mr. Dent.

Final supplementary, Mr. Picco.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I am very pleased to hear the Minister say that. My final supplementary question is, is the Minister aware that transferring the management training and social services programs will leave the new capital of Nunavut without programs essential for the capital. Because the impact of social change due to forced growth of being the capital, Mr. Speaker, we all realize that Iqaluit has the biggest social changes as the new capital. With these transfers, we will not have the programs to train our people to deal with them. Has the Minister asked the board to look at this?

Mr. Dent.