Supplementary, Mr. Picco.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I am very pleased to hear that, also. Mr. Speaker, my supplementary question for the Minister: When does he think this proposal or tender call would actually be coming out? When will it be in place? Is it six weeks, eight weeks, 10 weeks, 12 weeks? The reason, of course, for my question would be to give these smaller agents the opportunity to compete. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Ng.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I can't, at this time, give a date because of the fact that the terms of reference for the proposal calls are being developed by the department as it stands now. However, I will find out and advise the honourable Member on the expected time frames. Thank you.

Item 6, oral questions. Mr. Erasmus.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My question is for the Minister of Finance. It has come to my attention that people in remote communities should not be paying the GST. The problem is that the community has to apply for some sort of status in order to achieve this. In times of financial difficulties and restraint that we're in, I believe that it is our responsibility -- if this is true -- to help these communities achieve this status. Will the Minister of Finance commit to assisting these communities in attaining GST-exempt status if it is possible to attain?

Minister of Finance, Mr. Todd.

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. Nobody likes paying taxes. If in fact there is a provision within the legislation where remote communities can apply for exemption, I would be only too happy to have my department assist those communities. We will definitely look into this matter for the honourable Member. Thank you.

Thank you. Item 6, oral questions. Supplementary, Mr. Erasmus.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Would the Minister inform this House if such a plan is able to be put in place? Thank you.

Mr. Todd.

Yes, Mr. Speaker. Thank you.

Item 6, oral questions. Item 7, written questions. Mr. Enuaraq.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I written question addressed to the Minister of Municipal and Community Affairs. Is it okay if I proceed?

Yes.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The Baffin regional director presently chairs the regional wellness committee which is composed of the department of the Government of the Northwest Territories and Nunavut Tunngavik Incorporated, and also the Baffin Regional Inuit Association and the Baffin Regional Health Board.

If the regional director is being removed, who will provide this coordinating function?

If one department of our government is going to be taking over this coordinating role, how will the total government perspective be maintained by one individual department?

Mr. Speaker, since the chair of the regional wellness committee has been assuming a coordinating role encouraging and even demanding other departments and the boards of this government to cooperate with one another, how will that monitoring, coordinating and leadership role be carried out by one department of many from within the region?

Compared to the advantages of coordination by a regional director who is independent of all departments and also is a senior government official in the region, wouldn't it be easier for coordinating and a monitoring role to be carried out at the regional level amongst departments by the most senior employee in the region, rather than by an employee with equal status to all other departmental superintendents in the regions? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you. Item 7, written questions. Mr. Evaloarjuk.

(Translation) Thank you, Mr. Speaker. This a written question to the Minister of Municipal and Community Affairs regarding the elimination of the regional director's position.

The regional director in the Baffin has provided very good support to the Baffin Regional Council and now the Baffin Leaders' Summit. How is it intended that the Baffin Leaders' Summit will be provided with this support in future if the regional director's position is to be eliminated?

If the regional director's position is to be removed and one department in the region will take over his responsibilities with regard to the Baffin Leaders' Summit, how will the total government's perspective be maintained for the Baffin Leaders' Summit?

At present, funding for the Baffin Leaders' Summit is provided by the Department of Executive, through the regional director's office. If the regional director's position is to be eliminated, how will the funding to the Baffin Leaders' Summit be provided? Mr. Speaker, will the Baffin Leaders' Summit continue to be provided with funding for its meetings in the coming year? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you. Item 7, written questions. Mr. Barnabas.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My written question is also directed to the Minister of MACA regarding regional director and community transfer.

The Baffin regional director has been chairing the senior management committee which meets monthly and includes all superintendents and director-level managers in the region. Does the government believe that the Baffin senior management committee has been active in dealing with issues of current concern in the region in a cooperative manner?

Does the Minister believe that the senior management committee has been effective? Who will chair the Baffin senior management committee if the regional director's position is eliminated? If the chair is to be replaced by a departmental superintendent, how will that person represent the government-wide perspectives? How will the regional superintendent chairing the Baffin senior management committee, as an equal, have the authority to monitor and coordinate lead initiatives within the region?

The Baffin regional director has been chairing the Baffin regional transfer committee, the regional director has been actively involved in community transfer in the Baffin which seems to be welcomed by virtually every Baffin community.

If the Baffin regional director is removed, who will replace the regional director in coordinating the role? If the coordinating/monitoring role is to be assumed by one of the regional superintendents, how will that superintendent have clout with other superintendents when each superintendent has the same status in the government hierarchy?

Since the Baffin community transfer initiative represents a new approach to CTI being tried out on a trial basis, why change the rules before the new approach has been concluded?

Isn't the change of the coordinating role from the regional director being seen to communities and the general public as a change from the Executive and Cabinet program and priority to that of a major departmental program? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you. Item 7, written questions. Item 8, returns to written questions. Item 9, replies to opening address. Item 10, petitions. Mr. Arlooktoo.

Thank you. Item 10, petitions. Mr. Henry.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I would like to present a petition dealing with the matter of public service lay-offs and wage reductions. Mr. Speaker, Petition No. 5-13(3) contains 62 signatures and the petitioners request that MLAs oppose the government's initiative to cut positions and roll back wages of UNW members. Thank you.