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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, it has been brought to my attention that, with the downsizing of

the Housing Corporation, my home community of Arviat will be losing two PYs. Mr. Speaker, for the record, may I remind this Assembly, once again, that this community faces a 70 to 75 per cent unemployment rate. Mr. Speaker, to further compound the situation, it is my further understanding that one of these positions will be transferred to the Rankin Inlet suboffice. Will the Minister review this pending transfer so as to retain this position in this level 11 community where jobs are so desperately needed? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The Minister of the Housing Corporation, Mr. Arlooktoo.

Item 6, oral questions. Mr. Barnabas.

(Translation) Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I have a question directed to the Minister of Finance. (Translation ends) I was told by the Minister of Finance that his officials have already done an analysis on the effect of take-home pay of the new wage and benefits. I asked the Minister to give us the information on Monday. To date, we are still waiting. When will the Minister give us the information on this analysis? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Minister of Finance, Mr. Todd.

(Microphone turned off) ... my honourable colleague asked me the question on Monday. It is Wednesday; 48 hours later. We are making every effort to provide them with the information. I want to ensure that it is accurate and reflective of what the concerns are. I want to assure him that this Minister is transparent and will table these documents in the House and will defend the position this government has taken. There is no attempt here, as has been implied, to not provide this information. We want to ensure the information is accurate. Thank you.

Supplementary, Mr. Barnabas.

(Translation) Thank you, Mr. Speaker. This again is directed to the Minister of Finance. When the analysis has been completed, could he present this to the House, please?

Mr. Todd.

Let me assure my colleague that I am equally concerned as he is on the overall fiscal impact that these changes are going to have on our constituency, particularly the people in remote areas where it appears the greatest impact will be because of the removal of the VTA. It is our intention to provide that information as quickly and as accurately as possible. Thank you.

Item 6, oral questions. Mr. Ningark.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. For the record, I have lived in Nunavut for about 50 years.

--- Applause

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My question is directed to the honourable Minister of Health and Social Services, my colleague from the Kitikmeot region. Gjoa Haven has been requesting, Mr. Speaker, for many years, an elders' centre and a health facility for that community. What is the status of the request for the health centre and the elders' centre in Gjoa Haven? Thank you.

Minister of Health and Social Services, Mr. Ng.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. With respect to the health centre, the department recently received an evaluation from Public Works and Services on the condition of the existing health centre to see whether or not it would be feasible to renovate versus a new facility. We have that report and we are reviewing it at the present time.

With respect to the elders' facility that was proposed for Gjoa Haven, it has tentatively been put on hold. There is a capital program through the Housing Corporation to deal with the seniors' independent housing strategy and the Department of Health and Social Services will be working with the Housing Corporation to try to identify the needs of the community of Gjoa Haven Linder the terms of that strategy and see what we can come up with. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you. Item 6, oral questions. Mr. Ootes.

Minister of Safety and Public Services, Mr. Antoine.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The actuarial costs that the honourable Member is asking about is the responsibility of the Workers' Compensation Board. I think they have done that analysis, so I would refer that question to the honourable Member responsible for the Workers' Compensation Board. Thank you.

Thank you. Mr. Ootes, could you readdress your question to the Minister of the WCB?

Minister responsible for the Workers' Compensation Board, Mr. Todd.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The actuarial work is currently under way between the Department of Safety and Public Services and the WCB. The WCB, of course, has a long history of dealing with actuaries, so they are enacting that right now to try to determine a variety of options as to how they will end up paying the long-term obligations for this responsibility when it is transferred. The current agreement, as I am sure my colleague knows, is that we have phased this transfer in over three years and the fiscal cost of it being phased in over three years is being paid for by this government. Thank you.