Mr. Speaker, I am not Albert Einstein. Sometimes I do have trouble adding, but I can see from the number -- that $400,000 -- and the numbers given by the Minister for an increase seems to be out of whack; the stated increase of revenue of $400,000. Can the Minister inform me what the formula used was to base this increase of the board and lodging?

Mr. Ng.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, again, in answering the question, these rates were based on taking the lowest averages of other jurisdictions within Canada to come up with a reasonable rate that is still below the Canadian average. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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

Thank you. Minister responsible for FMBS, Mr. Todd.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. All casual employment, whether it is summer students or otherwise, falls under the terms of reference of the bargaining unit representing the employment with respect to the Public Service Act.

Thank you. Supplementary, Mr. Ootes.

Mr. Todd.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As I tried to say yesterday, and perhaps wasn't as explicit as I should have been, we proposed a specific system. In the last round of bargaining with the union with respect to student employment, we believed that we could get a reasonable rate and be able to expand the employment opportunities. This was rejected by the union. Unfortunately, it wasn't incorporated into the current contract that is out for ratification. It is my understanding that anyone who is a public servant and not excluded, the rates of pay must be negotiated within the union. So it would be difficult, even though we would like to move forward on a separate rate of pay for students -- I believe my colleague is of a similar mind as I am -- to ensure that more students get recruited. It would be difficult, given the way our bargaining organization is set up. Thank you.

Thank you. Supplementary, Mr. Ootes.

Item 6, oral questions.

Thank you. Mr. Todd.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My colleague, Mr. Dent, who has the lead on this issue, has advised me that there is a meeting set up tomorrow with the appropriate parties to determine what, if any, assistance the federal government, under this program, is prepared to provide this government. I suggest that later on this week may be an appropriate time to raise that question with the Minister after he has met with his counterparts tomorrow. Thank you.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My question is for the Minister of MACA. It is in relation to the recently announced operational evaluation on the city of Yellowknife. Section 189 of the Cities, Towns and Villages Act requires that an operational evaluation be undertaken on an annual basis. It is my understanding that the department has not undertaken such an evaluation since October 1991. Would the Minister please clarify what the driving force is for the review being done at this time?

Minister of Municipal and Community Affairs, Mrs. Thompson.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The city and the department agreed that there is now an opportunity to undertake a focused evaluation. The department has not done a comprehensive evaluation with the city of Yellowknife since 1991. In 1993 and 1994, the department did review and follow up on the compliance recommendation of the comprehensive evaluation as required annually under the Cities, Towns and Villages Act. These annual inspections do confirm that the city has implemented recommendations in a comprehensive evaluation. The department's practice has been to undertake a comprehensive evaluation of municipalities every three years and a routine inspection in the intervening years.

Supplementary, Mr. Erasmus.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As the Minister is no doubt aware, there is ongoing litigation between the city of Yellowknife and the Yellowknife Ratepayers' Association concerning the legality of the alderman's briefings. Will the alderman's briefings be part of the review that is being done?

Mrs. Thompson.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. No.

Supplementary, Mr. Erasmus.