Mr. Todd.

Mr. Speaker, well, flattery will get my colleague everywhere. Anyway, no, I cannot at this time determine to what degree the negotiations will take place. Again, I want to ensure my colleague, and others around the table here, that there is clearly a commitment of the federal Finance Minister's office that we will move forward on a timely basis to work towards two new formal agreements. There is a recognition in the Finance Minister's office that incremental costs are going to be associated with these negotiations. However, the degree of incremental costs, and the additional bills it will require over and above the base, is still undetermined, because we still have not determined what form of government it is going to be, both east and west. I am optimistic and hopeful that in the coming weeks, not months, weeks, we will be able to get a much clearer picture to the degree of dollars that are required and the enthusiasm with which the current government, or any future government, will move in providing funding for us on the incremental side.

Oral questions. Mr. Enuaraq. Okay, Mr. Picco.

The Minister of the NWT Power Corporation, Mr. Dent.

Thank you. Oral questions. Supplementary, Mr. Picco.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I understand that in some conversations with some people around this matter, that indeed the colder weather in the Northwest Territories seems to inhibit the growth of this bacteria or fungus. In this case, the fungus is actually present, and as the Minister said, does impede the generator. Can the Minister tell us what is the status now of checking on a regular basis to make sure that this is not occurring, as he did say, in his response to me, that the problem seems to have been fixed. Is there going to be ongoing checks of this, and maybe in other tanks, in the Northwest Territories, to make sure this is not occurring? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Dent.

Oral questions. Supplementary, Mr. Picco.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I gather from that then the problem is not actually in the distribution of fuel through the fuel corridor through the fuel pipes. It is actually in the tank itself, is that correct?

Mr. Dent.

Oral questions. Final supplementary, Mr. Picco.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, of course the concern here would be that if it is in the fuel lines itself that are distributing fuel, it may infect the storage of the fuel for domestic burners and so on. Is the Minister assuring me now then that indeed in Iqaluit, private home-owners and the government housing association, do not have to worry? That their furnaces, if they are using that fuel, will not be infected by this fungus, this bacterial agent? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Dent.

Oral questions. Mr. Roland.

The Minister of Health and Social Services, Mr. Ng.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, there were several factors that were taken into account. First and foremost, throughout the alcohol and drug residential

treatment programs that we finance, we had a high number of beds per capita. Compounding that, Mr. Speaker, was the fact that within the bed spaces that we did have available, there was also a high vacancy rate amongst those beds. Those are a couple of the first factors, as far as the need to remove some of the beds from the system. Second to that, in respect to how the Delta House facility was reached as the facility to be targeted for withdrawal of funds, it was because of the fact that it was the smallest of the facilities that we financed, it was the oldest facility that was out there within our system, and finally, Mr. Speaker, the fact that the location of the facility itself, lent to some program delivery problems from basing the treatment out of that facility, Mr. Speaker. Thank you.

Oral questions. Supplementary, Mr. Roland.