Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I hope those discussions also include the possibility of widening the road. However, in the meantime is the Minister prepared to look at increased patrols on that road? Perhaps reduced speed

limits? Perhaps the idea of only having those vehicles going through there at certain hours? Thank you.

Mr. Antoine.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, in regards to widening the road like he said earlier, there are no plans to widen the Ingraham Trail. However, as I indicated to another honourable Member earlier in this question period, there is a bigger strategy that we are slowly developing that will include the Ingraham Trail. And, there are no specific plans at this point in time exactly what the nature of that strategy at this time, but perhaps the widening of the road could be dealt with as part of the strategy. There is nothing definite yet.

In regards to meeting with the constituents along the Ingraham Trail to look at widening the road and they could participate, yes, the department could sit down with residents in that area to talk about such direction.

In regards to increased patrol, as the Members know, the Department of Transportation, like all the departments, have undertaken drastic cut-backs in their budget. Our highway patrol is very small but very effective whenever they are on the road. We will look at the possibilities of increasing patrols this year, not only on the Ingraham Trail, but perhaps between here and Rae, as well as other parts of the highway system where there are dangerous situations, for safety purposes. In regards to reducing the speed limit, that is one thing that we could do as well on the Ingraham Trail. We will take a look at that as well. Thank you.

Thank you. Oral questions. Final supplementary. Mr. Erasmus.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. One of the Members here has indicated that he might be willing to do a small contract and sit on the road and make sure they do not speed. I would like to know how soon the constituents might be able to look forward to having a meeting with the Minister or his staff? Hopefully, there will be some senior staff there as well.

Mr. Antoine.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, as you know, different members of the department listen to these debates. I am sure that, as we speak, there are some ideas being thrown around. I will get back to the honourable Member as to who is going to be there and when such a meeting could be arranged. Thank you.

Thank you. Oral questions. Mr. Enuaraq.

(Translation) Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to direct this question to the Minister of the Northwest Territories Housing Corporation, Mr. Arlooktoo. Today, in Clyde River, the government housing vacancy rates are three houses. I would like to ask the Minister of Housing Corporation, since there are no houses available for rent in Clyde River, could we use these three houses as rental housing units? Thank you, Mr. Speaker. (Translation ends)

The Minister responsible for NWT Housing Corporation, Mr. Arlooktoo.

(Translation) Mr. Speaker, the issue from Clyde River, as was related to me, the person responsible for staff housing in Clyde River is the Minister of Finance, so I will direct this question to the Minister of Finance.(Translation ends)

Thank you. The Minister of Finance, Mr. Todd.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I understand the concern raised by my honourable colleague, and I want to ensure him that if he will bear with us and wait till the budget on Monday, we will be able to show him that we have moved to try to alleviate the concerns he has addressed. There will be an announcement in the budget Monday with respect to that. Thank you.

Thank you. Oral questions. Mr. Krutko.

The Minister of Finance, Mr. Todd.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It is my understanding that the N.W.T.T.A. membership rejected the package that we put together. We tried to negotiate with them. That is their right. We have enacted what we believe are appropriate measures to meet our budgetary obligations. The N.W.T.T.A. has taken exception to this, which again is understandable. They have taken a course of action which I understand is to see if the federal government would, one: be prepared to over turn our legislation, two: take a look at the North American Free Trade Agreement as to whether there are some areas there that they may be able to enact, and, I also believe that they are still looking at the potential legal challenge with respect to our position versus theirs. Thank you.

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

The Member for Mackenzie Delta, could you repeat your question? I did not hear your question.

Mr. Todd.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. This gives me the opportunity to first of all say that I did appreciate and do appreciate the civilized and professional manner in which the N.W.T.T.A. conducted their negotiations. I want to say that I appreciate that.

However, as in any negotiations, we have come to a stalemate, as I indicated in the earlier response. Each party has its own course of action that it has to take, and each party has a responsibility to take that action. The action I have taken on behalf of the government is to enact an agreement which is consistent with the other agreements that we have reached with the N.W.T.T.A. The N.W.T.T.A., because they have been rejected, has understandably rejected our position and is taking an appropriate course of action. We will have to see how that unfolds over the coming weeks. At present, we have put into effect the conditions that we were negotiating with N.W.T.T.A. Thank you.

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