(Translation) Thank you, Mr. Speaker. In regards to a deputy minister, or ADM, who will be responsible for community empowerment programs, maybe I will say this in English. (Translation ends) An offer has been made to Mr. Graham Murchie from Vancouver. I felt having two masters degrees, well qualified, also having 20 years of management and planning experience with municipal, state, provincial and federal levels, and also extensive experience in teaching and leading workshops, would be beneficial to all the communities in the Territories. We did interview people from the Territories, but the offer was made to this candidate who was considered both qualified and suitable for the position. We hired the best person for the job. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Oral questions. Supplementary, Mr. Erasmus.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I wonder if we could get a short explanation of what this person's job is going to be?

Ms. Thompson.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. We will table the job description as soon as I get it. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Oral questions, supplementary, Mr. Erasmus.

Mr. Speaker, it is disheartening to hear that, or to infer from the Minister's statement, she does not know what this person is going to be doing. However, will the new Mr. Murchie, be travelling to the communities to talk to the people in the communities?

Ms. Thompson.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I did not say that I did not know what this person is going to do. The ADM position will have a major leadership role in insuring overall success in the government's community empowerment initiative. If the Member would like a description, then I will be tabling that. This person will certainly be travelling to the communities and meeting all of the regions. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Oral questions. Final supplementary, Mr. Erasmus.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The Minister had indicated that they hired the best person for the job, but I had also indicated that we laid off over 200 people in Yellowknife alone, and many from the communities. This government, as I understand it, still has a policy of affirmative action, and they are developing a northern employment policy. I would just like to know if MACA is still following the affirmative action Policy. Thank you.

Ms. Thompson.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. An open competition was held to staff this particular position, with ads appearing in newspapers in western Canada, and throughout the Northwest Territories. The competition closed on November 22, 1996 with 23 northern applicants, and 37 applicants for a total of 53 applicants. The screening criteria was consistent with the qualifications set out in the advertisement, and after interviewing northern applicants and southern applicants, we made an offer to this person because we felt he had the best qualifications for the job. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you. Oral questions. Mr. Steen.

Mr. Premier.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I have talked to the Member previously about this issue last year, and I have made a commitment to the Member that very soon in the new year, that would be January, February that secretary to Cabinet and other officials would go into Holman and meet with the people of Holman. I will get the exact dates for the Member, but let me assure him that it will be by the end of February. We just have to work the dates out with him, but I made that commitment to him and I will follow up with it. Thank you.

Thank you. Oral questions. Mr. Henry.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My question is to the Minister responsible for the NWT Housing Corporation, Mr. Arlooktoo. I was wondering if the Minister could give me a brief explanation of his experience in the ordering of homes, and the shipping and supplying of homes for the construction season of a regular year's work in the north. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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

Mr. Speaker, I am not sure if I understand the question, but if the Member is asking for the process and the time it takes to apply for our home ownership program, to go through the design process, the buying and ordering of materials, et cetera; I do not have that information in front of me, but I can get it quite quickly, and pass it on to the Member.

Oral question. Supplementary, Mr. Henry.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I think that Mr. Arlooktoo understood my question extremely well by his feedback. The point I am trying to get at, Mr. Speaker, there are over $30 million allocated to infrastructure development for the creation of Nunavut. What I am wondering is, since there have been no decisions made as regards to the infrastructure that is to be allocated to Nunavut, how much notice does the Minister require to ensure that proper ordering and arranging for delivery can take place in a normal construction season?

Mr. Arlooktoo.