Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I had asked the Minister earlier about how some countries offer diamonds for sale in their country. If it could be demonstrated there was value to the Northwest Territories, would the Minister consider offering incentives to have that work performed in the territories?

First of all, and I stand to be corrected, the one thing I did learn on these trips that I have made frequently to Antwerp, London, Johannesburg, Cape Town and Gabarone...I do love Cape Town, Jane.

--Laughter

What really struck me the most when I travelled in these countries was the inordinate wealth that is being generated from diamonds because of two fundamental things, vanity and greed. If you ask any of the diamentaires, they will tell you that. When somebody mentions to me are we going to subsidize the industry, I have some difficulty when you have a 50 percent return on investment, and they expect to get all their equity back in five to seven years, and then ask the governments for subsidies.

I say to the industry it is a cost of doing business, and they should pay it accordingly and make sure when they are developing their balance sheet that the balance sheet reflects the expenditure necessary to create jobs and opportunities for northerners. If that means the reduction in their bottom line, then that is the cost of doing business in the Northwest Territories. Thank you.

Thank you. Oral questions. Mr. Picco.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Premier. This government eliminated vacation travel assistance for the teachers, the Union of Northern Workers, the Members of the Legislative Assembly and the public service. My question for the Premier is are there employees of this government still receiving vacation travel assistance? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Premier.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Not that I am aware of.

Oral questions. Supplementary, Mr. Picco.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, if the Premier is not aware of employees receiving vacation travel assistance, my supplementary question to him is would he look into it and get back to this House in the next couple of days, as there is information provided to me that I have spoken to him about concerning some people still getting vacation travel assistance? My supplementary question to the Premier is will he come back to this House and tell us how many employees are still receiving vacation travel assistance when everyone else has lost it? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Morin.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I do recall when Mr. Picco raised that in Iqaluit, about one contract employee who may be receiving vacation travel assistance. I will get him that information later on today. Thank you.

Oral questions. Supplementary, Mr. Picco.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I also understand there are some other employees in the Northwest Territories who work for this government and are still receiving vacation travel assistance through whatever contract purpose. I am asking the Minister to look into all government departments, then come back to this House and let us know how many employees are still receiving vacation travel assistance. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Morin.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I will be pleased to look into it if Mr. Picco can provide us with whatever information he has to assist us to look into it.

Oral questions. Mrs. Groenewegen.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, one thing that this review of the Baffin Regional Health Board services and the Keewatin Health Board services has outlined and highlighted to us as a department is the issue of physician recruitment and retention, particularly in respect to the difficulties the Keewatin Regional Health Board is having in signing on full time general practitioners.

One of the recommendations that is coming forward is the Department of Health and Social Services, in conjunction with the NWT Medical Association and the NWT Health Care Association, within a three month period develop a physician recruitment and retention plan for the Northwest Territories. Hopefully this will guide us in filling the vacancies throughout the Northwest Territories, in identifying the issues and obstacles in the way and in recommending some solutions as to how to remove any impediments from fully staffing up physician services throughout the Northwest Territories, Mr. Speaker. Thank you.

Oral questions. Supplementary, Mrs. Groenewegen.

Mr. Ng.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I think I indicated that they would be given guidelines to try to develop some plans within a three-month period. I would anticipate the end of this calendar year, Mr. Speaker. Thank you.

Thank you. Oral questions. Mr. Ootes.