Mr. Speaker, earlier I followed with quite an interest when Mr. Roland was asking the Minister about the Donny Days. My question is on the revision of history as presented by the Minister. Would the Minister consider collective bargaining, when he could change the terms of conditions of employment because of the PSAC Act, Public Service Acts amendments that was passed in this House. Will he entertain an amendment to the Act to allow real collective bargaining? Thank you.

Minister of Finance, Mr. Todd.

It is a ridiculous question which requires a direct answer. No.

Oral questions. Supplementary, Mr. Picco.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. A year and a half ago, almost two years ago, when the Public Service Act amendment came up and I kept bringing up some concerns within Caucus and the House and it was passed, I agreed that, indeed, legally it is in place. But it is an unfair draconian act and it does not allow free and collective bargaining which is proved by the recent court case won by the NWTTA. My question to the Minister is, he will not look at an amendment, but would he look at taking the act out? Thank you.

Mr. Todd.

No.

Oral questions. Supplementary, Mr. Picco.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, in collective bargaining, there are two parties sitting around a table trying to work out their differences. When you have a hammer held over a person, they cannot bargain because at the end of the day, the Minister can write and change the terms and conditions of employment. I wonder if the Minister could inform this House if he would sit down with the other union groups under the Public Service Act and work out an amendment for them? Thank you.

Mr. Todd.

I am not sure which part of no my honourable colleague does not understand, the "n" or the "o".

Thank you. Oral questions. Final supplementary, Mr. Picco.

Mr. Speaker, it is incredible that this government is finally getting out of the deficit situation. We will have a small surplus. It will go against the deficit. We are moving into new times. This Public Service Act amendment if not changed will be grandfathered into Nunavut where we have lost our VTAs and other areas of concern. My question is a real one because this Act will be grandfathered to Nunavut after April 1, 1999. I would like to see it taken out, thrown away with and put in the garbage. My supplementary question to the Minister, and I ask this in all seriousness, Mr. Speaker, would he look at a small working group in this House to review the Public Service Act and then report back to Mr. Todd and hopefully with some changes. Thank you.

No.

Oral questions. Mr. Ootes.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, our department has, as I said, developed the guidelines that have been passed on to the boards. It is up to the boards to determine what their priorities are. Not all boards have the same priorities. If they deem that there is more support required and they are going to look at the guidelines that were given to them. If they see there are more requirements, more need, more coordination then we will assist them in putting that in place, Mr. Speaker. Thank you.

Oral questions. Supplementary, Mr. Ootes.

Mr. Ng.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, it is our responsibility in working with our partners, the boards, to ensure there is a program in place, that breast screening and mammography, if it is required, for women is accessible. It is not our responsibility to make it accessible in every community. What we are trying to do is work out a plan with our partners, the boards, to see what their priorities are. How we can integrate the usage. In the case of the mammography machine here in Stanton, that is fine. We have a large portion of the population that passes through Stanton that can have access while they are here for other appointments, to the mammography machine. In the instance of those regions that do not send their patients to Stanton, if it happens to be in other jurisdictions then we can look at making the provisions available again to have mammography services available at the centre at the locations where they go for their medical treatment. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Oral questions. Supplementary, Mr. Ootes.