Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The RFP will encompass both proposals, whether they be for tug and barge or by tanker. The reason why we are going ahead with a pipeline and why we are confident of the savings and why we are projecting that the offshore option will be the best is that during the consultations and studies we have had over the past year, we have received a very good idea of what the costs would be. Just to give you an example, to one Keewatin community, NTCL told us it would cost them 5.6 cents a litre to deliver fuel to a certain community in the Keewatin, compared

to the 23.3 cents that it costs now. Once you see those numbers, it is immediately very clear what the government must do.

Oral questions. Final supplementary, Mrs. Groenewegen.

Mr. Arlooktoo.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. There would be a couple of losses. One is the loss of not going ahead with the project and if there was a one-year delay, the loss of at least one year in future savings. Also, there is no guarantee that after the one year, that future decision-makers would decide to go this way. Not because it is not a good idea, but because of all the other things that will be going on in the next year and a half, especially with division.

Oral questions. Mr. Erasmus.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My question is for the chairman of the Financial Management Board. It is in regard to the public/private partnerships. As the Minister indicated earlier, we have been discussing other means of financing for quite a while now. I am glad we are finally getting to the point where we are getting a policy developed. I would like to know at what stage is the public/private partnership policy at?

The Minister responsible for the Financial Management Board, Mr. Todd.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. First of all, I want to publicly acknowledge my colleague's support in moving forward in this important initiative. Some Members of the House recognize the need to do this and Mr. Erasmus is one of them. The public/private partnership policy should be ready for Cabinet by the middle of November, as I am trying to fast track it, to try to accommodate the overall needs of this government and some of the needs of future governments. Thank you.

Oral questions. Supplementary, Mr. Erasmus.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Can the Minister assure this House that the appropriate committee will be involved with this policy, looking at it and making recommendations, before the policy is approved and implemented? Thank you.

Mr. Todd.

It would be prudent of me, given the concern that has been raised, certainly in committee earlier today and some of the anxiety, which I think is unnecessary. I would be prepared, after consultation with my Cabinet colleagues, to move it to the committee and discuss the matter with them and to seek their wise council on whether this policy does meet the new criteria and the new demands that we have now placed upon this government and the building of public infrastructure. Thank you.

Oral questions. Mr. Erasmus.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. In looking at other public/private partnerships, one of the areas of concern is the risk that is involved with the partnerships. Would the Minister assure this House that the risk involved in the partnerships would be equally distributed between the government and the private partners?

Mr. Todd.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. All we are trying to do in this policy is give some flexibility and creativity to ensuring we can continue at building the public infrastructure that is now demanded on us by our constituencies. It is important, I keep repeating that. There is not any plot out there. This is just a public policy statement, decision or change to try to ensure that we can continue with the infrastructure needs of the constituents we represent. I would suggest to my honourable colleague that I will commit today that once we get the public policy developed through the consultant we have hired, who has all kinds of experience in the Maritime Provinces, that I will go to the Standing Committee of Government Operations or whatever committee he so chooses, and vet it through them to ensure it has strong support in this Legislative Assembly, et cetera. Thank you.

Oral questions. Final supplementary, Mr. Erasmus.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Obviously another concern is that Members do not want the five-year capital plan

process to be circumvented. We would like assurances that projects that have been approved in a five-year capital plan will go forward. Would the Minister assure us of that?

Mr. Todd.

Mr. Speaker, I am not trying to circumvent, I am trying to increase it. I already indicated in committee earlier today about my question from Mr. Miltenberger that we would work out an arrangement to ensure the committees had full involvement in this thing. There was transparency, equity, fairness and all the normal stuff we say. Yes. We just have to work out the arrangement once we have approved the policy and, more importantly, approve the changes to the Financial Administration Act that I am going to bring forward later on today. Absolutely. Thank you.

Thank you. Just to remind the Members regarding the committees. Members cannot refer to committees that have not been referred to this House. Oral questions. Mr. Henry.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my question is to the Minister of Finance who is responsible for the Liquor Licensing Board. Recently, Members of this House received a copy of the Public Committees Boards and Councils Handbook. I noted the Liquor Licensing Board currently has five members, one of which is from Yellowknife. Mr. Speaker, with the government's agenda for change and much emphasis is placed on community empowerment so that local decisions can be made at the community that is most effected by them; from that end, one of the main functions of the Liquor Licensing Board is to receive applications to sell liquor in the Northwest Territories. As there is only one board member who is the chair on the liquor licensing board representing Yellowknife, my question to the Minister is, will he consider increasing the number of representatives from Yellowknife? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The Minister responsible for the Liquor Licensing Board, Mr. Todd.