Thank you, Mr. Premier.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. The federal government has a commitment to follow up on their commitments as they have signed off in the claims processes, so as part of those talks they will continue as well as ourselves will continue to consult with the aboriginal organizations to identify their interests regarding devolution. The whole issue of devolution is on the transfer of powers and programs of responsibilities of the federal government. It is a key element in overall completion of the agenda of responsible government and political control of natural resources through the GNWT which must provide for both protection of aboriginal rights and a meaningful role for aboriginal organizations. In that devolution process, Mr. Krutko, I have also written to the Prime Minister on the whole issue of responsible government and political development of the responsible government in the Northwest Territories, and we are presently, through the Minister of RWED, talking to the Minister responsible for Indian Affairs, Jane Stewart, in Ottawa on this whole issue. Aboriginal organizations will have to come to realize, those that do not want to move ahead on this issue, that the pie is only so big, it is not going to get a lot bigger, and we had better look at solving our own problems in the north, making the decisions in the north and getting control of northern resources. We have lived through this last process that we just went through, with the development of a diamond project north of here where some bureaucrat in Ottawa makes the decisions, I think that time should be long gone, and we should work together to move those things to the north. Thanks.

Thank you. Question number six, Mr. Krutko.

Thank you. Mr. Premier, would you like to respond?

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I am pleased to hear the Member's remarks because his story is no different than many stories around this room. In the many different regions, it is very important that we work with our people in the communities, and we are committed to moving on and doing that. We have been through the process already of balancing our budget, we have done that, now we move ahead. Now we have to work with our people to create opportunity for a better economy in the north. We are going to do that through the

Minister of RWED also with the help of our capable staff and as well Members of this Legislative Assembly will also have to get involved in this whole issue and encourage their people to come out and work through community workshops because it is the community that has to drive it. Our government's job is to assist them, it is the community that has to drive it, and the people in the community come out with ideas, come to the workshops, come to the community economic development workshops where we can develop economic initiatives with the community. Then we will be moving in there with our development corporation as well to assist them in level 2 and 3 communities, and hopefully from this we will generate intercommunity trade and a new economy without renewable resources throughout the north. I know from visiting David's area as well as the Tuktoyaktuk area last week that there is great opportunity up there. There are a lot of things that people have and we have to work with those people to develop them, and we are willing to do that. Thank you.

Thank you. Mr. Krutko, question number seven.

Thank you, Mr. Krutko. Mr. Premier, would you like to respond?

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Nobody said that the road would be easy when we set out on community empowerment. I remember it was a battle many years ago for our people to take over garbage and sewer, just the ability to deliver and pick up, deliver water, pick up your own garbage, but people have grown and people are taking up the challenge. Our job as a government is to work with them and assist them. We have to make sure that communities are assessed properly, that the communities have proper training and it is a long range thing. If community empowerment, once the community has it, they should be moving on with it. Hopefully where there are problems we deal with it on a community by community basis and try to help solve those problems and move on. Thank you.

Thank you. The final question Mr. Krutko.

Thank you. Mr. Premier.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Many things have changed over the past ten years I have been here, for sure things have changed. I can remember in the past, in my riding, every time somebody's washroom did not work, they phoned me and every time they had a problem, they would phone me as MLA. It has evolved over the years to where they are phoning the Housing Authority because they are making the decisions at the community level. Some people do not understand when they ask you for help to fix their house or whatever that the money has been transferred to the community. The community has the say. That does not mean we are giving up our responsibility, what that means is, we have empowered the community, the community itself is making the decisions.

In listening with great interest and wherever possible, Mr. Krutko, questions asked in this House are taken seriously. As long as people ask questions and show mutual respect, then it is taken seriously. We know that constituents ask you to ask those questions. I have been over there before. I have been there for four years. I know what drives the process. But also, we have to recognize over the period of time that community governments, regional organizations evolved. You raised the issue of the machine that you would like for different regions. I talked to the Minister about it and he says well maybe those regions would prefer to just buy an x-ray machine, they need that more importantly at this time. It is not a money issue. It is an issue of empowerment to the regions. They should know in the regions what their constituents want and what their highest priorities are. It is the same I guess, you could say to some constituents well, why did Joe Blow get a house before me? That is community empowerment. The community made the decision. They felt he was in more need than you.

It is a tough issue because through community empowerment, through delegation of authority, yes, MLAs are going to have less say, but that is evolving government. So, I do not know what else I could say to that. But when you asked the question, David, on those health questions, we have been listening and we take those questions seriously. Thank you.

Thank you. When I made the opening remarks earlier today, I indicated to all Members, at least all Members who were here that we would try to go half way today, but I have indicated to Members we were to complete these four Ministers out of eight. The way we are moving now, we should be able to complete four of the eight Ministers by 9:00 a.m. I would like to say something to the Ordinary Members that the longer you preamble, the longer your question is, you are going to deprive yourself of more potential questions because we are going to conclude tomorrow. Keep that in mind. I would also like to remind the Ministers that when you respond to questions, be clear and direct and concise. I will soon ask Members for direction. How long would you like to go on? Until midnight or morning? The way we are moving now, I may as well seek direction from the Members. Mr. Henry.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Chairman, I would encourage you to exercise your prerogative as Chairman and have no more than a minute to ask the question to the Minister. I think that will speed the process along. Secondly, I would ask you if you have the authority to potentially dismiss the Pages for the evening. These are school children, and I think we can sit here a little longer than they can. If you have that authority, I would encourage you to allow them to go home.

Thank you. I am now seeking consent from the Members of the committee that should we let the Pages go now, or should we let them go at 10:00 p.m.?

What is the wish of the committee?

Now.

Madam Groenewegen.

Thank you. I am getting two signals. One, is at the discretion of the Pages, whether to go or to stay. Another honourable Member indicated that we should let them go now. What is the wish of the committee? Thank you. I am informed by the Clerk, the arrangement has been made with the parents of the Pages that they will stay until 10:45 p.m. The parents were made aware. Mr. Ootes.

Mr. Steen is next on the list. Thank you, I have been informed that if Members want to eat, there will be some snacks in the Member's Lounge in a half an hour. So, we will carry on until someone makes a motion to report progress and so on, but again I will try and exercise my power as chairperson, but I will get somebody else to chair in a little while. Mr. Steen.