Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, yesterday we heard something about the Aurora Fund. I would like to follow up on that. My question is to the Minister in charge of the Aurora Fund, Mr. Todd. How do Northwest Territorial businesses know how to apply for this fund? How are they marketing this fund in the Northwest Territories? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Minister of Finance, Mr. Todd.

It is not often that Mr. Picco can stump me. Mr. Speaker, my understanding is that we have had a number of discussions with a number of the business communities across the Arctic. I explained what the fund is about.

I have spoken to a number of the Chamber of Commerce on the fund. It is generally accepted across the territories that it is available. We have not gone, if Mr. Picco is heading in that direction, to an expensive campaign as to alerting everybody about the fund.

The fund has its limitations in respect to the fact that its minimum lending authority if you want, I say minimum, there is $.75 million. I am fairly confident that most people if not all, pretty well understand the fund is there. They know that Mr. Bailey is currently in charge of reviewing the applications, and as I said to a question earlier yesterday, we have a finance committee made up of three outside expertise who make recommendations to the board. Thank you.

Thank you. Oral questions. Supplementary, Mr. Picco.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, could there be a perceived conflict between the fund manager doing studies on privatization of POL for this government at the same time being involved with the fund that could be

accessed to fund the privatization scheme? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Todd.

I do not know, Mr. Speaker. I am not a lawyer or an expert. I am assuming and as I always have because I worked with Mr. Bailey before, he is a man of significant integrity. He has been in this country a long time, is well respected within the business community, and I believe has the infinite capacity to be fair and transparent in this issue. That is the only way I can answer.

Oral questions. Supplementary, Mr. Picco.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, are there guidelines, policies, procedures in place to make sure that perception of conflict when the person is doing studies for this government on privatization and involved in a fund that has been sponsored by the government are in place? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Todd.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Well I do not know. I would have to look into it, Mr. Speaker. I think it is important to remember that while we initiated this fund, it is an independent fund, independently financed, independently run, outside of government. Government provided only the seed money which the fund gave back to the government.

I would have to look into the matter and I would probably take the question as notice, so I can make sure that my honourable colleague, who constantly must be reading Oliver Stone again, gets the correct, clear and precise answer to his question. Thank you.

Thank you, was that taken as notice? The question was taken as notice. Oral questions. Mr. Ootes.

Mr. Premier.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I will take that question as notice.

Question is taken as notice. Oral questions. Mr. Henry.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My question today is to the Minister of Health and Social Services. Mr. Ng. Mr Speaker, this Sunday, the city of Yellowknife's annual Run for the Cure will take place at St. Patrick's High School at 1:00 p.m.

Mr. Speaker, my question to the Minister of Health and Social Services as this noble cause that is taking place is under a health auspices. I was wondering if the Minister would take a challenge from myself to walk or run for the cure on Sunday? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, under normal circumstances I would be more than glad to accept that challenge. However, it is anticipated that I will be travelling this Sunday to St. John's, Newfoundland to attend a Ministerial Council Social Policy meeting on the Monday and Ministers of Social Services meeting on Tuesday, Mr. Speaker. Possibly next year I would be more than glad to revisit it at that time. Thank you.

Oral questions. Supplementary, Mr. Henry.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I suppose the Minister got off the track or off the hook or something. What I would like to know is if the Minister would be able to challenge one of his colleagues to run half as far as myself. Mr. Speaker. Thank you.

Just again, to remind the Members about the operations and the duties in the Chamber of this House and I would also ask the Members to keep their personal challenges to outside the Chamber. This has nothing to do with government business and you should not use the Chamber as such. I would like to remind the Members to keep the respect of this Chamber with honour. Do not use this forum for that type of personal challenge. Oral questions. Mr. Picco.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Premier. Last year the Premier, another staff member and an MLA travelled to South East Asia to market the Aurora Fund. My question to the Premier is, who appointed the Aurora Fund manager and was that an open competition or a direct appointment? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Premier.