Mr. Premier.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Yes.

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

Mr. Morin.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I have asked Members of Cabinet and each Minister has assured me that they have not been informed officially by any party that they are subject to any kind of investigation by the RCMP, but I was unable to ask other Members of the Assembly. I will leave that up to Mr. Ootes. He is the chairman of the Ordinary Members Caucus. Thank you.

-- Applause

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

Mr. Morin.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would suggest the Member read Hansard, it was the same question he asked yesterday. Thank you.

Oral questions. Mr. Miltenberger.

The Minister responsible for Division, Mr. Todd.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I think it is important if I can, give me a moment, to put into context. I think if we looked somewhat historically, many of us would have hoped that we would be able to have an ideal turn key situation, as we reached April 1, 1999. Where all aspects of the new Nunavut government would be in place. The reality in today's world is that just simply has not happened for a variety of reasons and it is of no fault of anybody. So it was incumbent upon us when we looked at trying to determine a transition strategy-and I think the key word here is transition-that we would look at what essential ingredients or essential components of government we could put in place and the time left given that we are only one of the drivers in the car. In our best estimate it was clear that there would be a number of services that we would not be able to put into place prior to April 1, 1999. So, what has been suggested at the official's level between the Interim Commissions officer and my own is if the Interim Commissioner may wish to consider some bilateral arrangements between himself and this government in the delivery of services that will not be in place in April 1, 1999.

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

Mr. Todd.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Well, I think it is important to point out that the ultimate responsibility for deciding on where Nunavut wishes to purchase these transitional services until such time as the new Nunavut gets fully up and running lies with the Interim Commissioner. Certainly in our planning process we have indicated to his office and his staff that we are prepared to provide that service if they so wish, and we are under discussions right now of some possibilities and some categories as we would provide that service if he so wished. It is an important component, if you want, of this transition to two new governments, but ultimately the responsibility for purchasing those services lies with Mr. Anawak, the Interim Commissioner.

Oral questions. Mr. Henry.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my question is to the Minister responsible for the Department of Transportation, Mr. Antoine. I have had a number of constituents approach me about the governments proposal to re-zone land that currently controls the Yellowknife airport. This rezoning would result in the possibility of non-aviation related companies building premises at the Yellowknife airport. Given that the city of Yellowknife has many unserviced lots available and that there is an over abundance of land available in the city, I have a problem with the government competing with the private sector and the city of Yellowknife. Can the Minister tell me why this government is competing with the private sector as well as the tax-based municipality for the development of land which is in an abundance presently in Yellowknife? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The Minister of Transportation, Mr. Antoine.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the Department of Transportation, particularly the airport here in Yellowknife has land around the airport and there is a development plan that has been in place for a number of years now. In this plan there is identification of blocks of land for different uses right at the airport for immediate access to the airport and so forth. We also have land there that is away from the airport between the Mackenzie Highway and the service road where there is non-airport related businesses that have established there and there is land available for such businesses. The intention of the department of transportation is not to compete against the Yellowknife businesses or the city of Yellowknife. In fact these lands are available for commercial development. They applied to us, and they go through NavCan approval and Transport Canada approval. Then they have to go to the city for the final approval of their development proposal. Once that is done, then the Department of Transportation then receives revenue at the airport for leasing the land, and the city in turn collects the taxes on these properties. There is a cooperation between the city and the Department of Transportation in developing these lands. We do not regard this whole process as competing with any business in this town. That is not the intention. The intention here is that the Yellowknife airport would like to generate revenue so that it could operate and function as an airport. The rezoning of the whole airport plan is initiated by the department and this is done with the city of Yellowknife and the intention here is to rezone all the airport property so that we have better control of what type of businesses

and what type of commercial enterprises would establish at the airport. We try to have the type of businesses established at the airport that is pure to the airport operation and is related to air services and so forth. Thank you.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Thank you, Mr. Minister. You had suggested that there was a plan in place for the development. Was this plan transferred with airports or was this plan prepared by the Government of the Northwest Territories? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.