Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, there are a lot of truths and half truths, innuendo and rumours concerning the funding of these hospitals because of the convoluted nature of the agreement since 1988. I wonder if the Minister of Finance can confirm the federal commitment being offered by the federal government on the construction of both facilities. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Todd.

Mr. Speaker, everybody keeps talking about the 1988 agreement or the 1986 agreement, the rules of engagement have changed dramatically since then. We were not in up to the fiscal position that we are in now as we were then. So, I think it is important to point out to my colleague that what we are trying to do is find a creative, innovative solution to the development of the hospital facilities that are required across the territories. That is our desire. I have recruited, as I said last week, a technical expert on the public/private partnerships. We are raising to try to get that put together so that we can bring a policy forward to Cabinet to get approval. Once that is done, we can sit down with the parties that are interested in financing these new hospitals and move forward. It is also my understanding that Mr. Ng has given, and is prepared to give, the monies necessary for the program and facility planning to the boards. We are on side, as I said to my colleague. He has to get to his colleagues in Baffin on side on this issues. It is not us that is holding this issue up.

Oral questions. Final supplementary, Mr. Picco.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, we have had several meetings in the Baffin Region during the Baffin Leaders' Summit in July where we had agreements and also the meeting with Mr. Todd in August. I do not see any difficulty in the Baffin Region. Will the Minister be meeting in the near future with our partners, the developers and financiers, to work

out the logistics of the funding of the construction in the near future? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Todd.

A note to my colleagues in the House, I have a copy of the letter from Mr. Jeriel advising me that the Baffin hospital board has rejected their proposal that they be a partner in the development of this hospital facility. I am prepared to move forward when we get confirmation that the Baffin Board is prepared to accept 1) that there has to be public/private partnership approach to this issue; 2) that it is within the fiscal framework that we outlined to them at a meeting that I thought we had an agreement on and found out later we did not. So I am not prepared to move and any further discussions until such time as I get clarity on those two issues.

Oral questions. Mr. Enuaraq.

(Translation) Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I will be speaking in Inuktitut. As I stated earlier during my Member's statement the students in Broughton Island have a very small classroom. The teachers are suffering because of the small classroom that is provided to him or her and the educational board in Broughton Island met and discussed this problem. They had requested that the building of the additional classroom be put ahead because the plan is far into the future yet, and they do not want to wait for this date for the additional classroom to be built. I would like to ask the Minister responsible for Education, Culture and Employment as to whether or not this could be brought forward ahead of time rather than being done on the date that it is supposed to be done. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. (Translation ends)

The Minister responsible for Education, Culture and Employment, Mr. Dent.

Thank you. Oral questions. Mr. Ningark.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my question is directed to the Minister of Health and Social Services. By the way, welcome back Mr. Ng. On September 29, 1997, a letter was written to the honourable Minister from Pauluongayak representing the steering committee, health discharge to natal to postnatal additional program and so on. We recognize the fact that there is a government plan to build a regional hospital in Cambridge Bay in this riding health care to Kitikmeot region until it happens to be a community of that region. Sometime when you come up with a solution, there are times that you also have a consequence. Mr. Speaker, a number of questions came out from the community of Taloyoak. One is, will that hospital provide the services which are currently provided by Stanton Regional Hospital? Thank you.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, it is a regional health facility, and the scope of what services would be available would be determined after a program review and based on what can be affordable. First of all, based on what the Kitikmeot health board and leaders in the region would expect as far as having services that possibly could be delivered in the region. That type of program would still have to be determined as we entered into some of the planning stages for the regional health facility, Mr. Speaker. Thank you.

Oral questions. Supplementary, Mr. Ningark.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Supplementary to the Minister, there are times when we see a stage plan that has never seen a reality, but there are times when merely a plan becomes a reality. Mr. Speaker, my supplementary question is that since we are planning to build a hospital in Cambridge Bay, is not there any thought given to providing a boarding facility for the people of the Natilikmiot Region in the event the hospital is built? Thank you.

Mr. Ng.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, it is a bit premature to be speaking on whether or not there would be boarding facilities required. As we know now there are some services that are centralized in Cambridge Bay. For example, I use the orthodontist where they bring in patients from the other communities and they home board a lot of those individuals or place them in the hotels if there is no home boarding available in order to try to provide a more

efficient service that is regionally based. Again, it would be determined on what services would be available and what needs would be there in some of the planning, Mr. Speaker. Thank you.

Thank you. Oral question. Supplementary, Mr. Ningark.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Supplementary to the same Minister, in line of my questioning, we used to have a pilot project in Taloyoak which, I believe, was established in 1989 that was to provide a birthing program for Taloyoak, Pelly Bay and Gjoa Haven. I am wondering if the Minister will continue to recognize that program and continue to provide services and funding that may be required by that community even when the hospital is built. I understand that it is currently in the planning stage only. Thank you.

Mr. Ng.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I would say it is safe to say that it is not even in the planning stage except for the fact that it is a conceptual project right now that is supported by the health board, supported by the ministry and supported by leaders in the region in trying to develop a facility that can hopefully reduce some of the travel and expand some of the services that may be available in the region if it is not available in the local community. The direction of this government is for health and social services. We are going to try to provide as much services as possible in their home communities so people do not have to leave and do not have to disrupt the normal routine of their lives in trying to receive treatment. Secondly, if that is the case where they do have to leave the community, then at least try to retain them within the region if it is economical to do so and if the service can be efficiently provided, Mr. Speaker. Failing that of course, going to the centre where the services would be available. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you. Oral questions. Mr. Ootes.