Oral questions. Supplementary, Mr. Ootes.

Mr. Todd.

I think this is recognition, as Mr. Ootes said earlier, that we need to play a role along with the Royal Canadian Mounted Police and along with the citizens of Yellowknife who are concerned about what may appear to be some growing imbalance that alludes to alcohol. I think my understanding again is that there was only one actual court case last year with respect to the 450 inspections that were done. But I do recognize that we need to work closely with the law authorities on this issue. I have been speaking with my deputy minister on this issue and discussions will be on the way shortly to see if there is some way we can complement what is going on in respect to what the RCMP and others were doing.

Thank you. Oral questions. Final supplementary, Mr. Ootes.

Mr. Todd.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It is important to point out that most violent infractions occur, most I say, occur after the establishment is closed. I think that is an

important distinction here. As I said, we recognize the seriousness of the issue. My fiscal resources are just as tight as any of the other Ministers, and I would prefer this time that we continue with our discussions with the different parties involved in this serious issue and hopefully try to find a result that is fiscally affordable and meets the requirements of the citizens of Yellowknife. Thank you.

Thank you. Oral questions. Mr. Roland.

Mr. Premier.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. We have regulatory reform and are looking at cutting red tape in the government right now. We have started doing that already. We are looking at and talking to our managers about the workload of government employees. I have not had any response back from our managers saying that people are being over worked. In general, they are saying that everyone is putting in a full day's work for full day's pay, and that is what I understand is happening. Thank you.

Oral questions. Supplementary, Mr. Roland.

Mr. Morin.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As a government we have done many things to change the way the government operates and that reflects on the employee's workload. Just the whole issue of community empowerment alone where decisions are made at the community level now. Some of our communities take away the workload from the regional level up to the senior level in government because the decisions are made at the community level. As well as privatization, that too takes away from workload. In general, Mr. Speaker, I have not heard any complaints from our employees that they are overworked, and I will not say that because I do hear that they are complaining that they are underpaid sometimes but many do. Mr. Speaker, I do not fully understand the concern the Member is raising. If I have specifics that I could respond to, it would be best.

Oral questions. Supplementary, Mr. Roland.

Mr. Morin.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Yes, that is happening, once we have gone through this phase of downsizing and reorganization and making the government more effective and more efficient, which we have done as well as balancing our budget in the previous two years. There is a major initiative now by all the departments to look at what they are responsible for doing and also develop training programs, management, senior management programs and career path for employees so they can see a clear path of how they come through the bureaucracy and move up the ladder as well as the extra training they need just to carry out the functions of the jobs they do today. Thank you.

Oral questions. Final supplementary, Mr. Roland.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Yes, it is supposed to be made available at the community level. Even through health transfers for community empowerment, we have to train staff at the community level. We have to train the

administrators at the community level. It will take time. For example, in Fort Resolution they took over their nurses' station. They agreed that Stanton would run it for the first year and then slowly start to train them so that they could take it over within two to three years, the full administration of their health programs in the community, social service programs and drug and alcohol programs. But there is a training component at all times in those transfers. Thank you.

Oral question. Mr. Steen.