Mr. Speaker, I have a return to an oral question asked by Mr. Erasmus on February 19th, on the impact of communications privatization. Since 1967, the government has had a switchboard service in Yellowknife. Originally this was combined with a receptionist service in the Laing Building. An internal phone book in a green binder was also provided. The GNWT has now outgrown these approaches.
All other provinces and territories provide phone number information through the public phone book's blue pages and an internal phone list on the Internet. The GNWT is now moving to that same approach.
Special attention has been given to the blue pages in the NorthwesTel 1997 phone book, so they will be helpful to the public. Communications co-ordinators in all departments are aware of the importance of keeping their electronic phone list up-to-date. Systems and communications are working on an additional access point. Soon any employee with a computer and access to e-mail will be able to download a copy of the phone book in the same way employees download Hansard. I believe that the impacts of these changes will be a positive one. Thank you.