Thank you, Mr. Ng. Before we proceed with orders of the day, I have a little message here. I would like to inform the House of the unfortunate absence of the Speaker. The Honourable Sam Gargan, due to an illness in the family, had to return home to Fort Providence. I understand that he hopes to be back in the House tomorrow. I trust you will be kind to me today, as I try and fill in as your Speaker. Thank you. Mr. Miltenberger.

Point of Privilege

Mr. Miltenberger, point of privilege.

Point of privilege.

Thank you. We have one point of privilege. The Member for Thebacha is raising a point of privilege. Once the Member for Thebacha has concluded the point of privilege, I will recognize Mr. Picco. Mr. Miltenberger.

Thank you, Mr. Miltenberger. Mr. Picco.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the Member mentioned, in a veiled way, my earlier response last week on a question to another Minister concerning spousal assault homes. Mr. Speaker, he has infringed upon my rights as a Member, the Member for Thebacha, in his statement, and I would ask the Speaker to rule that he would strike anything from the record infringing on my privilege as a Member. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Miltenberger has raised a point of privilege to a statement that he made Friday and Mr. Picco has requested a point of privilege to allow the debate on the point of privilege on Mr. Picco. To the point of privilege, Mr. Picco.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the point of privilege that I raised, I think, was a good one, in that the point of privilege was in response to Mr. Miltenberger's point of privilege on the point of privilege which was a point of privilege. And my point, Mr. Speaker, was well taken by the Members of this House, and that was the Member had a veiled reference to me, when I asked a question to the Minister of Health and Social Services on funding cuts and wage cuts, and the increases to such, on behalf of the dedicated, front-line employees that we had working in spousal assault homes. I do not think, in his return, that he should have mentioned in passing and he infringed on my privileges, as a Member, when he made that statement.

Thank you, Mr. Picco. To the point of privilege, Mr. Miltenberger.

Thank you, Mr. Miltenberger. To the point of privilege, Mr. Picco.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, Mr. Miltenberger makes a good point because, over the last few days, I have been questioning libraries. As a person who holds a library card, am I in a conflict? I think his point is well-taken and I would respect your ruling tout suite. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Any further point of privilege? Madam Groenewegen.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would also like to rise on point of privilege today with respect to Mr. Miltenberger's remarks in this House. If Mr. Miltenberger feels that he said something on Friday that he should not have said, he has every opportunity to stand up and retract those and apologize for them. He does not need to try and implicate everyone else or other Members of this House in his mistake. I do take exception to him referring to the business incentive policy and people who may have a spouse that owns a business. I not only have a spouse that owns a business, I also own a business and I believe that he is misleading this House, by suggesting that all business deals need to take place in an arm's length fashion.

In fact, if you refer to the Conflict of Interest Act, it says: "When a member or a spouse or dependent child of a member, has significant, private interests that afford the member, or the spouse or dependent child of the member, the opportunity to directly or indirectly benefit from the performance of any of the duties of their office, they are in conflict." I would like to suggest that Mr. Miltenberger, by his comments, not on a territorial basis, but in reference to Fort Smith specifically and community libraries specifically on Friday, was probably over the line, and he can stand up and he can speak about that and he can retract that, but he does not need to implicate the rest of us by talking about the business incentive policy, which is truly territorial.

He does not need to refer to Members of this House, who may have a loan with the government because he is trying to implicate us all. I do not appreciate that and I do feel he has infringed on my integrity by his remarks. Thank you.

-- Applause

Thank you. I am advised that now we have two points of privilege here. We have a new point of privilege to be raised, I will reserve ruling and provide it to the House. Thank you.

Mr. Morin, thank you. The Premier.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Just on the point of privilege, while you are looking at the whole issue under point of privilege and reviewing Hansard, I would request you, at the same time, to review the Member from Hay River's statement. I may not have heard it very correctly but it is my understanding that the general public have available to them, as well as Members of this Legislative Assembly, a process if they feel a Member is in conflict with his duties and that process is through the Conflict Commissioner's office, not to make unfounded accusations across the floor of the House. So that is basically what I am requesting you look at. Thank you.

Thank you. The Speaker will be ruling on the point of privileges made in this House. By that matter, we will be checking the Hansard tomorrow. Thank you. If there are no further points of privilege, I have item 2, Ministers' statements. Mr. Ng.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the health and social services system in the Northwest Territories is in need of fundamental reform. As our population grows, the demands placed on the system grow as well. But at the same time, the resources available for meeting that need have been declining. We need to make changes now, to make sure that the health and social services system of the future will be able to meet northerners' continuing needs. This is essential, if we are to maintain and improve the services offered to our residents in the face of shrinking financial resources.

Reform has to be planned and strategic. We need to make changes for the future now, while still meeting the needs of today.

During the development of the 1997/98 business plan, the Department of Health and Social Services received approval to begin the process of strategic reform. We have done this by committing to a principle-based approach and by beginning to work with our partners in the health care system towards the development of a comprehensive, strategic plan.

The strategic plan will give us a vision of the health and social services system of the future and will show us the steps that must be taken to get there.

In his budget address, last week, my colleague, the Honourable Mr. Todd, referenced this strategic planning process, which will provide the basis for the future development of two, sustainable health care systems.

We are committed to a broad and timely public consultation as an integral part of this process. We need to hear from people across the north about what is important to them, about their expectations and needs and about their ideas on how we can reform the system to meet our goals.

In order to prepare fully for such a public consultation, we must first complete a comprehensive analysis of the current system and a detailed assessment of the challenges facing us and the options facing us. In doing this, we also need to take into consideration the extensive work done by the regional boards, especially the needs assessments already completed. We need to build on the work already done by both board and departmental staff.

To help us with the task of integrating our knowledge and experience into a comprehensive and accurate strategic plan, while still allowing staff to continue their essential work of program delivery, the Department of Health and Social Services has taken the step of contracting with a multi-disciplinary group of health and social services specialists.

This consultant group, Med-Emerg International Incorporated, will provide us with an objective look at the data we have collected. They will review the work we have already done on health and social services reform, identify any information gaps, and ensure that our conclusions are logical and consistent with other initiatives at the territorial, provincial, and federal levels of government.

A team from Med-Emerg will begin visits to the NWT during the next two weeks. They will be meeting with employees of the department and boards, our partners, and our clients. In the weeks following, Med-Emerg will review the data and prepare a draft strategic directions document, which will serve as the basis for the plan to be taken to broad public consultation beginning this summer.

To guide the strategic planning process, I am chairing a steering committee comprised of the chairs of the Baffin and Inuvik Regional Health Boards and the chair of the Northwest Territories Health Care Association.

Mr. Speaker, we need to move quickly to develop this new health and social services system. The benefits of health system reform will take years to realize.

One of the challenges we face is ensuring the infrastructure which supports the provision of public health services. Adequate funding is essential for construction of appropriate facilities. However, this is only one very small part of the total health and social services system.

As my honourable colleague, the Minister of Finance noted, simply increasing funding for social programs is not a long-term solution for the future of the health and social services system. Steps must be taken now to reduce future needs for our services. Through the steps we have taken, the Department of Health and Social Services is moving to develop a health and social services system that will continue to meet the basic needs of northerners for years to come.

In doing this, we are committed to an approach that upholds and builds on the principles of the Canada Health Act - universality, portability, comprehensiveness, accessibility, and public administration - and truly reflects the needs and aspirations of northerners.

By fall of this year, we hope to have a completed strategic plan that will serve as the basis for the development of effective, sustainable health and social services systems in two territories well into the next century.

Mr. Speaker, I look forward to consulting further with all of you as we move forward with this plan. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

-- Applause

Thank you, Mr. Ng. Ministers' statements. Mrs. Manitok Thompson. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the World Winter University Games were held recently in Muju, South Korea. I would like to congratulate two NWT biathlon athletes on their strong showing at this competition. Mary-Beth Miller of Yellowknife, was the top Canadian in the women's 7.5 kilometre biathlon, finishing 26th, with a total time of 30 minutes, 36.2 seconds. Moira Green of Hay River, finished 30th in the 7.5 kilometre biathlon, with a time of 40 minutes, 27.2 seconds.

These two young women are also excellent role models for our youth in the NWT through their devotion they have shown to their sport and the many hours they have dedicated to training to achieve success at both the national and international level. They are examples of what our youth are capable of.

Members may remember that both of these athletes were also part of the biathlon team that represented the NWT at the 1995 Canada Games, winning a bronze medal in the relay event.

We should also recognize the support that these elite athletes have received and continue to receive from their parents and their fellow team members, which has assisted them in getting to the level that they are at today.

Mr. Speaker, I am sure that Members will join me in congratulating Mary-Beth Miller and Moira Green for their fine performances in biathlon at the World Winter University Games. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

-- Applause

Thank you, Ms. Thompson. Ministers' statements. Ministers' statements. Thank you. Item 3, Members' statements. Mr. Krutko.

Thank you, Mr. Krutko. Members' statements. Mr. Miltenberger, Member for Thebacha.

Thank you, Mr. Miltenberger. The honourable Member for Keewatin, Mr. O'Brien.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, today I would like to address the proposed budget cuts to the women's groups of the NWT. Mr. Speaker, I can not support this reduction, and find it unacceptable that such a cut is being recommended at this time. Mr. Speaker, I have said many times in this House over the past year, that I agree that we can not carry a huge debt into division, but that I was more concerned with how and where the cuts were being applied. Surely, we are not at the point where we are cutting programs that deliver the most benefit and are most needed. Mr. Speaker, at the front lines and in the trenches are women's groups working with the many horrendous, and damaging social problems and issues that we unfortunately are plagued with in the NWT. Mr. Speaker, on one hand we are increasing the budget for our social envelope by $9,000,000. On the other hand, we are cutting the funds for the individuals who would provide these essential and humanistic services to our ill and less fortunate northerners. Mr. Speaker, I would strongly suggest that the approximate $30,000 cut be reconsidered for our women's groups and organizations, and for the good work that they do. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. O'Brien. Members' statements. The honourable Member for Yellowknife Centre, Mr. Ootes.

Mr. Ootes, your time has run out. Mr. Ootes.

Thank you, Mr. Ootes. The honourable Member for Yellowknife Centre is seeking unanimous consent to conclude his statement. Are there any nays? No nays, continue Mr. Ootes.

Thank you, Mr. Ootes. Members' statements. The honourable Member for Yellowknife South, Mr. Henry.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, in politics we all take liberties, but I have to take exception when public figures make statements about my community that are misleading and inaccurate. Mr. Speaker, in his reply to the budget address last Friday, the MLA from Thebacha made misleading and inaccurate statements in this House about Yellowknife.

-- Applause

I quote from the January 31, 1997 unedited Hansard on page 552, which states, and I quote, "Mr. Speaker, as well I would like to point out for the benefit of people that things like transfer north of recent military air squadron which brought a huge pile of jobs to the community of Yellowknife, is there, while other communities have experienced a steady erosion as well of federal positions" end quote. I would attempt to respond to what I believe that he is saying regarding the position of the statement about the huge pile of jobs created by the 440 Air Squadron relocated to Yellowknife. I had discussions with the Department of National Defence officials in Yellowknife, and I am informed that there were 12 jobs created by the installation of the recent military air squadron located in Yellowknife airport.

Not exactly a huge pile of jobs. The MLA's statement which, I believe, also refers to an increase in federal employee growth in Yellowknife is also inaccurate. The reality is that Yellowknife has suffered its share of federal cut backs, with decreases of 27 positions alone at CBC North, as well as reductions at Environment Canada's Atmospheric Weather Service. Human Resources Canada in Yellowknife is down a number of positions from last year. Indian and Northern Affairs' employees are down 4 percent from last year. Mr. Miltenberger talked about the community of Yellowknife having quadrupled in size since it became the capital in 1967. This may be true, but he neglected to say that Yellowknife was built by private individuals who responded to the needs of the Government of the Northwest Territories, federal government and private sector for office and retail space and other services

-- Applause

Hear! Hear!

Yellowknife was built by industrious individuals who went to financial institutions and borrowed money. Yes, Mr. Speaker, borrowed money to augment their hard earned cash and invested in infrastructure...

Mr. Henry, your time has run out. Mr. Henry.

Mr. Speaker, I request unanimous consent to conclude my statement. Thank you.

-- Applause

Thank you. Can we have order in the House? The honourable Member has the same privilege as any other Member to make a Member's statement without being disrupted. Mr. Henry is seeking unanimous consent to conclude his statement. Are there any nays? Mr. Henry, you have unanimous consent.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It takes a little longer to make a statement with all the catcalls and that. Mr. Speaker, something that I think is worth repeating, Yellowknife was built by industrious individuals who went to financial institutions and borrowed money. Yes, Mr. Speaker, borrowed money to augment their hard earned cash and invested in an infrastructure to supply those needs.

Hear! Hear!

That is how you build a business community. You identify needs that are not being supplied in your community. Go to your local bank. Take out a mortgage. Put up your own cash, and take the risk that goes with. Mr. Speaker, I would like to add that it is a darn sight more productive to do it this way, than complaining about what another community's industrious individuals have, that yours does not have.

person across the NWT has been $1,400. In Yellowknife, it has been $783, which is almost half the territorial average. My fellow Member from Thebacha alluded to Yellowknife as having the largest government budget since it became capital. While this may be true by virtue of our larger population, it certainly does not reflect in the amount Yellowknife receives in capital funding, Mr. Speaker.

There were several glowing accolades to the government on its initiatives, included in the 1997/98 budget by the MLA for Thebacha outlined. I also admit that there are some very good things in this budget, like balancing the books, and not increasing taxes. While the government could have achieved the same result in another fashion is what I believe needs discussing. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

-- Applause

Thank you. Members' statements. Madam Groenewegen.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I would like to provide this House with some examples of the impact that the government's 10 percent cuts will have on women's organizations in the NWT. Ten percent might not seem like much when people are losing their jobs, but we have to look at the impact of 10 percent. Women's Initiatives Grants Program is a source of money for community women's groups, and other organizations. These are the foundation projects that can have a real impact on local people through community women who know what is needed, who are working to reduce social problems where this government is facing the largest incremental costs.

The Status of Women Council is doing other work, like the study on the needs of breast cancer survivors, another on human rights legislation affecting women, work that will help young women to enter non-traditional occupations, work on community wellness, and a long list of other projects, Mr. Speaker. Its ability to continue this work and to provide this knowledge to government and to community women will be hampered. Women's groups at the community level have almost no money to operate, yet the Council will likely be forced to charge them for the information and workshops it has always provided for free.

Women's groups, especially those just starting out, want and need help with board development, proposal writing, workshops on self-esteem, healthy parenting, healthy relationships, family violence, but the Council's already tiny budget for the community worker to give workshops will be cut. Often the Council helps these groups access sources of money outside of the NWT, but that will also be reduced. Staff of women's organizations already earn less than equivalent government positions, and putting long hours of voluntary overtime because of their dedication, yet because some expenses are fixed, the organizations will have to look at more than 10 percent cut to salaries, when the government only asked their staff to take 6.25 percent. I would like to seek unanimous consent to conclude my statement, Mr. Speaker, thank you.

Thank you. The honourable Member for Hay River is requesting unanimous consent to conclude her statement. Are there any nays? No nays. Conclude your statement, please. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Women are asking, are these cuts fair? Women are wondering what this says about this government's stated commitment to work for women's equality, when it is willing to place so little value on the work of women who are working for women. Mr. Speaker, I hope this Legislature will reconsider its decision to cut women's program funding by ten percent. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you. Members' statements. The honourable Member for Iqaluit, Mr. Picco.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, good representation usually brings good government. This morning I spent over an hour and a half attempting to download information on William Shakespeare. There were 1,832 matches for the site. Mr. Speaker, I will now give an overview of William Shakespeare's play, Julius Caesar. The three villains in the play, Julius Caesar, are Cassius, Brutus and Anthony through the use of their rhetoric and deceitfulness. Cassius is the first character that really stands out as a villain. He uses his craftiness early on in the play to win Brutus to the conspirator's side. "If I have a veil, my look, I turn the trouble of my countenance merely upon myself". Brutus, Act I, scene II. Cassius is consumed with jealousy. His talent for rhetoric is displayed when Cassius goes to any means necessary to convince both the other conspirators and the crowd that Caesar was a totalitarian dictator. Another villain of Julius Caesar is Brutus. The only reason that Brutus fits into the category of a villain is because of the way he betrays a friend. Brutus could have handled Caesar his own way. He did not have to give in to the crowd, so instead of working out a solution himself, he gave into a solution that would yes, solve the problem but would take a man's life as pay out.

The last villain in Julius Caesar is Anthony. Anthony takes a severe turn for the worse after Caesar dies. While Caesar is alive, he is a very loyal and just to his friend who he appears to admire and respect, but when he sees the opening for power, he does a 180 degrees turn.

What epitomizes this is when he trades his cousin's life for an uncle. I do not believe that Julius Caesar had a snowball's chance in Hades to actually live the rest of his life. When he became that successful, he signed his own death warrant. The three villains who helped him sign that warrant were Cassius, Brutus and Anthony. All doing it for the good of Rome.

Mr. Speaker, my point, of course, is that the information highway and modern technology, the Minister of Education is hoping will replace books is a long way off. The same information, I just read out, would have taken me about five minutes using the tried and true Dewey Decimal system to find and research as facilitated by the regional local libraries and librarians who will not be there if the proposed layoffs and reductions continue. Et tu, Assembly? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

-- Applause

Members' statements. Item 4, returns to oral questions. Mr. Todd.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I have a return to an oral question asked by Mr. Henry on January 23, with respect to the chair of the Liquor Licensing Board. Mr. Speaker, I have been informed that a letter was indeed sent to Mr. Williams on December 10, 1996, by the former Minister responsible for the Liquor Licensing Board, the Honourable Jim Antoine, informing Mr. Williams that his appointment was revoked effective December 13, 1996. Unfortunately, this letter was returned undelivered by the post office. Mr. Williams is therefore correct that he did not receive official written notification of the termination of his appointment. Mr. Speaker, I again wish to apologize to Mr. Williams for this unfortunate situation, as I indicated in my earlier response to Mr. Henry. This is not an acceptable standard and it should not have happened. I will ensure that a new letter is immediately sent to Mr. Williams, advising him of these developments, and I sincerely hope that he will accept my apology on behalf of myself, the former Minister Mr. Antoine, and the Government of the Northwest Territories. Thank you.

-- Applause

Thank you, Mr. Todd. Returns to oral questions. Madame Thompson.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I have two returns to oral questions. The first one was asked by Mr. Barnabas on November 29, 1996, that is of the EDO transfer to Arctic Bay community empowerment. A letter was sent to the Member on December 12, 1996 during session break to advise him of the situation in Arctic Bay. I stated in the letter the municipal office is fairly new having been completed in 1993. It is able to accommodate perhaps two more people. In addition, there is a possibility that some GNWT office space might become available for the hamlet depending on the nature of future program transfers. The Economic Development Division of the Department of Resources, Wildlife and Economic Development is working with the hamlet on the transfer of the economic development function. A draft agreement was provided to the hamlet on Friday, January 24, 1997. Our superintendent in Iqaluit is continuing to facilitate the community empowerment process and will work with the community and departments in the Baffin Region on program transfers.

I have another return to an oral question asked by Mr. Erasmus on January 28, the question of the ADM for community empowerment. I am able to advise the Member and this House that four candidates were interviewed for the position of assistant deputy minister, Community Development and Empowerment. Two candidates were northern applicants; two candidates were southern Canadian applicants. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, honourable Minister. Returns to oral questions. Are there further returns to oral questions? Item 5, recognition of visitors in the gallery. Mr. Ootes.

Thank you. Welcome to the Assembly. Recognition of visitors in the gallery, Mr. Krutko.

Welcome to the House. Recognition of visitors in the gallery. Mr. Miltenberger.

Thank you, Mr. Miltenberger. That was very kind of you but unfortunately, they are not here. Thank you anyway. Recognition of visitors in the gallery. Item 6, oral questions. Mr. Picco.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I understand that the proposed new funding formula for libraries seems to be very unfair on several levels. Using a formula based solely on population fails to recognize the higher costs

in Nunavut and the dis-economies of scale of providing services to smaller communities. The result is that Yellowknife, yes Yellowknife, the richest community in the Northwest Territories, will have its funding increased at the expense of every other community which currently has a library. In total, funding for communities in the western Northwest Territories, will increase by $100 thousand, while funding for communities in Nunavut, will decrease by $60 thousand. This is not acceptable, Mr. Speaker. This method of calculating funding levels sets a very dangerous precedent in the division of the Northwest Territories' assets and liabilities. Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Honourable Minister of Education, Culture and Employment. Can he explain this formula for me?

Thank you. The Honourable Minister for Education, Culture and Employment, Mr. Dent.

Thank you. Supplementary, Mr. Picco.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. There are proposals and then there are prophecies. Some times the prophecy follows the proposal. After saying that, someone else once said that you can find any word in the dictionary, but only if you know how to spell it first. This is the same for the Internet. You have to know how to use it before you can get information from it. So, my question to the Minister is, we do not have supportive regional librarians, and you are reducing the funding as supposedly proposed, can the Minister explain to me who will be providing these supportive services at the community level?

Thank you, Mr. Picco. Mr. Dent.

Thank you. Supplementary, Mr. Picco.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, it is very hard to argue against the Minister when he says that this debate, I should not use the word argue because I am not trying to argue, when he says, and probably rightfully so, that those positions will be eliminated. What does that mean when he says eliminated? I have to ask. Does that mean we are not going to have any libraries? Because a library is more than just the people, it is also the services that these people are providing. It is my understanding, Mr. Speaker, that there is a possible increase to the Yellowknife library budget. Part of this is supposed to go towards supporting interlibrary services in the east. However, I understand the Yellowknife library has a policy that they service their clients first and then send materials out. Can the Minister explain how increasing funding to the Yellowknife library will help provide better services to the Baffin and Keewatin communities, which he is telling me will not suffer? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you. I would like to remind all the Members of this House that question period is there to seek information, not to provoke debate. Secondly, I would also like to remind all the Members of this House, when you ask an initial question, you are allowed preamble. Supplementaries you do not need to come up with a preamble. Mr. Dent.

Thank you. At the same time, I would like to remind the Ministers that are responding to Members to try to be concise with the answer.

Mr. Picco, final supplementary.

Thank you. My final supplementary then. If there are no proposed changes, then what is this proposal that he is looking at? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you. The honourable Minister Dent.

Thank you. Oral questions. Mr. Krutko.

Thank you, Mr. Krutko. I am informed that perhaps it should have been a written question, but I will allow the honourable Mr. Antoine, the Minister for Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Constitutional Affairs. Mr. Antoine.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, you are right it is a detailed question and I do not have the figures at my finger tips so, I would like to take this question as notice and provide the answer at a later time. Thank you.

Thank you. The honourable Minister is taking the question as notice. Oral questions. Mr. Ootes.

Thank you, Mr. Ootes. Mr. Arlooktoo.

Mr. Speaker, the process is that, when a contractor that has bid on a project is unsuccessful, the Department of Public Works writes letters to all unsuccessful bidders on who the winner was and they are given an opportunity to ask questions or ask for clarifications and at that point in time the department is available to discuss the pros and cons of their proposal.

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

Thank you. The honourable Minister for Public Works and Services, Mr. Arlooktoo.

Mr. Speaker, if there is a specific contract that the Member is talking about I would be interested in perhaps getting the file and looking into it. As I said, the process was that if an unsuccessful contractor is interested in how they did and wishes to talk to the people that appraised their proposal and get comments and feedback on how they did and how they can improve, they can in fact do that.

Thank you. Supplementary, Mr. Ootes.

Thank you. The honourable Minister for Public Works and Services, Mr. Arlooktoo.

Mr. Speaker, I can certainly look into that. The unsuccessful bidders can, in fact, go and talk with the Public Works and Services staff about their own proposal, but a lot of the times the information in those documents is privileged and confidential, therefore we do not make them available to any others. But I will look into the Member's concerns.

Thank you. Final supplementary, Mr. Ootes.

Thank you. Mr. Minister, Mr. Arlooktoo.

Mr. Speaker, there is a process in place and the prices that individual contractors put forward are in fact made public as far as I understand. However, bid documents often contain very private and confidential matters about individual companies, and that was the area that I was talking about. There are changes required to the process on how some of the things are given out to companies. I will look into those concerns.

Thank you. Oral questions. Honourable Member for Hay River, Mrs. Groenewegen.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The NWT Teachers' Association has filed a petition with the federal government asking for the overturn of the GNWT's Public Service Act, which was recently used to impose a new contract on teachers. It is my understanding that the president of the association, Pat Thomas, has indicated that the petition represents an effort to take every step possible to get an acceptable contract for the teachers. I wonder if the Minister of Finance could please advise the House of the current status of this government's response to that most recent action? Thank you.

The Honourable Minister responsible for Financial Management Board, Mr. Todd.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. We have no response. The NWTTA has filed an appeal to the federal Cabinet to overturn legislation and I say good luck to them.

Thank you. Oral questions. Supplementary, Mrs. Groenewegen.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I understand that the contract with the NWT Teachers' Association is just one of several contracts that are negotiated with territorial employees and the public service, and I was wondering if this is the last and only outstanding contract to be dealt with? Thank you.

Thank you. The Honourable Minister, Mr. Todd.

Yes, thank you, Mr. Speaker. Well, as you know, we did make an arrangement with the UNW earlier in the year. My understanding is that the NWT Power Corporation has finalized their negotiations and the union is seeking ratification for that. We do not know what the result will be of that. I am advised that their union is going to recommend that the changes that they negotiated, subject to the NWT Power Corporation ratifying their agreement, the only agreement left would be the NWT Teachers' Association.

Thank you. Oral questions. The honourable Member for High Arctic, Mr. Barnabas.

(Translation) Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I have a question to direct to the honourable Member Charles Dent, Minister of Education, Culture, and Employment. (Translation ends) student financial assistance. Can the Minister for Education and Cultural Careers confirm this? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you. The Honourable Minister for Education, Culture, and Employment, Mr. Dent.

Thank you. Mr. Barnabas, supplementary.

Can the Minister tell this House who he will be consulting with in his department? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you. Mr. Dent.