Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, in view of the fact that the Minister has indicated that he basically supports this decision, at this point the communities are also requesting block funding so that they can maintain and operate this program as it exists today. Will the Minister be supportive of this block funding request to the communities? Thank you.

Thank you. Mr. Minister.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. No, not at this time because one has to recognize that it is a very broad spectrum of health services. We are looking at one particular, narrow aspect of the total health services that are being provided in the Keewatin as it stands now. Block funding of one program would not be conducive to efficiency and effectiveness in delivery of the program for the whole Keewatin, Mr. Speaker. Thank you.

Thank you. Final supplementary, Mr. O'Brien.

Mr. Speaker, the Minister has again declined to support the wishes of these communities. Does the Minister not see this request as a link under the Community Empowerment Initiative?

Thank you, Mr. O'Brien. Mr. Minister.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, perhaps the honourable Member is confused. We fund the Keewatin Regional Health Board as it stands now, that is empowerment. We give them block funding for a lot of their programs. They have the flexibility to make changes to the programs where they feel they can improve the level of service, such as the situation that is before us today that the honourable Member has mentioned in respect to changing around some of their dental services to enact what they feel is a more comprehensive and an enhanced level of dental service. The honourable Member's communities have direct representation on the Keewatin Regional Health Board that administers and delivers these programs. I would ask the Member to speak to his representatives in his community and have it brought forward to the Keewatin Regional Health Board and try to address the issue. Thank you.

-- Applause

Thank you. Oral questions. Mr. Steen.

Thank you. Minister Kakfwi.

Mr. Speaker, we had indicated that we would be complying with the direction given to us in the last legislature. Having discussed it with my colleagues, we had made a decision to still have a reduction, but only have a ten percent reduction from what the previous year's allocation was. There is, in fact, a reinstatement in complying with the request made initially by the Member from the

Nunatsiaq that funding contributions to the Hunters' and Trappers' Associations under the wildlife committees be reinstated in previous years. With the fact that all institutions and groups this government not excluded were faced with reductions, we felt a ten percent reduction from the previous year would be within the spirit of the motion that was passed at that time. Thank you.

Thank you. Supplementary, Mr. Steen.

Thank you. Mr. Kakfwi.

It says the time is up on my teleprompter.

-- Laughter

Mr. Speaker, the department will be preparing an information item that will be sent out to all the communities and appropriate organizations accompanied by the motion made, the initial discussions made by, for instance, the Member from Nunatsiaq, the motion in support of that, and the total allocation that was reinstated compared with what was there last year and then breaking it down to the individual contributions. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Kakfwi. We traditionally allow Ministers to conclude their responses, even when the time is up. With that, I recognize the question period is over. Item 7, written questions. Mr. Picco.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I would like to move that the question period be extended.

I have already called Item 7, written questions. The honourable Member for Iqaluit will have to seek unanimous consent to go back to Item 6, oral questions. Mr. Picco.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I would ask that my colleagues allow the public of the NWT to hear some more questions across the floor and would seek unanimous consent at this time to extent question period.

I am informed it is not appropriate to ask those kinds of questions when seeking a unanimous consent. You are using the public to gain the floor. The honourable Member is seeking unanimous consent to go back to Item 6, oral questions. Are there any nays? There are nays. Your consent has been nayed. Item 7, written questions. Mr. Krutko.

Thank you, Mr. Krutko. Madam Groenewegen.

Thank you, Madam Groenewegen. Written questions. No further written questions. Thank you. Item 8, returns to written questions. There are no returns at this time. Item 9, replies to opening address. Item 10, petitions. Thank you. Item 11, reports of standing and special committees. Item 12, reports of committees on the review of bills. Item 13, tabling of documents. Item 14, notices of motion. Mr. Kakfwi.