Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I am not certain if we have an actual policy to cover these types of situations. I know they are serious situations and we are in the process of, as I indicated, as a government coordinating a response and coordinating some supports that we feel will be able to assist the individuals involved, Mr. Speaker. Thank you.

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

Mr. Ng.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, we most definitely will. As I indicated, they have been a part of the preliminary discussions with representation across, not just our government but the federal government as well. Thank you.

Thank you. Oral questions. Mr. O'Brien.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my question is to the Minister responsible for Health and Social Services. Mr. Speaker, prior to Christmas I asked the question of the Minister as to why Mr. Gordon Main of Arviat was not officially approved as a board member for the local health board, regional health board. The Minister indicated that, I believe, on the 2nd of December that it was going through the Cabinet for discussion or approval. Mr. Speaker, as a result, some 50 days later, Mr. Main still has not been approved by the Minister's office, and as such, can attend the meetings of the regional health board but is not a voting member. I would like to ask the Minister why is it taking this length of time to approve Mr. Main in this position. Thank you.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I am not certain today if Mr. Main has been appointed or not. I know there was a whole back log of appointments due to go through. I will commit to checking on that today and getting back to the Member as soon as possible tomorrow. Thank you.

Thank you. Oral questions. Supplementary, Mr. O'Brien.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, it is my understanding that there had been a number of appointments recently. I recall that in the Baffin, within a week or so, they appointed a chair person. I believe recently also in Rankin Inlet, there has been an appointment to the board, a local person. I believe recently, also in Rankin Inlet there has been an appointment to the board, a local person and once again, I would ask the Minister, is it normal for it to take approximately four months for an appointment of this nature to take place? Thank you.

Mr. Ng.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, it is not normal for an appointment to take that long. As I indicated, if it is stuck or something has happened, I apologize for the delay in the appointment of Mr. Main and I will find out exactly what the status is. Thank you.

Thank you. Oral questions. Supplementary, Mr. O'Brien

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, would the Minister commit to a timeframe, so that possibly in the next week, he could confirm whether or not Mr. Main will be appointed or not? Thank you.

Mr. Ng.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, it is in the process I have committed to having Mr. Main appointed if he is the designated representative of the community. It is just a matter of finding out where the documentation is where it got stuck in the system or misplaced and making sure that it is processed and followed through, Mr. Speaker.

Oral questions. Supplementary, Mr. O'Brien.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, with all due respect to the Minister's answers, I am looking for a timeframe. Can he confirm that within the next ten days or prior to the next health board meeting that Mr. Main and the Hamlet of Arviat will know whether he has been approved or not? Thank you.

Mr. Ng.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I believe I told the honourable Member that I would find out and advise him tomorrow. Thank you.

Oral questions. Mr. Krutko.

Minister of Health and Social Services, Mr. Ng.