Mr. Morin.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Like I said previously, we do have items on our Cabinet agenda that are open to Cabinet Ministers, as well as myself. If we have any concern with how any Member of Cabinet is handling any issue, whether it be health, economic development, transportation, finance; there is an opportunity to vent, and there is opportunity to raise those concerns in Cabinet. The Member mentions health specifically. I myself, have had personal dealings with Mr. Ng on the whole issue of health in the Keewatin. I feel quite satisfied and he has my full support, as the Premier of the Government of the Northwest Territories on how he handles the situation in the Keewatin.

I believe the health care in the Keewatin is quite adequate and does its purpose. I believe the Minister handled it well and he does have, once again, the full support of myself and his Cabinet colleagues. Thank you.

Oral questions. Supplementary, Mr. Steen.

Mr. Morin.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. We have always encouraged Ordinary Members to raise issues and raise issues of concern in their riding. That is one of the main reasons we took the door off Cabinet, the entry, the hallway between the Ordinary Members and the Cabinet Members. I, again, will restate that if Members do have concerns in their ridings and they would like those concerns addressed, walk through that door, knock on any Cabinet Minister's door and they will meet with you and discuss those issues. That is what they are there for. They will try to help you solve them. Thank you.

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

Mr. Morin.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. No, Mr. O'Brien would not have the opportunity to attend a Cabinet meeting. He would have the opportunity to pick up a phone and phone the Minister of Health, or myself, or any other Minister in this government to relay his concern to the government. So, then we, as government Ministers, whomever he may be talking to - or yourself if you have an issue in your riding - would bring forward your concerns in Cabinet. Thank you.

Oral questions. Mr. Erasmus.

The Minister of Finance, Mr. Todd.

Yes, well let us be clear, Mr. Speaker. I indicated the Grand Canyon on a serious note to give some reference to the Members of how far apart we are in relationship to the numbers. I cannot speak to the numbers

publicly when we are in negotiations. I was never more serious in my life by saying that to illustrate how far apart the parties are. As I said to an earlier question, I am confident and I am optimistic we will get back to the table on February 2nd, for the second round. Hopefully, at the end of the day, we will be able to look at each other's positions and see if there is a meeting of the minds and see if we could come to - what I have said before and I will continue to say - negotiate an affordable settlement. If there is not, the ramifications are significant.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Last week, Mr. Henry identified the fact that many of the people involved in this particular issue no longer live in the north. Is that one of the stumbling blocks that is holding things up here?

Mr. Todd.

It would be fair to say that retroactivity is an issue. In response to Mr. Henry's comment, I believe he asked to what degree are people no longer with this government living in the south. I, at the time, indicated to him I thought it was substantial. I am working on that right now to be able to demonstrate to this House and to the public at large just how substantial it is. Thank you.

Oral questions. Supplementary, Mr. Erasmus.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Could the Minister indicate what timeframe he thinks it will take before we have this information, which he so graciously has indicated he will put before the House?

Mr. Todd.

I would be reluctant to put a time line on it right now, Mr. Speaker, given that we are trying to get back to the bargaining table. We are putting our position forward. As I said, I do not want to circumvent the negotiating process. I just want to be clear on what this government's position is, very clear, and an affordable song is the only way to go. Thank you.

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