Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, if this number of the communities are experiencing financial difficulties with their accounting systems, what mechanisms are in place to ensure that these situations do not take place? In other words, how do we avoid them? What regulations are in place to assist the hamlets so that they do not get into this situation? Thank you.

Thank you. Madame Thompson.

(Translation) The hamlet settlement secretary treasurers and their accountants receive ongoing training as to proper accounting practises and we are open to assist them within their hamlet. We look at ways of improving these accounting systems. The people that work within our department are required to report on a quarterly basis to the communities and to find out the status of the hamlets and their budgets and to see if we are able to assist in further improving the budgets, whether they are having financial problems and at times such as those, then we send our employees to go and provide training in those areas. Thank you. (Translation ends)

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the information I have in the case is that there is approximately 40 percent of the communities that find themselves in a difficult situation financially and that they were issued qualified statements or nonstatements regarding their finances. My question to the Minister about this huge number is, does the Minister find this acceptable?

Thank you. Minister Thompson.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The auditors issued one of three opinions on financial statements. A denied audit opinion means there is a serious deficiency and a qualified opinion means deficiencies or possible deficiencies in financial statements, but an audit opinion can still be formed. Unqualified opinion, good financial controls, and accuracy of books and records. What I have here is that as of March, 1997, 27 communities had unqualified opinions which means that these 27 communities had good financial controls. Eleven communities had qualified opinions. A lot of times this was because the money in the canteens was not run well, and that could qualify them not to be very good in their finances, but otherwise, everything is looking good. Only one community had a denied audit opinion and we are working with the community. I feel we are doing very well with the communities because we are training them, as I said. We are keeping on track. We do monitor them. I think we are doing great. Thank you.

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

Thank you. Mr. Speaker, my question was, does the Minister feel that with 40 percent of the audits being in trouble, is this acceptable? That was my question.

Thank you. Madam Minister Thompson.

The answer was the 40 percent that the Member is referring to might be just a case of the canteen clerks not doing their finances on the same day they are supposed to be reporting. Otherwise, all the communities are working well, and I am satisfied with how we are dealing with their finances. We are doing everything we can. We are working well with the communities. What the Member seems to be indicating is that 40 percent of those people are in very serious trouble when it could probably be just a canteen in the arena is missing by a few dollars. Thank you.

Thank you. Oral questions. The honourable Member for Hay River, Madam Groenewegen.

Thank you. Mr. Todd.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My understanding is there is an incumbent that is at pay level 25 and reclassified to pay level 22. I think there is a government term, they say they are red circled, which means that if that person is in the job, while they are in that job, they remain at that pay level they are at. Should they leave and the job is readvertised, it would be readvertised at a lower pay level. Thank you.

Thank you. Supplementary, Mrs. Groenewegen.

Thank you. Minister of the Financial Management Board, Mr. Todd.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Of course, I would like to remind my honourable colleague that while some new jobs are going to be reclassified down, there are also jobs that are going to be reclassified up. There is a fine balance to this discussion, and it certainly is our intent to make sure that each and every one of the members of our staff are aware of their individual situation and to manage it to the best of our ability. I would suggest to you that where the employees, of course, who are getting more will applaud us, those whose jobs have been reclassified down should have nothing to fear because as I said, and I am going to repeat it again, the pay level will remain the way it is while they are in that job. Thank you.

Thank you. Second supplementary, Mrs. Groenewegen.

Thank you. Mr. Todd.

I am not sure, Mr. Speaker, if on an individual basis, they have, but if they have not, they have now been advised by my honourable colleague's questions and my answer in the House where I have indicated that there should be no loss in wages on behalf of any member of this civil service whose pay level is maybe being reduced because of reclassification at the time. Thank you.

Thank you. Oral questions. The honourable Member for Nunakput, Mr. Steen.