The Chair does not recognize a quorum. Thank you. The Chair now recognizes a quorum. I would like to remind Members that we start session at 1:30 p.m. Good afternoon. Orders of the day. Item 2, Ministers' statements. Mr. Arlooktoo.

(Translation) Thank you, Mr. Speaker. In a short 142 days, the Nunavut territorial government will proudly join Canada's confederation as a new jurisdiction, and it is only fitting that as the Minister responsible for Nunavut Transition Planning, I rise to provide my colleagues with an update on certain aspects of division as it relates to Nunavut Transition Planning. Members of the 13th Assembly have had the privilege of being a part of this historical achievement. We take very seriously our role as one of the three signatories to the Nunavut Political Accord, along with Nunavut Tunngavik Incorporated and the federal government.

Mr. Speaker, yesterday, you read out letters of recommendation from the Interim Commissioner of Nunavut regarding bills that are going before this Assembly to facilitate the transition to Nunavut on April 1, 1999. Besides being historically important, this is done in accordance with the recent amendments to the Nunavut Act, as well being done in the spirit of cooperation in Nunavut Transition Planning that is needed to get the job done.

Recently, the Nunavut Caucus held a critical meeting in Iqaluit. Issues such as division-related legislation and business planning for Nunavut were discussed. It was an opportunity for the Nunavut Caucus to meet in Nunavut rather than Yellowknife where meetings were necessarily held. As a result of this meeting, we agreed with the OIC that key employees of the Interim Commissioner's Office will attend before a future meeting of Nunavut Caucus to report on their business planning process and obtain our input. (Translation ends)

The first election for the Nunavut Legislative Assembly will be held on February 15, 1999. Many preparations are already underway and the enumeration for the first Nunavut election has been done. Having an election in advance of April 1, 1999, had to be done by special legislation.

While I was attending a recent meeting of Ministers of Justice in Regina, I was very proud to give a presentation on the single level trial court which will be the proud centrepiece of the Nunavut justice system. On April 1, 1999, Nunavut will become the only jurisdiction in Canada to hold such a court system. In the single court system, one level of court can hear all cases. I was very happy to have the opportunity to address these issues at a national level.

In the coming days, I plan to appear before a Parliamentary Standing Committee to express the GNWT support to further amendments to the Nunavut Act, that will smooth the way for the single level trial court system. Mr. Speaker, these are but few of the many issues facing us in advance of April 1, 1999, and I look forward to the continued cooperation of all those involved in this historic achievement, an undertaking, Mr. Speaker, that will see the first change to Canada's political map in 50 years.

--Applause

Ministers' statements. Mr. Ng.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I am pleased to announce that last Thursday, the Financial Management Board approved inclusion of $1.55 million in capital funding in the 1998/99 Supplementary Appropriation No. 3, for the Department of Health and Social Services.

Included in this funding is:

- a $500,000 contribution to the Stanton Regional Hospital Board to assist in the acquisition of a CAT scanner;

- $300,000 for furnishings and equipment for the soon to be completed health centre in Gjoa Haven; and,

- $750,000 for contributions to boards to address urgent minor capital requirements that could not be funded this year.

Mr. Speaker, the Stanton Regional Health Board, through its foundation, has been pursuing the acquisition of a CAT scanner for some time. Today, we are happy to announce this government's contribution which will bring this pursuit closer to realization. The Stanton Regional Hospital Foundation was

established to help meet the funding needs for medical equipment at Stanton Regional Hospital. Several pieces of equipment have been identified as being required. The CAT scanner, which is a very important diagnostic tool, is at the top of the list. I urge all Members of this House and the general public to generously support the efforts of the Stanton Regional Hospital Foundation in their continuing quest to raise additional funding for medical equipment. As Members may know, a CAT scanner is a system that reconstructs cross sectional images of the human body. The acquisition of the scanner and the establishment of a CAT Scanning Program will support and enhance the Diagnostic Imaging Program for the Stanton region. This will provide more effective diagnosis and treatment for residents in the region and will decrease the need for invasive diagnostic procedures.

In summary, Mr. Speaker, the proposed CAT Scan service will support NWT health care practitioners in providing a higher quality service:

- by assisting in patient diagnosis and treatment;

- by facilitating better decision making about southern referrals; and,

- by allowing practitioners to maintain professional skill levels.

Practitioners' support is a key ingredient in recruiting and retaining health professionals in the north, and many specialists rely on the availability of CAT Scan technology. Mr. Speaker, with respect to the second item of newly approved capital funding, I am pleased to say that the new health centre in Gjoa Haven, which will replace the present facility, is nearing completion.

In the past, the expectation has been that the necessary furnishings and equipment in an existing facility could be transferred to a new facility. Therefore, the department has not included furnishing and equipment for replacement projects in their budget. However, given the environment of fiscal restraint, the department has been unable to maintain an active minor capital replacement program. As a consequence, the equipment in the existing Gjoa Haven facility is in very poor shape, and a significant portion needs to be replaced. The recently approved funding will allow for this replacement.

Mr. Speaker, each year the minor capital requests that the department receives from boards far exceed available funding. Requests typically exceed funding by $2 million or more. Knowing this, boards only bring forward their most critical needs. The department is attempting to address this chronic shortfall and minor capital through the business plan. However, there are significant critical needs that need to be addressed now.

Mr. Speaker, aging facilities and equipment continue to place pressure on the health and social services system to maintain essential assets. The financial resources currently available to maintain the existing infrastructure have been and continue to be, insufficient to meet urgent requirements of the boards.

Included in these urgent requirements are items such as:

- medical equipment including dialysis machines, fetal monitors, infant warmers;

- other equipment such as hospital beds and stretches;

- upgraded phone systems and workstations in community facilities;

- renovations to facilities such as painting and replacing carpeting; and,

- vehicle replacements.

These capital purchases will ensure that quality programs and services can continue to be delivered. Capital equipment and facilities that are rapidly nearing the end of their useful and sometimes safe life, if not replaced or renovated, will cause the shutting down of programs and could even mean the closing of facilities. These purchases will also address fire and other safety code issues. Mr. Speaker, we all know that fiscal restraint of the past few years has had a major impact on our ability to provide quality health and social services. However, I am pleased to say that this government has demonstrated its willingness to recognize and address these difficulties by approving funding for these urgent capital requirements. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

--Applause

Ministers' statements. Mr. Kakfwi.

Ministers' statements. Mr. Dent.

Ministers' statements. Ms. Thompson.

(Translation) Mr. Speaker, Members may recall the colouring book that MACA released last winter, on safety around municipal service vehicles. This colouring book has been very successful. We have received many requests for copies of it. As a result of the overwhelming interest, MACA is now producing a series of activity books to children about safety. (Translation ends)

Our first activity book features safety around dogs. It explains the responsibility that dog owners and community residents have to keep their community safe.

Future safety books will encourage consumer awareness, fire protection, emergency response and safety around animals. These books will help teachers, parents and community officials to discuss important safety issues. I would like to thank the NWT Association of Municipalities for their support in distributing the books around the north. Mr. Speaker, MACA is working with its partner agencies on many other safety initiatives for communities.

We have worked with the Inuit Broadcasting Corporation to produce an episode of the very popular children's show, "Takuginai." This episode talks about safety around dogs. MACA is also working with the NWT Dog Sledding Association to produce public service announcements on dog safety. Mr. Speaker, MACA's other initiatives include our partnership with the NWT Recreation and Parks Association and the NWT Fire Chiefs' Association to deliver playground safety workshops and inspections.

New initiatives this year include the Play Safe, Be Safe Program for pre-schoolers and the community-based Risk Watch Program. Risk Watch gives children the skills and knowledge to recognize danger and avoid risks. Other public safety resources will include ice and water safety, winter safety, fire safety, firearm safety and safety on the land. Mr. Speaker, through the participation of our partner organizations, we hope to increase awareness of safety practices in all northern communities. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Ministers' statements. Mr. Kakfwi.

The Member for Sahtu is seeking unanimous consent to wave Rule 34(6). Do I have any nays? There are no nay? Mr. Kakfwi, you have unanimous consent.

Thank you. Ministers' statements. Mr. Kakfwi.

Thank you. Ministers' statements. Members' statements. Mr. Arlooktoo.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As we get closer to April 1, 1999, for division, we have increasingly come across many important milestones that remind us that this important date is drawing near. Recently, we had the Formula Financing Agreements, yesterday, we had the letter read from the Interim Commissioner's Office for the first time in this House, and today, I will be tabling letters from the Nunavut Tunngavik Incorporated president, who expresses support for these bills. We are in the process right now of completing service agreements between the GNWT and Nunavut.

Particular importance to me today, is the fact that the Clerk designates for the Legislative Assembly of Nunavut are here with us today. I would like, with your permission, to recognize them and personally, I would like to thank you, Mr. Speaker, and especially, Mr. David Hamilton, who has been extremely cooperative in allowing this to occur. Mr. John Quirke is the Clerk designate. Mr. Quirke is joined by Ms. Rhoda Perkison and Ms. Nancy Tupik, who will be Mr. Quirke's number 2 and 3, in the House of the Legislative Assembly. They have before them a very broad range of important work that they need to do for the planning for briefings, travel, helping MLAs select their Cabinet, and the Premier, et cetera. I would like to ask the Members to join me in congratulating these three individuals and wishing them the best of luck. Thank you.

--Applause

Thank you. Members' statements. Mr. Miltenberger.

Members' statement. Mr. Roland.

Thank you. Members' statements. Mr. Rabesca.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, today I hosted a meeting between the Western MLAs and the community of Rae-Edzo. This meeting was mainly to start a dialogue to gather support for my colleagues for the Road to Resources and other important initiatives that my community is working on, which of course, includes the airport project. At this time, I would like to thank the honourable Charles Dent, Mr. Roy Erasmus, Mr. Michael Miltenberger, Mr. David Krutko and Mr. Seamus Henry for attending this meeting. Listening to my constituents' concerns regarding this very important issues. Throughout this meeting the word compromise was said over and over.

On that note, it was agreed that in order for the Road to Resources project to go ahead, all parties must work together to ensure this project is a success. It is with this feeling of compromise, we will be planning another meeting of this type, which will also include members from Detah, N'dilo and Yellowknife. In closing, I again would like to thank my colleagues and members of my community for attending the start of a process that will benefit the whole North Slave region. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

--Applause

Members' statements. Mr. Krutko.

Members' statements. Mr. Erasmus.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to urge the GNWT and the union to get a contract out, so our public service members can vote on it. Mr. Speaker, this issue has dragged on far too long and it is affecting all northerners in many ways. For example, we have been hearing for quite a while now about the nursing shortage. If you listen to the radio, you hear about it. If you look at the papers, you can see it there. Turn on your TV, you see it there. Lately, we have had Members talking about it here. Some of our Members went to Tuktoyaktuk and saw signs up that there were fewer services being provided. Another Member spoke yesterday, that the health system is in a death spiral because of this. Mr. Speaker, the Minister of Health and Social Services has tabled a Recruitment and Retention Plan. This was put together with the help of health boards, nurses, doctors and so on.

Mr. Speaker, we have heard that community nurses stand to gain up to $13,000 a year through a new collective agreement that has already been agreed upon. The problem is the GNWT cannot pay those new salaries because the bargaining process is still going on. Mr. Speaker, I seek unanimous consent to conclude my statement.

The Member for Yellowknife North is seeking unanimous consent to conclude his statement. Do we have any nays? There are no nays. Mr. Erasmus, you have unanimous consent.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker, and thank you, colleagues. Mr. Speaker, this situation reminds me of an old story. The one where there is water flowing through a hole in a dike and the little Dutch boy sticks his finger in the hole and stops the flow and that saves his village. In our case, the little Dutch boy, or rather the little Scottish boy is ready to put his finger in the dike, unfortunately there is something blocking his finger. I urge the union and the government negotiators to hurry up and get something out for the workers to vote on. For the sake of our health care system, quite blocking the Scottish boy's finger. Thank you.

--Applause

Members' statements. Mr. Ootes.

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

Thank you. Returns to oral questions. Ms. Thompson.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I have a return to an oral question asked by Mr. Rabesca on November 9, 1998, Review of the Municipal Funding for MACA.

In response to the Member's question regarding funding for the community of Rae-Edzo, I would like to confirm for the Member that in recognition of the unique situation in that community, the Department of Municipal and Community Affairs provided additional funding to the community of Rae-Edzo for both the 1997/1998, and 1998/1999 fiscal years. The department has also identified additional funding for the community for the 1999/2000 fiscal year subject to the approval of the Legislative Assembly.

Based on the concerns raised by the Member for North Slave, the Municipal Finance Review is considering the unique situation of separate communities within a single municipal boundary, as in Rae-Edzo. I anticipate that this review will result in recommendations regarding such situations. Thank you.

Thank you. Returns to oral questions. Item 5, recognition of visitors in the gallery. Mr. Roland.

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

Welcome to the Assembly. Recognition of visitors in the gallery. Mr. Ningark.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I would like to recognize two people in the public gallery. One is Annie Clark, now a resident of Iqaluit, Nunavut, former interpreter/translator of this Assembly for ten years.

--Applause

Secondly, Mr. Speaker, I would like to recognize Atima Hadlari, Director of Language Bureau of Cambridge Bay in Nunavut.

--Applause

Welcome to the Assembly. Recognition of visitors in the gallery. Mr. Ng.

Thank you. I thank my honourable colleague for recognizing Mr. Atima Hadlari. I did not realize he was there. I, too, would also like to recognize Mr. Atima Hadlari as one of my constituents and a golfing associate. Thank you.

Recognition of visitors in the gallery. Mr. Henry.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, it gives me great pleasure today, to recognize someone I have had the opportunity to work with for the past ten years, and an individual that allows me to have the freedom to have so much time in this House, a member of my constituency, Mr. Craig Shenher.

--Applause

Welcome to the Assembly. Recognition of visitors in the gallery. Item 6, oral questions. Mr. Krutko.

Thank you. The Deputy Premier, Mr. Arlooktoo.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The Affirmative Action Policy was transferred to the Department of the Executive this fiscal year. I want to assure the Member, this government is fully committed to the principles of affirmative action. We have indeed taken action to try and involve more aboriginal people in the public service. There are on record many examples in the past where we have done so. Incidentally, Mr. Speaker, I am aware that the Premier has been preparing a document that he is prepared to put before this House. He has not been able to do so in the last few days, but I believe the plan is for the document on affirmative action to be tabled in this House on Thursday or Friday. Thank you.

Oral questions. Supplementary, Mr. Krutko.

Mr. Arlooktoo.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I recall that a committee was struck early on in the life of this Assembly to look at the Affirmative Action Policy. This was an issue of concern to many Members of this House. I believe that Mr. Picco, Mr. Erasmus and Mr. Miltenberger were members of the committee that was struck and there may have been more Members. The government put together a draft policy and provided it to this Assembly and gave it to the committee for review. The committee reviewed this draft policy and reported on it in June 1997. Since that time, there has been a working group established, there has been more research and recommendations put in place. As I said earlier, Mr. Speaker, the government is firmly committed to affirmative action. We have taken actions to ensure that more aboriginals are involved. We do need to balance the affirmative action hiring based on merit, et cetera. As I said earlier, the Premier has been working on a document that outlines for all Members

what the government has done and will be doing and what it proposes to do and that will be tabled later this week.

Oral questions. Supplementary, Mr. Krutko.

Mr. Arlooktoo.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. First, I wanted to respond just a part of what the Member had said in saying that there are, indeed, yes, many non-aboriginal people in our workforce and many of them are very committed, hard working and good people and many who were born and raised in the north. That is very important to us and we value each and every one of our workers. I also wanted to say that, in trying to obtain a more representative workforce, this type of exercise takes time, sometimes it takes a long time. If I can use, for example, the situation that is occurring in Nunavut where 85 percent of the population is Inuit and we had set the fairly ambitious goal of 50 percent Inuit representation in the workforce, in the general workforce, and management by division and eventually reaching 85 percent several years down the road. It is not the type of exercise that you can rush forward and push through overnight. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Oral questions. Final supplementary, Mr. Krutko.

Mr. Arlooktoo.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I know we have put together and provided those types of statistics to the House before and we can do that again. I would just invite the Member to work with us to put forward his suggestions on what more we can do and what other areas we should be working in. As I said earlier, the document that the Premier will table later this week will show that this government is doing a good committed job in working towards hiring more aboriginal people in our work force. Thank you.

Oral questions. Mr. O'Brien.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Minister responsible for the FMBS, Mr. Todd. Mr. Todd, in relation to the pay equity issue and union negotiations, can the Minister give us some more detail as to what the impact will be once these negotiations are completed, for example on the nurses? Thank you.

Can I ask the Member if he can rephrase the question. Maybe on what impact the nurses would have according to the Hay Plan or the new classification plan. Mr. O'Brien.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I will rephrase the question. Mr. Todd, what can the nurses expect once the new Hay Plan schedule is fully in place? Thank you.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As I indicated earlier this week to a similar question, if we can get a collective agreement out there to our membership and we get a positive response, which I am optimistic we will get, our nursing fraternity at the community level would get somewhere in the

region of $9,000 to $13,000 pay adjustment based upon the new Hay Plan Job Evaluation System that we now have in place. The optimum issue here is, will the UNW in fact come to an agreement this week or next week and if and when they do will they get it out to the membership so they can vote on it. I certainly hope so. Thank you.

Oral questions. Supplementary, Mr. O'Brien.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I am not quite sure if this question is appropriate given the fact that the negotiations are not completed yet, if Mr. Todd would comment on this figure between $9,000 and $13,000. If there is any impact on this figure, or if there is any relationship, to the pay equity situation, or is it completely separate? Thank you.

Mr. Todd.

There are two components to what we are doing, Mr. Speaker. There is a retroactivity to pay equity. If we could get an agreement on pay equity which, to put it quite candidly, extremely disappointed that we were not able to move as aggressively as we should have on, so there is the retroactivity from when a nurse started, in 1988, I believe this complaint goes back, to the present day. That is a significant amount of money for the nursing fraternity and others, and then there is the ongoing pay changes that have taken place because we have put into place the Hay Plan Job Evaluation System. I do not know if that explains it or not. What you have is, we are at the collective bargaining right now with the UNW. If they agree with the changes that we have recommended, and the monies we put forward both in the collective agreement and in the adjustment evaluation systems, then the nursing fraternity will get a significant increase somewhere between $9,000 and $13,000, plus some of the additional collective bargaining components that are underway right now. They will not be able to get any retroactive pay on the pay equity side, unless we get an agreement on that.

To date, the UNW has insisted that I decouple it, and so, if some Members of this House, and I, have suggested on a number of occasions that by decoupling it, the reality is, we will not get the agreement for years to come and it will be in the courts. My preference would be that we would move forward on both these initiatives, so we can put new money, more money, in the hands of our employees. Unfortunately, that does not seem to be the case from my UNW colleagues and union at this time so we are going to deal with the collective agreement and hopefully come to some resolve this week, or next week, get it out to the membership, let them rightly vote yes and no on it. Assuming that they vote yes, which I hope they will, put some money into the hands of our employees before Christmas.

Oral questions. Supplementary, Mr. O'Brien.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, we referred to the nurses under the Hay Plan. There are a number of other groups, of course, that come under the Hay Plan and I believe the only individuals that have been dealt with are the excluded members or government staff, I am not sure if that is correct or not. Can the other groups expect the same type of increases? Thank you.

Mr. Todd.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Let me tell you that we have already put into place for our non-unionized employees. The changes are necessary to give them more money and they are already getting it. The only reason we have not done it with the UNW is because, for a variety of reasons, they have chosen not to move it forward to the membership. Once it gets, and I am optimistic that common sense will prevail in the next week, that we will be able to get the UNW to recognize that this offer is fair, it is reasonable and affordable. It puts again, to the point of being repetitive, new money in the hands of our employees that they do not currently have. We will be able to get that out and get an agreement on it, and I am optimistic we will, and hopefully get money in the hands of employees before Christmas. Time is running out and the obligation and responsibility now lies at the mediation table and hopefully they will move quickly to seek a resolve. Thank you.

Oral questions. Final supplementary, Mr. O'Brien.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Todd, I agree that our employees should get whatever is coming to them and that is on the table. We have made some major cuts over the last few years to staff, programs, benefits, salaries, I am just curious as to where are we going to come up with all this money to pay the employees? Thank you.

Mr. Todd.

It is also important to point out, we also cut the less fortunate, programs and capital programs, et cetera. I want to say, quite frankly, there are a great deal of other people out there in the territories that beyond organized labour and teachers' associations, et cetera, they have equally took hits like everybody else did, including this House. We budgeted, and I budgeted some time ago, for both the pay

equity and the collective agreement, of $40 million. It is in the balance sheet, if you want, the income statements. That money is sitting there, waiting patiently to be distributed to our employees, should the union and UNW executive decides to have the courage and conviction to allow our employees to vote on what I think is a fair and reasonable settlement.

Oral questions. Mr. Roland.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, it has always been the intent of the department and myself that this is a replacement project for the Inuvik Regional Hospital and it will continue to be that case. Thank you.

Oral questions. Supplementary, Mr. Roland.

Mr. Ng.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, as I understand, because this is one of the P3 projects that is under the auspices of P3, one of those ones, that it is under the auspices of the Financial Management Board Secretariat taking the lead on the coordination of all those P3 projects. You can blame them for that. Thank you.

Oral questions. Supplementary, Mr. Roland.

Mr. Ng.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would have no problems in trying to clarify that, if indeed, it was our government that put out the naming of the project as a health centre versus a hospital in error. I cannot speak on the advertisements in the NWT Construction Association newsletter which announces those things because that is under Mr. Bushey, I believe. Thank you.

Oral questions. Final supplementary, Mr. Roland.

Again, to remind the Members that it is inappropriate for naming of names of people who cannot defend themselves in this Chamber. Mr. Ng.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I would say that for $28.5 million, it would be a lot to spend for a health centre. I will make sure that we clarify that for the honourable Member. Thank you.

Oral questions. Mr. Ootes.

The Deputy Premier, Mr. Arlooktoo.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I am going to ask our in-house computer expert, Mr. Todd, to deal with that question. Thank you.

The Minister of Finance, Mr. Todd.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I just discovered e-mail last week. Mr. Speaker, I am responsible for overall coordination of the communications strategy of the government, so my honourable colleague, Deputy Premier is correct. We do recognize the problem, as other governments and other agencies throughout the country do, with respect to moving into the new millennium, the year 2000. I do not have the detail of what steps are taking place, but we are clearly working diligently to ensure that there is some continuity in our whole high-tech communication system before the millennium occurs. That is being worked out by a number of people in the government and also in the private sector. Thank you.

Oral questions. Supplementary, Mr. Ootes.

Mr. Todd.

Mr. Speaker, I am not aware if we are discussing the matter with the army, the RCMP or anybody else, but what I can tell you is, we do have an internal committee in headquarters, and regional representatives and reviewing the existing systems and vehicles that we have for communication across the territories. I would have to check with my deputy and get an update on it. It is an issue that everybody understands. It is an international issue. There is a recognition, across the country, that something has to be done about it, we are no different than anybody else. We are working with a variety of partners in trying to ensure that there is some continuity in the systems that we have, and the services we provide. I do not know today, if in fact, we have been communicating with these other agencies. I will check into it and get back to my honourable colleague. Thank you.

Oral questions. Supplementary, Mr. Ootes.

Mr. Todd.

Mr. Speaker, we will do the best we can given the dilemma that we are in.

Oral questions. Mr. Steen.

The Minister responsible for Western Transition Planning, Mr. Dent.