Oral questions. Supplementary, Mr. Picco.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, just for clarification, for example, in this case if the Minister is going to fund the first year, what is the difference in the consultation for funding for the second year? You are saying to begin with that well we have to make sure that the Nunavut government can commit to the second year? We have already had the first year, why cannot they commit to the second year? If this government funded the second year it is still a nine month program either way you slice it. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Dent.

Oral questions. Supplementary, Mr. Picco.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I guess my point is that we have already had an access program. If the Minister is indicating again that the access program is only a five month program, I am wondering what then the second year of the nursing program is, would it be nine months? January to March is three months. Nunavut starts on April 1 so is he committing right now with these funds announced that he is only funding the program from January to March for three months or, is he looking at funding them from January to June for six months? Is the program a five-month program or is it a six-month program, what is the duration?

Mr. Dent.

Final supplementary, Mr. Picco

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the Minister is telling me that he indicates that he thinks the Nunavut government can recruit students over the next six weeks to start a program in January that is going to end in March. He is going to run a 12-week program, that is what he is funding, is that correct? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Dent.

Oral questions. Mr. O'Brien.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my question is to the Minister responsible for Finance. I wonder if the Minister would give this House a brief update or tell us the status on the capital and business plans that are being put together now and the timing of these? Thank you.

The Minister of Finance, Mr. Todd.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I believe this morning the FMBS approved the business plans for the west and east. What is important here is that we would then move the western business plans if you like, forward to the Western Caucus for review. The situation in the east is slightly different in that we do have the Office of the Interim Commissioner preparing plans as well. We are going to provide our business planning for the Nunavut government, for the year 1999-2000 to the Interim Commissioner's office as advice to him and to his group. If they so choose to use that, that is up to them. At the present time they were approved today. They will be forwarded to the Western Caucus and the Nunavut Caucus, as well as the Office of the Interim Commissioner. Thank you.

Oral questions. Supplementary, Mr. O'Brien.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the Minister has indicated that the plans put forth to the Interim Commissioner's office are just primarily advice. When might the Nunavut Members expect to see these plans and have some input into them?

Mr. Todd.

We have prepared the business plans based upon the two new agreements that were recently signed both east and west with Mr. Martin, the federal Finance Minister. Based upon our best calculated experience in terms of where money is spent, et cetera, the Nunavut Caucus from an eastern perspective will be provided with these business plans tomorrow probably or the next day. We have also been sharing them with the Interim Commissioner's Office. I believe that is why Mr. Kunuk is here this week as well as a number of other things, the Nunavut Caucus and the business plans as we have prepared them, and what is being done in respect to the Interim Commissioner's office and his business plans. At some point there has to be a meeting and a consensus has to be reached as to how you are going to move forward with a business plan so that when the new Nunavut government gets elected, it has an opportunity to review it and, if it agrees with the business plan, approve it or not.

It is kind of an awkward situation in a sense because there is the Interim Commissioner's office out there that currently has the authority and legislative authority to approve budgets. Yet, we have an election coming on February 15th that will bring a new Nunavut Legislature that will ultimately approve a new budget, I would suggest, some time after April. We will provide as quickly as we can to everybody our best effort if you want, the business plans for the Nunavut government. It will then be up to the Interim Commissioner's office, Nunavut Caucus and others to determine whether these plans are appropriate and hopefully move it forward at the end of the day to the new Assembly once it gets elected on February 15, 1999. Thank you.

Oral questions. Item 7, Written questions. Item 8, Returns to written questions. Mr. Clerk.

Mr. Speaker, return to Written Question 5-13(6) asked by Mr. Rabesca to the Minister of Transportation concerning project to reconstruct Highway 3.

1. How much money has been allocated to this project?

In the current fiscal year, 1998-1999, the reconstruction of Highway #3 has an approved capital budget of $8,680,000.

2. Over how many years will this project be undertaken?

Based on current project estimates and funding levels, the reconstruction of Highway #3 from Rae- Edzo to Yellowknife is expected to take between 12 and 14 years to complete.

3. How much money will be spent in each of these years?

The department's expenditures on this project in any year will depend on the capital budget the Legislative Assembly approves for it.

4. Who are the contractors and for what portion of the contract have they been hired?

The department has negotiated contracts with the Denton cho Corporation (Yellowknife's Dene First Nation) for the clearing on the Yellowknife end (km 318 to 333.5) of the project and with Nishi-Khon Freeway Inc (Dogrib Rae Band) for clearing on the Rae-Edzo end (km 243.9 to 256.8) of the project.

The reconstruction work on the Rae-Edzo end of the project has been publicly tendered and is currently under review. The department has not yet awarded a contract.

The department has not yet awarded a contract for the reconstruction work on the Yellowknife end of the project. The contract will be advertised as a public tender on November 30, 1998.

5. Also, will local preference be taken into consideration when contracts are awarded?

In the award of contracts, the Department of Transportation will apply local and Northern preferences in accordance with the Government of the Northwest Territories Business Incentive Policy.

6. Who will be undertaking the right of way clearing of the highway?

The future contracts for right of way clearing on the Highway 3 reconstruction project will be awarded according to the government's contracting regulations and policies as they are in force and apply lat the time.

7. Will the Department of Transportation use the same principles it used with the residents of Fort Providence, such as local aboriginals negotiating the right-of-way work on the portion of the highway nearest to the community?

The answer to this question is the same as for question 6.

8. Will the majority of service work be done by local businesses?

The Business Incentive Policy encourages contractors to make use of local businesses and services.

9. Will heavy equipment operators with journeymen tickets be given first preference in being hired?

The successful contractors will hire employees who are trained and qualified to operate their heavy equipment safely and effectively.

10. Will the GNWT ensure that the benefits of this project remain in the north and in the communities that are affected by this project?

The conditions of the reconstruction contract for the Rae-Edzo section (km 243.9 to 256.4) stipulate that 90 percent of the on-site employees are northern residents and that 50 percent of the on-site employees are hired from the local community.

Thank you. Returns to written questions. Item 9, replies to opening address. Item 10, petitions. Item 11, reports of standing and special committees. Item 12, reports of committees on the review of bills. Mr. Picco.