Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I am happy to recognize my wife, Susanna Barnabas, and my sister, Nuterajuk Attagutsiak, and also my relative, Hannah Kanatsiaq, who are here in this Legislative Assembly today. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

--Applause

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

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I had better take that question as notice, Mr. Speaker, not because I do not want to answer it, but I do not have all the facts. If there is, in fact, as my honourable colleague says, an additional workload as we move forward on the issue of trying to seek an appropriate process of governance that has been under discussion for some time, we will take a hard look at that. I will take that question as notice and get back to my colleague early next week.

The question is taken as notice. Oral questions. Mr. Evaloarjuk.

(Translation) Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, during my Member's statement, I referred to an old issue which should not just die without any result arising from the concern. My question will be directed to the current government leader, who was the Deputy Premier during the tenure of our prior Premier, and I am sure he is aware of issues ongoing within this government and the responses which I have not received regarding the relocation of the grave sites in Hall Beach.

I want to know how he can help me pursue this matter with the federal government if the need arises. What is the process that I need to follow? For example, if there is an alleged crime or matter that was carried out, which the people are not happy with eventually you have a means of taking it to the courts to have it resolved. Does the Deputy Premier have any answers to solving this issue? Thank you, Mr. Speaker. (Translation ends)

The Acting Premier, Mr. Arlooktoo.

(Translation) Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I thank the MLA for his question and for raising this issue because I am sure it is a concern to him and to his constituents from his community. I remember this issue when the Member raised it in the House. I have heard recently that the territorial government had reviewed what happened at that time and asked the federal government for a response to this concern. However, I do not have the response myself at the table at this time. I will pass it on to him so that the Member can pass it on to his constituents. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. (Translation ends)

Thank you. Oral questions. Mr. Henry.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my question is to the Acting Premier, Mr. Arlooktoo, regarding his statement in the House today on the Minimum Down Payment Assistance Pilot Program. I would like to comment that I am very impressed with the program. I think it is an excellent initiative and extremely creative to attract or encourage, as the Acting Premier talked about, those people who are deriving an income from the Northwest Territories but not spending it as much here. My question to the Premier is, Mr. Speaker, how many dollars have been contributed to the program for this fiscal year, which I believe ends March 31, 1999? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The Acting Premier, Mr. Arlooktoo.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I thank the Member for his positive comments. First, perhaps to clarify that

it is not only a program for workers who work in the north but do not live in the north, but very much aimed at workers. If I could use an example of a family that lives in Coppermine and working at BHP, but does not have the down payment in their savings right now, this will give them an opportunity to buy their home in Coppermine through this program. Mr. Speaker, the total amount of the program is expected to be about $2.9 million, some of which will be from existing funds; but the Financial Management Board will be putting forward a supplementary appropriation for consideration by this House for a total amount of $1.695 million. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Oral questions. Supplementary, Mr. Henry.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I thank the Premier for that. The Premier used the example of someone living in Cambridge Bay, I believe, and certainly that would have the opportunity to expand the program. That individual is spending money in the territories now. My second question, Mr. Speaker, is there are a number of employees working and deriving their livelihood from the Northwest Territories, who as the Premier noted are leaving all the time. A number of these employees, probably the largest one comes to mind is BHP and Diavik. I am wondering, has this department taken any steps to make sure that these employees know of the program and have available documentation to make applications for it? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Arlooktoo.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It is the type of program that we had talked about for a number of years, but one of the triggers was the BHP mine and the concern as I recall, was raised by the former Premier of these fly-in and fly-out workers, and those workers that we wanted to have stay here in the north. They derive their income from the north and we wanted them to stay here and live here. So, the company that the Member mentioned is certainly a company that was thought of as a possible target and their employees. The information package that I have provided to the House and to the Members is a similar information package that we are giving out to real estate agents, companies, housing authorities and the like. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I believe a number of times when government has initiated programs that there has been criticism that the process of application is long and cumbersome. Could the Minister advise the House and the people of the territories that this will not be the case in this particular situation? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Arlooktoo.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. That is correct. One of the criticisms of the Housing Corporation programs, the EDAP program and others is that the application process is quite cumbersome in some respect, necessarily so. For this program, it is much more simplified, perhaps mostly due to the part that it is more open and there are less restrictions, partly due to the fact that it is a smaller amount that we give out as a grant. The answer is, yes, it will be a lot simpler to apply and to qualify for this program. Thank you.

Oral questions. Final supplementary, Mr. Henry.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I assume that there would be an application form. In the event that the application form is correctly filled out and the required information is provided to the department officials, does the Minister have a time frame of when the monies could be made available to the applicants? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you. Mr. Arlooktoo.