Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to recognize Mr. Bill Powless, long-time northerner and also Rocky Parsons, a well known northern aviator and also a long-time northerner.

--Applause

Welcome to the Assembly. Recognition of visitors in the gallery. For the rest of the people who have not been recognized, welcome to the Assembly.

--Applause

Item 6, oral questions. Mr. Picco.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Minister of Health. It is my understanding that new residents of the Northwest Territories receive health benefits on their health cards from their own jurisdiction for the first three months of residency in the Northwest Territories. I am wondering if that is correct. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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

Mr. Speaker, I am not exactly sure of what the time period of coverage is. I will get that information and advise the Member. Thank you.

Oral questions. Supplementary, Mr. Picco.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, when the Minister is getting that information, I wonder if he could follow up, indeed, on the same area. I have had some calls from constituents who have been informed, if they are living in Nunavut on a temporary basis, let us say on a contract from September to June, for nine months, they are not eligible for the NWT Health Care card. That seems to me, to be a conflict with the inter-jurisdictional agreements and arrangements we have with other jurisdictions, provinces and territories. Could the Minister speak to that or at least, follow up with the other information that he has? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Ng.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I believe, but I have to confirm it, that the inter-jurisdictional agreements allow for a one-year transition, but I did not want to give him the wrong information. That is why I said I would find out exactly what the time period was and advise him on that. Thank you.

Oral questions. Mr. Ootes.

The Minister responsible for the NWT Housing Corporation, Mr. Arlooktoo.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As I indicated earlier last week, the new program is designed to be more open and flexible than other previous programs, however, I am not certain whether or not Members of the Legislative Assembly would be eligible or not. I know there are very strict guidelines about Members and Ministers entering into contracts with the government. This is an issue that was raised with me earlier this morning and I have asked my principal secretary to check into the issue. Once I have that information, I will provide it to the Member. Thank you.

Oral questions. Supplementary, Mr. Ootes.

Mr. Arlooktoo.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Again, as I indicated last week to a similar question, there are two parts to the budget of the new Minimum Down Payment Assistance Program. One is a little over $1 million from within existing resources that the Housing Corporation has been able to allocate for the start-up of this program and an additional amount of $1.6995 million, I believe, that the Financial Management Board will bring forward to this House in the form of a supplementary appropriation request. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Oral questions. Supplementary, Mr. Ootes.

Mr. Arlooktoo.

Mr. Speaker, I will have to check on that, but I believe so. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Oral questions. Mr. Barnabas.

(Translation)Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I am raising an issue of the question that has been raised to me. I have been talking with the hamlets in my constituency and I would like some clarification regarding the sewage system. I would like to know if the Minister of MACA.....GNWT has been taking off so much percentage and 25 percent have been taken off in some of these, so I would like some clarification from the Minister of MACA, regarding these issues. Thank you. (Translation ends.)

The Minister of Municipal and Community Affairs, Ms. Thompson.