The Minister of Education, Culture and Employment, Mr. Dent.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My question today is to Mr. Antoine, Minister of Transportation. The department provided a copy of a document, Mr. Speaker, on the Slave Geological Province Transportation Corridor Proposal, Environmental Scoping Information. I find it extremely informative, Mr. Speaker. There is a part in it that talks about the winter roads and particularly there is a winter road privately built by Echo Bay Mines, which runs between the end of Highway 4 and the Lupin Mine on Contwoyto Lake. My question to the Minister is, does his department, or is he aware of which department, issues the permit for the construction of that winter road? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The Minister of Transportation, Mr. Antoine.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, that is the federal government that issues that land use permit. It is not under our jurisdiction. It is under the federal jurisdiction. Therefore, they give the land use permit to Echo Bay Mines to construct this winter road every year. Thank you.

Oral questions. Mr. Henry

Thank you, Mr. Speaker, and I thank the Minister for that. My second question, Mr. Speaker, is does the Minister's department have any input into the issuing of that permit? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Antoine.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the Department of Transportation does not have any input or influence over that land use permit. What I meant earlier was that this winter road is built every year, but this permit is for a number of years. I believe it expires in about two years' time, but I am not too certain, I should check on that. It is a lengthy land use permit. It had been issued some time ago and it is going to expire within the next two years, we are aware of that. Thank you.

Oral questions. Mr. Picco.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Minister of the Financial Management Board Secretariat. I believe next week the UNW and the government will sit down in the next phase of the negotiations. I wonder if the Minister could update us as to the process for next week? Thank you.

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

Yes, thank you, Mr. Speaker. Well, as I have tried to say consistently in this House, maybe to the point of being repetitious and boring, the intent next week hopefully is, to come to an agreement with the union. It was the union, remember when we tabled the offer and took the pay equity off the table several weeks ago, who asked for some time to evaluate the offer and to give them time to review what their position would be. I am hopeful and optimistic that next week the union will see the value of the offer of the collective agreement, come to an agreement with our negotiators and move it out for a vote by the membership. I am told that should take somewhere between 4 to 6 weeks, I think that is how it works.

Assuming that we could get a positive vote we would be able to conclude a new collective agreement and put more money into the hands of our employees; hopefully by the end of this term in March 31, 1999. That is kind of the process that is underway. I would urge, since I have been given the opportunity if I may, I would urge the UNW to work closely with us on this. We have made all the concessions that they asked, I think most of the concessions we have asked them to. The offer is fair, let us get it out to our employees, let us put new money in the hands of our employees, so that we can get on with the job. Thank you.

--Applause

Oral questions. Supplementary, Mr. Picco.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Todd can be a little bit repetitious, but he is hardly boring. If agreement is not reached, Mr. Speaker, would the Minister use the power granted him out of the Public Service Act to implement a collective agreement? Thank you.

Mr. Todd.

No, I will not, Mr. Speaker.

Oral questions. Supplementary, Mr. Picco.

Thank you, that is good to hear, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, if negotiations are not successful next week, the first

part of my question was to ask what the process was. Mr. Todd did explain what would happen if we had a successful agreement take place next week. What would the process be if negotiations next week are not successful?

Mr. Todd.

I would like to think, Mr. Speaker, that is, as my honourable colleague said, a hypothetical situation. I am confident that common sense will prevail, that we have made the concessions that were required, we have taken pay equity off the table. That was their request not mine. The offer we have is fair and that the union at the end of the day will see their obligation and responsibility to allow the membership to vote on it. I have not even, at this stage of the game, thought that we would get to that situation. That is what mediation is all about. We try to mediate a fair settlement. We are trying to get more money into the hands of our employees as quickly as we can. Some of us would have preferred prior to Christmas, through unfortunate circumstances that has not occurred. We are in mediation and it would be inappropriate for me to determine how mediation will ultimately unfold. Thank you.

Oral questions. Oh, time is up, I got caught up. Question period is over. Item 7, written questions. Mr. Henry.