Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I will

refer that to my deputy minister. Thank you.

Thank you. Ms. Ballantyne.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Chairman, no, they are not at this point. We are still at early stages in terms of the development of the proposal. It may end up being called something else. I think the concept though is that all of those groups that currently participate at the regional level, which includes the divisional boards of health and education in addition to the Keewatin Inuit Association, would continue to be involved. Certainly there has been no discussion about excluding any of the partners that are currently in place. Certainly we would want to see that kind of collaboration at the community level as well. The whole idea is to bring the different groups together not for any one group to take over for another. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

Thank you. Mr. Steen.

Thank you. Madam Minister.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. These are the same players that everybody have at leadership meetings across the territories. They are just having more authority to manage their funds. Thank you.

Thank you. I will now recognize the honourable Member from Iqaluit, Mr. Picco.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Just to follow up on some of the comments Mr. Steen had earlier made. I am going to have to review the Hansard just to make sure of what was being said, but according to the motion that was passed and the understanding, the Keewatin mayors had looked at the transfer of all of the Keewatin region infrastructure a complete control of all the GNWT capital funding designated for the Keewatin region and all GNWT operations and maintenance funding that could be attributed either directly or indirectly to the management of said infrastructure. After saying that, the question that Mr. O'Brien had made earlier on the decentralized model, for example under the centralized model of government today, under NIC, under Footprints 1 and 2 that the GNWT has accepted, DPW, as an example, would move to Baker Lake, Health and Social Services, Education would move to Arviat, MACA would move to Arviat.

So if you now have one group controlling all this in the region, the mayors' region controlling all this, then what happens to that decentralized model? Why would you have to move people, MACA as an example, DPW, Health and Social Services, Education, why would you move those people from Rankin Inlet to Baker Lake and to Arviat? Does that not jeopardize the decentralized plan in place? What would the impact be? There would be no decentralization then because there is no government then, because everything is under the control of the mayors or that society that we talked about. I think that is part of the confusion. Maybe we could have some elaboration on that?

Thank you. Madam Minister.

(Translation). Thank you, Mr. Chairman. The departments would move to the communities that are required to move. The leaders in the community, in the region just meet together and discuss how funds should be spent. The leaders would just discuss how funds are going to be used and, as I was saying earlier, the government has approved this. This has been proposed where the leaders in the communities are just working together to discuss how funds will be used. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. (Translation ends)

Thank you. Mr. Picco.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Chairman, if you are approving the funds to be transferred, like you are talking about. So under your model, you are saying they would just sit there, they get $300 million in transfers for all the operations and maintenance and capital infrastructure, then they decide the money is going to be spent here or there or whatever community you are talking about.

What about when you are talking about operations and maintenance funding? When you talk about maintenance? When you talk about, for example, the plans to build a new arena in whatever community. Who does that planning? Is that going to still stay in a decentralized place? Does it move over to Arviat as planned or Baker Lake as planned? I think that is the confusion.

The Minister talked about the mayors are going to meet in a very simplistic fashion and decide what happens to the monies allocated. Could the assistant deputy minister or the deputy minister or the director of finance indicate to us what you are talking about? What is the total budget you are talking about that would be transferred in capital and operations and maintenance when you say that?

I know, for example, in my region the hospital board alone has $40 million under it. What are you talking about when you are saying all capital monies? All infrastructure monies? I think it might be a good thing if you are going to hire more people to administer that, because that would be more jobs available. That may be a good thing.

Thank you, Mr. Todd. I am glad you heard me, you have got your microphone on. Anyway, maybe you can give us an idea on what you are talking about then? Just to come back with a confirmation because you never clarified it, Madam Minister. Would there be any job losses in the decentralized model, with the implementation of this plan? Would there be any job losses?

My second question on that same topic would be what is the total operations and maintenance funding and capital funding ear marked under this project? Even approximate numbers would be nice. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

Thank you. Madam Minister.

(Translation) Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I apologize. I am sorry that this Member is not able to understand what is happening here. I wonder what is not understood here? We are trying to work together and it seems that if we were to discuss funds that will be used in the region and if we are going to work together, we would be discussing issues such as funds that are needed in the communities. We would work together this way.

It seems that the region would be able to work more closely with the department, and the leaders in the region would be able to work more closely with the departments. The Members of the Legislative Assembly will have control and they will not lose any of their control. We are also not against the Footprints 2 report. It has been read. We are not trying to work in any way to not follow it. They will have to change whatever the communities want within the projects.

All the Keewatin communities will have to meet together to discuss what kind of funds will be allocated and how much of the funds will be used. The NIC report and Footprints 2 were in support of everything that has been recommended in the report. There are some different bodies that will have to meet together and discuss how the funds will be allocated towards the Keewatin pilot project and what kind of changes we will need. They will have to come up with ideas as to how we can change this initiative. This is the way we are trying to set up our current situation in the Keewatin.

The Keewatin mayors are also beneficiaries of land claims. They have concerns about what is going on within their region. For that purpose the mayors decided maybe it would be better to handle the projects in a coordinated way. In regard to the decentralization model the NIC recommended, it is very well understood by these Keewatin mayors and none are trying to take anything away from it. They would like to be able to make changes where they can make changes that would be better for their communities. We as leaders, legislators, have to deal with the legislation. We have the regional leaders that come up with concerns and problems. We have to try and work with these people. (Translation ends)

Mr. Picco?

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I do not know where to begin. I am just asking a couple of questions here. I am asking what is the impact on the decentralized communities? Are there going to be job losses in those communities? Can the decentralized model go ahead? That is what I asked.

No, that is not what I am saying. I am asking the Minister two questions. Thank you, Mr. Todd, are you the Minister from MACA? I asked two questions there. Number one, what would the impact on a decentralized community model be? Would there be job loss? If there are no job losses, and you say that in the House, fine. I have asked her three times and I keep getting back motherhood and apple pie statements.

I am not trying to be confrontational. I do not have the proposal in front of me. It has not been tabled. They come up with the committee one time. You said you talked about it at the Baffin Leaders meeting. You came up with a five sentence thing. I confirmed that with some of the other Members who were at that meeting. There was not a big display on the Keewatin pilot project.

There was no overview on that project, specifically at that meeting. That is not a meeting or a standing committee of this House. Let us get that straight for one time here. I am not trying to be confrontational. It might be the best plan possible, but I cannot tell that if you cannot answer the questions that have been put here.

I would be pleased to go over to the Keewatin in April and meet with the mayors. I suggested that to Peter Kay when he was here last week, and find out what was going on. I have not seen any indication of that. I wonder if the Minister could answer my question? Is there any impact on the decentralized model in the Keewatin region? If you are going to be decentralizing and down loading or setting up your regional government?

That is an honest question. Thank you, Mr. Todd. I would like the Minister from MACA to answer the question. I am not talking about control. I am sorry the Minister feels that I cannot understand the question. I understand the question I am asking. I would like to understand the answer you are trying to give. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

Thank you. I have Mr. Steen. Madam Minister, would you like to respond to Mr. Picco?

(Translation) Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Through our interpreters. I do not mind him if he gives this excuse that maybe we are not being understood properly by other Members. I apologize for talking too fast and the interpreters are not being able to keep up with us. I do not know how else to put this. What I am trying to say is this. According to NIC's report, Footprints 2, we all understand the context of this report and we are not trying to be against any of the recommendations that were put forth in that report. I hope this is well understood now.

During KIA meetings in Baffin, there were not only five sentences said. There were a few items that were discussed. If the Members wanted to get a copy of the minutes of our meeting, I can give them a copy. There were lengthy discussions on some specific items concerning the Baffin. Going back to NIC's report and the decentralization model, we are not trying to come up with anything different. We are just in support of these recommendations that were in the report. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. (Translation ends)

Page 4-11 of the 1998-99 main estimates, Municipal and Community Affairs. I have on the list

Mr. Steen.

Thank you. Madam Minister.

(Translation) Thank you, Mr. Chairman. The mayors came over to Yellowknife, met with us and said the ideas that they have been dealing with. They were not sure why the people in the west would be concerned about this when they will not be living in Nunavut when Nunavut comes about. That was a question they had and they were wondering why the people in the west would have a concern about this. They felt that they would encourage the people in the west if they had done something like this. I will be letting my deputy minister respond to his question. (Translation ends)

Thank you. Ms. Ballantyne.