Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I believe that I have been very clear as to my mission between now and division. I am firmly of the belief that the people of the Northwest Territories are entitled to a government and leaders that they can put their confidence in. I am on a quest or crusade to ensure that this government functions in as open and transparent a fashion as possible. In the days ahead, I will be speaking to the issues which could enhance the credibility of our government. Maybe it is time that we take another critical look at the merits of consensus government versus party politics. Maybe we need an ombudsman. Maybe we should look at the possibility of a comprehensive audit by the Auditor General prior to division to determine if long-term leases and contracts extending past April 1, 1999 are of good value or a VFM audit, as they are called, and numerous other ideas that I have and have had suggested to me. In response to calls by some Members about getting on with substantive issues, I want to ensure you that I consider the integrity of this government to be a very substantive issue which affects every other issue of this government. I have shown respect for the decorum and purpose of this House by raising many serious issues reflecting the concerns of many honest northerners. If our government is perceived to lack integrity, this does affect us all and it behooves us all to face it and deal with it. I am doing my part, Mr. Speaker, to get answers and I thank my colleagues who have also been on the credibility trail. To the highly principled other Members who have been very quiet, maybe it is time to get involved. To all of my colleagues, let us take our two new territories into existence on a ticket of integrity, credibility and equal opportunity for all. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

--Applause

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. This is in response to the question asked by Mr. Barnabas on February 17, 1998. It in regard to a number of businesses registered under the Business Incentive Policy. As of February 17, 1998, there was a total of 2,133 northern businesses registered with the business incentive policy monitoring office. The total amount was broken down as follows: in the North Slave, 847; South Slave, 429; Inuvik region, 306; Baffin, 187; Keewatin, 118; Kitikmeot, 69; De Cho. 91; and the Sahtu, 71. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I am very proud today to stand up and recognize members and the instructor from Mine Tap Training Program from Thebacha Campus of Aurora College. This is a course that was put together with the government and BHP to gear northerners to take apprenticeships in BHP Mine when it is up and running in the next few months. I have in the gallery, Mr. Speaker, the instructor, Mr. Paul Taylor; Craig Johnson, my son-in-law and father of my beautiful granddaughter; Glen Villebrun; George Cummings; Aleide Gagnon; Jason Landry; Ken Mercredi; Rene Mercredi, fine northerners, one and all. Thank you.

--Applause

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I too would like to recognize some members of the Mine Trades Access Program who are from the Yellowknife Campus who are here in the gallery. As the Member for Thebacha was noting, this is a partnership program but he forgot to mention that one of the partners is the Mine Training Committee. Members who are attending at the Yellowknife Campus are: Clayton Smith, Chris Dawe, Tony Dryneck, June Eronchi, Alice Sanderson, Peter Huskey and Patrick Goulet.

--Applause

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to recognize Pat Thomas of NWTTA being it is Literacy Day today and also the MLA from Thebacha, Mr. Miltenberger.

--Applause

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, today in my Member's statement, I referred to the lack of police presence in the community of Sachs Harbour. I was quoting from a letter I intend to table in the House later. Honourable Goo Arlooktoo, Minister of Justice has a copy of it. It says, we must know why the money once committed to police services in Sachs Harbour has now been diverted. Was this justifiable and can the new function of this money take precedence over the safety and the lives of the people in our community. The people of Sachs Harbour, furthermore, request the staffing of an RCMP police officer on a year-round basis in the community. Can the Minister respond as to the last portion of the question whether or not an RCMP officer would be stationed on a year-round basis in the community of Sachs Harbour? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the community referred to the Community Constable Program which they undertook and obviously residents were not feeling that this was adequate police protection in light of the amount of increased crime that has been taking place in the community. One of the things mentioned, Mr. Speaker, by the community was the increase in bootlegging, drug trafficking and drug use, which contributes toward serious crime. My next question to the Minister, Mr. Speaker, would be, I understand the RCMP is going to be responding to the community, but I wonder if there is still opportunity for the RCMP or the Department of Justice to actually go and discuss the problem face to face with the community. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.