Thank you, Mr. Speaker. We have been looking at that as a government for the Northwest Territories since we got here, trying to create economic activity. We have followed a very direct route. Number one, balance our budget, get our books in order so that the Northwest Territories is a good place to invest. You have a solid government which is going forward with a balance sheet that is positive and I think that is the number one step. Now we can get on with creating the jobs, and we are doing that by working with the private sector because it is the private sector that will create the jobs. We are also working with Members of this Legislative Assembly on initiatives in their regions that we would like to see moved on. Thank you.

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

Mr. Morin.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. We have been doing that with a certain degree of success. Through this budget, we have brought in tax relief programs, tax relief for businesses to create jobs. We have our infrastructure program that is ongoing. We have reduced interest rates for our business loans. As a government, we have made changes in regulations as well. We also have the Aurora Fund that we kicked off and started. This is all creating an atmosphere and opportunities for the private sector to create jobs in the Northwest Territories. Thank you.

Oral questions. Supplementary, Mr. Roland.

Mr. Morin.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Yes, the Department of Transportation is working on the transportation strategy. The only part of the transportation strategy that is really missing is the money. It is good to have a strategy, but unless we do have some money tied to that strategy, then it is not going to go very far. We have good intentions, but intentions only go as far as the dollars can make them go. So, we are working with the Minister of Transportation to ensure we identify the limited dollars we do have to put into that strategy. Thank you.

Thank you. Oral questions. Final supplementary, Mr. Roland.

Mr. Morin.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The Member is absolutely correct that is how we have to look at it. We could not look at, for example, the road from Wrigley to Tuktoyaktuk as a $900 million bill. We have to look at how it affects the economy and how we can budget for that over a long period of time. We already have a proposal in from Inuvik and Tuktoyaktuk people. The councils from each community got together and developed an excellent proposal. I believe it was $400 million for that small section of highway. The people in that area who know the country and their resources have said they can do it for approximately $40 million. That alone justifies us to take a closer look at that. We have to work with those communities to develop that. Also, Mr. Speaker, we are working with our southern counterparts, provincial jurisdictions, to get their assistance because anything that happens in the Northwest Territories has spinoff effects, especially for Alberta, Ontario, Manitoba and other jurisdictions. They all get a certain percentage of revenues when we create economic activities in the Northwest Territories. Also, Mr. Speaker, we cannot let the federal government off the hook. The federal government developed this country. They are the ones who put in all the airports, the Trans Canada Highway, the St. Lawrence Seaway, the railroad to connect this country from sea to sea. They have a responsibility in the Northwest Territories also to help the Northwest Territories with infrastructures. We have to also work with the federal government. Thank you.

Oral questions. Mr. Rabesca.

Thank you. The Minister of Finance, Mr. Todd.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Of course, I have personal opinions which I do not think I would be at liberty to say because as the Finance Minister responsible for the Liquor Commission, I must take into consideration all the northerners' opinions on alcohol. I think it is fair to say that all of us who have been in this country a long time, either through birth or desire, are concerned about what the intake of alcohol does and all the ramifications of it. I know that when I came to this country in 1965 as a 17 and half year old kid, I think at that time the age was 21 years old. Would it be appropriate to go back to that? I do not know. We would have to ask the public at large if that would be an appropriate approach to take. It certainly is not in any other jurisdiction across Canada, but I do recognize my honourable colleague's concerns. They are ones I am equally concerned with and certainly we would be prepared to have a tentative look at that. Thank you.

Thank you. Oral questions. Mr. Enuaraq.

(Translation) Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I will be speaking in Inuktitut. My question is directed to the Minister of Municipal and Community Affairs, the Honourable Manitok Thompson. The hamlets are allocated some funding through Municipal and Community Affairs. My question is with respect to the funding that is allocated to the municipalities, what do they do with the surplus? Thank you, Mr. Speaker. (Translation ends)

The Minister responsible for Municipal and Community Affairs, Ms. Thompson.

(Translation) Thank you, Mr. Speaker. With respect to the surplus that is allocated to the hamlet, it is left up to the hamlet as to what to do with them. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. (Translation ends)

Thank you. Supplementary, Mr. Enuaraq.

(Translation) Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to ask another question with respect to the surplus in the hamlet council. Would Municipal and Community Affairs be able to allocate more funding to this surplus if the surplus is taking place before April? Thank you, Mr. Speaker. (Translation ends)

Ms. Thompson.