Thank you. Oral questions. Mr. Picco.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my question is concerning the Government of the Northwest Territories liquor warehouse in Yellowknife. Mr. Speaker, my question is, why would the government transfer an asset valued at $2.39 million to the city of Yellowknife to be destroyed or torn down to make way for another building? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Premier.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. This is normal, good government to do things like this in partnership with our communities. We have done it in many other communities. For the Member's information, we are transferring this parcel of land to the city of Yellowknife and the building will be sold. Thank you.

--Applause.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, is there something wrong with the present building? It was built in 1976, it contains 33,000 square feet, 7,000 square feet is the mezzanine. So it has 40,000 square feet and it is only a little over 20 years old. What is wrong with the building? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Morin.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It is a perfectly good building. Thank you.

Oral questions. Supplementary, Mr. Picco.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I am not trying to ask the question in a facetious manner. I am not trying to debate the issue. I would like to ask some questions on this area. You are talking about an asset of $2.39 million, paid for by the people of the Northwest Territories. I think we have a right to know what is happening with this building. If the building is perfectly fine, why are you trying to get rid of this lot to make way for another building on the lot? I understand the building would be taken down, if it is $2.39 million. Could the Premier tell me what is happening with the 33,000 square feet, the space for the liquor warehouse and the Public Works and Services warehouse and the Public Works and Services records that are kept in the warehouse? Have they been transferred somewhere else?

Thank you. Mr. Morin. You have used up all your supplementaries, Mr. Picco.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The liquor warehouse portion of it that is privatized and there is another one being built from the private sector to supply that to the government. We have other places to put the records and the building itself. The city of Yellowknife requested us to give them that land to put two arenas on there, I believe they are going to build a double arena. The taxpayers in Yellowknife are going to pay for those arenas and the intention of the government is to sell the warehouse and we will get paid for that portion of it. Thank you.

Thank you. Could we have some order in the House, please? Oral questions. Mr. Evaloarjuk.

Mr. Premier.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I will be pleased to work with the Member to try and solve this issue on behalf of his constituents and to contact the federal government. Possibly if he and I could have a meeting to find out, I believe we have on record the names of the gentlemen who did the work. I would like to know exactly when it was done so we can somehow track who was the federal government's contact person in the community at that time. We then can help his constituents build a case that we could take to our MP for the Nunavut area as well as to the federal government. Thank you.

Oral questions. Supplementary, Mr. Evaloarjuk.

(Translation) Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Can the Premier tell me when he will contact the federal government? (Translation ends)

Thank you. Mr. Premier.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As soon as myself and the Member have the opportunity to meet to get all the information. Immediately after that, I will write a letter to the federal government.

Thank you.

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

(Translation) Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Is the Premier indicating that he will be able to communicate with me first before he can get the federal government's response? Thank you. (Translation ends)

Thank you. Mr. Premier.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Hopefully, this week while we are in session, we can take a few minutes of the Member's time, sit down and discuss the issue so I have background on the issue and then we will contact the federal government and write to them shortly after that, seven days. Thank you.