Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, whenever there is a lease to be negotiated, usually the department goes out for a request for proposals to see if they can get the best deal. There is a process out there that the department follows. Usually in different communities and regions, it is normally handled by the regional superintendent. Thank you.

Oral questions. Supplementary, Mr. Picco.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, in the regions, it seems to be handled by the regional superintendent, the Minister said. What about individual departments under the user pay, user say initiative? Do they have to negotiate their own leases and increases are the same? Thank you.

Mr. Antoine.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, it is still under the authority of Public Works and Services in most cases, trying to get the critical mass and so forth for trying to get the best cost for the space. Thank you.

Oral questions. Supplementary, Mr. Picco.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I think everyone supports the idea of getting the best price, so that the taxpayers pay less. Mr. Speaker, my question is that the space that is being rented, the negotiations are underway and we just ascertained that the regional superintendent would be involved and under the user pay, is it safe to assume that the final say would be the department that is renting the space? Would the Department of DPW give them a rate if they had to pay? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Antoine.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the department does have a say in the process since they are the client department. All the rates vary throughout the different leases. Like he says, we are trying to get the best base rate and go from there. Thank you.

Thank you. Oral questions. I will allow you that fifth question. You already asked two questions in your last one. Go ahead, Mr. Picco.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, has the Department of Public Works said anywhere that there would be any increases in rents negotiated for this fiscal year? Have they made that directly? Thank you.

Mr. Antoine.

Thank you. It is a direction within the department that we are trying to go for savings rather than more costs. It is a direction within the department to try to go for the best value for the dollar. Thank you.

Oral questions. Mr. Evaloarjuk.

The Minister responsible for the NWT Power Corporation, Mr. Dent.

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

(Translation) Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Can the Minister assure me that he could consider relocation of the site? Can the Minister also tell me what he would do if there were to be an accident in this community, for instance, if there was a fire in the power station and other buildings caught fire? What kind of measures would be taken as the Minister indicated that it would take millions of dollars to relocate this power station. What is he considering first, safety or money? Thank you, Mr. Speaker. (Translation ends)

Mr. Dent.

Thank you. Oral questions. Mr. O'Brien.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my question is to the Premier in reference to his return to oral question regarding spending authority and authority for deputy ministers. It indicates in the return that there is no ceiling on the amount of dollars a Minister may spend and that he has pretty much full discretion to do so, to enter into leases and contract authority, which is under the Financial Administration Act. My question, Mr. Speaker, is that it indicates that the Minister has the option or he may delegate this authority. Does the Minister have to delegate authority in each contract or lease extension or is it a carte blanche, something that he is given when he accepts a position, that for the rest of his tenure he can make these decisions?

Thank you. Mr. Premier.