Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I have been in contact with Inspector Grimmer and Commanding Officer Sweeney to discuss issues such as the one the

Member has brought up. Also, to bring forward other issues that MLAs have brought forward on policing, personnel and procedures, et cetera. What we plan to do is to offer a briefing to all MLAs by these two gentlemen from the RCMP within the next few weeks so there is a chance for MLAs to voice their concerns and for the brass of the RCMP to answer to their concerns.

Thank you. Oral questions. Mr. Picco.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my question is on pay equity to the Minister of Finance. Repeatedly, in this House, Mr. Speaker, the Finance Minister keeps saying we will pay what is affordable. To me, what is affordable is like my mortgage. Even though I can not afford to pay it sometimes, I still have to pay it. What does the Minister mean by affordable?

The Minister of Finance, Mr. Todd.

It is what we can afford. Mr. Speaker, perhaps I could try to answer it this way. We are now in a position in which we were not before. For a number of years we could quantifiably define through the Hay Associates Group, what we believe is a defendable position as it relates to pay equity and the job evaluation that was done and identify the costs associated with that.

I have said since this artless debate started, we are projecting a $25 million expenditure on the retroactivity side and a $9 million expenditure on the ongoing side, which should reach an arrangement that is affordable. That is what we can do and what we can fund by the prudent management of this government and its fiscal resources. Anything beyond that and certainly anything at the level in which our partners in the process, the UNW, are suggesting anywhere between $100 million to $250 million, depending on what you hear out there, simply is not affordable. What we are trying to say to everybody is we want to come forward with a negotiated arrangement that this territory can afford to pay for, that will solve this issue so that the two new governments do not inherit it on April 1, 1999. I think it would be fair to say, for all my colleagues around this table and the public at large, I do not think the government can sustain any further job loss or downsizing of programs and services we deliver to the people we represent. This issue has been going on for ten years. This Finance Minister, at least, has made the offer to try and solve the problem and has extended a hand of solving and negotiate a settlement, $25 million in retroactivity, $9 million in ongoing is an affordable settlement. That is affordable.

--Applause

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

Maybe I am the odd man out on this, but I always thought it was what we owed. If it was affordable on what we owed. I do not know what we owe, and he does not know what we owe, it seems. My follow up question is, have negotiations stopped on pay equity? Thank you.

Mr. Todd.

I certainly hope not, Mr. Speaker. It certainly would be my intent, in my public statements I have been making in the last two or three days, that we would like to negotiate an appropriate settlement. We are at the bargaining table. We are prepared to negotiate. We need a partnership to do that. We are extending a hand to the UNW to come to the table, negotiate an affordable settlement, put money into the hands of northerners in April of this year and let us get on with running the rest of the government. Thank you.

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

Mr. Speaker, my question to the Minister, is it not true that the UNW has said they are bargaining their collective agreement. They are not bargaining right now on pay equity? Thank you.

Mr. Todd.

That appears to be the position of the UNW. That is correct, Mr. Speaker.

Oral questions. Final supplementary, Mr. Picco.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Then who is the Minister negotiating with?

Mr. Todd.

I indicated to my honourable colleague we are extending a hand to our partners in the process to negotiate pay equity. I have said that since this issue became

more public than it has been in the past. I extend it again. We are at the table. We are prepared to put pay equity on it. If the UNW chooses not to, that is not my doing or this government's doing.

Thank you. Oral questions. Mr. Henry.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my question is to the Minister of Resources, Wildlife and Economic Development, Mr. Kakfwi. Some time ago the Minister provided a briefing note on the Western Harvester Support Program. I notice it is presently still in the budget at a reduced amount for the ensuing year. I also notice a similar program, the Nunavut Hunters Income Trust Support, was terminated this year. Can the Minister advise as to what he intends to do with the program after this year? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The Minister of Resources, Wildlife and Economic Development, Mr. Kakfwi.

Thank you, Mr. Kakfwi. Oral questions. Supplementary, Mr. Henry.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I will try a little short supplementary.

--Laughter

I notice one of the goals of that particular program is to promote the local renewable resource economy. I also know a part of that program says contributions can be provided to regional and community aboriginal organizations. Could the Minister tell us why, if the goal is to promote local renewable resource economy, why it could not be open to all residents of the Northwest Territories? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.