Mr. Todd.

We are obligated by law and by the collective agreement to behave in a certain way. I say to you that I think that we have acted honourably. We have provided in a concise, civilized and professional way all the information that we have brought forward. I cannot for the life of me understand why they are not prepared to take it to the people. We have to work hard to find the funds necessary to conclude this important long-term issue. On top of that, some Members of the House, who have every right to say, have asked that we try to reallocate and find new monies for a variety of other initiatives. There is a limited ability of this government because of its inability to generate revenues to be able to do that. This is a fair, reasonable, affordable settlement. Let the people vote.

--Hear! Hear!

Oral questions Mr. Rabesca.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, as I indicated in my Member's statement today, the Community Service Board has now been operating since May 22, 1997. Although this organization is operating, it does not have the legal capabilities to provide necessary programs and services, as a result of this government not having legislation currently in place to provide for this. As I also stated previously, I am prepared to continue with the final draft of a private Member's bill to establish the Community Service Board. However, I would like to get the Ministers of Education, Culture and Employment and Health and Social Services views on this. Could the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment, the Honourable Charles Dent, please inform this House as to what his department is prepared to do with regard to this matter? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The Minister of Education, Culture and Employment, Mr. Dent.

Oral questions, Mr. Roland.

The Minister responsible for the Financial Management Board, Mr. Todd.

The government is under inordinate pressure. You have heard the lobbying that has gone on by the NWTTA and the teachers, et cetera with respect to the need for more money in education. Nobody, including the Minister, is denying there is a need for it. You have heard Mr. Ng talk passionately about the need for compassionate travel. Nobody is denying there is a need for it. You have heard everybody talk about health care and the need for more money. Nobody is denying the need for it. We have a budgetary process. We have x-amount of dollars we spend. We made a conscious decision through committee and a collective effort to identify where the money is going to go. I am telling you today that unless we get the issue to go to the membership, I do not think it is going to be resolved during the tenure of this Legislative Assembly. I am trying to put it in the context of the overall fiscal framework of this government and all the needs that we have. We need to meet the needs of those who are in the collective bargaining system. We need to meet the needs of those that are not. We need to meet the needs of those who are less fortunate and do not have the capacity to generate an effective lobby. We need to meet the needs of all the issues which have been raised here and that is the responsibility of government. The process that we have dealt with is through the budgetary process. In the overall fiscal framework of the government, we have identified $40 million. There is no more money.

Oral questions. Supplementary, Mr. Roland.

Thank you. Mr. Todd.

We have said consistently and my Cabinet colleagues and the Premier have supported the position, we think this is a fair and reasonable offer. It was never identified before in the budget, rightly or wrongly. It was not there. We have identified what we think is a fair and reasonable offer on the retroactivity side, on the ongoing cost side and on the collective agreement side. We are banking that money. We will leave it in place. There are inordinate pressures on all of us. You have heard the Members talk about the need for reallocation of dollars, et cetera. If you are going to reallocate dollars and if Cabinet has to consider reallocating dollars for one particular program versus another, it has to be done in the context of the overall budget and the overall needs and priorities of government. It cannot be done any other way. Thank you.

Question period is over. The Member for High Arctic is asking to recognize in the gallery Cecil and Jacklyn Marshall, the SAO and EDO in the Hamlet of Arctic Bay. Welcome to the Assembly.

--Applause

Item 7, written questions. Mr. Enuaraq.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My written question is to the Minister of Health and Social Services, the Honourable Mr. Ng.

1. Will the Minister advise me when will the community of Clyde River be allocated more nurses?

2. Does the Minister believe that a 400 to 1, population to nurse ratio, is reasonable?

3. What is the population to nurse ratio in Yellowknife and other regional centres?

4. Will the Minister tell me if there is a specific recruitment program that will ensure more nurses and doctors will serve and reside full time in remote communities?

Thank you.

Thank you. Written questions. Mr. Henry.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My written question is to the Premier, Minister responsible for Intergovernmental Affairs. My question follows up on comments he made earlier today regarding federal bureaucrats in Ottawa making decisions for the north.

1. Can the Premier ascertain for this House the number of federal bureaucrats working on issues that directly impact the residents of the Northwest Territories who live in parts of Canada outside the Northwest Territories?

2. How many of these individuals have visited the Northwest Territories in the past 12 months? 3.How many days did they stay in the Northwest Territories?

4. What means do southern-based DIAND officials use to determine how the residents of the Northwest Territories feel on a particular topic or issue?

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Written questions. Mrs. Groenewegen.

Written questions. Item 8, returns to written questions. On behalf of the Member for Amittuq, I would like to recognize George Qulaut from Igloolik. Welcome to the Assembly.

--Applause

Item 9, replies to opening address. Item 10, petitions. Item 11, reports of standing and special committees, Mr. Picco.