Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the Department of Transportation has been working on the highway strategy. We started off in June with the stakeholder workshop and as a result of it we have been able to establish stakeholder advisory committees for the three different strategies, the Slave/Province corridor as well as the Inuvik/Tuktoyaktuk road. We have not developed one for the Mackenzie highway stakeholder advisory committee. We are trying to get all the political interests on stream here, but these other two have had stakeholder committees established. We are anticipating that a meeting of the Mackenzie committee will be held in the next several weeks.

However, three studies are underway related to the Slave Geological Province transportation corridor. These studies include engineering, environmental and need feasibility analysis. These are underway. Two studies are in request for proposal stages related to the Inuvik/Tuktoyaktuk road. These studies include the environmental and the benefit cost analysis. You may have seen them in the papers. The department is undertaking the engineering studies for the Mackenzie Valley highway and the Inuvik/Tuktoyaktuk road as an in-house exercise. We are doing it internally and they are also underway. This is the status of the highway strategies today. Thank you.

Oral questions. Supplementary, Mr. Miltenberger.

Mr. Antoine.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The department intends to complete these studies by the end of the current fiscal year. We will have to get back to Cabinet at the time with the implementation plan of some sort, but we need to do these studies before we get there. Thank you.

Oral questions. Question period is over. Mr. Todd.

Yes, thank you, Mr. Speaker. I was wondering if I could seek the indulgence of my colleagues and ask for unanimous consent to go back to returns to oral question please.

The Member for Keewatin Central is seeking unanimous consent to revert to item 4, returns to oral questions. Do we have any nays? There are no nays. Mr. Todd, you have unanimous consent.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker and thank you colleagues. I have further returns to oral questions asked yesterday by Mr. Ootes, Mrs. Groenewegen and Mr. O'Brien. If I may.

The request for proposals (RFP) was advertised on April 20th with a closing date of April 30, 1998. It was felt that this provided adequate time to prepare proposals. Copies of the RFP were sent to 11 potential bidders. None of the consultants who were provided copies of the RFP requested an extension.

One compliant proposal was received and was an excellent proposal. There was no reason to cancel the competition and issue another request for proposals.

The proposal provided detail on methodology, work plan, the management team and costs associated with the management team. No costs were detailed with respect to the sub-consultants that would be required, as they had not been selected. The contract was not awarded until the sub-consultants were selected and the costs determined to be appropriate.

If I may, Mr. Speaker. A question asked by Mr. Groenewegen. Costs for the development of economic strategies.

It was anticipated that the cost of developing the strategies could be as high as $500,000. This not only included costs associated with the RFP but costs associated with releasing the consultants' reports to the public to generate discussion and public input.

The budget identified for this work does not appear as a line item in estimates approved by this House. A decision was made to fund the project internally, if possible and, if not, return to the House with supplementary estimates.

A further return to oral question with respect to contract to develop the GNWT economic strategies asked by Mrs. Groenewegen.

The dollar value of the proposal, with respect to costs associated with the prime contractor, was in the proposal submitted by Mr. Bailey. No costs were detailed with respect to the sub-consultants that would be required, as they had not been selected. The contract was not awarded until the sub-consultants were selected and the costs determined to be appropriate.

The cost of the proposal as submitted - $264,883

Add sub-consultants - total is $389,250

In addition to the prime contractor, three northern consultants are working on the project as well as two departmental officials. In addition to the two GNWT staff members working with the consultants, time is required of other staff to provide information as needed.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker and thank you, colleagues.

Thank you. Returns to oral questions. Item 7, written questions. Item 8, returns to written questions. Item 9, replies to opening address. Item 10, petitions. Item 11, reports of standing and special committees. Item 12, reports of committees on the review of bills. Item 13, tabling of documents. Item 14, notices of motion. Item 15, notices of motions for first reading of bills. Mr. Todd.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I have two notices of motion. I give notice that on Tuesday, September 22, 1998, I will move that Bill 7, An Act to Amend the Education Act and the Property Assessment and Taxation Act be read for the first time.

If I may Mr. Speaker, I give notice that on Tuesday, September 22, 1998, I will move that Bill 9, Supplementary Appropriation Act No. 2, 1998-99 be read for the first time. Thank you.

Thank you. Notices of motion for first reading of bills. Item 16, motions. Item 17, first reading of bills. Item 18, second reading of bills. Item 19, consideration in committee of the whole of bills and other matters. Bill 1, Family Law Reform - Statutes Amendment Act and Bill 2, Intercountry Adoption (Hague Convention) Act, with Mr. Steen in the Chair.

The House will come back to order. We are on item 20, report of committee of the whole. Mr. Steen.

Thank you. Seconded by Mr. Evaloarjuk. The motion is in order. To the motion. Question has been

called. All those in favour? All those opposed? The motion is carried. Ms. Thompson.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to seek unanimous consent to go back to item 15, notices of motions for first reading of bills. Thank you.

Thank you. The Member for Aivilik is seeking unanimous consent to go back to item 15. Do we have any nays? Ms. Thompson, you have unanimous consent.