Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My question will be for the Premier. It concerns a phone call I received today from a constituent and business person who is having difficulty or did have difficulty getting the government's central telephone exchange number. Apparently the service went into effect June 1st and when this person phoned, he could not get it from NorthwesTel, nor could he get it anywhere else, from any other government official.

I made a phone call to NorthwesTel. The operator told me there is no such number. I was able to trace the fact that the contract for handling this central telephone exchange was let on June 1st and it has been operational throughout the summer. It seems to me very important. People in the public and this business person are very knowledgeable of how to access government, yet he had difficulty trying to reach a specific individual within the government.

It seems to me to be very important that people be able to know what that number is, so they can access the number. Especially in the area such as Health and Social Services, Education and so forth. The public out there does have difficulties. The concern I have with it is, where do people get the number? I am told in Public Works they have distributed it to the government offices, but not to the general public. Could the Premier tell us if he will get his officials to contact, one, NorthwesTel to ensure they have this telephone number? I have confirmed they do not have the telephone number and I know it exists. Thank you.

I would just like to state that the number, by the way, for those who are viewing is 873-7500. That is the central number. My question to follow up on that is, will the Premier also ensure there is more done than just a telephone call to NorthwesTel. It is important for the public to know this, across the territory, and we should have an advertising

program of some sorts. I mean we are spending all sorts of money on advertising in other ways, surely we could spend some money to let the public know how to access the government. Will the Premier undertake this initiative to get it done? Thank you.

I do not think the number is going to be published in the telephone directory until the release of the new book, which will be in march. It is important and I want to again, ask the Minister if perhaps if they are not going to do paid advertising, perhaps they could get NorthwesTel to put it on their telephone bills to Northwest Territories residents or somewhere, so we do get this out. Just simply sending it to the government offices, I do not think is adequate, Mr. Speaker. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my question at this time would be directed to the Minister responsible for the NwT Power Corporation. Mr. Speaker, concerns have come my way regarding a statement believed to be made by the Minister, regarding the Power Corporation and its plans for division. Could the Minister inform us here in the House what the process is and where it lies today. I believe the main concern is the focus is on the coalition and the Interim Commissioner's office and whether there was agreement or not and where it is proceeding to date. Could the Minister inform us to where the whole process lies? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, in talking to the Western Coalition, to Members of this House and in statements I made earlier this week at Prospects North, I tried to indicate the process is still continuing to unfold, and I still hold some hope we will be able to keep the corporation together. Although I have indicated I am not optimistic, given the positions that have been taken. The position of the Government of the Northwest Territories is in line with that of the Western Coalition, when it comes to governance of the corporation: that being done at arms length. That does seem to be at odds with the position taken by the Office of the Interim Commissioner, which sees the corporation being used for economic and social purposes, as well as providing power. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.