Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The Housing Corporation will review the file. Once the banks have started the process of dealing with the defaulted loan or mortgage, there is often a chance or chances to go back to them and show them that payments can be made. I do not know if this is possible with this one, but we will look into it. I have to say, I understand what he is saying about the seniors, but in the end it is the client's responsibility to come up with the payments. We will review the file. Thank you.

Oral questions. Mr. O'Brien.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Minister of Health and Social Services and it is following up on a question I asked earlier this week regarding dentists.

Mr. Speaker, can the Minister confirm whether or not there is an agreement in place to have a full-time dentist in place for October 1st in Arviat, and also a full-time dentist in Baker Lake. It is my understanding from the regional staff that this agreement has been reached, but I would like to hear it from the Minister. Thank you.

The Minister of Health and Social Services, Mr. Ng.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I do not know if it is a permanent dentist position. I know servicing by dentist for October 1st is on the schedule, like I had indicated to them. Unfortunately, I have not had a chance to check on that matter yet because I spoke to the honourable Member about it, but I was not sure that he was speaking about the permanent arrangements for permanent dentists, but I will confirm that with him and get back to him. Thank you.

Oral questions. Supplementary, Mr. O'Brien.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, once again after speaking with the regional staff, it was understanding and that of the people in both communities that there would be a full-time dentist in each community. If that is not the case, what is the arrangement? What is the allocation of days that will available for the people of Arviat and Baker Lake to make sure they have adequate dental care? Thank you.

Mr. Ng.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, right now it is unclear because we have the medical services branch involved. The Keewatin Inuit Association is involved as well because of the aspect of coverage under non-insured health benefits. That is why I am not certain. There was an issue surrounding the acquisition of dental equipment that happen to be in the communities and if that was not available, then how to establish new equipment and facilities to support the dental practice and dental services that we are going to be carried on there. That is why I am not exactly sure of this date because negotiations have been ongoing. I will find out the current status and report back on it. Thank you.

Oral questions. Supplementary, Mr. O'Brien.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, would the Minister speak with the regional staff because I think it is somewhat misleading because people are expecting full-time dentists. That was the message very clearly from the regional representative from the health board that came to visit the communities.

Mr. Ng.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, as I had indicated there are provisions made to provide full time dental services for the communities. It is a matter of, if he is asking if the individual dentist is going to be based in the community, I am not sure at this point. That is the issue I want to get clarified before I report back to the Member on that. Thank you.

Oral questions. Mr. Roland.

Mr. Premier.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Let me assure the Member and assure all Members of this House this government does not use threats to gain economic access for our northern people.

We do state very clearly that we are here to protect the interests our northern people. If Members would recall, when BHP Diamonds first started developing their property and the mine north of Yellowknife in the past, at the beginning they were very clear, there would be no community benefit agreements they said. There would be no northern benefit agreements, there would be no evaluation of diamonds, there would be no access to rough diamonds.

None of those things were possible until our government took a hard line and said there would be no diamonds coming out of the ground unless we have that available to our northern residents. We worked in partnership with BHP and we got community benefit agreements for northern people. We worked in partnership with them and we got northern benefits, different pick up points throughout the north for our northern people to get employment there.

We worked in partnership and we got an evaluation plant situated in the capital city of Yellowknife. So, that happened. Now, we have access to rough. Sirius Diamonds is going to develop their business in partnership with the Government of the Northwest Territories. When people say no to northerners, northerners do not take no too easy. It is 1998 and we are here to defend the rights of our northern people to gain economic development from our resources. Thank you.

Oral questions. Mr. Krutko.

The Minister of Finance, Mr. Todd.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As the Premier indicated in his statement earlier this week, and I think I confirmed certainly the economic support for it today it is the intention to work out in partnership with the aboriginal constituency and the federal government our fiscal relationship with each other. In an effort to get some clarity to how we are going to go about these new developments and bring new prosperity and new revenues to the people who own and operate in this part of the country. Thank you.

Oral questions. Supplementary, Mr. Krutko.

Mr. Todd.