Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I would like to clarify that while I said that the department here in Yellowknife has no specific programs, I know from meetings that I have had with the board here and the one in Fort Smith at this point, that, in fact, the local DEAs and boards go to great lengths to try to contact the parents, try to involve them in the running of the school and meeting their children's educational needs.

As well, I have heard that from the principal in Fort Smith and I just met with the principal of St. Patrick this morning. We talked about that very issue. The department supports that particular kind of approach and I will be meeting with the board chairs for all divisional boards the week of the 25th to discuss that and many other issues. I think the department's role is best served as one of strong support for the communities, schools, DEAs and DECs to foster and encourage that strong relationship and two-way communication with parents and the school. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The Member raises an important issue, the issue of preservation of cultural and archaeological artifacts of the Northwest Territories. I would be willing to look at that particular issue. I would also, if the social programs committee wish to discuss that and look at alternatives, is the raising of fines the best way to do that, are there other ways to address the issue so that people are aware of the importance of the issue that my colleague has raised and more importantly, aware of the significance of the artifacts in question and the need to respect the history, the

culture and the land from which they are resting and may possibly be removed without permission.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I thank the Member for bringing that to my attention and I will have the department look into that as soon as possible. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. We know that this has been an issue that has come up in this Assembly and we have committed to look into this and do some work in the area of negotiated contracts and the Procurement Policy overall in this government. We have looked at the first phase of this, the negotiated contracts issue, and it is leading to the development of a policy that would be hopefully ready for review by this fall and brought forward. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, I thought we were going to get this report in March of this year, and now it seems it...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My colleagues just happened to make me chuckle there, so forgive me for that. I was under the impression that this report was to be completed by March 31st and now I understand, this is very embarrassing, but my colleagues are quite jovial. I guess it is the last day of the session that has made them that way. In any event, it is a very serious subject and I wonder if the Minister could tell me if it will be the fall before we see this report, and it is a very important subject, because throughout the summer we are not able to possibly deal with this subject in this House and, in any event, I wonder if the Minister could tell us if he may be able to advance that?

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As I stated earlier, this work that has been done was brought forth to Cabinet and we have reviewed it and out of the work that has been done we have gone to the next phase, to develop a policy and deal with the whole issue of how the government procures its work and the delivery of that work. Our intention, when it is done, is to table it in this Assembly this fall and we hope at that time we can set clear guidelines for how this government does its business.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my written question is for the Minister responsible for Resources, Wildlife and Economic Development. Mr. Speaker, apparently new policy has come into effect in the past three years whereby forestry personnel has the authority to make copies of records to see who timber is being sold to by private companies. Reporting volumes is one thing, but demanding to know specifics of a market is another. I would like to know when that policy came into effect? There has been much debate of methods of inventory in timber stands. This seems to be an ongoing process. Is it possible to determine inventory by historic data, recent years' cuts and, also, how much does the department spend on this inventorying process? I notice there are contracts out right now and I would like to know what is being spent on it? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I have a return

to a written question asked by Mrs. Groenewegen on April 26, 1999, in regard to delivery of capital projects.

The contribution agreements require communities to comply with the Business Incentive Policy. Consistent with the spirit of the empowerment initiative, communities are expected to meet this obligation without the supervision or involvement of the Territorial Government. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.