Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My point of order is the fact that the Premier has quoted from a document that we do not have access to, therefore limiting my ability as a Member to do the work that I have before me. He is refusing documents. He has quoted from the document, Mr. Speaker. He has referenced it in this House. I believe his obligation now is to table that document as it is. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Roland. I do not believe you have a point of order. I think your question was directed, "Would you table it?" and perhaps the Premier, in his own way, was getting to that question and you interrupted him. I am sure he was fast approaching the answer to it. So your point of order is disallowed. Mr. Premier, would you care to conclude your answer?

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Just to clarify a minor point, the deputy minister, or the secretary to Cabinet, Liz Snider, had made some statements to Members earlier in the session and I was simply quoting her at that time.

Order, please. I am going to have to ask if you would answer the question. We are beginning to sound like a debate and I do not think that is within our rules. The question was asked and I realize the Ministers can answer any way they choose, but it is now going beyond an answer.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, again, since the Premier quoted from the document, from the contract, I believe that now he is obligated to table that in the House. Will he do so, so that we can do our work? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Roland. The honourable Premier, Mr. Kakfwi.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I have been quoting what the secretary to Cabinet has stated to Members of the Legislature earlier in the week. I was not quoting from the document. I was simply reiterating what the good Member missed because he did not attend a certain meeting earlier in the week.

But let me be clear. The contract, as I understand it, does not spell out the roles and responsibilities in detail that the Members want. That is provided, in fact, through the ministerial guidelines, what an executive assistant does. So in that regard, the contract is of no particular use to the Members in any case.

But, the chair of the Accountability and Oversight Committee, on behalf, I understand, of all Members of the Legislature, has asked for certain information: classification of the position; salary range of the position; discretionary benefits; and, I believe employment responsibilities. And as I have said, we are preparing that information. So what is the Member's problem? I do not understand. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Premier. Final supplementary, Mr. Roland.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My problem is the fact that I believe I heard the Premier say in the contract where it states deputy minister should be executive assistant. Is he revising history? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Roland. I am not sure of the question. I am not sure of the question, Mr. Roland. Could I ask you to restate the question, please?

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Again, for the record, the Premier stated earlier that in the contract where it stated deputy minister it should read executive assistant. As I understand that, Mr. Speaker, the contract is written then at a deputy minister level. Is he trying to revise history here now by saying it is an executive assistant position and that is how it should be written in the contract? Is that the fact?

Thank you, Mr. Roland. The honourable Premier, Mr. Kakfwi.

Mr. Speaker, one thing I cannot do is help the Member substantiate those allegations and statements that have no basis in fact. Statements that are false, unfounded allegations. I am sorry, some people are leading with their chins and they are going to be left out there dangling. I am sorry I cannot help them with that.

The statements I have been making are from my recollection of what Liz Snider, as the most senior non-partisan civil servant in this government, has stated to Members of this Legislature earlier in the week. I am not quoting from a document. It is a handwritten note that I have kept because I thought it was particularly useful for the most senior civil servant of this government to have provided to the Members of this Legislature. Unfortunately, the Member was not there to enjoy that. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Premier. Item 6, oral questions. Point of order, Mr. Roland.

Point of Order

Mr. Speaker, for the second time today, the Premier is stating the fact that I was not at a certain meeting that he felt I should have been. Again, I gave notice as to why I was not going to be there; in fact, to take part in a ceremony in my constituency. He has referred to this twice in this House and that is not allowed, as I know, according to the rules. My point of order is why is he allowed to do that? The fact is he cannot by the rules. That is my understanding. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Roland. I do believe there is a point of order there. I cautioned Members before and I will do this again today. If you would avoid references to Members who may or may not be at a certain meeting or in this Chamber, please try to avoid that. Those are your rules and I will take your advice and I will interrupt you if this continues in the future. Please, do not make references to people who are not in the House or were not in the House, or at certain meetings.

Item 6, oral questions. The honourable Member for Great Slave, Mr. Braden.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My question is for the Minister responsible for Health and Social Services on the also controversial area of health services in the Northwest Territories. My constituents, Mr. Speaker, continue to be concerned about the level of medical services available and increasing waiting times to see doctors. In smaller communities, expectant mothers and families especially are affected. Would the Minister of Health advise this House what steps are needed to see the greater use of midwifery in the Northwest Territories? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Braden. The honourable Minister responsible for Health and Social Services, Mrs. Groenewegen.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, at this time, it is possible for midwifery to be used as a resource by health practitioners. Although we do not have any legislation in the Northwest Territories at this time, the department is going to work towards implementing legislation in the next one to three years to designate this and several other presently unregulated professions in the Northwest Territories.

In the interim, Mr. Speaker, the GNWT's certified midwife policy provides an adequate framework within which boards can offer certified midwifery services. Thank you.

Thank you, Madam Minister. Supplementary, Mr. Braden.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. That is a very positive step. I am wondering, has the department taken steps to develop a network of other alternative care delivery in the profession of nurse practitioners? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Braden. The honourable Minister responsible for Health and Social Services, Mrs. Groenewegen.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, our department is working with the Department of Education, Culture and Employment through the college to ensure that we have the availability of training upgrades for nurses who wish to expand their level of education to allow them to practice as nurse practitioners. Thank you.

Thank you, Madam Minister. Supplementary, Mr. Braden.