Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I too would like to recognize the ladies from the Status of Women Council, and especially Mrs. Finance Minister.

-- Laughter

-- Applause

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, with any tax, if people are late in remitting the taxes that are owed, then certainly they receive notices. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Although I am sceptical, I will take the Finance Minister at his word and I will do a little research. I know Revenue Canada charges interest and penalties for people who are late in filing or remitting. I assume then that we do the same. Can the Finance Minister assure me that we charge interest and penalties on late payroll tax?

Mr. Speaker, we charge interest on any payments that are late. I assume it is the same for payroll tax. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to find out, in the 1999-2000 year where we collected $8.8 million in payroll tax, how much of that would have been interest? Thank you.

Mr. Speaker, I will have to take that as notice. I do not know how much we earned in interest last year. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my questions are directed to the Minister responsible for Education, Culture and Employment, regarding the issue of the definition of Métis.

I became aware late in the 13th Assembly when this issue came up, that in fact there seems to be a number of different definitions within government in terms of what constitutes a Métis. The differences, as far as I know, are Health and Social Services has a different one from Education, Culture and Employment, and different from Aboriginal Affairs, as it relates to land claims, devolving Métis lands and these kinds of very sensitive issues.

I would like to ask the Minister, is he aware of this concern? What steps does he intend to take to try to address this matter? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I am aware of the concern. There has been correspondence directed to me on an infrequent basis. It has been brought to my attention. Just yesterday I met with the president of the South Slave Métis Tribal Council in regard to that issue as well.

There is concern out there about the definitions being used. I have stated to those individuals that I am interested in looking at this issue to ensure that from our perspective, we are using the appropriate definition. Also, I directed the comment back that we would like the input of the various organizations down the road as well.

Our definition, of course, was done in consultation...I am informed by my officials that it was done in consultation with the Department of Aboriginal Affairs. There was some information passed on to us. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I was not quite clear in the Minister's response. Is he indicating that there is in fact a standard definition or that it is an issue they are working on collectively trying to come up with a standard definition? Thank you.

No, Mr. Speaker. I cannot state that there is a standard definition. We have a definition within the Department of Education. That has been used, but there was some concern expressed by several organizations about that. I am looking at that. I am not sure, Mr. Speaker, about the definitions being used by other government departments. My comment earlier was that I will take the initiative to check to see what definitions are used in other departments. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It is good to hear that the Minister is going to take the initiative on this. Could the Minister as well indicate the time frame that he would like to see this done. It is a long outstanding issue. It is of great importance to, of course, Métis people in a lot of sensitive areas. I would like the Minister to indicate a time frame if he could, please.