Thank you, Mr. Speaker. In relation to the Robertson review, which is scheduled to be delivered to the Minister by the end of November, I think we should all accept that it is going to be some time before the recommendations are assessed and analyzed and then put into place. In the meantime, the positions that have been identified, because of the downsizing with Nunavut and other core business requirements, are impacting on the overall effectiveness of the corporation.

So I wanted to see whether the Minister could advise the Assembly of the cost that is being incurred in maintaining redundant positions, or positions that are no longer in use, as the government decides to manage the corporation's work force. Thank you.

Thank you. I will ask Members to respect the amount of time that we have for question period and shorten the preambles to questions. The honourable Minister responsible for the Northwest Territories Power Corporation, Mr. Ootes.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I am not positive of the type of costs that may be involved because we do not know, of course, what effect it will have on staffing needs and staffing changes that may need to take place at the end of the day. We are expecting the review to come in at the end of November and the corporation itself had made a decision regarding the reductions that any decision on that be deferred. They have stated that they would look at that until, I believe January 31st, to provide time to assess everything. Thank you.

Thank you, Minister Ootes. Item 6, oral questions. The honourable Member for Inuvik Boot Lake, Mr. Roland.

Thank you, Mr. Roland. The honourable Minister responsible for the Power Corporation, Mr. Ootes.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I am not familiar with this particular subject and, other than what I have been informed, the fuel that came out of Norman Wells was cheaper than it was elsewhere and that the rates were not changed in Inuvik to reflect that.

Thank you, Minister Ootes. Supplementary, Mr. Roland.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. In fact, we were protected under the Protected Area Agreement of 1944 and Mr. Ootes was a Member of the 13th Assembly like I was, so hopefully he can dig back into his memory banks and find that out. We were told that we were protected. Is that not the case now? Are you coming back through the back door and taking it from residents anyway? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Roland. The honourable Minister responsible for the Power Corporation, Mr. Ootes.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I am not sure what the Member is referring to as taking it back from the residents. Perhaps he could clarify that for me?

Thank you Mr. Ootes. Supplementary, Mr. Roland.

I should take this as notice, I guess.

-- Laughter

He is asking me questions.

-- Laughter

Mr. Speaker, I would like the Minister to go back and get that information if he can, for me and for himself, because I intend to pursue this and I am sure that members of my community are listening with great interest. On one hand, "We are going to take care of you and protect you. It will cost more but we will ensure that you are not impacted." However, now the government has come back and taken 11 percent off every bill every month of residents of Inuvik. I want that confirmed. Is that the fact? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Roland. The honourable Minister responsible for the Power Corporation, Mr. Ootes.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As the Member has said, he wants me to dig back for the information and I will certainly do that. Thank you.

Final supplementary, Mr. Roland.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. When will he be able to provide this information to me?

Thank you Mr. Roland. The honourable Minister responsible for the Power Corporation, Mr. Ootes.

We will treat it expeditiously, Mr. Speaker. Thank you.

The time allocated for question period has expired. The honourable Member for Hay River North, Mr. Delorey.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I seek consent to go back to item 5 on the orders of the day.

Thank you. The Member is seeking unanimous consent to return to item 5, recognition of visitors in the gallery. Are there any nays? There are no nays. Mr. Delorey. You may have the floor.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to recognize a constituent of mine up in the gallery and husband to the Honourable Jane Groenewegen. I understand that this is the only chance that he gets to see her these days. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

-- Laughter

-- Applause

Thank you and welcome to the Legislative Assembly. Item 5, recognition if visitors in the gallery. Item 7, written questions. The honourable Member for Mackenzie Delta, Mr. Krutko.