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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Then why is it sent out to residents who are not on diesel fuel any longer? Thank you.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I believe the Member may be referring to the community of Inuvik and if I may speak on that, the community was on diesel fuel and received the benefit of that from 1996 to 1990. In the interim, the cost of fuel changed. At one time, the community received bunker "C" fuel from Norman Wells, which was at a cheaper rate. When that was switched, of course, the community of Inuvik received more expensive fuel, but it was not charged to the community at the time. Thank you.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Can the Minister give us further clarification on what he just stated. We did not pay for the higher cost of fuel? Is he referring to when this government and the Power Corporation changed, where it received fuel that is now out of Strathcona, Alberta instead of Norman Wells? Is he referring to that, because that it is a whole different bailiwick. Thank you.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I am informed that the fuel that was used was from Norman Wells, which was a cheaper fuel. When the refinery shut down, it was no longer available and more expensive fuel had then to be supplied, which was not reflected in the rates in Inuvik. Thank you.

Thank you, Minister Ootes. Item 6, oral questions. The honourable Member for Hay River North, Mr. Delorey.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I am very concerned about the role the Northwest Territories Power Corporation will continue to have in Hay River. We do not know, Mr. Speaker, what the effect of division will have on the staff of the Power Corporation. There is enough supporting evidence around to suggest that the government may be considering selling the corporation. Can the Minister responsible for the Power Corporation inform this Assembly whether there will be conditions placed on any potential sale of the Northwest Territories Power Corporation that will protect the jobs of the people already employed by the Corporation? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Delorey. The honourable Minister responsible for the Northwest Territories Power Corporation, Mr. Ootes.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I believe that would be premature to address, Mr. Speaker. As Minister Handley has stated, we have a review underway and that review is expected to be completed by the end of this particular month. Any contractual arrangements with employees presumably will have to stay in place. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Minister. Supplementary, Mr. Delorey.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would think that one of the things they would be looking at and taking into consideration is the employees. Mr. Speaker, has the government as part of this review looked at what severance packages would cost the government if the Power Corporation was to be sold and jobs were lost? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Delorey. The honourable Minister responsible for the Northwest Territories Power Corporation, Mr. Ootes.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. That is not part of this particular part of the review, Mr. Speaker. Thank you.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. When the government stepped in, Mr. Speaker, and asked the two proponents to withdraw their proposals, the Town of Hay River was under the opinion that they had two proposals in front of them that were going to bring some fairly good benefits to the residents of Hay River. Can the Minister give this Assembly any assurance that Hay River will benefit from some of the packages they had in front of them before the government stepped in? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Delorey. The honourable Minister responsible for the Northwest Territories Power Corporation, Mr. Ootes.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The proposals, Mr. Speaker, were withdrawn by both parties at the meeting that I was at with town council. I believe they had stated they were going to pursue the purchase of the assets in the community, and what happens from there on is, I suppose, up to the community to decide the process from here. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Minister. Final supplementary, Mr. Delorey.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, a few minutes ago, I heard the Finance Minister say that after we get the results from this review, there will be a consultation period. Does this mean, Mr. Speaker, that the employees from the Power Corporation are going to be kept in the dark for a while longer? If so, Mr. Speaker, how much longer?

Thank you, Mr. Delorey. The honourable Minister responsible for the Northwest Territories Power Corporation, Mr. Ootes.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The board of directors had directed the corporation to ensure that they have up until January 31st, I believe, to make decisions with regard to any layoffs. That was the decision that was made by the corporation. Thank you.