Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, everything sounds good and well on the other side of the House, but I think if they had to drink this water and bathe in it knowing that it could have a long-term effect on your health, the implication of this is not known. We will not see the results of this impact on the human body for ten to 15 years.

So if we have a major increase in cancer rates in the next ten or 15 years, who do they turn around and have to sue? This government? The Cabinet Ministers who are presently on that side of the House? Who is liable for this compensation that will have to be incurred through a court case if that is what is takes to get this issue out of the way? Are you liable for that, Mrs. Minister?

Thank you, Mr. Krutko. The honourable Minister for Health, Mrs. Groenewegen. There are two questions. You can answer either one of them.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the part about, you know, who would be responsible if people become sick in ten years from now is hypothetical. I mean, right now, what we are saying is there is no evidence that there are any harmful health effects related to the THMs in the Fort McPherson water. We can also tell you that overall cancer rates in this area remain 30 percent below the Canadian average and there have been no cancers identified in the community that could be related to this.

The second part of the question is who would be responsible if someone gets cancer is hypothetical, Mr. Speaker, and I would not be able to answer that. Thank you.

Thank you, Madam Minister. Final supplementary, Mr. Krutko.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the Minister sounds great with statistics, but why are we warning the people of Fort McPherson not to drink the water out of their taps, that they have to treat it, and why are we telling the children in our schools that they are not allowed to drink the water out of the water taps and they have to drink bottled water? Why are there warnings out there to the residents not to drink this water from your department? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Krutko. The honourable Minister responsible for the Department of Heath and Social Services, Mrs. Groenewegen.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I am not aware of the technicalities of what this water might look like or smell like, but what we are telling the people of Fort McPherson is, if they would filter their drinking water through a Brita system, that other types of uses of water would be completely safe. We have just advised them on a short-term basis if they could filter their water, that would be a good thing to do. Thank you.

Thank you, Minister Groenewegen. Item 6, oral questions. Item 6, oral questions. The Member for Mackenzie Delta, Mr. Krutko.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Minister of cash, the Minister of Finance. What does it take to get a supplementary through this House when there is an emergency and unforeseen costs in a community that are associated with where you are having to pay double what it usually costs to maintain a specific service? How are communities able to get items in the budget where it can come forth through a supplementary appropriation?

Thank you, Mr. Krutko. The honourable Minister responsible for Finance, Mr. Handley.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, there are two questions there, but I will answer the second one. The Minister responsible could bring forward a decision paper to the Financial Management Board. Thanks.

Thank you, Minister Handley. Supplementary, Mr. Krutko.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, in regard to the possibility of putting items in a supplementary, can a Member or a community have input through motions in the House or a petition and have an effect on ensuring that these emergency items are dealt with as an emergency and brought forth through a supplementary by your department?

Thank you, Mr. Krutko. The honourable Minister responsible for Finance, Mr. Handley.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, as I mentioned, the supplementary requests have to be brought in by the Minister responsible. Thank you.

Thank you, Minister Handley. Supplementary, Mr. Krutko

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. In regard to the financial situation we find in our municipalities, as the Minister responsible for Finance, knowing that we are causing a burden to a community finance-wise where they do not have the sufficient funds to carry out the responsibilities, can the Minister responsible for Finance tell me if that classifies as an item for supplementary appropriation?

Thank you, Mr. Krutko. The honourable Minister responsible for Finance, Mr. Handley.

Mr. Speaker, that judgment would be up to the Minister responsible. Thank you.

Thank you, Minister Handley. Final supplementary, Mr. Krutko.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The Minister of Finance, since this item has been raised in this House, I have tried every which way...what have I not tried?

-- Laughter

Is there any possibility, as the Minister responsible for Finance, that you could intervene on this matter to approach the appropriate Ministers and see if there a possibility of this coming forth as a supplementary?

Thank you, Mr. Krutko. The honourable Minister responsible for Finance, Mr. Handley.

Mr. Speaker, it is up to the Minister responsible. They would have to bring something forward. Thank you.

Thank you, Minister Handley. Item 6, oral questions. The Member for Mackenzie Delta, Mr. Krutko.