. Thank you, Mr. Krutko. Mr. Premier.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. We cannot provide any guarantees, but we can ensure the members of the Gwich'in and Inuvialuit communities that if they want development, we are prepared to work with them. We will help them define the terms and conditions under which they would advance their economic agenda.

There is no doubt we would be as supportive as we can. Again, the Members will realize we have a budget that is less than adequate to meet the present demands, just in education alone. In justice, in health and social services, in housing... every area of basic need we have now is more than short on the necessary funding.

But we also recognize it is important to invest in the economic development initiatives. We are prepared to do that. As I have said, it is not for me to unilaterally decide to make pronouncements on where resources will go. All of us together are going to make an effort to set priorities for the budget in the coming year. We will do that together in March. We will also engage the aboriginal leaders in this discussion. Thank you.

Thank you, Premier Kakfwi. Item 6, oral questions, The Member for Yellowknife South, Mr. Bell.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My question today is for the Minister responsible for Education, Culture and Employment. I have asked previous questions of him in this House on summer employment for students coming back to the Territories from university.

He had presented us with a suggestion that the Executive was taking the lead role in this and will be coordinating the summer hiring program, which was very encouraging to hear. But often, Mr. Speaker, what sounds good at first may have some flaws and some problems with it. I would like to know when we can get the details on the summer program? Things like names, phone numbers, and locations kids can expect to go to look for employment? Mr. Speaker, the question is when will we receive the details? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Bell. The honourable Minister responsible for Education, Culture and Employment, Mr. Ootes.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, as I stated before, this is a program that is coordinated by the Executive. I would ask this question be referred to the Minister responsible. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Ootes. It is a little difficult here, but you cannot defer this question. Another Minister may wish to take the lead in responding to that question, if it is not in your portfolio. We will allow the Premier to make that decision. Supplementary, Mr. Bell.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Details. When? Who do I ask? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Bell. The Premier has indicated he would like to respond. Premier Kakfwi.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I believe the question is being asked about this government's summer student employment program. That is for students who wish to be considered for job opportunities within this government, its departments and agencies during the times they are not attending school.

It is right about this time, I suppose in March, where we start to get applications and letters of interest from students attending university and institutions. They write letters indicating they are interested in being considered for employment during the summer.

Between May and September, when students are off for the summer, is the time when the employment opportunity is available for them. That is when we try to make available to them the opportunities within the different departments and agencies.

As far as I understand it, the resumes and applications are received by this government during March. They are processed in a database. This is made available to the regions, departments and agencies. That is how it works. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Premier. Supplementary, Mr. Bell.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I will direct my question to the Premier. We are all starting to get phone calls, we are all starting to get resumes faxed to our offices. We are concerned that we have to get back to students with something concrete.

The time is fast approaching when they will return. I would like to get something back to my constituents who are away at university. I have mailing addresses now for them at university. It becomes much more difficult when they are in transit. So my real concern is that we will not have any information for them before they step off the plane or, heaven forbid, should they have to drive Highway No. 3 to get back to town.

-- Laughter

So I am wondering if we can have a timeline as to when we will have phone numbers and contact people so we can start to disseminate that information. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Bell. The honourable Premier.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It is important to deal expediently with the requests and phone calls from students. They can be referred to myself if the MLAs want to do that. We can also, this afternoon, provide the MLAs with phone numbers and a mailing address where these resumes and applications can be dropped off. Thank you.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Minister responsible for Finance, Mr. Handley.

As stated in my Member's statement, the government of the 13th Assembly made some very deep cuts in programs and public service jobs. Mr. Speaker, I am aware that this government will be looking for ways to address our fiscal situation. Could the Minister please inform the House if in fact there is a working group looking at possible cuts as we speak?

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

Mr. Speaker, yes, there are several working groups headed up by deputies that are looking at various ways of achieving greater efficiencies in our government. I do not think that looking specifically at cuts is part of their mandate, but I think that as they look at how we can be more efficient as government departments, boards and agencies then I suppose some loss of jobs could occur. But we do not have a group looking specifically at cuts. We are looking at efficiencies though. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Handley. Supplementary, Mr. Delorey.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. We are looking at a number of areas; included in there are our own government operations. We look at efficiencies and ways of streamlining. As we go through departments we could, for example, look at whether or not we could collapse two different divisions that are providing the same service. We also could look at boards and agencies. We are looking at energy efficiencies as being another way of cutting our costs. We are looking at our capital program. We are looking at a whole host of opportunities, like the way we purchase, for example.

As we do this we are being very comprehensive and looking at all aspects of government operations and trying to determine where cuts might be made. Right now Mr. Speaker it is a bit early for me to be able to identify specifically where cuts will be made. We need to get the reports back and do the analysis. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Handley. Supplementary, Mr. Delorey.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As I said in my Member's statement, we have a large number of public service employees out there that are aware of the fiscal situation that this government is in.

I would like to ask the Minister, if he could give us some assurance that a public announcement will be made in a timely fashion, to give the public service employees out there some assurance of the jobs that they do have.