Thank you, Mr. Chairman. My understanding of block funding is that the communities receive operations and maintenance funding and capital funding. It is up to the communities to decide on how they spend that. It is not separated. They decide to put it all in the pot, and then decide on how they are going to spend it. It is really up to them. Based on that, it is lumped together at the community level. It goes to them as one cheque on a monthly basis. Basically, that is the reason for the answer. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Chairman, we do not have the detailed breakdown of that amount here. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. The department does have the breakdown, but unfortunately, due to the quick switch in the departments, we forgot to grab that sheet. We will get that information. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I understand the concern of the honourable Member for Hay River North, regarding the Hay River situation.

During the committee review, we went through it and the block-funding issue was not raised at the community level. We were not able to raise it at that time. However, there is a $10 million cut across the board on capital issues. This affected every community which is not block-funded. Somehow, the block-funded communities have to take a share in the reduction in the total capital. The way it works is that they have an operations and maintenance in the capital, and we have to take a look at it too.

We have to be fair and equal between all of the communities, including the tax-based municipalities. As a result of that, we are going to be cutting them. No, we have not contacted the communities yet. I am sure through this forum here they are fully aware of that.

We did indicate to them through letter form that there were questions raised that the three-year block-funding arrangement is expiring this March. However, because of the municipal financial review, we said we are going to roll over the same amount we were getting previously, but it was subject to cuts through the budgeting process. From my understanding, they are aware of the possibility of cuts, but we did not communicate to them regarding this arrangement. We thought we would wait until the interim appropriation is completed with this department, then contact them. Thank you.

Mr. Speaker, meetings of the Standing Committee on Social Programs and the Standing Committee on Governance and Economic Development at 6:30 p.m. this evening and tomorrow at 9:00 a.m. of the Standing Committee on Accountability and Oversight. Orders of the day for Friday, March 24, 2000:1. Prayer

2. Ministers' Statements
3. Members' Statements
4. Returns to Oral Questions
5. Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery
6. Oral Questions
7. Written Questions
8. Returns to Written Questions
9. Replies to Opening Address
10. Petitions
11. Reports of Standing and Special Committees
12. Reports of Committees on the Review of Bills
13. Tabling of Documents
14. Notices of Motion
15. Notices of Motion for First Reading of Bills
16. Motions
17. First Reading of Bills
18. Second Reading of Bills

- Bill 7, An Act to Amend the Workers' Compensation Act

19. Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

- Minister's Statement 1-14(2), Sessional Statement

- Tabled Document 14-14(2), Our Communities, Our Decisions: Let's Get on With It!, Final Report of the Minister's Forum on Health and Social Services

- Bill 3, An Act to Amend the Financial Administration Act

- Bill 6, Interim Appropriation Act, 2000-2001

- Committee Report 2-14(2), Accountability and Oversight on the 2000-2001 Interim Appropriation

- Committee Report 3-14(2), Governance and Economic Development on the 2000-2001 Interim Appropriation

- Committee Report 4-14(2), Social Programs on the 2000-2001 Interim Appropriation

20. Report of Committee of the Whole
21. Third Reading of Bills
22. Orders of the Day