Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Just to confirm and clarify with the Minister, in his last response to my earlier question, the Minister did not rattle me. I was impressed with his razzle and dazzle. I might almost say he has been doing some work in front of the television, watching Muhammad Ali doing the shuffle, because he is pretty good at doing the shuffle, Mr. Speaker.

In fact, the shifting sands, I think in the Northwest Territories we can refer to the drifting snow. His numbers seem to drift all over the map. I would like to know from the Minister that, as we finished off reference to the P3 process, it changed. My understanding is that the P3 process sits under his bailiwick as the Minister responsible for the Financial Management Board Secretariat. Can he inform me if that is the case and when that decision was made? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Roland. The honourable Minister responsible for the Department of Finance, Mr. Handley.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It may appear to the honourable Member that things are shifting and so on. Things are moving fast and I hope we all keep up with it. We have to move fast. We have a big agenda to accomplish.

In answer to the question, yes, the P3 projects fit within my mandate. When were the decisions made? I can tell the Member that in November, 1999, the Financial Management Board Secretariat made a decision that the Inuvik Hospital would go ahead as a P3 project, and that the other projects would be put on hold pending a review of the implications of the P3 initiative. When those projects are put on hold, Mr. Speaker, those projects do not just disappear somewhere. The alternative is, I suppose they could disappear right off the earth, but the other alternative is that they then revert back to our traditional practice or form of capital planning.

Mr. Speaker, it was in November 1999 that the Financial Management Board Secretariat made that decision. That was not this government.

Mr. Speaker, I should let the Member know as well that when the results of the review are analyzed and decisions are made, if the review shows that continuing with P3 projects is the way to go, then it would be put back into a P3. If not, it will continue to stay where it is right now in the capital planning process. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Handley. Supplementary, Mr. Roland.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I feel I am getting a different response from the Minister at this second go around. In fact, he has informed us that in November 1999, it was confirmed that the Inuvik Hospital would continue as a P3, but the rest of the projects under P3 were under review. As a Member, I am aware that the review was supposed to be ready for this government to start making decisions on. There was no final decision. He is saying that it is under review, and if that review changes, it could possibly go back to it. Could he confirm that, in fact, the review has not been completed and no decision has been made? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Roland. The honourable Minister responsible for the Department of Finance, Mr. Handley.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I believe the review is underway but is largely done. There is also an analysis of the information we have right now going on right now by the department. I can confirm for the Member that, yes, depending on the results of that review and our analysis of it, it is possible we could go put projects back on P3 and continue with that form for construction of these facilities.

On the other hand, it is possible we would find that the traditional way of managing these capital projects is the way to go. That decision has not been made final. But in the interim, this project, if the Member wants to know where it is, it appears in the capital plan. Other than that, as I have said earlier, it just has to disappear into thin air. You will find it in 2003-04, where it could be fitted into the capital plan. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Handley. Supplementary, Mr. Roland.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I am getting concerned that the Minister, on two occasions now, is telling me that it can disappear. I am quite concerned with that. He is presenting me with a mirage. Mr. Speaker, he is saying it is under review and no decision has been made. However, the Minister responsible for Education, Culture and Employment informed me in this House that it was changed from a P3 process to a regular capital process. In fact, there was a decision made and it was made by the 14th Assembly. Is that not correct?

Thank you, Mr. Roland. The honourable Minister responsible for the Department of Finance, Mr. Handley.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The facility we are referring to is in the capital plan right now. That is where it sits and that is where it will stay until we know the results of the review. I am not going to prejudge the conclusions that will be reached through the review process, but it could go back to a P3. I do not know. It could stay right where it is in the capital plan. The 14th Assembly has made no decision on keeping it there or moving it anywhere until we know what the results of that review are.

In reference to it disappearing into thin air, I am only giving that as the only other alternative to what we have done here. I am not suggesting that is where it is going to go at all, Mr. Speaker. There was no intention to have it disappear somewhere. It is there in the capital plan. It will stay there until we know the results of it.

Mr. Speaker, the only project we are proceeding with right now is the Inuvik Regional Health and Social Services Centre. That one proceeds as a P3 project. We have made that decision and we will continue with it. Other ones are in the capital plan. When we get the results and we know what it is, then we will certainly share those with the Member. If we make a decision to go with P3s, we will go with P3s. If not, they stay in the capital planning process where they are right now. Thank you. Mr. Speaker.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The fact is it is under review, that much is clear. I would like to thank the Minister for confirmation that it will stay in the capital plan. But, two different answers, Mr. Speaker.

It is under review, so how then could the Minister responsible for Education, Culture and Employment tell me it has been changed? That is what I need some clarification on. The Minister responsible for the Financial Management Board Secretariat has told me it is there. It is under review. But the Minister responsible for Education, Culture and Employment informed me during committee of the whole that, in fact, this program was changed from a P3 to a capital. That to me sounds pretty final and that it is no longer under review. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Roland. The honourable Minister responsible for the Department of Finance, Mr. Handley.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I do not know how to say this any simpler. In November of 1999, the Financial Management Board Secretariat directed that the hospital project go ahead and the other ones be put on hold pending the review.

When they were put on hold, they were placed in the traditional capital plan. Today, they remain in that capital plan. That is where they are. They have been shifted from here, P3, over to the capital plan. That is where they sit. They sit there and we do not intend to move them or do anything further with them other than leave them in the capital plan until we know the results of the review. As soon as we have those results, then the ultimate destiny will be decided. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Handley. The time allocated for question period has expired. Item 7, written questions. The honourable Member for North Slave, Mr. Lafferty.

The honourable Member is seeking unanimous consent to revert to item 6, oral questions. Are there any nays? There are no nays. Mr. Lafferty, you have unanimous consent. We will reset the clock for one more period. Item 6, oral questions. The honourable Member for North Slave, Mr. Lafferty.

Thank you, Mr. Lafferty. The honourable Minister responsible for Transportation, Mr. Steen.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I will have to take that question to the engineers, and get back to the Member with an answer. Thank you.

Thank you, Minister Steen. Supplementary, Mr. Lafferty.

Thank you, Mr. Lafferty. The Minister responsible for the Department of Transportation, Mr. Steen.