Thank you, Mr. Kakfwi. That name does sounds familiar. Welcome to the gallery. Item 5, recognition of visitors in the gallery.

I would like to take a page from Mr. Roland's greeting book and recognize my mother, Emelia, at home in Fort Smith, who will be celebrating her 83rd birthday tomorrow. Happy birthday, Mom.

-- Applause

Item 6, oral questions. The honourable Member for Mackenzie Delta, Mr. Krutko.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. In my statement, I made reference to the United Nations declaring March 22nd as World Water Day. Mr. Speaker, we in the Northwest Territories are fortunate to have an abundant supply of water. I think we also realize that we are not immune to environmental hazards around us. Water is essential to the survival of all living things, including plants, animals and especially human beings. We must do everything possible to maintain the quality of the water for today and for the future.

However, some of our present water supplies have some problems, especially in my riding. The water supply in Fort McPherson no longer meets the Canadian water standards that are set. It exceeds them. I would like to ask the Minister responsible for Health and Social Services what is her department doing to ensure the drinking water of all our communities in the Northwest Territories are meeting the present standards that are set, the Canadian drinking water standards? Thank you.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, indeed the Department of Health and Social Services is responsible for the health and well-being of Northerners. However, I do not believe that water quality in general is specifically related to this department. It might better be directed to the Department of Municipal and Community Affairs. Thank you.

Thank you, Mrs. Groenewegen. Supplementary, Mr. Krutko.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I believe the environmental health department falls within the responsibility of the Minister. That was where I was phrasing my question to. I would like to know how much money did the government put in place, in regards to interim appropriation or into future budgets, to ensure that safe drinking water is accessible to all residents in the Northwest Territories?

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I do not know how much money was allocated for the specific area Mr. Krutko refers to in the interim appropriation. I would have to take that question as notice. Thank you.

Thank you, Mrs. Groenewegen. The question has been taken as notice. Item 6, oral questions. The honourable Member for Thebacha, Mr. Miltenberger.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the Member is correct. The chairman is appointed by the Minister responsible for Health and Social Services and the deputy chair is selected from amongst the other members. I have been advised that this is what the by-laws of the Stanton Regional Board indicated at this time. I had a chance to have dinner and meet with the Stanton Board on Monday night. In my remarks, I asked them to consider allowing me to appoint the deputy chair as well. We did have quite a good range of names come forward for the chairmanship and that request has been made to the board. It will be up to them to decide if they comply with that. Thank you.

Thank you, Mrs. Groenewegen. Supplementary, Mr. Miltenberger.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I was wondering if the Minister could clarify why she would think it was necessary to not only appoint the chair, but also the deputy chair, which would be totally contrary to practice, convention and tradition? Thank you.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, it is not totally contrary to tradition. It would be a change. It would be something different that has not been done in the past. I do not believe it would be contrary to tradition. However. Mr. Speaker, as I indicated, we did have a number of good names come forward for the chairmanship. It was a difficult choice.

We chose Mr. Elkin. We have felt, on an ongoing basis, it would be good to have a chairman from Yellowknife and a vice-chair from one of the communities and one of the regions. Mr. Elkin brings over 30 years experience to the chairmanship's job. It was also felt that for the sake of future continuity, to have someone working very closely with him that was not an elected member from one of the community health boards or chair of one of the community health boards, might help in transferring some of the expertise and experience of Mr. Elkin to a vice-chair at some point in the future, who may wish to take on that role of chairmanship. Mr. Elkin is also retired and does like to, as I am sure, as any retired person, travel when he can. It is a very big job. It is a very huge budget, it is $40 million. It is a thought that has been floated with the board and it will be up to them as to whether they decide to amend their by-laws accordingly. Thank you.

Thank you, Mrs. Groenewegen. Supplementary, Mr. Miltenberger.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would require some further clarification from the Minister. Is the Minister suggesting that she would pick from the existing remaining board members and appoint a deputy chair or is she talking about trying to bring some other person on board as deputy chair? Thank you.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I am talking about an additional person being appointed to the vice-chairmanship. Thank you.

Thank you, Mrs. Groenewegen. Final supplementary, Mr. Miltenberger.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Could the Minister clarify if the board does not heed her suggestion and amend their by-laws, will she let the matter stand where it is or is she going to somehow try to enforce her will so that she can bring somebody in from outside and be appointed? Thank you.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I thought I already made it clear that I have asked the board if they would amend their by-laws to allow me to do this. It will be a decision of the board. Thank you.