Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I do have statistics here that the Member would probably be interested in seeing. It has a listing of the southern treatment centres for children, which facilities are accommodating children, and which region they are from. I could provide that to him. Also, we have a detailed list by region of children that are in different types of care.

In the interest of the limited time in question period, it might be difficult to read this information out. I will see that the Member gets a copy of it. Thank you.

Thank you, Mrs. Groenewegen. Oral questions, the honourable Member for Range Lake, Ms. Lee.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My question goes to the Minister responsible for Finance, and it has to do with the hotel tax. Mr. Speaker, in the House he stated that the potential revenue for this tax is $1 million, after taking out $100,000 of operational expenses. He also stated in the House that he is committed to spending this money towards the tourism industry, for a tourism strategy, or something tourism related.

I wonder if the Minister could indicate who is going to get the money and who is going to decide who is going to get it?

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As I mentioned before, our intention to implement a five percent hotel tax, there will be consultations before there is any decision on how the money is going to be allocated or who it is going to be given to. As well, I did state that there are two priorities for use of the money. One of them is to increase our regional capacity and our regional ability in delivering tourism programs, and the second is advertising the Northwest Territories as a tourist destination.

Those are the two objectives. I want to talk with industry. I want to talk with tourism operators and the public in general before any decision is made as to who will get the money or exactly how it will be distributed. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Handley. Supplementary, Ms. Lee.

Mr. Speaker, the Minister states in this House that he is going to consult, he is going to ask, but his scope of consultation is always so narrow. He seems to have an idea as to what he wants to do with it already. He knows he is going to tax and he is going to plan later. He already has an idea of where the money is going to go.

Has he consulted with the industry? Do they agree that the need is regional capacities or marketing or anything? Has he consulted the industry before coming up with the tax, Mr. Speaker?

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

Mr. Speaker, I have had a lot of discussions with a lot of different people before announcing in the Budget Address that we are contemplating a five percent hotel tax.

The consultations continue. In fact, on late Friday afternoon, I met with the president of the tourism association. I also met with other people. Other people have called me and I am pleased with the support I am hearing from the tourism industry.

In terms of the directions on regional capacity and advertising, marketing the Northwest Territories as a destination, I have heard no difference of opinion. What I have made clear is that this money is not going to be used for administration. It is going to be used for enhancing tourism.

So I am continually talking with people. The tax does not come into effect until April, 2001, and we will use this period to determine how this tax is going to be implemented and how it is going to distributed. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Handley. Supplementary, Ms. Lee.

Mr. Speaker, he seems to already know what he wants to do. He is going to introduce a tax April 1st, and he knows exactly what he is going to do. So I do not even know why he even says he is going to consult. What more information is there? It is like Mr. Ford stating you can have any colour car you want as long as it is black.

Mr. Speaker, he stated already that the money will go to tourism. Is he willing to set up a separate fund earmarked for tourism, so that this money that he raises with this tax does not go to the general revenue fund? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. No, I am not willing to do that. I want to consult with people. As I said before, there is a lot of consultation to go on before I can decide what kind of vehicle we will use or exactly how it is going to be distributed. We have several months here before we have to come up with a fixed way of doing it. So I will consult with Ordinary Members. I will consult with the industry. I will consult with anyone who is interested in it. However, I am not, today, going to commit to any particular vehicle. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Handley. Final supplementary, Ms. Lee.

Mr. Speaker, many governments have said this. Fuel taxes levied were supposed to be spent on roads. Everyone knows that is not the case. Governments tax first and figure out how to spend later. How can he assure the public that he is going to do what he says he is going to do, which is spend the money for tourism?

Thank you, Ms. Lee. Mr. Handley.

Mr. Speaker, I said what I am going to do. It is on record. I am going to do that. I am going to do consultation on the five percent hotel tax. I am going to hear what people have to say. That will determine exactly how this tax will be structured and designed. If I do not live up to my word, there is another election. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Handley. Item 6, oral questions. The honourable Member for North Slave, Mr. Lafferty.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, our department cannot commit any funding at this time for capital projects for a multi-purpose facility in the Dogrib area.

These things are developed and placed as priorities in capital plans. At this time, there is nothing in the planning stages for additional infrastructure in those communities. When we look at communities such as the Dogrib communities, we look at their proximity to health services like hospitals, in relation to how far away other communities are. I guess we have to look at the issue of cost and priorities. At this time, there are no capital funds targeted for infrastructure. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Handley. Supplementary, Mr. Lafferty.

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