Thank you, Mrs. Groenewegen. Item 3, Members' statements. Item 4, returns to oral questions. The honourable Minister responsible for Education, Culture and Employment, Mr. Ootes.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I have a return to an oral question asked by Mr. Michael Miltenberger on June 26, 2000, regarding student financial assistance payment options.

The department deposits funds in the bank accounts that students specify they are using for the school year. We electronically deposit the funds into student bank accounts using the major banking institutions located in the Northwest Territories, including the Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce, the Royal Bank, the Bank of Montreal, the Toronto-Dominion Bank and the Bank of Nova Scotia. The capacity to link with smaller financial institutions such as trust companies is not yet available.

Students who do not have accounts with the five major institutions which I have named are advised to open an account with one of those institutions to facilitate the ease of electronic transfer. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Minister Ootes. Item 4, returns to oral questions. The honourable Premier, Mr. Kakfwi.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I have two returns.

Mr. Speaker, I have a return to an oral question asked by Mr. Nitah, MLA for Tu Nedhe, on June 22, 2000, regarding whether public service career training dollars that lapsed in the past fiscal year would be used to develop aboriginal people in management.

Funding from the previous fiscal year is no longer available. However, the government is committed to increasing the representation of Northerners, including aboriginal people, in the public service including management positions. As part of that commitment, departments will ensure that funds available for training and support of affirmative action initiatives are used for that purpose.

Mr. Speaker, my second return is to an oral question asked by Mr. Roland, MLA for Boot Lake, on June 22, 2000, regarding information on the staffing appeals process.

An unsuccessful job candidate who is:

(a) eligible for priority consideration under the Affirmative Action Policy; or

(b) an employee of the Government of the Northwest Territories;

and has applied on a position included in the Union of Northern Workers bargaining unit, is able to appeal the results of the competition.

Appeals are heard by a joint committee consisting of a government representative, a Union of Northern Workers representative and an independent chairperson. The decision of the appeals committee is final. There is no further step in the appeals process.

When the appeal is completed, a copy of the Staffing Appeal Committee Report is sent to labour relations and compensation in the Financial Management Board Secretariat. In reviewing the appeal package, if labour relations and compensation identifies issues that need to be addressed to improve the staffing or the appeals process, this will be identified in writing to the executive director, corporate human resources.

Thank you, Mr. Kakfwi. Item 4, returns to oral questions. Item 5, recognition of visitors in the gallery. The honourable Member for Mackenzie Delta, Mr. Krutko.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I would like to recognize someone I had the opportunity of working with back in the early 1980s, when I first became involved in aboriginal politics, Mrs. Cece McCauley, who was the chief at the time in Inuvik, who is now an honourary chief for the band in Inuvik. It gives me great pleasure to recognize Cece McCauley. Welcome.

-- Applause

Thank you. Item 5, recognition of visitors in the gallery. The honourable Member for Inuvik Twin Lakes, Mr. Allen.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I too, on behalf of the MLA for Sahtu, and being a former resident of Inuvik, would like to recognize a privileged guest here this afternoon, Cece McCauley. Welcome.

-- Applause

Welcome. Item 5, recognition of visitors in the gallery. The honourable Member for Yellowknife Centre, Mr. Ootes.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I would like to recognize a constituent, Mr. Bill Burles. Thank you.

Thank you. Item 5, recognition of visitors in the gallery. Colleagues, I would like to take this opportunity to recognize a very special guest in the gallery, Mrs. Speaker, my wife, Elaine.

-- Applause

Everyone else who has taken the time to visit us, I thank you and bienvenue to the Legislative Assembly. Item 5, recognition of visitors in the gallery. Item 6, oral questions. The honourable Member for Frame Lake, Mr. Dent.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Minister responsible for the Department of Resources, Wildlife and Economic Development, Mr. Handley.

Last Friday during committee of the whole, Mr. Krutko questioned the Minister about the BIP and the Northern Manufacturer's directive. The Minister confirmed the Business Incentive Policy remains in force, complete with the directive, and the departments and agencies must follow the policy. The Minister noted at the time that it was sometimes difficult to police the policy, since his department did not find out about infractions until after the fact sometimes.

My question for the Minister is will he undertake to remind all departments and agencies that they must adhere to this policy?

Thank you, Mr. Dent. The honourable Minister responsible for the Department of Resources, Wildlife and Economic Development, Mr. Handley.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, yes I will. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Handley. Supplementary, Mr. Dent.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I appreciate that answer. Will the Minister continue with that proactive approach? Will he get his department to embark on a process to let all departments and agencies know how to interpret the policy and the directive?

Thank you, Mr. Dent. The honourable Minister responsible for the Department of Resources, Wildlife and Economic Development, Mr. Handley.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, yes, there is a committee of deputy ministers that is responsible for providing direction to the policy and the implementation of it, reviewing any issues where there is conflict. Through that committee, every department continues to get advice on how to interpret it. If there are problems, then we want to deal with them. I will ensure that the chair of that committee is notified. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Handley. Mr. Dent.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank the Minister for that positive response. Mr. Speaker, during the review of the Business Incentive Policy scheduled for later this year, will the Minister commit to involve stakeholders like the Northern Manufacturers' Association in a meaningful way during the review process?

Thank you, Mr. Dent. The honourable Minister responsible for the Department of Resources, Wildlife and Economic Development, Mr. Handley.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, yes, I have had a number of inquiries from interested stakeholders. We intend to make this a very collaborative approach with all of the stakeholders. We will certainly involve them in the steering committee, or if we cannot do that, at least ensure we have thorough consultation with them. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.