Thank you, Mr. Speaker. On the issue the Minister made a statement about in this House about the Alaska project, he mentioned that project has developed opportunities for northern businesses and northern manufacturers. He stated that in his statement.

From the response he gave me, it does not apply because the BIP is not associated with it. On one hand, you have said the manufacturers are involved in this project, and now you are telling me they are not?

Thank you, Mr. Krutko. The honourable Minister responsible for the Northwest Territories Housing Corporation, Mr. Allen.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I did not infer that. I will restate my position, we are marketing all the northern manufacturers' products in all of our projects, whether they are in the Northwest Territories or the Alaska projects. All those things we did not see where the northern manufactured products would be a requirement under Alaska projects because we treat it in terms of international trade. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Allen. Final supplementary, Mr. Krutko.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, could the Minister file whatever information he has showing we are in infringement of the international trade agreement, NAFTA or whatever. He is saying we cannot use BIP.

I understand central policies in jurisdictions that are in place before the NAFTA agreement was signed are grandfathered. My understanding is they still have a place to play in North America. I would like to ask the Minister if he could file that information with this House so we can see why our incentive policies are not relevant in Alaska.

Thank you, Mr. Krutko. The honourable Minister responsible for the Northwest Territories Housing Corporation, Mr. Allen.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I am just trying to relate to the Member that we are trying to work with the Government of Alaska to develop greater economic ties and relations.

I believe we are still fairly new at this. I want to assure the Member we will promote northern manufactured products wherever we can in our projects that are being built up in Alaska through the Northwest Territories Housing Corporation. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Allen. 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. Of course I would be prepared to table it in the House. Mr. Speaker, the new program for the Northwest Territories Professional Upgrading Assistance for Health and Social Services employees was a program developed to offer one-time financial assistance to some of the 13 potential applicants who applied under the education leave who were unable to obtain the education leave. There is a relationship between this funding and the other. Thank you.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, just to confirm then, will the Minister table that in this House today? 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 will table the outline of the program and the application form. Thank you.

Thank you, Mrs. Groenewegen. Item 6, oral questions. The honourable Member for Frame Lake, Mr. Dent.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Minister of Municipal and Community Affairs. Mr. Speaker, I heard on the news this morning that the process of setting up the board for the Yellowknife Smart Communities demonstration project was started last night.

Mr. Speaker, this government has an important role to play in the success of this project, and could help maximize the number of federal dollars that come North, perhaps as much as $5 million, Mr. Speaker, in matching federal funds. We need to commit our involvement. Mr. Speaker, Municipal and Community Affairs has been a supportive partner to date.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to ask if Municipal and Community Affairs will commit to becoming the lead department and becoming an active partner in the Smart Communities Project as it proceeds?

Thank you, Mr. Dent. The Minister responsible for the Department of Municipal and Community Affairs, Mr. Antoine.

Thank you, Mr. Antoine. Supplementary, Mr. Dent.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I think the department has shown a good amount of support and I appreciate the welcome news that they have now committed $30,000 to the society to help them undertake the next phase. Mr. Speaker, part of being an active participant would be to ensure that they take every opportunity to coordinate the other departments of government to get involved in this project. Will the department take the lead to encourage other departments in this government to be active partners in this project?

Thank you, Mr. Dent. The honourable Minister responsible for the Department of Municipal and Community Affairs, Mr. Antoine.

Mahsi, Mr. Antoine. Item 6, oral questions. The honourable Member for Yellowknife South, Mr. Bell.