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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I am not aware of the issue. I will take the question as notice.

The question has been taken as notice. Item 6, oral questions. The honourable Member for Range Lake, Ms. Lee.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my question today goes to the Minister responsible for Health and Social Services. It is in regard to some of the concerns that my constituents have brought to my attention.

Mr. Speaker, I have a constituent who is suffering from diabetes. He has to spend quite a bit of money every month on his prescription drugs. He was hoping that the government would make a direct payment available between the pharmacy and the government, so he does not have to put out the money up front. This is causing hardship on him.

I wonder if the Minister can tell us whether this is at all possible. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Ms. Lee. The honourable Minister responsible for Health and Social Services, Mrs. Groenewegen.

Thank you, Mrs. Groenewegen. Supplementary, Ms. Lee.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I understand that. I think the Minister just stated what the problem is. These people, who have a life-long condition, have to put up $300 a month or more, and it is causing some hardships.

My question is not if that is the case, because I know that is the case. I want to know if she is willing to change that to make it easier for people. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, this issue was raised in a previous Session by another Member. We looked at it and we considered how this might be done. Unfortunately, it would require considerable change in the computer services and the processes by which this was done. It was quite cost-prohibitive. I could get the details of that research for the Member and provide that to her. Thank you.

Thank you, Mrs. Groenewegen. Supplementary, Ms. Lee.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I take it the Minister is taking that as notice. I look forward to her reply. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Ms. Lee. The Minister did not take it as notice. She said she would get back to you, but that is not notice. I did not hear a question. I will allow you a supplementary, Ms. Lee. You have one more left.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, if she did not take the question as notice, please give due consideration to the people in my constituent's predicament. In her cost-benefit analysis, will she put more weight on the people who have to suffer hardship, rather than administrative convenience? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, it actually was not administrative convenience. It was administrative costs. We found the cost of changing the system was cost-prohibitive.

On the extended health care benefits program, I think we have a very comprehensive program for persons with chronic illnesses, such as Ms. Lee has identified. The coverage is very significant. I believe it is above and beyond what other jurisdictions provide. We try to make the reimbursement process as timely and expeditious as possible, so the cost of these medications do not become a monetary burden for the patients. Thank you.

Thank you, Mrs. Groenewegen. Item 6, oral questions. The honourable Member for Mackenzie Delta, Mr. Krutko.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Minister responsible for the Northwest Territories Housing Corporation. It is regarding the whole concept of assisting the business community, especially our manufacturers. We had an opportunity to meet with them a week and a half ago. Many of them were concerned they were not being fairly treated by the Northwest Territories Housing Corporation when it comes to them having an opportunity to bid or having products they have produced in the North and are able to market them. Several projects did not have the opportunity to even apply on some of these initiatives, yet the specs for those items were purchased from southern Canada.

Does the Northwest Territories Housing Corporation support the Business Incentive Policy or the Manufacturer's Directive that this government has in place? Why are you not following it?

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I do believe the question is misleading. We have given every consideration to the northern manufacturers under the AMD. It is a requirement of this government and this department to adhere to those policies. We have followed those guidelines very closely. I would like to inform the Member that there is nothing that was done to contravene those policies. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Allen. Supplementary, Mr. Krutko.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I would like to ask the Minister, the project this government is involved with, regardless of whether it is in the Northwest Territories or Alaska, this government has invested in these projects. We have an investment in those projects. I would like to ask the Minister again. What is meant by:

"...this is an export project with no government funding attached. BIP does not apply. We will use northern manufactured products, providing they meet the contractor's specific subject to the interim manufacturer's directive."

If the BIP does not apply, what is meant by your department that you are following BIP? You are saying on one hand you are involved with this project, but you are not following BIP. That is my understanding of what this is.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, if I can respond to the Member's question from two points. One is regarding the Alaska project. Our legal analysis indicates...the question was raised in regard to whether products would be applicable under the agreement. Somehow, there is some uncertainty as to what the final outcome was.

In accordance to the policy as it applies to the Northwest Territories, we are obligated under the directive and the policy to adhere to those principles. We have worked within our organization to determine that. We found we have been following those guidelines very closely. Thank you.