Thank you, Mr. Allen. Please be seated. The honourable Member for Frame Lake, your point of order.

Point of Order

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I rise on a point of order under Rule 23(m). Mr. Speaker, the Member for Yellowknife Centre, Mr. Ootes, in his Member's statement on Friday, October 26th, made reference to a Supreme Court justice and comments made on the matter of elections by secret vote. Mr. Speaker, without the benefit of the transcript, I had thought Mr. Ootes was referring to a decision of the Supreme Court on election matters. I was concerned that Mr. Ootes might have been breaking our rules with respect to sub-judiciary but I was not aware of any court case dealing with secret ballots before our Supreme Court.

Mr. Speaker, I decided to review the unedited Hansard at the first opportunity when I noted the reference Mr. Ootes was making in respect to the Supreme Court justice. Mr. Speaker, Mr. Ootes' comments concerned me. I would like to quote those comments as contained on page 1079 of the unedited Hansard:

The Supreme Court justice commented to me a while back, Mr. Speaker, his feelings of disgust that we still have leadership elections by secret vote. Poignant words of someone of the stature of a Supreme Court justice.

Mr. Speaker, it is very disturbing to me -- and I expect to the Supreme Court justice -- to hear his comments repeated in the Legislative Assembly on a political issue that could be an issue that could go before the courts. Mr. Speaker, I request your ruling on whether Mr. Ootes has breached our rules by offending the practices and precedents of the House by crossing the lines that separate the legislative branch of government from the judiciary. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Dent. The honourable Member raises a point of order on a matter that was discussed in the House on Friday. I will allow some debate on the point of order. Do any other honourable Members have anything to add to that? The honourable Member for Yellowknife Centre, Mr. Ootes.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I do want the transcript of the tapes checked because it is my belief that I said "a Supreme Court justice stated" and I did not identify a Supreme Court justice as being a Supreme Court justice of the Northwest Territories. Thank you.

Thank you. To the point of order. No other debate? The honourable Member for North Slave, Mr. Lafferty. No? Any other debate on the point of order? I will take this under advisement and reserve judgment on that point of order. Mr. Dent, I will deal with the matter at the earliest convenience.

Item 2, Ministers' statements. The honourable Minister responsible for the Financial Management Board Secretariat, Mr. Handley.

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to announce that on Saturday evening, the Government of the Northwest Territories and the Northwest Territories Teachers' Association reached a tentative collective agreement.

The two-year tentative deal was achieved with the assistance of a mediator. We have been advised by the NWTTA that their target for completing ratification by the membership is November 7, 2001. The key features of the tentative agreement include:

• • salary increases of 3 percent in the first year and 2.5 percent in the second year;
• • a yearly professional allowance of $750;
• • adjustments to northern allowance rates to account for changes in the cost of living; and
• • parental leave for both natural and adoptive parents increased from six months to up to one year to coincide with changes to the federal Employment Insurance Act.

Mr. Speaker, although the tentative agreement was achieved with the assistance of a mediator, the success of the collective bargaining process always comes down to a sincere desire by the parties to reach an agreement and to do the work it takes to get there. I appreciate the commitment of both the NWTTA and the GNWT bargaining teams and look forward to the results of the ratification vote. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Minister. Item 2, Ministers' statements. The honourable Minister responsible for Aboriginal Affairs, Mr. Antoine.

Mahsi, Mr. Antoine. Item 2, Minister's statements. The honourable Minister responsible for Resources, Wildlife and Economic Development, Mr. Handley.

Mr. Speaker, a major recommendation in the Common Ground strategy prepared by the Economic Strategy Panel last year was to streamline access to government lending programs and services. To address this recommendation, I established the Business Program Review Committee last year to look at ways to reduce duplication and simplify application processes. I am pleased to report that substantial progress has been made in meeting these objectives.

The Business Program Review Committee recently completed consultations and has produced a report on consolidating Government of the Northwest Territories business assistance programs. The committee held meetings in all regional centres and surveyed existing clients of the programs under review to encourage input on program delivery and options to improve delivery.

The main recommendation of the committee is to create a new arm's-length corporation to deliver RWED programs and services currently provided by the Business Credit Corporation, the Northwest Territories Development Corporation, Canada-Northwest Territories Business Service Centre and Community Futures organizations.

The report is being distributed to all MLAs and stakeholders and comments on the recommendations are requested by December 15. The Department of Resources, Wildlife and Economic Development will then develop a plan to implement the recommendations. Mr. Speaker, I would like to take this opportunity to thank all the members of the Business Program Review Committee for their work in developing these recommendations. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

-- Applause

Thank you, Mr. Handley. Item 2, Ministers' statements. The honourable Member for Nunakput, Mr. Steen.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Good afternoon. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to announce today that the Department of Transportation has released a video entitled Community Airport Safety. The video is intended to serve as a tool for use in the communities to improve people's awareness and understanding of airport safety and security matters.

Mr. Speaker, the purpose of the video is to show that everyone who lives in a community has a contribution to make in helping to keep their airport a safe place for airplane operations, traveling passengers and local residents. It is our hope that community leaders, educators, workers and the general public will watch this video and recognize how important their cooperation can be in ensuring that their airports operate as safely as possible.

The video is available in all the Northwest Territories' official languages, making it accessible to all Northerners in every community.

I would like to congratulate all the people who contributed to the making of this video, including department staff, our airport contractors, the production team and especially the people in the communities where the video was shot.

In making this video, Mr. Speaker, the Department of Transportation calls attention to the special importance of our airports in the daily life of our communities. The Department of Transportation hopes that with the added awareness and assistance of community residents, we can make the already admirable level of safety and security at our community airports even better yet. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

-- Applause

Thank you, Mr. Steen. Item 2, Ministers' statements. Item 3, Members' statements. The honourable Member for Mackenzie Delta, Mr. Krutko.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, today I would like to address my colleagues, my constituents and the people of the Northwest Territories.

Mr. Speaker, the events of the last week have taken their toll on everyone. I would like to state that I have taken the opportunity to allow the Premier the benefit of the doubt and have spoken directly with the Premier with regard to the problem that I have.

Mr. Speaker, the problem I have is how top officials are dealt with when involved in wrongdoing. In the case of unauthorized taping and of participation of a telephone conversation, I am asking that public action be taken to demonstrate accountability of the government. That public action needs to be immediate to restore the trust of the people of the Northwest Territories.

The Premier has informed me...

Mr. Krutko, I have to interrupt you on your Member's statement. You are dealing with an issue that has been dealt with and debated before the House over the past week and the matter had been concluded. The rules, as you may be aware, do not allow for the continuous and repetitive raising of matters that have been decided during the current session. I am going to have to ask you to refrain from making that statement, Mr. Krutko.

-- Interjection

It is not debatable. Thank you. Item 3, Members' statements. The honourable Member for North Slave, Mr. Lafferty.

Mahsi, Mr. Lafferty. Item 3, Members' statements. The honourable Member for Thebacha, Mr. Miltenberger.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, on the weekend, I had the good fortune to be able to go home for a 36-hour furlough and spend some time in my constituency. Mr. Speaker, I can tell this House that a lot of people in Fort Smith have been riveted to the TV, radio and the newspapers, tracking what has been happening in Yellowknife and in this Assembly.

Mr. Speaker, there is significant concern as to what is happening and how it will all end up. The message I received very clearly from the people is that this issue that is before the House has been on the table a long time. We have been very intensely involved with it over the last week and there is a strong sense that we should be seeking closure, that we should be, as a Legislature, trying to put these matters to rest and close this unfortunate chapter in the life of the 14th Assembly and get back to the business at hand.

Mr. Speaker, I have assured my constituents that they and I share the same view. It is my hope that they will be reassured over the next couple of days that in fact this Legislature will do just that; close this unfortunate chapter and let us get back to the business at hand of governing the Northwest Territories. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Miltenberger. Item 3, Members' statements. The honourable Member for Inuvik Boot Lake, Mr. Roland.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I as well had the opportunity to go home for a night and spend some time with my family. It was an opportunity to get away from what was happening here and to re-evaluate what one is doing and why are we involved in government, as we speak, and what we are trying to do to benefit our constituents.

Mr. Speaker, when I got into the airport in Inuvik and my youngest son ran to me to give me a hug, I was once again reminded of why I initially became involved in government at this level. It was to look forward to what we can offer our constituents and our children.

Mr. Speaker, the last week of business in this House unfortunately has been very negative on the calendar and on the minds of many in the Northwest Territories. When I was at home, I had to ask myself are we doing the right thing here? At the risk of sounding, as some would put it, a little twisted, I have to say that when I looked at why I was here, Mr. Speaker, I still looked at what we are going to leave for our children and for the residents of the Northwest Territories.

Mr. Speaker, what I think and what I believe I would like to leave is a Legislature, in the minds of those when we are done here, as one that we tried to do our best for our residents, not only in talking about programs and services, but in following what we set before us as rules and as laws for the land and its people.

It has not been an easy task, Mr. Speaker, to stand up and question integrity, question government programs and services, but there is a role, Mr. Speaker, when we do that. That is to make sure that the residents of the Northwest Territories are getting the best out of their legislators, those whom they have sent here to represent them, those who do not have a voice out there who cannot be organized to do things in a manner that is easily done when you have a fax machine or a cell phone.

Mr. Speaker, I stand again reconfirmed with what I came down here to do, and that is to make sure our government is a good government and accountable. Thank you.

-- Applause

Thank you, Mr. Roland. Item 3, Members' statements. The honourable Member for Range Lake, Ms. Lee.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to take this opportunity to discuss a matter that is of importance to one of my constituents that has to do with the amount of fee that this constituent receives for administering and issuing a marriage licence. I have learned from talking to him that for every licence he issues he gets $25 and then he has to return $15 back to the government.

He has pursued this issue with the Minister of Health and Social Services and other Ministers of this government and the answer he has been receiving is that because the fee structure is legislated in law, it would require legislative changes and the Minister was not prepared to do that at that time.

Mr. Speaker, I would just like to take this opportunity to advise the Minister of Justice and the new Minister, whoever that may be, of Health and Social Services, to ask them to revisit this issue. I do not think it takes a lot of argument that $15 for something like issuing a licence does not go far enough. My constituent has indicated to me that it does not even cover the ribbon or tape that he needs to print the thing out of the computer. I would like to put the government on notice that I would like to have this done, in the hope that this will make it to the legislative agenda before the end of this term. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Ms. Lee. Item 3, Members' statements. The honourable Member for Deh Cho, Mr. McLeod.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I was intending to make my statement today on water quality, but I do not believe that anybody is listening to those types of issues anymore, so I am going to try to make a few comments on the events that have happened in the last little while, choosing my words very carefully, Mr. Speaker.

I have watched with interest as this process has developed over the last while from a conflict complaint to a complaint of bias, to an investigation and to the report where we are today, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, this whole process has taken eight months. Eight months of our time where issues have been put on the backburner. During that whole time, I was of the opinion that we were heading to where common sense would take over. Since I have had an opportunity to review the recommendations of the special committee, I am of the opinion that we have to demonstrate that we support this government. I do not have a problem stating I do support.

However, I have a problem with the process. I do not believe that we as Members of this House should be in a position where we have to publicly declare our position, especially if we are in a position where we would be announcing our candidacy or in a position as a potential candidate for Cabinet.

Mr. Speaker, a confidence vote or non-confidence vote is a weapon that we have...

Sorry, Mr. McLeod, you hit the wrong words there. You were not careful enough. I just have to remind Members that you cannot speak in anticipation of a motion that is before the House, as you are aware. Thank you.

Item 3, Members' statements. The honourable Member for Tu Nedhe, Mr. Nitah.

Mahsi, Mr. Nitah. Item 3, Members' statements. The honourable Member for Sahtu, Mr. Kakfwi.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. On Friday, the Native Women's Association of the Northwest Territories began their annual meeting, which I attended. As the Member for Sahtu, I wanted to comment about the occasion.

The theme was "restoring our families and rebuilding our future." Mr. Speaker, women from the Inuvialuit communities, from the Gwich'in, from the Sahtu, the Deh Cho, the Dogrib communities, the Akaitcho, Metis women and women from across this country and the Northwest Territories gathered to talk about their concerns and their issues. There was food, some tears and a lot of laughter. There was some sadness. There was reading of poetry and some singing, There was some dancing and, Mr. Speaker, I had the occasion to dance with every president of the Women's Association from its inception until today.

There were gifts. There was a fashion show and there were awards. Each of them took time to recognize in each of their communities and in their regions those women who continue to reach out to help others, to help their colleagues, to help their families, their relatives, the women and children and the elders around them.

Gathered there were healers and caregivers, leaders, chiefs, businesswomen, and the youth. Gifts of tobacco and eagle feathers were given. They commented that in the course of our work in the North in our communities over the years, it is clearly evident that our women have suffered, our women have...

Mr. Kakfwi, your time for Member's statement has expired.

I seek unanimous consent to conclude my statement.

Thank you, The honourable Member is seeking unanimous consent to conclude his statement. Are there any nays? There are no nays. You may conclude, Mr. Kakfwi.

Mr. Speaker, I talked to them about what it meant for me to look in the past when we say "restoring our families", because many of us come from homes where alcoholism and family violence and abuse has been present. There is a lot of pain if you look back for too long. The only way you can manage that is if you move into the last part of their theme, which is "rebuilding our future".

The only way you can live with yourself is if you do as these women have committed themselves to do day after day, year after year; work towards rebuilding, rebuilding our families and rebuilding our futures.

It was a good time and it was a healing time for myself to be present with all these people, which form 50 percent of the aboriginal population here in the Northwest Territories. Elder Katherine Mitchell from Inuvik came over and asked to sit with me and sat beside me for the entire evening. I wanted to acknowledge the incredible experience that I had on Friday night. That like our elders, women too look to people like myself and every Member of this Legislature to provide leadership and to carry their hopes and dreams for them because there is so much that we can do. Thank you very much. Mahsi.

-- Applause

Item 3, Members' statements. Item 4, returns to oral questions. Item 5, recognition of visitors in the gallery. The honourable Member for North Slave, Mr. Lafferty.

Thank you. Welcome, chiefs. The honourable Member for Weledeh, item 5, recognition of visitors in the gallery.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank everyone who is in the gallery, but particularly Chief Rick Edjericon, Chief Peter Liske and all of the other residents of Weledeh. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

-- Applause

Item 5, recognition of visitors in the gallery. The honourable Member for Thebacha, Mr. Miltenberger.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, last week I had the honour of introducing Mr. Rob Tordiff and his wife, Sylvie. He is the president of the South Slave Metis Tribal Council. This week, I have the pleasure again of introducing and recognizing Mr. Rob Tordiff and his wife, Sylvie, but as well, the latest addition to their family, who looks pretty healthy. Looks like maybe a boy dressed in blue. I would like to welcome all three of them to the Assembly and wish them a long life and happiness.

-- Applause

Thank you, Mr. Miltenberger. Item 5, recognition of visitors in the gallery. The honourable Member for the Mackenzie Delta, Mr. Krutko.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I would like to recognize a former colleague of this House and someone I had the opportunity to sit beside in the 13th Assembly, Mr. James Rabesca. Also, Mr. Speaker, I would like to recognize Robert Alexie, who is the executive director of the Gwich'in Land and Water Board and my constituency assistant, Renie Francis. I would also like to invite everybody to Fort McPherson on December 21st for their wedding.

-- Laughter

-- Applause

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. There are a number of people I would like to recognize. I likely will not be able to recognize all of them, obviously, because I cannot see behind us. Doug Nelson, the manager of the Royal Bank here in Yellowknife; Pat McMahon, I saw her a moment ago; Don Yamkowy; Barb Bromley; Ruth Spence; and David Murphy is in the back there, the president of the NWTTA. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

-- Applause

Thank you, Mr. Ootes. Item 5, recognition of visitors in the gallery. The honourable Member for Range Lake, Ms. Lee.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It is very, very moving to see everyone in the gallery. The ones I can recognize are Mr. Gord and Bernadette Stewart, very prominent businesspeople in the city of Yellowknife. I see Mr. Dave Connelly. I see Mr. Paul Smith, who lives in my riding. I see Don Yamkowy and Ms. Pat Mracek. I would like to recognize them for being here and to thank them for being here.

-- Applause

Item 5, recognition of visitors in the gallery. The honourable Member for Great Slave, Mr. Braden.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Along with everyone else, it is very gratifying to see everyone here. I would like to recognize someone else from the business community in the Northwest Territories, Mr. Joe McBryan, and I believe another former Member of this Assembly, Mr. Speaker, Mr. James Wah-Shee.

-- Applause

Thank you. Yes, indeed, there are two former Members, Mr. Rabesca and Mr. Wah-Shee from former Assemblies. Welcome to the gallery, gentlemen. Item 5, recognition of visitors in the gallery. The honourable Member for Nahendeh, Mr. Antoine.

Item 5, recognition of visitors in the gallery. The honourable Member for Hay River South, Mrs. Groenewegen.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, since my colleague for Hay River North does not have eyes in the back of his head, he does not see one of his favourite constituents in the gallery, Joe McBryan, but he is from Hay River North.

-- Applause

He probably does not recognize him by his real name. He probably calls him Buffalo Joe. Item 5, recognition of visitors in the gallery. The honourable Member for the Sahtu, Mr. Kakfwi.

Mr. Speaker, I would just like to welcome everybody and recognize every member of the public who have taken time to make sure they are available to watch us in the conduct of our duties today. Thank you very much for coming. Mahsi.

-- Applause

Thank you. Item 5, recognition of visitors in the gallery. I would like to take this opportunity to recognize former Deputy Commissioner and Commissioner, the Honourable Dan Marion.

-- Applause

Any further recognition of visitors in the gallery? As a Member for Kam Lake, I would like to recognize a constituent and former member of the CBC, Ms. Patricia Russell.

-- Applause

No further recognitions of visitors in the gallery? I would like to take this opportunity on behalf of all the Members to thank you for coming to the Assembly. Just a reminder that we are open everyday from 1:30 to 6:00. Item 6, oral questions. The honourable Member for Mackenzie Delta, Mr. Krutko.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Minister of Municipal and Community Affairs. It is regarding the long-awaited decision for the Fort McPherson water treatment improvement system to be enacted. It was supposed to be completed in July, yet the snow is falling, the ferries have been pulled out and the rivers are freezing. I would like to ask the Minister exactly what date does he have for final conclusion of the water project in Fort McPherson so we can have some safe drinking water?

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Yes, I am pleased to provide the Member with the details. We are fairly confident that the new water system will be in effect, operational at the end of November. I hope there are no further delays. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, can the Minister tell me what action is being taken by his department to ensure that the THM contamination at the treatment plant that presently exists, what is the department doing to ensure the public that treatment would be flushed out or cleared or before any new water is provided to that treatment facility?

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Yes, I understand that all the preliminary work has been completed here. I am not sure at what stage it is at the moment, but from my understanding and with the knowledge from the department, all work-related plans are being conformed with. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Minister. Supplementary, Mr. Krutko.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, can the Minister tell me if they have informed the residents of Fort McPherson that they will also have to take action to clean out their existing water tanks in their homes so that they are not contaminated?

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I will ensure that the department informs all residents that one of the first steps will be to clean out their own water tanks. If there is any assistance required, we will then work with the Departments of Health and Social Services and Public Works and Services to put out a communication strategy that would address that key question. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, can the Minister tell me exactly when did he intend to carry out this activity? Is it going to be before or after the new facility has come on-line?

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would suggest that we develop a communication strategy that would permit a brief transition period where we would be able to commission the water supply and, in between, have the houses drain all their water tanks, do the tank cleaning and then we will be able to begin to deliver fresh new water sources to the residents. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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

Thank you, Mr. Lafferty. The honourable Minister responsible for the NWT Housing Corporation, Mr. Allen.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Yes, if there is agreement with the communities, we put the funds into the communities to deliver the programs for the corporation. Where there is not an entity in the community that can do that, we will do that. Each community, Mr. Speaker, gets a certain amount of funding each year to do program delivery. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Minister. Supplementary, Mr. Lafferty.

Thank you, Mr. Lafferty. The honourable Minister responsible for the NWT Housing Corporation, Mr. Allen.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Yes, we are currently reviewing some of our basic policies to see if there is adequate delivery systems in place and where there is to be some questions by the Members here, we will fulfil that obligation to review and reply back. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Minister. Supplementary, Mr. Lafferty.

Thank you, Mr. Lafferty. This deals with housing, Mr. Lafferty? The honourable Minister responsible for the NWT Housing Corporation, Mr. Allen.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I am always looking forward to travelling with the honourable Member to his communities. I would oblige myself to that question. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Minister. Item 6, oral questions. The honourable Member for Deh Cho, Mr. McLeod.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My question is for the Minister responsible for Resources, Wildlife and Economic Development. Earlier this year, a report that stated the commercial fishing stocks in Tathlina and Kakisa Lakes were in trouble. We had the Minister come down and meet with the community of Kakisa and talk to the leaders and the commercial fishermen there. He had committed to a follow-up to meet with the commercial fishermen of that community. I would like to ask the Minister of the status of what he has done in terms of meeting with the commercial fishermen? Thank you.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Yes, we have a Great Slave Lake Fisheries Strategy that is being considered by the fishermen. It includes provisions in there for the fishermen from Kakisa. I am waiting for the Fishermen's Association to get back to me on what they want to do with that strategy. In the meantime, I will continue to pursue the commitments I made to the people in Kakisa. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Minister. Supplementary, Mr. McLeod.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I have to ask the Minister if it is in his plans to go into the community of Kakisa and explain the Great Slave Lake Fisheries Strategy and discuss with them some of the commitments he made as to compensation. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Yes, I would be pleased to go to Kakisa, follow up on the meeting -- the two meetings that I had there -- and work with the fishermen from that community, where we can go from here, what subsidies or whatever we can handle next year. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Minister. Supplementary, Mr. McLeod.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. One final question. I have to ask the Minister, when can we expect him to visit in terms of a time frame? Is it next month? Is it over the December Christmas holidays or early next year? Could he indicate when?

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

Mr. Speaker, as soon as it can be arranged with the fishermen in the communities, probably shortly after this House recesses. I expect we can do it in November. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Minister. Item 6, oral questions. The honourable Member for Tu Nedhe, Mr. Nitah.

Thank you, Mr. Nitah. The honourable Minister responsible for the Department of Health and Social Services, Mr. Antoine.

Thank you, Mr. Minister. Supplementary, Mr. Nitah.

Thank you, Mr. Nitah. The honourable Minister responsible for Health, Mr. Antoine.

Thank you, Mr. Minister. Item 6, oral questions. The honourable Member for Great Slave, Mr. Braden.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My question is for the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment in the area of income support. It relates to the housing market in the city of Yellowknife, Mr. Speaker. We have a very vibrant economy right now in the city. One of the consequences is the pressure on vacancies and the cost of rent. I wanted to ask specifically in that area because of the impact, of course, on government budgets and things as rents go up. Does the department have any ceilings or restrictions at this time on the amounts paid for rent to income support clients? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Braden. The honourable Minister responsible for the Department of Education, Culture and Employment, Mr. Ootes.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The policy is that we provide public housing for income support individuals. In the event that public housing is not available, then we go to the private sector. Mr. Speaker, we provide the cost of housing, whatever that may be. Additionally, we supply and pay for the cost of fuel as well as electricity for those on income support. The Member's question being is there a ceiling on that? No, Mr. Speaker, not at the present time and we do not anticipate any. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Minister. Supplementary, Mr. Braden.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. To follow through on the Minister's final remark that none are anticipated, this is contrary with some information that I have that new regulations and new amounts are being considered to go into effect as early as the first of November, two days from now, Mr. Speaker. Could the Minister confirm that indeed no caps or limits will be forthcoming for income support clients? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Braden. The honourable Minister responsible for the Department of Education, Culture and Employment, Mr. Ootes.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. To the best of my knowledge, Mr. Speaker, we do not have an intent of limiting the amount of the housing allowance for income support clients. Naturally, we do try to adjust in terms of space available for families, the size of a family and so forth, and for others -- large families, small families -- it depends on the availability of units, of course. We are naturally not prepared to put a mother with one child into a four-bedroom house, for example. However, Mr. Speaker, the intent -- if there was such and I am not familiar with it -- is certainly not to cap it. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Minister. Item 6, oral questions. The honourable Member for Inuvik Boot Lake, Mr. Roland.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the talk recently about education and the achievements made by students compared to the national averages has reminded me of an issue that I raised with my colleagues here when business plans were going through in a previous year and then followed up with the Minister in the area of the level of programming that we have within the NWT. For example, Mr. Speaker, right now we have a general program, I believe it was qualified as, where students in high school go into 16, 26, 36 level courses whether it be math, social studies or those areas.

I would like to know if the Minister and his department have done anything to change this because it does not meet the requirements of students nowadays. My concern is that there are a lot of students, especially when you look at the amount of aboriginal students that are in that program. I would like to know if his department has done anything to improve programming in that area to make sure that students taking those courses in our high school system are going to achieve a grade 12 diploma and be able to work with that diploma? Thank you.