Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Yes, we indicated earlier in question period that we will work in coordination with Health and Social Services to assure that we do have safe and good quality drinking water. If that means issuing Brita filters as we have done in the past with Fort McPherson, we will deal with that on an individual basis with other communities that may need it. Thank you.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the Governor General, in her Speech from the Throne on January 30 of this year, made several commitments on behalf of the federal government concerning clean water. They include the following:

The federal government will:

1. Fulfill their direct responsibility for water, including the safety of the water supply on reserves and federal lands.
2. Commit to developing stronger national guidelines for water quality through enhancement of scientific research in collaboration with partners.
3. Strengthen the role of the National Water Research Institute of Canada.
4. Find improvements in municipal water and waste water systems through the federal, provincial and municipal infrastructure Canadian programs.
5. Invest in research and development, and advance the information systems enabling better land use and the protection of both surface waters and ground water supplies from the impact of industrial and agriculture operations...

Mr. Krutko, may I have a question? Mr. Krutko.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the question is to the Premier. When can we receive an update from this government's contributions to the federal government's initiatives on clean water, especially in relation to the Northwest Territories? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Krutko. The honourable Premier, Mr. Kakfwi. The Premier can exercise his prerogative to ask any other Ministers to respond, but I have to hear it. Mr. Premier.

Mr. Speaker, in response to the first question, I indicated for all matters dealing with questions regarding water, the Minister of Resources, Wildlife and Economic Development is the lead Minster and will be responding to the questions. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Premier. The Chair hears a lot of questions and in this case, it was directed to the Premier. I just wanted you to instruct the Chair. In this case, it will be directed to the Minister responsible for Resources, Wildlife and Economic Development, Mr. Handley.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As I mentioned, through the Council of Ministers of Environment, there are efforts to deal with water issues, one of them being bulk water. Since it is very difficult to get a consensus among all jurisdictions across Canada, we have not made final agreements on that front. Since that time, during the last year, the federal government has started what they refer to as a water forum. That is a forum for all political jurisdictions to discuss various water issues. Some of them are certainly in the area that Mr. Krutko has referred to on national water guidelines and research, safety and so on. All of those are being discussed within that forum. The forum had one meeting last year. There is a second meeting scheduled for March 16th. The Government of the Northwest Territories will continue to participate in the water forums along with other jurisdictions. Thank you.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the provinces and territories are expected to receive an additional $2.65 billion over the next six years as part of the infrastructure Canada program. Of that, $600 million is allocated towards the National Highway Strategy. How much money will be directed to the Northwest Territories so that we can develop our infrastructure?

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

Mr. Speaker, I do not recall the exact amount that would be allocated to the Northwest Territories under the infrastructure program. That one is separate from the transportation program, but I believe the number is somewhere between $3 million and $4 million over the next two years. Thank you.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, with regard to the healthy environment -- especially since it is an essential part of a stable economy, the quality of life for Northerners -- what efforts has this government made in the life of this Assembly so far towards strengthening laws, research efforts and other measures to ensure that the safe drinking water and the water and sewage treatment is up to date and is operational?

Thank you, Mr. Krutko. The honourable Minister responsible for Resources, Wildlife and Economic Development, Mr. Handley.

Mr. Speaker, as I had indicated earlier, our responsibility in water is very limited. We do have some responsibilities that are held by our Department of Health and Social Services and some responsibilities at the municipal level by our Department of Municipal and Community Affairs. So the actions we have taken have largely been through those two departments. I think we have done some good work in communities like Fort McPherson.

The overall responsibility for our water rests largely with the Department of Indian and Northern Affairs, but there is also some responsibility with the Department of Fisheries and Oceans. Through Resources, Wildlife and Economic Development, we do continue to work with those federal agencies in carrying out their responsibilities. We also are fairly active in bringing matters to their attention and urging them to get on with needed research and so on. We participate in a Northern River Basins Study Board. We are a party on the Mackenzie River Basin Transboundary Waters Agreement. We are trying to work out bilateral agreements, so we have been very active in an area where we have very limited responsibility and we will continue to be active because we appreciate the importance of good quality water to our residents. Thank you.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. In light of the national drinking water report card that jurisdictions were evaluated on as to whether or not they required people and agencies, what changes have been done to ensure the delivery of safe drinking water is in place by training and certifying these individuals? I would like to ask the Minister, can this government provide a copy of the certification policies and prove that our drinking water meets the standards set by the national guidelines? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Krutko. The honourable Minister responsible for Resources, Wildlife and Economic Development, Mr. Handley.

Mr. Speaker, that question is one that is certainly getting outside of my jurisdiction as Minister for Resources, Wildlife and Economic Development and I have to take it as notice. It is either MACA or Health, but I am not certain. Thank you.

Thank you, Minister Handley. That question has been taken as notice. Item 6, oral questions. The honourable Member for Frame Lake, Mr. Dent.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my question today is for the Minister responsible for Municipal and Community Affairs. Mr. Speaker, stable long-term funding arrangements are important to all agencies. As I pointed out in my statement today, the City of Yellowknife faces huge ongoing expenditures for more than ten years for water and sewer replacement. However, with the recent change in the funding formulas, the city must apply for their extraordinary sewer replacement funding under the infrastructure projects program on an annual basis. Mr. Speaker, will the Minister consider making longer term commitments under this program?

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