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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, some of the details of this still have to be worked out. There is an implementation stage now that has to be instituted. It cannot be strictly on a first come, first serve basis. Our intent is to ensure that communities out there have literacy programs. That is very important. Combined with that and we referenced that earlier, we spoke on that, we have literacy programs for the aboriginal languages, for seniors, and for a number of other areas. With the $700,000, I think it is a case of making sure that it gets into the hands of the communities. Thank you.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I just want to reassure the Minister responsible for Finance that I am not confused, but I am confused by his responses. On one hand, no taxes and fees, on the other, taxes and fees, executive assistant-DM. Mr. Speaker, can the Finance Minister inform us, as he stated that he might have some information on the personal income tax issue, what information does he have?

Thank you, Mr. Roland. The honourable Minister responsible for the Department of Finance, Mr. Handley.

Mr. Speaker, as I said in my earlier comment, the Department of Finance is now collecting information on the experience that all of the provinces have gone to a tax on income. What experiences they have had with this approach, that is the information I have right now. The department may have other specific pieces that I am not aware of. Thank you.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Can the Minister inform us as to when we would look at delinking from the federal government tax situation that we are in presently?

Thank you, Mr. Roland. The honourable Minister responsible for the Department of Finance, Mr. Handley.

Mr. Speaker, with the support of the committee and all the Members of this House, our intention is to do this in the 2003 tax year.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, on the delinking, it seems like a fairly straightforward situation as other provinces are doing that. Why is there a need for an advisory committee in this instance?

Thank you, Mr. Roland. The honourable Minister responsible for the Department of Finance, Mr. Handley.

Mr. Speaker, my objective in doing this is not just for the sake of delinking our tax from the federal tax and going from a federal tax to a tax on income. My intention in doing this is to establish a northern-made, northern personal income tax income and structure that fits all our needs best. So I see this as much bigger than just delinking it. I think this is a tremendous opportunity for us to design our own tax system in the North. It is much more complicated than simply just delinking. Thank you.

Thank you, Minister Handley. Final supplementary, Mr. Roland.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Can the Finance Minister commit to this House and the people of the Northwest Territories that through this process, he will not be increasing personal income tax for residents of the Northwest Territories?

Thank you, Mr. Roland. The honourable Minister responsible for the Department of Finance, Mr. Handley.

Mr. Speaker, what I can commit is to working with all the Members, the committees, anyone who wants to have consultation with me on designing a northern personal income system and structure. I cannot commit quite honestly that it is not going to change.

If we want to have exactly the same as we have now, then I would not be going through this exercise. I think it is possible now to develop a system that better meets the needs of all our people, whether it is the working poor who are trying to make ends meet or whether it is at the higher income levels or whether it is dealing with people who have money they want to invest and hope we invest in the North. It is a complicated exercise. I cannot say to all people that there will be no tax increases. Quite honestly, I cannot say that, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Minister Handley. The time for question period is over. Item 7, written questions. The Chair recognizes the honourable Member for Hay River South, Madam Groenewegen.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I would like to seek to unanimous consent to return to item 5, recognition in visitors in the gallery.

Thank you. The honourable Member is seeking unanimous consent to return to item 5, recognition of visitors in the gallery. Are there any nays? There are no nays. Item 5, recognition of visitors in the gallery. The honourable Member for Hay River South, Madam Groenewegen.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, it is my pleasure today to recognize some of the members of the Status of Women Council board of directors. In particular, I would like to recognize Mrs. Tessie Gonzales, who is from Hay River. Thank you.

-- Applause

Thank you. Item 5, recognition of visitors in the gallery. The honourable Member for Nunakput, Mr. Steen.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I would like to recognize two ladies from Holman, Ms. Annie Goose and Ms. Jean Apakualuk. Ms. Apakualuk is a member of the Status of Women Council.

-- Applause