Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I think indeed the chairman of the Power Corporation did not take it to mean stop your application. I do not think the Minister took it to mean stop your application, and I still do not think that the Minister at this point in time, looking back at the event, thinks that the chairman should have interpreted that as stop your application. Am I correct?

Mr. Speaker, as I said, in hindsight, the record of decision could certainly have been written with a lot more clarity, if that was the intention. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Minister responsible for the Power Corporation. Mr. Speaker, I do not think there is any question that there is a lot of confusion around the whole issue of the release of the Power Corporation board. However, be that as it may, we are now stuck with that in front of us. I think that we are all best served to get out of the situation that we are in right now, with the secretary to Cabinet and deputy minister serving as an interim board. I am wondering if the Minister could inform the House as to what process he is going to use, and when will he be looking at getting a new board in place? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As I said yesterday, I am disappointed that we have six very competent, capable, proven businessmen from the Northwest Territories who we had to send a letter to saying sorry, we do not need your services anymore. I have tremendous respect for all of those individuals. I intend to hopefully replace them, hopefully with people who have the same dedication, the same expertise and commitment to government and to the people of the Territories. I have drafted letters to go to each of the MLAs, asking for recommendations for board members. Those should go out, if not this afternoon, they will go out first thing tomorrow morning. My intention is to get on with the task of putting together a new board. I have in the letter asked that MLAs give me their suggestions by the end of October. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I was wondering if the Minister could inform me as to how the members of the board that was just revoked, if any of those members were revoked because of a certain situation, if those names came forward again -- and I doubt that they will, but if they did, how would the government look upon these names now for a position on the board?

Mr. Speaker, the responsibility to select a board and a chair, a vice-chair, is my responsibility as Minister responsible for the Power Corporation. I have tremendous respect for all of those individuals on the board. If their names came forward, I would consider them. I do not know if they will, but most of them have indicated that they probably would not. I have no concern with them individually at all.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I guess with the confusion that is surrounding this, I would like to ask the Minister to state, is he definitely clear on his responsibilities to informing the board as to who the chair will be and what the mandate of the board will be?

Mr. Speaker, selection of the chair, the vice-chair and the members is my responsibility in the act as Minister for the Power Corporation. The mandate and direction to the board is the responsibility of the Executive Council, so any direction to them, strategic direction or otherwise, will come from the Executive Council. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I think it is obvious, Mr. Speaker, that there is a mandate that surrounds the chairman and the board that have prevented them from doing business as they see fit within their mandate. I think that it is incumbent upon this government to make it very clear to the board what their mandate is and what they will be able to do, because I think we have a huge corporation there that has the potential of generating revenues for this government, but as long as we keep stepping in and pulling them back, we will never get anywhere with this corporation.

Also, Mr. Speaker, it has been stated that a lot of this is hinging on the energy strategy. Could the Minister inform us as to when we are going to see this energy strategy and when are we going to be able to act on the recommendations?

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, simply speaking, the whole board was let go, the whole rate zone has been all tied in with the energy strategy. How long are we going to be stuck with this situation?

Mr. Speaker, the old board was provided with strategic direction on August 6th. That was laid out very clearly. That strategic direction will remain in effect. It is in effect with the interim board and I assume will be with the future one.

The interim board has been given direction to prepare an application based on the status quo plus the directions that the PUB would have issued them on the last application that was filed.

Mr. Speaker, we as a government want to have both the strategic direction of the Power Corporation and the energy strategy moving in the same direction. It does not do any of us any good to have them going off in different directions. The energy strategy is the responsibility of the Minister of Resources, Wildlife and Economic Development. It was a two-year assignment when it was contemplated and that carries us through to next June or so. It is possible that it would be done earlier and we hope that it would be done earlier. I cannot give any specific date on it. Thank you.

Mr. Speaker, I seek unanimous consent to revert to item 7, oral questions.