Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Well my constituents are telling me that we may very well have reasons, but they are very difficult to decipher. Some of us have suggested that other jurisdictions have statutory officers in charge of procurement and they provide annual reports to be tabled in the House so that we can see which departments are contravening our procurement policies and, indeed, which departments are in compliance. I am wondering if the Premier would consider such an arrangement if a recommendation came from this side of the House. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Members of the Legislature are free to make recommendations to us. We believe it is their duty to forward recommendations with substance and with merit so that we can consider them in clearing out the work that is given us to do. Yes, if the Member has recommendations to make in this regard and wants us to review that and give it consideration we would be pleased to do so. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Yes, there is a very clear policy on negotiated Transportation contracts. Certainly within that policy, I am open to considering a negotiated contract in the case that Mr. Nitah is referring to. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, yesterday I had some questions for the Minister of Health and Social Services with regard to the employees at the Hay River Community Health Board. I would like to continue my line of questioning.

Mr. Speaker, when the department was looking at taking over the employees of the health board under the government, there was an amount set aside as to what the department thought it would cost them to do that. Unfortunately, that amount was grossly underestimated, which put a stop to that process. I wonder if the Minister could tell this House how much money this department has put aside in order to see parity brought to the members of the union in Hay River right now, or how much is the department anticipating it will cost to do that? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, when we initially contemplated the transfer, as we publicly stated, we looked at $440,000 worth of ongoing costs, and approximately $336,000 one-time costs, which as the Member accurately stated, we are somewhat under...the term he used was, I think, grossly underestimated.

We had moved to a process of negotiation with the existing local. That process is underway. It would not be appropriate for me as Minister to comment on the money that may or may not be involved in that process. It is going to be done in good faith and it will address many of the issues that my colleague has touched on. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the Minister has stated that there will need to be some legislative change in order to bring about the contract that he is pushing to see in Hay River. Will the Minister inform the House where that legislation is now, and when does he think this legislation will be passed? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, we are planning to have that legislation ready no later than the February session. If possible, we would like to get it done this session, but that is not confirmed yet. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, one of the issues that is involved here, Mr. Speaker, is the board. I would like the Minister to state what his involvement is, or what his mandate is in the selection and appointment of board members to the Hay River Community Health Board now. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, at this present time under the structure that is currently there with the authority constituted under the Societies Act, I have very little direct legal involvement. I am working cooperatively with the board to see the best way to get their board filled up and a permanent chair picked. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, in reviewing the unedited Hansard, I want to go back to the final question I asked the Minister yesterday. In reviewing Hansard, I did not get an answer to that. I asked the Minister if he would be willing to look at reimbursing the union, the health board and the many individuals who spent hours and hours of their own time pursuing the original plan that the Minister had for the health board employees. Will the Minister be willing to state to this House whether he is willing to reimburse those individuals for time spent on that initiative? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I will give the same answer I believe I gave in Hay River, that there was a process agreed to when we started reviewing that with the joint committee. Members were picked and there was, I believe, some compensation agreed to. That is the arrangement that is on the books. At this point, I see no need to change that. Thank you.