Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I know we can make the scene look pretty rosy, but we all know there are very few indigenous people in this government at middle management and senior levels of this government. I believe that this government is not doing enough to put people in mentorship positions or offering them an alternative to industry for aboriginal governments. The federal government has more...

Mr. Krutko, may we have a question please.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, other organizations in the Northwest Territories have shown us the example that they can succeed, using the federal government as an example. Why is this government not following that example?

Thank you, Mr. Krutko. The honourable Deputy Premier, Mr. Antoine.

Thank you, Mr. Deputy Premier. Item 7, oral questions. The honourable Member for Hay River South, Mrs. Groenewegen.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, in follow-up to these questions that are being asked about human resources management issues and the Affirmative Action Policy, I would - after hearing Mr. Ootes' responses and comments - like to ask the Deputy Premier, is there not a policy of the Executive which precludes Ministers from becoming involved in human resources issues within their department? Thank you.

Thank you, Mrs. Groenewegen. The honourable Deputy Premier, Mr. Antoine.

Thank you. The honourable Deputy Premier is taking that question as notice. Item 7, oral questions. The honourable Member for Deh Cho, Mr. McLeod.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to ask my question regarding health programs for seniors to the Minister responsible for Health and Social Services. I would like to know if the department has taken the time to review the programs in place for seniors in the last while? If so, when was the last time?

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. In fact, Mr. Speaker, this review is currently being finalized. It was one of the outstanding issues identified in the action plan and one of the strategies not yet complete. I would anticipate that within the life of this session, I will be making a statement and tabling the documents that will be the result of that work, as well as a response from the department and the government in terms of how we intend to try to address the recommendations made that were arrived at through the interdepartmental working group and after extensive consultation across the North. Thank you.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. That is good to hear. I would like to ask the Minister if that would include issues such as dental care for seniors. It is my understanding that the cap for dental was placed at $1,000 in 1989. I would like to know if that would be part of his review and there would be a consideration for an increase in that area? Thank you.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, in fact, that particular issue would come under supplementary extended health benefits. Coincidentally, we have put out a request for proposals to review that particular program as well, because it is outdated. Dental days and the level of service have been identified as being in need of serious review. We are as well intending to look at that in as timely a way as we can. Thank you.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. An area that many seniors have brought to my attention since I have been elected is the length of time that seniors have to wait, especially in the small communities, to have admittance to hospital and other medical facilities. I would like to know if the Minister would consider reviewing that whole aspect and consider utilizing some of the facilities in the south, especially if none of the hospitals in the North have any room or if the wait is longer than a certain period, for example, one week?

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I would be interested in talking with the Member to get a clear sense of the detail, the specific issues that he is referring to. If there is a problem with seniors accessing facilities as the Member has alluded to, then I would be very interested to look at how we can in fact address that. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Minister. No further supplementary? Item 7, oral questions. The honourable Member for Tu Nedhe, Mr. Nitah.

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