Mr. Speaker, the Ministers are allowed travel, duty and home travel. We are trying to provide flexibility so these will continue but also to allow for non-portfolio travel and to allow for spouses and designated people to attend functions with Ministers. These are understood to be requiring approval. Ministers have always travelled with the concurrence of their colleagues to ensure that we attend to important business and that we are here as well to take care of the business.

We cover for each other, we travel for each other and we are also asked to attend functions that are sometimes outside of our portfolio, but are not within existing guidelines. I think for the Arctic Winter Games, Aboriginal Achievement Awards, there is a range of events that require, in our judgment, the presence of the Government of the Northwest Territories. It is fitting that spouses or companions, whatever you want to call them, are attending these functions, because sometimes they take on the nature of social functions. Thank you.