Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I can sympathize with the department in doing something as far as a band-aid solution where this stretch of highway is concerned, but it seems to continually get worse every spring. For example, this spring there was one particular location where one vehicle went through a pot hole that was so sharp and buried in water that it could not be seen. A guy got two flat tires from going over the same pot hole when part of this section of the highway was covered with water.

One of the areas that is of great concern is where the railroad tracks cross the highway. There are three locations where the railroad tracks cross the highway. Could the Minister inform us as to who is responsible for the condition of the railroad tracks or the sections just approaching the railroad tracks? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Delorey. The honourable Minister responsible for Transportation, Mr. Handley.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I will have to take that as notice. I am not sure who is responsible when it comes to the railway track crossing itself. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Minister. That question has been taken as notice. Item 6, oral questions. The honourable Member for Yellowknife South, Mr. Bell.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My question today is for the Premier, who has been integral in negotiating several socio-economic agreements with non-renewable resource companies, to basically ensure that big business has northern hiring quotas and to ensure that a percentage of purchasing is made through northern business. I think rightly so, Mr. Speaker.

I think we all understand that benefits must accrue to the North for this development, so Cabinet's recent decision to waive the BIP on this one project strikes me as a bit of, "Do as we say and not as we do." Would the Premier not see this as an inconsistent approach? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Bell. The honourable Premier, Mr. Kakfwi.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I view policies as generally agreements by government to follow a certain course of action. Policies guide us in our decision making but they are not set in legislation or anything. I think all policies indicate that Cabinet reserves the right to make the final decision and sometimes those are not consistent with the stated policy in that particular area. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Premier. Supplementary, Mr. Bell.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I acknowledge that Cabinet does have the ability to waive policies as they see fit, but I think that we want to be very careful here that we are not setting a dangerous precedent and that industry could not come back and argue to us that when it is convenient for us we do it, but we expect them to abide, Mr. Speaker. Would the Premier not see this as a possibly dangerous precedent? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Bell. The honourable Premier, Mr. Kakfwi.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, we are in the business of politics. We are also in the business of government. We are scrutinized and critiqued to the most infinite degree. Of course there is always a danger. There are many dangers in being government, being politicians and surely this is one of them.

My view is that Cabinet will make a decision fully aware of the difficulties that could arise, but we still feel that the decision we made at that time was the right one and the decision stands. We will be reviewing the Business Incentive Policy to see that it reflects the best possible practice in the interests of the public, this government and the private sector as well. We look forward to discussing those recommendations with the Members in the next few months. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Premier. Supplementary, Mr. Bell.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The Premier, I believe, has indicated the Cabinet was aware of all of these implications. I am wondering if the Cabinet was also aware of the cost of living differentials between Edmonton and Yellowknife being at some 20 to 30 percent, Mr. Speaker. I believe the BIP does allow northern businesses to operate and I am wondering if this was taken into consideration when deciding to waive the BIP? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Bell. The honourable Premier, Mr. Kakfwi.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Yes, Mr. Speaker, it was. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Premier. Your final supplementary, Mr. Bell.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. In that line of questioning, I am wondering how the Cabinet then decided that northern business could possibly compete with southern business, who not only have this extreme cost advantage but often economies of scale? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Bell. The honourable Premier, Mr. Kakfwi.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, we have had a discussion in Cabinet and looked at the pros and cons of the recommended decision. We made the decision and we believe it is time to look at changes and recommendations to the Business Incentive Policy. We have been having consultations since January and we are now looking at draft recommendations that the responsible Minister will be bringing to Cabinet in the very near future. We believe that this will reflect the understanding of the additional costs of doing business, that it is a good time to revisit that particular policy and make sure it reflects all our needs at this time. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Premier. Item 6, oral questions. The honourable Member for Range Lake, Ms. Lee.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my question today goes to the Minister of Health and Social Services. Mr. Speaker, I am going to ask questions about the shortage of health care professionals. I assume a few things, Mr. Speaker. One is that he has been reading or listening to some of the statements made in the House on this issue and perhaps the media reporting on this.

Secondly, the fact that the ratification process is going on is really irrelevant in this matter, because whether or not the package is accepted, I think that the common understanding is a shortage of health care professionals will continue to exist.

My question is, having read and listened to various people speaking about this, has the Minister changed his mind that there is no crisis in Stanton? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my job as Minister is to deal with the issues that can affect the whole system of health and social services across the Northwest Territories. It is to be measured and careful on how I proceed. It is recognized that there are stresses and pressures from every corner. I am confident that the steps taken after careful consideration by the Stanton authority and their staff meet an issue that is there.

There are plans in place that mitigate the possible need for ICU beds. That it is a four-bed unit that tends to run at about 35 percent occupancy over the course of the year. We are taking steps to train staff over the summer so that by the fall, we will hopefully be operational again.

So do I see this as a crisis in this political pressure cooker called the Legislative Assembly when the House is in session? I see this as an issue where patient safety and concern is the first consideration. I believe that has been dealt with. We have to look at this very carefully and not just through the political lenses that may be before us. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Minister. Supplementary, Ms. Lee.