Thank you, Mr. Minister. Your final supplementary, Ms. Lee.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, may I just ask the Minister to make the commitment to see if we could finalize this before the end of this Assembly, because it has been studied for two years and I do believe that is long enough. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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

Mr. Speaker, this particular issue and the options and recommendations being made and the work that is being done, I would ask and suggest is complex and we are not going to be in a position to make any final decisions within the life of this government. We want to set the pieces in place so that the good work that's been done can provide information and advice to the incoming government. Unfortunately, Mr. Speaker, I can't commit to that. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Minister. Item 6, oral questions. The honourable Member for Mackenzie Delta, Mr. Krutko.

Thank you, Mr. Krutko. The honourable Minister of Health and Social Services, Mr. Miltenberger.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my understanding is that under the new governance agreement that is being worked on in the Beaufort-Delta that that is in fact what is happening and underway, and that the timeline we are working in is to be able to hopefully be able to have the trustees and the new chair of the new constituted Inuvik Health and Social Services Authority or new agreed to Health and Social Services Authority by the end of February. That was the request from Mr. Carmichael, the president of the Gwich'in Tribal Council, in consultation with Ms. Cournoyea, the chair of the Inuvik Health and Social Services Authority.

Thank you, Mr. Minister. Supplementary, Mr. Krutko.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the issues in our communities can't wait until February. We have to have some assurances that people's concerns and issues relating to health and social services, the lack of core programs in our communities are being addressed. I'd like to ask the Minister, since he seemed to have a lot of power in dealing with boards by way of removing boards and re-establishing boards, can you establish a board, say within the next month, to ensure that we have this continuity and don't have to wait six months before we see something happen?

Thank you, Mr. Krutko. The honourable Minister of Health and Social Services, Mr. Miltenberger.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, there is a functioning board currently in place. There is a transition process underway. By good government and by our own principles that we operate on, we are committed to working with the leadership in the Inuvik region on that development and that transition and we are committed to that process. Currently, the members that are there are doing the job that's necessary but we are working, as I indicated, with the current board, the Gwich'in Tribal Council and the Inuvialuit on the selection of replacements and community representatives that we'll see representatives from the communities on this board. I think we should honour that process and continue to work with the existing board in the interim. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Minister. Supplementary, Mr. Krutko.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I feel that we have a responsibility to ensure that the trustees on that board reflect the communities it represents. No offence to the aboriginal organizations you mentioned, but there are community services not being provided in our communities. I feel that every year we deal with these same problems, we bring it to the House and nothing happens. I think as a Minister, you are responsible to ensure that the accountability is there and the accountability is flowing back to our communities to ensure we are getting the services that are expected. I would like to ask the Minister again, you have the authority to implement this board as soon as possible, can you consider getting out there and trying to re-establish this board within the next month?

Thank you, Mr. Krutko. The honourable Minister of Health and Social Services, Mr. Miltenberger.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Let me restate my commitment to work with the leadership in the Inuvik region to ensure that the services that are there are adequate, that any changes to the board structure are done in a way that is compatible with what the leadership up there has indicated how they want to proceed and try to honour that. We have been doing it in a whole number of areas as we work on the governance arrangements in the region. It is not up to me or appropriate for me to try to rule by fiat at this point. We have a functioning board. The intent is to expand the membership so that there is more community representation. That process is underway in consultation with the aboriginal governments and the public governments that are there, and we are part of that process. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Minister. I just want to remind members that are in the gallery not to use cell phones in the Legislative Assembly. Please put your cell phone away and go outside to make your calls. Your final supplementary, Mr. Krutko.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I'd like to ask the Minister when the last time was that you have reported to the Beaufort-Delta leaders. I haven't seen you at too many Beaufort leadership meetings. I know we have been requested to show up there because of these health concerns. I'd like to ask the Minister, when will you get that consultation with the region and the communities at the Beaufort leaders' meeting since you haven't been too visible lately?

Yes, disregard that last part. Thank you, Mr. Krutko. The honourable Minister of Health and Social Services, Mr. Miltenberger.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, there is a process underway as we speak that is being coordinated through the Inuvik Health and Social Services Board and authority in consultation with the Inuvialuit, the Gwich'in and the public government up there in the municipalities. They have the process in hand; we've had letters initiated by Mr. Carmichael at his request that we look at the end of February to finalize this, but to give it the time necessary to do the job they think as necessary to do it right, and I am prepared to honour that request. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Minister. Item 6, oral questions. The honourable Member for Great Slave, Mr. Braden.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My question this afternoon is for the Minister of Finance, Mr. Handley, and it relates to my statement earlier today about the secondary diamond industries that are growing around the diamond deposits in the NWT. Mr. Speaker, comments by the Minister in the media seem to indicate that our interest and enthusiasm for getting behind the secondary industries is waning and I would like to ask the Minister, does the Government of the Northwest Territories continue to support the cutting and polishing industry in the NWT? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Braden. The honourable Minister of Finance, Mr. Handley.

Mr. Speaker, yes, totally. Thank you.