The Deputy Speaker David Krutko

Supplementary, Mr. Roland.

Floyd Roland Inuvik Boot Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Can the Minister inform us if this will be the last meeting on this and then move forward from there to find the timelines. Will something be in place by the end of this government? Thank you.

The Deputy Speaker David Krutko

Minister of MACA, Mr. Steen.

Vince Steen Nunakput

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I believe I've indicated to the standing committee that we are hoping that we are going to have a draft policy ready for review by the standing committee in April or May at the latest. Then we will put the policy in place. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The Deputy Speaker David Krutko

Item 6, oral questions. Member for Hay River South, Mrs. Groenewegen.

Jane Groenewegen Hay River South

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Minister of Health and Social Services in response to his Minister's statement today, "Taking Action on Tobacco". Mr. Speaker, it would appear the Minister plans to undertake a fair amount of consultation with the public on this matter. Mr. Speaker, I believe about 45,000 people a year die in Canada as a result of direct or indirect issues around tobacco smoke. It would appear to me that this is a bit of a public safety issue. We implement other legislation around public safety issues, seatbelt legislation, legislation about people riding in the back of pick-up trucks. If someone pulls you over and you have your baby in a vehicle and they are not in a car seat, you are going to get a $200 fine. Can this Minister consider smoking in public places to be a safety issue? Thank you.

The Deputy Speaker David Krutko

Minister of Health and Social Services, Mr. Miltenberger.

Michael Miltenberger Thebacha

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the Member raises a very pertinent and germane point. It's something WCB is looking at as well. In my mind, it is clear that this is a health issue and a public safety issue, especially when it comes to secondhand smoke. Thank you.

The Deputy Speaker David Krutko

Thank you. Supplementary, Mrs. Groenewegen.

Jane Groenewegen Hay River South

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I would like to encourage the Minister in the work he has undertaken in this area and I would like him to take the approach as we would as a government on any other public safety issue. I think we have been too long, too quiet and too lenient on this hazardous situation which does exist for people who are sometimes not in a position to defend themselves against the effects of secondhand smoke. I would like to ask the Minister if he could see any opportunity for perhaps even curtailing some of the public consultation and taking the responsible and appropriate action of going straight into the preparation of legislation. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The Deputy Speaker David Krutko

Minister of Health and Social Services, Mr. Miltenberger.

Michael Miltenberger Thebacha

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I agree that this is a serious health problem that has been too long unaddressed and I am going to try to move as quickly as I can, along with Cabinet, to make sure that the pieces are in place so if we don't have a chance to complete anything in the months remaining of the 14th Assembly, then the 15th Assembly will be ready to go in the very early days to deal with the issue of legislation, should it be moved forward. Thank you.

The Deputy Speaker David Krutko

Item 6, oral questions. Mr. McLeod.

Michael McLeod Deh Cho

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As a follow-up to my Member's statement, I am hoping the Minister of RWED can hear me. I have a bad cold. I would like to ask, in light of the fact that we have had a lot of development in the different sectors and mega projects over the horizon, I would like to know what his department is doing to assist our northern entrepreneurs to prepare for this development.