Minister of Education, Culture and Employment, Mr. Ootes.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I can't make a commitment here, Mr. Speaker, without looking at the details of that particular court decision. I am not familiar with it and it wasn't brought to my attention previously, Mr. Speaker. So we would have to look at seeing what the implications of that court decision were and whether it would even apply to us. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Item 6, oral questions. Member for Hay River North, Mr. Delorey.

Minister of Health and Social Services, Mr. Miltenberger.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I apologize to the Member for any confusion. There are 10 general practitioners. In addition, there are three specialists. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Supplementary, Mr. Delorey.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would ask the Minister again then if he could supply a list of the 10 general practitioners, excluding the three specialists. What is the complete breakdown by community? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Minister of Health and Social Services, Mr. Miltenberger.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, there are two for the South, two for the Dogrib, one for the Deh Cho and I believe the rest are general practitioners scheduled to go into Yellowknife. If the Member wishes, I can give him a written list so that it's factual and he has it to see. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Supplementary, Mr. Delorey.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Also yesterday when I asked for more doctors for Hay River, out of the 10 general practitioners, the Minister responded: "As a result of recently concluded negotiations with general practitioners, there is going to be an additional sum, over and above the existing complement, that is going to be allocated across the territory and Hay River will be factored in there." Am I to understand that there are going to be more doctors over and above the three specialists and the 10 general practitioners we talked about? Is the Minister saying there will be more doctors over and above that? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Minister of Health and Social Services, Mr. Miltenberger.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Yes, that's correct.

Final supplementary, Mr. Delorey.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, will the Minister commit, in the doctors being hired, whether it's in the initial 10 or the ones over and above the 10, to two more physicians for Hay River? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The time for oral questions is up. We will allow the Minister to respond.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I am aware of Hay River's request for seven doctors. I am aware of Hay River's request not only for doctors, but to have the capacity and capability to do surgery and birthing. The commitment I give is we will ensure that Hay River is treated fairly and with the resources they need. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. .

Item 7, written questions, Item 8, returns to written questions. Mr. Handley.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I have a return to written question asked by Mr. Dent on February 12, 2003, regarding the GNWT policy on employee e-mail and Internet usage.

On February 26, 2002, the Government of the Northwest Territories adopted the policy "Use of Electronic Mail and the Internet, Guidelines for Employees of the Government of the Northwest Territories." This policy is currently posted on the GNWT Web site under "Information for Employees" at the FMBS's document library. The policy states: "Computers, networks and computing facilities are provided for the performance of assigned duties. The use of this equipment or technology for any other purpose is not appropriate." The policy goes on to list examples of inappropriate or prohibited uses of government e-mail and the Internet.

When initially implemented, the policy was provided to all employees. The employees were asked to review the policy and sign an acknowledgement that they had read and understood it. These acknowledgements were placed on their personnel files. The process for all new employees is to provide them with the policy as part of the initial documentation process for newly hired employees.

GNWT departments have the ability to monitor employee use of e-mail and the Internet to ensure that these tools are being used appropriately. GNWT departments have the capacity to run regular reports outlining the types of Internet sites employees are accessing. When inappropriate sites are detected, employees are normally advised of this and warned that this contravenes the GNWT policy in this area.

Failure to refrain from this behaviour leads to regular progressive discipline. Depending on the types of sites visited and the nature of an employee's job, fairly severe discipline may be warranted.

The departments were consulted to determine if specific incidents have arisen over the past year. The following were the results:

- the majority reported that there have been no instances where discipline had to be imposed on employees for inappropriate use of the Internet or GNWT e-mail;

- there were several instances where departments had provided verbal and written cautions to employees;

- there were three cases where written reprimands had to be provided to employees concerning use of the Internet;

- there was one instance where an employee was suspended for inappropriate use of the Internet. This suspension has been grieved, but the grievance process has not been completed.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Item 8, returns to written questions. Item 9, replies to Opening Address. Item 10, petitions. Item 11, reports of standing and special committees. Item 12, reports of committees on the review of bills. Item 13, tabling of documents. Deputy Premier, Mr. Antoine.

Item 13, tabling of documents. Item 14, notices of motion. Item 15, notices of motions for first reading of bills. Item 16, motions. Mr. McLeod.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

WHEREAS the mandate of the Special Joint Committee on Non-Tax-Based Community Affairs expires on February 28, 2003, in accordance with Motion 6-14(6);

AND WHEREAS the special joint committee requires the government's comprehensive response to its interim report and recommendations in order to prepare its final report to the House;

AND WHEREAS the government has not tabled its response as of February 19, 2003;

AND WHEREAS the final date for tabling the government's response is February 28, 2003;

AND WHEREAS the special joint committee requires time to consider the government's response and feedback from small communities on the interim report of the committee;

NOW THEREFORE I MOVE, seconded by the honourable Member for North Slave, that the special joint committee shall continue as a special committee of the Legislative Assembly until it presents its final report to the House in June 2003;

AND FURTHER, that it shall continue under all other terms and provisions as established by Motion 6-14(5). Thank you, Mr. Speaker.