Thank you, Mr. Handley. Item 5, recognition of visitors in the gallery. The honourable Member for Yellowknife Centre, Mr. Ootes.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I am pleased to welcome two schools to our Legislature today. Mr. Handley has recognized the Mildred Hall students, pardon me, the Weledeh Catholic School students and their teacher that's here with them is Trent Hamm. I would also like to welcome Mildred Hall students and their teacher Janet Arthur. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

---Applause

Thank you. Item 5, recognition of visitors in the gallery. The honourable Member for Thebacha, Mr. Miltenberger.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to recognize from Edmonton, Mr. Bill McKeown, executive director for the Alberta, Northwest Territories and Nunavut division of the CNIB. As well from Yellowknife, Christina Vernon, the regional director for the NWT and Nunavut CNIB. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

---Applause

Thank you, Mr. Minister. Item 5, recognition of visitors in the gallery. The honourable Member for Great Slave, Mr. Braden.

Mr. Speaker, it gives me great pleasure to recognize one of the pages in the Chamber, a constituent of Great Slave, Sam Gardiner who is celebrating today his 13th birthday. Thank you. Happy Birthday, Sam, from all the Members of the Legislative Assembly.

---Applause

Thank you, Mr. Braden. I would like to take this opportunity to say hello to my mother in Fort Smith, Thebacha. Item 6, oral questions. The honourable Member for Mackenzie Delta, Mr. Krutko.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the department is aware of the issue of THMs and the concerns that they are high. The most recent studies as of January 17th indicate that the level of THMs, according to the information I have from environmental health, are within acceptable limits. I would be happy to share this information with the Member. I just got it off my e-mail today. Thank you.

Supplementary, Mr. Krutko.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I have grave concerns with the effect of THMs as there has been a major outbreak in Fort McPherson with THMs. It has exceeded the national standards and it has for almost two-and-a-half years before anything was done to clarify this problem. I would like to ask the Minister, given that the scientific studies have demonstrated the connection between exposure to THMs and various types of cancers and the effect on pregnancy and the complication it does have on women, does the government have any data regarding the cost to the territorial health care system and the result of THM exposure? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Minister of Health and Social Services, Mr. Miltenberger.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, let me just restate that our information is that the level of THMs is within acceptable limits. This testing was of January 17th and it's something we want to continue to monitor. I am not aware of any direct scientific evidence we have that has indicated a direct link to any miscarriages that may have happened in the Member's riding and the existence of THMs. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I would like to ask the Minister will he table an independent study in the community of Fort McPherson where they have had exposure to THMs, and can he tell me exactly have there been any increases in bladder cancer, colon cancer, miscarriages and any birth defects?

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, we will pull together the information the Member has requested with regard to bladder cancer and birth defects, miscarriages and such and whether there may be any relation, direct or otherwise. We will get the numbers that we do have in terms of these types of illnesses. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, with regard to the newest articles and what has been stated in the press across Canada, there are 200 women who are suing different municipal jurisdictions because of THMs. I would like to ask the Minister of Health and Social Services who has the responsibility here to ensure that the health of the people in the communities is taken care of. THMs is not a laughing matter. There's scientific proof that it has a direct effect on people's health. As the Minister responsible for health, are you going to do anything on this matter or are you just going to give me lip service?

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the testing as of January 17th indicates that the levels of THMs are within acceptable limits. The Member has asked for some information and we will pull that together. We will track it to see if there is any clear evidence that this has become the significant health problem that the Member may be assuming that it is. Our information clearly states that the level of THMs at present are within acceptable limits. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Minister. Item 6, oral questions. The honourable Member for Tu Nedhe, Mr. Nitah.