Item 6, oral questions. Member for Frame Lake, Mr. Dent.

Minister responsible for the FMBS, Mr. Handley.

Mr. Speaker, the Member is reading selectively out of a policy. I can go back to the Internet policy as well. In it, it says e-mail is an effective communication tool which fosters cooperation, teamwork and partnering. It provides access to a wide variety of information, resources, communication tools that assist employees in performing their duties. It goes on to say what is acceptable, "...including access to external databases, libraries, newspapers, news letters, magazines..." There's a whole list of things that are acceptable. None of this is black and white. What it does do, Mr. Speaker, is it breaks it into categories. Some things are acceptable and judgment by both the employee and the manager has to be used there. Some things are not acceptable, and that is they shouldn't be done. There is a section here that lists things that are absolutely prohibited. So, Mr. Speaker, you can't pick and choose and take one section or one paragraph and say that's the whole intent of the policy. You have to read the document as a whole. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Supplementary, Mr. Dent.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I guess we can argue about who can read more selectively because, at the beginning of the section he quoted, it says, "Job related uses, include the accessing of external data bases, libraries, newspapers..." So, yes, you can read this selectively, but the bottom line is all throughout it keeps saying the use of Internet for anything that is not job related is wrong. I think we should take a look at the phone policy, which says government employees can use the phone system for personal reasons, but then in a very short amount of time what is strictly prohibited. Let's simplify it. Let's make it simple so there isn't so much danger of being accused of selective enforcement. Why will the Minister not take a look at the two policies with an eye to bringing them together?

---Interjection

---Laughter

Minister responsible for the FMBS, Mr. Handley.

Again, I could take two comparable sections. This is from the old code of conduct and it has to do with telephone calls: "The government acknowledges reasonable use of government telephone for personal reasons, however the following uses are strictly prohibited..." and it lists a number of things that are prohibited. If you go to the Internet policies, it says inappropriate or prohibited use of government e-mail or Internet services include..." and it gives a long list of things. It's the same thing. If we are going to compare one policy or code of conduct regarding the use of government equipment, including telephones with Internet, then let's use the comparable paragraphs. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The time for oral questions is over, but I will allow the Member to use up his one supplementary and his final supplementary. Mr. Dent.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the Minister is obviously more interested in arguing semantics with me than trying to deal with a reasonable concern of a number of employees.

---Interjection

That's fine, we can go on and argue about it, but the fact is that right now our employees have to sign a note when they come into our employ that says they have read our policy on Internet use and that they understand it. It says in this policy that they may be subject to disciplinary action up to and including dismissal if they fail to abide by it. Mr. Speaker, the current policy is putting too many of our employees at risk. I think this Minister has a responsibility to take a look at the policy again and try to bring it into line with reality. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Minister responsible for the FMBS, Mr. Handley.

Mr. Speaker, I look at all of our policies of the government continually and if there is ever any way of improving on a policy, then certainly I am 100 percent in favour of doing that. But, Mr. Speaker, I wouldn't bet the farm on this one just being a terrible policy. I think this is a good policy. This is one that is responsible. It ensures that the employee has read it and that they understand there are consequences if they don't abide by it. Mr. Speaker, the bottom line is all our policies are subject to review and I will look at this one as well. Thank you.

Item 7, written questions. Item 8, returns to written questions. Item 9, replies to Opening Address. Item 10, petitions. Mr. Braden.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to present today a petition dealing with the matter of rental rates and affordable housing in the NWT. Mr. Speaker, the petition contains 405 signatures of Yellowknife residents and, Mr. Speaker, the petitions request that the Government of the Northwest Territories create effective ways for tenants and landlords to resolve disputes regarding excess rent increases, and that the government work with developers to enable construction of affordable rental housing units in the NWT. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you. Item 10, petitions. Item 11, reports of standing and special committees. Item 12, reports of committees on review of bills. Mr. Roland.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I wish to report to the Assembly that the Standing Committee on Governance and Economic Development has reviewed Bill 12, An Act to Amend the Consumer Protection Act, and wishes to report that Bill 4 is now ready for further consideration in Committee of the Whole. Thank you.

Item 13, reports of committees on the review of bills. Item 13, tabling of documents. Mr. Miltenberger.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I wish to table the following document entitled NWT Health and Social Services System: Accountability Framework.

Mr. Speaker, I wish to table Stanton Territorial Health Authority Operational Review: Implementation Team Status Report - January 31, 2002.

Mr. Speaker, I wish to table Discussion Paper: Territorial Law to Control Tobacco Use. What Do You Think? January 2003.

Mr. Speaker, I wish to table Health and Social Services System Action Plan 2002-2005: February 2003 Update. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you. Item 13, tabling of documents. Item 14, notices of motion. Item 15, notices of motions for first reading of bills. Mr. Miltenberger.

Mr. Speaker, I give notice that on Friday, March 7, 2003, I will move that Bill 12, the Nursing Profession Act, be read for the first time. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

---Applause