Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my questions are for the Minister of Health and Social Services. There is a lot of pressure on our funding for health services in the Northwest Territories and one large-ticket item is medical travel. Certainly, the GNWT is probably a fairly significant customer to the major airlines here in the Northwest Territories that travel south, and probably not as significant as we used to be in relation to industry but certainly still very significant. On Northbeat last night, they'd indicated that in Nunavut, the Minister of Health had negotiated with First Air and Canadian North a reduced rate on the basis of guaranteed business. So one airline will get 60 percent guaranteed of the medical travel; one will get 40 percent. On that basis they were able to offer a significant reduction in the costs that will probably save the Government of Nunavut several million dollars over the next five years. I would like to ask the Minister, Mr. Miltenberger, if this is something that has ever been canvassed with the airline carriers here. Thank you.

The Minister of Health and Social Services, Mr. Miltenberger.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I am aware that there were discussions in Nunavut, but it is not an approach that we have taken to date in the Northwest Territories. Thank you.

Supplementary, Mrs. Groenewegen.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, would the Minister have a ballpark figure on what we would spend on medical travel, excluding that portion which is emergency medical travel which requires specialized equipment and aircraft? I just want the general, mainline carriers. What would we spend in a year on medical travel, approximately? Thank you.

The Minister of Health and Social Services, Mr. Miltenberger.

Mr. Speaker, the broad figure for medical travel, which I don't have broken down in my mind, but I know the ballpark figure is about $10 million a year. Thank you.

Supplementary, Mrs. Groenewegen.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the Minister indicated that approaching the airlines with some kind of a proposal for a certain amount of business, sharing the business is not an approach that he has chosen to take. I was wondering with an expenditure like $10 million if this isn't something that he might consider visiting that subject with the airlines. Thank you.

The Minister of Health and Social Services, Mr. Miltenberger

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I will commit to contact my colleague in Nunavut. As well, I will talk to the department about it and, as well, commit to discussing the issue in Cabinet to see what the possible broader implications may or may not be to the overall travel industry. Thank you.

Final supplementary, Mrs. Groenewegen.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Certainly, I would not be supportive of anything that was detrimental to the airline carriers and I understand that is a very fragile business as well, but they do offer savings on an ongoing basis, things such as reduced rate seat sales, reductions for pre-booking a certain amount of time, also special rates for seniors. Does the department and the people in medical travel who make these arrangements on behalf of patients take advantage of at least those kinds of offerings that are made by the airlines? Thank you.

The Minister of Health and Social Services, Mr. Miltenberger.

Mr. Speaker, when we do medical travel we attempt to be as frugal as possible, as effective and efficient as possible. Oftentimes medical travel is booked on short notice so we don't often get the benefits of long-range planning. We do attempt to be as careful as we can be. Thank you.

Time for oral questions is over. Item 7, written questions. Mr. Allen.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I have a written question for the Premier of the Northwest Territories.

Would the Premier provide and in-depth political analysis of those sections of the Constitution Act, 1982, which give constitutionality to other political institutions in the Northwest Territories, which you must consult with prior to the introduction of a bill of intent to achieve provincehood?

Will he provide analysis of the applicability of relevant past provisions of the BNA/Constitution acts?

Would the continuity of laws not consistent with those of the act be impacted?

Would changes to the judicial system be required? How would it affect the other territories? Would it require their participation?

Would revenue from federal government and provincial taxation be impacted?

Would the continuity of federal laws governing resources, such as the Territorial Lands Act, be impacted in the interim until provincial laws are established under Section 92? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Item 7, written questions. Mr. Menicoche.

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. I have a written question for the Minister of Justice.

Recently, on Saturday March 13, 2004, a young, mentally-challenged woman from my riding, from the Willow Lake River, was missing for over 24 hours and the RCMP were notified but did not respond for a search. I just want to ask the Minister responsible to see if there is a satisfactory answer by the RCMP in responding to a search for this young woman in Willow Lake River. Thank you.

Item 7, written questions. Item 8, petitions. Item 9, reports of standing and special committees. Item 10, tabling of documents. Item 11, notices of motion, Mr. Allen.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I give notice that on Thursday, March 18, 2004, I will move the following motion. Now therefore I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Frame Lake, that the honourable Member for Nunakput, Mr. Calvin Pokiak, and the honourable Member for Kam Lake, Mr. David Ramsay, be appointed as deputy chairpersons of Committee of the Whole. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Item 11, notices of motion. Mr. Hawkins.

Item 11, notices of motion. Item 12, notices of motion for first reading of bills. Mr. Roland.