Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the Member is referring, I believe, to a submission to the previous Minister. I don't have that level of detail. I have not seen the document. I will have to take it as notice, Mr. Speaker.

The question has been taken as notice. Item 7, oral questions. Member for Nahendeh, Mr. Menicoche.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I believe this question will be directed to the Premier. I have before me the 14th Legislative Assembly final report of the Special Joint Committee on Non-Tax-Based Community Affairs. What strikes me in this report is that it recommended the establishment of a standing committee on non-taxed based communities. I am wondering if the government has looked at that and are willing to proceed with that in the 15th Assembly.

Mr. Premier.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. That is a decision of the Legislative Assembly, not a decision of our government. So it would be up to all of us to make that decision. Thank you.

Supplementary, Mr. Menicoche. Okay. Item 7, oral questions. Mrs. Groenewegen.

Minister of Transportation, Mr. McLeod.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the Member is quite correct. The former Minister of Transportation presented a bill to the Legislative Assembly in February of 2003. The bill was passed in June of 2003, and the department planned for the legislative changes to come into force early in 2004, and the introduction of regulations to the novice driver program in 2005. However, the funding for implementation and ongoing support is reduced; therefore, we have deferred the bill coming into effect. The amendments to the bill include strengthening the roadside prevention provisions and introducing an automatic 90-day suspension, provide for impoundment of vehicles while suspended, and require an offender as a condition of licence renewal reinstatement to purchase an impaired driving assessment package.

Mr. Speaker, we do not have included a requirement for the driver to take an education program, there is no education component. However, we do have, as part of the impaired driving package, a requirement to do a medical assessment and that is the extent of the legislation. We plan to have this legislation in place by January of 2005. We have identified our revenues and we are confident we will put them in place. Thank you.

Supplementary, Mrs. Groenewegen.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank the Minister for that update. I would like to know, Mr. Speaker, would the Minister

consider asking the registrar to require mandatory participation in a drug and alcohol awareness program before their licence is reinstated? I don't believe this is something that would have to be included in legislation. This is something that could be introduced as a policy. Would the Minister consider asking the registrar to require that on a mandatory basis? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Minister of Transportation, Mr. McLeod.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, as I indicated just now, the legislation requires a driver to obtain a driver's medical assessment. We will consider, however, the suggestion made by the Member to have an education component and also to make it mandatory. It may be something we will consider incorporating in this legislation. Thank you.

Supplementary, Mrs. Groenewegen.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. In considering that, the Minister may also wish to take into account that these types of programs are not available in smaller centres and would probably require a mobile awareness program, so it would require some financial resources. With the upcoming prospect of these new regulations being put in place, I would like to ask the Minister if he would consider looking for and identifying funds which could finance this. It is easier to send people for such an awareness program if it is available in their community, but obviously it is probably only available in a few communities on a formal basis, but it could be done very easily as a mobile program. So could the Minister commit to trying to identify financial resources to back up such a program? Thank you.

Minister of Transportation, Mr. McLeod.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the mandatory requirement was something that was considered when this legislation was being drafted. It is something that other provinces and jurisdictions have in place. We had considered it. The difficulty with this whole concept was the limited facilities and programs that we have now. We will take it upon ourselves to look at what the options are on how we can accommodate the amendment that the Member is suggesting. Thank you.

Final supplementary, Mrs. Groenewegen.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Another aspect of this mandatory education awareness program might be for somebody who is knowledgeable in such a program to actually go into the small communities and train someone or some agency within that community to deliver that, as opposed to sending people into the community to do it. It could be something that could be added on to an already existing function within the community; sort of a train-the-trainer type program. Would the Minister seek out the curriculum or format of these programs and see if it would be viable to train people in the small communities to deliver this on behalf of those requiring it with suspended driver's licences? Thank you.

Minister of Transportation, Mr. McLeod.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. We will certainly take the recommendation from the Member very seriously. We will look at the curriculum that is required. We also have to look at the cost of implementing this whole concept. We also have to look at the availability of resources. So we will certainly commit to that. Thank you.

Item 7, oral questions. The honourable Member for Kam Lake, Mr. Ramsay.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my question goes back to my Member's statement that I had earlier, and it is for the Premier. Where does the Premier see the establishment of a permanent trust fund for the residents of the Northwest Territories? Where does he see that fitting into his agenda in the next four years? Thank you.

Mr. Premier, Mr. Handley.