Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I'm sure we'll have more chance to debate on that one. I do understand that we need to be prudent and we don't want to spend every penny that comes our way, but I think it is something that we need to talk more about.

Mr. Speaker, my next question has to do with the announcement of $400 million for immunization programs by the federal government. We in the NWT just did an immunization of youth and I believe we approved a supplementary budget or special warrant in the amount of about $800,000. Can I just ask the Minister what sort of impact this new money, I think it's $525,000 for the GNWT, will have on that budget item? Thank you.

Minister of Finance, Mr. Roland.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, a couple of points. One of the reasons we are facing our fiscal situation is that previous governments were given one-time earnings and so on, and spent that money on important issues across the North. But now we're in a situation where we don't have the money to keep on going. We're putting this money towards the deficit.

---Applause

And that's what it's identified for, as I stated in my statement earlier today. The amount budgeted of the $525,000, that's the impact we think we'll get in the Northwest Territories as a result of the $400 million the Member has highlighted in the federal budget address. So we'll get approximately $500,000 of that money flowing to the North based on the formulas used now. That won't affect the funding that was identified. That's existing year expenditures. The money that's identified here will be for 2004-2005. Thank you.

Final supplementary, Ms. Lee.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I should just state that I was right next to Mr. Roland for the last four years arguing for fiscal prudence and I'm behind him all the way. It's just that when we have to deal with raising taxes and giving a little bit of a million dollar break on a $50 million windfall, I think we have to reconsider that.

Mr. Speaker, my next question is on the $3.5 billion contaminated sites budget and to hear that 65 percent or so will be coming to the Territories. Could the Minister advise this House as to any further information as to how that money will be spent? What do we have to do as a government and such? Thank you.

Minister of Finance, Mr. Roland.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my understanding from the work done on the federal budget is that $3.5 billion is over a 10-year period. Approximately 60 percent of that has been identified for the Northwest Territories. It will flow through the federal government. It is for the North. Let me correct that. It is for all of the North. So the Yukon, Northwest Territories and Nunavut are included in that, it's not only for the Northwest Territories. We have, however, been highlighted in some of the detail, that whatever comes to the Northwest Territories will go towards the Giant Mine contamination area and Port Radium area. That's the detail that we've seen. There has also been mention of DEW Line sites, but again, it's over a 10-year period. It's between all the northern jurisdictions. We're not sure of the detail of how it will flow and when it will start flowing, but that's the detail we do have. Thank you.

Item 6, oral questions. The Member for Kam Lake, Mr. Ramsay.

Minister of Transportation, Mr. McLeod.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the second part of the question is fairly easy to answer. Difficulty identifying funding and sources is always a concern. However, we have been working on a fairly detailed, comprehensive plan for the Yellowknife airport. As the Member knows, the Yellowknife airport is a very important airport in the Northwest Territories because of its location and its operational capacity and capability. We have had discussions regarding the desire to extend the road from Highway No. 3 to Kam Lake, which would go through the Yellowknife airport reserve that we have in place now. We have concerns also that the development taking place in the airport reserve is not very structured at this point and we'd like to see that streamlined. We've had discussions with our federal counterparts. We've had discussions with the City of Yellowknife and we are in the process of putting together a report which I'm not sure we're in a position to table at this point, but I can get back to the Member with that information. Thank you.

Supplementary, Mr. Ramsay.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I'm just wondering, given the fact that the Minister talks of the airport expansion being in the way of the access road being built, I'm wondering if maybe through you to the Minister, would the government look at perhaps making some land available a little further down Highway No. 3 to have this access road into the Kam Lake industrial park? Has that been on the table for discussion? Thank you.

Minister of Transportation, Mr. McLeod.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. We've not had the opportunity to talk about the possibility of establishing or designing a road outside our reserve. I will commit to talking to my colleague, the honourable Minister of MACA. We're also, I should point out, having discussions with the city as to responsibility of the city and what their role is in this. I can provide that information. Thank you.

Supplementary, Mr. Ramsay.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I'm just wondering, if both the Minister of Municipal and Community Affairs and Minister of Transportation are going to be conducting some meetings and if this subject comes up to keep me apprised of that and perhaps they'll let me know when and where these meetings are taking place. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Minister of Transportation, Mr. McLeod.

Mr. Speaker, we have done a considerable amount of work already. We have looked at some preliminary drawings and we have some designs that maybe at this point we would be able to share. I certainly will commit to keep the Member informed of our progress. Thank you.

Item 6, oral questions. The Member for Tu Nedhe, Mr. Villeneuve.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I just want to reiterate some of the concerns raised by my constituents in regard to the new expansion of the Taltson hydro project being negotiated by this government. Mr. Speaker, I just wanted to ask the Premier what options and consideration will this government give to the residents who will be seeking compensation and benefits from the new hydro developments on the Taltson hydro system that this government is currently embarking on?

Mr. Premier, Mr. Handley.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the proposal to expand the Taltson is being proposed as a joint venture between the Akaitcho people, the NWT Metis and the Power Corporation. The partners have just begun to do consultations with the communities in the impacted area. Part of the consultation, certainly part of the consideration, is to hear what concerns people may have because of the impact of this expansion. My information from them is that they fully intend to look at the issue of impact benefits. Thank you.

Supplementary, Mr. Villeneuve.