Mr. Speaker, I will certainly take the Member's message to the Power Corporation and ask that they look at it immediately. The people of Colville Lake have brought this issue to me as well. If there is some alternative to what we have now that would be less costly, we would certainly like to look at that. I think this is something the Power Corporation would take on quite quickly, as well as other partners who help with energy conservation. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Item 6, oral questions. The Member for Great Slave, Mr. Braden.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to ask the Premier this afternoon some questions in his capacity as the leader of the Executive. It's about the general area of consultation and communication across the NWT. Mr. Speaker, in the last few days, I have asked various Ministers questions on topics including the National Child Benefit Supplement and workers' compensation. We are hearing this afternoon about consultation on Housing Corporation business. What I have heard is Ministers are reluctant to take issues out and get a sense of what kind of program policy should be developed. They said they would rather see money going into government programs than into studies. On the whole, I agree. But it raises the issue of the government's communication strategy. Would the Premier outline how

this government intends to continue consulting on specific policy issues? Thank you.

Mr. Premier.

Mr. Speaker, a lot of the communication on issues would be done on a case-by-case basis. As we have a new program or a new initiative brought to Cabinet, then part of the expectation is that a communications strategy is outlined at the same time. Mr. Speaker, we know that we have 16 positions whose jobs are dedicated primarily to communications. There may be ways we can look at improving the coordination and efficiency of our communications people in the department, but that's something we will develop as we move along over the next few months. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Supplementary, Mr. Braden.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. So a case-by-case basis. You know, overall, there's a lot of case-by-case, one-at-a-time, we'll think about it kind of approach. I would like to know in the area of consultation and communication, which is such a big part of the environment we work in, is the government looking at adopting a formal consultation policy so that everyone knows what the parameters and the thresholds and the ground rules could be? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Minister responsible for the NWT Power Corporation, Mr. Handley.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I could take a look at the challenges of developing a comprehensive communications policy that would include an opportunity for consultation. I am not sure exactly what that would look like, but I certainly take it as advice.

Mr. Speaker, I should also mention that, in addition to the opportunities like this where a lot of the public are listening in to our discussions and debates, we also have a Web site that we certainly encourage people to have a look at, as well as personal contacts. There are opportunities for a lot of consultation and we do get a fair number of situations where people are giving us advice. Can we put that into a more formal policy that would improve on the efficiency and effectiveness of communication? That's something I would like to look at more carefully, Mr. Speaker.

Supplementary, Mr. Braden.

One of the things we all cope with in this age of technology is information overload. One of the prime duties of a good consultation and communication program is editing and narrowing the message, clarifying the questions. In this light, we also have all sorts of existing programs going on that are constantly being asked about or looked at in terms of evaluating. I would like to ask in this context, what kind of process or formula does the government use to monitor and check on existing programs and policies to make sure we are on the right track?

Mr. Premier.

Mr. Speaker, certainly comments, questions, advice from the Regular Members is probably the most effective way we have. All of us, 19 Members, are receiving advice on a daily basis from our constituents and I am sure they are going to be very quick to tell us if we are getting off base. That is the main source. We met with committees on any legislation or business plans and we expect that we are all hearing from the people we represent in those situations. We go through tremendous consultation on some legislation. For example, the Wildlife Act; that one has had a huge amount of consultation over the last few years. As I say, Mr. Speaker, it often depends on the issue and the amount of consultation that may be required.

We do generally have avenues for people to have their views known, mainly through MLAs or through our web site. If there is a way of formalizing this more, as the Member is suggesting, but I think we as 19 Members are the most effective communications tool we have with the people that we represent. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Item 6, oral questions. The Member for Yellowknife Centre, Mr. Hawkins.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I am looking at the BIP, it says under section 1, statement of policy, I go to subsection 2, "provide financial support through the reinvestment of corporate earnings to the northern economy." My question is what indication does he have by waiving the BIP will that meet that statement I read earlier, that we will have investment in our northern economies by waiving the BIP? Thank you.

----Applause

Mr. Premier, Mr. Handley.

Mr. Speaker, I'm told that a lot of northern companies have picked up the tender documents for this project. If they are successful then that certainly means increased business throughout the North. Second, Mr. Speaker, if we can find a way of getting more houses into the communities, we would not only deal with the issue of housing shortages and affordable housing, but more houses mean more business for the people of the Northwest Territories. Mr. Speaker, I'll look for any way I can to ensure that we deal with those two issues of adequate, affordable housing and ensuring that we're giving business opportunities to Northerners. If we can build 40 or 100 or 500 houses through another way, that

means more business for everyone. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Supplementary, Mr. Hawkins.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Thank you, Mr. Premier, for that answer. Mr. Speaker, I'd like to now proceed not far down that page and read under number two called principles. Item number one under principles says to provide existing northern businesses with a level of incentive that compensates for the higher costs of operating businesses in the Northwest Territories, this business incentive will allow for northern businesses to compete successfully with southern businesses. I think that's been the crux of all our concern here. Can the Premier answer how this statement is being realized? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Hawkins, your line of questioning doesn't fall within your original statement. If you can keep your questions to the original statement and not try to reintroduce new statements. So your question to the statement.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I appreciate you pointing that out. I'm asking how is this statement being realized by waiving the BIP? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Premier.

Mr. Speaker, we know one thing for sure and that is that the BIP does not save us money. We don't know if it costs, how much it costs, and so on, but we certainly know it does not save us money. In terms of increasing opportunities for Northerners, trying this out, seeing if it works, if we can get affordable housing out there and we get more housing out there, then that all means more business for somebody. Whether it's business people in Yellowknife or others who may do the work that's necessary in setting up these units, we don't know. Our objective here is to get more affordable housing into the communities where there are shortages. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Recognizing the clock, the time for oral questions has lapsed. I will allow Mr. Hawkins to conclude his supplementaries. Supplementary, Mr. Hawkins.