Mr. Premier, Mr. Handley.

Mr. Speaker, the Minister responsible for the Housing Corporation has earlier this week offered that he will bring this to Cabinet on Thursday. We intend to have a full discussion on it as it relates to housing, but no doubt we'll have a good discussion on the BIP itself generally. Mr. Speaker, as I said earlier, RWED is doing some work on a registry. There are some other things being done this year. I can assure the Member that if it seems that we have to make exceptions to any policy on any sort of frequent basis, however you define that, then we would want to rewrite or revise that policy. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Supplementary, Mr. Hawkins.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Thank you, Mr. Premier. Mr. Speaker, a constituent called me this morning and talked about the laws of economic opportunity that his business will lose; the fact that he may be bidding on this project just to keep his employees employed by waiving his potential of profit. Does the Premier recognize that this potential exists by northern companies trying to aggressively bid on this project at any cost to keep their employees employed?

Mr. Premier, Mr. Handley.

Mr. Speaker, I'm not familiar with any specific case. I trust that every one of the 17 or so northern companies that have picked up the tender documents are picking it up because they feel that it's to their advantage to put in a bid or at least consider a bid. It could be to make a profit, it could be to keep things moving in their shop. I'm not sure what their reasons would be. I'm certainly encouraged by the number of northern companies who have picked up the documents and, I assume, intend to submit a tender. Thank you.

Supplementary, Mr. Hawkins.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Recognizing the time I will drop my fourth question and just ask a yes or no question to the Premier. Mr. Speaker, would the Premier be able to answer yes or no, clearly and for everyone's benefit? Would he be willing to consider stopping this project and re-tendering it in a way that it would include the BIP and making that decision this week?

Mr. Premier, Mr. Handley.

Mr. Speaker, as I mentioned earlier, we're discussing it tomorrow at Cabinet. I think the Minister responsible for the Housing Corporation has already been asked and said he would consider extending it for two weeks. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Item 6, oral questions. The Member for Nunakput, Mr. Pokiak.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My question is to the Honourable Charles Dent, Minister of Education, Culture and Employment in regard to income support. Although RWED is mentioned in my opening remarks, it

will relate to income support. RWED has a harvesters' assistance program in the Beaufort-Delta region. My understanding of this program is to assist hunters and trappers to purchase equipment, et cetera, for their harvesting and wild game and subsistence use. The local HTAs administer the funds and decide who is eligible for assistance. This program has proven to be successful in that hunters and trappers are able to purchase equipment and to maintain their traditional pursuits, especially for those who cannot afford to purchase equipment, et cetera.

Mr. Speaker, recently I heard that income support workers in the Beaufort-Delta are including this as part of their calculation in income support when harvesters apply for income support. I would like to ask the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment if he's aware that his department is penalizing some harvesters in receiving their income support payments because of the harvesters' assistance program. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Minister of Education, Culture and Employment, Mr. Dent.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I was advised around noon, shortly before we began in the House today, that this was happening and asked whether or not it actually fit within the policy for income support. I am not able to answer that question right now. I have contacted the department and asked them to provide me with some advice on that.

Typically I do know that almost all forms of income that people receive are considered when the level of support from income support is being calculated. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Supplementary, Mr. Pokiak.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The Inuvialuit and also the Gwich'in in the Sahtu, in their land claim agreements, I know it doesn't exempt them from certain income. I would like to ask the Minister if he's aware of that and what will he do to relay this to the income support workers? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Minister of Education, Culture and Employment, Mr. Dent.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I am aware that some forms of assistance that are provided subject to treaties are exempt from calculation when we're examining how much support to provide somebody on income support, but it is specified sources. That income has to come from a specified source. I'm not sure if the payments to harvesters are specified, and I have asked the department to look into that and advise me. Thank you.

Supplementary, Mr. Pokiak.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker, and thank you, Mr. Minister. Once you find out that information can you relay that information back to me, and also relay it to our income support worker? Thank you.

Minister of Education, Culture and Employment, Mr. Dent.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Yes.

Item 6, oral questions. The Member for Inuvik Twin Lakes, Mr. Allen.