Thank you, Mr. Speaker. So what I was hearing earlier today was that this sounds like it was an isolated incident, and Mr. Speaker, I don't believe this is an isolated incident. I think that this is something that there has been a series of incidents around, and if the Premier, Mr. Speaker, has already warned Mr. Zoe about this, I am not quite sure I understand what the purposes of the "if it ever happens again." What is the purpose of that? Why are we waiting for another incident before we do something? It's within the Premier's purview to do something about this. Why isn't he doing something about it?

Mr. Premier.

Mr. Speaker, this is the first incident where I had an official or real complaint. Other than that, I have heard of incidents that have happened about various people, including Mr. Zoe. So this is one where I have met with him. I have followed up in my responsibility to let the Members know. I have followed up with the Legion who had issued the complaint to me. I have discussed this with Members and I have talked to Mr. Zoe. I am doing another letter to Cabinet to remind them that this is not tolerable. Mr. Zoe has indicated to me that he is going to take steps to make sure that this does not happen again. I take him at his word for it. Mr. Speaker, I believe I have done what is within reason in dealing with this incident. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Supplementary, Mrs. Groenewegen.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the Premier wanted the job as Premier. He wanted to be the leader and now it's time to show some leadership. What is the purpose of delaying action with respect to this conduct that has been displayed by Mr. Zoe? What is the delay? Are you worried about hurting his feelings? Are you worried about embarrassing him? Are you worried that no one else can do the job? What is the purpose of a delay? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Handley.

Mr. Speaker, I don't think there is any delay in anything. I acted very quickly when I became aware of this incident. I have discussed this with Members. Mr. Zoe has discussed it with Members. I have taken action that I believe is appropriate. Some Members may not agree with me, but I believe what I have done, given the circumstances as I know them, is reasonable. I believe there is nothing being delayed here, Mr. Speaker.

Final supplementary, Mrs. Groenewegen.

Mr. Speaker, I will ask a question of the Premier. Is the Premier willing to take responsibility for the conduct of his Cabinet Ministers and remove Mr. Zoe's portfolios from him in response to this incident which took place, which is very well known in the public? Will the Premier take action?

Mr. Handley.

Mr. Speaker, I have taken action that I believe is appropriate in this case. I will absolutely, certainly take action as I have said if there is ever any other incident that is like this. I will absolutely take action on it immediately. I can assure the House that I intend to do that, absolutely. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Item 7, oral questions. Member for Nunakput, Mr. Pokiak.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. In my Member's statement yesterday, I requested community freezers for Paulatuk and Holman for the 2004-05 season. I would like to take another shot at requesting this and will continue to, so we can resolve the problem. Mr. Speaker, given the recent response of the Minister of RWED towards the contract offered to the City of Yellowknife for $15,000 and the city turning down the offer, can Minister Brendan Bell take that $15,000 and put it towards the community freezers in Holman and Paulatuk? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

---Applause

Minister of RWED, Mr. Bell.

Mr. Speaker, that's an interesting question and I would say and restate that I am certainly wiling to come to the Member's riding and sit down and better understand the needs of the community as it relates to this piece of infrastructure. We can talk about what it actually costs to run. I would like to see it. Obviously we have concerns about the health risk. We have talked in past about liability. Internally in the department we have had discussions about that. That is becoming more and more of a concern for public governments. I know our Department of Finance risk management division have advised us on several cases. I can't speak specifically to this one, but in other cases there are liabilities that potentially would prohibit us from feeling comfortable with an arrangement of this nature. The earlier point about a contract, stating that that allowed us to be outside of any obligation or liability, there are concerns about any party's ability to contract out of obligations and liabilities. So there were a number of concerns around this. The short answer is I think it would be more appropriate if I sat down with the community and we met and discussed options. As I have said, the preferred option is not to keep this piece of equipment running, and we have made offers to all members of a community who need them of chest freezers at no charge, I would add, Mr. Speaker.

Item 7, oral questions. The Member for Sahtu, Mr. Yakeleya.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Now that the dust has settled in Tulita with health concerns with regard to elders, I have questions for the Minister of Municipal and Community Affairs, the Honourable Henry Zoe, with the chipsealing program scheduled for the communities. In 2007-08, the community is going to see some action in terms of the dust. Can I get a commitment from the Minister to work with the hamlet council to find an interim solution to the dust problems in Tulita while the community waits for the chipsealing program? Mahsi.

Minister of MACA, Mr. Zoe.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the issue of dust control at the community level, the Member for Sahtu raised with me earlier this week. I have taken it to my department to see how we can assist the particular community that he made reference to, particularly Tulita. The department, through our formula financing, is providing funding to undertake this type of dust control at the community level. With regard to chipsealing, we do have a five-year plan that we jointly developed with the Department of Transportation. Tulita is scheduled for 2006-07. As the Member knows, we try to do chipsealing in each region, so each region has at least one chipsealing program in that particular year.

I informed the Member earlier that also within our chipsealing program we are limited in our funding pertaining to that program. We have only $1 million allotted. Because of the previously planned activities within the next five years, chipsealing could not be upgraded or brought forward because of the allocation that we have for this particular year. For the following year, Mr. Speaker, I will seek additional funding to see if we can do more chipsealing in the communities, so we can alleviate the dust. That was the main purpose that the Special Joint Committee for Non-Tax-Based Community Affairs made when they made their report during the 14th Assembly. In terms of the additional funding that the Member made reference to, we do provide funding. It's up to the community government to determine the priority of their community. If they wish to use some of their funding towards dust control for chloride -- I think that's what they use on the roads -- the onus is on them to determine that. Thank you.

I would just like to remind the Ministers if you can answer the questions in a short time. There are six people on the list who would still like to ask questions, so please keep your response short. Supplementary, Mr. Yakeleya.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. In the last federal budget, the Minister of Finance, Ralph Goodale, announced funding for the Community Infrastructure Funding Program. What this means is $15 million is allocated to the NWT that was available over 10 years is now available over five years. Can the Minister confirm the implementation of scheduling of the chipsealing program?

Minister of MACA, Mr. Zoe.

Mr. Speaker, on that particular infrastructure funding the Member made statements on, it pertains to various municipal infrastructure, and I will take it under advisement and get back to the Member in terms of whether the dust component falls under this particular program.

Supplementary, Mr. Yakeleya.