Thank you, Mr. Yakeleya. The honourable Premier, Mr. Handley.

Mr. Speaker, we do have an administrative person there right now, but with the amalgamation of human resources, the Financial Management Board Secretariat is looking at setting up a superintendent level position in the Sahtu. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Handley. Short supplementary, Mr. Yakeleya.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I would like to ask the Premier, in terms of the FMBS position, I know it is an administrative position and it is a lower level of the department. We would like to see a senior management position placed in the Sahtu. Could the Premier also provide some details as to the time frame when we could welcome them with open arms in the Sahtu? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Yakeleya. Mr. Premier.

Mr. Speaker, we are finding that there are more and more activities and decision-making going on in the regions. I mentioned the human resources amalgamation as one. We have also been discussing, with Members, the possibilities for better coordinating our corporate services. There is the $500 million that is available too, by region, if the pipeline goes ahead, so there is a lot of activity and a lot of decision-making to be done.

Mr. Speaker, I can't give a specific time right now, but we are working on a schedule. We would like to share that with Members soon, within the week, and, at that time, propose when we could have senior level people for the Executive or for the Financial Management Board in the Sahtu, as well as other regions. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Handley. Final supplementary, Mr. Yakeleya.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I want to let the Premier know that people in the Sahtu appreciate the move to become a stand-alone region within the Government of the Northwest Territories. I know it is comprised, in terms of the criteria, because we don't have an all-season road, that we are unable to have this type of a priority given to a stand-alone region. By having an all-season road, is that a criterion to be a stand-alone region? If that is the case, then we are going to have to wait a long time here. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Yakeleya. The honourable Premier, Mr. Handley.

Mr. Speaker, no, that is not a criterion, but the amount of work that would be there for a superintendent and staff would be the criteria. Certainly, I hope we don't have to wait a long time for that road. I am going to continue, as is Mr. McLeod, to do everything we can to get that road there sooner. It is more based on workload. In the case of FMBS, just to correct any misconception, I said an administrative position. We actually have five positions through FMBS in the Sahtu region, including pay and benefit clerks, and so on. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Handley. Item 7, oral questions. The honourable Member for Nahendeh, Mr. Menicoche.

Thank you, Mr. Menicoche. The honourable Premier, Mr. Handley.

Mr. Speaker, we have not yet taken on labour legislation in the Northwest Territories for a couple of reasons. First, it would be the responsibility that comes with that type of legislation. It is time-consuming and expensive. We would have to be managing relations far beyond what we do now. We manage collective agreements and relationships between the private sector. So this is something that has not been our highest priority. We have chosen, instead, to spend our few resources and time on other programs of a more urgent nature.

Mr. Speaker, I hope that as we achieve devolution, that we would then move forward with our own labour code at that time. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Handley. Supplementary, Mr. Menicoche.

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. Given that we do have a labour dispute that is occurring with the Liard River ferry contract and its workers, as well as for potential other disputes, because I note that there is certification being done now on the Mackenzie River ferry at the Mackenzie River, that may lead to a dispute there, as well, Mr. Speaker. Will the government look at some type of legislation, or look at moving, or even beginning discussions with the federal government, about our getting some control over our labour laws and labour disputes? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Menicoche. Mr. Handley.

Mr. Speaker, certainly, this is something that we can discuss with the federal government. It will become even more of an issue as we become more active in areas like mining, oil and gas. It is an issue that we have to look at, at some point. At this time, we have chosen not to take on this fairly onerous responsibility with our own labour code. But I could assure the Members that we will be talking about this with the federal government. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Handley. Supplementary, Mr. Menicoche.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I don't believe our residents and constituents really understand how we are taking an arm's length approach to the current dispute that is happening at the Liard River and in Fort Simpson. Can our government look at any kind of guidelines for labour legislation, or even to help out disputes such as this? Maybe we can offer mediation and arbitration services. Can we do anything in that area, Mr. Speaker?

Thank you, Mr. Menicoche. Mr. Handley.

Mr. Speaker, we have checked into the issue of arbitration. We have been told that that is impossible, under current legislation. So that is not even something that we can entertain with the federal government. There has been a mediator already appointed. It is a matter of getting the people to the table. The only individual who can do that right now is the Minister of Labour. I am sending a letter to him, urging him to get the parties together. Mr. Speaker, I just want to emphasize that we are, to some extent, hands off, but it is only because we don't have the legal jurisdiction for it. This is a federal issue. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Handley. Final supplementary, Mr. Menicoche.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I understand that the Premier may have an opportunity to even bump shoulders, perhaps, with the Minister of Industry and Trade in Ottawa. Can he take an opportunity as soon as he can, Mr. Speaker, to mention the plight of the people of Fort Simpson and Wrigley? It is the only road, Mr. Speaker, and people have no way out or in, especially at this time of year. Thank you.