Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Once again, will the Minister commit to allocate funds? I understand what he's saying, but will he be able to commit funds for access for resource people in the smaller communities? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Pokiak. Mr. McLeod.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the intent of the funding for the MRIF and the gas tax and the new dollars that we're looking at through the new deal for capital infrastructure is to try to deal with the requirements in the communities, the tax-based and the non-taxed-based in terms of their infrastructure needs and requirements. We have recently done a study that indicates there is a deficit and we need to do something to try to stay on top of this issue. So we've allocated some new monies from the territorial government. We've also had to come to an agreement with the federal government to try to tackle this issue and the dollars will be decided upon in the next little while and I'll be glad to share that with the Member. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. McLeod. Item 6, oral questions. The honourable Member for Range Lake, Ms. Lee.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I'd like to direct my questions to the Minister of Health and Social Services and it is with regard to the STI strategy that the

Minister and other Members here spoke of. My question has to do with the changing of the acronym from STD to STI is not without its challenges because, Mr. Speaker, STD is a very commonly known and accepted concept. Everyone knows what we're talking about when we talk about STDs and I know that the Minister has given information in the House about why there was a need for this change. I believe that STI, sexually-transmitted infections, implies a bigger umbrella of conditions, not just diseases and it also speaks to asymptomatic conditions that may not be as visible and it is also listed on the federal health web site. I think there is definitely a challenge for both the federal government and territorial government to publicize this because surely if people don't know what you are talking about, they are not going to listen to you. So could I ask the Minister what steps he's taking to make sure that this information gets out there? Thank you.

Thank you, Ms. Lee. The honourable Minister of Health and Social Services, Mr. Miltenberger.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. This document that was referred to in the House on sexually-transmitted infections is a public document that's very clear. It doesn't say diseases anymore, it says infections. The statistics are still there and the specific infections remain with the same names and there is a legion of those and we're going to work with the communities. We have a plan, as I indicated in this House yesterday, that's been laid out. We're going to try to find funding to implement the action plan to better educate and move this initiative forward so that we can hopefully start to see diminishment in this area. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Miltenberger. Supplementary, Ms. Lee.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I totally agree with the Minister that this is a very important area and we need to do a lot of work on it, especially to educate the young people about the possible perils of being infected with these. But I think that the Minister and the federal government have a different challenge now that they have changed the name. It's like changing Coca Cola; I mean, a very well-known brand name. So it has added challenge and I think there has to be focus added...

Do you have a question, Ms. Lee?

Sorry, Mr. Speaker. I think there has to be a separate category to get people to know STI. So could I ask the Minister what specifically he's doing to address that? Thank you.

Thank you, Ms. Lee. Mr. Miltenberger.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the entire name hasn't changed any more than if you just went from Coca Cola to Coca Pepsi or whatever. The front is still part of the name, sexually-transmitted infections/diseases. I don't think we should spend a lot of time on the semantics. The issue is that there is a tremendous issue out there in terms of unprotected sex that leads to many things: pregnancies, risk for infection of all kinds, HIV. I think that's the key. To me we can debate how many infections can dance on the head of a pin as opposed to a disease, but this particular matter of sexually-transmitted infections, as it is now called, has been determined not by us as a government, but by the practitioners in the field. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Miltenberger. Supplementary, Ms. Lee.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I don't believe I'm playing with the semantics. I think this is such an important area and we cannot do enough and we do not spend enough money in this area and changing the wording at this time may result in it being diluted. So I would like to know, Mr. Speaker, if he would commit to focussing on getting the people to know about the new name. Thank you.

Thank you, Ms. Lee. Mr. Miltenberger.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Of course we'll commit to doing that. I'd like to point out that this says sexually-transmitted infections in big red print. Mr. Speaker, I take the Member's concern and we're trying to be as clear on this as possible, that STDs versus STIs that the key piece is the ST. The first two letters are the key ones, Mr. Speaker, but I take the Member's concern. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Miltenberger. Final supplementary, Ms. Lee.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I tell you this has been a topic of conversation in my private conversations and everyone has asked what is STI and why aren't we calling it STD. So could I get the Minister -- I'm being very serious about this -- to make sure that he consults with the federal government to make sure that, if they are going to change the name, there are going to be enough resources in there to let the people know as well? Thank you.

Thank you, Ms. Lee. Mr. Miltenberger.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, we work with all levels of government on this particular area and will continue to do so. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Miltenberger. Item 6, oral questions. The honourable Member for Hay River South, Mrs. Groenewegen.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my questions are for the Minister of Justice, the Honourable Charles Dent. Mr. Speaker, I believe, in response to my last set of questions, the Minister said that $18,000 is what is budgeted for transportation, so that is what we will spend. Now, I don't have the benefit of unedited Hansard, but I think that is what he said.

I just want to create a quick scenario here, Mr. Speaker. If we were transporting a prisoner from Hay River to Yellowknife, I am going to put very conservative costs on this. One-way airfare for the prisoner to Yellowknife is $125. The RCMP officer would have to return, so let us say that is $250. Let's say he has to stay overnight. That is $150. Okay, then, let's talk about his wages. Conservatively, let us say $250. Now let's say that this is not part of his normal workday, so let's add a little overtime and then let's add somebody to come into the RCMP cells in Hay River to look after this prisoner while we are waiting to transport them. Now we are up to $1,000 easily, Mr. Speaker.

Now, the Minister himself said that there were at least 34 people, in the last year, from Hay River remanded in custody at SMCC. Right there, Mr. Speaker, that is only taking into account one trip. Okay, let's just say that now we have to bring the prisoner back for court in Hay River. Let's say they have to appear twice. Now we are talking $3,000. So 34 times $3,000...How can he say that the government can do this for $18,000? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mrs. Groenewegen. The honourable Minister of Justice, Mr. Dent.