Thank you, Mr. Yakeleya. Mr. McLeod.

Mr. Speaker, the reason we took some money out of a number of different locations in the last fiscal year was to deal with our problem that we were experiencing on Highway No. 1. There was some urgency to deal with the foundation and some of the drainage that was happening in that area as a result of resource development. So we had to find the money somewhere and, in this case, there was some flexibility in the dollars allocated to that road, but we did what we had to. I can't commit that we won't do that again. If there's an emergency situation or there's some urgency to invest on a piece of transportation infrastructure, we'll have to be able to have that flexibility to reallocate. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. McLeod. Supplementary, Mr. Yakeleya.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, when you drive the winter road in the Sahtu there are drainage problems, lots of potholes, there are lots of creeks overflowing and I guess the Minister just skipped out $1 million into another region to fix their foundation. I'm asking again, in terms of the impact of the oil and gas activities on the region, if the Minister would commit to ensuring that our winter bridge project gets done on time and the people in the Sahtu can enjoy safe winter driving for next year. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Yakeleya. Mr. McLeod.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I don't think there's anybody more interested in seeing the winter bridging projects done on time and on budget than me. I certainly will do everything in my power and commit our department's efforts to ensure that happens. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. McLeod. The time for oral questions has expired. Item 7, written questions. The honourable Member for Yellowknife Centre, Mr. Hawkins.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My questions are for the Minister responsible for the Housing Corporation.

1. Can the Minister please provide the numbers on uptake for the last three years in Yellowknife on the Expanded Downpayment Assistance Program?
2. Can the Minister please provide information on the amount each of the recipients received under EDAP?
3. Can the Minister please provide information on the reasons for any variations in the amounts received under EDAP?

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Hawkins. Item 7, written questions. The honourable Member for Sahtu, Mr. Yakeleya.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My questions are for the Minister of Justice.

1. Given the lack of support for the construction of a $42 million courthouse and concern that cost overruns, like those experienced with the construction of the North Slave Correctional Centre, could the Minister provide detail on how the $42 million figure was arrived at?
2. The Minister has indicated that the Department of Justice has paid for and will have to pay for additional court space in the future. Can the Minister provide detail on the costs for additional court space for the last five years and the projected costs for the next two years?
3. Can the Minister provide information on the number of court cases held in Yellowknife, for the convenience of the judiciary or court party, which could or should have been held in the Inuvik or Hay River Courthouse facilities?
4. With the construction of the proposed new courthouse, can the Minister provide information on the projected increase in operations expenses for running the new facility and any costs for increased staffing?

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Yakeleya. Item 7, written questions. The honourable Member for Tu Nedhe, Mr. Villeneuve.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My questions are for the Minister responsible for the Financial Management Board Secretariat.

1. Can the Minister provide this House with the total number of employees in the MAP program to date and which department have they applied from?
2. How many of the MAP participants are aboriginal indigenous northerners? How many are aboriginal indigenous women?
3. How many P1s applied for the program to date?
4. How many women applied for the program to date?

Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Villeneuve. Item 7, written questions. The honourable Member for Sahtu, Mr. Yakeleya.

My question is for the Minister of Justice.

Could the Minister advise me what, if any, options his department has looked at that might help keep apartment rental costs affordable for our residents during this resource development boom time?

Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Yakeleya. Item 7, written questions. Item 8, returns to written questions. Item 9, replies to opening address. Item 10, petitions. The honourable Member for Kam Lake, Mr. Ramsay.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to present a petition dealing with the matter of addiction treatment centres in the Northwest Territories.

Mr. Speaker, the petition contains 98 signatures of inmates at the North Slave Correctional Centre. Mr. Speaker, the petitioners request that treatment centres be opened in the Northwest Territories to help support the rehabilitation of the growing number of addicts. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

---Applause

Thank you, Mr. Ramsay. Item 10, petitions. Item 11, reports of standing and special committees. Item 12, reports of committees on the review of bills. Item 13, tabling of documents. The honourable Minister of Finance, Mr. Roland.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I wish to table the following document, entitled Public Utilities Board 2004 Annual Report. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Roland. Item 13, tabling of documents. The honourable Minister responsible for the Workers' Compensation Board, Mr. Krutko.

Mr. Speaker, I wish to table the following document, entitled Act Now - A Report of the Workers' Compensation Board Legislative Review Panel.

---Applause

Item 13, tabling of documents. Item 14, notices of motion. The honourable Member for Tu Nedhe, Mr. Villeneuve.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I give notice that on Friday, March 11, 2005, I will move the following motion: Now therefore I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Range Lake, that Mr. Robert McLeod, Member for Inuvik Twin Lakes, be appointed to the Standing Committee on Accountability and Oversight.

Mr. Speaker, at the appropriate time today, I will seek unanimous consent to deal with this motion today and to waive Rule 58 to allow this motion to proceed. Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Villeneuve. Item 14, notices of motion. The honourable Member for Tu Nedhe, Mr. Villeneuve.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I give notice that on Friday, March 11, 2005, I will move the following motion: Now therefore I move, seconded by the honourable Member for North Slave, that the Premier immediately communicate to the Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development the GNWT's and this Legislative Assembly's expectation that he will appoint one of the board members' nominees as chair of the Mackenzie Valley Land and Water Board. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

---Applause