Thank you, Mr. Yakeleya. The honourable Minister of Aboriginal Affairs, Mr. Handley.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. There was a meeting that was held in November 2004, November 16th to 18th, to discuss a three-year economic measures review. The Sahtu chose not to attend that particular meeting. Since that time, the Sahtu and Gwich'in representatives met on December 8th to discuss economic measures. There was a further meeting held on April 19th of this year with a follow-up conference call on May 10th. So, Mr. Speaker, I think this issue is being followed through with the Sahtu through the number of meetings that are being held. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Handley. Supplementary, Mr. Yakeleya.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. For whatever reasons it's taken us so long for the Sahtu, there was a letter sent to the Aboriginal Affairs department in terms of the Sahtu wanting to enter into an agreement with the Government of the Northwest Territories on the economic measures. I guess I would like to ask the Minister to advise us when this letter will be discussed, or if it will be discussed as a Cabinet decision or a Ministerial discussion in terms of when they see light at the end of the day in terms of signing something with the Sahtu beneficiaries. They're very anxious to move on this and get something in place before the life of this government ceases to exist. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Yakeleya. Mr. Handley.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The next meeting of the Economic Measures Working Group is scheduled for June 6th and I expect at that time or shortly following that meeting we should be able to come to an agreement on how we move forward with this. Mr. Speaker, I might mention that there's a Sahtu implementation committee meeting as well that's currently scheduled for September in Colville Lake. By then I hope we have the agreement. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Handley. Supplementary, Mr. Yakeleya.

Thank you. I appreciate the response from the Minister, Mr. Speaker, in terms of some good news for the Sahtu beneficiaries. I would like to ask the Minister if he would commit to, because of the time frames -- he's looking at September as a close time frame -- maybe getting an agreement with the Sahtu that he would commit to a time frame close enough in September to say we will have a deal with the Sahtu people on this MOU with the chapter 12 of our agreement with the Government of the Northwest Territories. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Yakeleya. Mr. Handley.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It has been difficult to schedule the meetings. This one is scheduled for September 15th in Colville Lake. It involves Canada as well, so I will, Mr. Speaker, aim at having this agreement in place and ready for discussion at that meeting. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I appreciate the Minister's efforts to see if we can get an agreement signed with the Sahtu people. I don't know the details of how these agreements come about in terms of the Gwich'in situation. I'm asking if the Minister could commit, if this government could commit, to see if that within the five or six months that the agreement can be signed with this government and the Sahtu beneficiaries on chapter 12 of the Sahtu Dene/Metis Land Claim Agreement. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Yakeleya. Mr. Handley.

Mr. Speaker, yes, I will commit to making every effort I can on behalf of the GNWT to do that by September. Of course, we have to have the Sahtu representatives and the representatives of Canada also on side, but we will make best efforts to do that. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I beg the indulgence of the House if I keep on repeating the same things that are maybe asked already, but I'm just trying to get some information here. Mr. Speaker, I'm wondering if the Minister could indicate whether or not there will be...I understand the existing contractor of the Territorial Treatment Centre has been given an extension for another year to help with this transfer. Is there a plan to tender this contract, or does the Minister have somebody in mind or a company in mind or a business in mind that is going to run this program in Hay River? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, Bosco Homes has provided a very high quality of service for many years. Like any contract, their term has run out. We've given them a one-year extension to help deal with the transition and it's our hope that, through the competitive process, that they will continue to submit or will submit another expression of interest if they're interested. We intend to move on filling this contract so there is no break in service. Bosco Homes is the current provider. I believe last time it was put out to tender the only company that did apply was Bosco Homes. At this point, that's the status. Thank you.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I'd like to suggest that if the recent experience that Bosco Homes is having with respect to this one and in terms of what they have to deal with with very anxious staff who have been told about their layoffs in the media, I'm not sure if they'll be so keen to enter into another contract in another place with the government. Having said that, Mr. Speaker, if there is no suitable contract or any business that can operate this, is there a plan for the government to make these jobs into government jobs so that there will be enough people hired to deliver this program?

Thank you, Ms. Lee. Mr. Miltenberger.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, in fact, Bosco Homes has indicated interest, and the intent is to transfer the contract and keep it as a contractual arrangement. Thank you.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I think one of the things the affected employees are indicating is the fact that they do a very difficult job that they need to do to deliver this program, with a very low wage in comparison to government employees. Most of them have to supplement their income with a second income in their family in order to live in Yellowknife, and it may be that that is what they will have to do in Hay River, and there is a lot of speculation as to whether or not this will be a suitable replacement for those who have lost government jobs in Hay River. So what is the Minister doing to make sure that whoever gets the contract can find the people in Hay River to do this job at very low pay? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.