Robert Hawkins Yellowknife Centre

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Madam Speaker, this government decided a couple of months ago we should throw $1.2 million in the pot to study some of the effects of a pipeline just like that. So I mean we've been talking about this project for a couple of years as the Minister admitted. When are we going to get off the pot and go forward and make a decision? We could make this decision today. We could take it to Cabinet and have it done before this Assembly, and if we needed to sit here a couple extra days, we could. I think there's a willingness out there. This organization is willing to carry this mortgage, they want to see community development by community organizations, which I have to emphasize is the responsibility of government, but they are going to take control of this and they are going to address the need. So will I get a commitment from this Minister that we will expedite this process because they are waiting for this planning money to move forward? Thank you, Madam Speaker.

The Deputy Speaker Jane Groenewegen

Thank you, Mr. Hawkins. Mr. Miltenberger.

Michael Miltenberger Thebacha

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Madam Speaker, I'll let the Member expedite, we'll move in...(inaudible)...and we'll try to expedite the process.

---Laughter

I'm not sure what pot he's talking about, but the pot I have has some resources in it, both of which are fully subscribed to. We've committed to this process. We've agreed with YACCS on a way to proceed and we're going to do just that. Thank you, Madam Speaker.

The Deputy Speaker Jane Groenewegen

Thank you, Minster Miltenberger. Item 6, oral questions. The honourable Member for Kam Lake, Mr. Ramsay.

The Deputy Speaker Jane Groenewegen

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

Joe Handley Weledeh

Thank you, Madam Speaker. The government has a policy on government organization. That policy does outline how major organizational changes are made. In the case of moving a facility like TTC from Yellowknife, that would fit into the category of major organizational change. That's a decision that's made by Cabinet. Thank you, Madam Speaker.

The Deputy Speaker Jane Groenewegen

Thank you, Premier Handley. Supplementary, Mr. Ramsay.

David Ramsay Kam Lake

Thank you, Madam Speaker. The Premier and some of his Cabinet colleagues are also Yellowknife MLAs. Does it bother the Premier or bother the other Cabinet Ministers that the information that myself and colleagues of mine have asked for from the Minister about where the research is, what type of studies were conducted into moving the TTC from Yellowknife to Hay River, we just haven't got it? I know the Minister has responded that he's going to get it to us by the end of session, but, Madam Speaker, that causes me a great deal of concern that that information isn't readily available to Members of this side of the House, and I'd like to hear from the Premier if indeed it causes him concern that we can't get the information to make an informed decision. Thank you, Madam Speaker.

The Deputy Speaker Jane Groenewegen

Thank you, Mr. Ramsay. Mr. Ramsay, we may be treading close to a line here. I don't think you can ask the Premier a question in his role as Premier and have him answer it within the context of his role as a Yellowknife MLA. We will go to the latter part of the question and try to ignore the first part. Thank you. Mr. Premier.

Joe Handley Weledeh

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Cabinet has looked at a number of factors in considering this change. The Minister responsible has assured me that he will have that information by the end of the day tomorrow. Thank you, Madam Speaker.

The Deputy Speaker Jane Groenewegen

Thank you. Supplementary, Mr. Ramsay.

David Ramsay Kam Lake

Thank you, Madam Speaker. My apologies for crossing the line. It is a pretty invisible line, but I may have crossed it. Thank you. I am wondering if the Premier can let us know, in the government's organizational policy, does that policy speak to strictly moving jobs and programs around or does it speak to clients' needs and program needs?

It is one thing to move civil service jobs out of Yellowknife; that is something, given the chance, I would support, if it made sense. When you look at a program, the clients it is going to impact, the services those clients are going to need, does the organizational policy of this government have that in mind? Thank you, Madam Speaker.