Thank you, Mr. McLeod. Mr. Krutko.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, we are working in conjunction with, like I mentioned, we're developing a human resource strategy. But we also want to ensure that we have control of the overall project, so it will be managed through the Housing Corporation to look at the training needs that are going to be identified in communities, contracts that we're going to need, and also the human resources that are in those communities and who has the capacity to do it. So we will work it through our local housing authorities and our regional housing organizations.

Thank you, Mr. Krutko. Oral questions. The honourable Member from Monfwi, Mr. Lafferty.

Thank you, Mr. Lafferty. Honourable Minister responsible for Education, Culture and Employment, Mr. Dent.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I think that it is important to say that the department and this government recognize the value of advice that we receive from elders, and we encourage local education councils to involve elders in their programs in the schools. We can certainly take a look at whether or not it would be possible to establish a standard of pay, but I suspect that would be very difficult because then there would have to be some assessment of elders' knowledge, and I think that goes against the understanding of traditional knowledge. I don't know. I'd have to talk with the Member about whether or not there is a standard that could be recognized. But I'm certainly willing to meet with the Member and his leaders and talk about what we might do on this area. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Dent. Supplementary, Mr. Lafferty.

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my next question will be, has the department looked into alternative ways to pay elders such that their pensions are not penalized? Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Lafferty. Mr. Dent.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As I advised the House yesterday and I believe on previous occasions, we are in the process of reviewing our income security structures and how we deal with people who are elders, with people who are disabled, with people who are in other classifications is something we're going to discuss as we go through this process. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Dent. Final supplementary, Mr. Lafferty.

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my final question could be a recommendation, but the question to the Minister: Would the department consider paying elders in other ways, such as on a contractual basis, to avoid long delays in the government pay system that's created? Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Lafferty. Mr. Dent.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. There's no impediment to local education authorities or other bodies making up a contract with an elder. That could be something that they could undertake on their own responsibility. The department itself doesn't hire people to go into the schools or in the areas where the divisional education councils have responsibility. That is something that can be done at the local level. But all payments now are being done through FMBS. If there are areas of concern in a region, then if I'm advised of that, I'll certainly take the issue up with my colleague, the Minister of Finance.

Thank you, Mr. Dent. Oral questions. The honourable Member from Nahendeh, Mr. Menicoche.

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. My question today is for the honourable Minister responsible for Justice, just with respect to my Member's statement and the request from constituents and communities for increasing the policing presence in their community. Is there a current or existing plan that the department's working on in order to look at increasing policing presence in the communities? Mahsi.

Thank you, Mr. Menicoche. The honourable Minister responsible for Justice, Mr. Bell.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I would point to a couple of things we're doing, some work currently underway. I think as Members know, our Department of Justice and the RCMP have established a joint working group that is looking at and examining various options available to increase police presence in our smaller communities. They are serviced from the larger centres. We want to make sure that we have an improved and enhanced presence in these communities. So that work is underway, Mr. Speaker.

I'd also point to I think we're in the fourth year now -- the final year, at any rate -- of our response to the comprehensive submission by the RCMP for additional resources. I think over the past few years, we're talking about 28 additional police officers across the Northwest Territories. We'll discuss this again today, but I think in this year's budget the number is six to bring that total up to 28. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Bell. Supplementary, Mr. Menicoche.

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. Just with respect to enhancing the presence and the request for 28 additional positions, this is probably based on some previous work, as well. I'm not too sure if there was a report based on that there, Mr. Speaker. However, I'm just wondering if it's taking into account the new increased pressures of resource development, of pipelines, particularly, passing through my region, and the need to have an established presence in the communities because of increased drugs and alcohol incidents that will happen. Has that report been taken that into consideration, Mr. Speaker?

Thank you, Mr. Menicoche. Mr. Bell.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Our response to this multi-year submission and to this, in effect, business plan submitted by the RCMP and the additional 28 officers, does take into account the pressures of development in the North. The RCMP are very well aware and very cognizant of this issue. It is driving our needs. I would also point to our hope that as we see some of this $500 million socio-economic impact fund roll out in our regions and in our communities, some of that will be earmarked or targeted for policing resources.

As the Member has pointed out, and rightly so, I believe, if we can enhance our police presence in our communities, we have a better chance of keeping other resources in the communities, such as nurses. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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