Thank you, Mr. Ramsay. The honourable Minister of Finance, Mr. Roland.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the issue of budget reduction scenarios is one that every government would face from time to time, and preferably not face at all. Unfortunately, our situation was, as the Member pointed out, reasons of lower corporate tax income affected us and we had to send departments back to look for some savings for the '05-06 year, as well as the business planning process. For departments, when they come up with new initiatives, if they don't have it from within their existing budget allocation, they would come back to FMB and request the funds and FMB would review those and see if, in fact, their proposal had enough in it to proceed. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Roland. Supplementary, Mr. Ramsay.

Yes, thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, it's been my contention all along that I think this is a flaw in our budgeting process; that when this government wants to go through a reduction exercise, it doesn't have to come and consult with Regular Members on where those reductions should take place, and I think that's something that's flawed in our system. I'd like to ask the Minister of Finance, the $450,000 that's being spent, I'd like to ask him, that contract was sole sourced to an American company. I'm wondering if there was a Canadian company that could have done the work. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Ramsay. Mr. Roland.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the money that was allocated for the work to deal with our human resource situation was found from within the organization. Number two, the contract was sole sourced, as I stated, under the review of HR and the fact is this company is tied to the operations of PeopleSoft, which makes sense that we work with them since it is that program that we are having to fix to make sure we can do our jobs properly. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Roland. Final supplementary, Mr. Ramsay.

Yes, thank you, Mr. Speaker. I think it's very, very odd that FMBS can just all of a sudden find $450,000 to sole source a contract to an American company; very strange. I'd like to ask the Finance Minister, you know, if we hadn't asked the questions the other day, when was this government going to let Regular Members know that this work was being done and what it costs? The Finance Minister himself, the other day, seemed surprised. I think he said $150,000 then his staff had to advise him that it was $450,000. He himself was surprised at the amount, Mr. Speaker. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Ramsay. Mr. Roland.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the timing of when information is forwarded to Members is one following through our process. For example, if departments find money from within their organizations, then if the required reporting schedule is anything over $250,000 for intra-department transfers is recorded and tabled in this House. So that type of information is provided at that time. If we're seeking larger amounts of money, then it's through the FMB process, which requires the approval and then goes on the supplementary appropriation, then that's the way Members would deal with that, as well, through this House. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Roland. Oral questions. The honourable Member for Nahendeh, Mr. Menicoche.

Thank you, Mr. Menicoche. The honourable Minister of Transportation, Mr. McLeod.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, there is a portion of highway one that's already chipsealed; up to the Fort Simpson-Providence junction. We continue to provide replacement on those sections of that section of road. There is no plan for further chipsealing of Highway No. 1 from the Providence

-Simpson junction onward, and also we have no plans to do any chipsealing on Highway No. 7. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. McLeod. Supplementary, Mr. Menicoche.

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. The other question was, is it at least in the five-year capital plan? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Menicoche. Mr. McLeod.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, right now capital plan for Highway No. 7 and Highway No. 1 north of the Fort Simpson-Providence junction is to do some major reconstruction in those areas, along with the improvement of drainage and some realignment, minor realignment of that road to ensure that we have a firm base to be able to deal with all the resource development impact that we're expecting over the next while. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. I think one of the best ways to capture more tourists for the NWT is by word of mouth. Over the past few years, tours have been complaining about the condition of the road. I know that we're going to spend millions on upgrading it, but will we see in our lifetime any attempt to chipseal the roads, Highway No. 1 and No. 7 towards Fort Simpson on to complete the Deh Cho trail? Mahsi.

Thank you, Mr. Menicoche. I don't know if that's asking the Minister's personal opinion or not. Mr. McLeod.

Mr. Speaker, that depends on how long the Member expects to be around.

---Laughter

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Mr. Speaker, we can fully understand that the Member is very interested in seeing chipseal as part of the capital plans for Highway No. 7 and Highway No. 1. It is in our plan right now to do the first phase of this project, to improve the drainage, improve the foundation. We could not do any of the chipseal until we can improve those areas. We need to have a firm foundation. We did try some pilot projects in the Liard area which did not hold. The terrain, the makeup of the soil was not suitable for that. We have to look at ways that we can improve that. We'd like to be able to do the chipseal. We have been talking to the pipeline proponent about legacy projects. We have been talking to them about improving the safety and reliability of the road and that includes chipseal. However, until we can find the additional dollars that we need for investment, we can't commit to that. Our dollars right now that are committed for the next fall is for reconstruction of those roads to ensure that we have safety, but they will continue to be gravel roads. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. McLeod. Oral questions. The honourable Member for Yellowknife Centre, Mr. Hawkins.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I have questions today for Mr. Roland and everything in my Member's statement today talked about a helping hand approach, not a hand-out technique. So, Mr. Speaker, it's time we share the opportunities before us to everyone. My question to the Minister is, our Human Resources department has now been created. What type of initiatives are being undertaken at this time so we can ensure that we attract and retain qualified work forces in the examples I provided earlier today? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.