Thank you, Mr. Hawkins. Members' statements. Returns to oral questions. Recognition of visitors in the gallery. I'd like to welcome everyone in the gallery today to the House to observe the proceedings. It's always nice to have an audience in here. Welcome to the House.
---Applause
Colleagues, before I go to the next order on the Order Paper, oral questions, I want to draw Members' attention the fact that we only had time in this House yesterday for 10 oral questions. This is in spite of the fact that you have agreed to limit the number of supplementary questions from three to two. The reason for this is that the preambles to both your main and supplementary questions were excessively long, as were the answers being provided to some of the questions.
Members, I am a servant of this House and I administer the rules that you have set for yourselves in this Chamber. However, in interpreting those rules, I have to be fair to all Members.
I will once again urge each of you to limit the preamble to your main questions to one short, carefully crafted sentence. There should be no preamble to supplementary questions. The Ministers should make every effort, a greater effort in keeping their answers short and to the point. I will do my best to assist Members in respecting these rules. Thank you, Members.
Item 6, oral questions. The honourable Member for Yellowknife Centre, Mr. Hawkins.