Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I'll repeat once again, the medical leave form usually has a date of return from the doctor. So in his opinion, that's when the employee can return to work and perform their duties. In my opinion, that sometimes questions the integrity of the doctors by asking for a prognosis on top of the medical leave form they've already given to the employer. I'd like to ask the Minister if the NWT Medical Association was consulted in any way on this particular policy. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. McLeod. Mr. Dent.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I can't say whether they were consulted on this policy or not.

Thank you, Mr. Dent. Oral questions. The honourable Member for Thebacha, Mr. Miltenberger.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My questions are for the Minister of ITI and it's to follow up just briefly on my Member's statement and the fact that many countries around the world, from New Zealand to Sweden, Norway, and countries in between, have taken to looking at the development of nature-based tourism as a way to provide more support and revitalize their rural communities. Given the North's tremendous natural assets, beauties and marketable tourism attractions, and the fact that many communities don't have other resource-based development on their doorstep, I'd just like to ask the Minister if he would commit to instructing his officials to build some reference to the potential of this particular type of marketing that's been developed into the 2008-2009 business development plan so that the incoming 16th Assembly will have an opportunity to consider how they want to move on this type of opportunity? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Miltenberger. The honourable Minister responsible for Industry, Tourism and Investment, Mr. Bell.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I want to assure Members that we're certainly doing what we can to support this sector. I think we can do more but, as Members will be aware, in the 2010 proposal and documents, since about 2003-2004 we've essentially virtually doubled the marketing money that we're spending in tourism; the amount of money of the contribution that goes to our partner, NWTT. They are spending a lot more on marketing. One of the areas they've targeted, Mr. Speaker, is outdoor adventure.

I think that Members have probably by now had a chance to see the 2007 Explorer's Guide. A nice feature in there, some 13 pages of operators who are advertising and promoting outdoor adventure. There's a nice piece on south of the lake. We're doing a number of things related to this segment. I think the Member's region is probably particularly very well suited for this and the promotion of this industry. So we will continue to work with him in that respect, but, as I say, this has been now I think our third year of the 2010 program. There's more to come, but I think we are off to a good start. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Bell. Supplementary, Mr. Miltenberger.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the whole area of ecotourism has some fairly stringent accreditation requirements that are developed in the jurisdiction. There's some marketing requirements and it's a specific way of doing business that's been developed through trial and error in other countries. So the question once again to the Minister is, given all the opportunities in the North, would he commit to having his officials build a reference into this particular area the way it's done in other jurisdictions to see if there's an applicability here in the Northwest Territories for the 2008-2009 Business Plan? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Miltenberger. Mr. Bell.

Mr. Speaker, I would propose that I could meet with the NWTT to talk about this. They have identified the segment as outdoor adventure. I think, in their minds, this includes ecotourism. If there are some specific nuances here or references here to programs internationally that have been successful, that's certainly something that I'd like to learn more about. I could talk to the Member. I'm also, Mr. Speaker, in the process of trying to plan for a trip south of the lake to both Hay River and Fort Smith and when I have some acceptable dates identified, I will come back to the Members of those communities and talk about meetings that might be scheduled. Probably a good meeting with the Member if he'd be prepared to work with me to host to bring in some tourism stakeholders into the community, possibly with the mayor and council. We could talk about that kind of thing. But that's certainly something that I think is a good idea and I'd be prepared to discuss further. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Bell. Supplementary, Mr. Miltenberger.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I appreciate the Minister's offer. Unfortunately, I don't think I'm going to be in the community or even in the territory the week that he's thinking about being there. However, the question still is, Mr. Speaker, that this is a very specific

type of development. The Minister is going to be in office for another four months before we all hit the hustings, or those of us who are going to run again are going to hit the hustings. The key is the development and building this into the 2008-2009 business planning process. While I appreciate the words of support from the Minister that we also have this other process that the 16th Assembly will pick up. So the question is, in addition to those words of support, will he ensure that it's built into the 2008-2009 Business Plan? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Miltenberger. Mr. Bell.

Thank you, Mr. Bell. Oral questions. The honourable Member for Range Lake, Ms. Lee.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my questions are on the Premier's statement yesterday about the negotiations going on about the concession agreements and the project financing of the Deh Cho project. I think the questions could be answered by either the Premier or the Minister of Transportation. Mr. Speaker, I just want to preface it by, obviously even though I support this project 1,000 percent, it has to stand on its own leg and make a sound business case. But business case for public business is a little different than a private business, which is profit motivated. A bridge like this is a public project and we need to look into costs and benefit analysis. But we throw into that a lot of benefit questions and one of the most important things being reducing the cost of living for northern residents and businesses. The toll that's being proposed will be imposed on commercial trucking and commercial trucks and commercial haul, and the cost has to be something that the commercial market can bear, and that it needs to be an investment on the part of the government to make this project viable. The fact that the federal government will not come into play as of yet is unfortunate. But if the GNWT can bear the cost and make it viable, I think it's something that warrants our support. So I'd like to ask the Minister, as the Premier or Minister, whoever's going to answer the question, about what is the extent of the negotiations that's going on under the concession agreement and project financing? What are the parameters they are looking at to make sure that the cost and benefit analysis of this will make it viable? Thank you.

Thank you, Ms. Lee. The question is probably most suited for the Minister of Transportation. I'll address it to the Minister of Transportation, Mr. Menicoche.

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. There has been a cost-benefit analysis done many, many, many times on the Deh Cho Bridge project. Certainly as of last fall or even last year, when we deferred the project, it was because it wasn't self-financing and needed additional expenditures or money from government. At this point, we're hopeful that the federal government will still buy into it using the P3 money available. They're willing to, their P3 project right now as it stands, they're willing to contribute up to 25 percent of a P3 project, and it is on their National Highway Strategy for the federal government as well, Mr. Speaker. We know that they're looking at it seriously. It is with the top P3 projects on their books across Canada, Mr. Speaker. Up until this point, that's where it stands without any formal written commitment. Thank you very much.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My understanding of this project is that government will make an investment, whether it be the GNWT or federal government, to lend the money to the corporation and the corporation will levy enough toll to pay for the project and make a little bit of profit so that the communities can benefit from that. But the return on investment has to be viable. So I'd like to ask the Minister to confirm whether the cost of the project and the increase that's going on is still making it viable for the corporation to be able to pay the money over a period of time that's been determined and still make a little profit. I guess I'm asking if, I have to assume, and I'd like the Minister to confirm that this is still an economically viable project for the corporation and for the government. Thank you.

Thank you, Ms. Lee. Mr. Menicoche.

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. Once again I'll commit to continue to share that with committee. In fact, we're trying to find a time slot sometime early next week. Some of the details the Member is referring to, of course, are in the concession agreement and being negotiated and is confidential at this point. However, once we're in committee, we'll be able to share as much as possible that we can with the Regular Members there, Mr. Speaker. Thank you very much.

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