Thank you, Mr. Speaker. First of all I think I need to thank the people of Nahendeh for their hospitality during my tour there. A few more and I’m going to have to buy some bigger suits because I think all we did was eat in every community.

---Interjection

That was before, during, and after meetings. There is a new water treatment plant and it was an issue we heard in Jean Marie. They were quite concerned about the quality of their water. There are plans to have the design and construction started. They are on the list for a new water treatment plant as part of the bundled water treatment plants. They’re scheduled to get started during the 2010-2011 fiscal year.

As the Minister had heard in Jean Marie, they are, of course, very concerned about their water. In my Member’s statement I spoke about a portable purification unit. Is that something that the Minister can research and look at or maybe indeed they already have something like that available already.

We’d be pleased to do that because it is something that we heard about when we were in Jean Marie River, is a portable filtration system. If it’s something that could be useful and something that is feasible to have at our disposal, then it is something we would have a look at and I will follow up with the Member once we get that information.

I’m pleased to hear the Minister is willing to research that. I’d like to go just above research, because I know they’re out there and if the Minister can seriously look at even implementing or utilizing such a facility in Jean Marie this coming fall, winter, and spring season until the new water treatment plant is built.

I have committed to researching it and one of the components of that will be seeing if it’s feasible to operate in the community of Jean Marie. The water there is still within the water standards that are set, but there is a concern with the community and we have to take that concern very seriously. So I will do that and we’ll get some information back to the Member to work with him in the community.

Thank you, Mr. McLeod. The honourable Member for Weledeh, Mr. Bromley.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My question is for the Minister of Environment and Natural Resources. Today I spoke about the things we can do now to help the regulatory system do its work while we continue with our reviews of regulatory reform. Are there currently any vacancies of GNWT appointments on the regulatory boards in which we participate and do we know what they are?

Thank you, Mr. Bromley. The honourable Minister responsible for Environment and Natural Resources, Mr. Miltenberger.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I believe there is one, but I will get the complete list of the board members and I will share that with the Member.

Thanks for that commitment from the Minister. Mr. Speaker, will the Minister confirm that he will make it an active priority of his department to take a proactive lead now by working to fill its vacant board appointments and pushing

our partners to get theirs up to date as well? Thank you.

The issue of regulatory reform board appointments is a priority of the government’s. We’ve pulled together a government response. We’ve shared it with the Members. We’ve met with Minister Strahl to make the case on regulatory reform, board appointments, consideration of transferring the authority to make board appointments to the government. So it is a priority for us. We’re going to continue to work with all our fellow stakeholders. We don’t see ourselves, really, as a stakeholder, but a partner with the federal government in this process. So, yes, that is a concern for us and we’ve been pushing on that because the issue of quorum is affecting the ability to do business. Thank you.

Thank you for that commitment, to the Minister. I’m really trying to focus in on the things that we all, I think, across the agencies, things we can actually get done. So I appreciate that.

Finally, Mr. Speaker, will the Minister table in the House a list of the current vacancies on the joint boards, of which it is a member, and the length of time each of these seats has been vacant, as well as the dates when each of our appointees end so that we can be on alert and bring this to attention as need be? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I will commit to table that information before this House rises next Thursday. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Miltenberger. The honourable Member for Yellowknife Centre, Mr. Hawkins.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, in my Member’s statement today, I talked about lack of consumer protection in the area of new home warranties, whether you buy a new home, whether it’s a modular or a condo or whatnot. But, Mr. Speaker, in essence, the consumer is being left unprotected. And, of course, as I said earlier, the only remedy, really, that is provided for you are things like the courts.

Mr. Speaker, my question would be directed to the Minister of Municipal and Community Affairs because he is in charge of the area of consumer protection. So this may first hit his doorstep as an issue. Perhaps it could end up elsewhere within the government, but the issue is: Would the Minister of Municipal and Community Affairs look into an initiative that would help develop a new policy, perhaps maybe new legislation, somewhat built on

other jurisdictions, that provide that type of warranty for the new home purchase? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Hawkins. The honourable Minister of Municipal and Community Affairs, Mr. Robert McLeod.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I know from experience that there are some home warranties provided but usually that’s if you’re building for the Corporation, that there’s usually a one-year warranty. I’m not sure how that works out in the private market. Any time there’s a desire or a wish from consumers or people out there for the department to have a look at something and see if there are ways we can work with it, then we’ll do that. I can commit to the Member that we will have a look at it. I’m not committing that we’ll do anything once we have a look at it...

---Laughter

I don’t think that came out right. We’ll have a look at it. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

He committed to not doing...I don’t know what he committed to there. Maybe if the Minister could restate his commitment clearly to the House. I know he was clear, but no one else understood it.

Mr. Speaker, in essence, Ontario and B.C. have new home warranty programs that are there for the assurance of the purchaser and, yes, I’m sure you could run out and find some places to provide insurance, but ultimately it’s the state run to have certain levels of regulations and policies in place for those types of situations. If the Minister would put it on record again that he’d certainly examine the issue and perhaps maybe take it to the point of a discussion paper to consider is it something worth pursuing, that’s really what I’m looking for at this stage. Not brand new legislation today, but if he could continue to the stage of developing a discussion paper, that’s what I’m searching for. Thank you.

Mr. Speaker, we will commit to having a look at it and doing some research and gathering some information, and then we’ll see if it’s worth coming forward with a discussion paper. Then we can take it from there. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. McLeod. The honourable Member for Frame Lake, Ms. Bisaro.

Thank you, Ms. Bisaro. The honourable Minister of Health and Social Services, Ms. Lee.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I don’t know if...Oh, I just can’t see the light from the sun.

---Laughter

I can’t see if it’s lit up or not. Mr. Speaker, the statement is referring to the Foundation for Change, which is the Minister’s and department’s action plan. We had a briefing and discussion with the standing committee and, really, it’s talking about if our system keeps on operating the way we are and where it’s very institutionally-based and physician-based in terms of our programs that we’re offering in our smaller communities; even in Yellowknife, it is not sustainable. It is important for us to look at what we could do to change that. When we are talking about the fact that some of our social programs are not consistent across the board, it’s because all of our authorities are block funded, basically, and they are able to move money around and depending, because of using the money that’s created by vacancies and such. So we want to be able to work closely with the authorities so that our programs are as consistent and similar in all our regions as possible. Thank you.