Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The Member is right; I don't have the exact numbers in front of me, but I can get that information and break it down by region for other Members who want to know how much of the Small Community Employment Fund was actually being utilized in their communities, and I'd be more than willing to share that with the Member. Thank you.

I thank the Minister for his answer and look forward to that information. With that information, could they put the value that the department has put into these projects as well?

Yes, we can get the values for the projects, but some communities might have had multiple projects; others might have just had one, but we can get some of the exact numbers. It varies from community to community as well as from project to project. As I said in my Member's statement, we will be meeting with the rural and remote communities to get some direction and work on how we move forward with the strategy as well as with the fund.

As a member of that committee, I look forward to working with the Minister and Cabinet as we move forward for the small communities. Mr. Speaker, can the Minister explain what is going to happen to these projects that have already put applications in? Are they going to be able to be processed?

The communities that have already applied for projects, we'll continue to support them. Obviously, we're creating employment, we're doing skill development, and we're doing job training, and we want to continue to support that with the communities that have applied for this program, and obviously the projects in the small communities will continue to get support from this fund.

Masi. Oral questions. Member for Nahendeh.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker, and I thank the Minister for that commitment, and look forward to working with him on this. I guess I'm looking at the regional centres that have already been applying for this program. Will the Minister, I know it sounds hypocritical of myself, but commit to follow through on those projects that they've already applied for in good faith? Will the Minister be willing to work with those projects they've committed to? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Yes, as I mentioned, our mandate is to close the skill gaps in the Northwest Territories, create jobs, create employment, do skill development and training for residents in the Northwest Territories. Previously, when we made those enhancements, we were looking at these regional centres. I do believe to date we have five regional centres that have applied on the program. We funded their projects.

We want to continue to support those projects because they do have employment, they do create employment as well as training, but we have taken a new focus now. We heard from Members that we want to make sure that this fund is directed to small communities, and we will work with the Rural and Remote Committee as well as our community leaders, Aboriginal governments, businesses, on how we roll out this fund for the remainder of this fiscal year.

Masi. Oral questions. Member for Yellowknife North.

Got in under the radar. It just wouldn't be oral question period without a question to the Minister responsible for the Power Corporation. Mr. Speaker, we have been going back and forth on some dialogue with regard to this. I want to ask the Minister: if we never were to receive these generators from Virdi Power, if there is no recovery of costs lost from Virdi Power, if, as the Minister as indicated yesterday, all of this ends up having to be a write-off, then someone has to pay. Is it the intention of the Power Corporation to put forward another rate application or another rate increase application and/or ask this government for another subsidy if those costs have to be recovered? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Masi. Minister responsible for NWT Power Corporation.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The simplest answer is that I am not sure. We are still optimistic that we will be receiving at least some of the generators. If we do not, clearly there will be costs or losses incurred. I do not think we are very likely to succeed if we have to litigate this in California, but we would have to take advice from our legal counsel in that state. I have not really thought through the possibilities. Either directly or indirectly, I suppose, the government and people of the Northwest Territories would have to absorb this one way or another. Thank you.

Just one final question. I mean It seems to me that there will be some degree of loss here, and it is going to be significant. There is no small number involved in this. This is very important. Either taxpayers or ratepayers, one or the other, are going to probably end up having to pay. Is the Power Corporation at least starting to plan and take next steps as it relates to how they will recover some of these lost costs?

Yes, of course, the Power Corporation is doing that. As I say, there is always the possibility of litigation for breach of contract, but I am not terribly optimistic as to how that would result. I will speak again to management at the Power Corporation and could perhaps, after that, privately address this issue more fully with the Member opposite.

Masi. The time for oral questions has expired. Item 8, written questions. Item 9, returns to written questions. Item 10, replies to Commissioner's opening address. Item 11, petitions. Item 12, reports of standing and special committees. Item 13, reports of committees on the review of bills. Item 14, tabling of documents. Minister of Education, Culture and Employment.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I wish to table the following document entitled "Government of the Northwest Territories Response to Committee Report 10-18(2) - Report on the Review of Bill 16, An Act to Amend the Education Act." Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Masi. Tabling of documents. Minister of Environment and Natural Resources.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I wish to table the following document entitled "NWT Cumulative Impact Monitoring Program 2016-2017 Annual Report." Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Masi. Tabling of documents. Honourable Premier.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I wish to table the following document entitled "Mind and Spirit: Promoting Mental Health and Addictions Recovery in the Northwest Territories, Child and Youth Mental Wellness Action Plan, 2017-2022." Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Masi. Tabling of documents. Item 15, notices of motion. Item 16, notices of motion for first reading of bills. Item 17, motions. Member for Yellowknife Centre.

Masi. The motion is in order. To the motion.