Mr. Speaker, it has just been 24 hours since we received the decision by the federal government so we are still examining the issue. I don't know the answer to that question. As I said, the numbers that were announced by the Minister yesterday are modest.

Mr. Speaker, I am told that one of the assumptions used by the federal government was that it was a decentralized model. Again, it is a contention that the costs they put in were much less than what is actually needed.

Mr. Speaker, I believe the reason the plebiscite on Nunavut was approved and also the fact that the capital of Nunavut was chosen was because of the decentralized model, that government jobs and government services would be out in the communities. Yes, the GNWT is committed to that, but the problem may be with the funding.

(English not provided) ... as the Deputy Premier, responsible for Public Works and Services and, frankly, as a beneficiary under the claim, I have concerns. We all remember, Mr. Speaker, that we started off with estimates of about $600 million. That was revised to $350 million. Now that has been cut in half again. It is not getting any cheaper to build anything. I think we need to be asking ourselves and also the federal government some serious questions. (Translation ends)

... the last 24 hours to look at the numbers. I see that the federal government has set aside about $30 million of the $150 million to set up their own operations in Nunavut. That means we will only have $120 million to work with. I am also concerned that it looks like some of the decisions the Department of Indian and Northern Affairs and the federal government have taken will result in more money being used up for administration and less on delivering results. If that amount of money is already being cut, that does not seem to be a wise thing to do.

In my view, Mr. Speaker, to answer the Member's question, we need a few more days to look at the issue in a calm manner and put our energy into getting some clarification of what it all means. I also think that we, as Members of the House, as elected Members, have to be prepared to be leaders and we cannot be content with just taking scraps off the table and trying to build only half the dream that Nunavut is. Thank you.

--- Applause

Mr. Speaker, I've asked the Department of Public Works to look into this matter. Two days ago, I did ask the Member to provide me with a contact name; however, when I did not get that, I asked the department to conduct an investigation to see what we could do. At this point in time, I do not have any information to pass on.

Mr. Speaker, as I understand the situation, part of the dispute revolves around the fact that it is the government's view that the Gwich'in Tribal Council went out and did some work that was not authorized. The Department of Public Works has looked at the work and has tried to come to an agreement on what the value of that work is. I do agree with the Member that some of these issues should not be long and drawn out, but it isn't just a matter of the government dragging its heels. Thank you.

Mr. Speaker, I am not personally involved in the particulars of the talks going on at this moment, but there are disputes on several interpretations of the memorandum of understanding he is speaking about. I could sit down with the Member once again and talk over what some of the issues are, but I would rather wait and see what happens in the talks going on right now between the Department of Public Works and the Gwich'in Tribal Council.

Mr. Speaker, the source of the dispute is on the amount, as the Member mentioned. The group in his constituency is claiming an invoice in the area of $230,000; whereas, the government is saying that our obligation is less than that. That's where the negotiations are going on right now, in coming up with a settlement in the next few days which would hopefully be satisfactory to the two parties.

Mr. Speaker, I am well aware of the situation, mostly because the Member has been in my office every day for the last 10 days speaking to me on this issue.

--- Applause

I was on a teleconference earlier this morning with senior officials of the Gwich'in Tribal Council and with senior officials of the Department of Public Works. I understand that, as we speak, there are talks going on between the Department of Public Works and the Gwich'in Tribal Council to try to resolve the issue. I've instructed the department to resolve it as soon as possible, within the next few days, if possible; and also to ensure that the government lives up to any contractual or any obligations under any agreements that it has previously signed.