Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, can the Minister tell me his timeline for those discussions that he just mentioned? How soon would they be concluded? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. In my Member's statement I spoke about the fact that the NWT Housing Corporation has not yet dealt with the land acquisition for the six housing units that are going into Rae-Edzo for the second year of the market housing initiative. Community leaders are concerned, Mr. Speaker, and rightly so, that if last year's performance is any indication, it may be early winter by the time the Housing Corporation manages to get those units ready for occupancy. Can the Minister tell me when the corporation will acquire the necessary land for these units? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, under the market housing initiative that we heard the Minister of Finance speak of yesterday, there's supposed to be six housing units going to Rae-Edzo. We also know, Mr. Speaker, from the budget speech, that there will be a new three-person public health unit set up for the Tlicho region effective April 1, 2005. The problem is, Mr. Speaker, there are no places for any of these public health unit staff to stay, never mind any other new teachers, health care workers or government employees. I am not even sure the six units will be enough to meet this year's demand, but at least it's a start.

You can imagine my frustration, Mr. Speaker, when I find out that the NWT Housing Corporation has not even talked to Municipal and Community Affairs or even the Hamlet of Rae-Edzo on obtaining the necessary land to put these units on. As far as I am concerned, Mr. Speaker, the land acquisition issue should have been dealt with prior to now, so that a tender on a housing package could be issued for an April closing.

Mr. Speaker, I am getting questions from my constituents on the status of these units and will be asking them of the Minister responsible for the NWT Housing Corporation at the appropriate time. Mahsi.

---Applause

Madam Chair, I move that we report progress.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, this afternoon I received some very exciting and welcome news, which is that the Tlicho Land Claims and Self

-Government Act has been given third reading by the Senate of Canada.

---Applause

Mr. Speaker, it is hard to express in words how important this day is to the Tlicho people. It is truly an historic moment, not only for the Tlicho but for all the Northwest Territories and Canada. I am sure that years from now, people will be telling their children and their grandchildren where they were when they heard this exciting news.

I am very happy that many Tlicho people -- around 70, I believe -- were there to witness this event. Just a few minutes ago I was speaking to someone in our Treaty 11 office, where everyone is celebrating and have been speaking with people in Ottawa. Right after third reading, Mr. Speaker, there was a tea dance right on Parliament Hill.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to extend my congratulations to all the Tlicho people and especially to our negotiating team who have worked hard on behalf of all of us for many, many years to see this day. To all our people who were able to travel to Ottawa for this historic and happy occasion, I wish you a safe journey back home to your families and I look forward to celebrating with you in the days and weeks to come. Mahsi.

---Applause

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I'd like to welcome Mr. Robert McLeod to this side of the House. He's the newest Member here. Welcome, Mr. McLeod, and to my colleagues.

As you are aware, Mr. Speaker, there are a number of issues that have been raised in my constituency of North Slave, but the highest priority that they have on their agenda is our Tlicho legislation that is currently being discussed in Ottawa.

Mr. Speaker, a number of my constituents have been traveling to Ottawa to observe and monitor the progress of this legislation that's going through the Senate. Mr. Speaker, everybody is aware that the first priority of the Dogrib Nation is our land claims and self-government legislation. I just want to let my constituents know that the issues that are raised in my region are going to be discussed here in the House and there's a lot of good news and there are also a lot of concerns that are being raised. A number of Ministers are aware of those concerns and I will be raising them through my Member's statement and during question period. Mahsi.

---Applause

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, leading an active lifestyle, getting outside in the fresh air and participating in sports improves peoples' lives. For elders, leading an active lifestyle can prevent diseases like diabetes and being active can help you to better manage an illness. For youth, being active improves self-esteem, their coordination and even their performance in school. Benefits of an active lifestyle are...(inaudible)... and one of the answers to a lot of our social problems in the Northwest Territories.

Mr. Speaker, that's why I want to say that I'm glad that the implementation plan for the Northwest Territories Council of Sport and Recreation Partners is complete now and this is a very worthwhile initiative. Before this new council was created, a lot of small communities didn't feel like they were involved with sports and recreation. Recreation in the communities suffered. Programs weren't being coordinated very well, and there just wasn't enough money for them.

Mr. Speaker, I'm particularly excited by the NWT Council of Sport and Recreation Partners proposed duties. The new council will have an advocacy role, and they promise to engage and involve every community while respecting their individuality. The NWT Council of Sport and Recreation Partners is also promising to listen and respond to the communities. The council is going to ensure community support, which I think is a good initiative, Mr. Speaker, and a long time coming.

Finally, Mr. Speaker, the new council is supposed to make sure that all residents of the Northwest Territories have access to sports and recreation programs. Mr. Speaker, three years of consultation went into creating the council and it wasn't an easy process, but I think it is a very worthwhile initiative. The new council is supposed to be appointed by February 2005 and they are going to have their first meeting in April. I just want to wish them the best of luck. Mahsi.

---Applause

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. First of all, I'd like to say that I believe this Cabinet has done a good job to date in advancing our agenda during their first year of office. However, I'd like to comment on the use of special warrants by this government. I have a problem with the spending of the public purse without any kind of oversight. There are circumstances, Mr. Chairman, where the government will need to commit money in advance of the Legislature sitting, but I do believe that as much as there has to be an FMB/Cabinet meeting to approve a special warrant, there could be an AOC committee meeting to be briefed by the government on the need for the special warrant. Even if the debate on the special warrant is held during an in camera committee meeting, at least there has been some debate and the government has gotten feedback.

Mr. Chairman, I really think it's time to revisit the Financial Administration Act and change the provisions guiding the use of special warrants. Now I know the Ministers will say they need this tool to be able to do their job. I would like to say that I and my colleagues on this side of the House deserve the same consideration if we are to do our jobs. Therefore, Mr. Chairman, I'll be supporting amendments to the Financial Administration Act.

My second issue, Mr. Chairman, is with the quality of answers some Ministers are giving in this House. There are Ministers who can talk for three minutes and not address the actual question. This is a waste of everybody's time and causes resentment on this side of the House as we waste our precious questions asking the same one four times over.

Mr. Chairman, those are my two issues I wanted to bring forward in regards to Minister's Statement 48-15(3), Sessional Statement, made by the Premier. Thank you.

To Minister's Statement 48-15(3) I'd like to make a few comments, if I may.