Right. Now, officials and representatives from the Nunavut area spent 20 plus years negotiating their agreements with the federal government to settle land claims, but also to talk about self-government for the people of Nunavut. This was achieved in concert with the federal government and it involved extensive agreements. In my mind, those agreements imply that there would be adequate funds to run the infrastructure and incremental costs of the two territories. It's disappointing that we only have $150 million -let me correct that -- $120 million to do the transition work, and there is no commitment on the part of the federal government to provide incremental funding. What was stated, and the only comment made on the future, was that funding post-1 999 will be negotiated by the federal Department of Finance.

To me, there is a fundamental issue here. The feds have arbitrarily decided a figure of $150 million -- let me correct that again -- $120 million for the transition costs. I am, of course, concerned about that fact, that there is only $120 million, but I'm more concerned about the long term. How much will be available to run two territories for incremental costs? That is a big question and we should devote our attention to that. We all have a responsibility to ensure that we have incremental costs of adequate funds when the time comes.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to also, like Mr. Steen, speak about the funding that was announced for the creation of Nunavut. Let me say to start with that, in summary, the federal government is providing $150 million for the transition costs which we all know about, but $31 million of this is for the federal government.

I would just like to go back to the time frame question. I'm wondering if the Minister could be more definitive about the length of time that this might take.

I wonder if the Minister could advise us if he will record or make a report on what each of the groups' responses will be to his meetings with him, and if we may get a copy of those reports.

From what I understand the Minister is saying, he will personally be consulting with the various groups and interested parties. Could he advise us of what time frame he envisions this will take?

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My question is to the Minister of Economic Development and Tourism; Energy, Mines and Petroleum Resources; and, Renewable Resources. The government is proposing the amalgamation of these three departments, and the Standing Committee on Resource Management and Development has been reviewing this objective. It's a big initiative and it has impact on both the employees in the department as well as on the general public. Concern has been expressed about this concept; the concept of combining the three departments. Some of the comments that I've heard are that one department is there to cut the trees and the other department is there to save the trees; one department is there to catch fish and the other is there to analyze and promote the environment and save the fish. I received a letter from Enviro Watch on this matter, which I tabled a month or two ago. I would like to ask the Minister if he could explain why this initiative is being taken to combine the departments.

I still see a concern where there is no central body to handle the feedback. I am wondering if the Premier would consider initiating a direction. I guess I am repeating my question. I wonder if he would consider initiating a direction and perhaps creating a report to address what I consider the existence of employee morale problems amongst the public service. If a report is produced, could that be given back to this House?

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Since we don't have a central Personnel department, it raises a concern to me that employees don't have one agency in which to feed their concerns to the upper levels and similarly the management

levels do not have an easy mechanism by which to feed information and concerns down to the employees. Concerning that, could the Premier consider initiating a direction to have the Ministers and deputy ministers address the concern that I have raised?

The fact that we don't have a central Personnel department is of concern because there is no central source in which employees can feed back or managers can feed down. I wonder if the Premier would consider initiating a direction whereby the Minister and deputy ministers can address the concern I have raised.