Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My question will be directed to the Minister for NTPC. Can the Minister update us with the status on the NTPC division issue? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. (Translation) Mr. Speaker, how does the government plan to deal with nurses and teachers in the Northwest Territories, so we can attract more to the Northwest Territories? Thank you. (Translation ends)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I would like to follow up on Mr. Steen's question to the Minister of Finance. Mr. Speaker, I understand we are losing more and more teachers and nursing staff due to collective bargaining. I understand these jobs are very stressful and I am sure they need benefits and VTAs in order to keep these jobs. Mr. Speaker, my question is to the Minister of Finance. Will there be other packages in order to support these jobs in the Northwest Territories, such as VTA or other benefits? The reason I am asking this question is, that is not included in collected bargaining, and I understand there is not going to be any retroactive. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

(Translation) Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Good afternoon. Welcome back Members of the Legislative Assembly. One of the few remaining respected elder from Grise Fiord passed away on October 29, 1998 from cancer. Mr. Tookilkee Elijah Kigutaq was born in Cape Dorset on January 15, 1930. When Mr. Kigutaq got older he moved to Arctic Bay and was married to Martha Late Kigutaq and started a family. In 1996, when Gamalie Akeeagok's family was moving to Grise Fiord, Mr. Akeeagok asked Mr. Kigutaq's family to come with them to support their family in Grise Fiord. Mr. Kigutaq resided in Grise Fiord since then. Mr. Kigutaq worked for the Hamlet of Grise Fiord until he retired in 1997 after 26 years of service. Mr. Speaker, Mr. Kigutaq was also involved with various organizations such as (translation ends) chairperson for the Housing Association and other organizations.

Mr. Speaker, Mr. Kigutaq taught me about my family tree and supported me to do my job during my visits to my constituency in Grise Fiord. Mr. Speaker, I share my thoughts and prayers to Mr. Kigutaq's family and people of Grise Fiord at this critical time of their loss of their respected elder in the community. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

(Translation) Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, if there is going to be more programs available for the smaller communities, besides the ones that have already been established, what process will be used to acquire more programs for the government? Thank you. (Translation ends)

(Translation) Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I will be directing my question to Honourable Goo Arlooktoo.

Yesterday my Member's statement was on the government decentralization model. Can the Minister tell us if there is any assistance available for smaller communities to acquire some government programs? Thank you Mr. Speaker.(Translation ends)

(Translation) Thank you, Mr. Speaker. First I would like to state that it is my eldest son, Robert's, birthday today. I would like to wish him a happy birthday.

Mr. Speaker, I stand today to speak about decentralized government in Nunavut being developed. We can really see it because of the buildings that are being built to house the office for decentralization of some services from the departments. We were told that when we were having a meeting in July, at the Baffin Leader's Meeting, when the decentralization is in the process that it would help the local people from the communities. The buildings would be built to house the new services being transferred to the communities. Local people can acquire some jobs from the decentralization process. In smaller communities, they have always been sidetracked by other communities that are in larger communities acquiring some contracts. I think it is possible to transfer some of the offices to even smaller communities. When we can discuss the possibility of transferring some of these offices to smaller communities, I think it is possible to open up some offices to smaller communities, departmental offices. I will be speaking to this later today. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. (Translation ends)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Has the Minister followed any of the recommendations in the Med-Emerg report about training and hiring of nurses and other medical professionals? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, has the Minister met with the NWT Association of Nurses recently to discuss the concerns of our nurses? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.