Mr. Speaker, it has been the position of different Members of this Legislature, and it is the position of the present government as it was the position of the previous government, that all new and additional costs incurred in division and in the setting up of the territory called Nunavut, that the federal government is the principal

Mr. Speaker, this is in response to Question O370-12(2), asked by Mr. Nerysoo on March 25th. Salary increases for senior management employees took effect on April 1, 1991. Managers received 5.03 per cent as a cost of living increase, which is the amount provided to Union of Northern Workers members for the same period. Senior managers also received performance pay averaging 3.8 per cent. This is identical to the salary increments paid to unionized employees once per year if their performance is satisfactory. Mr. Speaker, this government took action on January 1, 1992 to reduce salaries for deputy ministers by $2500 per year, in line with overall restraint measures. No decision has yet been made about the possibility of salary increases for senior managers for the 1992-93 fiscal year.

This is a reply to Question O340-12(2), asked by Mr. Koe on March 24th. The short-term sale program allowed employees who responded positively to a 1989 housing survey to bid on government staff houses. Under this program, 69 staff housing units were appraised and offered for sale in the Inuvik Region. Thirteen bids were received from employees: 10 from Inuvik; two from Norman Wells; and one from Tuktoyaktuk. Of these bids, two were accepted by the government: one from Inuvik and one from Norman Wells. At this point no further houses are for sale in Inuvik.

This is in return to Question O334-12(2), asked by Mr. Koe on March 24th. Under the short-term housing sale program, the Department of Personnel, in conjunction with the Department of Public Works, has received 35 offers from employees for the purchase of government staff housing. Eleven of these bids were accepted: one in Inuvik; one in Norman Wells; one in Coppermine; three in Rankin Inlet; three in Fort Smith; and two in Fort Simpson. The employees are currently in the process of completing their financing. The long-term strategy sale in Yellowknife, Fort Smith and Hay River has not reached an offer stage.

This in return to Question O73-12(2), asked on February 20th by Mr. Pudluk. The Government of the Northwest Territories made a commitment to the Resolute Bay Hamlet Council in 1987 that a staff house would be turned over to the hamlet when one became available. The Departments of Personnel and Public Works have been attempting to locate a house in Resolute Bay which could be given to the hamlet to allow them to house a mechanic. Unfortunately, there is no vacant staff housing in the community, and this situation is not likely to improve in the next year.

As an alternative, the government is considering the conversion of one of the larger houses into a duplex. This house would then accommodate two employees who now live in separate houses. Unfortunately, the house needs a lot of work and the capital funding is not available in 1992-93 to do the job. No new staff housing units are being built next year, and this means that it is unlikely that we will be able to help the hamlet until 1993-94 at the earliest.

I have a return to Question O368-12(2) asked by Mr. Gargan on March 25, 1992. We are aware that people working in the public service hold business licences to operate other businesses. These people have permission under the rules in the public service regulations. The rules are that no employee shall carry on any business or employment outside the public service in which a) the employee exploits unduly and for personal gain, acquaintance with other employees or persons with whom the employee has become acquainted in the course of employment in the public service; b) there may be a conflict between the duties the employee is required to perform in that business or employment and the duties the employee is required to perform in the public service; or c) the employee makes unauthorized use of information acquired as a result of employment in the public service or of property or facilities owned by Her Majesty in the right of Canada or the Government of the NWT.

Employees are required to notify their deputy minister if they wish to carry on any outside business or employment. The deputy minister will deny permission if one of these rules is broken.

I will take the question as notice.

Mr. Speaker, I will have a response to those questions next week.

Mr. Chairman, the TFN is waiting for this Legislature to approve the money so that they can put it in the bank and cover their costs. That is what the difficulty is. As to the comment that may have been made that it is not enough money, it is never enough money, but we expect TFN to carry on other activities at their own cost.

Executive, Total O And M, Agreed