Louis Sebert

Well, I suppose, like any other department, there is some financial oversight, but I do not want to give anybody the idea that they are not independent in their operations, because that is the whole point. I mean I do not know how it is done in other jurisdictions, but I can assure the Members that OROGO is properly funded and they are independent. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I'd like to think that the government has been a good steward of the monies we have received. As I mentioned at the outset and has been repeated several times, this is a very new department and, as we move forward, inevitably there were costs in combining to two corporate cultures that existed previously. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I mean, whenever there are positions that are affected often there is a process that the government goes through, and often these people find other positions in the government. That is often the case as we all know from the round of reductions that took place last year. Most people found other positions, some retired. Some who were affected unfortunately could not find other positions, that is true, but the government has to live within its means and therefore we have to look at a rationalization. We always hear that the government should be acting more efficiently. Well...

It will be somewhat similar to the ones in the past years. I mean, what we want to do is we make sure that we can provide effective policing to all of the 33 communities of the Northwest Territories. Thank you.

Mr. Speaker, I know that any complaints of the type mentioned by the Member opposite are treated seriously by the Power Corporation, are carefully considered, and promptly responded to. I think the Power Corporation, within its own staff, would have the ability to look into and respond to the questions of the type brought forward by the Member opposite. I don't think we'd be prepared to hire an independent scientist to look into this matter in view of the likely expense, which would have to be passed on to the ratepayers.

The dam at Twin Gorges on the Taltson is a runoftheriver dam, so the water either flows around the dam or through it, so it would have little impact on the river downstream. If there was something exceptional, of course, the Power Corporation should and I think would advise those who use the river.

Mr. Speaker, I wish to table to following document entitled "Government of the Northwest Territories' response to Motion 2718(2): A New Day Men's Healing Program." Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I don't have that information before me, but I could look into it and supply the information to the Member opposite.

Mr. Speaker, the Northern Canada Power Corporation did in fact build the dam on the Taltson River at Twin Gorges. The dam was completed in 1965. I am sure that what the Member opposite has stated was likely the case in that there was little or no consultation with local residents. Of course, any expansion of the dam would involve an environmental assessment that would be very comprehensive and take a considerable amount of time. So times have changed and the requirements for these types of projects clearly have changed. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, payments under court orders are always subject to recalculation. In fact, we are attempting to develop a child support recalculation service that will avoid the necessity of going back to court in every case. Courts, however, always have the right to make changes to payments, and really, that is within their jurisdiction and responsibility. I do not think I could have any influence over that, particularly the courts of British Columbia.