Again, I’m always looking for a new approach from this government, and some innovation. I think that’s what our public is asking for too. I’m sure the Minister and others are aware there are reports coming out showing that productivity actually goes up with various schemes, such as shorter work weeks and so on. This also results in direct savings. Between those things, I would think that increased productivity and the money saved on 5,000 employees, or whatever we have, taking six days off should account for those 24-hour services. I’m hoping the Minister could have his staff start looking...

I’m sure the NGOs will look forward to that, and the members of the social and environmental community.

One last point of agreement I’m looking for: does the Minister agree that MLAs, as the elected representatives of — especially on this side of the House — most of the people of the Northwest Territories, probably should have had some input on this panel, and that their input might have been useful, or at least worth considering and, in fact, consistent with consensus government?

Is it the intent of the Minister’s Advisory Panel on the Economy to ensure that it benefits all residents?

Minister McLeod.

Okay. We have a number of issues before the committee right now. What is the wish of the committee? Mrs. Groenewegen.

Any further questions on Operations Expenditure Summary? To recap, under Directorate, Operations Expenditure Summary $705,000. Agreed?

Department of Human Resources, Directorate, Operations Expenditure Summary: $705,000, approved.

Thank you, Minister McLeod. Mrs. Groenewegen.

Thank you, Mrs. Groenewegen. Motion is in order, not debatable.

Motion carried.

Thank you for those remarks. I'm not necessarily insisting that we have an emergency fuel supply, but I would like to know that the communities have some plan to deal with a complete shortage. Even if they do have an emergency supply, perhaps it won't be enough to get them through a period of time when the oil shortage occurs.

In 1973, of course, we experienced that with gasoline, but now with peak oil, we're on the declining side. We’re on the other side of 50 per cent of the fuel oil availability in the world, so this is a real situation. We're entering sort of a new era, if you will, and...

I’d like to go to Mr. Abernethy next.