Mr. Antoine, your final question.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. My final question is related to the last question. It is about the northern accord. We all know that the northern accord was discussed in Caucus last week and has been the subject of a lot of debate over the last four years and even before that. The view that I have on the northern accord is that I think that everyone in the North would like to see the oil, gas and mineral royalties move into the North. Everyone agrees with that, but once it passes the 6Dth parallel the problem is, who controls it? I think that's where we are stuck. Based on the inherent right to self-- government, there are some aboriginal groups in the West that still have outstanding issues with regard to resources and land. Based on the northern accord, I would like to get the views of the two candidates for Premier on what their views are with regard to the northern accord and how they would propose to work with aboriginal groups that have some concerns about the devolution of oil, gas and mining from the federal government to the Government of the Northwest Territories. Thank you.

Again, can I just get the cooperation of the Members to try to limit their preamble before their question? The preamble in this process can go on forever. So, if I could ask for your cooperation in that area. Mrs. Groenewegen.

Mr. Morin.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I believe that Mr. Todd came very close to bringing the northern accord back home to the Northwest Territories where it belongs, and I agree with Jim that everyone agrees with the principle that the Northern Accord belongs in the North. It belongs here. It belongs with Northerners to control it. What we have to do is work with the aboriginal people, the Treaty 8 people, the Deh Cho, the Dogrib people, Gwich'in, North Slavey, South Slavey, Inuvialuit and Inuit people to ensure that what they have in their claim is adhered to. We have to do that as a government. We have to work with them as a partnership and I believe that is how we can get the northern accord back to the north where it belongs. The key is the northern accord will not only generate some royalty dollars, but it will create jobs for northerners in the non-renewable resource sector.

Thank you. Mr. Todd and then Mr. O'Brien.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Earlier this week, we were given some briefings on the condition of the budget and, to some extent, the condition of the country. I believe there was some discussion to the fact that some of the conditions that currently exist are almost at Third World levels. We also talked about changes that we want to make to manage government better and to bring people into the canvas, if you want, or let into the tent to try and make a decision.

I would like to ask both candidates one question. Somebody told me a number of years ago that the territorial Legislature is the only democracy in the world with a minority -- that's the Cabinet-· to tell the majority what to do. Now, given that we're taking a new approach to government, I want to know from both candidates how they're going to manage consensus when you have to cut and take away -- which we've never had to o

at the levels that we're going to have to do -- and how are they going to handle that with respect to the Legislature? How are they going to handle consensus when you're taking away?

Thank you. Mr. Morin.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I'll use an example of the new Special Committee on Housing from the previous Legislative Assembly. My good friend, Mr. Todd, knows how volatile the previous Legislative Assembly was. There was a decision that had to be made and previous legislatures tried to make the decision to revamp the rental scale in the Northwest Territories. It wasn't a fair scale as people in different communities were treated differently and it meant an increase in rent for high-income people. We managed to do it by working with the Special Committee on Housing and with ordinary Members who were involved in the decision-making.

It doesn't make any difference whether it's a Cabinet Minister or an ordinary Member, once they got all that information, they saw that ii they didn't do something then it would cost $12 million and if they did something then it might save another $12 million. If you give the proper information, then people can make informed decisions. I think that if everybody here is willing to work together, then we'll be able to make consensus government work. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

Thank you. Mrs. Groenewegen.

Thank you. Mr. O'Brien and then Mr. Ningark.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I have two questions directed at both candidates. The first question is I would like to know their views and their stand on affirmative action. Thank you.

Thank you. Mrs. Groenewegen.

Mr. Morin.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I believe when the government brought in the affirmative action policy, the goal was to have approximately 50 per cent aboriginal in the government workforce. I think we're at around 31 per cent so we have not met or achieved that goal. I've always supported the affirmative action policy and I will continue to do that. The affirmative action policy is not working and there is one main reason why it is not: it doesn't address all the issues that it should address. We possibly need a training policy because when we do bring our aboriginal people into the workforce they do not move up, they stay at the level that they came in at. We're not getting aboriginal people into management positions and we're not getting aboriginal people into positions that are lilied by other people from the South. That's what we have to do.

The affirmative action policy is under review right now. We have to make sure that it's reviewed properly and that we get public input into it. I still support the affirmative action policy. Whether it's in Yellowknife, Hay River, Fort Smith, Fort Resolution, Lutsel K'e or whatever community, it should be implemented and it should be implemented properly. Thank you.

Thank you. Your second question, Mr. O'Brien.

Mr. Chairman, my second question is also directed at the two candidates. It refers to the revised business incentive policy (BIP). I would like to know their thoughts on the revisions. Thank you.

Thank you. Mr. Morin.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. We've been in the revision of the business incentive policy now for well over a year. That policy has not changed in five years. A lot of people look at the business incentive policy as if it was designed for different things that it was never designed for. The business incentive policy was designed to create businesses in the North. That was it. That's what it was designed for end it did do that. We have a lot more northern businesses. However, when it was not designed for was to ensure that our people get the community level were trained end that they got the jobs. There are some northern businesses that are just as guilty as southern businesses of bringing in southern people. So the business incentive policy did not address that, that's why it has to be revisited.

As well, I know of one case that I'll use for an example where we needed a specialty pipe, I believe it was in your region. We know that this company could not have that pipe on its shelf, there was only one supplier in Canada, so he wanted us to pay approximately a $27,000 premium to pick up the phone and order the pipe. I just couldn't bring myself to do that. So we do have to revisitthat policy end adjust it properly, but it has to be driven from the communities and that is what we've been attempting to do is going out again to do a community consultation process, and it has to be driven from the people who are in business, as well. It has to do what the Members went it to do and the leaders went it to do, that's create jobs in the North, enhance the economy in the North, enhance manufacturing in the North and stop the leakage of our construction dollars south. Thank you.

Thank you. Mrs. Groenewegen.