The chair recognizes a quorum. The meeting will come to order. Before we start, can we rise for a prayer.

---Prayer

Again, we are doing the process with regard to the Cabinet selection. I would just ask the Members that they can either stand or sit, depending on their preference. All the Members, by way of process, we start by nomination. The candidate will either accept or reject the nomination, followed by each Member being given the opportunity to make a 10-minute speech. I would now say that the floor is open for nominations of candidates. Mr. Miltenberger.

Mr. O'Brien, do you accept the nomination?

I accept. Thank you.

Mr. Ningark.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I wish to nominate Kelvin Ng, the Member for Kitikmeot, for a position on Cabinet. Thank you.

Mr. Ng.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I wish to thank my honourable colleague and I accept the nomination.

Thank you. Mr. Enuaraq.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Chairman, wish to nominate Mr. Picco, the Member for Iqaluit, for a position on Cabinet.

Mr. Picco, do you accept the

I accept.

Mrs. Groenewegen.

Thank you. Mr. Todd, do you accept the nomination?

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I wish to thank my honourable colleague for nominating me and I accept the nomination. Thank you.

Mr. O'Brien.

Mr. Chairman, I would like to nominate Jane Groenewegen, Member for Hay River, for Cabinet.

Mrs. Groenewegen, do you accept the nomination?

Mr. Antoine.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I wish to nominate Goo Arlooktoo, the Member for Baffin South, for a position on Cabinet.

Mr. Arlooktoo, do you accept the nomination?

Yes, and thank you for the nomination.

Mr. Steen.

Thank you. Mr. Antoine, do you accept the nomination?

I would like to thank the honourable Member for the nomination and I accept it.

Nominations. Mr. Barnabas.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I wish to nominate Stephen Kakfwi, Member for Sahtu, for a Cabinet position.

Thank you. Mr. Kakfwi, do you accept the nomination?

Mr. Roland.

Mrs. Thompson, do you accept the nomination?

I accept the nomination. Thank you.

Mr. Arlooktoo.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I wish to nominate Charles Dent, Member for Yellowknife Frame Lake, for a position on Cabinet.

Thank you. Mr. Dent, do you accept the nomination?

Thank you. Mr. Kakfwi.

Thank you. Mr. Miltenberger, do you accept the nomination?

Thank you. Nominations. Mr. Enuaraq.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I wish to nominate the honourable Mr. Krutko, Member for Mackenzie Delta, for a position on Cabinet.

Thank you. Mr. Krutko, do you accept the nomination?

Mr. Ningark.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I wish to nominate Vince Steen, Member for Nunakput, for a position on Cabinet. Thank you.

Thank you. Mr. Steen, do you accept the nomination?

Nominations. Are there any further nominations? Is it clear that nominations are closed? There will be two ballots; one for the East and one for the West. Starting with the East, there will be Mr. Arlooktoo, Mr. Ng, Mr. O'Brien, Mr. Picco, Mr. Steen, Mrs. Thompson and then Mr. Todd. From the West there will be Mr. Antoine, Mr. Dent, Mrs. Groenewegen, Mr. Kakfwi, Mr. Krutko and Mr. Miltenberger. That is the order in which they will be called upon to do their 10-minute presentation.

According to the rules, it will go in alphabetical order. So the first one will be Mr. Antoine. Mr. Antoine, you have 10 minutes to make your presentation.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman, Madam Commissioner, elders, Mr. Premier, congratulations on your election yesterday, ladies and gentlemen of the 13th Assembly, ladies and gentlemen. I would like to thank the honourable Member for Nunakput for nominating me for this Cabinet position. I am very honoured that the people of Nahendeh have sent me to the Legislative Assembly again; this time by acclamation. Mahsi for your confidence and support. I will, once again, try the best I can to represent you in this House.

Mr. Chairman, I became a Member of this Assembly four years ago. At that time, I sought election as a Member for Cabinet. Fortunately, I was not selected at that time. I say "fortunately'' because looking back, I know that I gained valuable experience throughout the last Legislative Assembly by sitting as an ordinary Member of the Legislative Assembly. I learned a lot about how this system of government works. I gained valuable experience as a Member of several committees and as the chairman of the powerful Standing Committee on Finance in the last Assembly. I needed this experience in the Legislative Assembly and government in order to work effectively as a Member. I now know that this experience will be an asset if I am given the opportunity to serve this House as a Member of Cabinet.

Last time I stood as a Cabinet candidate, I went into my background: my university education and experience at the community level as chief of the Fort Simpson Dene for 14 years, as well as my involvement in the Dene Nation organization since 1973. Therefore, I know the issues and concerns at the grassroots level in the Northwest Territories. This knowledge is what I have to offer to this Cabinet.

This time I am going to focus more on the issues. I represent a riding where there has been the powerful and fundamental concerns raised about the legitimacy of this government. Most of you are familiar with the Deh Cho proposal. Many of my constituents feel the same way that the Inuit do in their pursuit for division. They do not feel that a centrally-based government in Yellowknife can reflect their needs and aspirations. They are committed tobringing government closer to home. They believe that to do so effectively, their inherent right to self-government must be recognized and protected. I believe that it is possible to construct the constitution for the western NWT that does reflect this distinct right of aboriginal people, as well as building on the distinct forms of government found in the aboriginal cultures. The greatest challenge of the new government and all MLAs is to build this constitution. We can no longer fail to come to an agreement on a western constitution. Should we fail, we are raising not only the possibility of further divisions within the West, but a less smooth division in the East.

I offer you my skills and commitment to making the positive contribution to this challenge. I offer you my ability to work as a key Member to bring about the critical consensus that is essential to good government. Our time may be limited. The federal government has launched its aboriginal self-government policy, but there are only two years left in Mr. Chretien's Liberal Party's current mandate as the Government of Canada. The red book, which sets the policies for this government, lists the inherent right to self-government as one of the key policies and we are running out of time on that.

The Royal Commission on Aboriginal People is moving ahead with consideration of new concepts and now is the right time totake advantage of the enthusiasm and commitments that will be generated when the final report is released.

We also need to set the stage with the significant changes that will be coming when Nunavut is formed in 1999. I fully support the division of the Northwest Territories, but I am concerned that the Government of the Northwest Territories is not well prepared for the transition that is going to take place. As the former co-chair of the Special Joint Committee on Division and chairman of the Standing Committee on Finance, 1know that

In education, we need new approaches. The infrastructure is in place, the schools are there, the teacher education program is initiated and working and the new Education Act has been passed. Now it is time to concentrate on quality of education. We can achieve this by giving communities, not only bureaucrats who work in this department, but the people in the communities, greater control of how schools are run and about what happens in the classrooms.

We have to continue to work towards changing the level of violence in our society as well in our schools, in our homes and in the workplace. We have to boost our local economies through northern preference programs, buy-North initiatives and acompletely revised and more effective business incentive policy; one that doesn't conflict with the terms of the land claims agreement in the West, as well as the Nunavut agreement.

Mr. Chairman, there was an economic conference in Fort Simpson for the Deh Cho region right after the election. We looked at ways to improve the economy of the Deh Cho. The number one priority identified was for healing of our communities. Way up as priority number two was the need for people to be better educated. Without capable, healthy, educated people, the best business incentive programs in the world will have little or no impact.

Mr. Chairman, we have to think about change within this Assembly as well. Our constituents must have been shocked and probably dismayed when they saw the goings-on in the Chamber the last time. Our relationship with each other has to be based on respect. I have always tried to be fair, honest and open with all the people I deal with. That wouldn't change if I'm elected to the Cabinet.

I believe that I can offer a lot of strength by working with all this government is not making enough progress. We have to honourable Members,, .1aking sure that the necessary changes pick up the pace in our discussions about dividing government assets and resources. We have to pick up the pace in our dealings with Ottawa to make sure that the financial arrangements are sound. We have to pick up the pace with the western constitutional process and the aboriginal bilateral talks.

To arrive at a new constitution, we need to work closely with organizations that represent aboriginal people. Too often, the position of the past government pushed these groups away. Too often, it resorted to insults and finger pointing. That has to change.

As the chairman of the Standing Committee on Finance, I pushed hard to make sure that the Deficit Elimination Act had real teeth and offered real solutions. Without a doubt, the GNWT is going to have to change the way it spends our money. Our bureaucrats are going to have to downsize, consolidate and reduce duplication. It is time to fight the focus on cost-efficiency.

With our small population base, I can't agree with any of the taxation proposals I heard before and during the election. I voted against the payroll tax when it was brought forward in the last Assembly and I still think it isn't a very good idea.

are made and that they are made in a way that benefits all the people of the Northwest Territories. I am pleased to ask you to consider me as a Member of the Cabinet for this 13th Legislative Assembly. Mahsi, Mr. Chairman.

---Applause

Thank you, Mr. Antoine. Also, in alphabetical order again, but before we go to Mr. Arlooktoo, I would like to recognize in the gallery a former Member, Mr. Richard Nerysoo.

---Applause

Mr. Arlooktoo, 10 minutes.

Mr. Chairman, I'll speak first in my first language.

(translation) Mr. Chairman, I extend heartfelt congratulations to Mr. Morin on his election as Premier, and commit my full support to him whether I should be selected to join Cabinet or stay as an ordinary MLA. I would also want to congratulate Jane for her admirable performance yesterday during the question period. Also, I would like to thank Jim Antoine for nominating me for the important position of being a Minister in the government. Also, I would like to begin by thanking the people of Baffin South who have put me here in this Assembly.

I was very happy when I realized on election night that I had won the confidence of the people. I will work very hard to show respect for the trust they have placed in me. The election campaign was a very emotional experience for me because my dear mother was very ill at the time. Although she passed away shortly after the election, I knew that she was very proud of me and it gives me great strength. I also want to thank my father who was a Member of this Legislative Assembly, and he had helped me out a lot, and also my wife Dorothy, and also her family for the support they have always given me. (translation ends)

Mr. Chairman, however, I've learned a great deal training in Arctic College in the area of renewable resources and then working in many communities in both the East and the West. I've also worked as a staff person, as many of you know, here with MLAs, committees and the Nunavut Caucus. Whether it was researching issues of the day for Nunavut MLAs or helping them to formulate statements and questions, working for over five years in this Legislature was a very positive experience which I thoroughly enjoyed and learned from. Travelling throughout the Territories with special committees of this House taught me a great deal of the concerns that people in the communities have.

I have attended community consultations with the Special Committee on Northern Economy, with the Special Committee on Languages and also the Special Committee on Health and Social Services. I recently worked as an alcohol and drug counsellor in my home community of Lake Harbour.

In my election campaign, I promised my constituents that I would serve them as a sober, responsible leader. I want to be a good role model for our youth in everything I do in this Assembly.

My constituents are excited about the establishment of Nunavut. They are looking forward to a government closer to home; a government which will give them more say in how they are governed. During this Assembly, many important decisions will be made as we move towards implementing Nunavut and the new western territory in 1999. This is a time when the people of the North most need leaders who are responsible and fair. As we face the difficult decisions moving toward the division of the Territories, our people also want us to be able to compromise rather than fight. I think this is an ongoing theme and I'm happy about that.

Even as we plan for new governments in the North, we must tackle the grievous social problems which are crippling our families and our communities: suicide, family violence, sexual and alcohol abuse, drug abuse and many others. We must have healthy communities if we are to be prepared for the new challenges of self-government in Nunavut. I am committed to dealing with these social issues as a priority in our new government. I believe that we can confront these issues through the community wellness approach, healing workshops, alcohol and drug treatment, improved education, self- awareness and self-esteem.

Our people are also crippled with a very high cost of living and serious shortage of affordable housing. Our young people are expecting to find new job opportunities after they have finished school. These are pressing issues I believe that our government must focus on as priorities. I am well aware of the financial pressures which our new government will face; greater pressures than ever before. I know that we will have to spend less than before. However, I believe it will be a challenge but we'll be able to find ways to do more with less. Whatever we do, we must act so as not to hurt the little people: the ordinary folks who are struggling to live and survive in our communities.

If I should be given the honour of being elected by my fellow MLAs for Cabinet, I promise that I will be approachable, open and honest. I promise that as a Member of Cabinet I will be a team player, loyal to the leader and respectful of the decisions we make. I am willing to work hard to be an effective Minister.

Honestly, Mr. Chairman, if I'm not elected to Cabinet, you can still count on me to give my full support to the new Cabinet and to my fellow MLAs. Thank you.

---Applause

Thank you, Mr. Arlooktoo. Mr. Charles Dent is next.

Thank you. Before we proceed to Mrs. Groenewegen, I would also like to recognize in the gallery the president of the Gwich'in Tribal Council, Mr. Willard Hagen; and, a member from the council, Chief James Firth. Welcome to the Assembly.

---Applause

Mrs. Groenewegen, you're next. Ten minutes.

Thank you, Mrs. Groenewegen. I would also like to recognize in the gallery the Commissioner of the Northwest Territories, Helen Maksagak.

---Applause

The next, in alphabetical order, Mr. Stephen Kakfwi.

Thank you, Mr. Kakfwi. We have Mr. Krutko, followed by Mr. Miltenberger.

Thank you, Mr. Krutko. We're about half-way through the list now and I don't know what the wish of the Members are, whether they wish to take a short break or just continue.

---Interjection

Okay. There is general consensus that we continue, so I have next on my list Mr. Miltenberger and then Mr. Ng.

Thank you, Mr. Miltenberger. didn't put on the time when you started speaking so we just sort of based it on what we thought the time was before we started the time. But I know a lot of Members have been talking about honesty so if I do miss a time, to the rest of the Members, when your time is up say that your time is up, okay?

I have next on the list Mr. Ng and then Mr. O'Brien. Mr. Ng, you have 10 minutes.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I would like to first congratulate the Premier-elect, Mr. Morin, and also Mrs. Groenewegen for letting her name stand for Premier. I would like to thank my constituents who gave me such a decisive mandate to represent them. I would also like to thank and recognize my family, particularly my wife Susie for her support and understanding over the past two and a half years for all the times I've been away from home. I would also like to stress that we all recognize the running of a campaign how stressful it is to us, but a lot of people don't recognize that it's just as stressful to our family members or even more so, so I think it was important for me to point that out. I would also like to thank my colleague, Mr. Ningark, for nominating me today.

I've known him for a number of years and have worked with him in the past.

Today, honourable Members, I'm seeking your support to represent you as one of the Members on the Executive Council. I want to outline some of my background and experience which I think I can bring to the Cabinet table.

In 1978, I graduated from Vancouver Community College with an accounting diploma. Shortly after that, I was shipped north to Cambridge Bay to begin my career. Between that time and 1986, I held various positions as settlement secretary for the municipal council and on separate occasions as office manager and also as executive director for the Kitikmeot Inuit Association. I also served for two and a half years as the executive officer for the Kitikmeot Regional Council. From 1986 up until my election as MLA in 1993, I was in private business primarily involved in real estate and construction.

Some of my political experience before coming to this Legislature includes serving numerous terms on the Cambridge Bay municipal council. I also served as mayor of the council in 1988 and 1989. At that same time, I also served as president of the NWT Association of Municipalities. Finally, I did serve a term as deputy speaker of the Kitikmeot Regional Council as well.

I have also been involved as both director and chairman of the Cambridge Bay Housing Association. I served terms as vice- president and president of the Cambridge Bay Chamber of Commerce and a term as vice-president of the NWT Chamber of Commerce.

In May, 1993, as I said earlier, I was elected in a by-election as the Member for Kitikmeot. During that time, shortly after my election, I served as a Member and I was also fortunate to serve as the deputy chair of the Standing Committee on Finance. I also served as a Member of the Standing Committee on Public Accounts and the Special Joint Committee on Division. I found that these committees gave me valuable insight into the financial workings of our government.

In February of 1995, I was fortunate to be elected as a Member of Cabinet and given the responsibility for Municipal and Community Affairs by the Premier. During my relatively short tenure as Minister of MACA, I have been fortunate to be able to finish off some of the major initiatives of the department, such as establishing the settlement operating and capital assistance policies that helped out a lot of the smaller communities in the Northwest Territories.

We also were able to establish new funding for a by-law officer, firefighter, SAO and elected officials' training programs. We finalized the new block funding agreement with the city of Yellowknife and was very fortunate to pass new MEBA legislation through this House.

Two major issues facing us are the worsening fiscal situation resulting from our diminishing revenues and our escalating program demands placed upon us. I think we must deal with these issues in a constructive, creative manner to streamline the costs of delivering government, but we also have to recognize, while doing that, that we have to respect that any

changes must be carried out in a fair and equitable manner for the whole of the Northwest Territories and to the civil service.

The second major issue that we have to deal with is the creation of two new territories in 1999. We must all work hard to ensure that the process leading up to division is done in an orderly fashion. We have to ensure that the adequate financial resources are there for both new territories. In dealing with these issues, I think that they will dominate much of the territorial agenda of this Assembly. But having said that, I don't think we can disregard the other important issues which must be addressed; issues such as creating additional income- generating opportunities for our residents; the need for improving our social programs, including housing; and, the need to increase the educational and training levels of all our residents. To deal with these issues, I think we need a Cabinet that is hard working and experienced, and able to work together as a group. But just as importantly, I think the Cabinet has to be able to work effectively with all Members of this House. I believe I can do that.

Having served as an ordinary Member for almost two years, I quickly recognized the most effective and respected Cabinet Members were the ones with the open-door policies and the ones who respected the views of all Members of this House. When I ran for Cabinet earlier this year, I committed to operating that same way, as I was already doing that outside of this Assembly before I came here.

If I am chosen to represent you as one of the Cabinet Members, I will commit to continue being fully accessible and accountable while carrying out my duties. In addition to that, I will commit to continue fair and equitable treatment of all communities and constituencies, regardless of whether they are from the East or West, whether they are small or large or one region versus another.

I am asking for your consideration to support me as one of your Cabinet Members. I believe I have the experience, management skills, the work ethics and the honesty and integrity to contribute to the Cabinet team. Whether I am chosen or not, I would like to say that I will commit to continuing working hard and cooperatively with all Members of this Assembly towards improving the life of all residents of the NWT. After all, that is what we are here for. Thank you.

---Applause

Thank you. I have been getting little notes here and there to take a break. So I think we will do that at this time. Before we go on to Mr. O'Brien, we will take a 15-minute break to get Mr. O'Brien prepared.

---Laughter

---SHORT RECESS

We're back here in time, enough to hear Mr. O'Brien. Mr. O'Brien, you have 1Ominutes.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Good morning, ullaakut, manna, honourable colleagues, Assembly staff, Madam Commissioner, Mr. Premier and all those listening via radio or TV across the North. Before I go on, I would like to say a special good morning and hello to my daughter Kelsey who is five, back in Arviat, and the girl who I haven't seen in the last two weeks. How are you, Kelsey?

I would like to give you a brief overview of my background and the challenges that I believe this Assembly will face over the next four years.

I come from a family of 13 and grew up in a small fishing and mining town in Nova Scotia. After high school I worked in various jobs· in the private sector, including mining and the construction industry. After five years of working, I returned to school to obtain a bachelor's degree from Dalhousie University in Nova Scotia and a two-year master's degree from North Texas State University in Dallas, Texas.

I first came north as the SAO for the hamlet of Tuktoyaktuk. This was my first introduction to the North and to true northerners. I moved from Tuktoyaktuk to assume the position of the director of the NWT Housing Corporation for the Keewatin region. Here, I was responsible for the supervision, directly and indirectly, of approximately 100 staff and a $28 million budget.

Living and working in both the Western and Eastern Arctic has given me a strong understanding of the many issues we have in common as northerners and also of the uniqueness of people from different parts of the North and their concerns.

Since being elected I have expressed interest in a Cabinet position. I believe strongly that I have a great deal to offer and that my background has prepared me to do a very good job on Cabinet. My experience .in municipal and territorial politics and government, my employment in the construction and mining industry, and my experiencing negotiating with federal government agencies has given me a broad view of how various governments operate.

There are many key issues facing the NWT that should be addressed now. One of the major challenges for Cabinet will be to guide the government toward division of the NWT. My · combination of experience in both the Eastern and Western Arctic would allow me to take a balanced approach to the issues relating to division, recognizing the distinct needs and aspirations of the people in different parts of the Territories. The government cannot wait for the federal government to make its final decisions. We must be preparing now to be sure

that we are not left to play catch-up or ill-prepared for what is ahead.

Just as there must be a great deal of effort and energy put into preparing for the division of the NWT, I believe that we must dedicate the same amount of energy to ensuring a strong union and relationship between the new territories. This is crucial since we are only dividing the pie. We will remain neighbours, trading partners, business associations and, most importantly, good friends.

In the West, we should facilitate the continuation of the western constitutional development process. One key factor in this is settling the self-government issues in the West. The Premier along with the other Cabinet Ministers must do what they can to get the federal government to the table with the various aboriginal. organizations. Until self-government and treaty issues are resolved, it is difficult for the western process to move forward significantly. Without knowing what forms of aboriginal government will take place, it is hard to determine what form of public government is appropriate.

Another critical issue for the government is the financial situation. In years past, money was plentiful and the government could provide whatever programs it wanted to. Now we have entered a time when there isn't enough money to go around and to carry out the programs that we wish. Hard choices will have to be made. There will be a need for strong leadership from Cabinet to make the hard choices guided by the needs of the people of the North. We will need to actively explore both revenue initiatives and cost-cutting strategies to make sure there's no deficit in the territorial budget. We have a good start in the formula. financing agreement just negotiated by the outgoing Minister of Finance, Mr. Pollard. It is up to us to take a hard look at how we do business and make some meaningful change which will allow us to provide the level of services northerners need by living within our means.

There are serious social problems in many of our communities which is tearing at our social fabric, we all know about them: family violence, alcohol and drug abuse, suicide, child and elder abuse, et cetera. In the 12th Assembly, the Special Committee on Health and Social Services brought many .of these problems to the forefront and into the open. The previous government began a program to address these concerns at the community level. We need to make sure this program is more than just words. Communities need the resources and the support to decide what their social priorities are and how to best address them.

The next Cabinet must ensure that the Cabinet works together to address the social problems from many different angles.

These include issues such as looking at the community options where communities can decide what punishment fits the crime and what will discourage repeat offenders and offences; encouraging local economic development opportunities so that people are working and feeling good about themselves; looking at the support for the front-line workers so they can remain strong and healthy for the good of their clients.

Education must also continue to be a priority for the new Cabinet. Northerners should be governed and cared for by northerners. In order to do that, northerners must have an education which prepares them for whatever they wish to do. We need to continue to promote education as the key to our future, both among our young people and those of us who take advantage of the adult education programs offered across the North.

Coming from a small community, I understand the desires of the people in the communities to take more control of government programs. We have to find a way to ensure that these programs are transferred to the communities, but with the support and assistance to ensure that they succeed in delivering the services. We also need to find a balance between local control and maintaining stems of service for all northerners. While there are many common threads, each community may need a slightly different approach to a similar problem. We must find a way to allow communities the authority and the responsibility to find their own solutions.

There are many other issues that I could speak about today that we will be faced with over the next four years. I think my time is coming to a close. 1 will close off by asking my honourable colleagues to consider my bid for Cabinet, and I assure you of my commitment to the Assembly, my loyalty and my promise to carry my fair share of the load over the next four years as we journey toward 1999 and Nunavut. Thank you, salamut, matna, mahsi.

---Applause

Thank you, Mr. O'Brien. Before I proceed to Mr. Picco, I would like to recognize in the gallery Mr. Dennis Lyall. Dennis is the chairman of the Kitikmeot Divisional Board of Education; also, Joe Attagutaluk, and he's a member of the Baffin Divisional Board of Education; Sandy Kusugak is the vice-chair of the Keewatin Divisional Board of Education, in the gallery. Welcome to the Assembly.

---Applause

We have next in alphabetical order, Mr. Picco and then Mr. Steen.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. First of all I would like to congratulate Don on the election as Premier yesterday. I will be speaking in Inuktitut and English. I would also like to thank my nominator, Tommy Enuaraq, from Baffin Central.

(translation) Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I am also seeking a seat in the Cabinet. My name is Edward Picco and I came to the Baffin region in 1983. I worked in Hall Beach, and in 1987 I was an adult educator. I went to Iqaluit in 1992 and I worked at BBDC. I am married to an Inuit woman from Clyde River. We have three children: Wally, age seven; Dora, age five; and, Pakkak who is two months old. (translation ends)

Before putting my name forward for Cabinet, I did a lot of soul searching. I asked myself, as a rooky MLA, am I prepared to handle the pressure of a Cabinet posting. Will I have the support of my young family for the amount of work and travel which I know is involved? After carefully discussing these and other issues with my family and people in my constituency, I received the strong support that I needed to put my name forward.

(Translation) I would like to thank everybody in Iqaluit. (Translation ends)

I also come from a large family, like Mr. O'Brien; three sisters and two brothers. I'm from a small town called Portugal Cove in Newfoundland. I put myself through college and university. I hold a diploma in adult education. I like hunting and fishing. I'm a student of history, especially the American Civil War.

As a Newfoundlander I saw the devastation that the anti-sealing groups did in Newfoundland. In 1985, while working for the Bay in Clyde River, I saw the effect of the anti-fur lobbying groups like Green Peace. A hunter was able to sell his pelts and then use the income to support the family, as well as the traditional way of life. This is not possible today and here at the Assembly we have to address that.

I have held many offices in various organizations from the Nunavut Arbitration Board to the director of the Northwest Territories Junior Achievement Council. I have been president, vice-chair, director and a member of over 20 municipal., regional, union and territorial committees, boards and agencies. I am a hard worker and a team player. My first job was to shovel manure in a hen farm for $1.75 an hour. I've worked as a labourer, as a garbage man, I worked in a fish plant. I've never had it easy and I know what it means to work hard. I will work hard to be a successful Cabinet Minister.

I've lived in several. communities in the Baffin and I've always been a community activist. In Hall Beach where I was an adult educator, I helped talented local artists develop a good business for themselves, silkscreening their drawings on T- shirts. This was the first type of project of this kind in the Baffin. I'm proud that it was a success. I've worked for the Baffin Business Development Centre. Its strong mandate was to create small business and new opportunities for people in the Baffin region. We created many jobs in this organization. If I am elected to Cabinet I would work on this throughout the Northwest Territories.

I'm a strong believer of the zero tolerance policy. I support family violence programs. And I attend church because...! go there because I believe in what happens in church, I don't go there so someone is going to see me sitting there.

I believe in Nunavut and will work toward its successful implementation. I also believe that the successful implementation of Nunavut requires goodwill and cooperation between eastern and western Members of the Assembly. Although there will be many difficult decisions, especially financial decisions which we must tackle, we must solve these problems by working together here in the North. I believe that those of us from Nunavut must strongly support the development of a new constitution for the Western Territory. We must also realize that there will be incremental costs for both Nunavut and the new western territory. And we must present a strong and united voice when we go to the federal government to negotiate the financial arrangements for two new territories.

I believe that one of the ways we can achieve strength and unity amongst ourselves is for the new Cabinet to hold a strategic planning session early on in the mandate, to get together and develop a common plan, and agree to pursue that plan as a united team, working together for the best interests of all people of the Territories, both East and West.

Finally, I want to assure you that if I am successful for Cabinet Iwill be available and accessible to work directly with all MLAs. I know that successful consensus government requires that Ministers work closely with all MLAs and committees and the Assembly. If the Cabinet selection is based on experience, desire and the willingness to work as a team player, I think I have the necessary qualifications. I've tried to learn the Inuktitut language, and I think this shows my desire and work ethic. I wasn't born in the North but I consider myself a northerner. A vote for Edward Picco is a vote for honest and fairness. I may not always say the politically correct thing, but I will always say the honest thing. Qujannamiik, nakurmiik, mahsi, thank you and merci.

---Applause

Mahsi, Mr. Picco. Next, in alphabetical order, is Mr. Steen and then Mrs. Thompson. Mr. Steen, you have 10 minutes.

Thank you, Mr. Steen. Next on my list is Mrs. Manitok Thompson followed by Mr. John Todd. Mrs. Thompson.

(Translation) I will speak in Inuktitut first and then I will speak in English later on. (Translation ends) Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

(Translation) I would like to thank you, Mr. Chairman. I would also like to thank the Member for lnuvik for nominating me for the Cabinet position. I would also like to thank God and the Inuit of Aivilik, who have supported me when I campaigned for the position of Member of the Legislative Assembly. (Translation ends)

I would like to share a little bit about my background with Members before I deal with some of the issues that will be priorities for me over the next four years. I was born in a tent and raised in Coral Harbour with my four sisters and three brothers. My parents, Mikitok and Tweenaq Bruce, held high expectations for all of us and felt strongly that their children be raised with strong Christian and family values. My parents also believed that it was important for us to understand and appreciate our culture. From them, I learned the importance of language and culture to a strong and healthy community.

During the time I grew up, the local school provided only formal educational opportunities. At that time, it was only possible to attend school up to grade 8 in Coral Harbour. To continue your high school education, students had to move to Yellowknife or Iqaluit. As you may appreciate, this was a very difficult decision for my parents to have to send their children away. While my parents believed strongly that education was important for their children, they were not in the position to send all of us to Yellowknife or Iqaluit. It was decided that my younger sister, Cathy Towtongie, would go to Yellowknife to finish high school and another educational path was developed for me.

Despite these different approaches we have both succeeded. I started classroom assistant training on the job and learned to read and write syllabics in one summer, taught by my mother at home. The next year I was hired as a full-time classroom assistant in Coral Harbour. After working at this job successfully for two years, I was accepted into the teacher education program in Iqaluit for the first year and then to Fort Smith when the entire program was relocated there. I graduated from this program in Saskatoon winning awards for academic achievement and teaching skills.

Upon graduation in 1977, I returned to Coral Harbour to begin my teaching career. I have been involved in the education field for most of my career since then. l have been a teacher, a classroom assistant consultant, an adult educator, a language consultant and an Inuktitut program specialist. For two years,

I was the coordinator for interpreting services at Stanton Yellowknife Hospital in Yellowknife.

There has been no shortage of challenges during that time. My experience included teaching, the development of curriculum programs and school TEPs and the support of Inuit cultural through recording andthe use of traditional knowledge.

Mr. Chairman, over the past several weeks, we have heard much about the economic situation facing the Northwest Territories. There can be no doubt after the briefing we had last week that we have difficult financial problems to deal with in the Northwest Territories. I am sure many Members who speak here today will speak in detail or have spoken in detail about our financial situation and some of the ideas they have to deal with these issues.

It will be critical to reduce our spending while maintaining a continued high level of public service. This will be a challenge, but we must live within our means. If I am elected as a Minister, I would ensure any departments under my responsibility fulfil this mandate. I would also speak about a few other issues that I believe are critical to the development of the North and to our long-term financial and economic health.

As Members can tell from my background, education is very important to me. I believe it is important that we develop an educated, mobile workforce to take advantage of the opportunities that exist in the North and to help our economy from within by building on the skills of the people in our communities. Elders have spoken to me and told me that it is important that our youth be given more employment opportunities and to learn new skills to enable them to start and operate small businesses, while at the same time continuing to learn about and respect their own culture. I strongly believe that it is possible for people to be not only bilingual, but bicultural as well.

While we have taken many steps to improve the education system in the Northwest Territories in attempts to increase our graduation rates and to get more of our students in post- secondary programs, much more work remains to be done. So when we talk about financial reductions, they must be considered in this context. I believe that while we must continue to improve education through the implementation of a strategic plan developed under Mr. Nerysoo's term as Minister, it is important that we continue to support our educational system to a financial level that will ensure our students continue to have every opportunity to compete for jobs no matter where they choose to reside.

It is also important that we realize the knowledge that we already have when educating our children. Our elders and the parents of our children have much to offer. We must find new ways to ensure they will become more active participants in the education process.

We must improve the adult education system in the North to build up many of the skills that already exist. The education system allows older people who may not have had the opportunity in the past to develop their skills and perhaps find new opportunities that were never open to them before. Mr. Chairman, education is vital to the long-term health of the

Northwest Territories. It is only through education that we can develop a workforce that can take advantage of the opportunities in the North and which division of the Territories will provide. Education is a priority for me .and I will be promoting education during the term of this Assembly.

As I said earlier, local control is an important issue to me. support the continued implementation of the community transfer initiative to ensure that programs can continue to be developed for the municipalities that want them. For us to be successful, we will need to ensure that people take responsibility for their own future. To do this, we have to start trusting the communities to make decisions that will work for them. The community transfer initiative is more than simply a transfer of person years and dollars from one level of government to another. It is people taking ownership of their own problems, issues and, more importantly, ownership and responsibility for finding creative solutions to these problems and issues. I have great confidence in the ability of the people in our communities to deliver on this important task.

Mr. Chairman, housing remains an issue of great concern in my riding and throughout the North. The problems caused by inadequate housing and overcrowded living conditions spill over into other aspects of our community. We are far behind in trying to deal with our housing problems and recent federal cutbacks are only making the situation worse.

Mr. Chairman, I would also like to say a few things about division. Nunavut has long been a goal of the people of the East and I am a strong supporter of the establishment of Nunavut. However, I also fully support the wishes of the people of the Western Arctic to develop their own unique territory that will represent their interests. Members can be assured that I will work hard to ensure that this Legislative Assembly is an important partner in the development of two strong territories. It should be the goal of this government to create two strong governments: one in the East and one in the West. This process must also ensure the values and the beliefs of our aboriginal people are well represented in each new government. Thank you.

---Applause

Thank you, Mrs. Thompson. We have one more speaker. Mr. Todd, you have 10 minutes.

Mr. Chairman, it says my time is up. Thank you, Mr. Chairman and honourable colleagues. I would like to begin, if I may, by thanking my colleague, Mrs. Groenewegen, for her confidence in nominating me for this position. I also want to congratulate the honourable Member for Tu Nedhe on his election as Premier. I have every confidence that he will perform his new duties with the enthusiasm and the vigour his office requires and with a sense of fairness to all people in the Northwest Territories.

Mr. Chairman, there are quite a few new faces in this Chamber since the 12th Assembly. I believe, as others have said, it bodes well for the next four years that we have such an enthusiastic and talented new group of MLAs.

For those of you who do not know me, I would like to give you a brief sketch of my background. I first came to the Territories at the age of 17 to work, like many of us, for the Hudson Bay. Although it just seems like yesterday, that was almost 30 years ago. There have been many great many, many great changes in the North in these years. And it's obvious from our discussions during the past week that there are a great many more changes to come.

During the past 30 years I've been fortunate to have had the opportunity to travel and live in many parts of the NWT. For the past 20 to 25 years, my family and I have resided in Rankin Inlet where I was a businessman prior to formally entering politics as the MLA for Keewatin Central four years ago.

During the past four years as a Member of this Assembly I had the privilege of serving on and chairing a number of key committees, and in a variety of portfolios as a Minister in the previous government. Although I was not born here, I've spent all my working life in the Territories, raised my family here and it is my home.

I care passionately about the North and have a great deal of enthusiasm about working to build a better future for all of our people. That's the reason I ran for office and that's the reason I'm presenting myself today for your consideration.

I would like to share with you some thoughts on the way I approach political office, some of my fundamental beliefs and some of the priorities I believe this government must deal with over the next three and a half years.

I guess some people would describe me as an aggressive, type-A personality I'm told. I prefer to think that I'm passionate about the North, particularly about ensuring a healthy and prosperous future for all our people, both East and . West. I believe fundamentally that government must be open and accountable. Politics must be inclusive, not exclusive. It is only by involving people in the decision-making process by working together to identify our mutual problems can we begin to find solutions and explore alternative ways of doing government in the North.

I'm encouraged, as others have said, by the atmosphere of openness and cooperation that I have seen to date by all Members of the Legislative Assembly. This openness is apparent in the support for the new committee structure that involves all Members in the decision-making process, and in my view an important step in making our political structure more open and accountable.

I believe we must look for northern solutions to northern problems. This will mean doing things differently, taking a risk on occasion, but I've always believed that real accomplishments can only be achieved if you look beyond the status quo.

Mr. Chairman, I've always been a very accessible person. If I'm elected to Cabinet, my style will remain the same. I will remain open and accessible, not just in ensuring that I'm available to meet with Members of this House, but more importantly to discuss and incorporate their views into the decision-making process. What I cannot promise is that we will always agree, that is simply unrealistic. When we disagree, I

expect a good, healthy debate; that's our duty as Members. What I can promise is to listen to Members' views, remain open to new ideas and alternative ways of doing the business of government. I'm confident that through healthy debate in a spirit of compromise and cooperation, we can reach consensus on a great many of the issues.

Mr. Chairman, this is the type of approach and some of the beliefs that I will bring to Cabinet should I gain the support of this House.

I would like to speak briefly on the challenges we will face during the life of the 13th Assembly. Certainly the most pressing problem we face and one we've heard a great deal about during the past week is the fiscal difficulties facing this government during its term in office. The recent reduction in federal transfer payments have greatly reduced the revenues of this government and forced us to look at reducing our expenditures. At the same time, demands for essential services and programs are increasing dramatically in all our communities. It is clear that these competing demands to reduce expenditures andcontinue to provide essential services have placed atremendous financial strain on this government. Gone are the days when the federal government would simply foot the bill no matter the cost.

With responsible government comes the responsibility to manage our fiscal resources in a prudent manner. While the old adage that we must do government differently and certainly more effectively applies to the situation we currently find ourselves in, we must also find a balance on how we do government. We cannot implement dramatic spending cuts indiscriminately with no concern for the effects of these cuts on those in our communities who can afford it the least. While it's critical that we consider ways to do government differently by finding program efficiencies, reducing expenditures and eliminating waste, it is equally important that we expend the same amount of energy finding new revenues, repatriating money that we currently spend in the South, and creating new economic and employment opportunities for all northern people.

One of the most important and effective ways to deal with our problems, both fiscal and social, is through economic growth and job creations. The creation of a healthy economy is an important step in the creation of a healthy society. In short, I believe a healthy society is a working society.

Job creation and economic activity has to come from somewhere. For me, it begins with the development of our renewable resources and the non-renewable resource sector. Industries such as fishery, forestry and the harvest of country food provide important seasonal employment and economic opportunities in all our communities. More than that, the development and harvest of our renewable resource goes beyond mere economic benefits, but to the heart of our society. Northern people have always relied on the land and its animals for their survival, and it continues to play an integral part of our economy today. During the past several years, with the support of my colleagues, I've worked to design programs with the Department of Economic Development and Tourism to promote the development of renewable resources. I'm committed to doing this.

While renewable resource isa key component to our economy, it's clear that in any objective analysis responsible development of our non-renewable resource sector remains our best hope for long-term economic growth in the Territories. The magnitude of our financial problem necessitates that we look to the non-renewable resource sector and the volume of dollars that it can generate. It is my view that we can only realize the economic benefits, both direct and indirect, from these developments through the negotiations of a northern accord with the federal government. These are northern resources and it's northerners who should benefit from them. For this reason, I've spent the last 18 months discussing this issue with aboriginal groups to develop a common northern position on the issue. Although these discussions as of yet have not succeeded, I remain convinced we can come to some agreement amongst all aboriginal groups and the NWT to move forward with a comprehensive proposal and transfer the responsibility to the Territories. I remain committed to reaching a common northern position on this issue and moving forward in negotiations with the federal government. The

non-renewable resources in the Northwest Territories belong to the people of the Northwest Territories and they should derive the economic benefits from them.

While I am a strong proponent of Nunavut, it's my view that we cannot look at Nunavut in isolation of the new territory to be established in the West. Division is simply not the creation of Nunavut. Division, in fact, is the creation of two new territories. In my view, the work of this Legislative Assembly should be focusing on establishing strong, healthy, financially sound new territories for both East andWest.

Mr. Chairman, my time is almost shot. I'm asking for the support of Members of this House for a Cabinet post. In return, I'll promise you hard work, accessibility, hopefully a little creativity -- but it occasionally gets me in trouble -- and, more importantly, some humour. Most importantly, I promise I will deal with the concerns of all people in the regions of the Territories with a sense of fairness and openness.

Before I finish, if I may, Mr. Chairman, I would like to thank my friend, Mrs. Groenewegen, for nominating me for this House. On a personal note, 1 would like to thank Rankin Inlet and Whale Cove for the overwhelming confidence they showed in me in the recent election, and finally and perhaps most importantly, I would like to thank my wife. Thank you.

---Applause

Thank you, Mr. Todd. All the candidates have made their 10-minute presentation and we will now proceed to voting for the candidates of your choice.

I would like to remind the Members that there are six Members from the West and seven Members from the East. Also, the ballots will be rejected if you have more than three Members selected from the West, or less. So it's three X's for the West and four X's for the East. My friend Henry Zoe is in the gallery, so I would like to recognize him as a former Member of the Assembly.

---Applause

I would also like to recognize Chief Joe Rabesca. Welcome to the Assembly.

---Applause

I would ask the Members now to cast your ballots. I have asked the kitchen staff to provide you with lunch. There is no lunch in the lounge, it is in the kitchen.

---Voting by Members on first ballot

The committee will come back to order. It is my duty to announce that there is a need for a second ballot, for the eastern seats on Cabinet. Those names appearing on the second ballot are Mr. Arlooktoo, Mr. Ng, Mr. Picco, Mr. Steen, Mrs. Thompson and Mr. Todd. There is no requirement for a second ballot for the western seat on Cabinet, as that has been concluded. According to our guidelines, the names of those elected will be announced when the balloting for the eastern seats has been finalized.

Before we proceed to the vote, are there any nominees wishing to withdraw at this time? There are no withdrawals. The ballots are then available. Again, it is four X's. Proceed.

---Voting by Members on second ballot

I would like to ask the Clerk if all the Members have had the opportunity to vote. I declare that the process is closed again. I will ask the Clerk to count the ballots.

---SHORT RECESS

The chair recognizes a quorum. There is no requirement for any further ballots. So I will read out the people who are now going to be serving you on the Executive Council: Mr. Arlooktoo, Mr. Ng, Mrs. Thompson and Mr. Todd. For the West: Mr. Antoine, Mr. Dent and Mr. Kakfwi. Congratulations.

---Applause

We still have one more item before we adjourn for the day and it is item 11, statements by Members. As you know, every Member is entitled to a five-minute statement. Do you wish to still proceed with that? Do you wish to take a break and then come back and deal with it? Or, do you want to conclude the process and call it a day? What is the wish of the committee? Can we just break for about five minutes to get some direction from the Members and congratulate each other?

-- SHORT RECESS

The chair recognizes a quorum. It has been agreed by the Members that we will adjourn for today. To remind the Members, tomorrow we will have a full Caucus meeting and it starts at 9:00 to deal with the process, as well as to start the selection process and nominating people to the Striking Committee. We don't have any interpreters?

For the benefit of Members who didn't hear me through translation, it has been agreed by the Members that we will adjourn for today. We will also allow Members to waive our rules, and the statements by Members can be made tomorrow in session. Full Caucus starts at 9:00 a.m. tomorrow morning to deal with the process ahead of us, as well as select the Striking Committee Members who, in tum, assign Members to certain committees.

So this meeting of the Territorial Leadership Committee is now concluded. I thank you all. Have a good evening.

---Applause

---ADJOURNMENT