Thank you. To the motion. Mr. Patterson.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I can see which way the wind is blowing, Mr. Chairman. Obviously, committee Members are not interested in fine tuning or enhancing the terms of reference.

Mr. Chairman, I would like to clarify that I do consider social issues important. They were an issue in my constituency and other constituencies, although frankly, Mr. Koe did not correctly describe the concern in my constituency when he said it was concern about the department. The concern is about the root causes of social issues in the Northwest Territories. If this is not part of the motion to establish a special committee, Mr. Chairman, I do not know what I should be talking about. I am talking about the root causes of social issues. If that is not on point, please rule me out of order right now.

I would like to indicate to the honourable Member that the motion is to adopt Motion 40-12(1). That is the motion before you. I do not believe that the general questions or issues are a matter of discussion at this particular time. What I try to allow is a bit of leniency even in Mr. Whitford's presentation to give him the opportunity, along with Mr. Allooloo, to raise some of the concerns they might have generally with the motion. If you get into the specifics, then I have to rule you completely out of order. But I am trying to be a bit lenient to hear the views of Members on the motion that is being proposed. To the motion, Mr. Patterson.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I do not want to take an undue amount of time. Just let me say simply, Mr. Chairman, I believe that once the committee is established which I think is going to happen, that the committee should review its terms of reference. I happen to think they can be improved and enlarged. In speaking to the motion, I hear Members saying that MLAs will play a primary role in the public consultations. I think this is a good idea. I think we all should be holding meetings in our ridings to

discuss these issues and to give guidance to the committee. Also, hearings and community visits will not be emphasized as they have been emphasized by previous committees which have spent considerable amounts of money.

With respect to the Member, that idea is not reflected in the motion before us; the idea of relying on MLAs and de-emphasizing public hearings. In fact, it is wording like you have with any other committee of the Assembly. The new committee may want to fine tune its terms once it has met and in its first report to the House.

Also, and I have made this point already, I think the motion unduly emphasizes the government, its organization, its policies and philosophies as a way of dealing with social and health issues. I believe the people have an even more important role to play in dealing with those fundamental issues. I would like to suggest that the issue of the root causes and the origins of problems inside our family units and our communities should be emphasized more in the committees terms of reference and perhaps they could be added to and enhanced once the committee has had time to consider this advice.

I will support the motion but I would like to go on record as saying I think the terms of reference can be enhanced and improved upon and after consulting my constituents, I may well have some free, gratuitous advice, to offer to the Members of the new committee. I will say that I think this issue is fundamental to all of us, whether we happen to be on cabinet or not. These issues affect every MLA and every constituency and that is why I have not hesitated to participate in this debate this afternoon.

Thank you. To the motion. Mr. Ningark.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As an ordinary MLA for the past two years, some of the issues that are being discussed here are the ones that I have discussed in the House with the other Members as an MLA representing three small communities which have their fair share of social problems. Some of my constituents are victims of injustice in the system, therefore I will be supporting the motion.

---Applause.

Mr. Koe.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. In writing the motion there were options on how to formulate the motion and after much consideration the format that is presented is the one I thought would be the best and that is why the motion has the format it has. My understanding of the process is once this motion is approved, the striking committee will be struck at our next committee in February. That committee will then review and if necessary in their first report to the Assembly at that time, may recommend changes in the terms of reference and will, I am sure, establish the rules and conduct of the committee and how they will do the business. I think at no time in my statements or anybody else did we say we were not interested in fine tuning the terms of reference. So those are my final comments and everything else I say, I stand behind and support this motion.

Motion To Adopt Motion 40-12(1), Carried

Thank you. To the motion. Question has been called. All those in favour? Opposed, if any? The motion is carried.

---Carried

---Applause

Ministers' Statement 2-12(1), Ministers' Statement 5-12(1), Tabled Document 3-12(1). To these issues. The honourable Member for Thebacha.

Mr. Chairman, since the government has agreed to consider allowing the three ordinary Members on the implementation team for the Beatty report, as a result of our motion that we passed yesterday, the Members being selected were Jim Antoine, James Arvaluk and Fred Koe. As an ordinary Member caucus we had decided that we will conclude the debate on the "Strength at Two Levels" and both Ministers' statements and we will be willing to introduce "Strength at Two Levels" back into the February session. Thank you.

Does the committee deem these three items concluded?

Agreed.

---Agreed

This concludes the items in committee of the whole. I will rise and report progress.

---Applause

OF THE WHOLE

Good evening. I call the Assembly back to order. Item 18, report of committee of the whole. Mr. Chairman.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Your committee has been considering Motion 40-12(1), Ministers' Statements 2-12(1) and 5-12(1) and Tabled Document 3-12(1), and wishes to report that these matters are concluded with one motion being adopted. Mr. Speaker, I move that the report of the chairman of committee of the whole be concurred with.

Is there a seconder to the motion? Mr. Dent. The motion is in order. All those in favour of the motion? Opposed? The motion is carried.

---Carried

Item 19, third reading of bills. Mrs. Marie-Jewell.

Third Reading Of Private Members' Bill 4: Legislative Assembly And Executive Council Act

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Baffin Central, that Private Members' Bill 4, An Act to Amend the Legislative Assembly and Executive Council Act, be read for the third time.

The motion is in order. All those in favour of the motion? Opposed? The motion is carried.

---Carried

Bill 4 has had third reading. Mr. Allooloo.

Mr. Speaker, I wish to seek unanimous consent to go back to Item 4, returns to oral questions.

Unanimous consent has been requested to return to Item 4. Are there any nays? There are no nays. Proceed, Mr. Allooloo.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker and Members. I have a return to an oral question asked by Ms. Mike on December 13, 1991, with regards to differing rates for post-secondary students. In 1989 the Department of Indian Affairs and Northern Development restructured its student financial assistance program by collapsing the categories of special assistance provided to students, and increasing the base rates. In 1990, the Government of the Northwest Territories increased students' allowance rates, but continued to provide categories of special assistance.

While the base rates for living allowances are higher through DIAND, the GNWT program can be more beneficial for students. The GNWT program provides special allowances for needs such as child care, tutoring, and travel for dependents, in addition to living allowances for students.

Indian and Northern Affairs has placed monthly ceilings on their assistance to individual students. The GNWT has not established ceilings, and therefore has the flexibility to consider individual circumstances and student needs. Also, the GNWT program has no maximum limit on the number of years that a student can receive sponsorship. DIAND on the other hand will only sponsor students for the stated length of the program, except in special circumstances, such as illness.

I will be providing details of differing rates in writing to all Members of the Legislative Assembly. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Allooloo. Returns to oral questions. Mr. Whitford.