Good Afternoon. Orders of the day for Wednesday, December 18, 1991. Item 2, Ministers' statements. The honourable Member for Amittuq.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I am proud to announce that this year the language bureau published two books for learning Cree: "The Cree Language Program Teacher" and "Student Manuals." These books are written for adults learning Cree as a second language. The dialect which the books use is Northern Plains Cree, spoken in Northern Alberta and the Northwest Territories.

These books have been distributed to the centres for teaching and learning, the Fort Smith Band, Dene Nation and many other organizations, including Cree groups in the Prairie Provinces. The books are available free of charge to the public.

(Translation) With these books we can support the Cree language. Mahsi cho.

---Applause

Ministers' statements. Ministers' statements. Item 3, Members' statements. Mr. Zoe.

Thank you, Mr. Zoe. Members' statements. Mr. Antoine.

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. I have now had the opportunity to review the statement made by the Government Leader yesterday regarding grants for Dene bands. I have also had the opportunity to speak with the chiefs from my region, as well as the national chief of the Dene Nation. The general reaction to this initiative is one of cautious support. I would also lend my support to this initiative. It represents the gesture of goodwill on behalf of the Government of the Northwest Territories and can be a starting point for us to build a better relationship. I believe it shows that the cabinet has taken very seriously the remarks of the chiefs during our meeting in Fort Rae, and I thank them for that.

I am cautious, Mr. Speaker, because I feel that the whole issue is one of a larger constitutional significance dealing with the jurisdiction of the federal government. I would like to make it quite clear that the federal government is not living up to its obligations to my people under the treaties that we signed with them. It is my hope that we have a full discussion of these issues in the committee of the whole during the winter session, with invited representatives of chiefs, as well as the Dene Nation. Mahsi.

Mr. Bernhardt.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to bring to the Legislative Assembly a concern that has bothered me for some time. During my campaign visit to Cambridge Bay I was visiting people door-to-door. On the Saturday afternoon I was stopped on the road by a high-ranking civil servant of this government. He stopped his vehicle and asked me how my campaign was going. I replied, "Better than I expected." He replied, "You mean to say these lunatics are letting you into their homes?"

Mr. Speaker, I hope this is not the prevailing attitude of our senior civil servants, about the people they are paid to serve. I have more incidents of this nature, but I am not about to let these things go because this guy is a senior high-ranking paid official. In my opinion he did not have the right to call the people that I am about to represent, "lunatics." If we are called lunatics, he should have looked in his truck beside him -- you know what I mean.

---Laughter

But before I could reply, he took off.

I must apologize to the House that recently I was a drunk, but I quit hiding in self-pity and I had the courage to change and now look where I am.

---Applause

Just six months ago I was a drunk in the streets here but then I said to the Lord that I needed strength somehow, and by golly I never thought I would come this far.

---Applause

Thank you, Mr. Bernhardt. Members' statements. Mr. Gargan.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I rise today to set the record straight on matters concerning Our Lady of Fort Providence, the Catholic Church in my home community. As most Members are aware, our Lady of Fort Providence has sat empty since it was closed in the fall of 1989, and has suffered further decay from weathering.

Mr. Speaker, Members may not be aware of the historic significance of this church in my community. Our Lady of Fort Providence was built by the people of Fort Providence in 1923. For a week's work our parents received wages of about five dollars and gifts of food or clothing from the missionaries. Since the church cannot be reopened until it is proclaimed safe by the Fire Marshal and the building inspector, I have lobbied extremely hard to force this government to provide at least enough money to stabilize the building so it could be used during the Christmas holidays.

During the final weeks of November the government and the Hamlet of Fort Providence signed a contribution agreement which should have allowed for the church to be reopened in time for Christmas. Due to the fiscal restraint however, the government subsequently decided against proceeding with this project.

I have talked with the contractors in Fort Providence and I have been informed there is not enough time to stabilize this church in time for Christmas. I therefore decided not to pursue this issue any further. Instead, I have consulted with the chairman of the finance committee, the Government Leader and the Minister of Culture and Communications, and have expressed my desire to work with them to ensure that the proper restoration plan is put in place.

In closing, Mr. Speaker, I would like to add a brief explanation to the news report that was broadcast this morning. It was announced this morning that Members of this House voted against my motion to divert moneys from the museum for possible use in stabilizing the church in Fort Providence. I would just like to inform the public, Mr. Speaker, that I had planned to withdraw this motion for the reasons I have just stated, but I was unfortunately absent from the chamber when it came time to vote on the motion.

Mr. Speaker, Members of the House were aware of my intention to withdraw this motion and had no choice but to vote it down. I think the public should be made aware that the Members of this House were not voting against the Fort Providence church, but were instead voting according to my wishes. Thank you.

---Applause

Thank you, Mr. Gargan. Members' statements. Members' statements. Mr. Whitford.

Thank you, Mr. Whitford. Members' statements. Mr. Ningark.

(Translation) Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As the holidays are approaching, we received a book called "Living Kindness" from Jeannie Marie-Jewell. She gave that book to us written by Madeleine Bird and Agnes Sutherland. I would like to say in this House that I am very thankful and also I am pretty sure the people in Nunavut are also thankful about this book. Even though I did not read all of it, I managed to read some of it, and it is very meaningful. To this date any books or magazines that I have read, I find it the best so far. I encourage the other MLAs and the residents of the Northwest Territories to be aware of this book about their lives. This was dedicated to her grandson or grand-daughter, and through this book I am sure she means us well. I wish to take this opportunity to thank honourable Jeannie Marie-Jewell on behalf of this House. Can you say thank you to them from us?

Thank you, Mr. Ningark. Member's statements. Mr. Allooloo.

I wish to use this time to thank my constituents for re-electing me again and wish them a Merry Christmas. I would also like to thank the Members here for electing me again to cabinet. I would also like to thank the Nunavut caucus. It seems that in the last couple of weeks we have been meeting a lot, very late at night. They have been very co-operative.

I would also like to thank the staff of the previous departments I had in the last four years, namely the Department of Renewable Resources and the people that helped me to deal with renewable resource issues, as well as the Aboriginal Rights and Constitutional Development staff and Culture and Communications.

I would also like to thank my personal staff that I had within the last four years, especially Anne Todd, my former secretary; Ernie Comerford, my former executive assistant; and also Heather Myers and Marty Brown. I would also like to extend my thanks to my present personal staff, Vivian Squires and John Stephenson who are helping me.

I am very proud to have come this far to represent my people and I will try my best to fulfill the expectations they have of me and the Legislative Assembly, as a Minister. Qujannamiik.

Thank you. Members' Statements. Item 4, returns to oral questions. Mr. Kakfwi.

Returns to oral questions. Mr. Morin.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I have a return to an oral question asked by Mr. Bernhardt on December 17th. The capital, as well as the ongoing operation and maintenance costs for public housing in the NWT, is cost shared on a 75 per cent CMHC, 25 per cent NWT Housing Corporation basis. In receiving this funding from CMHC, the NWT was expected to follow the principles of the federal public housing rent scale. The federal public housing rent scale stipulates that the rent levied for public housing units should range between 25 per cent and 30 per cent of gross household income. These figures represent the national recognized affordable indicator for what a household should pay to rent a suitable, adequate and affordable home.

If the NWT Housing Corporation designs a rent scale for the assessed rent below 25 per cent of gross household income, CMHC would reduce its contribution to the NWT Housing Corporation to recover any operating losses. I will give the Member a copy, as well.

Returns to oral questions. Mr. Whitford.

Proceed, Mr. Whitford.

Returns to oral questions. Mr. Allooloo.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I have a return to an oral question asked by Mr. Pudlat on December 11, 1991, regarding the Lake Harbour airstrip. On Wednesday, December 11, the Member for Baffin South asked me a question about the improvements to the Lake Harbour airport. In his question, the Member said that the airstrip was short and on uneven ground. He further stated that the airport facility was dangerous.

As the Member knows, the community of Lake Harbour is surrounded by steep mountains and from north to south the 518 metres airstrip, or 1700 feet, slopes down on a 2.23 per cent grade. These conditions do not make the Lake Harbour airstrip a danger to safe air service. Transport Canada, the federal regulatory body, has licensed the airport for day and night visual flight rules operations. If the regulatory authority had doubts about the air safety of the facility, it would have cancelled the licence and closed the airport. For that matter, if I, as the Minister of Transportation, thought the airport was a danger to the people using it, I would not want it to continue in operation.

I understand that the people of Lake Harbour have wanted improvements to their airport for several years. I hope that the Member understands that because Lake Harbour is in mountainous country, the earth work necessary to level the runway and to make it even would be extremely expensive. As the slight slope is not a hazard to air safety, the Department of Transportation has no immediate plans to level it. Thank you.

Returns to oral questions. Mr. Patterson.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I have a few, if I may.

Mr. Patterson, just them all.

Thank you. I have a return to an oral question asked by Mrs. Marie-Jewell on December 9, 1991, on the status of the family law review committee. Mr. Speaker, Mrs. Marie-Jewell asked about the status of the family law review committee work. To give a brief background, the family law review began in 1989 based on a proposal from a combination of community groups. A working group was appointed with representation from the major aboriginal organizations, the legal profession, the Advisory Council on the Status of Women and the Departments of Social Services and Justice.

A legal consultant was retained on contract to do research and to write the report on the advice and direction of the members of the working group. When the contractor did not finish the work as expected, the working group met last March and decided to complete it by having individual working group members assume responsibility for writing portions of the report. It was hoped that their work would be finished by now, but this has not proved possible.

The chairperson, who was an employee with the Department of Justice, is now working with the Department of Social Services. She has continued as chairperson and will see the project through to the reporting stage.

It has been the policy of the government to avoid interference with the work of the committee, but to encourage and facilitate its progress. The task they have undertaken is enormous and we are confident that a valuable report will be received.

I understand that the bulk of the work is near completion. When the chairperson receives all the reports she will edit the work and compile it in a recommendation format. It will then have to be distributed to all the working group members. When their comments have been received some revision of the report may be necessary. After that it will be presented to the Minister of Social Services and myself. This will take place over the next few weeks and will be complete before the end of the fiscal year.

Mr. Speaker, today I will be providing further information on the contracts involved in this project in a response to the written question which was asked by Mrs. Marie-Jewell on December 9th.

This is in response to a question Mr. Gargan asked on December 11th. I undertook to provide the Member with more detail for selecting the host community for the Arctic Winter Games and particular details of the hosting of the 1994 Arctic Winter Games by Slave Lake in northern Alberta.

As I mentioned in my initial reply to the Member's question, the selection of host sites for the Arctic Winter Games is the responsibility of the Arctic Winter Games Corporation. The corporation is legally registered under the laws of Canada and the United States and has been given the authority by the Government of the NWT, Government of Yukon and the State of Alaska, to direct and guide the development of the games.

The Arctic Winter Games are hosted on cycle, with each participating jurisdiction invited to host the games once in the cycle. The long standing cycle involved the three original participating jurisdictions: Northwest Territories, Yukon and Alaska.

Northern Alberta became a participating member of the Arctic Winter Games in 1986 and in this fact I was in error the other day in stating Alberta first participated in 1990. With their continued participation, Alberta then became eligible to host a future Arctic Winter Games.

In 1988 the Arctic Winter Games Corporation convened a meeting of Ministers responsible for the Arctic Winter Games and Alaskan senators in Dawson City, Yukon to discuss the future of the games. The political direction given included asking northern Alberta to move to full team size and a request that they host the event in 1996. The 1996 games were offered to northern Alberta to host as it came at the end of the cycle of the three original jurisdictions; NWT 1990, Yukon 1992 and Alaska 1994.

Subsequently northern Alberta agreed to host the Arctic Winter Games in 1994 when Alaska notified the Arctic Winter Games Corporation it would not be able to host the 1994 games and requested a change in the cycle to be able to host in 1996.

The actual process to select a host community from a particular jurisdiction is quite formal. Some members may recall the friendly bidding competition between Yellowknife and Hay River for the 1990 Arctic Winter Games.

Three years in advance of a set of games the corporation, working with the government of the host jurisdiction, solicits applications from communities interested in hosting the games. The applications are examined by the board members and if necessary community visits are arranged to review facilities and discuss, with the interested communities, their bids. Approximately two and one-half years before a set of games, the corporation makes the decision as to which community has won the bid and a public announcement is made.

Early in 1991 the Alberta government, on behalf of the Arctic Winter Games Corporation, asked all municipal jurisdictions north of the 55th parallel, the agreed area from which Alberta would draw athletes, if they were interested in hosting the 1994 games. Interest was received from Peace River, Fort McMurray and Slave Lake. Detailed bid packages were submitted to the corporation in August 1991. The corporation board members visited each community in early September and made a decision to award the games to Slave Lake on September 23, 1991. A contract has been signed with the community and the Alberta government has committed one million dollars over three years to assist with the event.

Although all bids received were of high quality, the community of Slave Lake was by far the most impressive in their understanding of the intent and philosophy of the event, the organization and the financing involved and their desire to host the best games yet. Organization is well under way with preparations for the 1994 games. Thank you.

A very complete answer to an oral question, Mr. Patterson.

We are trying to make sure Mr. Gargan is going to be coming to those games, Mr. Speaker.

This is a response to a question asked by Mr. Koe on December 12th. To respond to the Member's question in brief, the answer is no, no other communities are affected by the proposed rate increase.

Unlike most municipal water/sewage services in the NWT, the Inuvik utilidor system is operated by the NWT Power Corporation on behalf of the GNWT, the federal government and the town. So under the present operating arrangement the Minister of MACA approves water/sewer rates for Inuvik.

Just prior to leaving office, my predecessor, the Hon. Tom Butters, approved a rate increase for private users from 20 cents to 22 cents per litre. This generally equates to an increase from $50 to $55 for private residences. This rate is significantly less than the current economic rate of 52 cents per litre. The object is to bring the rates paid by private residential users in Inuvik into line with the subsidized rates charged in hamlets and the subsidized rates charged in the tax based municipalities of Iqaluit and Norman Wells.

While the proposed rate increase was discussed at a recent meeting of the Inuvik Town Council, the NWT Power Corporation has not yet officially notified residents. Corporation officials have advised the department that the rate increase will come into effect April 1, 1992, and will be advising their consumers accordingly.

Finally, Mr. Speaker, a reply to Mr. Arvaluk's question asked on December 11th. Mr. Arvaluk asked about the use of simultaneous translation in court proceedings.

In court proceedings, where the court does not understand or speak the language of the accused, it is the accused's right to have the assistance of an interpreter. If the accused is the only one in the courtroom who requires an interpreter, she or he is usually provided with simultaneous interpretation, often by an interpreter whispering to him or her. The Official Languages Act was amended in 1990 to allow for simultaneous interpretation for the audience as well, so now portable interpreting equipment is used in many court sittings so the public and other parties can listen to the proceedings in their own language.

As for the interpretation of testimony of witnesses and of any information aimed at jurors, this must be done using consecutive interpretation since the interpreter must have control of the flow of information. The interpreter must be able to stop the speaker to ask for clarification of legal terms, ask for repetition of things that are not heard properly, and must have time to completely and accurately interpret. In simultaneous translation some details may be missed and the order of words may come out of proper sequence since the word order is so different between aboriginal languages and English. All of these considerations make simultaneous interpretation unsuitable for testimony and information aimed at the jury where accuracy and very careful interpretation is critical. It is my understanding that consecutive interpretation is almost always used in courts in Canada for these same reasons.

It is the decision of the judge whether or not interpretation will be provided, and the type of interpretation which will be provided, but they are aware of the issues and I think are in agreement with the emphasis on accuracy rather than on speeding up the trial where accuracy could be sacrificed. Simultaneous interpretation of testimony has only been tried in a few places in the South where there are interpreters who have a long history of experience in legal interpreting and in very specific areas of the law. The Department of Justice has this year funded the first specialized legal interpreter position. Perhaps in the future, when there are interpreters who specialize in law for a long period of time, simultaneous interpretation of testimony will be tried in the Northwest Territories. Qujannamiik.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I have a return to an oral question asked by Mr. Gargan on December 16, 1991, regarding the hiring of qualified teachers. All teachers hired for the Northwest Territories must be eligible for a Northwest Territories teaching certificate. The minimum required is the successful completion of two years of teacher training delivered in the Northwest Territories through Arctic College.

All advertisements for teaching positions must meet Department of Personnel standards as well as specific divisional board requirements. It is common practice for boards to require training in specific language methodology known as whole language. This requirement is often referred to as a requirement for a holistic teacher. A recent advertisement for a teacher for the Elizabeth Ward School in Fort Providence required "a holistic teacher able to teach in all subject areas." The advertisement also stated that the applicant was expected to be part of the school team and had to be eligible for a Northwest Territories teaching certificate.

I have to a return to an oral question asked by Mrs. Marie-Jewell on December 13, 1991, regarding clearing of access road, Wood Buffalo National Park. The Department of Transportation maintains the highway through Wood Buffalo National Park on behalf of the federal government and is reimbursed for the cost of the work. In previous years access roads to trappers' cabins located in Wood Buffalo National Park have also been ploughed when authorized by Parks Canada. Recently, in an attempt to reduce expenditures, Parks Canada has cut back on the amount of ploughing it has requested.

While Parks Canada has reduced the amount of ploughing that it is prepared to approve, the trapper access roads in the park have been ploughed on at least three occasions this year and are considered to be in reasonable condition. The Department of Transportation will maintain contact with Parks Canada and will seek their approval of additional ploughing when conditions require it.

I have one more return, Mr. Speaker, to a question asked by Mr. Gargan on December 16, 1991, with regard to Curry Construction contract for Mackenzie Highway reconstruction. In July 1990 the Department of Transportation awarded a contract to Curry Construction Ltd for the Mackenzie Highway reconstruction from kilometre 84 to kilometre 101. The contract value was $3.8 million. The scheduled completion date was October 25, 1990.

Curry did not complete the work according to schedule and by the winter of 1990 only 60 per cent of the work was done. Construction resumed slowly in the spring of 1991. The contractor did not meet his revised schedule and it was clear the work was at risk in 1991. On July 12, 1991, the department declared Curry Construction Ltd in default under the contract and directed the bonding company to complete the contract. The bonding company has recently finished the work.

In addition to the problem of late completion, Curry Construction Ltd was also having financial difficulties and was not paying its bills. The bonding company now has the responsibility for the unpaid bills under the contract labour and material bonds and the performance bonds. The company is in the process of verifying claims and will be preparing a payment schedule. Both the department and the bonding company are aware of the outstanding account with Tu Gho Cha for clearing work carried out by the Hay River Dene Band under a subcontract to Curry in 1990. The department of Transportation is working with the bonding company, Alberta Surety Ltd, to see that creditors who have done work under the contract and who have legitimate claims are paid for their work. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Returns to oral questions. Returns to oral questions. Item 5, oral questions. Mr. Koe.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I have a question for the Minister of Social Services. First of all, I would like to thank him for responding to the question on the Friends Against Family Violence Society, but I do not think the Minister's research was done properly because I have with me, Mr. Speaker, a copy of a proposal that was done in August by this society, and I also have a list of the people who this proposal was sent to. On that list is the Minister of Health, the Minister of Social Services, the acting superintendent of social services in Inuvik, the Justice Department, Housing Corporation, and we also have a response, Mr. Speaker, from the then Minister of Health, Nellie Cournoyea, thanking the society for their proposal. Mr. Speaker, my question is, when will the department respond to the society in terms of the request that they made.

Minister of Social Services.

Oral questions. Supplementary, Mr. Koe.

Yes, it surprises me though that in his response he is pretty adamant that a complete proposal has not been submitted to the department, and I will table this later, Mr. Speaker, but I have the complete proposal. Again, the Friends Against Family Violence in Inuvik do wish a response.

I am not sure what the question was, Mr. Koe.

When will the Minister respond to this proposal?

Mr. Whitford.

Oral questions. Mr. Arvaluk.

Minister of Government Services.

My department is as concerned as the honourable Member. Only yesterday we had a briefing with Mr. Anderson. There is a review going on within the department. The amount of money spent was not given to me, Mr. Speaker. I would like to take the question as notice.

The question is taken as notice. Mr. Gargan.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I understand upon receiving the Anderson report on the tendering of POL contracts, the government has decided to ask Mr. Anderson to do a follow-up report, which will include recommendations for improvement of work processes. I believe that should have been included in the original terms of references. My question is to the acting Government Leader. Will he ensure the House that Mr. Anderson's second report will be distributed to all Members so that it can be discussed openly in our constituencies prior to the February 12th sitting of the Assembly?

Acting Government Leader, Mr. Kakfwi.

Supplementary, Mr. Gargan.

Mr. Anderson's original terms of reference included the review of five communities, with the potential to expand the review if necessary. Which five communities were targeted?

Acting Government Leader.

You did not take it as notice. Supplementary, Mr. Gargan.

What criteria was used to identify the five communities?

Acting Government Leader.

Mr. Zoe.

Minister of Intergovernmental and Aboriginal Affairs, Mr. Kakfwi.

Supplementary, Mr. Zoe.

Minister of Intergovernmental and Aboriginal Affairs.

Ms. Mike.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My question is to the

Minister of Education. On December 13th I asked him about the post-secondary student living allowance program that is provided by the GNWT and the difference between the DIAND program. I would like to know when he is going to make a response to my question.

Minister of Education.

Mr. Speaker, this afternoon. Thank you.

Ms. Mike, supplementary.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I think we have already finished with returns to oral questions. Will his response be in written form? Thank you.

Minister of Education.

If I am allowed to go back to returns to oral questions later on this afternoon, I will make the return as soon as I have the information.

Mr. Bernhardt.

I have a question for the Minister responsible for petroleum products. I understand there is now a freeze on all new 1992-93 contract awards for petroleum delivery. Will the Minister also support a complete re-evaluation and renegotiation of contract awards announced on July 15, 1991?

Minister of Government Services.

There are still 23 contracts to be awarded for 1992-93 and this will go ahead once the Anderson report has been put through the process. In mid-January the follow-up report will be presented to the cabinet, then I will be in the position to respond to the Member positively.

Mrs. Marie-Jewell.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I have a question for the Minister of Safety and Public Services. A few days ago the Minister indicated a new tripartite consultative process in respect to the Mining Safety Act. What is going to be the cost of this new process?

Mr. Patterson.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I am not sure I would call it a tripartite process; I think it is primarily industry and labour who will be involved in the proposed mine safety bill committee with a neutral chairperson. The government does not propose to be directly involved in the committee itself.

Mr. Speaker, I am still consulting with industry and labour to get the best people who could continue this important work. I will be meeting tomorrow with representatives of the major unions concerned and I know they have some advice for me on the size of the proposed committee, which could affect the cost. I do not have an estimate of the cost to date, but I have instructed my department to make efforts to pay for that work within their existing resources.

Supplementary, Mrs. Marie-Jewell.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to know if the Minister is able to give us an estimated cost that this process might be and how much funding would he anticipate that his department would have to fund from within.

Minister of Safety and Public Services.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The reason I am a bit vague on this at this point is because I have not yet ascertained whether industry and labour might be willing to contribute to this important process by contributing the cost of their representatives participating on this committee. If that happens, then the cost to government will be confined to supporting a chairperson who is knowledgeable in mining.

I also believe that if we do it properly, consultation with industry and labour will be done by the Chamber of Mines and the Alliance of Mine Workers, recently formed. So it will not be necessary to have, at least initially, an expensive public hearing type of process.

To answer the Member's question, I would estimate that we will need to retain the services of an expert in mining for a period of up to a year, but I am not sure we will have significant other costs. Those costs I am not prepared to guess at the moment, but consultants in the field can probably cost, if they are expert and credible, at least $500 a day.

Supplementary, Mrs. Marie-Jewell.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The Minister indicated when he was going to take forth this consultive process in respect to the Mining Safety Act, that he would consider looking at an independent chairman who is knowledgeable of mining. Who does he anticipate to appoint as the chairperson?

Mr. Patterson.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. In the process leading up to this announcement where I had consulted with industry and labour, I had asked them to think about names. I still have not met with them to get their

response. So at the moment there is no definite word on who would take that position. I am open to suggestions.

Last supplementary, Mrs. Marie-Jewell.

Mr. Speaker, since he indicated that he expects this committee to begin its work in January, I would like to know if he has considered any individual for the chairmanship, recognizing he said he is still looking for someone. I would like to know if there has been an individual that he is considering.

Minister responsible for Safety and Public Services.

Mr. Speaker, one name has been put forward to me, but I am also awaiting other suggestions.

Mr. Gargan.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I have a question to the Minister of Social Services with regard to custom adoption. The Minister indicated that custom adoption is happening every day in the NWT. Am I correct in assuming that automatically this government recognizes custom adoption if it takes place?

Minister of Social Services.

Oral questions. Supplementary, Mr. Gargan.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My supplementary is that presently I know of several cases where custom adoptions did take place but were never accepted by the Department of Social Services. It is on the basis of the Department of Social Services that the courts accept whether or not a custom adoption will be recognized. Am I correct in assuming that although it is principally recognized, that the department screens whether a custom adoption would be recognized or whether it should go through the court system?

Minister of Social Services.

Oral questions. Second supplementary, Mr. Gargan.

If that is the response the Minister would like to give, then I would think that although custom adoption did take place, and it is happening every day as I will quote the Minister, it is not necessarily recognized, but it will be determined by the department as to whether or not that will be custom adoption, even though it did take place.

Minister of Social Services.