Good morning. Item 2, Ministers' Statements. Item 3, Members' Statements. Mr. Bernhardt.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Like other honourable Members who have spoken, I want to express my appreciation to the people of Nunavut who voted so strongly in favour of ratifying the historical claim agreement with the Government of Canada. I would like to congratulate T.F.N. for a credible job.

However, I think there are a number of points which should be made right from the start about Kitikmeot concerns with the establishment of Nunavut. First, it is important to be clear that historically the people of the Kitikmeot have strong economic ties with Yellowknife, Inuvik and Nunakput communities. Even as Nunavut evolves we will want to see these long standing relationships remain in place. Secondly, in planning for a Nunavut government the interests of the Kitikmeot communities must be given equal priority with those of our Keewatin and Baffin neighbours. For too long the Kitikmeot has been denied its fair share of government infrastructure within the existing Northwest Territories. The future Nunavut leadership should realize right now that we will not tolerate the same treatment by the new government following division.

Finally, I want to send a clear message to T.F.N. and both the federal and territorial governments. In planning for the establishment of Nunavut, commission appointments and board developments must be made in a clear and honest fashion with appropriate representation from the grassroots of our communities, rather than the political back rooms. We have struggled too long with this sort of favouritism and closed door decision-making which has been typical of this government. We will not accept it in the process which leads to Nunavut.

I hope that T.F.N. and those who will be working on the Nunavut implementation recognize this clearly. We do not want to see one "old boys" network replaced with another. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

---Applause.

Members' Statements. Mr. Pudlat.

(Translation) Thank you, Mr. Speaker. This concern has been ongoing for quite some time. Although the Minister of the N.W.T. Power Corporation is not present it will also be of interest to the Minister of Education. When the N.W.T. Power Corporation employee from Lake Harbour has to go out on holidays he is not given a replacement. I think that there should be a local person trained or educated to run the Power Corporation when the permanent employee is on holidays. This individual should be trained on a ongoing basis. When you are in the smaller communities employment is hard to come by. For this reason, perhaps the Minister of Education and the Minister responsible for the N.W.T. Power Corporation could work together to help an individual be trained to replace the permanent staff member in Lake Harbour when that person is out of the community. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Members' Statements. Mrs. Marie-Jewell.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, after reviewing yesterday's unedited Hansard I am somewhat disappointed, and am still trying to figure out why the Minister of Aboriginal Rights and Constitutional Development placed forth his motion in this House. Mr. Speaker, I know I was one of the Members who continually pressed the Minister in September to discuss the document "Working Towards a Common Future," which is better known as the "Bourque Commission." Mr. Speaker, I pressed the Minister in September because I was concerned that the national referendum vote was coming up, but more importantly I was concerned because I knew that the eastern people were going to vote on their land claim regarding Nunavut and we did not have anything discussed or developed for the west.

Mr. Speaker, September was the most critical time to discuss this motion, not now. Now, Mr. Speaker, I believe that the Minister is a day late and probably a dollar short to find what he wants to do. Mr. Speaker, I do not want the native organizations to believe that voting against the Minister's motion is not wanting to hear their concerns. I strongly believe we need something for the west. Mr. Speaker, it was my understanding that the Western Caucus agreed to meet with the native leaders and develop a work plan before we bring it into this House for further discussion. I would urge the Minister to follow through with the Western Caucus agreement and develop a plan among us before we bring this issue in the House. Thank you.

Members' Statements. Mr. Antoine.

(Translation) Thank you, Mr. Speaker. After the Legislative Assembly meets today I will be going to Fort Wrigley with the Minister of Education and his colleagues. They have just finished constructing the school so we are going to be opening it. These small schools in the communities are very important. They need new schools in order to be taught. In this way they can really benefit from it. The former M.L.A. for Nahendeh, Nick Sibbeston, was party to the opening of this school in Wrigley. Thank you.

Members' Statements. Mr. Zoe.

Mr. Zoe, your allotted time has lapsed.

The Member is seeking unanimous consent. Are there any nays? There are no nays, please proceed, Mr. Zoe.

Members' Statements. Item 4, Returns to Oral Questions. Mr. Patterson.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I have a return to an oral question asked by Mr. Ningark on November 18, 1992 on social assistance payments, cash versus vouchers. The payment of social assistance partially in cash and the rest in vouchers is a part of our policy options. It is not a general policy of the government throughout the territories. Social assistance may be paid by cheque to: the recipient or a dependent, as directed by the recipient; a vendor or supplier and the recipient as joint payees; a vendor or supplier on behalf of the recipient; or, a trustee.

Assistance may also be paid on behalf of the recipient by travel warrant, accommodation warrant or cheque requisition. Social workers are required to discuss the method and frequency of payment with the clients who are experiencing budgetary difficulties in managing their assistance. A decision is made on the preference of the client and the ability of the client to manage his or her money.

In many communities where the payments are made only to the supplier, this has been the request of the town or hamlet council. The reason cited most often by the local officials is the client's misuse of social assistance funds for things like gambling and alcohol. It is the policy of the department to support the request of the local officials in issuing social assistance payments.

In the case raised by the Member for Natilikmiot, in relation to Gjoa Haven and Pelly Bay, this method is being used throughout the Kitikmeot region at the request of the Kitikmeot Regional Council. In March, 1992, the Kitikmeot Regional Council passed a motion which came from Spence Bay. The concern raised was that social assistance was being used for gambling or alcohol and requested that the department change to a voucher system. Although a concern was later raised by the Mayor of Pelly Bay, in June, that clients did not have sufficient flexibility to pay for some needs, the decision to continue the method was reaffirmed in the July meeting of the Kitikmeot Regional Council. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Item 4, Returns to Oral Questions. Item 5, Oral Questions. Mr. Zoe.

Mr. Allooloo.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I am aware that my department is doing something about this. As to what they are doing, I could get back to the Member as soon as I can. Thank you.

Supplementary, Mr. Zoe.

Mr. Allooloo.

Mr. Speaker, I am not sure why my office has not acknowledged the letter, but we are aware of this letter and we are doing something about it. I will check into it as soon as the question period is over and get back to the Member with the detailed information. Thank you.

Oral Questions. Mr. Pudlat.

(Translation) Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to direct my question to the Minister of Economic Development and Tourism. For quite a while now they have had a concern which they had asked to be set on the priority list of the capital budget. I wonder if anything has been done, to date, about the request for a big boat in Sanikiluaq for the purpose of search and rescue. I have brought this up in the House previously. They have been pushing for a big boat through the capital budget and they have requested it be put on the priority list. Will he be able to respond to me during this session on this request for a boat and how soon it could be purchased? This question is not new and this question is to the Minister of Economic Development and Tourism. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Pollard.

Mr. Speaker, I am aware of the problem. There has been research done in this particular area. There have been a number of large vessels in Sanikiluaq over previous years. When it comes down to search and rescue, though, that falls under the J.E.T. Program which is administered by Municipal and Community Affairs.

My suggestion to the Member, through you, Mr. Speaker, would be if you will allow myself and the Minister of M.A.C.A. to get together to get some indication from the community exactly what the use of the boat would be, then we can make a judgement on whose responsibility it would be and I will endeavour to do that, Mr. Speaker.

Oral Questions, supplementary, Mr. Pudlat.

(Translation) Thank you, Mr. Speaker. This boat would be a multi-purpose boat. I have listed some of the things the boat would be used for and maybe you could get together and determine which department would be responsible for this. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Pollard.

Mr. Speaker, one of the problems that we get into is if it is a multi-purpose vessel, if it is going to be used for fishing and search and rescue, then it is unlikely that we would be able to access funds from the federal government with regard to search and rescue because those vessels have to meet a criteria to being able to withstand sea conditions and being seaworthy themselves. It is difficult and we will have to determine what priority the community places on either a fishing vessel, a resupply vessel or a search and rescue vessel and we will take it from there.

Oral Questions. Mr. Bernhardt.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. On June 29, 1992, this House passed a motion to give direction to the Minister of Personnel with respect to the development of a Hire North Policy. In September, the Minister responded with a statement to the effect that the government is doing all it can. If you look at the government's record within the regions, it is

clear that the government is not doing enough. In the Kitikmeot aboriginal people form 90 per cent of the population yet hold only 21 per cent of the Government of the N.W.T. management positions in the region.

My question is for the Minister of Personnel. Can the Minister advise the House what action he is prepared to take to address the serious inequities of aboriginal employment, particularly in management positions in regions outside of Yellowknife?

Mr. Kakfwi.

Oral Questions. Mrs. Marie-Jewell.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My question is for the Minister of Health. Yesterday I tabled in this House a letter from the Minister of Health to Dr. Covert, and I would like clarification regarding this letter. Mr. Speaker, as of Wednesday, November 18, 1992 I questioned the Minister of Health in this House. According to unedited Hansard he indicated that Dr. Covert was not appointed recently, he was appointed years ago for a period of time as the Chair of the Board of Inquiry set up under the Medical Profession Act and he still occupies that office.

Reviewing the act it indicates that the Minister may appoint for a term not exceeding two years. In his remark to me he said "for some years." I would like the Minister of Health to clarify for this House the statement which he made in his letter to Dr. Covert indicating that his appointment was effective September 2, and his statements he made in this House saying the appointment was in effect for some years. Thank you.

Mr. Patterson.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I do appreciate the opportunity to clarify the situation. I am not sure if I described it accurately earlier in this House. Mr. Speaker, Dr. Covert was President of the Board of Inquiry for two years up until this fall, then his appointment would have lapsed but he was reappointed by me at that time. I think the Member has tabled the letter which reappointed him.

Around this time a matter was brought before the Board of Inquiry which required a hearing. It all happened more or less at the same time. His appointment lapsed, he was reappointed and a matter was put to the board for hearing, namely the matter in Fort Smith. This is how it happened, Mr. Speaker. I hope this clarifies the course of events for the Member. Thank you.

Oral Questions. Mr. Zoe.

Mr. Pollard.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the plan is in place, it is being reviewed by Madam Premier. There are quite a substantial number of changes proposed in this plan. My understanding now is that it will go to Cabinet for discussion and then it will go to Mr. Koe's committee for comment by Mr. Koe, Mr. Antoine and Mr. Ningark before being proceeded with further.

Mr. Speaker, if it seems we are moving a little slow in this area. The people we have in the central agencies at the present time are really plugged up with the consolidation of Health and Social Services and a number of other issues which are taking place in departments. We are trying not to overload the system. It is our intention to comply with the wishes of Mr. Zoe's committee, to distance those two pieces of finance fairly shortly, Mr. Speaker. Thank you.

Oral Questions. Supplementary, Mr. Zoe.

Mr. Pollard.

Certainly, by the end of this fiscal year. Thank you.

Oral Questions. Mrs. Marie-Jewell.

Thank you. My question is for the Minister of Education. Mr. Speaker, yesterday I questioned the Minister of Education in regard to the divisional board of education's decision to suspend the group home parents in Fort Smith who looked after the Lutsel K'e students. I did ask him if he would consider whether or not he could arrange for an independent committee to review the process of this suspension, as opposed to the committee only being composed of South Slave Divisional Board members.

The Minister indicated to me yesterday that there was no suspension. I confirmed with all the documents I have that there has been a suspension and I indicated that to the Minister. I would like to ask the Minister whether or not he has checked to see whether there were suspensions and will he attempt to ensure that an independent committee, other than South Slave Divisional Board members, review this whole process of how this suspension came about? Thank you.

There were really two questions asked, Mrs. Marie-Jewell. Mr. Arvaluk.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. First of all to the second question, I apologize for making a mistake yesterday in regard to the suspension of the Lutsel K'e house parents. Yes, in fact they have been suspended for the term of the review.

In the terms of the divisional boards making the review, I think the divisional board has made every attempt to make this as independent as possible, by having the review team consist of members from Hay River Reserve, Hay River and Fort Resolution. Excluded from the review team are Lutsel K'e members and Fort Smith members. I suspect that this is because the issue is one of Fort Smith and Lutsel K'e.

When the review team makes their recommendation to the divisional board we will hear about it. Depending on the seriousness and complexity of this review there may be a necessity to develop an independent review which may be determined further. However, I would like to assure the Member that this is the first step for the independency of the review which the Member is recommending. This could be done if further action is required.

Supplementary, Mrs. Marie-Jewell.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It appears that the Minister does not want to allow other parties to look at this process or decision on the South Slave Divisional Board. The Minister indicated that it is independent because the people who are going to review it belong to the Hay River Reserve, Hay River and Fort Resolution. However, does the Minister realize that these particular individuals were the ones who were on the South Slave Divisional Board voting for the suspension? He is trying to tell the community and my constituents that this is independent. Thank you.

Mr. Arvaluk.

Mr. Speaker, the review team has no direct responsibility to take action. The divisional board as a whole will have to take the review team's recommendation and take action on it. The divisional boards operate as independently as possible from the department and they are elected members of that region. It is their responsibility to take the first step to find out whether further investigation is required. At that time we will be consulted. Thank you.

Supplementary, Mrs. Marie-Jewell.

Mr. Speaker, I recognize the autonomy of that board, however, at the same time the Minister, under the Education Act, does have a responsibility to ensure that these boards are run properly. This is why I have asked the Minister to determine whether additional members can be placed on this committee to assure the public this committee is independent. Mr. Speaker, it appears that the Minister is reluctant to allow for this independent committee to be formed. I would like to ask the Minister, once again, whether he requested the divisional board to put additional individuals on this committee to review the suspension of these group home parents to allow for participation of people who are not on the South Slave Division Board of Education? The

individuals currently on the committee are the ones who voted to suspend the group home parents. Thank you.

Mr. Arvaluk.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I will be in contact with the divisional board Chairman to convey the Member's concern. We will then be able to determine under the Education Act whether we should be intervening in their deliberations or actions.

Item 5, Oral Questions. Your last supplementary, Mrs. Marie-Jewell.

Mr. Speaker, since the review of this particular issue is coming up before the South Slave Divisional Board committee this weekend, will the Minister make a commitment to convey this immediately and advise this House early next week the results of his conversation and, also, at the same time, to review the Education Act to recognize his responsibilities? Thank you.

Mr. Arvaluk.

Yes, Mr. Speaker.

Item 5, Oral Questions. Mr. Pudlat.

(Translation) Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My question is to the Minister of Education. In the north the divisional boards were going to be funded monthly. They were collecting interest on it when they were funded quarterly. Has the Department of Education come to a decision on whether the funding will be delivered to these divisional boards? To cover for the interest they were collecting in the past with the quarterly payments, will you be making up for this? We are working hard to do well with the education system. Has there been any decision on what kind of funding program will be put in place for the divisional boards of education in the N.W.T.? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Arvaluk.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. We probably all know that the quarterly payments have been cancelled so the divisional boards were running short of their funding. The government has agreed that they would review this again. We also know that the government is cutting back their funding so there was a decision to make monthly funding to the divisional boards. We are constantly in contact with the divisional boards in the Baffin, Keewatin and other regions. After meeting with them constantly we will probably come to a decision by the end of this year. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Item 5, Oral Questions. Mr. Lewis.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My question is to the Premier. It concerns the round table on the environment and the economy. In the 11th Assembly, from a lot of work on economic issues, it was decided that we should establish a round table on the economy and the environment because these two things have to be looked at side by side. In light of the fact you have had one of the biggest staking rushes in Canadian history, and there is an incredible interest beginning to grow on developing some of our resources in the west, especially hydro development, I would like to ask the Premier when does she plan to reconvene this round table on the environment and the economy?

Madam Premier.

Mr. Speaker, at this time I have not addressed and spent time on when that particular composition of an agency is going to be re-instituted. Mr. Speaker, I would like to bring to the attention of the Member, and other Members here, that the claims processes are being deliberated and that many of the claims have an environmental area within their claims. I believe that in looking at the round table, the claims process has to be taken into consideration. I would like to say very clearly, and not leave any misapprehensions, I just have not addressed the issue of the round table on the environment in consideration of a lot of the other activities that are going on. Certainly with any development, including hydro development, the idea that people themselves involved with these developments does create a balancing factor. However, I do plan to look at the round table on the environment but I am not going to do it immediately because there are other priorities. Thank you.

Supplementary, Mr. Lewis.

Thank you. My supplementary, Mr. Speaker, has the Premier or any of the Ministers received a recommendation that this round table on the environment and the economy should be disbanded because it does not serve any useful purpose?

Ms. Cournoyea.

Mr. Speaker, I believe that we did have some correspondence to that effect. However, there are many other issues coming forward, such as the claims

process and other ways of dealing with these issues. Perhaps this particular way of dealing with the economy and the environment is redundant and could be accommodated best by letting other processes come into play and that the round table be disbanded. Yes, we do have some recommendations on that matter.

Supplementary, Mr. Lewis.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Since then, the government has received recommendations that this particular form of consultation on the economy and environment is no longer needed and I just thought I would be prevented from asking other questions next week and next winter. Could we have a copy of that so I know exactly what the objections are?

Ms. Cournoyea.

Mr. Speaker, whatever I have, I am quite prepared to provide it to the Member.

Oral Questions. Ms. Mike.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I have a question for the Minister of Renewable Resources. On November 19, there were a number of questions in this House about the caribou that were near Yellowknife, along the Ingraham Trail. I have heard that there was quite a lot of hunting activity in the area surrounding the trail and that some of it became quite wild. I have even heard that some of the families living along the trail became afraid to leave their own homes because of the number of hunters firing rifles in the vicinity.

Recognizing that the Minister became aware of the fact that caribou were so close to Yellowknife, and even flew out to Ross Lake to look down at them, can he indicate to the House whether his department made arrangements to provide additional Renewable Resources officers to patrol the area?

Mr. Allooloo.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. When the caribou came into the vicinity of Ingraham Trail we brought in officers from Fort Rae to assist the Yellowknife officers and, also, we utilized casual employment to enforce the law. Thank you.

Supplementary, Ms. Mike.

Supplementary, Mr. Speaker. Has the Minister or his senior officials held a briefing session with officers in the field to determine the nature of the hunting activity along the Ingraham Trail?

Mr. Allooloo.

Mr. Speaker, I am not sure if I understand the question. What is the Member referring to by the nature of the hunting in the corridor? Thank you.

Would the Honourable Member care to clarify her question?

Mr. Speaker, my question was quite simple. Are you having briefing sessions with the Renewable Resources officers out in the field, or in the vicinity of where the hunting is being carried out on the Ingraham Trail?

Mr. Allooloo.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As soon as I came back from my community, I believe it was on November 2, I flew out, no, I am wrong, I came back here on the night of November 6, and I flew out I believe on November 7, to see where the hunting had taken place. I took a Renewable Resources officer who had been monitoring the hunting and he briefed me where the hunting has taken place and where the caribou were generally moving towards. That is all the contact I have had so far with the officers that are out in the field, although I had briefings from my D.M. and my A.D.M. as well. Thank you.

Oral Question, Supplementary. Ms. Mike.

(Translation) Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Supplementary Question. I will be asking in Inuktitut to see if he can understand me better. Has the Minister, or his senior officials, had a meeting or had a briefing with your Renewable Resources officers who are out in the field, to determine how the hunting has been taking place outside the Ingraham Trail? Thank you.

Mr. Speaker. I have not had a meeting with field staff to tell them how they should monitor the situation. I do not know if my D.M. has had meetings with the field staff that monitors the hunting. No, I, myself have not had a meeting with officers. No.

Item 5, Oral Questions. Your last Supplementary, Ms. Mike.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My last Supplementary. Does the Department of Renewable Resources have a plan for responding to situations in which unusual or unexpected levels of hunting activity take place due to variations in the usual migration routes of game animals?

Mr. Allooloo.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I must be not understanding today. This is the second question that I do not understand. Thank you.

Ms. Mike, would you like to clarify the question?

Mr. Speaker, I am getting tired to repeating my questions. I would suggest to the Minister he look up the questions in the unedited transcripts tomorrow and respond to me at that time.

Mr. Allooloo.

Okay.

Oral Questions, Mr. Pudluk.

(Translation) Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I have a question for the Minister of Renewable Resources. He may not understand my question, however, at the last meeting we spoke about polar bear meat that had been injected with a tranquillizer. He could not answer my questions at the time as he indicated he did not have the results of the review. Can he indicate to the House as to how long the tranquillizer can be in the polar bear, without effecting the meat itself? Thank you.

Mr. Allooloo.

(Translation) Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The doctors have reviewed these tranquillizers after the polar bears have been injected and they informed me that after 24 hours the tranquillizers have affected the meat and they indicated to me that after three days the tranquillizer is no longer in the body of the polar bear. We usually tell the communities there will be some studies on polar bears that have been tranquillized and we have warned the communities not to eat the polar bear during those three days. After three days is up it no longer affects the meat. Thank you.

Mr. Pudluk.

(Translation) Yes, we believe your response but I would like to ask how many polar bears have been studied? Thank you.

Mr. Allooloo.

(Translation) Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I am not sure how many polar bears were studied but I will get this information to the Member. Thank you.

The Member is taking the question as notice. Item 5, Oral Questions. Mr. Ningark.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Subsequent to the return to oral question which was made by the honourable Minister of Social Services this is regarding the payment of social assistance to recipients. I am not questioning the decision made by the Kitikmeot Regional Council. In fact I feel like I am in a difficult position. I brought this matter up earlier this week because when I met with the Social Services Appeal Committee, they made it very clear that there is not much flexibility when dealing with vouchers. People want to go shopping at the local Co-op, the Northern Store or sometimes they want to buy country food from local hunters and trappers or send money to their kids residing outside of town.

I am wondering if the Minister would seek input from the local Social Services Appeal Committee which currently administers under this policy option, which is rather restrictive. Thank you.

Mr. Minister.

Mr. Speaker, I think the attitude of the department is to try to issue social assistance payments in the most appropriate way, looking at the needs of the individual person and the community. Yes, I will be open to accepting advice from the local Social Services Appeal Committee in that community and will ask my officials to get their input in looking at the current policy. Thank you.