I would like to call this House to order. Item 2, Ministers' Statements. Madam Premier.

Mr. Speaker, the Honourable Don Morin will be absent from the House today and tomorrow. As you are aware, he will be attending meetings with the federal Minister of Housing. Thank you.

---Applause

Thank you. Item 2, Ministers' Statements. Mr. Arvaluk.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Last year the employment division of the Department of Education, Culture and Employment Program held a conference called "Discovering Choices" to encourage an interest in math and science among young women. Workshops included archaeology, garden design, dieting and fitness, wildlife, carpentry and architecture.

The conference was a success, and the participants enjoyed themselves a great deal. This year's conference, which is being held today, holds an added attraction: the guest speaker is Dr. Roberta Bondar, Canada's only female astronaut. With a long list of accomplishments in science, Dr. Bondar is an excellent role model for the participants. She has earned a doctorate in neurobiology and a doctor of medicine degree. She was selected as one of six Canadian astronauts in 1983. In January of this year, she flew on the space shuttle "Discovery", where she performed more than forty experiments.

Dr. Bondar will have a great deal to share with the conference participants. I am sure the young women will be interested in learning about the challenges she has faced as a woman pursuing a career in science. For instance, a high school guidance counsellor once asked Dr. Bondar's mother to discourage her from taking math and science because he did not think she could succeed. Fortunately, Dr. Bondar's family supported her decision to continue. During the years she spent as a university student, she also benefitted from the encouragement of a number of women scientists.

I feel that with the proper support, many young women now in the N.W.T. education system can also find interesting and fulfilling careers in science and technology.

Dr. Bondar's trip to the N.W.T. includes Fort Smith and Iqaluit, so students in those communities can also benefit from hearing about her experiences.

Mr. Speaker, as you know, Dr. Bondar will be make a presentation to the Legislative Assembly during coffee break this afternoon. I am sure we all look forward to meeting her, and making her feel welcome in the Northwest Territories. Thank you.

---Applause

Item 2, Ministers' Statements. Item 3, Members' Statements. Mr. Ningark.

(Translation) Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I stand today to emphasize the situation of people who go through the Social Assistance Program. I have been told by my constituency that there will be no more meetings. We cannot ignore the things we are supposed to do. The knowledge of those who are on social assistance can be to the government's advantage. They can make the government aware of what they know. The government can in turn explain the funding to the recipients. This has been a grave concern to people. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you. Mr. Lewis.

Mr. Speaker, yesterday I was going to make a Member's statement about the media. I got carried away on the discussion on wildlife. Today I will just make a few comments about different editorials which have appeared over the last while.

I cannot claim to be a professional journalist, Mr. Speaker, but I have worked in that field. What I always remember about it, is a crusty old man telling me to go out and get the facts. We do not want your opinion, you are 20 years old, just get the facts and let other people make their opinion on the basis of what you write down. Also, you are not going to be a Shakespeare or a Mark Twain. You are not supposed to be creative, you are supposed to tell it the way it is, dig deep, so that when you write it down, you are writing the truth.

Mr. Speaker, from time to time over the past several years, I have seen all kinds of mistakes and I understand the problems associated with trying to get a newspaper out, and to meet deadlines. Sometimes you get the impression that when the editor tells the reporter to go out and get the stuff, it then becomes the editor's job to sort out the wheat from the chaff. Unfortunately, they decide from time to time to print the chaff instead of the wheat. That poses a real problem for many of us.

However, the press has a very important job to do and we should not underestimate it. It is very important that we do have a Member that stands up on a Point of Privilege and says "why did you not speak to me about this?" Get the real story, go to the source, get your information, check it once, check it twice, check it three times if you have to, but get it right. The more you do this, the more people pay attention to you.

For example, when I am told of the massive amount of money that I make in this business, I just laugh, because no one has ever gone to the Clerk and asked him how much money I make to do this job. However, you are quite in order. If you want to go and ask Mr. Hamilton exactly how much money I make, I can tell you, to quote another very famous creative person, " it is grossly exaggerated, the amount ...

Mr. Lewis, your time has lapsed.

I seek unanimous consent to conclude my statement.

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

Mr. Speaker, I am prepared to accept all the slings and arrows which are thrown my way in conducting the business which I was elected to do. I believe that politicians know that from the beginning of time they have been targets because in this business you have about as much independence as a man who is in jail. That is the kind of independence you have. You are captive. You are pulled this way and that way. You are asked to make difficult choices and difficult decisions.

However, knowing that we are all human beings and we all have weaknesses, I believe that it is very important that the press do the job that they are supposed to do, which is to report to the public so the people can make up their own mind. I know that Mr. Sigvaldason is a member of Press Council of Alberta and is proud of it. I know that it is open to every journalist to become a member of the National Association of Journalism which is bound by a code of ethics. I wonder how many members of this press have actually taken out a membership with the association and agreed to be bound by the code of ethics, which in fact dictates how you should go about your business?

I challenge the press to join up and see what the code of ethics is really all about. Thank you.

---Applause

Thank you. Item 3, Members' Statements. Mr. Koe.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to make a statement today about the Native Women's Training Centre in Inuvik. This centre has been active in the community of Inuvik for almost a decade and has an excellent record of students completing their studies. Students completing the program at this centre have gone on to permanent job placements, apprenticeship programs, and further education at the college level.

There is a real demand for basic adult education programs in the north and particularly in the western Arctic. This demand is for programs which meet the needs of the whole person and the Native Women's Training Centre is doing its best to address this need. For the 1992-93 program year the Native Women's Training Centre in Inuvik is delivering a multi-faceted program which accommodates 16 full-time students and 2 part-time volunteer students. The program is open to all adults over the age of 17 and is comprised of four components: life skills, academic upgrading, basic job readiness, and job placements.

The Life Skills Program offers students alternative methods of communication and different ways of coping with day-to-day living. The core of the academic program is English literacy and strong emphasis on reading, writing and mathematical skills. The centre strongly believes that all learning must be relevant to the learner, and as a result the students utilize writing to recount personal experiences and attempt a variety of writing formats, as well as some projects involving going out into the community to research issues of importance to the students. This year, with the assistance of students, aboriginal languages are being incorporated into the language program. Students who speak an aboriginal language bring in new vocabulary for other students. Future projects will involve publishing stories in English, in Inuvialuqtun and Gwich'in. Mr. Speaker, I seek unanimous consent to continue.

The Member is seeking unanimous consent to continue his statement. Is that agreed?

Agreed.

---Agreed

Proceed, Mr. Koe.

Mahsi. Whenever appropriate students take part in courses offered within the community. This past month three students successfully completed a two week training course at Arctic College for teachers of aboriginal languages, and another student is considering a Firearm Safety Program offered through Renewable Resources and Arctic College. I would like commend the Native Women's Training Centre for making the effort to work in collaboration with other training institutions and agencies, and I also commend Local Pathway Sports for providing funding to this program in the community, Mahsi Cho.

Thank you. Item 3, Members' Statements. Item 4, Returns to Oral Questions. Madam Premier.

Mr. Speaker, I have a return to an oral question asked by Mr. Richard Nerysoo on November 24 of the Honourable Titus Allooloo, Minister of Renewable Resources, and the reply is regarding the location of the replacement traps. Mr. Speaker, the Department of Renewable Resources regrets any misunderstandings that lead trappers to believe that replacement traps were no longer available. On Sunday, November 22, additional traps were provided to Arctic Red River. All regional staff have been advised to notify their supervisors if trap stocks are low, so they can be resupplied. The department is monitoring this daily and will respond on an urgent priority basis. Thank you.

Thank you. Item 4, Returns to Oral questions. Item 5, Oral Questions. Member for Thebacha.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker, I have a question for the Minister of Health. Mr. Speaker, yesterday the Minister of Health tabled in this House a copy of the letter from Dr. Earle Covert sent to him. I would like to ask the Minister, under the Medical Profession Act, do the members of the Board of Inquiry receive an honorarium?

Mr. Patterson.