Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I stand to be corrected on the policies since I am a rookie here. However, I stated a development of policy to you in my opening remarks. My point is still valid, Mr. Chairman, that whether we get a new policy or not the floor will still have to be fixed to make it stable because this is already in existence. I think we could recognize that, in comparison, the Northern Heritage Centre will not be shut down because there is no existing policy but one is in the works. I think the Norman Wells Museum is in that similar situation; it needs to be renovated.

Thank you. To the motion, Mr. Zoe.

Thank you. To the motion, Mr. Dent.

Thank you. To the motion, Mr. Minister.

I understand that this was not a number one priority, although it was one of the priorities according to the Mayor. The community has established a museum only through the determination of many years of extremely hard work by local interest groups. I would be very sad if we are not willing to fix a museum that we already have there. It is a structural question that I think we, as a government, are responsible for; to have structurally sound buildings, especially public buildings such as museums in Norman Wells.

Thank you. To the motion, Madam Premier.

Mr. Chairman, perhaps I am not understanding, and I do not know from what has been said by the motion, whether the substantiation was really clear in terms of the requirement for the renovation. My understanding is that the substantiation, and if I am wrong I stand to be corrected, read that the Norman Wells Historical Centre is housed in a relocated canal warehouse and it is the most recently opened community museum in the Northwest Territories. It was opened in October, 1989. Historical exhibits display and interpret the history of the Sahtu with particular emphasis on

the history of the canal line. On the scope of work it states that capital funds in 1993-94 will provide for a new floor, storage space and exhibit development. Mr. Chairman, on occasion, when visiting Norman Wells over a number of years, the community has indeed put a great deal of effort and personal time and funds into this project. Certainly, in terms of the request, not only in the substantiation but also in the past in trying to identify this project, a lot of work had been done on the area of tourism and creating new employment by having something for people to look at when they actually came to the community. I guess the further question is, if this was not adequate what would have been adequate?

To the motion. When the motion is on the floor, do not yell out any questions. If they want to ask before they introduce the motion they should do so. To the motion, Madam Premier.

Mr. Chairman, I am only trying to seek clarification as to why the argument is put that this particular one does not fit and if it was not adequate, please clarify why this would be different from renovations in Fort Smith or a new project in the Dene Cultural Institute. I mean, if every one of these particular projects can be argued we can do without, but if some are determined, then I just want clarification on where the shortfall was.

Clarification, Mr. Dent.

Thank you. To the motion. Question in the House being called. All those in favour? All those opposed? The motion is carried. I would also like to remind the Ministers, if you want to vote yes or no, you will have to go back to your seat and vote. The motion is carried. Inuvik, total region $50,000.00. Is that agreed?

Agreed.

---Agreed

Thank you. Baffin, total region: $700,000.00. Mr. Dent.

Thank you. Question has been called. Your motion is in order. To the motion. To the motion, Mr. Minister.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I understand the motion. I think we stated that the policies on museum development, especially in the area of capital plans, will be ready some time this year. However, in the meantime in our discussions between the communities and the regions and the department we recognize that there is a need for regional museums' consideration that could also be integrated in the development of that policy.

The Iqaluit Museum functioned as a community museum since 1968 and was operated by the Museum Society. It was moved from the front of the Liquor Store Warehouse to its current location in 1985 when an old Hudson Bay building was moved from Apex to the current museum location.

During planning for the regional visitors' centre and the combined community regional library in 1989, it was decided that the two projects would be combined to create the Unikkaakvik Centre and that the location would be beside the museum. Plans were devolved to join the existing museum to the centre in order to increase the regional component of the program. Land from the Museum Society Reserve was utilized for the Unikkaakvik Centre in anticipation of the construction, including the museum connection. I think we cannot fool ourselves as Members that there has been a lot of pressure, from aboriginal people especially, that artifacts belonging to the Inuit should be repatriated back to their own communities or the regions.

I know, at the moment, Mr. Chairman, that I cannot utilize in the Capital Plan all the communities for the purpose of repatriation of the artifacts, however, I think we should start recognizing at least through regional planning the necessity to build museums in the regions whenever we can afford it, recognizing the pressure of the aboriginal people telling us that these artifacts must be repatriated.

I understand, Mr. Chairman, that the comment was made by the Chairman of the Standing Committee that luxury items such as museums, I think these are not considered luxury items for the aboriginal people. This addition that we are talking about was specifically designed to be air controlled and humidity controlled for the purpose of preserving the materials that may rot or deteriorate. We cannot house any of those kinds of materials at the existing facility. It has to be humidity controlled. That is why this addition is very, very important. Thank you.

Thank you. To the motion. Mr. Dent.

Thank you. To the motion. Madam Premier.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. For the record, I was reading from the Standing Committee on Finance recommendations that the committee recommends that the Department of Education, Culture and Employment Programs remove the museum addition in Iqaluit totalling $1.95 million from its five year capital plan, including $200,000 planned for 93-94 until other regions have comparable facilities. And it is different from what is being suggested in the motion here.

And, for the record, I realize that some people are used to having us as Cabinet Ministers sit here but I believe it should be in recognition that, over a number of years in Iqaluit, this has been one of the areas that they have tried to promote and bring together and it was an ongoing, long-term, broad plan that fits into the entrance to the Pang Park or to Iqaluit and then north.

I have always known that it was a very important part of the overall development of cultural and traditional activities and how you display them and I know also that is was more of an overall educational retention of traditional artifacts that were very important for the people.

I know that Anne Hanson, the former Deputy Commissioner, did a great deal of lobbying to repatriate art that was in southern museums, and I felt the same way when we deleted from the Northern Heritage Centre because I felt that was important for restoration.

I do not believe that in the Nunatsiak area we have a centre comparable to the heritage centre in Yellowknife. And I do not know whether the motion has indicated that every region has to have a comparative facility. For example, there has been an idea that we should not have an Arctic College in every community; perhaps we can only afford two. So maybe the policy should have come forth that we are going to develop two and concentrate on that.

However, in dealing with the members of Iqaluit and the idea, not just for Iqaluit alone, but for a broader, global development of how to store traditional, cultural, institutional matters, and how to display them for other people coming into look at them. It is an overall concern and I wanted to say for the record that this is not a new planning idea from the Baffin region but more of a long-term global look at what we are going to do. We all know the Baffin is famous for its parks and for the development of traditional components to its society. I know they put a high priority on this area, not just for storing artifacts or museums but as a total part of education and value system, and to display it for other people and to have young people take part and know what is going on. Thank you. I felt that it was important to say this for the record. The Baffin does have a long term plan on how it feels all these facilities should be fitting in.

Thank you. To the motion. Ms. Mike.