Good afternoon. Item 2, Ministers' Statements. Ms. Cournoyea.

Mr. Speaker, I have an emergency statement.

Please proceed, Ms. Cournoyea.

Mr. Speaker, the Honourable James Arvaluk tendered his resignation today for personal reasons. I have accepted his resignation effective immediately.

Thank you, Ms. Cournoyea. Ministers' Statements. Item 3, Members' Statements. Mr. Dent.

Thank you, Mr. Dent. Members' Statements. Mr. Bernhardt.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I know this week the National White Ribbon Campaign represents violence against women. Mr. Speaker, I would like to speak on the issue which causes the circle of violence. Mr. Speaker, the statistics, and my own experience, confirm that many of the men who are caught in the circle of violence have been either physically or sexually abused.

Mr. Speaker, I want to make a comment on how society overlooks the help perpetrators or abusers need to break the circle of violence. I would like to call on this government to assist with the development of a program for abusers, so that we can all work to achieve zero violence against women. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

---Applause

Members' Statements. Mr. Koe.

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to speak about the provisions of the health transfer agreement and deal with the replacement of the Inuvik Regional Hospital and major renovations to the Baffin Regional Hospital. The

transfer agreement specifies that the Inuvik Regional Hospital will be replaced with a facility which will not result in a decrease in the level of service provided at the time of the transfer. The construction of this hospital is to be cost-shared between the federal government and the Government of the Northwest Territories. Although the agreement also specifies that the Government of the Northwest Territories is not to ask Canada for capital assistance in replacing this facility until 1996-97, the federal government has been contributing over $1 million annually towards their share of the cost for replacement of the Inuvik Regional Hospital and major renovations to the Baffin Regional Hospital, so far that we have an accumulated contribution of over $4 million since the health transfer in 1988.

During the debate on the health transfer, the former Minister and the former deputy minister told the House that a facility would take two years to plan and three years to construct. It was anticipated that a new facility would be open in 10 years, around 1998-99. Mr. Speaker, given this time frame, programming and planning for this facility should begin in 1993-94, using the capital funding already received from the federal government, and construction should begin in 1996-97. This is the first year we can go to the federal government for capital assistance, and hope the new facility will open in 1998-99 as was committed.

Mr. Speaker, I raise this important issue at this particular time because a so-called health facilities review is currently being undertaken by the Department of Health. Mr. Speaker, I seek unanimous consent to continue my statement.

The honourable Member is seeking unanimous consent. Are there any nays? There are no nays. Please proceed, Mr. Koe.

Thank you. Given this review, it is of utmost importance that the government reaffirm its commitment to the people of Inuvik and the surrounding region to replace the hospital in Inuvik within the 10 year time frame indicated in the debate surrounding the health transfer. The people in the Inuvik region will expect this government to honour this commitment. Mahsi.

---Applause

Members' Statements. Ms. Mike.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I find that I am becoming increasingly frustrated and concerned with the decisions that are coming out of the so-called justice system. Very recently I learned that a former government employee who pleaded guilty to stealing $271,000 from the Department of Social Services may actually serve less than a year in jail. I refer to the case of Diane Doyle, Mr. Speaker. Evidence before the court indicated that Ms. Doyle's theft was approximately 5.9 per cent of the total social assistance budget for her office.

Ms. Doyle was sentenced to a period of three years' incarceration but could become eligible for supervised day parole in six months. In fact, she is now able to receive regular passes for outings from the Women's Correctional Centre in Fort Smith, where she is presently incarcerated. Mr. Speaker, I find this incredible. This offender stole money that had been set aside to help people who, in the vast majority of cases, had no where else to turn. What is the deterrence of a sentence which punishes this magnitude of theft with less than a year in jail? During the sentencing hearing, it was stated that Ms. Doyle's motives were disgusting. According to the evidence placed before the court, she had been feeling burned out and cynical about the government. Apparently she felt as though her superiors were not listening to her suggestion for change and that her accomplishments were not being appreciated. A psychiatrist report stated that she had got herself into a habit of rewarding herself with presents when she believed she had done a good job. The presents, Mr. Speaker, were the amounts of money which she stole from the Department of Social Services.

Mr. Speaker, I believe that from time to time anyone has the potential to become frustrated or discouraged with their job. What kind of message does the Doyle sentence send to them?

Mr. Speaker, I seek unanimous consent to conclude my statement.

The honourable Member is seeking unanimous consent. Are there any nays? There are no nays. Please proceed, Ms. Mike.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Does the court honestly believe that this sentence would deter the next discouraged government employee who is tempted to take advantage of a position of public trust? Mr. Speaker, this is just another example of the fact that the courts are not reflecting the opinions and the values of the people they have been established to serve. I agree totally that the judicial system must be able to operate at arm's length from the Legislative Assembly but at the same time there has to be a better mechanism through which public values can be reflected accurately in court judgements, otherwise justice will not only be blind, she will become out of touch with reality. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Members' Statements. Ms. Cournoyea.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to seek unanimous consent to go back to Ministers' Statements.

The honourable Member is seeking unanimous consent. Are there any nays? There are no nays. Please proceed, Ms. Cournoyea.

Thank you very much. Mr. Speaker, December 1 is World A.I.D.S. Day. The theme is "A.I.D.S.: Community Commitments". The topic this year is of special interest to us because in the Northwest Territories it is essential for communities to become actively involved in stopping the spread of this fatal disease.

In the Northwest Territories, 21 A.I.D.S. virus infections have been reported since 1987, eight of these have been reported in 1992. There is no doubt that there is A.I.D.S. in the Northwest Territories. Most of the infections have been found in young adult males, but women, children and seniors have been affected. Dene, Inuit and non-native residents have been affected.

A.I.D.S. is nearly always fatal. Six of the 21 reported infected persons already are known to have died. Other deaths may have occurred among those infected persons who left the Northwest Territories.

In addition to the 21 known H.I.V. infections, there are many more people in the N.W.T. who are infected with the A.I.D.S. virus but probably do not know about it. These persons will permit the disease to spread further and faster than in previous years. No community in the N.W.T. is safe from A.I.D.S.

Public education efforts over the past few years have provided most Northwest Territories residents with the basic information about A.I.D.S., but it cannot be restated too often.

The A.I.D.S. virus is not spread by food or water, it is not spread by saliva, sweat, tears, urine, hand shaking, swimming pool water, showers or toilets. A.I.D.S. is spread by unprotected sexual contact and by the sharing of contaminated needles for injection.

Knowing about the disease is not enough. If we are to stop the spread of A.I.D.S. people must know that there is a risk of infection from unprotected sex and adopt sexual practices that will protect them from that virus.

It has become clear that public education has not yet been very successful in changing sexual behavioural patterns. Until it is, our efforts to control the spread of the A.I.D.S. virus will not be effective.

In conclusion, I am very encouraged by the action being initiated by regional boards and community groups. I am also pleased to have the support of the Standing Committee on Finance in placing greater emphasis on an A.I.D.S. Awareness Program this year. In the future, we cannot afford to fail in the effort to control the spread of A.I.D.S. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Ms. Cournoyea. Minister statements, Mr. Pollard.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the following individuals have been recommended by Cabinet for Commissioner in executive council appointments to the Northwest Territories Business Credit Corporation. The B.C.C. board of directors will need people for a three-year term, Mr. Speaker. The individuals are: Mr. Al Woodhouse of Iqaluit; Mr. Jim Schaefer of Fort Smith; and Ms. Alison Wynn Barr of Rankin Inlet.

In addition, Mr. Speaker, Mrs. Mary King of Hay River has been appointed as Chairperson of the Northwest Territories Business Credit Corporation.

In all, five directors of the B.C.C. had terms that expired October 4, 1992. These appointments will fill three of those vacant positions. The remaining two vacancies will be considered by Cabinet in approximately six months' time, to provide continuity to the board.

The last official meeting of the B.C.C. board was held on September 30, 1992. Since that time, applications within the authority of the chairperson have been addressed by the Vice Chairperson, Mrs. Mary King, in accordance with the Northwest Territories Business Credit Corporation Act. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Item 2, Ministers' Statements. Item 3, Members' Statements. Item 4, Returns to Oral Questions. Ms. Cournoyea.

Mr. Speaker, I have a return to an oral questions asked by Mr. Pudlat on November 27, 1992, with regard to the study on the rates of the N.W.T. Power Corporation.

The Power Corporation's rates are currently being reviewed by the Public Utilities Board. The board's review consists of two parts. First of all, revenue requirement, which is how much the Corporation can earn in total; and secondly, individual rates.

The revenue requirement stage has been going on for several months and should be completed soon. Then the board can begin to look at the corporation's rates and decide what fair rates are, and whether there should be so many different rates.

The rate review process is taking a long time because the Corporation's rates just came under the Public Utilities Board's jurisdiction in April, 1992. Therefore, this is the Corporation's first full rate application and it must meet many new regulatory requirements.

Mr. Speaker, I have another return to an oral question asked by Mr. Ningark on November 25, 1992, regarding funding for social services appeal committees.

A social services appeal committee meeting is being planned for the Kitikmeot region in January. Funding is available in the Social Assistance Budget.

A letter will be sent on November 27, 1992, asking if the week of January 11, 1993, is acceptable to the committee for holding this meeting.

One of the planned agenda items is for the department's human resource officer, Jerry Fryer, to provide training to the committee on social assistance.

Item 4, Return to oral questions, Mr. Morin.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I have a return to an oral question, asked by Mr. Koe on November 30, 1992, regarding the justification for hiring additional positions.

The old Department of Government Services had five regional superintendents. After consolidation, these superintendents were replaced by manager positions. In three regions, the positions have become vacant because of promotion or resignation. These positions are now being filled through competition.

The information technology professionals advertisement covers competitions for vacancies in existing positions in the systems and computer services division. Staffing action is required in order to meet clients' demands. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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

(Translation) Stephen Kakfwi, you were in Cape Dorset alone and I was in Sanikiluaq at the time. I wanted to meet with you when you went to my constituency, but Mr. Minister had gone to Cape Dorset to meet with the local government in Cape Dorset.

Mr. Speaker, the Minister has some written information about the meeting that was held in Cape Dorset, and the residents of Cape Dorset wanted to find out what the Minister's plans are in this regard. I wonder if the Minister is going to go ahead with the decentralization of government programs that he discussed with the Cape Dorset Hamlet? Thank you.

Mr. Kakfwi.

Item 5, Oral Questions. Supplementary, Mr. Pudlat.

(Translation) Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I did not indicate earlier what I was trying to ask for. I was trying to ask a question regarding community transfer initiatives. I would like to repeat the question. Just recently, on November 23, 1992, I received a letter from the hamlet regarding the proposals. I am not sure if you have received it yet, but it had outlined the plans for community transfers. How soon can the Minister indicate to me or give me a written plan for the community transfers? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Item 5, Oral Questions. Mrs. Marie-Jewell.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I have a question for the Minister of Renewable Resources. Mr. Speaker, a concern was expressed to me by a couple of constituents, with regard to a trap line issue, in particular, with regard to the way Renewable Resources has arbitrarily decided to open up a certain trap line within our community. These constituents had the support of the Metis, and particularly the band, for this trap line to be granted to their family. I would like to ask the Minister of Renewable Resources how the department settles disputes on who should get a trap line

within a family once the individual who had the trap line registered in their name has passed on? Thank you.

Mr. Allooloo.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. If the Member from Fort Smith is referring to a trapper who recently passed away and had two sons, the sons are now going to be the owners of that trap line. Thank you.

Item 5, Oral Questions. Supplementary, Mrs. Marie-Jewell.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I am referring to trap line 829, and the trapper did not have two sons, but two nephews. The band had decided that this trap line should be turned over to his sister who would give it to her two sons. Is the Minister indicating to this House that this trap line will, in fact, be registered to the two sons of the lady whose brother had passed away? Thank you.

Mr. Allooloo.

Mr. Speaker, yes, the trap line will be taken over by the family, rather than an individual who was trapping in that area while the trapper was still alive. He expressed some interest in continuing trapping along that particular trap line. However, the department advises me that the trap line is going to be turned over to the family.

Item 5, Oral Questions. Mr. Koe.

Merci, Mr. Speaker. I have a question for the Minister of Health. Earlier today, I spoke about the expectations of the residents of the Inuvik region concerning the construction of a replacement facility for the Inuvik Regional Hospital. As stated by the department during the 1988 health transfer, this facility is expected to be completed in 1998-99. Given that programming and planning for this facility would take two years, and construction would take three years, funding for the planning and programming of this facility would have to begin in the 1993-94 fiscal year to meet this timetable. Could the Minister confirm to this House that planning for this facility will start next year and that funding will be identified for the planning of this facility in the 1993-94 Capital Plan?

Ms. Cournoyea.

Mr. Speaker, I will check on whether the planning money will be exactly in 1993-94, but to give a little bit of a background on that, when the two units in Iqaluit and Inuvik were discussed at the transfer time, we put up those dates and my recollection - I was not the Minister of Health at that time, but I was involved - is that we were aiming for about that period of time. There are a number of issues that have to be resolved in terms of the catchment area of the Inuvik region. I believe that we should be given the planning, but some major decisions will have to be made on who will be using the regional hospital.

For example, we have not decided what we are going to do with the Sahtu region. Half of that region is using our hospital, and the other half is in Yellowknife. That type of planning should begin to take place and the board or the region, should be addressing that as soon as possible. Unless that question is answered, it would be difficult to plan a facility not knowing what the catchment area is and who will be using the unit. I will check into the matter to see that the discussion begins very soon.

Item 5, Oral Questions. Supplementary, Mr. Koe.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. These questions have to be answered. That is why planning should start immediately. Since the federal government has already contributed over $4 million toward its share of the capital costs in replacing this facility and major renovations for the Baffin hospital, will the Minister confirm that this funding already received by this government from the federal government will be used to plan for the new facility in Inuvik and for renovations to the Baffin hospital?

Ms. Cournoyea.

Mr. Speaker, I would have to take that question as notice.

Question has been taken as notice. Item 5, Oral Questions. Ms. Mike.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I have a question for the Minister of Justice. The honourable Members know of my concern about the message that the light sentencing of Diane Doyle will convey to northerners everywhere. Will the Minister of Justice explain how there is any deterrence value in sentencing someone who has committed a major theft to such a short term in jail?

Ms. Mike, you are asking an opinion of the Minister. Will you rephrase your question and ask how it conforms to government policy? Ms. Mike.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Is there any deterrence in a short jail term for someone who has committed a major crime?

Mr. Kakfwi.

If I could remind the honourable Members that, when posing questions to Ministers, the rules do not allow them to ask an opinion. To ask a Minister what government policy is on a certain issue is permissible, but not a personal opinion of a Minister. Item 5, Oral Questions. Supplementary, Ms. Mike.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I believe strongly that we have come to a point where decisions coming out of the courts do not reflect the views of the public at large. My question to the Minister is, recognizing that this Assembly has an arm's length relationship with decisions made by the courts, what mechanism is in place to ensure that the judiciary does not lose contact with the values that are held by the people that it is supposed to serve?

Mr. Kakfwi.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I am going to repeat the last part of my question. All I wanted to know is what policies are in place to ensure that the judiciary does not lose contact with the values that are held by the people it is supposed to serve?

Mr. Kakfwi.

The Member asked an oral question, the Member did not ask to put this in the form of a written question. If that is the response of the Minister, then this is his choice. I just want to make it very clear that a Member who has asked an oral question expects an oral response. Oral Questions. Mr. Zoe.

Mr. Kakfwi.

The question has been taken as notice. Oral Questions. Mrs. Marie-Jewell.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My question is for the Minister of Justice. Mr. Speaker, on the weekend I was in Fort Smith and when I was coming out of a confectionary store, I walked right in front of Diane Doyle. I am concerned as equally as my colleague from Baffin Central. Mr. Speaker, I know there is an exchange of service agreements which the territorial government shares with the federal correctional services. It was established primarily so that aboriginal people serving sentences longer than two years, would not lose touch with their cultural environment.

Recognizing that Ms. Doyle is not an aboriginal individual and that she has been granted three years, is the Minister's corrections division making use of the agreement to allow Ms. Doyle to remain within the territorial facilities, recognizing that she denied her right to an appeal? Thank you.

Mr. Kakfwi.

The question has been taken as notice. Oral Questions. Mr. Koe.

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. My question is for the Minister responsible for the Northwest Territories Housing Corporation. Mr. Speaker, I understand that in other jurisdictions the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation and the provincial social housing delivery agents have formed committees with native organizations called tripartite management committees as a means of using the input of native organizations to plan and coordinate the delivery of housing.

I also understand that there is no such committee in the Northwest Territories and no formal role for the input of native organizations into the planning of social housing programs. My question to the Minister is, can he confirm that discussions have begun between the Northwest Territories Housing Corporation and the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation regarding the establishment of a tripartite management committee to include aboriginal representation in the planning and delivery of social housing programs?

Mr. Morin.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. No, those discussions have not begun.

Oral Questions. Supplementary, Mr. Koe.

Can the Minister advise this House as to whether any discussions have occurred with aboriginal organizations regarding these committees?

Mr. Morin.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. There have been no discussions with aboriginal organizations regarding this type of committee. I have had some informal talks with the president of the Metis Association, Gary Bohnet. I am also proposing, through this Legislative Assembly, through the Standing Committee on Agencies, Boards, and Commissions, a solution by having aboriginal people as well as all northern people involved in giving direct input into those programs and policies of the N.W.T. Housing Corporation. I expect to be attending a meeting tomorrow evening regarding this issue. Thank you.

Item 5, Oral Questions. Supplementary, Mr. Koe.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Can the Minister state to this House whether or not he believes that aboriginal people should be involved in the planning of social housing programs in the north?

Can I remind honourable Members that they must phrase their questions to refer to government policy, not the opinion of the Minister. Mr. Koe.

Can the Minister advise this House as to what his position is with regard to involving aboriginal people in the discussion and planning of social housing in the north?

Mr. Morin.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The Member knows, and I have stated many times, that aboriginal people should be involved in the policy and program discussions of the Housing Corporation. I am a strong believer in this. Presently what I have recommended to the Standing Committee on Agencies, Boards and Commissions of this Legislative Assembly is stronger ties with our community housing authorities. The majority of those housing authorities are made up of aboriginal people. We have regional meetings once a year to discuss not only the maintenance, but the policy and programs of the Housing Corporation. We then bring it to this level of government where we have a committee made up of six ordinary Members as well as myself, to make recommendations to Cabinet on some policy and program

issues. This Legislative Assembly is made up of a majority of aboriginal people. One of the reasons I ran and a lot of other people ran for the position of M.L.A. is to have input into the policy and programs of this government. Thank you.

Item 5, Oral Questions. Mr. Gargan.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Minister of Justice. Back on June 23, and on many occasions during the past two years, I have asked a question regarding the review of a complaint placed by a young Inuit woman. This is the third Minister to hold the Justice portfolio since the incident. The victim of sexual assault was taken into custody by the R.C.M.P. and forced to travel across Canada in handcuffs. Mr. Speaker, this young woman was locked in the same R.C.M.P. vehicle as the man who assaulted her. Mr. Speaker, will the current Minister of Justice confirm that even though several months have passed since that hearing, the R.C.M.P. Complaint Commission has still not made its report public? Thank you.

Mr. Kakfwi.

Item 5, Oral Questions. Mr. Pudlat.

(Translation) Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to direct my question to the Minister responsible for Education, Culture and Employment Programs. I would like to get a clarification regarding the Cape Dorset museum. The Cape Dorset people are requesting to have a house set up for a museum. I would like to ask the Minister what has been done with regard to the request of the Cape Dorset people.

Ms. Cournoyea.

Mr. Speaker, in the absence of a Minister with that responsibility, Mr. Kakfwi will be answering questions for the interim period.

Mr. Kakfwi.

Question has been taken as notice. Item 5, Oral Questions. Mr. Zoe.

Mr. Kakfwi.

Item 5, Oral Questions. Mr. Koe.

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. I have a question for the Minister of Renewable Resources. In the past, the department has funded a community freezers program to place large cold storage facilities in small communities. It is my understanding that the department undertook a review last summer of this policy and developed a revised policy. It is my understanding that this policy has never been implemented. Can the Minister tell us what the status of the revised community freezers policy is?

Mr. Allooloo.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The policy has not been formally tabled at the Cabinet meetings. I hope that once we are out of the session and are able to work on these types of initiatives, I will be bringing that forward quite soon. I am told that the department has an initial draft of the policy that I may be able to take to Cabinet, but which I have not had time to review. Thank you.

Item 5, Oral Questions. Supplementary, Mr. Koe.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. In the absence of a policy, how has the department been funding the community freezers program for the past two years?

Mr. Allooloo.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. We have not funded any community freezers. The bill has been picked up by the Department of Public Works and the maintenance of the freezers has been carried out by the D.P.W. local maintainers. Thank you.

Item 5, Oral Questions. Mrs. Marie-Jewell.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I have a question for the Minister of Personnel. Mr. Speaker, in respect to the sale of staff housing, I am aware that many of the staff houses in Yellowknife that have been considered for sale have gone to the real estate agencies in Yellowknife. Can the Minister indicate to me when the staff houses that are considered for sale in Fort Smith will be going through the real estate agencies?

Mr. Kakfwi.

Item 5, Oral Questions. Supplementary, Mrs. Marie-Jewell.

Mr. Speaker, it is not a supplementary, but to ask the Minister if he is taking my question as notice?