Members' Statements. Ms. Mike.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I rise today on behalf of the Baffin Central communities to express appreciation for the diligent efforts that have been undertaken by the federal Department of National Defence during the design phase of the clean up of ten former D.E.W. Line sites. Mr. Speaker, you are aware that for many years the people of our Arctic communities have been troubled by the presence of these unsightly and potentially dangerous areas. I am pleased to report that, after waiting for such a long time, we are finally seeing some progress.

Public consultation meetings were held in August, 1992, to collect local input on how best to carry out the clean up of the first ten sites to be targeted. Although there was supposed to be a second round of public meetings this fall, the decision has now been made to postpone these until scientific studies on the next 11 sites have been completed. By postponing the second round of community consultation until the spring of 1993, it would be possible to provide more detailed information on clean up procedures and to allow for more meaningful discussions of all 21 sites.

Mr. Speaker, I have been very impressed with the approach the Department of National Defence has been taking with this project. They are approaching it as a partnership with the affected communities, and special efforts are being made to communicate with the mayors and councils involved. With this excellent start, I look forward to the days when these damaged lands will be clear of the discarded equipment and garbage that has offended the Inuit for so many years. I have spoken in this House before, Mr. Speaker, about aboriginal people being the guardians of our natural environment. We care for the land on which we have been placed. We nurture it back to health when it has been injured.

I am pleased to note that our communities are performing this role, in partnership with the Government of Canada. I would like to compliment the Department of National Defence for their part in this important initiative. Thank you.

Thank you, Ms. Mike. I do note that Ms. Mike finished within the proper time frame. Item 3, Members' Statements. Mr. Antoine.

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. As all Members are aware, the Northwest Territories is going through very difficult economic times. People from all walks of life are affected by the poor performance of the economy. However, Mr. Speaker, nowhere is this economic difficulty felt more than by Dene and Metis people in the communities. These are people who are trappers. Not only do they face the pressure of a declining economy, but at the same time they face pressures from misguided anti-fur activists. The cost of food, supplies and equipment for trappers has been steadily rising over the years, while at the same time, decreases in the price of fur has meant a dramatic drop in the income of trappers. Mr. Speaker, the Trap Exchange Program has also added to this problem. Trappers are told to exchange their leg hold traps for improved traps. The government is funding this exchange. Trapping is a tough life under normal circumstances, and this exchange is

an added burden to a lot of people because of the confusion that it causes.

Mr. Speaker, the combination of these factors is making it virtually impossible for trappers in the Northwest Territories to earn a living now. Mr. Speaker, there are many elders in the Northwest Territories who wish to continue to pursue traditional hunting and trapping lifestyles. However, the current system penalizes some of these trappers if they wish to pursue a traditional livelihood. Many elders who receive old age pension benefits have any income they earn from trapping deducted from their monthly pension cheques. It is a disincentive for many elders to pursue a traditional lifestyle today.

Mr. Speaker, when elders can pursue their lifestyle it creates a more healthy person in body and spirit. It is my opinion that Members of the House should do everything possible to allow people to continue and pursue a traditional way of life. Mahsi.

Thank you, Mr. Antoine. Item 3, Members' Statements. Mr. Ningark.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I stand today to make a statement with regard to our young people who will be running the government in the future. As M.L.A.s, we all have children, sisters and brothers who will be working with the government in the future. They will be the ones who will be running our land and working in Yellowknife as well as other areas in the Northwest Territories.

Today, there are young people who are living with two different cultures. I am sure it is very stressful for the young people who have to live that way. We have to think about what we can do for them in order for them to work and make a living. They will be helping us in the future. While we are meeting today, we have to make them see the work we are doing and the issues that we are dealing with, with regard to social services, the women's organizations and education. We have to get them involved in the process. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Ningark. Item 3, Members' Statements. Mr. Whitford.

Thank you, Mr. Whitford. Item 3, Members' Statements. Mr. Pudlat.

(Translation) Thank you, Mr. Speaker. There is a concern in Sanikiluaq. In Sanikiluaq the responsibilities for petroleum products are dealt with by D.P.W. and we would like this to stay as is. Mr. Speaker, this is what the people of Sanikiluaq would like to see and this will be one of the questions I will be bringing up later. Thank you.

Item 3, Members' Statements. Item 4, Returns to Oral Questions. Mr. Pollard.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I have a return to an oral question asked by Mr. Zoe on November 20, 1992. It concerns the employee training for a kiosk in Toronto.

Arctic Canada has been open for four months, since July 23, 1992. The staff of Arctic Canada at the time of hiring are given a package of N.W.T. tourism information which they are expected to know within their first week of employment. This package includes the N.W.T. 1992 Explorer's Guide and one of each of the eight new ED&T arts and crafts brochures covering the areas of birch bark baskets, tufting, performing arts, beadwork, print making, carving, tanned hides and quill work. After completing several shifts at Arctic Canada, the staff members are given a written quiz on the information that they have read. Arctic Canada also has, at the kiosk, a library of resource materials which contains a broad perspective of information on the Northwest Territories. Employees are expected to increase their knowledge of the Northwest Territories by reviewing this material.

At the time of the kiosk opening, the staff was taken to Canadian Arctic producers and to the Northwest Company in Toronto and given a seminar by the managers of each of the facilities. Also, Mr. Speaker, Doug Stewart, one of the original Pangnirtung weave shop managers, spent an evening with the staff.

The general manager and staff of Arctic Canada realize the important role that they play as ambassadors for the north. A Member's concern has been brought to the attention of all staff at Arctic Canada and they will make every effort to provide accurate, timely and interesting information about the Northwest Territories and about the products in the kiosk and their place of origin. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Item 4, Returns to Oral Questions. Ms. Cournoyea.

Mr. Speaker, I have a return to an oral question asked by Mrs. Marie-Jewell on November 25, 1992 regarding honorariums for Board of Inquiry members. The honourable Member for Thebacha has asked whether the members of the Board of Inquiry, under the Medical Profession Act, receive an honorarium. Mr. Speaker, members of the Board of Inquiry, like all members of N.W.T. boards, are eligible for honorariums on a per diem basis for time spent on board matters such as attendance at regular meetings or hearings. Their expenses for travel, accommodation, or meals reimbursed are in accordance with the Government of the Northwest Territories' policy for duty travel. Thank you.

Item 4, Returns to Oral Questions. Mr. Kakfwi.

I would like to take this opportunity to recognize in the gallery the Mayor, Ray Michaud, and the Deputy Mayor, Tom Wilson, of the village of Fort Simpson.

---Applause

Item 4, Returns to Oral Questions. Mr. Kakfwi.

Item 4, Returns to Oral Questions. Mr. Whitford

Item 4, Returns to Oral Questions. Mr. Pollard.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my return is to question 60-12(3), asked by Mr. Dent on November 23, 1992. It concerned the reason for Economic Development and Tourism staff travelling to the far east.

Mr. Speaker, the director of product development, planning and regulations for ED&T and tourism operator representatives from Northwinds, Nahanni Mountain Lodge and Adventure Northwest participated in Kanata 1992, between November 10 and 13 of this year. While the three operators sold their own packages the tourism director represented all other Northwest Territories' products.

Kanata is a specialized tourism marketplace in which both Canadian sellers and Japanese buyers assemble at one venue, enabling them to engage in travel, trade development and business negotiations. The department and private sector operators have participated in this marketplace since 1990. The Kanata annual marketplace is organized by the Canadian Embassy in Tokyo, which selects and qualifies 55 Japanese travel agencies to sell Canadian tourism products in Japan. Canadian operators and government organizations apply individually to attend as sellers and are selected by the Canadian Embassy. As a result of past dealings with Kanata, the Northwest Territories has continued to grow. Key travel trade wholesalers are extending their tour offerings beyond the popular Aurora product in Yellowknife and there is now extensive interest in other parts of the Northwest Territories.

During the course of Kanata, Mr. Speaker, each of the Northwest Territories' participants held 45 private business sessions with Japanese buyers. Other open sessions provided additional contacts with interested Japanese buyers. Further, pre- and post-Kanata meetings were held in Tokyo with the Japan Travel Corporation, a company that initiated Japanese tour travel to the Northwest Territories. The department will provide Northwest Territories operators with a detailed contact list of interested Japanese travel agencies. Operators will be asked to report on sales related to the contacts. Subsequently, the net value of offshore marketplace activities can be determined. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Item 4, Returns to Oral Questions, Mr. Kakfwi.