Good afternoon. Before we commence with Orders of the Day, I would like to welcome in the gallery the frontline workers in the field of family violence from 16 communities. They are in Yellowknife for a week long conference.

---Applause

Item 2, Ministers' Statements. Mr. Kakfwi.

Excuse me, Mr. Kakfwi, is this an emergency statement?

Proceed with your emergency statement, Mr. Kakfwi.

Thank you, Mr. Kakfwi. Ministers' Statements. Item 3, Members' Statements. Mr. Ningark.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. On behalf of the women working against family violence, it is my pleasure to make a statement directed to all of the politicians. "We are frontline workers of family violence, representing 16 communities across the N.W.T. "We are discussing the shocking levels of violence against women and children. How do you see your responsibility in terms of rectifying the problems? How do you think the male leadership can best provide direction on these issues?" Thank you.

---Applause

Thank you, Mr. Ningark. Members' Statements. Item 4, Returns to Oral Questions. Mr. Pollard.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I have a return to a question asked by Mr. Pudlat on November 20, 1992. Mr. Speaker, it concerns the search and rescue boat that Mr. Pudlat was requesting for Sanikiluaq. Mr. Speaker, search and rescue funding is provided under the new initiatives program administered by the National Search and Rescue Secretariat in Ottawa. Funding is provided to federal departments having a direct or indirect search and rescue mandate to develop search and rescue response capability throughout the country. Federal departments having a search and rescue mandate include the R.C.M.P., the Department of National Defence, the Canadian Coast Guard, Atmospheric and Environment Services and the Department of Indian and Northern Affairs.

Any vessel purchased under this program would be owned by the sponsoring federal agency and could not be turned over for other community uses. Therefore, Sanikiluaq's request could not be accommodated by this program. Emergency Preparedness Canada administers the Joint Emergency Preparedness Program commonly called J.E.P.P. J.E.P.P. is a cost sharing program between the federal government, the provinces and the territories to enhance the emergency response capability in every region in Canada.

Municipalities, provincial and territorial government departments may access funding. Although funding is available to acquire equipment, facilities, training, planning and education, it is not available to purchase search and rescue boats. The Department of Economic Development and Tourism, Mr. Speaker, has funding programs which provide for the creation or expansion of businesses through the acquisition of new equipment and infrastructure. A private commercial venture could put together a business proposal to purchase a boat for commercial fishing, tourism, or freighting and could come to the department for assistance. If the business plan shows there is a market for the boat's services, that a profit can be made, and if the applicant has sufficient equity, the proposal will be considered for assistance.

In summary, a boat to be used for commercial purposes as well as search and rescue may qualify for departmental assistance, assistance from E.D.A. or, perhaps, from the Canadian Aboriginal Economic Development Program. Interested Sanikiluaq residents should contact the local economic development officer. The Sanikiluaq economic development office has indicated that the community would like assistance in getting a marine surveyor to assess the condition of an older boat which is in the community at the present time. The surveyor would recommend what repairs have to be undertaken. In this instance, Mr. Speaker, the department can assist. We look forward to their proposal. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Pollard. Returns to Oral Questions. Mr. Allooloo.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I have a return to an oral question asked by Ms. Mike on November 23, 1992, regarding the method of determining distance of daily polar bear travel; the longest distance a female polar bear with a radio collar has moved in one day.

Radio collars cannot be put on male polar bears. However, a hunter and a biologist followed the tracks of one male polar bear that had travelled more than 160 kilometres without stopping to sleep or hunt for seals. The bear was followed in April during the mating season when male polar bears travel long distances to search for females.

Information from hunters and movements of radio collared female polar bears indicate that polar bears travel more in the spring and early summer than during the open water season and winter. Thank you. I have another return if I may, Mr. Speaker.

I have a return to a question asked by Mr. Antoine on December 2, 1992, regarding water and sewer subsidies in tax-based municipalities.

The Department of Municipal and Community Affairs is preparing a policy proposal on the distribution of water and sewage services subsidy funding to tax-based municipalities. I expect to submit the policy proposal to Cabinet in January, 1993.

I have another return, if I may, to a question posed by Mr. Gargan on December 2, 1992, regarding the status of the Ingraham Trail "no hunting" corridor.

The following responses are provided regarding the regulation which prohibits individuals from hunting within the corridor along the Ingraham Trail:

1. Eight written warnings have been issued under the Special Management Area (S.M.A.) Regulations, Section 4, which states that "No person shall discharge a firearm for the purposes of hunting big game within Special Management Area F/1-B during the period commencing November 1 in one year and ending April 30 in the following year." All eight warnings were issued this fall;

2. No charges have been laid under the summary conviction procedures regulations for offenses under the S.M.A. regulations, Section 4; and

3. Since no charges have been laid, no one has proceeded to trial.

I have one more return, to a question asked by Mr. Pudluk on November 20, 1992 regarding the effect of tranquillizing polar bear meat.

Last April, a study was done out of Resolute Bay to determine when the drug used to tranquillize polar bears is no longer in the bear's body. The study was done on four polar bears.

The Department of Renewable Resources assisted the study, but does not yet have the results. The Department is contacting the researcher, who is from the University of Saskatchewan, to find out when the analysis will be done. Once the study is complete, the Department will discuss the results with hunters from Resolute Bay first and then advise other communities. Thank you.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I have a return to an oral question asked by Mr. Lewis on December 2, 1992, regarding the reason for the B.I.P. adjustment.

The subject tender was issued on September 9, 1992. The revised Business Incentive Policy was approved for implementation in June of this year. It extended the application of local preference to tender the purchase of goods. Previously, the local preference was applied only to tenders for construction contract.

The policy, therefore, extended the preference to local firms that supply goods that are intended to be used in the same community in which the supplier is located. Further, the policy provides that two or more communities be considered local when located close to the work site. For example the highways camp is located outside municipal boundaries. Communities in the vicinity of the highways camp can be considered local for the materials destined for that camp.

Since the oil tankers are to be used in and around Hay River, Hay River is defined as the local for the purpose of applying the preference. Application of local preference is therefore consistent with the policy and the decision to waive local preference on a much larger tender to supply and install furniture in the Legislative Assembly building, was a separate and distinct matter, the reason for which I have already indicated to this House.

I must admit, however, that I am as concerned about this issue of local preference as the Member, for our preference policy should end. We should equalize opportunity for all northern business but this particular provision may, in fact, be doing the opposite in some cases.

I have instructed the Senior Management Preference Committee to review this matter and report back to me by the end of January. In the meantime it will be necessary to abide by the provisions of the policy as defined. Exceptions will only be approved by the Senior Management Committee. Thank you.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I have a question for the Minister of Intergovernmental and Aboriginal Affairs.

On November 27, the Minister tabled document 18-12(3), Community Transfer Initiative Implementation Plan. The purpose was to represent the government's commitment to recognize and encourage community self-government. The community transfer agreements with interested communities will recognize community authority, identify and designate community responsibilities and transfer resources for program and service delivery. My question to the Minister is, what is the status of the implementation plan?

Mr. Kakfwi.

I would like to remind the Members that if they are going to pose a question that could require a long and detailed answer, they should consider using written questions because a long and detailed answer would take away the opportunity from the other Members to ask their questions. Item 5, Oral Questions. Supplementary, Mr. Koe.

Thank you. I asked the question. I did not expect a long and detailed answer. Mr. Speaker, the Minister stated that communities have been in negotiations or have put in requests. I know of several communities up in the Mackenzie Delta, Fort McPherson and Arctic Red River, for instance, that have submitted proposals to the Minister and his department. What is the Minister doing in terms of dealing with these communities that already have assumed some responsibilities? What action is being done to assist these communities at the present time?

Mr. Kakfwi.

In fairness, I have asked that the Members consider using written questions for complex questions. I also would ask the Ministers to try to be brief and concise with their responses. What we are trying to achieve is a balance between the questions and the responses, so that other Members and Ministers will have an opportunity to speak during question period. Oral Questions. Supplementary, Mr. Koe.

Mr. Speaker, in terms of the community transfer initiative implementation plan, this initiative will be an open and cooperative process, co-directed by the government, communities and M.L.A.s. What do you expect from the

M.L.A.s in terms of this plan? Do you expect us to approve it? What input do you expect from us?

Mr. Kakfwi.

Oral Questions. Mr. Nerysoo.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My question is for the Minister of Renewable Resources. The community of Arctic Red River has been requesting, as a result of the community transfer discussions, a renewable resources officer. Could the Minister inform me if a position has been identified for transfer to that particular community?

Mr. Allooloo.

Mr. Speaker, no.

Mr. Nerysoo.

Thank you. On the matter of community transfer initiatives, to the acting Minister of Social Services, the community of Arctic Red River has requested that a social worker position be transferred as part of the community initiative project. Has that position been identified for transfer to the community of Arctic Red River?

Mr. Pollard.

Mr. Speaker, I am not sure to whom the requests were made to but to my knowledge there has been no position identified from Social Services at this time. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

That was a new question. Supplementary to that question, Mr. Nerysoo.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Can I ask the Minister of Finance, if any positions that have been requested from the community of Arctic Red River have been identified in the community initiatives, including Economic Development and Tourism, or any positions for the purpose of transfer as a result of community initiative discussions? Thank you.

Mr. Pollard.

No, Mr. Speaker.

Oral Questions. Mr. Gargan.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My question is for the Minister of Personnel. The Members of this House are aware of my long standing concerns regarding the hiring practices of this government and its commitment to hiring aboriginal people at senior levels notwithstanding the Affirmative Action Policy. We all know that the aboriginal people are not adequately represented at the management level in this government. From discussions with the honourable Member for Kitikmeot, Mr. Bernhardt, I know that these are issues in his region also. Recently, aboriginal employees of the Department of Public Works in Cambridge Bay have communicated their concerns that they are being discriminated against when promotions are made within the department, in favour of non-aboriginal employees who are not better qualified.

Mr. Speaker, is the Minister aware of these serious concerns of aboriginal employees of the Department of Public Works in the Kitikmeot region regarding the department's apparent unequal treatment of aboriginal employees?

Mr. Kakfwi.

Oral Questions. Mr. Arngna'naaq.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My question is for the Minister of Economic Development and Tourism. The Department of Economic Development and Tourism initiated the use of southern stone for carvers a number of years ago. There is some concern from fine arts galleries that the stone brought in from the south is not marketable. I would like to know whether the department will reinitiate stone quarrying in the north en masse for carvers in the communities? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Pollard.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, as the Members know, there was some concern about the asbestos content of some of the stone in the Northwest Territories. While that was being examined stone was brought in from the south. We are interested in quarrying stone in the Northwest Territories and to that end, in Coppermine, there will be some quarrying this year, Mr. Speaker. So we are bringing that program back, yes.

Oral questions. Supplementary, Mr. Arngna'naaq.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to know when the department plans to continue with other communities.

Mr. Pollard.

Mr. Speaker, we have been responding upon request. If there are requests from communities, then we respond. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Oral questions. Mr. Whitford.

Mr. Kakfwi.

Mr. Kakfwi. Excuse me, Mr. Kakfwi, I think I have brought to the attention of the House now on a number of occasions that according to the guidelines which have been circulated to all Members, a question must not require a lengthy and detailed answer, and when answering a question, a Minister must be brief. Now, the problem here is that two questions have taken up half of question period which is not fair to ordinary Members and it is not fair to other Ministers. So I will say that you have replied to the question and I will say, Oral Questions. Oral Questions. Supplementary, Mr. Whitford.

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

Mr. Kakfwi.

Item 5, Oral Questions. This is your last supplementary, Mr. Whitford.

Mr. Kakfwi.

Item 5, Oral Questions. Mr. Antoine.

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. I have a question for the Minister of Government Services and Public Works. In 1986, a decision was made by the Cabinet of the day to restrict the transportation of material goods and have communities supplied by one company. This was done to ensure that the community resupply programs throughout the western Arctic were maintained. Since that time, the economic situation of the Northwest Territories has developed to the point where there

are other companies capable of providing this essential service. Would the Minister tell me what steps his department has taken to re-examine this decision in light of the changing economic and business situations in the Northwest Territories? Thank you.

Mr. Morin.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I have instructed my department to look at that policy. I know that the Town Council of Fort Simpson has raised the issue with us. There are other businesses in that area that are interested in supplying materials on the river system. We are going to look at the policy to see if it is outdated. Thank you.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I have a supplementary. Is the Minister prepared to advise the Cabinet that general conditions should be changed to allow other interested companies the opportunity to bid on a contract for community resupply, particularly in the western Arctic? Thank you.

Mr. Morin.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Once I see the policy and understand all the issues surrounding it, then I will make a decision and advise the Cabinet accordingly. Thank you.

Item 5, Oral Questions. Mr. Whitford.

Mr. Pollard.

Mr. Speaker, it was an oversight on my part and I apologize to the House. Madame Premier is in Fort Smith at a luncheon with the Member for Thebacha. They will be returning at 2:30 p.m. I was told, Mr. Speaker. My apologies to the House.

Item 5, Oral Questions. Mr. Nerysoo.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I have a question for the Minister of Renewable Resources. I have a letter that was sent out in the Yukon with regard to activities relating to trappers. I would like to ask the Minister if he has, at any time, communicated with the previous Minister of Renewable Resources and with the Yukon on the joint effort of addressing the matter of trap replacement?

Mr. Allooloo.

Yes, Mr. Speaker. Not only did I discuss with the previous Minister, Mr. Webster, the need to combat the animal rights movement with regard to furbearers' trapping, we also discussed at the national meeting of Wildlife Ministers how we should implement the trapping exchange program. Thank you.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Could I ask the Minister of Renewable Resources if he is aware that the Government of Yukon will be introducing their new laws for trapping next October 1, 1993?

Mr. Allooloo.

No, Mr. Speaker, I was not aware of that. I would like to thank the Member for that information. Thank you.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I will be tabling the letter to all trappers that was sent out in the Yukon, for the information of the Members of the House. Could I ask the Minister if he could contact the Yukon government to see if he could coordinate the matter of trap replacement with it so that it will accommodate those trappers both in the Yukon and in the Northwest Territories who harvest resources in both jurisdictions?

Mr. Allooloo.

Yes, Mr. Speaker.

Item 5, Oral Questions. Item 6, Written Questions. Item 7, Returns to Written Questions. Mr. Clerk.

Mr. Speaker, I have a Return to Written Question 12-12(3), asked by Mr. Gargan to the Minister of Renewable Resources, concerning the status of the Ingraham Trail "No Hunting" Corridor.

The following responses are provided regarding the regulation which prohibits individuals from hunting within the corridor along the Ingraham Trail:

1. Eight written warnings have been issued under the Special Management Area (S.M.A.) Regulations, Section 4, which states that "No person shall discharge a firearm for the purposes of hunting big game within Special Management Area F/1-b during the period commencing November 1 in one year and ending April 30 in the following year." All eight warnings were issued this fall;

2. No charges have been laid under the summary conviction procedures regulations for offenses under the S.M.A. regulations, Section 4; and

3. Since no charges have been laid, no one has proceeded to trial.

Item 8, Replies to Opening Address. Item 9, Petitions. Item 10, Reports of Standing and Special Committees. Mr. Dent.

Mr. Nerysoo.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Perhaps the most frequent concern voiced to us was about some aspects of the Social Assistance Program. Most stated that the money they got was not enough. The shortfall was acutely felt by those recipients who did not hunt. This is not surprising. As we pointed out in our last report, the social assistance food allowance is only enough to pay about 60 per cent of the cost of buying a nutritious supply of food for families in the Northwest Territories.

We reaffirm our call for a major overhaul of the way financial assistance is provided to the Northwest Territories residents. While these long-term fundamental changes are being considered, specific adjustments still need to be made immediately. Action is needed to respond to people's concerns about not being able to meet their family's basic needs. People need to be able to provide enough good food for their families, and they can be helped to do this in a number of ways.

The key is a flexible approach geared to a client's situation, one of providing more money to buy food or to purchase supplies or gas to go out on the land to harvest it.

People need to be able to properly clothe their families. Speakers made it clear that the current clothing allowances are not enough to buy suitable clothing at local prices. Our climate demands that people be properly clothed.

People need to be encouraged to earn money. The current earned income exemption provision appears to have the opposite effect. Clients told us that they did not see any point in earning money beyond the exemption amount as it only reduced their social assistance benefits by the same amount. To avoid the penalty, some risk prosecution by lying about their earnings. Many people seem to be confused about what percentage of their earnings from carvings or from handicrafts they needed to claim. This aspect of the Social Assistance Program needs to be structured so that the client is better off if he works. The client should always keep at least some portion of every dollar earned.

Programs need to be more understandable to those who seek help. We came across clients who thought they were not eligible for certain benefits or payment options. We checked and found they were eligible. The complexity of the program and the work load of the workers combine to limit chances to clarify such misunderstandings. One such example is the provision of seasonal clothing for children whose parents receive social assistance and who move to another community to continue school. The child is deleted from the parents' social assistance budget because he or she is not living at home. The Department of Education pays for the student's room and board but not the student's clothing needs.

If the student is at least 16, she can apply or he can apply for her own or his own social assistance. If he or she qualifies, he or she becomes eligible for a seasonal clothing allowance after three months on a pro-rated basis of a certain amount monthly. So what does the student do if it is November? Can he or she wait three months to get a warm coat? I doubt very much if she can, or he can.

From what we heard, the Social Assistance Program is complex and confusing to clients. Ways must be found for clients to thread their way successfully through the maze and get the help that they need.

One other aspect, the Social Assistance Manual, from our experience, should be in the language, in this particular case in the Nunavut area, in Inuktitut. With access to support and counselling, there needs to be more access to help people trying to cope with those things that make their lives difficult if not unbearable and unlivable.

On the matter of respite care, people need some relief from their responsibilities of caring for relatives with special needs. Some parents of mentally handicapped adults or children wanted to be able to turn over the care giver job to a home care or a day care worker.

Others talked of wanting a group home or a long-term care facility for temporary or permanent placement of their family member with special needs. The committee recommends that the government review the proposed respite care policy developed by the Northwest Territories Council for Disabled Persons and move to implement it.

On the matter of the community council, people need to be able to seek help for personal and family crises within their own community. Those with whom we spoke pointed out the costs of failing to meet this need in terms of continued family breakdown and violence and suicide. Flying therapists in or flying clients out for intense week long sessions is expensive and benefits only a few, due to the costs involved. Services need to be available within a community. People need ongoing support as they try to heal themselves and their families. As many pointed out to us, elders and other care giving community members can play an effective role in helping people heal. There are those who focus on the use of local para-professionals, with support and training from skilled regional specialists, have been used in the Northwest Territories to offer this support. What is needed to ensure success is the staff and the financial resources to ensure that the helpers are adequately trained and supported in their work. If they are to continue to be helpful, those who listen to people and share their pain, must in turn have someone who supports and listens to them. The committee, therefore, urges the government to look into a pilot project involving provision of para-professional counselling at the community level. The project must include the provision of ongoing training and support to community care givers to ensure maximum benefits. An evaluation component needs to be built in to ensure that assessments can be made as to the success of the initiative.

In this report we have presented the major concerns of those whom we met in the Keewatin. We have recommended action for those concerns which seem particularly compelling. Some refer to shifting to more inclusive approaches to assessing needs planning and delivering services that involve staff and consumers. These are shifts that we see as necessary if we are to be effective in responding to the needs of the people of the Northwest Territories.

Other recommendations call for immediate policy changes or expansion of programs to make them more responsive to the needs of the people of the Northwest Territories. In order to achieve our committee's overall goals, much more information needs to be gathered for our committee's database. It will come from our remaining regional consultations and research projects. This additional information will support and expand on what we have heard and recommended, as well as giving rise to other recommendations.

Our next regional consultation will occur from January 25 to 29, 1993, in the communities in Nahendeh, Deh Cho and in Hay River. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Nerysoo.

Motion To Move Committee Report 5-12(3) To Committee Of The Whole

Mr. Speaker, that concludes the third interim report of the Special Committee on Health and Social Services. Therefore, I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Yellowknife, Frame Lake, that the third interim report of the Special Committee on Health and Social Services be received by the Assembly and moved into the Committee of the Whole for consideration.

The motion is in order. To the motion.

Question.

Question has been called. All those in favour? All those opposed? Motion is carried.

---Carried

Committee Report No. 5-12(3), Special Committee on Health and Social Services, is ordered into the Committee of the Whole. We will take a short break.

---SHORT BREAK

I call this Assembly back to order. We are dealing with Item 10, Reports of Standing and Special Committees. Mr. Koe.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I have a report from the Standing Committee on Agencies, Boards and Commissions, on the proposed elimination of the Board of Directors for the Northwest Territories Housing Corporation.

Mr. Speaker, the Standing Committee on Agencies, Boards and Commissions has completed its review of a proposal to eliminate the Board of Directors of the Northwest Territories Housing Corporation and replace it with an alternative framework for ensuring public input into senior management and policy decisions on housing. This review was undertaken in response to a written request from the Minister responsible for the Northwest Territories Housing Corporation.

The standing committee met on several occasions to review the rationale and substance of the Minister's plan. The standing committee expressed concern that some of the reasons indicated by the Minister for eliminating the board were inappropriate. Arguments that boards and agencies are inconsistent with the concept of ministerial government or that decisions to eliminate government created boards and agencies should be made solely on the basis of the "Strength at Two Levels" report cannot be supported.

Similarly, the standing committee finds that the assumption that significant cost savings will always be realized through the elimination of boards to be dubious. The Standing Committee on Agencies, Boards and Commissions was of the opinion that decisions respecting the elimination of boards and agencies should occur only when there is evidence that the existing structure is not working well and would be improved by an alternative approach.

Upon reviewing the situation surrounding the Board of Directors within the Northwest Territories Housing Corporation, the Standing Committee on Agencies, Boards and Commissions came to the conclusion that the existing structure did contain many inefficiencies and presented an ineffective and uneconomic approach to managing housing programs. Accordingly, the standing committee gave support to the Minister's proposal to eliminate the Board of Directors.

Mr. Speaker, in doing so however, the Standing Committee on Agencies, Boards and Commissions was mindful of the need to ensure that there is adequate public input from the community level into policy development within the Housing Corporation. Therefore, the elimination of the Board of Directors was considered conditional on the development of some alternative mechanism for ensuring appropriate consultation and communication with community leadership and stakeholders.

At the request of the standing committee the Minister brought forward a comprehensive plan from a framework that would facilitate a new approach to community consultation. The Minister proposed that a system of annual district meetings should be implemented and that, in addition, annual public meetings should be held in each community. Increased consultation with local housing organizations and with local governments are also planned.

The Standing Committee on Agencies, Boards and Commissions was supportive of these plans and has recommended that they should be initiated during the 1993-94 fiscal year. To ensure that public input is transmitted to and appropriately dealt with at senior management levels, the Minister proposed the establishment of a Special Advisory Committee on Housing, with a membership of seven M.L.A.s. While there are a significant number of concerns about the proposed structure and mandate of the special advisory committee, the Standing Committee on Agencies, Boards and Commissions was generally supportive of the principle. The standing committee has recommended that the Minister proceed with his plans to establish such a body but recognized that many specific details would need to be discussed when the Minister brings forward his formal motion to establish a committee and its terms of reference.

In summary, Mr. Speaker, the Standing Committee on Agencies, Boards and Commissions has found that there are definite merits to the Minister's plan to eliminate the Board of Directors for the Northwest Territories Housing Corporation, provided that the board is replaced with the proposed consultation framework. The standing committee has recommended that the Minister proceed with this plan and that the Executive Council provide a comprehensive response to all recommendations in this report within 120 days. Mr. Speaker, that concludes my introductory remarks to this report.

Motion To Move Committee Report 5-12(3) To Committee Of The Whole

Therefore, I would like to move, seconded by the honourable Member for Nahendeh, that the report of the Standing Committee on Agencies, Boards and Commissions on the Proposed Elimination of the Board of Directors for the Northwest Territories Housing Corporation be received and moved into the Committee of the Whole for further consideration.

The motion is in order, Mr. Koe.

Question.

Question has been called. All those in favour? All those opposed? Motion is carried.

---Carried

Committee Report 6-12(3), Report on the Proposed Elimination of the Board of Directors for the Northwest Territories Housing Corporation by the Standing Committee on Agencies, Boards and Commissions shall be put into the Committee of the Whole. Reports of Standing and Special Committees. Mr. Antoine.

Mr. Speaker, I have a report from the Standing Committee on Agencies, Boards and Commissions. It is a report on the proposed elimination of the Student Financial Assistance Board.

Please proceed, Mr. Antoine.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The Standing Committee on Agencies, Boards and Commissions has on occasion received requests from Cabinet Ministers to comment on certain government initiatives. This is very much in keeping with the spirit of the consensus style government which offers greater opportunity for a collaborative approach between the Executive Council and standing committees of the Legislative Assembly.

The standing committee priorities for the current fiscal year were established early in the first session when it tabled its work plan on Committee Report 3-12(1). In addition to these, however, the standing committee also agreed to respond during the third session to requests from the Executive Council for input respecting the proposed elimination of three boards. The current report comments on the standing committee's review of a plan advanced by the Minister responsible for Education, Culture and Employment Programs, to eliminate the Student Financial Assistance Board.

Further reports will deal with the request for input regarding the Denendeh Conservation Board and the Board of Directors of the Northwest Territories Housing Corporation. The Standing Committee on Agencies, Boards and Commissions received correspondence on January 8, 1992, from the former deputy minister of Education indicating the department's intent to dissolve the Student Financial Assistance Board and requesting committee consideration of these plans. The standing committee met on March 24, 1992 and agreed to review the Minister's initiative.

Throughout this review the Standing Committee on Agencies, Boards and Commissions has focused on the following aspects: the history of the development of the Student Financial Assistance Board; the rationale for considering elimination of the board; and, the development of an alternative framework for ensuring appropriate levels of community and particularly student input into student financial assistance policies and decisions. The Standing Committee on Agencies, Boards and Commissions completed the review of this matter on its meeting of October 27, 1992. The committee wishes to acknowledge the cooperation received from the Minister and his officials in responding to requests for information over the course of the review.

The Standing Committee on Agencies, Boards and Commissions was aware that there has been a long history of the use of management and advisory boards within the Student Financial Assistance Program. These have been established under the Student Financial Assistance Act and regulations made under that act. Between 1982 and 1989, four regional boards held statutory duties to review applications for student financial assistance to determine the eligibility of applicants and to make recommendations to a central review board. This system proved cumbersome and inefficient, and decisions were often delayed on students' applications that had arrived after the formal meetings of the boards.

The former Minister of Education, the Hon. Stephen Kakfwi, introduced amendments to the Student Financial Assistance Act which were granted assent on April 11, 1989. The former Minister provided the Committee of the Whole in the 11th Assembly with the following explanation of the proposals and rationale of these amendments, "The amendment will eliminate the regional student financial assistance boards and the Student Financial Assistance Review Board. It will establish a Student Financial Assistance Board, which will be an advisory to the Minister on all matters related to Student Financial Assistance Programs. The board will not be involved in the day to day operations of the program."

While it was felt at the time that this new board format would provide advice to the Minister and departmental administration, the fact is that it has met only once since the members were appointed in July, 1990. Although the members of the board have maintained a continuing commitment to their responsibilities, the advisory input from the board has actually been very limited. No specific recommendations have been forwarded to the Minister and the Minister has made no formal requests for board comments. This may be due to the fact that the Student Financial Assistance Program has now been in place for ten years and there have been plenty of precedents and policies accepted and approved by the Minister which already provide effective guidelines for administration of the program.

The department has recommended to the Minister that the Student Financial Assistance Board should be disbanded and that the Student Financial Assistance Act and the regulations should be amended to delete the board.

In reviewing this proposal, the Standing Committee on Agencies, Boards and Commissions was originally concerned with the need to ensure that appropriate mechanisms were in place to ensure that the department receives community input on the student financial assistance policy. Recognizing the special challenges often faced by northern students who decide to pursue a post-secondary education, it was felt that a priority should be placed on ensuring that the student financial assistance policy is developed in the clearest and most effective terms. This cannot take place, in the view of the standing committee, without ensuring the appropriate representation of regional interest.

At the request of the standing committee, the Minister provided additional information which demonstrated that other channels of communication have already opened up which offer more effective input on student needs or policy deficiencies that the Student Financial Assistance Board has not been able to provide. These include direct contact with the growing number of student associations on southern campuses and at all Arctic College locations. Individual students have demonstrated that they are comfortable in bringing forward concerns and policy questions to departmental personnel, the Minister or the M.L.A.

Recommendations about any necessary program management revisions can be generated by the Standing Committees on Finance or Public Accounts, the Auditor General of Canada and/or the territorial Audit Bureau.

The Standing Committee on Agencies, Boards and Commissions recognizes that the existing board structure is not performing its essential advisory function and it is not the most effective mechanism for providing community level input at the present time. As such, the standing committee agreed to the Minister's proposal to eliminate the Student Financial Assistance Board.

Therefore, the committee recommends that the Minister proceed with the proposed elimination of the Student Financial Assistance Board and, further, that the Minister should introduce the corresponding amendments to the Student Financial Assistance Act during the Third Session of the 12th Assembly.

The Standing Committee on Agencies, Boards and Commissions was also of the opinion that the Legislative Assembly should continue to be advised of the department's progress in this regard.

Therefore this committee recommends that in accordance with rule 90(4), the Executive Council table a comprehensive response to the recommendations contained in this report to the Assembly within 120 days of the presentation of this report to the House. Mahsi.

Motion To Move Committee Report 7-12(3) To Committee Of The Whole

Mr. Speaker, that concludes our report on this matter now. Therefore, I would like to move, seconded by the honourable Member for Inuvik, that the report of the Standing Committee on Agencies, Boards and Commissions, on the proposed elimination of the Student Financial Assistance Board be received and moved into Committee of the Whole for further consideration.

Motion is in order, Mr. Antoine.