Good afternoon. Orders of the day for Thursday, February 20, 1992.

Item 2, Ministers' statements. Item 3, Members' statements. Mr. Pudluk.

(Translation) Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, today is the day we should be making decisions that involve our young people. For example, it seems that we, the leaders, have put our young people aside and have forgot about them. As leaders we must realize that they will be taking over our jobs in shaping the government, and they want to be involved now. We have to give them the opportunity of being involved in running their future government. We have to let them know that they should stay in school to finish their education, so that they can take over and do the jobs of leaders and politicians. When it is time to vote on the boundary plebiscite on May 4, we have to give our young people a chance to decide for themselves, because they are our future leaders and politicians.

There will come a time when those young people will come of age to be leaders and politicians. Let us give them this one-time chance to vote on the boundary plebiscite, and by giving them this chance we will gain their trust. I am sure that if we, as leaders, give them this chance, we will give them something to look forward to. Mr. Speaker, let us make good decision, today for the future of our young people. Thank you.

---Applause

Members' Statements. Mr. Lewis

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to express a real concern that I have about the current Executive Council's version of consensus government. I find it unbecoming that people who are in a leadership role should be asking ordinary Members to propose changes to government which are really only, at this point in time, clearly in the government's interest. If you are an ordinary Member, you have your own agenda of the things you want to do, and if it is the wish of the government to get rid of the Housing Corporation's board, they should go ahead and do it. If they are convinced that is the thing to do and they can save money, and so on, that is the thing that you can do and you have the authority to do it because you are the government. If you want to get rid of the Denendeh Conservation Board because you think it is no good and it has no purpose, you should have the courage of your convictions to go ahead and do it and not ask ordinary Members to take the heat for things that you want to do yourself.

I can go on at great lengths on all the things that the government would like to do. It is a strange version of consensus government if the involvement that we are going to have is simply to be an instrument of somebody else's policy. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Shame, shame!

Members' statements. Mr. Koe.

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to make some statements about the situation at the Inuvik Regional Hospital. In May of 1991, an article appeared in the Inuvik Drum dealing with the concerns of employees at the Inuvik Regional Hospital, and how staff were concerned that certain management practices were affecting staff morale and staff turnover.

In the same month there was a letter in the Inuvik Drum from the regional vice-president of the Union of Northern Workers, again addressing the issue of staff morale. A subsequent issue in the Inuvik Drum, again in May 1991, ran an article on how the chief executive officer of the Inuvik Regional Hospital had met with a committee of hospital workers to address their concerns. The staff were assured that these concerns would be looked after.

However, recent demonstrations by the hospital and Union of Northern Workers employees indicate that morale has not improved. It has, in fact, declined to the point where members of the community are getting concerned about the ability to receive proper health care and concern about the impact this morale problem will have on the level of care for themselves and their families. This decline in staff morale also has a ripple effect on the community as staff continue to change and are unhappy, and it has a serious social impact on the community. Employees are working in stressful environments and take this home with them, and it has a ripple effect at home.

Mr. Speaker, I have received over 80 letters and numerous phone calls from residents of Inuvik relating to this issue, and I will later today be tabling these letters in the House. Mahsi.

Members' statements. Mr. Pudlat.

(Translation) Mr. Speaker, I have a concern from Baffin South. You all know there are some concerns arising from Baffin. Their concern is the art shop and if it is going to go bankrupt, because this is income for the people in Baffin. Their main concern is that, for example, there is a new facility that will be built in Baker Lake sometime this winter. Their main concern is, is it going to be an improvement for the social life of the community? This is also

my concern. So I stand this afternoon to express my concern. My question is, is there going to be an improvement? Perhaps my next question is that I think it is going to involve the whole community. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Members' statements. Mr. Gargan.

Mr. Speaker, several years ago I was charged with spousal assault in which the circumstances were that I did not commit any physical harm or any bodily injury, but I did push my wife, and for that I was charged with assault. In the section under the Criminal Code on assault, the definition of assault varies from touching a person, brushing a person, to striking a person. The situation, Mr. Speaker, was that I did plead guilty to that. I did touch my wife.

But a situation this morning which I was quite disturbed to hear was when an individual that is a leader in his community and in his area was also convicted of touching a girl, I believe, and for that he did get charged, was found guilty, but had an absolute discharge. I think the difference between those two cases, Mr. Speaker, is that when I touch my wife I touch her in the right place and not in the wrong place. I do not see the situation to be any different in this case. It happened about eight years ago, but it was not cause at that time, nor should it be the cause today. Leaders are expected to get away with doing things with the knowledge of the public. The judge says this person is guilty but he could go free. I do not believe in this kind of justice system, and I think we should get this point across to the public. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

---Applause

Members' statements. Mr. Kakfwi.

Unanimous consent has been requested to return to Item 2, Ministers' statements. Are there any nays? There are no nays. Proceed, Mr. Kakfwi.

Ministers' statements. Mr. Patterson.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, several years ago, the Legislative Assembly wanted to provide some form of special insurance coverage under the Workers' Compensation Board for those people who were full-time hunters and trappers. It was never intended to provide coverage for those people who only occasionally hunted, but the program would be designed for those who spent most of their working time hunting and trapping "professionally."

Mr. Speaker, copies of various original Hansard debates are now being distributed to all Members. These will show the discussions that took place at that time and the reasons for the coverage.

As a result of those debates, a program was developed in late 1987. The total cost of providing this insurance coverage was paid for by the government through the Department of Renewable Resources.

There were some problems in determining who would be eligible for the program. Normally, the salary of the worker is used to determine the level of coverage that the worker could receive. There is always a maximum level of benefits that can be received, and this is based on the YMIR, yearly maximum insurable remuneration. In 1988 the YMIR level was set at $40,000 and remains the same today.

Early in 1990 the WCB reviewed the program, and many meetings were held on all aspects of the program. The Department of Renewable Resources, among others, was involved in these discussions.

Since there was no such thing as a "salary level" for hunters and trappers, it was necessary to develop some criteria to determine who would be eligible for the program and to determine the level of benefits that a hunter would receive. It was obvious that new guidelines were needed that would be clear and fair to all. The WCB recognized that the guidelines would have to include not only the value of the furs taken but also the value of the country foods that were used to feed the hunter and his or her family members.

Following direction from cabinet, the WCB established policy guidelines in August of 1990 which took these values into account, and it was determined that in order to determine eligibility, the value of the furs harvested would be added to the value of the food used. The minimum level to be eligible for the program was set at $10,000 for a full-time harvester.

When a claim is received, the WCB will seek proof from the hunter or trapper that they meet or exceed the $10,000 level to be eligible for benefits. The benefits will not be based on the $10,000 but at 90 per cent of the YMIR in place at that time, less some reductions, such as income tax and Canada Pension Plan. Today a hunter would receive compensation or pension benefits based on the present YMIR of $40,000.

Information on the new guidelines was distributed across the Territories for the information of all full-time hunters and trappers. The WCB can also provide coverage for those persons who are not eligible for this coverage. Persons who have other sources of employment and pursue hunting and trapping only occasionally can purchase "personal optional protection coverage." At present this coverage costs four dollars per $100 of coverage. To purchase the full coverage of $40,000 would therefore cost $1600 per year.

Mr. Speaker, since we do not have staff in every region, it is difficult for the WCB alone to administer this type of coverage across the Territories. This is why it has been very helpful to have the active involvement of the Department of Renewable Resources in programs such as this.

We are also trying our best to develop policies and procedures that are fair to all, and thus the board continually reviews all of these policies and procedures with affected groups. At present, the WCB is continuing their reviews of the hunters' and trappers' program with the Department of Renewable Resources and other interested parties. Any suggestions from Members of this Assembly will be welcomed.

I do hope that the information session held today has assisted Members to better understand the operation of the Workers' Compensation Board. I would also point out that Members who are approached by constituents for information or assistance are welcome to raise their concerns with myself, my staff, or staff of the WCB itself. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Ministers' statements. I wonder if I could ask that if Ministers have a statement to be made on a given date, if at all possible, that they could try to be here when the Ministers' statements are called. Otherwise the flow of the order of the House is disrupted. Thank you. Item 3, Members' statements. Mr. Antoine.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I have concerns about the Mackenzie and Liard Rivers. My constituency is in the middle of the confluence of the Liard River and the Mackenzie River. I was raised along the river and am very concerned about the river. About three years ago there were a lot of fish floating down the river in the middle of summer. There were fish such as suckers, arctic grayling, et cetera. Over the last couple of summers, we have not been able to catch arctic grayling. We call them bluefish. Last summer, I went to all the traditional fishing spots; however, I was not able to catch arctic grayling. We, in my area, are all concerned that something is going wrong with our river.

I spoke about this in December with regard to clear-cutting in British Columbia, and the possibility of environmental damage in that area. Recently, members of the Fort Simpson Dene Band travelled to northern Saskatchewan. They found out that there is an environmental process going on for the development of five more uranium mines. Presently, there are three uranium mines operating there. I am told that the rivers in that part of the country eventually flow into our part of the country. We are concerned that any type of pollution that may be dumped into the river eventually makes its way into the Liard River or the Mackenzie River. I think everybody in the North should be concerned about this, especially the government.

Let it be known that we are concerned about it. I will be asking more questions later on in question period. Mahsi.

Members' statements. Item 4, returns to oral questions. Mr. Patterson.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. This is a return to a question asked by Mrs. Marie-Jewell on February 19, 1992, on federal grants in lieu of property taxes. As of February 19, 1992, the Department of Municipal and Community Affairs estimated $4,503,517 of federal grants in lieu of property taxes as outstanding to the tax-based municipalities. The 1991 outstanding grants in lieu have been included in the above total. As all interim payments have not been received for 1990-91, the current total outstanding grants will be reduced substantially.

Mr. Speaker, I also have the outstanding grants in lieu of property taxes broken down by municipality. For Fort Simpson, the total outstanding is $324,221; Fort Smith, $451,232; Hay River, $229,282; Inuvik, $934,797; Iqaluit, $969,795; Norman Wells, total outstanding, $100,314; Yellowknife, $1,493,876; for a total outstanding of $4,503,517.

Returns to oral questions. I would like to welcome Mr. Gary Bohnet, President of the Metis Nation, to the Assembly today.

---Applause

Item 5, oral questions. Mr. Gargan.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to direct my question to the Minister of Finance with regard to a process which was developed back in 1982 with regard to obtaining an egg quota for the Northwest Territories. Right now we have an illegal operation, as you know, in Hay River, in which eggs are being produced and transported down south with no licence or permits of any kind to allow that to happen. I would like to ask the Minister -- I think it is the Minister of Justice, Mr. Speaker, I am not too sure -- but I would like to ask the Minister of Justice if he is aware of this illegal operation that is happening in Hay River, which is allowing the export of eggs from the Territories, and if there is any action that is going to be taken by this government on it.