Returns to oral questions. Mr. Whitford.

Returns to oral questions. Mr. Ningark.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I have a return to an oral question which was asked by Mr. Zoe on February 25, 1992, regarding the decision to defer the construction of office/warehouse complex in Lac la Martre. The only work that had been planned in this fiscal year, 1991-92, for the office/warehouse complex was to purchase and move building material to the community. The materials were to be transported on the winter road to Lac la Martre, which usually does not open until mid to end of January.

A tender for the materials was issued in the fall. Bids had been received; however, the tendering process was interrupted in December when the department had to change its 1991-92 capital project plans due to fiscal restraint measures. Thank you.

Returns to oral questions. Mr. Patterson.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I have return to a question asked by Mrs. Marie-Jewell on Monday, February 24th. A question was asked as to whether there is a process by which the Minister of Justice of the Northwest Territories can express public concern to the judiciary. The honourable Member recognized the principle of independence of the judiciary and expressed concern regarding a specific decision which was recently rendered.

It is the role of our Legislature and of Parliament to enact the laws which judges apply. Parliament is responsible for enacting laws regarding criminal offences.

The independence of the judiciary is a fundamental imperative of our constitution and our system of justice. Judges individually shall be free, and it is their duty to decide matters before them impartially, in accordance with their assessment of the facts and their understanding of the law without any restrictions, influences or pressures, direct or indirect, for any reason. The single most important remedy for judicial decisions which are inappropriate is appeal. In the Northwest Territories, the Attorney General of Canada, who is accountable to Parliament, is responsible for criminal prosecutions and has a role in deciding whether or not to appeal a decision.

With the above in mind, Mr. Speaker, I can forward to the Chief Judge, for his information, excerpts of Hansard which refer to a decision, but it will be for his information only and not for the purpose of interfering with the independence of the judiciary. Thank you.

Returns to oral questions. Mr. Allooloo.

I have a return to a question asked by Mr. Gargan on February 14, 1992 regarding funding for teachers' conferences at a time of restraint. On February 13th and 14th, 1992 a teachers' conference was held in Yellowknife. Teachers from all divisional boards of education except the Kitikmeot board attended the conference, along with teachers from Yellowknife Districts No. 1 and No. 2 as well as the Board of Secondary Education for Sir John Franklin Territorial High School.

This conference, Mr. Speaker, was funded through the professional development fund provided for by the collective agreement for the Northwest Territories Teachers' Association. The professional development fund consists of two and a quarter per cent of the gross basic salary of teachers. The Department of Education and participating boards did not contribute any additional funding for teachers to attend this conference. Funding for travel and accommodation for individual teachers to attend the conference was provided by a combination of professional development funding as well as funding provided by each participant. Thank you.

Returns to oral questions. Mr. Allooloo.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I have a return to an oral question asked by Ms. Mike on February 19, 1992 regarding reduction in student allowances. The Member for Baffin Central questioned why the funding one student received had been reduced from $531.43 to $522.86. There has been no reduction in the total allowance paid to the students; however, in the 1991-92 school year, the Department of Education changed the monthly allowances payment from an amount which fluctuated somewhat from month to month to an average amount.

In previous years, the monthly cheques paid to the students fluctuated depending upon whether the month had 30 days or 31 days. For example, a single student received $514.29 for a 30-day month and $531.43 for a 31-day month. Students raised concern over the fluctuating rates, as they caused budgeting problems. As a result, the department implemented a new schedule to provide students with a consistent monthly cheque rate of $522.86 based upon the average of two previous months' rates. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I have a return to an oral question asked by Mr. Nerysoo on February 24, 1992, regarding the Peel River watershed. The government of the Northwest Territories is a member of the Mackenzie River Basin committee. The committee is involved in the preparation of a co-operative water management agreement for the entire Mackenzie River Basin. The agreement will consist of two parts: an overall agreement for the entire Mackenzie River Basin and agreements between each of the jurisdictions within the basin.

The Peel River is part of the Mackenzie River Basin. It will be included in the overall agreement and the agreement between the Northwest Territories and Yukon. The Department of Renewable Resources has contacted their counterparts in the Yukon to begin negotiations with the intention of completing the agreement in 1992. Thank you.

Returns to oral questions. Returns to oral questions. Oral questions. Mr. Nerysoo.