Good afternoon. Orders of the day. Item 2, Ministers' Statements. Ministers' statements. Ms. Cournoyea.

Mr. Speaker, the Hon. Stephen Kakfwi will be absent from March 11th to the 15th. Mr. Kakfwi will be attending a meeting of federal, provincial, and aboriginal representatives in Ottawa on March 12, to do a preliminary assessment of the Report of the Special Joint Committee on a Renewed Canada. The meeting will be chaired by the Hon. Joe Clark, Minister responsible for Constitutional Affairs.

Mr. Kakfwi will also be attending the sixth National Unity Conference, which will deal with first peoples and the Constitution on March 13, 14, and 15. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Ministers' statements. Mr. Patterson.

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to advise this House that Bill C-35, the Miscellaneous Statute Law Amendments Act 1990, was given Royal Assent on February 28, 1992. Included in this act is an amendment to the Municipal Grants Act (Canada) which will provide the authority for Public Works Canada to pay grants in lieu of property taxes for certain federal property.

This amendment will provide partial relief to tax-based municipalities and this government on the long-standing issue of unpaid federal grants in lieu of taxes. Since 1986, the Department of Public Works Canada had suspended payment of grants in lieu of taxes on certain federal properties, pending amendment of the Municipal Grants Act.

Mr. Speaker, while the payment of grants in lieu is at the discretion of the Government of Canada, we do expect payments will be made now that the amendment is law. The Department of Municipal and Community Affairs has estimated, based on the applications submitted to Public Works Canada for grants in lieu, that the municipalities will receive a total of approximately $2.7 million. These payments will be for vacant federal lands reserved for Indian use and for federal lands and improvements reserved for other federal departments.

Unfortunately, Mr. Speaker, the federal government's opinion is that this amendment does not authorize the payment of grants in lieu of taxes on federal lands reserved for Indian use that contain improvements, and therefore they will not pay on these lands and improvements. The Government of Canada

Hon. Michael Ballantyne, Hon. Nellie Cournoyea, Mr. Dent, Mr. John Ningark, Hon. Dennis Patterson, Hon. John Pollard, Mr.

is of the opinion that these improved properties reserved for Indian use no longer fall under their management and control and therefore are not subject to the payment of federal grants in lieu. The Department of Indian Affairs and Northern Development claim that federal funding for the payment of grants in lieu was earmarked and transferred to the Government of the Northwest Territories as part of the 1969 agreement for the transfer of housing.

In the opinion of this government's legal counsel, the amendment to the Municipal Grants Act (Canada) gives the Government of Canada the authority to pay all of the outstanding grants in lieu of taxes, including those lands with improvements for which the Government of Canada has stated they will not pay.

The position of the Government of the Northwest Territories, Mr. Speaker, is that grants in lieu were clearly not part of the housing transfer agreement entered into between the Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development and the Commissioner of the Northwest Territories in 1969. The fact the federal government continued to make payments on these properties from 1969 to 1985 supports this view. In addition, while management responsibilities for the lands were transferred to the Government of the Northwest Territories, legal land title transfer did not occur, showing continued federal interest in the land. The fact, the federal government specifically states, in the agreement, their continued ownership of the properties. In the opinion of the Government of the Northwest Territories, this ownership indicates that the federal government continues to have a degree of management and control interest in the properties.

Mr. Speaker, we understand that Public Works Canada, western region, will be issuing cheques to the tax-based municipalities to cover grants in lieu of taxes that have been held back since 1985 pending amendment of the Municipal Grants Act. It has been estimated that Fort Simpson will receive $37,000; Fort Smith $136,000; Hay River $176,000; Inuvik, $825,00; lqaluit, $697,000; Norman Wells, $100,000; and Yellowknife, $785,000. The amounts are to cover those federal grants held back during the period 1985 to 1991, pending the approval of the amendment to the Municipal Grants Act (Canada). These amounts are estimates only, as Public Works Canada, western region, is still in the process of reviewing the assessments done on these eligible federal properties, and these amounts do not include still-disputed payments on certain federal properties or payments made in the normal manner by Public Works Canada.

While this is no doubt welcome news, Mr. Speaker, it is, unfortunately, not a total solution to this long-outstanding issue. These payments will cover only a portion of what we believe is owed to the tax-based municipalities and this government. While these payments will alleviate some of the problems that are being experienced due to the failure of the Government of Canada to meet its obligations, it will not result in municipalities getting all that is owed.

Mr. Speaker, your government fully intends to vigorously pursue this issue until the Government of Canada accepts its full responsibility to pay grants in lieu on those properties still in dispute. Thank you.

Ministers' statements. Mr. Patterson.

If I may, Mr. Speaker, today I would like to take the opportunity to pay tribute to Mr. Shorty Brown of Yellowknife and publicly express our gratitude for his outstanding efforts in conceiving, implementing, and successfully completing "Project Arctic Ice Skates."

Mr. Brown and many others began the crusade to provide every child in the Northwest Territories with a pair of hockey skates in November, 1990. At the time, Mr. Brown, who has over 45 years of personal involvement in ice hockey in the Northwest Territories, observed that over the past few years opportunities to participate have grown rapidly as ice rinks have been completed in many of our communities, but that many young people were prevented from fully using these facilities because they did not have equipment.

Through Mr. Brown's efforts, Mr. Speaker, this is no longer the case today. I am pleased to report that Shorty Brown and his many tireless volunteers have reached their goal of providing over 4800 pairs of new and used skates and more than eight tons of hockey equipment to our youth throughout the Northwest Territories.

It is this type of vision and ambition, Mr. Speaker, that makes the Northwest Territories the special place it is to live and raise a family. Volunteers like Mr. Brown serve our youth, our communities, and our Territories unselfishly and tirelessly.

Nothing short of the highest praise is due to Shorty Brown and his group of volunteers for "Project Arctic Ice Skates." Mr. Speaker, I am sure Members will join me in offering Mr. Brown, and the host of volunteers and companies who worked with him, our grateful appreciation for "Project Arctic Ice Skates." Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

--- Applause

Ministers' statements. Item 3, Members' statements. Mr. Gargan.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I rise today to give a statement on Our Lady of Fort Providence Catholic Church in my home constituency. As all Members are aware, the church has been shut down since the fall of 1989. Since that time, I have asked the Department of Culture and Communications to provide the funding necessary to stabilize and restore this historic property.

During the first session of this Assembly, I lobbied aggressively to have this funding made available so that the church could be open in time for the Christmas holidays. Unfortunately, I was not successful in my attempt. I would like all Members to know that the stabilization and restoration of this church remains a priority of mine. It remains of great historic and cultural significance to the people of Fort Providence.

I know that the 1992-93 capital budget contains funding of $251,000 for Our Lady of Fort Good Hope Church in Fort Good Hope. I understand that this church is recognized as a national historic property and the funding for its restoration is cost-shared with the federal government. Mr. Speaker, I have

I would ask the cabinet to develop a consistent policy that sets out the priorities and requirements for funding historic property so that the rules are known by all. In the meantime, our church at Fort Providence continues to sit empty. I will continue to lobby to ensure that this does not continue. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Members' statements. Mr. Todd.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to make another statement on education and its importance in the NWT. I made a statement two weeks ago on what I see as one of the failures of our education system -- the lack of graduates. I said at the time that education, especially kindergarten to grade 12, should be one of, if not the top priority of the Legislative Assembly. Since that time the standing committee on finance, of which I am chairman, has set kindergarten to grade 12 as one of its priorities over the next four years.

Mr. Speaker, last week one of the Members on the other side of the House, who will remain anonymous, approached me about this issue. That Member stated, among other things, that I should not be so critical of the education system and the teachers in that system -- an education basher, I believe was the term used. I think some Members seem to have misunderstood what I am trying to say, so I will try to clarify it today.

First of all, I have never criticized the teachers in our system, nor would I ever. I know that in my own region, our teachers are very dedicated and hard-working. They deserve nothing but praise. However, the fact remains that there is something fundamentally wrong with the system when we cannot get our kids through kindergarten to grade 12. It is our responsibility -- Members of the Legislative Assembly, cabinet and the Minister of Education -- to ensure that this system is improved. To do this we have to pay more than lip service to the problem. We have to develop both short and long-term plans. I do not believe that this is education-bashing. On the contrary, I think it is simply being prudent.

Mr. Speaker, sometimes I am told that I wear my emotions on my sleeve. But to me, education of my children and your children is an emotional issue. It is about kids; it is about their future. It is not a philosophical issue that we sometimes debate in this House. It is a real issue. It is about developing concrete strategies to get our kids through kindergarten to grade 12 and into post-secondary studies. It is about developing leaders of tomorrow. It is about ensuring that the quality of education is the same in Pangnirtung, Rankin Inlet, Inuvik and Yellowknife. It is about ensuring that our kids can get jobs and that they have some hope for the future.

Mr. Speaker, I do not believe I am an education-basher. What I am is afraid....

Mr. Todd, your time has expired. Members' statements. Mr. Arngna'naaq.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mode of transportation has traditionally been a slow process. Inuit travel by dog teams in the winter and travel with kayaks and umiaks in the summertime. Some even walk, both in the winter and during the summer. My father has told me stories of when he was a boy, how they would walk to Baker Lake from their camp to trade for tobacco and other necessities for their camp. These trips would take him a week to two weeks. When the traders first started coming north, mail had to be delivered to Churchill, Manitoba, at least in the Keewatin Region. A person would go down to Churchill by dog team, and this would take anywhere from four to six weeks, depending on weather, dogs, food, et cetera.

However, Mr. Speaker, in this day and age, not only do we have dog teams and umiaks, but we have snowmobiles, boats and motors, cars, trains, and airplanes. These modes of transportation could take us thousands of miles in a matter of hours, and what concerns me is to go to the post office and find out that something that I or my wife had ordered two weeks ago is still not in.

Mr. Speaker, Mr. Pudluk made a statement regarding this same subject during this session, and I am merely trying to make it apparent that in the East we still have some basic infrastructure problems, and this is one of them. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Members' statements. Mr. Pudlat.

(Translation) Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I am going to direct my question to the Minister of Transportation in regards to a rescue boat that they need in Sanikiluaq. In Sanikiluaq, when there is an emergency, they do not have any rescue boats that would be appropriate to use during an emergency, so I would like to ask the Minister if they could put this project into the capital estimates. This is a question to the Minister of Transportation and the Minister of MACA. Thank you.

Mr. Pudlat, that was your Member's statement, and you can pose your question when we get to Item 5, oral questions. Members' statements. Item 4, returns to oral questions. Mr. Ningark.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I have a return to an oral question, Question O285-12(2), asked by Mr. Pudluk on March 9, 1992, on local input in study of Peary caribou. The survey of the Peary caribou in the High Arctic is being conducted by Dr. Frank Miller from the Canadian Wildlife Service. The study is part of a federal/territorial research program organized under the RENEW, recovery of nationally endangered wildlife, program. A biologist from the Department of Renewable Resources is the chairman of the Peary caribou RENEW program.

The communities are aware of this research program and know Dr. Miller, who has done research on Peary caribou in the High Arctic for many years. However, to ensure that Dr. Miller is aware of the concerns raised by Mr. Pudluk, the Department of Renewable Resources is writing a letter to Dr. Miller. The department will ask him to contact the communities before the survey is conducted to discuss their

concerns. The Department of Renewable Resources is as concerned as the residents of the High Arctic about the future of the Peary caribou. I would like to commend the communities for their conservation efforts and for their interest and support in the RENEW research program. Thank you.

I would like to recognize in the gallery today Mr. George Diveky and his grade 10 northern studies class from Sir John Franklin High School.

--- Applause

Returns to oral questions. Mr. Patterson.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. This is a return to an oral question, Question O228-12(2), asked by Mr. Gargan on March 2, 1992, regarding contribution agreements to communities. The arrangements that this department has with municipal corporations on their quarterly operating contributions are the same as they have been for some time.

As hamlets are a separate, distinct level of public government, unconditional hamlet funding is provided to the municipal corporations on a quarterly contribution basis. This procedure allows the hamlets to anticipate their revenue on a regular basis and to more accurately project their cash flow requirements.

However, special circumstances prevail for the 1992-93 fiscal year. Because the 1992-93 main estimates will not be introduced to the Legislative Assembly until June 1992, the government will operate on an approved interim appropriation from April until July. This interim appropriation will not allow us to provide a full second quarter contribution; so payments for July through September will be paid to hamlets on a monthly basis. Thank you.

Returns to oral questions. Mr. Allooloo.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I have a return to oral questions, Questions 0170-12(2) and 0171-12(2), asked by Mr. Lewis and Mr. Todd on February 26, 1992, concerning students. The Department of Education is currently providing funding for two students from the Northwest Territories to attend high school in southern Canada. Both students have exceptional emotional needs. One is attending school in British Columbia, and the other is attending in Alberta. A few other students of high school age are also supported by the Department of Social Services for treatment in residential facilities in southern Canada.

The Education Act provides the general authority for the delivery of education programs and services. A directive on special needs education was developed in 1986. In 1991, the department published "Our Students, Our Future - An Educational Framework,' which provides the philosophical direction guiding all education programs and services. Respecting that philosophy, a new policy on special needs education is being drafted.

Returns to oral questions. Mr. Ningark.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I have a return to an oral question, Question O273-12(2), asked by Mr. Gargan on March 6, 1992 regarding optional years for Evergreen Forestry. The department has been pleased with the services provided by Evergreen Forestry during the forest fire season. I would like to assure Mr. Gargan that the Department of Renewable Resources will be contacting Evergreen Forestry to discuss arrangements for the upcoming fire season. Existing levels of service will be maintained. Thank you.

Returns to oral questions. Returns to oral questions. Item 5, oral questions. Mr. Nerysoo.