Good morning. Orders of the day for Friday, March 27, 1992. Item 2, Ministers' statements. Ministers' statements. Item 3, Members' statements. Mr. Dent.

Members' statements. Mr. Lewis.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. We have had an innovative program in the Northwest Territories now since 1986. It concerns the work of the youth justice committee, which deals with a new approach to dealing with young offenders whereby alternative measures are worked out where young people in conflict with the law can be given the opportunity, through a holistic manner, to realize that they are on the wrong path, and perhaps they could learn from their mistakes.

This program has been very successful, Mr. Speaker. Out of the last 125 cases which have been referred to this particular program, there have only been three cases of young people who have returned to their bad ways. For that reason, I would like to indicate to the House that this is one of the programs which has been introduced to the Northwest Territories which has been very successful. I would be very concerned if, in fact, any events transpire over the next few months which would set this program back on a course which, until now, has been a model for other people facing similar kinds of problems in other parts of the country. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Members' statements. Mr. Patterson.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to express my regret for the passing of His Honour Judge Orval J. Troy, last week. Judge Troy retired from the Territorial Court of the Northwest Territories where he was resident in lqaluit, in 1989.

Judge Troy was originally from New Brunswick. He was a veteran of the Royal Canadian Air Force in World War II. He was posted to England and flew a full tour of bombing operations over Germany as a flying officer bomb aimer with the 576 Squadron of the Royal Air Force. While in England, he met and married his wife, Sheila, and on his return to Canada attended Dalhousie University, gradating with a law degree.

Judge Troy died at his retirement home in Penticton on March 19. I would like to express my deep regrets to his family: his wife Sheila, to whom he had been married for 47 years; his daughter Jillian Spassov of Ottawa; son, John Troy of Prince George; seven grandchildren; brothers Allison and Byron; and sister Charlotte Duffield.

Mr. Patterson, I let you go a little bit over your time.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Judge Troy will be truly missed. Thank you.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I have a return to Question O367-12(2), asked by Mr. Gargan on March 25, 1992. A DPW employee wishing to take work outside of their government employment must first notify, in writing, the deputy minister of Public Works of their proposal. It is then reviewed according to the regulations of the Public Service Act, the collective agreement and the conflict of interest directive. If the proposal is contrary to these regulations, the request is denied.

I am aware that such approval has been granted to some employees. In no case does such approval allow those employees to do work with the government. Neither can there be a conflict with their responsibilities as a government employee, nor can they benefit from information that they may be privileged to as a government employee. Thank you.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to ask a question on behalf of Mr. Koe, who is not in the House today. This is to the Minister of Education, who is not in the House today, either. Perhaps the Government Leader can respond to my question. Mr. Koe asked a question on February 17 regarding schools in Inuvik. What is the status of that question?

Madam Cournoyea.

Mr. Speaker, I will take the question as notice and provide an answer on Monday.

The question has been taken as notice. Oral questions. Mr. Gargan.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to direct my question to the Minister of Education, but he is not here; so I will direct my question to the Government Leader. On March 4, Mr. Speaker, I asked a question with regard to the advisory board of Akaitcho Hall becoming a management board, They were working toward that, but it has never been implemented, due to the resignation of the co-ordinator. Is the process for establishing a management board going to be pursued again?

Ms. Cournoyea.

Mr. Speaker, I will take the question as notice.

Question has been taken as notice. Mr. Dent.

Ms. Cournoyea.

Mr. Speaker, the Members of the cabinet also share the concerns about women which was raised by the honourable Member. I would like to assure the honourable Member that when this issue was first brought to my attention a little over a week ago, a meeting was convened with the deputy minister concerned, the Minister responsible for the department, and myself. At that time we discussed the matter in question. The deputy minister in question agreed that it was inappropriate and it was an error in judgment on his part to use government letterhead for this particular reason of supplying a letter on behalf of an individual. Subsequently, the deputy minister responsible has written a letter to the government and apologized for his error in judgment. Subsequently, a letter and communication has been given to all senior officials to make sure that an issue such as this does not happen in the future.

Mr. Nerysoo.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. On March 2nd I asked a written question to the Minister of Health regarding concerns over the administration and management of the lnuvik Regional Hospital. I have not yet received a response. I would like to ask the Minister if he intends to respond to the question.

Mr. Whitford.

Mr. Dent.

Ms. Cournoyea.

Mr. Speaker, the communication indicated that the use of government letterhead or position should not be used in issues such as this. As well, this issue has been brought up at a deputy ministers' meeting and has been thoroughly discussed. The deputy ministers have been advised to communicate this to all senior officials, to exercise extreme caution in how and when they use the government letterhead and their positions.

Oral questions. Mr. Zoe.

Mr. Patterson.

I will respond on Monday, Mr. Speaker.

Oral questions. Mr. Dent.

Ms. Cournoyea.

Mr. Speaker, to my knowledge that is not true. However, I will clarify the situation and take the question as notice, for reply on Monday.

The question has been taken as notice. Oral questions. Mr. Pudlat.

(Translation) Thank you, Mr. Speaker. On March 2, 1 asked a question to the Minister responsible for recreation. I wondered if the Minister is able to respond to my question. It is with regard to the design and planning of the arena or gymnasium in Sanikiluaq.

Mr. Minister.

Mr. Speaker, I thought I had replied to that question in a return. I do not have it in front of me, but I thought I had given the reply, basically that the community of Sanikiluaq identified an arena as their priority. The arena is going ahead, and because the arena was the priority, there are no plans in the near future to construct a community gym, I thought I had given that reply earlier, but that was the gist of it, Mr. Speaker. Thank you.

Oral questions. Mr. Nerysoo.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. A question to the Government Leader, On February 25, I asked a question to the Government Leader whether or not she would provide additional documents used in the development of the government position on the document Strength at Two Levels. She indicated that she would provide that information. I would like to know at what time she will table those documents in this House.

Ms. Cournoyea.

Mr. Speaker, I intend to work this weekend to at least provide a long list. Mr. Speaker, there were quite a number of documents, and if the Member would accept that the list of documents can be provided -- the problem I am having with this request is that in tabling all the documents, we can provide a listing and then provide a pile of documents as well, if the Member is willing. If I am to provide the documents, there are so many that have been referred to and read, that the copying would be extremely costly. So I will do the best I can to respond to the request. Thank you.

Oral questions. Mr. Arvaluk.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I once again will ask, on behalf of Mr. Koe, a question to the Minister of Health. Mr. Koe asked a question on March 12th regarding the liability insurance coverage available at Storefront. What is the status of that question?

Mr. Whitford.

Supplementary, Mr. Arvaluk.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. If I have nothing in front of me, I am not too satisfied. Can we at least have that entered in the Hansard so that we can read the answer in Hansard or in the form of a letter? Then I will be satisfied. Since we do not have it, when do we expect to have it?

Mr. Whitford

Mr. Antoine.

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. My question is for the Minister of Health. On March 2nd I asked a question about health services in Fort Simpson. He took it as notice. Can the Minister assure the House that regardless of what the department is going to do, according to the Beatty report recommendations, he will not take any steps to eliminate funding arrangements that would allow us to have medical doctors available in Fort Simpson? He took that as notice, and I would like a reply on that as soon as possible.

Mr. Whitford.

Mr. Nerysoo.

If I could ask the Government Leader, in the absence of Mr. Allooloo, I provided a written question on March 9th regarding community employment officers, and I wanted to know if the Government Leader could provide or have the Minister provide an answer prior to the conclusion of this Assembly.

Ms. Cournoyea.

Yes, Mr. Speaker, I will have the concern of the question relayed to Mr. Allooloo. This question will be answered before the session is concluded.

Mrs. Marie-Jewell.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to ask a question to the Minister of Housing. Prior to the Minister's introducing his bill, which was defeated in this House on March 2nd, regarding the elimination of the board of directors, I asked the Minister an oral question on February 14th about the actual costs of the Housing Corporation Board of Directors. To date I have not received an answer. When does the Minister intend to advise this House as to the actual cost of the Housing Corporation Board of Directors?

Mr. Morin.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I thought I had done that many times verbally in this House, but I will do it in writing and present it on Monday.

Mrs. Marie-Jewell.

Mr. Speaker, is the Minister willing to provide the actual cost of the Housing Corporation Board of Directors to this House?

Mr. Morin.

Mr. Speaker, I will just do it again. It is a return to an oral question asked by the Member for Thebacha on February 14th, and it was filed and everything, so I just have done this once before, but I will do it again.

Mr. Speaker, further to the supplementary Question O36-12(2) on direct and indirect costs of the Housing Corporation board, I wish to provide the following information. Direct costs are in the following categories: honoraria, transportation, accommodation and meal costs associated with a minimum of four meetings and four board committee meetings held annually, three in Yellowknife and one in a community location; salary benefits and expenses associated with a fulltime executive secretary position for the board; legal costs associated with attendance of an advisor at all board meetings. The total of the 1991-92 costs, adjusted for inflation for 1992-93, is approximately $290,000.

The indirect costs are in the following categories: attendance of senior managers of the Housing Corporation at a minimum of four board meetings and four board committee meetings held annually, three in Yellowknife and one in a community location: preparation of new policy, program and procedures for consideration of the board, which will normally not require cabinet approval; preparation of divisional reports for each board meeting; preparation of an annual budget and financial reports for the board; following up of resolutions and action items arising from each board meeting; responses to board members; inquiries to headquarters and six district offices; contact and correspondence with the chairman on new appointments to the board and on general management of the corporation. The total 1991-92 costs' adjusted for inflation, are in excess of $340,000. 1 remember doing this before.

Supplementary, Mrs. Marie-Jewell.

Mr. Speaker, that reply that I am requesting is to Question O40-12(2). on my second supplementary which Mr. Morin had taken as notice. But recognizing that he did attempt to reply -- those replies were a forecasted cost -- I want to know whether or not Mr. Morin and the Housing Corporation Board of Directors know whether or not these funds were actually spent and the actual costs of the operation of the Housing Corporation Board of Directors.

Mr. Morin.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As I have stated, the total costs for 1991-92, and then there is an adjustment for inflation for 1992-93, are approximately $290,000. And the total costs for 1991-92, with adjustments for inflation, are in excess of $340,000. That is the information I got. Thank you.

Supplementary, Mrs. Marie-Jewell.

My last supplementary, Mr. Speaker. In the reply the Minister indicated that those were approximate costs, and in my definition of the interpretation, approximate costs are different from actual costs. I would like to know if he would be able to advise this House the actual costs to operate the Housing Corporation Board of Directors.

Mr. Morin.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I will have the cost to the penny on Wednesday.

Mr. Antoine.

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. My question is for the Minister of Health. On March 2nd I asked another question which he took on notice. In 1985-86 there was a joint assessment project done for the Department of Health and Social Services called the aged, disabled, chronically ill. There were a number of different recommendations made to identify communities to have home care programs established. There was supposed to be some development for implementation of a model for home care programs delivered in small communities. I wanted to know what the status of this report was, mainly because there is a lot of concern in my community to provide such a service. You took that as notice, and I would like to know if I could have a reply before this House concludes sometime next week. Thank you.

Mr. Whitford.

The question has been taken as notice. Oral questions. Mr. Nerysoo.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to direct my question to the Government Leader. On March 12, 1 asked an oral question of Mr. Pollard, to provide me with the amount of money and the strategy that the government is going to embark upon with regard to the promotion of Dene arts and crafts. No reply has been received. Would the

Government Leader ask the Minister of Economic Development and Tourism if an answer could be provided to this House?

Ms. Cournoyea.

To my understanding, the reply is being developed, and I will refer the question again to the Minister responsible.

Oral questions. Mr. Lewis.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My question is to the Minister for Social Services. Could he explain to me what his relationship is, as the Minister for Social Services, to the work of the youth justice committee?

Mr. Whitford.

Oral questions. Mrs. Marie-Jewell.

I would like to pose a question to the Minister responsible for the Workers' Compensation Board. Mr. Speaker, on March 9, 1 asked an oral question to Mr. Patterson, requesting the GNWT's contribution funding and the amount of funds that we pay to the Workers' Compensation Board on behalf of employees. At that time Mr. Patterson did take the question as notice. What is the status of developing his reply to this House?

Mr. Patterson.

The reply should have been given by now and it has been prepared. I will make the reply on Monday. Just under 10 per cent of the assessments are contributed by the GNWT. I think it is about one ninth of the total, but I will give the detailed breakdown on Monday. I apologize for that delay. Thank you.

Oral questions. Mr. Lewis.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. On March 11, 1 asked the Government Leader if she could give us some indication of the major accomplishments of this government, since it has now been in power for something like five months. When can I expect the answer to that question?

Ms. Cournoyea.

Mr. Speaker, I did commit to the Member that I would be bringing forth a response to the question, and I still intend to do that, and it is my intension to do that before session is concluded.

Oral questions, Supplementary, Mr. Lewis.

That answer does not give me comfort. Since we are a consensus government and we have the responsibility to make our government accountable, we could get this response on the very last day before we all go home. I would like to ask the Government Leader if we could have that response within the next couple of days.

Ms. Cournoyea.

Mr. Speaker, I really do not know when we are going to conclude, but I will make sure that I try to have a response to the question so that there is ample time for a response back to the question which I feel is being requested. Thank you.

Oral questions. Ms. Mike.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. On or about February 21st, I had asked a question to the Minister of Education concerning this individual attending post-secondary school in Ontario. This individual is receiving financial assistance from the Department of Education. She wrote a letter to me asking why her allowance has been decreased from $531.43 to $522.86. The Minister had assured me he would get back to me. To date, I have not received a reply. When may I expect to hear from him so that I may relay the message to the individual that wrote to me? Thank you.

Ms. Cournoyea.

Mr. Speaker, I will make sure the Minister responsible responds on Monday.

Oral questions. Mr. Arvaluk

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My question is for the Minister of Personnel. Mr. Koe asked a question on March 24th regarding the government houses that are for sale in Inuvik. Will the Minister respond to this question before the House concludes?

Mr. Kakfwi.

Oral questions. Mrs. Marie-Jewell.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to ask a question to the Minister responsible for Justice. Mr. Speaker, on February 25th, I asked an oral question to the Minister of Justice with respect to the status of the family law review committee. At that time, Mr. Patterson indicated a commitment to advise this House as to the status of this committee. To date, Mr. Speaker, there has been no reply. I would like to ask the Minister when he intends to reply to the oral question regarding the status of the family law review committee.

Mr. Patterson.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I believe I told the House that there had been some difficulty in completing this work. Mr. Whitford and I expect to have a final report on the matter by the end of this month, which I realize is coming up in a few days. I will, therefore, commit to informing the House of the status of that review early next week, as soon as it is concluded and given to the department. Thank you.

Oral questions. Mr. Antoine.