(Translation) I would like to get unanimous consent from the Members to lengthen my statement a little bit.

The rules are not very clear on tabling of documents, but it has been a tradition in this House to give a very brief tabling statement, so Members could try to respect that. Tabling of documents. Item 13, notices of motions. Mr. Lewis.

Mr. Speaker, I give notice that on Thursday, March 5, I will move the following motion: I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Keewatin Central, that not withstanding Rule 89(2), the special committee on health and social services consist of six members; and further, that Mr. Bernhardt, Mr. Dent, Mr. Koe, Mrs. Marie-Jewell, Mr. Nerysoo and Mr. Pudluk be appointed as members to the special committee on health and social services.

Item 14, notices of motion for first reading of bills. Notices of motions for first reading of bills.

Item 15, motions. Motions.

Item 16, first reading of bills. First reading of bills. Item 17, second reading of bills. Mr. Morin.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Yellowknife South, that Bill 16, An Act to Amend the Northwest Territories Housing Corporation Act, be read for the second time. Mr. Speaker, this bill would amend the Northwest Territories Housing Corporation Act to provide that the affairs of the corporation be conducted by the president in accordance with the direction of the Minister instead of by the board of directors, and to remove the reference to the board of directors. Thank you.

Your motion is in order, Mr. Morin. To the principle of the bill. To the principle of the bill. Mr. Nerysoo.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I had not thought of speaking to the matter or the principle of this particular bill, but I must say that I have to indicate my opposition at this particular time to the principle. I believe that it is a bit premature to proceed to the dismantling of the Housing Corporation Board of Directors until we are clear about the direction that we want to take with our boards and our agencies and commissions.

The other point that I wanted to make, Mr. Speaker, is simply that at this particular time the Housing Corporation Board is the only method that the communities and regions have to influence generally the housing policy in our government. Now, the Minister may shake his head at that point of view, but the simple fact is that at this particular juncture there is no other mechanism for allowing the regions and the communities to have influence. The suggestion may be made that Members on this side of the House can influence public policy, but that simply is not necessarily the case. It depends on whether or not the Minister and government are prepared to listen to us.

At this particular juncture, prior to making some decision about the direction we wish to take with boards, I think it is a bit premature; and I would find it very difficult, until I knew what would replace the process of community influence, to support the principle of this particular bill.

To the principle of the bill. Mrs. Marie-Jewell.

Mr. Speaker, I do want to indicate that I did not intend to speak to the principle of this particular bill; however, since we have the opportunity, I did want to also indicate to the Minister that I am concerned in respect to the quick movement on the Minister's part and the government's part to address the corporation as a whole, to remove the corporation and the board members, even though the Minister did so indicate to this House. I am concerned on the process that is being used once again. First of all, as I stated earlier in this House, the agencies, boards and commissions committee did indicate to the government to hold all appointments. They did not state to do away with all appointments, but they basically said to hold all appointments until we could review these boards and agencies, and I do not think we have been given that opportunity to do so as yet.

Further, I do want to state that it was last week that the Government Leader allowed the three ordinary Members to sit with the three members of the cabinet to address the Strength at Two Levels report, which states that this board could be or could not be cut away as a corporation, and discussions have never even taken place as to how these Members on this side of the House feel, as to whether this corporation should be dissolved. Therefore I feel that the government is moving ahead without the proper process of discussion on what the Minister wants done. I am not stating that the Members would not support, possibly, the dissolving of the corporation; but it is the process that is being used, and I believe the Minister should be conscious of that. Thank you.

To the principle of the bill. Mr. Zoe.

To the principle of the bill. To the principle of the bill. Mr. Morin.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My understanding of the process is, that after this second reading the legislation goes to the legislation committee and then to committee of the whole, and that is where all Members will have an opportunity to discuss the bill. It is also my understanding that a couple of weeks ago one Member said that if the government wanted to do something, they should do it. They should bring it forward in the House and recommend it, and not ask ordinary Members to do their dirty work, or whatever it was, so that is basically what I am doing. I see this as something that should be done to save this government money, and it will become an amendment to the

legislation that is coming forward now, and Members will have an opportunity to discuss it and debate it at that time.

Thank you.

Bill 14, Appropriation Act, No. 1, 1992-93 And Committee Report 3-12(2)

Department Of Education

I call the committee to order. Members will recall that we were dealing with the capital budget, page 18-10 on the Fort Smith Region. There was a motion introduced by Mr. Antoine and a subsequent motion introduced by Mr. Arvaluk. We were just dealing with the motion of deferral at this particular time. The motion is in order. We will circulate the motion.

Motion To Defer Motion To Add 12-Bed Student Hostel, Fort Simpson, Defeated

For the record, I will read the motion proposed by Mr. Arvaluk. "I move that further consideration of committee motion 32-12(2) be deferred until such time as the Minister of Education provides the previous plan and cost to renovate the old hostel." The motion is in order. To the motion. Mr. Allooloo.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. On May 4, 1988, a member of the Fire Marshal's office inspected the facility and noted...

Order, please. As the honourable Member is aware, the motion is to defer motion 32. To the motion to defer. Mr. Allooloo.

Mr. Chairman, I have an answer to what the motion is requesting. I am speaking to the motion. The motion requests deferral until such time as the Minister of Education provides a previous plan and costs to renovate the old school. I am speaking to the motion.

Thank you. The motion is to defer. It does not deal with the question of the honourable Member giving the answer. Once the motion is decided upon one way or another, the idea is that if the matter is defeated, the honourable Member can deal with the other questions. To the motion.

Question.

Question has been called. All those in favour? All those opposed? The motion is defeated.

---Defeated

Motion To Add 12-Bed Student Hostel, Fort Simpson

We are on pages 18-10 and 18-11. The motion before the committee as proposed by Mr. Antoine: I move that the 1992-93 capital estimates for the Department of Education, under the activity schools be increased in the amount of $800,000 to add the project, 12-bed hostel, in Fort Simpson. To the motion. Point of order. Mrs. Marie-Jewell.

Mr. Chairman, I believe that motion was placed by the Minister responsible, and not by Mr. Antoine.

I stand corrected. All Members received a copy yesterday. For those of you who do not have a copy, we will take a 10-minute recess to provide everyone with a copy.

---SHORT RECESS

I would like to call the committee back to order. Department of Education, capital estimates, page 18-11. To the motion.