Mr. Patterson.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I have three responses. The first is a return to Question O410-12(2), asked by Mr. Pudlat March 3, 1992, and raised again Friday. Mr. Speaker, this return was previously made on March 4, 1992, in response to Question O212-12(2) asked by the Member.

A community hall for Sanikiluaq is not currently in the department's capital forecasting plan. A number of years ago the community was asked whether they wanted a new arena or community hall, and they chose an arena as their priority. The Department of Education had plans at that time for the construction of a gymnasium. The new gymnasium was completed in 1988. The new arena is-currently scheduled for completion in 1994-95. With the community receiving these two facilities, it is unlikely the department will be able to include construction of a community hall in our budget in the foreseeable future. However, the design and siting of the new arena will allow for the future addition of a community hall when it becomes feasible.

This is a return to Question O296-12(2), asked by Mrs. Marie Jewell on March 9th. Mr. Speaker, the following breakdown of assessment revenue is based on the 1990 audited financial statements and not 1991, as that audit has not been completed and approved by the Auditor General's office. The order of breakdown is from highest to lowest by industry class, and perhaps I will just recite the percentage:

Construction, 26.30 per cent; mining, 20.70 per cent; transportation and communication utilities, 14.13 per cent; public administration, GNWT, 10.03 per cent; services, which includes business and professional services, hotels, motels, camp caterers, security, janitorial services, et cetera, 9.70 per cent; public administration, other, 6.97 per cent; oil and gas, 6.29 per cent; trades, 5.35 per cent; renewable resources, .53 per cent. Total revenue, $19,714,000, at 100 per cent. So the GNWT assessment for 1990 comprised 10.03 per cent of the total revenue for that year.

This is a return to Question O51-12(2), asked by Mr. Todd on February 17th. The Workers' Compensation Board is unable to provide actual dollars spent on rehabilitation in the South as the accounting system does not track the distribution of moneys spent on rehabilitation by worker's residency. Based on the assumption that 65 per cent of workers reside in the South after injury, it is estimated that they consume up to 65 per cent of moneys spent on rehabilitation. Rehabilitation includes retraining.

Using this estimate, of the $2.5 million spent on rehabilitation in 1991, up to $1.9 million was expended in the South. Of this amount, 66 per cent was paid out in rehabilitation benefits such as home modification, independence aids, tools, vehicle modification, special financial assistance, residential aid, relocation allowance, excluding compensation payments and medical aid costs.

The remaining costs represent expenditures such as payment of academic training, provision of vocational assessment, work conditioning and counselling services, to name but a few. For northern workers, unfortunately these services are non-existent in the North and for the most part have to be purchased in the South. It is estimated that the rehabilitation division had to spend up to $200,000 last year in sending northern residents south for rehabilitation programs. Whenever possible, they have tried to import the expertise on a case by case basis to minimize cost to family disruption. These rehabilitation costs exclude the cost of early medical treatment and expense of travelling south for surgery and specialized medical opinions. The board's goal is to have the injured worker return to the workplace as quickly as possible as it will reduce long-term claim and compensation costs. Thank you.

Mr. Pollard.

Mr. Speaker, I have three returns. The first was asked by Mr. Koe on March 6th, 1992, regarding the status of the NWT Business Loans Board, Mr. Speaker. On October 1, 1991, when the new Business Credit Corporation Act was proclaimed and the Business Loans and Guarantees Act was rescinded, the directors of the Business Loans Fund Board resigned, and a new slate of directors was appointed.

Since the size of the new board was reduced from 12 to nine, and since several of the directors held positions on other boards, some changes were made.

The new board of directors consists of: Mary King of Hay River; Anthony Chang and Stephen Hurst of Yellowknife; Allan Woodhouse and Thomas Webster of lqaluit; Mark Kalluak of Arviat; Gordon Peters of Holman Island; Wilfred Wilcox of Cambridge Bay; and Rod Hardy of Fort Norman.

The second one, Mr. Chairman, was asked by Mr. Zoe on February 27th concerning the deferral of large capital contracts. Although no formal policy exists on informing communities and Members of the Legislative Assembly of deferrals or delays to large capital projects, it is the practice of Ministers and departments to inform communities when such deferrals or delays occur.

To increase the involvement of communities and MLAs in the capital planning process, the government has implemented process changes that formally provide for community and MLA input at set points in the process. These points are at the outset of the planning process and at the time when draft department capital plans are completed.

The third one, Mr. Speaker, was asked by Mr. Antoine on March 9, 1992, regarding the number of trees required to make one million board feet. On average, Mr. Speaker, 10,000 to 12,000 trees are required to produce one million board feet of lumber. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Returns to oral questions. Mr. Allooloo.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I have a return to Question O189-12(2), asked by Mr. Gargan on February 27, 1992, regarding highway patrol operations. On Thursday, February 27, 1992, the Member for Deh Cho asked me on what day of the week motor transport officers conduct mobile patrols on the highways.

The day that motor transport officers are out on mobile patrol results from their rotating shift schedule. Their first responsibility is to keep the weigh scale open for truck inspections. The shift schedule for each officer is six shifts on duty and two days off, followed by another six shifts on and three days off. The six and two, six and three shift schedule does not match the seven day calendar week. In this way, the one day in six an officer is assigned to patrol duty always changes as the officer keeps repeating the shift cycle.

With the department's present staff of six highway transport officers stations in Hay River, the Member should expect that on most days of the seven-day week, there is one officer out on an eight-hour shift of patrol duty. As I explained, because of the rotating shift schedule, the day when there is no patrol is always changing.

I have another return, to Question O254-12(2), asked by Mr. Gargan on March 4, 1992, concerning the status of the management board at Akaitcho Hall. While it is true that there have been a number of different people supervising Akaitcho Hall during the past few years, the advisory board has always had the support of the Department of Education. Recently, due to a change in staffing assignments, responsibility for Akaitcho Hall has been assigned to the operations, training and development division. The former director of board development, who had been working with the Akaitcho Hall board, has taken on the position of director of curriculum services.

The director of operations, training and development is presently working with Akaitcho Hall administration and the advisory board to improve procedures and staff guidelines for the supervision and care of students. Staff job descriptions will be carefully examined to ensure that their responsibilities are stated clearly. The department will also conduct a full operational review of the Akaitcho Hall residence in May 1992. The review will locus on all aspects of operation including the goals and objectives of the residence, training of staff, recreation and weekend activity programs for students, student leave procedures and student support and participation in the operation of the residence.

The Akaitcho Hall Advisory Board will be fully involved in this review. The preliminary planning with board members will take place during the next few weeks. Thank you.

Ms. Cournoyea.

Mr. Speaker, I have a return to Question O409-12(2), asked by Mr. Dent on March 27th, on whether or not the senior employees of the NWT Power Corporation had just received a 10 per cent salary increase. The employees of the NWT Power Corporation have received no salary increase since April 1, 1991, at which time the increase was 5.02 per cent. The salaries of the chairman, president and vice-presidents decreased January 1, 1992. The corporation is presently preparing for bargaining with the Union of Northern Workers for the fiscal year 1992-93. The current contract expires March 31, 1992.

Mr. Whitford.

Returns to oral questions. Item 5, oral questions. Mrs. Marie-Jewell.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Minister of Health. Last Thursday, I asked the Minister of Health, recognizing that medical procedures used at the Stanton Yellowknife Hospital subject women to unnecessary pain during a procedure, and recognizing that the Minister of Health is initiating a review, if he would consider directing his department to develop a directive which would eliminate unnecessary pain which is imposed upon women who have abortion procedures taken through the Stanton Yellowknife Hospital. The Minister at that point had indicated, "Yes." I would like to know whether or not the Minister can assure this House that the directive has been implemented.

Minister of Health, Mr. Whitford.

Mr. Nerysoo.