Mr. Antoine.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My question is to the Minister responsible for Intergovernmental and Aboriginal Affairs. On May 4th, the residents of the NWT will be voting on a proposed boundary line for division of the NWT. There has been little discussion of who will pay the bill if the boundary line is accepted. The GNWT commissioned a study last year, called "Financial Impact of Division," that showed a one time transition cost of $600 million for division. We all know that the Government of the NWT is not in a financial position to pay this bill. Has the Minister had any discussion with the federal government about paying the large transitional cost for division of the NWT?

Mr. Kakfwi.

Mr. Antoine.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Can the Minister tell the House if there has been discussion on this matter with the federal government?

Mr. Kakfwi.

Mr. Antoine.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Can the Minister tell the House if the federal government has indicated that they will be willing to pay the one-time transition costs of division?

Mr. Kakfwi.

Mr. Antoine, your last supplementary.

Mr. Speaker, if the federal government is unable or unwilling to pay this bill, then who will pay for this transitional cost of division?

Mr. Kakfwi.

I would like to take this opportunity to recognize His Worship, Mr. Dan Marion, Mayor of Rae-Edzo.

--- Applause

Item 6, written questions. Item 7, returns to written questions.

(Mr. Hamilton): Mr. Speaker. Return to Question W23-12(2) asked by Mr. Gargan to the Minister of Finance concerning the Government of the NWT 1991-92 financial situation; return to Question W24-12(2) asked by Mr. Gargan to the Minister of Finance on the Government of the NWT deficit.

Hon. John Pollard's return to Question W23-12(2), asked by Mr. Gargan on March 9, 1992: The government's latest interim unaudited financial report 'for the 1991-92 fiscal year is the "Summary of Projected Revenues and Expenditures" that is presented on page one of the information document accompanying the Supplementary Appropriation, No. 3, 1991-92 Act. This summary presents the most current forecast of the 1991-92 financial results. The forecast is for a 1991-92 deficit of approximately $49 million.

The spending forecasts by the department are also presented in the Supplementary Appropriation, No. 3, 1991-92 document on pages three and four. These spending forecasts are in the form of the revised appropriation requirements. Although from past experience it is known that some of the requested appropriation authority will not be used, it is difficult to be specific at the department level until all expenditure and year end accrual information is available. As a result, an estimate of the appropriation authority lapse for the total government, based on historic experience, is included in the Summary of Project Revenues and Expenditures, page one of the Supplementary Appropriation, No. 3, 1991-92 document. The estimated appropriation authority lapse for 1991-92 is $37 million.

Expenditures by department to the end of February 1992 are presented in the attached schedule. These amounts do not include: late expenditure information from financial subsystems; expenditures for March 1992; or year-end expenditure accruals and audit adjustments.

The Supplementary Appropriation, No. 3, 1992-92 document includes explanations for the additional appropriation authority being requested. Without the additional appropriation authority included in the supplementary appropriations, a number of departments would be overspent. However, if the appropriation authority requested is approved by the Legislative Assembly, the government does not expect any departments to be overspent at year end.

Hon. John Pollard's return to Question W24-12(2), asked by Mr. Gargan on March 9, 1992: The government's plans to bring the deficit under control were presented to the Legislative Assembly in my February 12, 1992 Minister's statement on the fiscal situation and the capital estimates. At that time I identified that the government would strive to balance the budget over the next two years and that our fiscal target was to reduce the deficit to approximately $25 million in 1992-93 and balance the budget in 1993-94. The range of deficit reduction measures that would have to be considered was also identified in my February 12, 1992 statement.

Subsequently, the Government Leader presented to the Legislative Assembly the outline of a plan to reshape northern government. This outline encompassed a suggested work plan and consultative process which would lead to the necessary decisions to live within our means yet still accomplish our major social and economic objectives.

Based on the guidelines provided in my February 12, 1992 statement and the work plan outlined in the Reshaping Northern Government document, the government is developing more specific action plans and measures to deal with the deficit. These will be discussed with the appropriate standing and special committees of this Legislative Assembly over the coming months as the 1992-93 O and M budget is developed for presentation to the standing committee on finance in June 1992.

Item 8, replies to Opening Address.

Item 9, petitions.

Item 10, reports of standing and special committees.

Item 11, reports of committees on the review of bills.

Item 12, tabling of documents. Item 13, notices of motions. Mr. Patterson.

Notices of Motions.

Item 14, notices of motions for first reading of bills. Item 15, motions. Ms. Mike.

(Translation) Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

WHEREAS the International Whaling Commission, IWC, has the responsibility to manage the world's whale stocks;

AND WHEREAS the IWC has not yet decided whether its management role includes the competence to manage small cetaceans;

AND WHEREAS it appears inevitable that the IWC will assume the responsibility to manage small cetaceans within the next two years;

AND WHEREAS the present IWC is dominated by member nations that pursue a goal of irrational protectionism rather than management of whale stocks;

AND WHEREAS those same member nations of IWC appear to be influenced by the same animal rights groups that have caused the demise of the fur and sealing industries and have thereby created a negative impact on northern native traditional pursuits and lifestyle;

AND WHEREAS those same member nations will make unreasonable requests of subsistence harvesters in the NWT;

AND WHEREAS subsistence harvesters within the NWT fulfill their needs following the principles of conservation and sustainability according to management plans;

AND WHEREAS there is no need for external agencies such as the IWC to interfere with Canada's sovereign right to manage its whale resources on behalf of its aboriginal population;

AND WHEREAS Canada's aboriginal peoples have inalienable rights to harvest whale species for subsistence;

AND WHEREAS these rights may be compromised by Canada being subject to the IWC by virtue of membership;

AND WHEREAS such a situation would lead to prolonged conflict between Canada and its aboriginal peoples with respect to harvesting rights and subsistence needs; AND WHEREAS Canada must pay as much attention to its internal affairs as it does to its image in the eyes of the rest of the world;

AND WHEREAS Canada can be proud of its record of the wise use of renewable resources in the NWT;

AND WHEREAS the Inuvialuit, by virtue of their experiences with the IWC, have resolved that the IWC does not, and will not, serve a useful purpose with respect to the national utilization and management of whale resources;

AND WHEREAS all subsistence users within the NWT share the same view of the national utilization of wildlife;

NOW THEREFORE, I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Mackenzie Delta, that this Legislative Assembly is not in favour of Canada rejoining the International Whaling Commission;

AND FURTHER, that the Government of the Northwest Territories communicate this resolution to the Government of Canada.