I will take the question as notice, Mr. Speaker, and get the details and bring it back to the Member.

Mr. Antoine.

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Minister of Transportation in regard to winter roads. I am told that while the normal practice for winter roads in my constituency -- there are about four of them in my area, Trout Lake, Nahanni Butte, Jean Marie River and the main link going north from Wrigley to Fort Norman -- is that these roads remain open until the weather gets bad, around the middle of March. Will this practice continue; that the roads stay open until the weather gets too warm?

Minister of Transportation, Mr. Allooloo.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Yes, the practice of the past will continue for the remainder of this year. When it comes time to close the winter roads we will keep the public informed. However, because of the concerns raised by the Department of Fisheries and Oceans last year, we are reviewing our policy in terms of opening and closing dates for winter roads for the next year, and we will keep the public informed as to what changes will take place. Thank you.

Oral questions. Mr. Arngna'naaq.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My question is to the Minister of Justice. In February of this year I asked the Minister about vital statistics and how we could rectify the problems we are having with birth certificates. He indicated to me at that time that he would be introducing a bill in this House. I would like to know when he plans to introduce this bill.

Minister of Justice, Mr. Patterson.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I have discussed this matter with cabinet and have received the go ahead to work on such a bill. Mr. Speaker, the work is under way now. I will have to deal with the question of how to define a custom adoption and that is posing some problems. Otherwise, work is proceeding on pace, and I will keep the Members informed of my progress. I think it is too early for me to say, today, when this bill could be introduced into the House, but I realize it is an urgent matter and there are a number of people who are wanting birth certificates, or social insurance numbers, because of the registration problems they have encountered from custom adoptions. I have made it a priority with my department. Thank you.

Supplementary, Mr. Arngna'naaq.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The Minister just indicated that he will be going ahead in reviewing this bill, or the making of this bill. I would like to ask if he will consult members of the public, as well as Members of this House, when he is preparing this bill. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Patterson.

Mr. Speaker, the family law review project which has been initiated by the previous government will soon report to myself and Mr. Whitford. They did significant work with communities and consulting the public on family law issues, including custom adoption.

Mr. Speaker, I am hoping that when this report is in hand it will give me some advice on this area and these issues which will allow me to proceed with the bill fairly expeditiously without having to launch a whole new public consultation process. I am not, at this time, planning a public consultation process, Mr. Speaker, although the standing committee on legislation could do that once they receive the bill. Thank you.

Oral questions. Oral questions. Mr. Pudluk.

(Translation) Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I have a question for the Minister of Education. Yesterday we reviewed the budget for Education. There was a motion to delete the planning budget in the amount of $5000. The students who are attending the high school in Pond Inlet -- will the high school still be open for Resolute, Arctic Bay and Grise Fiord students? Thank you.

Minister of Education, Mr. Allooloo.

(Translation) Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I am not sure whether the students from Resolute and Arctic Bay will be able to attend the high school in Pond Inlet. Students from Pond Inlet will be the first priority to be able to attend the high school there. If there is room for students from other communities, such as Resolute and Arctic Bay, they will be able to attend the high school in Pond Inlet.

The motion that was passed yesterday deleted the project for a junior high school for Pond Inlet. In 1990 the Baffin Divisional Board of Education, as well as the education committee from Pond Inlet, met with the Russian delegation to discuss the joint education project, to comply with the agreement that was established between the GNWT and the Russians.

In the 1991-92 capital budget there was funding for the project approved by the Legislative Assembly. It became obvious to the Department of Education last year that there was not enough capital funding to go ahead with construction of the school, so they deferred it for one more year. The students who come from Pond Inlet will be able to attend the high school in Pond Inlet, but the students from communities outside could go to Iqaluit or they may not go to school at all. Thank you.

Oral questions. Oral questions.

Item 6, written questions. Written questions.

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

Item 8, replies to Opening Address. Replies to Opening Address.

Item 9, petitions. Petitions.

Item 10, reports of standing and special committees. Reports of standing and special committees.

Item 11, reports of committees on the review of bills. Item 12, tabling of documents. Mr. Todd.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I wish to table Tabled Document 17-12(2), a statement prepared by the NWT Chapter of Injured, Disabled and Discarded Workers, also known as the Injured Workers' Support Group, regarding the need to raise the year's maximum insurable remuneration under the Workers' Compensation Board. I believe this should be of immediate concern to the government, especially to the Minister responsible for the Workers' Compensation Board. I fully support this request and would appreciate any initiative by the Minister to bring the changes forward in the next session. Thank you.

Tabling of documents. Tabling of documents. Item 13, notices of motions. Notices of motions. Ms. Mike.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I give notice that on Friday, March 6, I will move the following motion: I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Aivilik, that this Legislative Assembly orders that the topic of the "sobriety clause in contribution agreements" be moved into committee of the whole for discussion. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I give notice that on Friday, March 6, 1992, I shall move that Bill 21, Supplementary Appropriation Act, No. 3, 1991-92, be read for the first time. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Notices of motions for first reading of bills. Mr. Whitford.