Good afternoon. Orders of the day for Wednesday, April 1, 1992. Item 2, Ministers' statements. Mr. Patterson.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I have two statements. First, as Minister responsible for the Workers' Compensation Board, it gives me great pleasure to announce that Mr. Bryan Roberts has been appointed as the chairman of the Workers' Compensation Board of the Northwest Territories.

--- Applause

Mr. Roberts' appointment will be effective today and remain in effect pending confirmation of a longer-term appointee.

Mr. Roberts is the longest-serving employee of the Workers' Compensation Board, having been with the board since it was first established in the Northwest Territories. He has served previously as executive director, interim chairman, director of client services, and head of policy and planning of the Workers' Compensation Board, and is, therefore, very familiar with all aspects of the operation and evolution of the board.

I am pleased, Mr. Speaker, to be able to announce the appointment of Mr. Roberts, who is well known to northern employers and labour organizations. He will provide continuity through his current knowledge and lengthy experience. Thank you.

I wish to inform the House that an amendment was required to the Northwest Territories Act, as Members know, to confirm the amendment to the Official Languages Act of the Northwest Territories to extend the time for making all statutory instruments in English and in French to September 30, 1992. A bill to amend the Northwest Territories Act was given three readings in the House of Commons and the Senate, and it received royal assent on March 31, 1992. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Ministers' statements. Mr. Kakfwi.

Ministers' statements. Ms. Cournoyea.

Mr. Speaker, I have an emergency statement which I would like to make. Mr. Speaker, last night I met with the representatives of the Stanton Yellowknife Hospital to discuss what can be done to improve pain control measures used in the performance of abortions. We also spoke about counselling services and complaint procedures. At the meeting, direction was given to the hospital to develop a plan for providing patients with further choices for pain control, beyond those which it implemented the other day.

Mr. Speaker, the hospital board responded today by introducing a procedure that will allow patients to make an -informed choice on the method of pain control they wish to have administered. Patients will be provided with the options of pain control or medication alone, supplemented with local anesthetic or replaced with general anesthetic. The risk involved with each option will be explained to each patient; however, there will be instances in which a physician overrides the patient's first choice because of the risks involved.

Mr. Speaker, I also wish to announce that I expect the draft terms of reference for the independent inquiry to be available today. In addition, at a meeting this morning with Ms. Lynn Brooks of the Status of Women Council, she agreed that with the complainants' permission, she would provide copies of the complaints to an inquiry, through my office. The confidentiality of the complaints will be respected.

In conclusion, I will be circulating copies of the letter of direction provided to the Stanton board, the board's response and the draft terms of reference of the independent inquiry to Members later this afternoon. Thank you.

--- Applause

Ministers' statements. Item 3, Members' statements. Mr. Nerysoo.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I want to correct certain media reports and statements about a discussion in this House about medical services provided at the Stanton Yellowknife Hospital. I want to say that if any allegations have been made, they have been made by the media by its reports

on the issues. Allegations have been made by the media that Members of this House were dwelling on Mr. Whitford, the person, on the issue of procedures and medical services.

Mr. Speaker, I asked the reporters who have been here to review and read Hansard. If you have just arrived, ask your media colleagues. They will -- or at least I hope they will -say that the issues have been clear, and that the facts will prove this. The issue has been health services and the statutory responsibilities of the Minister of Health, but, more specifically, certain surgical procedures used at the Stanton Yellowknife Hospital.

Mr. Speaker, my concern still remains. I believe that all people who have listened to the issue for up to two weeks believe that it is the statutory responsibility of any Minister and government to ensure that the well-being of the people of the North is properly protected, and that they have the assurances of the right to quality health services.

I want to say the Members on this side of the House have acted properly and have given many opportunities for the Minister and government to respond to our concerns. Still, today, all issues and concerns have not been dealt with or addressed in a manner that satisfies the Members of this Assembly. I will not be satisfied until the Minister has dealt with our concerns and the women of the North feel comfortable and are assured they are receiving the best quality health services. Thank you.

Members' statements. Mr. Pudluk.

(Translation) Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I am glad to be back here. I would like to make a statement of concern to the residents of the Northwest Territories. There are many hunters, business people and unemployed people who get into accidents and have lost their limbs. Presently, there are a lot of these people in the North. These people have to go south to get fitted for artificial limbs. Artificial limbs take a long time to get used to, even if you have been wearing them for some time. They are not a normal part of the body. Once you get used to wearing them, they begin to wear out and have to be replaced again. Perhaps people with artificial limbs have to go through replacement of limbs a number of times during their lifetimes.

I think it is time for the NWT to get its own facility to produce and fit artificial limbs. Money is going to southern institutions for this kind of work, and people in the North have to wait a long time to have their limbs made or replaced when needed. People do not ask to get their limbs replaced even when they need to because they know that they need to make a trip to a southern institution to get fitted again. When they do get a replacement, oftentimes it does not fit.

I know about this personally because I have not utilized the artificial foot I obtained. You have to go south to get fitted, and they send it north, but when it does not fit, it is a real problem.

Mr. Pudluk, your time has expired.

(Translation) Mr. Speaker, I seek unanimous consent to continue.

The Member is seeking unanimous consent. Are there any nays? There are no nays. Proceed, Mr. Pudluk.

Thank you. Mr. Speaker, this really concerns me because I am one of them. A number of times I went down south to get a part for my foot, and a number of times it did not fit. This means that I had to travel back down south again and back. It is not necessary. I think those people making artificial limbs should travel once in a while to the communities to see if the artificial limb fits the person properly.

I know a young fellow who had an accident a couple of years ago. He is still growing up. Each year his foot gets bigger and bigger; the normal foot is growing. Very often those artificial limbs are worn out quickly, like my leg, my arm, my hands. If there is not a proper fit it could damage your body. I know that. That is what happened to me.

I know today is April Fools', but this is not an April Fool; this is true. As a matter of fact, I have an exhibit that I can show this House about what happened to me and what happened after the fitting. Mr. Speaker, this is what I have got: This artificial foot is worn out after wearing it because it fits; the other one, the new one, does not fit. It was fitted down south and sent to me. It is too soft, and sometimes I have a hard time putting it on. This other one is harder. I think it is like false teeth. If you have false teeth and they do not fit, it hurts your gums. This is the same thing.

There are a lot of people in the North suffering from this problem, and they would like to walk like you people do; I also would like to walk like you people do, not staggering. I think in the future this government should look into this problem, Mr. Speaker. Thank you.

--- Applause

Thank you, Mr. Pudluk. The Chair would like to recognize in the gallery, Mr. Gary Bohnet, president, and Mr. Gordon Lennie, vice-president, of the Metis Nation.

--- Applause

Members' statements. Mr. Gargan.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As we are all aware, there is a lot of work to be done in the NWT to improve literacy levels in all of our official languages. I am very pleased to tell the Legislative Assembly that Peter Gzowski, the host of CBC's Morningside show, will once again hold a golf tournament in the NWT to support community literacy projects. The community of Fort Providence will be hosting the third annual NWT Gzowski tournament.

The first two tournaments, held in Yellowknife in 1990 and Pond Inlet in 1991, became the focus of a number of community events to celebrate literacy. This year's tournament in Fort Providence will be no exception. Although the tournament will be held on Saturday, April 4, events leading up to it begin on Thursday, April 2. The band council, the hamlet council, Metis Nation Local No. 57, Arctic College, Elizabeth Ward School, the Zhahti Zue Teaching and Learning Centre, and Zhahti Koe Friendship Centre are working together to put on a series of events to show off Fort Providence to the visitors. Several of Fort Providence's local businesses are also providing support, including Sonny's MiniMart, the Northern Store, the Snowshoe Inn and Northland Utilities, NWT, Ltd.

Community events include a bannock and chowder lunch with the elders, reading and traditional crafts demonstrations in the Slavey language centre, the grand finale of a reading contest in which children have tried to read 1100 books in one month, a community feast, entertainment and drum dance.

This year southern celebrities include two singers, George Fox and Shari Ulrich, actors Sarah Polley and Cynthia Dale, journalist Victor Malarek and Avie Bennett, chairman, president and chief executive officer of McClelland and Stewart Inc.

Northern celebrities include Government Leader Nellie Cournoyea, Education Minister Titus Allooloo...

Your time has expired, Mr. Gargan.

Thank you. I would like to ask for unanimous consent to finish my statement.

The Member is seeking unanimous consent. Are there any nays? There are no nays. Proceed, Mr. Gargan.

Thank you. I did not want to mention all the Ministers' names right away, so I could get consent.

--- Laughter

Northern celebrities include Government Leader Nellie Cournoyea, Education Minister Titus Allooloo, MP Ethel Blondin, and Chris Brodeur, chairman of the Arctic College Board of Governors. The roster also includes Joe "Pinto" Dragon, who is originally from Fort Smith and will attend his first Pittsburgh Penguins hockey training camp this August. Two young women from Fort Providence, Melanie Thom and Lorna Nadli, won an essay contest sponsored by the Department of Education. They will travel back home with the celebrities from Yellowknife and Fort Simpson, where they are attending high school.

Each Gzowski tournament has a poet laureate, who writes a poem about the event, This year's NWT tournament will feature two authors, Tim Wynne-Jones and northern author Michael Kusugak.

The community of Fort Providence is very pleased to have an opportunity to host one of Mr. Gzowski's tournaments and to give visitors an opportunity to experience true northern hospitality. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

--- Applause

Members' statements. Mr. Pudlat.

(Translation) Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my statement is in reference to the Minister of Economic Development and Tourism. The people of Cape Dorset are interested in setting up a credit union, due to the lack of such facilities within the Territories. The people are very interested in setting up some banking facilities, which would be very useful in their community, and it would also encourage membership. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you. Members' statements, Mr. Todd.

Mr. Speaker, on Saturday I attended the annual general meeting of the Keewatin Chamber of Commerce. I had the opportunity and the pleasure of presenting a paper on the Strength at Two Levels document at this meeting. I tried to focus on matters that have been debated in this House and directions that have been proposed and issues from the report that will directly affect the Keewatin and its people. I must say, Mr. Speaker, that this was an entirely new perspective for me for this year, in that I attended as Member of this House, and the past 10 years I have always been involved in organizing the chamber.

Mr. Speaker, the organizers of this year's meeting did the usual terrific job. The turnout was incredible and, as always in the Keewatin, the debate was lively, to say the least. What surprised me most was the level of concern, even anger out there toward the government. It seems that everyone has some concerns about the restraint program being instituted by this government.

Mr. Speaker, I know it is necessary to get a handle on the current financial difficulties that we are facing. It is important that we use the funds we have available in a most efficient manner. However, from what I can gather in the Keewatin Region, regional staff seem to have misinterpreted, at least I hope they have misinterpreted, the message from the cabinet. Instead of fiscal restraint, they are cuffing and slashing whenever they can. I heard so many horror stories from business people this weekend, I thought I was on "Geraldo."

--- Laughter

Businesses in the Keewatin are fighting for their very survival. This is not just a regional issue. This is an issue that is across the Territories. I know from talking to other Members that businesses all over the North are currently being threatened, from Rankin Inlet to Broughton Island to Yellowknife. We are going to lose some of the precious few businesses we have if we do not recognize this and do something about it now. It may already be too late for some people.

Mr. Speaker, I hope the Government Leader, the Minister of Finance and other Members of cabinet take note of the urgency of this matter and act on it now. Give the private sector the confidence it needs. Give clear direction to government to act in a responsible manner. Remember, we all have to survive in this country.

--- Applause

Members' statements. Item 4, returns to oral questions. Ms. Cournoyea.

Mr. Speaker, on March 2 and 27, 1991, the honourable Member for Nahendeh asked whether the Department of Health had assessed the delivery of home care services in Fort Simpson. The Member also asked whether there had been any discussions on the development and implementation of a model for home care program in small communities.

A community health services and facilities review is under way, and the department expects to have a community profile by the end of April 1992. The Department of Health and the Mackenzie Regional Health Service will then meet with key respondents in Fort Simpson to review the information and develop service delivery options.

The Department of Social Services presently contracts for the delivery of home care and support services for elderly and disabled residents in the community. Discussions on home care services in Fort Simpson would be premature at this state and should wait until the formal review is complete.

This is a reply to a question asked by Mr. Nerysoo on February 25, 1992. A basic bibliography listing documents reviewed by the review project team during the development of Strength at Two Levels has been circulated to all Members.

Returns to oral questions. Mr. Allooloo.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I have a return to an oral question asked by Ms. Mike on March 26, 1992. A four-classroom addition was planned for Quluaq School for construction last year, However, due to funding limitations and the school enrolment declining from 177 in 1989-90 to 166 in 1990-91, construction was delayed until enrolment increased.

Since this decision, 1991-92 enrolments have again risen to 177 students. The capacity of the school is calculated at 198 students. The existing school was built in 1984 and is in good condition. Should the enrolment continue to increase in 1992-93, the department will begin the planning for additional classroom space in 1993-94, with construction to commence in 1994-95. Thank you.

Returns to oral questions. Mr. Kakfwi.

Mr. Patterson.

This is a return to a question asked by Mrs. Marie-Jewell on March 24th. I wish to correct some information I provided in replying to questions from the Member on March 24, 1992. For operational reasons the municipal planning engineer position is being transferred, along with the incumbent, effective May 4, 1992. As this position serves the entire Fort Smith Region, including the Deh Cho, North Slave and Fort Smith areas, we are confident that the same level of service will be maintained, and indeed improved, throughout the region. The honourable Member may be assured that as usual the department will monitor the delivery of municipal engineering programs in a manner consistent with other municipal assistance programs throughout the region. We have always been prepared to reallocate staff resources to improve program effectiveness.

The department intends to place a technical officer position on an interim basis in the Fort Smith office, similar to the positions in the Deh Cho and North Slave area offices. Under this arrangement the continuity of services in the Fort Smith area will be ensured.

This is a reply to an oral question asked by Mr. Pudlat on February 21 st. Mr. Pudlat asked about the status of interpreters during their assignments for the court and the possibility of lawsuits against them. Court interpreters, while interpreting for the court, are officers of the court. Their liability, if any, for actions done in good faith in the course of fulfilling their obligations to the courts as interpreters would be a matter for the Government of the NWT to deal with. This would be by defending or arranging for the defence of interpreters and would apply for interpreters who are employees and for independent contractors.

Returns to oral questions. Ms. Cournoyea.

Mr. Speaker, I have the reply to a question asked by Mr. Brian Lewis on March 11, 1992 regarding the accomplishments of government over the last five months. Mr. Speaker, the activities of government since it took office in November have been driven by numerous issues at the national, territorial, regional and community levels. One of the most pressing matters is the decline in federal funding and the severe impact this has placed on cash flow. Cabinet has had to wrestle with this problem, and at the same time shape capital and O and M budgets for 1992-93 and develop a strategy to return to a balanced budget within two years. It has also considered a range of options for making government more efficient and less costly. Reshaping northern government is the beginning of this longer-term effort.

As you know, the government inherited no well-developed budget from the previous cabinet; however, in the short time it has been in office, we have prepared and submitted to the Legislative Assembly reduced 1992-93 capital estimates and a proposal on major innovations to the government's capital planning process. The innovations will significantly increase the involvement of all Members of the Legislative Assembly and community governments in the government's capital planning program. Part of these changes include the move to a fall capital budget in order to better co-ordinate with the summer transportation and construction season. By taking this approach, we can make sure that projects are planned well in advance and that construction activity in any one year does not exceed what the local labour force can handle.

We have prepared and submitted to the Legislative Assembly a proposed process and work plan for Reshaping Northern Government. This work plan is not a prescriptive outline of what the government has decided to do. Rather, it is an outline of the process the government proposes to follow to develop a plan of action for dealing with the issues before us. This proposal recognizes and provides for full consultation with ordinary MLAs, communities, aboriginal organization, the business community and other interest groups.

More recently, we have convened the Reshaping Northern Government working group, which is a joint cabinet/Legislative Assembly initiative to review and discuss many of the issues currently faced by the Government of the Northwest Territories. This working group's terms of reference include consultation with labour, business and aboriginal organizations.

Finally, we have worked towards and supported the introduction of a new Legislative approval process designed to give all stakeholders and the public far greater input into consideration of proposed legislation before it is presented in the House for committee of the whole discussion and subsequent approval.

These things have been accomplished, but the challenge to any government is to look ahead and deal with pending problems and issues. In this regard, we will continue to work with MLAs to develop strategies in a number of key areas: 1) education, which means not only K to 12 but also upgrading and job training; 2) employment strategies which will allow us to maximize northern employment and development opportunities; 3) refinement of social and housing policies so that, in these tough economic times, people most in need are cared for; and 4) continuing efforts on the intergovernmental front so that the NWT can take its rightful place among the other provinces.

Mr. Speaker, in the area of intergovernmental affairs, the Northwest Territories has accomplished full participation in both the First Ministers' Conference on the Economy and, more importantly, the federal-provincial conference on the constitution. As I reported to the House last week, we have been able to ensure that the interests of the Northwest Territories are understood and have been included in a number of position papers on the economy being developed by First Ministers.

Finally, the ratification of the Gwich'in land claim provided us with the opportunity to negotiate and sign implementation plans which clearly set out the financial implications of land claims and define the federal government's responsibilities. Mr. Speaker, hopefully, we will be equally successful in finalizing the details of the Nunavut final agreement due to be ratified later this spring. Thank you.

--- Applause

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

(Translation) Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I have a question to the Minister of Education. I received correspondence stating that they will be short one teacher in Chesterfield Inlet, according to the government goals and objectives. Is it changed now?

Mr. Allooloo.

Mr. Speaker, based on the funding formula that the Department of Education allocates to divisional boards of education, based on enrolment of the previous year, in respect to Victor Sammurtok School in Chesterfield Inlet, the community is eligible for 4.5 teachers for this year and 1.5 teacher assistants. This means they are eligible for one additional teacher from the previous year. However, when we fund the divisional boards, based on this enrolment formula, it is up to the divisional boards of education in the regions to allocate funding to the communities where there feel it is a priority.

So it is not up to us to tell the divisional boards how many teaching positions should be allocated to Chesterfield Inlet. That is the responsibility of the divisional board. We fund the divisional board based on the enrolment. Up to this point, the Victor Sammurtok School is eligible for 4.5 teaching positions

and 1.5 classroom assistants, which is a one person year increase from previous years.

Thank you. Mr. Todd.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My question is to the current Minister of Health. Like many Northerners, our main concern is about the issues raised earlier this week and last week with respect to the surgical procedures performed at the Stanton Yellowknife Hospital. But perhaps I am more concerned about the performance of the territorial health administration. Since the issues were first raised, the response by the department has seemed, at least to me, to be uncoordinated and confused. I am also concerned that the former Minister appeared to be inadequately briefed about the complaints and the follow-up correspondence received by his department officials. Will the Minister undertake an internal review of whether standard policies for advising the Minister of critical issues are regularly followed by the director and the health officials within the department?

Ms. Cournoyea.

Mr. Speaker, yes.

Supplementary, Mr. Todd.

I realize this is somewhat of an emotional issue, but frankly I was astounded by the way the department and the Stanton Yellowknife Hospital Board have been handling the release of public information. Press statements were released and later recalled. Public comments attributed to Dr. Morgentaler were later refuted. Local physicians have been making comments that contradicted the complaints by women. I thought the administration of the department was supposed to be the responsibility of the deputy minister and his senior staff. Removing the Minister is only one part of the solution. Is the current Minister willing to undertake a review of the deputy minister and his senior staff's performance throughout this matter?

Ms. Cournoyea.

Mr. Speaker, yes.

Supplementary, Mr. Todd.

In response to earlier questions by my honourable colleague from Baffin Central, the former Minister indicated that Lynn Olenek was in charge of co-ordinating the public position of the hospital board. Can the Minister advise this House whether this was, in fact, the case?

Ms. Cournoyea.

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

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I have a question to the Minister of Finance regarding the projected deficit. Earlier in this session, I questioned the Minister about the amount of the deficit. At that time, this House was informed that it was in the range of $50 million. Can the Minister, today, give us a more current estimate of what the projected deficit is for this government?

Mr. Pollard.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It is $49 million that we are currently forecasting, Mr. Speaker. Thank you.

Oral questions. Supplementary, Mr. Koe.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Last week, the Minister of Finance was in Ottawa meeting with various senior federal government Ministers regarding an issue - which is a thorn in the side of the Minister -- of $41 million regarding health billings. Can the Minister advise this House as to how this $41 million worth of outstanding billings is being accounted for?

Mr. Pollard.

Mr. Speaker, we believe the $41 million is an outstanding bill that the federal government of Canada has not paid us. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Supplementary, Mr. Koe.

Is that $41 million billing in the financial documents of this government'?

Mr. Pollard.

It is an account receivable, Mr. Speaker. Yes.

Last supplementary, Mr. Koe,

Is the $41 million, in the Minister's judgment, going to be collectable? If not, when will it be recognized as a doubtful account and written off?

That is really two questions in one. Mr. Pollard.

Mr. Speaker, there is communication going on between myself and Mr. Siddon's office. We will be sending another letter to him today to try to resolve this issue. In the event that we are unable to resolve it this year, it will be set up in the new year's books as a doubtful account, Mr. Speaker. Thank you.

Oral questions. Mr. Arvaluk.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My question is to the Minister of Justice. In his response to Mr. Pudlat, he stated that the interpreters' liability, if any, will be defended by the government. What would happen if the interpreter loses her case or defence even with the help or defence by the government'? Who would be ultimately responsible for that suit?

Mr. Patterson.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the return was intended to assure interpreters that if they are working as officers of the court, and they are acting in good faith, their liability would be the responsibility of the employer. As employer, we would arrange for their defence. We would take responsibility for any of the consequences if liability should be found against our employees working for the courts in good faith. Thank you.

Oral questions. Mr. Arngna'naaq.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My question is to the Minister of Education. I would like to ask the Minister if he knows how many students are attending the Eastern Arctic teacher education program?

Mr. Allooloo.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I do not know that information, but I will get back to the Member as soon as I can.

Oral questions. Mr. Koe.

I have a question to the Minister of Health regarding Metis health benefits. Can the Minister advise me of the status of the request from the Metis Nation regarding Metis health benefits?

Ms. Cournoyea.

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

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

I have a question for the Minister of Energy, Mines and Resources. Will the Minister advise this House of the current status of the Northern Accord, please?

Ms. Cournoyea.

Mr. Speaker, the Northern Accord negotiations with the federal government still have some outstanding issues; that being the case, the Minister of Indian and Northern Affairs wishes to have the document signed by the end of May. However, in terms of the financial issues surrounding the takeover of these responsibilities, to myself as Minister responsible as well as to the Minister of Finance, I do not believe it is in the best interests of this government to take over any responsibilities that do not have the financial dollars attached to it in the takeover. We are stymied right now at this time in the negotiations with the federal government, although the Minister of Indian and Northern Affairs hopes this is concluded by the end of May.

Oral questions. Supplementary, Mr. Koe.

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. In prior negotiations, there has been an outstanding issue related to community benefits. Will the issue of community benefits be addressed to the satisfaction of aboriginal and other business groups in the Northwest Territories?

That asks for an opinion of the Minister. Ms. Cournoyea.

Mr. Speaker, in the area of community benefits, that, to my knowledge, is not one of the outstanding issues.

Oral questions. Supplementary, Mr. Koe.

Late last week the federal government announced a change in federal policy on ownership of petroleum companies, and it is now open to foreign investors. Will this affect exploration or development in the North? What is the impact on the Northern Accord?

Ms. Cournoyea.

Mr. Speaker, we are hoping it will have a positive impact on our industry. The Member is very aware that the oil and gas industry, as it presently exists, is reluctant to spend the dollars for exploration and development of resources in the NWT, and hopefully, with the possibility of additional infusion of capital, they would be more open to begin more activity in the NWT.

Supplementary, Mr. Koe.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. In an earlier question the Minister stated that the issue of community benefits was not an outstanding issue. To my knowledge, some regions still consider this a fairly major concern. How is the Minister

and her department dealing with this issue?

Ms. Cournoyea.

Mr. Speaker, when I made my previous response, I felt the issue had been resolved, in terms of community benefits. I am not aware of this being an outstanding issue; however, I will again check and elaborate in a response to the Member. So I will take that as notice.

The question has been taken as notice. Oral questions. Item 6, written questions. Mr. Nerysoo.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. This is a question to the Minister of Transportation. Would the Minister indicate the status of discussion on the operation and management of ferry operations with the Arctic Red River Band Council?

Written questions.

Item 7, returns to written questions. Address. Mr. Arngna'naaq.

Item 8, replies to Opening

Mr. Arngna'naaq's Reply

Mr. Speaker, over Christmas the North lost an important figure with the death of Armand Tagoona. Armand's final months were overshadowed by certain events with which we are all familiar. I do not wish to minimize these events, as Armand himself did not minimize them. However, today I will address another side of the man.

Armand was born in Repulse Bay in 1926. He was born a member of the Aivilik people. With his mother and father he moved south and west to Baker Lake while he was still a boy of seven years. For many years the mission, the Hudson's Bay Company and the RCMP were the only white residents of Baker Lake, and then the Department of Transport opened a station. An Inuit assistant was needed, and the department asked Armand Tagoona to work for them, offering a very good salary of two dollars per day. He become one of the richest Inuit in the area, besides being one of the most gifted in the whole settlement.

On the 26th day of April 1959, Armand Tagoona, before some 60 white people and 150 Inuit in Rankin Inlet, was ordained a deacon. As a token of their love, his white and Inuit friends in Baker Lake had sent him an ordination gift of robes and an inscribed prayer book. In his words, when asked why he wanted to work for the church, he said, 'Canon W.J.R. James, our Minister at Baker Lake, gives us a sermon four times a week during services. In the year of 1953 1 started studying the Bible at home and listening to sermons to try to understand what a believer should do. Then my believing in God got stronger and stronger. Then I had belief in God and in Jesus Christ the son of God, our Lord and Saviour.

*At that time I was working for the DOT and my future was for that. In the year of 1954 our minister visited our house. While on his visit he asked me, 'Do you think God is calling you sometimes to work for Him? Because I did not want to say yes or no, I said, 'I do not know.' Then he said, 'Watch for God's call, because God is calling some people to work for him.' Then I studied the Bible and the Word of God more and harder and prayed more. In my heart there was a saying, 'Watch for God's call, because God is calling some people to work for Him.' Then I wondered, 'Am I one of them?' This went on for over three years.

'In the year of 1957 Canon James told us in the service that God was needing more workers to help the church. I then wondered again, 'Am I one of them?' Later I let Canon James know what I felt. He wrote to Bishop Marsh, Bishop of the Arctic, about it. The answer was that he welcomed me to work for God and help the church."

"I want to say this: Why did I come to work for God in the church and give up DOT? Not because I do not like them, no. I gave up because God's call was too strong for me to say, 'No.' I was very happy to work for Him, to help the church."

In his lifetime he built three churches: one Anglican Church in Rankin Inlet; one Anglican Church in Arviat; and he took a leave of absence in 1969 and started the Arctic Christian Fellowship Church in Baker Lake, I remember when the little church in Baker Lake first started. Services were held on Sunday afternoon because it did not want to interfere with the morning and evening services of the Anglican and Roman Catholic Churches. If you were late, you would not be able to enter the building because the little church was too full.

In his lifetime he wrote three hymn books, now used in the Eastern Arctic. He also wrote many, many weekly newsletters. Armand was also a gifted artist. He produced a series of drawings for his first exhibition held at the Robertson Galleries in Ottawa in October 1972. He was first encouraged to begin drawing and was assisted in writing in English by the Butlers, a couple from Pittsburgh who came to Baker Lake to help develop arts and crafts activities among the Inuit. A book was produced with 23 of his drawings and the stories behind them. The book is entitled "Shadows.' It is a series of experiences of Christianity and shamanism into the coherent whole that is the life of one man.

He turned down an award from the Inuit Tapirisat of Canada in the early 1970s. The award from ITC would have been an award from all the Inuit of Canada, thanking him for his service to bettering the lives of the Inuit. In 1988 he was again recommended and asked for his appointment as a member of the Order of Canada, but he turned that down as well. He told his son William Tagoona that he could not accept the awards, as there is only one award he wants to receive, and that is in Heaven.

In 1985 he returned to the Anglican Church as the pastor for Rankin Inlet. He and his family returned to Baker Lake in the fall of 1991.

He died on December 21, 1991, of severe hemorrhaging of the stomach, at the age of 65. Armand and his wife, Mary Tagoona, had 13 children, of which 11 survived. At the time of his death he and his wife had 45 grandchildren. When he fell ill in December, 1991, they did not have any records of him. He had not been to the health centre since the early 1960s.

He always saw the brighter side of life, which was reflected by a certain aura about him. He was an inspiration to all who met and got to know him. In Bryan Pearson's words from Nunatsiaq News of February 14, 1992: "Many knew, admired and loved him. He was a northern treasure, a rare human being, selfless, a doer, a builder, a rebel and a family man.' Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

--- Applause

Thank you, Mr. Arngna'naaq. 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. Mr. Arngna'naaq.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I wish to report to the committee that the standing committee on legislation has reviewed Bill 1 and Bill 17, and wishes to report that Bill 1 is now ready for committee of the whole and that Bill 17 is ready for committee of the whole, as reprinted and amended. Thank you.

Thank you. Reports of review of bills. Mr. Todd.

committees on the

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I wish to report to the Assembly that the standing committee on finance has reviewed Bill 13 and Bill 24, and wishes to report that Bill 13 and Bill 24 are now ready for committee of the whole.

Mr. Pollard.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I seek unanimous consent to waive Rule 65(5) and have the following bills placed on the orders for committee of the whole today: Bill 1, Bill 13, Bill 17 and Bill 24. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The Member is seeking unanimous consent. Are there any nays? There are no nays. Pursuant to Rule 66(3), and on the order of the Assembly, Bills 1, 13, 17 and 24 are ordered into committee of the whole for today.

Reports of committees on the review of bills. Mr. Kakfwi.

The Member is seeking unanimous consent to return to Item 10, reports of standing and special committees. Are there any nays? There are no nays. Proceed, Mr. Kakfwi.

The motion is in order, Mr. Kakfwi. To the motion.

Question.