Good afternoon. Orders of the day for Thursday, April 2, 1992. Item 2, Ministers' statements. Mr. Ningark.

(Translation) Thank you, Mr. Speaker. In the spring of 1992, the Department of Renewable Resources will carry out a research project on the persistence of the immobilizing drug, Telazol, in the tissue of polar bears. This project will be carried out in co-operation with the Resolute Bay Hunters' and Trappers' Association and the University of Saskatchewan.

For many years, people who live in the communities in the Northwest Territories have asked if meat from polar bears that have been drugged is safe to eat. To answer this question, the hunters' and trappers' association of Resolute Bay has agreed to allocate up to six of their regular polar bear hunting tags in a way that will allow this important research to proceed.

The primary research objective is to find out how long the drug, Telazol, remains in polar bear tissue after an immobilized bear has been released back into the wild. Research scientists generally believe that there is probably no cause for concern for human health for any bear four days after it has been released back to the wild. It is essential that this research hypothesis be verified with actual case studies.

This project will occur in the High Arctic region of Canada during the spring of 1992 and possibly in the fall of 1992 as well. Bears will be immobilized using conventional techniques. At two subsequent intervals of approximately three and four days, these same bears will be relocated by the radio signal coming from their radio collars. The bears will be shot, and samples will be taken. The hides will be taken by the Inuit member of the research team and sold with the same hunting tag that would have been used in a conventional hunt. Up to six polar bears that would have been taken as part of the regular hunt will be killed as part of this research project. Hunters throughout northern Canada will then have a reliable understanding of any human health risks that may be associated with marked bears.

Drugging of polar bears, in general, is a necessary part of research that is required to support responsible conservation of polar bears. Hunting of polar bears continue to be an important element of traditional Inuit culture. This hunting must occur within the framework of a sound management program.

The Government of the Northwest Territories is in the process of developing co-management agreements for polar bears on a population-by -population basis. The government recently

signed a management agreement with the communities of Resolute Bay, Grise Fiord, Arctic Bay and Pond Inlet for the polar bears in this region. (Translation ends)

The Department of Renewable Resources, the Government of the Northwest Territories and communities believe that this project is necessary and worthwhile. The department will work carefully with the other co-operators to ensure that the bears will be treated in the most humane way possible. The results of this work will be of value for many years to come, and, hopefully, alleviate concerns Inuit have about eating polar bear meat. Thank you.

Ministers' statements. Mr. Pollard.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, as Members may be aware, Mr. Dwight Noseworthy, after four years as deputy minister for the Department of Economic Development and Tourism and chairman of the Northwest Territories Development Corporation, has left the Government of the Northwest Territories to pursue other interests. Mr. Noseworthy brought considerable expertise to both of these positions, and I am sure that Members join me in wishing him all the best in his future pursuits.

Mr. Speaker, there will be a public competition for the position of deputy minister of the Department of Economic Development and Tourism. However, in the meantime, Mr. Alan Vaughan as agreed to act as deputy minister until the position is permanently filled.

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to announce that cabinet has appointed Mr. Alan Vaughan to the position of president of the Northwest Territories Development Corporation. Mr. Vaughan brings several years of experience in the field of northern economic development, and I am confident that he will successfully lead the development corporation management team.

Finally, Mr. Speaker, over the coming weeks, I will be writing to Members requesting their suggestions for the chairman of the board of the Northwest Territories Development Corporation. In addition, I will be soliciting recommendations for new board members, as five of the current eight public members have terms of office that expire this year. Until such time as a chairman is selected, the vice-chairman will chair board meetings. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Ministers' statements. Mr. Patterson.

Mr. Speaker, today, I would like to advise Members of the results of a meeting I attended as Minister responsible for the Arctic Winter Games while in Whitehorse recently with the political leaders of the other participating jurisdictions and the Arctic Winter Games Corporation Board members. The purpose of this meeting

was to discuss the future of the games and various issues surrounding the current games' format, and to give political direction to the Arctic Winter Games Corporation Board. As Members may be aware, the Arctic Winter Games Corporation acts as guardian of the general philosophy and intent of the games on behalf of the governments involved.

At this meeting, the corporation was looking for direction on the formal admission of Greenland to the games and the involvement of our other circumpolar neighbours in the event, the cultural aspect of the games, and the size and composition of the units involved.

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to report on the first two issues that the Greenland minister, the Hon. Marianne Jensen, has committed to send a team to the next games in Slave Lake in Northern Alberta and that the commitment of Greenland over the longer term looks quite positive.

I am also pleased to report that the other ministers and the Lieutenant Governor of Alaska have given general support for a gradual expansion of the games to include possibly Northern Quebec, Labrador and other circumpolar jurisdictions.

On the issue of the cultural element of the games, the assembled leaders also agreed that the corporation should develop a permanent policy for the inclusion of a cultural element in each Arctic Winter Games. As Yellowknife and Whitehorse have shown, this component of the Arctic Winter Games adds to the unique flavour of the event and provides an opportunity for the social interchange that is so important among the circumpolar community.

Mr. Speaker, the question of the overall size of the Arctic Winter Games and the size and composition of the participating units is somewhat more complex and certainly of central importance to all governments involved in the Arctic Winter Games. The Northwest Territories has always considered the Arctic Winter Games as a mass participation event designed to involve as many people as possible, within reasonable limits. While the other units do not disagree with this philosophy, there are different opinions on how to achieve the goals of the Arctic Winter Games, given the current constraints under which we live.

As a result of the discussion on this issue, it became apparent that there was a need for further research by the Arctic Winter Games Corporation and further discussion by the governments involved. It was agreed that the political leaders, at the invitation of the Lieutenant Governor of Alaska, will meet again in August or September in Eagle River, Alaska to further discuss and resolve this and other outstanding issues related to the future direction of the Arctic Winter Games,

Mr. Speaker, the Government of the Northwest Territories remains strongly committed to the Arctic Winter Games and the philosophy behind it. I look forward to Members' continued support for the pre-eminent sporting, social and cultural event. Thank you.

Ministers' statements. Item 3, Members' statements. Ms. Mike.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I rise today to tell the House, with pride, of an important occurrence which is happening in the Central Baffin region as we speak. Two Pangnirtung residents have mounted an expedition in which

they will travel by dog-team from Pangnirtung to Lake Harbour, following the traditional routes used by Inuit for many years. The two travellers are Rene Wissink and Alan Kilabuk, my cousin.

Honourable Members may recall that Mr. Wissink, who works for the park service, was earlier an organizer of the 1987 Qitluarsuaq expedition, which travelled by dog-team from Igloolik to Qanaaq, Greenland. Mr. Kilabuk lives in Pangnirtung and is well known for the work he has done in raising and training his dogs. He is the grandson of the late Jim Kilabuk, who worked for 45 years for the Hudson's Bay Company and was an early ambassador for Inuit in the national business community.

Alan and Rene will be travelling from Pangnirtung through Nettilling Lake and then through the Amadjuak Lake area en route to Lake Harbour. From Lake Harbour they will continue on to lqaluit and then back to Pangnirtung. They have combined their teams and are travelling with 19 dogs. They were reached by radio last night and reported that the dogs are strong and the weather has been good, although they encountered some soft snow yesterday that slowed their progress slightly. As of last night, they had travelled about 190 kilometres.

Mr. Speaker, this expedition is a significant accomplishment in itself, but I think it also symbolizes something personal that means much more to the Inuit of Pangnirtung.

Alan and Rene will be following a traditional route that was regularly used by Inuit throughout our history as people. I know that this was the same route used by my own great grandfather, Veevee, in travelling to Igloolik area from Pangnirtung. For many years Baffin people have been quietly fearful that our culture might pass away with the passage of time, that we might forget the knowledge and traditions that have sustained us as Inuit for centuries.

By travelling this route, Alan and Rene have kept a link with our past and have ensured that the landforms and guideposts of this traditional pathway to the west coast of Baffin Island will remain fresh in the mind of another generation.

I am very proud of their effort and trust that all honourable Members will join me in wishing them the best. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

--- Applause

Members' statements. Mr. Lewis.

Mr. Speaker, many Members will have received in the mail, over the last few days, letters from constituents who work for government and are concerned about the state of collective bargaining. The letter points out that in midMarch the government and the Union of Northern Workers commenced renegotiations for the renewal of a collective agreement. This agreement expired on March 31, 1992, and yet negotiations did not begin until March 16, 1992.

The point in this letter is that all people who are Members of this House as legislators are being reminded of the tremendous power they have to pass laws, and in a democratic society where you have systems in place which have been developed over a long period of time, many people considered it to be a very, very wrong use of your power simply to use a piece of legislation in order to achieve a result that you cannot achieve through the normal process of bargaining, which is well established in this part of the world. Therefore, everybody has been told that as a representative of those people in this Legislative Assembly, that they are asked to vote against this kind of legislation.

So I would like to point out, Mr. Speaker, that since I have had, and am likely to get many more, letters of this kind -- in fact I have already had over a dozen -- that I will be forced to vote against this legislation if it comes into the House, because I expect many, many people to direct me to do so. Thank you.

Mr. Nerysoo.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I rise to speak on a matter of most importance to most Members in this House. Yesterday the chairman of the special committee on constitutional reform tabled in this House an interim report that provided certain direction and recommendations that required the support of the Members of this House. I believe, Mr. Speaker, that the special committee has an obligation to report properly to this Assembly and to all its Members, and in doing such, requires each Member to make comments on the recommendations that a special committee that represents our interests is to take and show to the public as a representation of Members of this House.

Mr. Speaker, that opportunity was not given to us. In fact in many instances the report deals with recommendations to the government, not recommendations to this Assembly, to which the special committee reports. At no time, Mr. Speaker, have Members been given an opportunity to deal with this particular report. The reality is, I introduced a motion yesterday and probably will be ruled out of order because this particular matter has been resolved, without discussion, without comment and without any constructive ideas as to the direction that this special committee, that represents my interests, my constituency, and the people of the NWT, should take. I think that is appalling; appalling because one of the very fundamental privileges that Members have in this House is the freedom of speech and the freedom of expression. And I think it is wrong for any chairperson of a special committee that represents our interest to do the thing that the chairman, Mr. Kakfwi, did to this Assembly yesterday.

Members' statements. Item 4, returns to oral questions. Mr. Ningark.

I have a return to Question O34712(2), asked by Ms. Mike on March 25, 1992. In the spring of 1991 my predecessor, Mr. Allooloo, visited the Baffin communities with officials of the Department of Renewable Resources to discuss polar bear management. The people of Pangnirtung hunt bears from the southeast Baffin and Labrador population of polar bears. This population is also hunted by Broughton Island, lqaluit and Lake Harbour, as well as by people from Greenland, Labrador and Quebec. The population is estimated at approximately 1000 bears.

Pangnirtung currently has a quota of 14 bears, and this quota cannot be changed until all the communities that hunt from this population have reached an agreement on how the population should be managed in the future. We hope that the communities that share the population hunted by Pangnirtung can develop a management agreement that is acceptable to all concerned. The Department of Renewable Resources, Government of the Northwest Territories, will be meeting with these communities to do everything it can to

assist in the development of a management agreement. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Returns to oral questions. Mr. Allooloo.

(Translation) Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I have a return to Question O463-12(2), asked by Mr. Arngna'naaq on April 3, 1992, regarding the number of students enroled in the Eastern Arctic teacher education program. As of January, 1992, there were 47 full-time students attending the Eastern Arctic teacher education program. Also, from July 1, 1991 to April 1, 1992, there have been a total of 119 part-time students taking courses in this program. Thank you.

Returns to oral questions. Mr. Whitford.

Ms. Cournoyea.

This is a reply to a question asked by Mr. Zoe on March 27, 1992. The numbers of applicants for the Department of Health headquarters positions who are of aboriginal descent and who have the skills and knowledge about health care issues required for department positions have been limited. When aboriginal applicants with the required knowledge and skills are identified, the affirmative action criteria for hiring are applied. Since transfer, no aboriginal applicants have had the skills and knowledge required for appointment to the senior management positions that have been open for hiring.

Because the number of aboriginal students choosing health care studies is limited, health career promotion activities are being developed and made available for all communities, targeting elementary and secondary schools. This program includes a health career information package, other promotional material, involvement at career fairs, science fairs, and other suitable events, career counselling on request and media presentations.

This is a reply to a question asked by Ms. Mike on March 26, 1992. The Stanton Yellowknife Hospital routinely asks all patients, including therapeutic abortion patients, to complete a questionnaire on the services and procedures they received.

The questionnaire is currently administered through Dogrib, Chipewyan, Inuktitut and French-speaking interpreters on a one-on-one basis. If translations are required in other aboriginal languages, the hospital requests the services of the Department of Culture and Communications language bureau. They had advised that the one-on-one system be maintained for the Dene patients.

The quality assurance committee of the Stanton Yellowknife

Hospital is currently reviewing its patient satisfaction questionnaire. As soon as this is completed, the questionnaire will be translated into Inuktitut and French.

This is a reply to a question asked by Mrs. Marie-Jewell on March 12, 1992. The Minister of Renewable Resources is writing a letter to Diashowa to inform the company of the concerns of the people of the NWT over pulp mill pollution. He will request that company officials meet with the Minister of Culture and Communications when Mr. Allooloo travels to Japan in early May. In the letter, Mr. Ningark will also extend an initiation to Diashowa to visit the Northwest Territories.

This is a reply to a question asked by Mr. Nerysoo on March 25, 1992. On Monday, March 23rd the Hon. Titus Allooloo travelled by scheduled flights from Yellowknife to Pond Inlet. While in Pond Inlet Monday night, Tuesday and Wednesday, he conducted constituency work related to the upcoming plebiscite and other matters. Along with representatives of the TFN, they had phone-in radio shows and public meetings.

Travel to Igloolik and Hall Beach was not possible at this time due to scheduling difficulties. Mr. Allooloo also travelled to lqaluit, representing the Minister of Economic Development and Tourism and the MLA for lqaluit at the annual meeting of the Baffin Chamber of Commerce.

Mr. Allooloo's travel to Pond Inlet was paid by the Executive as part of the Minister's approved home travel budget. His living allowance while travelling was paid by the Legislative Assembly.

Mr. Pollard.

I have three returns, Mr. Speaker. The first is a return to a question asked by Mr. Nerysoo on March 12, 1992. To capitalize on promotional opportunities offered by the GNWT's participation at Expo '92, a service contract of $29,300 was awarded to Mr. Angel Cosmos to provide planning assistance for the delivery of an export strategy for Northwest Territories arts and crafts products in the European marketplace. Mr. Cosmos developed a series of exhibitions in Spain to be held from April to October 1992, entitled ART/ico, a play on Spanish words meaning art and arctic.

In February 1992, to introduce the upcoming exhibitions, Mr. Cosmos, representing the GNWT, participated in Arco '92, an International Art Trade Fair in Madrid. An EDA, Economic Development Agreement, contribution of $14,000 was provided to Arctic Co-operatives Ltd. to produce a catalogue to accompany the series of ART/ico exhibitions.

The scheduled exhibitions are as follows: April to May 1992, Galeria D'Kada in Madrid; April to May 1992, Galeria Dube in Barcelona; April to May 1992, Galeria El Barco in Seville; summer 1992, Galeria Amboan in Valencia; July to August 1992, Galeria Dube in Barcelona, during the Olympics.

Furthermore, a new import company for all NWT arts and crafts has also been formed, based in Pamplona and headed by Mr. Joaquin Ariz with seed capital of $50,000 provided by five Spanish investors, Currently, a wide selection of Dene and Inuit arts and crafts are being sent to Mr. Ariz for review.

Based on the interest shown by this new company, further exporting of Dene products in Europe may be expected.

In May 1991, the Canadian Embassy in Tokyo opened with the Amway Environmental Foundation's "Masters of the Arctic" non-commercial exhibit of sculpture, tapestries and prints. Funding of approximately $30,000 was provided to the Amway Environmental Foundation to assist with the exhibition and their March to May 1992 exhibition in Mexico.

Seizing on this promotional opportunity, in June 1991, Arctic Co-operatives Ltd., ACL, organized a commercial exhibit at the Kurasheno Teccho Gallery, a privately run gallery in Tokyo. A BDF, business development fund, contribution of $15,000 was provided to ACL to assist the company in establishing a Japanese market for Inuit arts and crafts through this exhibition.

In May 1991, a service contract of $15,200 was also provided to ACL to contract the services of a Japanese-s peak i ng agent for introductions to Japanese companies and counselling in Japanese business practices.

With the goal of developing new customers among Tokyo art galleries, dealers and corporate collectors, the department also provided a service contract in September 1991 of $56,500 to Mr. T. Iwasaki for project management of a trade show at the Canadian Embassy in Tokyo. This contract provided for Iwasaki's fees and expenses as well as costs associated with display and promotion.

In October 1991, an Inuit art trade show was held with three BDF contributions each valued at $15,000 provide to lqaluit Fine Arts Studio, West Baffin Eskimo Co-operative and Arctic Co-operatives Ltd. to assist with their attendance.

In November 1991, a service contract of $19,500 was provided to Mr. T. Iwasaki to produce a written document outlining planning arrangements for commercial exhibitions in other venues in Japan. Four exhibitions are planned: March 1992, Pan Gallery In Tokyo; April 3-23, 1992, Kirin-Seagram Gallery in Osaka; May 9-24, 1992, Yokohama Museum of Art in Yokohama, to coincide with the Canada-Japan Business Conference; and fall 1992, Marui Imai Department Store in Sapporo.

To complete marketing activities in support of introducing NWT products to Japan, the department provided a service contract in December of 1991 of $33,600 to Mr. T. Iwasaki, a consultant based in Toronto who specializes in Canada/Japan trade relations.

As in Europe, the Japanese marketing initiatives have been built on the current awareness in Japan of NWT arts and crafts. This has been mainly that of Inuit art. Plans are to broaden the awareness to include Dene arts and crafts, and a wide selection of Dene and Inuit arts and crafts will be sent to the Marui Imai Department Store for their review in preparation for the October exhibit.

A briefing on the department's marketing plans was recently provided to Mr. John Treleaven, Minister-Counsellor, commercial, with the Canadian Embassy in Tokyo. Mr. Treleaven's letter of March 11, 1992 gives a message of strong support to the department for its ongoing trade missions to Japan.

A service contract of $10,000 to Lexken Communications was provided to market NWT arts and crafts in a series Of exhibitions in Korea. Also, a service contract of $10,000 was provided to the West Baffin Eskimo Co-operative to enable Inuit artist Kenoujuak Ashevak of Cape Dorset to attend the opening of a commercial exhibition in Seoul, Korea. We are

contacting Mr. and Mrs. Robertson to pursue the promotion of Dene arts and crafts as well.

In the United States, our department co-ordinated with the Department of External Affairs to mount a trade mission to Santa Fe, New Mexico, in March 1992. Of the several businesses approached, only Arctic Co-operatives Ltd. and Treeline Trappings expressed any interest. Recently, unfortunately, Treeline Trappings withdrew from the mission.

The second one, Mr. Speaker, is a reply to a question asked by Mr. Todd on March 9, 1992 concerning regional advisory boards under the NWT Business Credit Corporation Act. The NWT Business Credit Corporation Act provides for regional loan boards to be established by regulation. The regional boards have only advisory authority, as all recommendations must be authorized by the territorial board. In the meantime, nominations have been solicited for regional boards, and appointments will be made where warranted.

Under the new Business Credit Corporation Act, a new option is available to speed up processing of applications. Specifically, the act allows for the appoint of credit officers with lending authority up to $50,000. It is expected that, shortly, a proposal will be presented to the Business Credit Corporation Board for approval to designate regional superintendents as credit officers. Should this option be successful, the need for regional boards will be diminished.

In the meantime, it is our intention to decentralize decision making by designating regional departmental officials as credit officers to speed up the approval process.

It is not intended at this time that any additional department staff travel to Expo to participate or assist in on-site promotions during the life of the fair. Further, I have recently instructed that all staff requests to travel to Expo, for any purpose be directed to my office. I expect very little, if any, further department staff travel over the life of the fair.

Returns to oral questions. Mr. Morin.

This is a reply to a question asked by Mrs. Marie-Jewell on March 27, 1992. Further to the supplementary to Question O415-12(2) on the actual costs for the Housing Corporation Board of Directors, I wish to provide the following information.

In my previous responses on this matter, estimated direct costs, based on 1991-92 year-to-date expenditures, were $276,000. To this amount, an inflationary factor of $13,800, equal to five per cent, was added to come to the approximate figure for 1992-93 of $290,000. The actual expenditures for 1991-92, now that the fiscal year is over, are $277,614. Therefore, the estimate of $290,000 for 1992-93 is valid.

Unfortunately, providing actual costs in relation to the indirect board costs is not possible because the government does not track actual expenses in such great detail as to record the hours spent by senior managers at annual board meetings, time spent developing new policies, programs and procedures for board review. The approximate costs mentioned for direct board expenses were based on estimates of management and staff time during 1991-92. The estimated value was $330,000 for 1991-92, to which a five per cent inflationary adjustment of $16,000 was added to come to the 1992-93 approximate value of $346,000.

Returns to oral questions. Mr. Patterson.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I have three returns. First a reply to Mr. Gargan to a question asked March 9, 1992. The Workers' Compensation Board follows the same criteria as the GNWT with regard to affirmative action consideration under the priority classification of resident disabled persons. All of the board's employment advertising states that it is an affirmative action employer.

In the past, three disabled persons have been employed at the board, one of whom had been injured in an industrial accident. During the last six months, the board knows of only one disabled person who applied on a competition. Currently there is an injured worker being sponsored through the rehabilitation division on a work experience program of 12 weeks' duration within the board's safety education division. This is providing on-the-job training to augment this individual's safety career program training from the Alberta Safety Institute.

This is a reply to a question asked by Mrs. Marie-Jewell on February 25, 1992. I will be happy to share the report of the family law review with Members when I receive it. The family law review working group has not yet reported, through progress has been made since I last addressed this issue.

There have been a number of factors which have contributed to delay in reporting. When the original contractor did not finish the work as expected, the working group met a year ago and decided to complete the work by having individual members of the working group assume responsibility for writing portions of the material. All reports on issues have been submitted. This represents the completion of the bulk of the work, and that was the stage which the project was at when I responded to questions in November.

Since then, the chairperson, who is currently with the Department of Social Services, has reviewed the material and has completed a draft of recommendations. The recommendations have to be properly edited before they can be distributed to members of the working group for comments and revision. We expected that this would have been done by now, but I am advised that conflicting job-related obligations have prevented the completion of this material. I understand that a full three weeks of work is still required before the recommendations can be distributed for review by the other working group members.

Because of my concern with this delay, I have requested and received a confirmation from the Department of Social Services

that the chairperson will be freed of other responsibilities for a period of time sufficient to complete a draft of recommendations which can be distributed to working group members. Given that commitment, I can outline for you a revised timetable. It is estimated that the work on the first draft of recommendations to be distributed to working group members will be completed by the end of April. It will be distributed to members with a request to respond by the end of May.

As significant work may be involved for the working group in reaching agreement on the recommendations, it is estimated that one month should be set aside for redrafting the report and distributing it to the members for final review. Final revisions should be accomplished and the report made to myself and the Minister of Social Services by the end of July. The Minister of Social Services and I have instructed our officials to do everything possible to facilitate the completion of the project within this time frame.

This is a reply to a question asked by Mr. Koe on March 25, 1992. From information made available to me, it would appear that the Uqqurmiut Inuit Artists Association of Pangnirtung is a non-profit corporation administered by a volunteer board of directors representing a variety of different types of artists. I understand that the funds raised from lotteries is intended to be used for the next phase of their capital project, which includes the expansion of the print shop.

Although all charitable organizations could be described as non-profit organizations, the opposite is not necessarily true. The constitution and by-laws of a corporation set out its objects and purposes. One of the objects of Uqqurmiut Inuit Artists Association specifically relates to the purchase and marketing of fine arts. As well, under the by-laws, the association has the ability to employ salaried employees and the right to issue shares for sale.

The association, as it is presently constituted, cannot be considered a charitable organization and therefore is not eligible for lottery licences. Further, the stated purpose of expanding their capital projects, which includes the business of a print shop, does not meet the criteria set down for charitable purposes. Accordingly, I have no option but to support the decision made by the regional director of the Baffin Region to deny the lottery licence application of the Uqqurmiut Inuit Artists Association.

Finally, let me assure the honourable Member for Inuvik that the government certainly supports this type of community venture in the promotion of Inuit art and culture and would recommend that Uqqurmiut Inuit Artists Association consider the establishment of a separate organization or society that would quality for lottery licences to be used for acceptable charitable purposes.

Mr. Allooloo.

This is a reply to a question asked by Mr. Gargan on February 25, 1992. On February 25 the member from Deh Cho asked me, in which other areas in the Northwest Territories, besides the Fort Providence access road, does the Department of Transportation use sodium chloride to Remove ice from highway surfaces.

When required for reasons of safety, the Department of Transportation uses road salt to remove ice on all paved sections of the territorial highway system. These are:

Highway No. 1: NWT/Alberta border to Enterprise, 84 km; approaches to Kakisa River bridge, 3 km; junction of Highway No. 3 south of Fort Providence, 5 km. Highway No. 2: Enterprise to Hay River, 43 km. Highway No. 3: junction with Highway No. 1 south of Fort Providence, 1 km; west of Edzo to east of Fort Rae, 7 km; junction of Highway No. 4 to 3 km north of the Yellowknife airport, 6 km. Highway No. 4: Yellowknife to Dettah access road, 10 km. Highway No. 5: junction Highway No. 2 to 30 km south of junction Highway No. 6, 92 km; Fort Smith west to the Salt River bridge, 15 km. Highway No. 6: junction Highway No. 5 to 24 km east, 24 km. Highway No. 8: Inuvik airport road, 10 km.

Ms. Cournoyea.

This is a reply to a question asked by Mr. Gargan on March 4, 1992 on the Human Rights Code and obligations to reveal personal health status. There are three pieces of legislation related to human rights which are relevant in these circumstances. Two are federal and one is territorial.

The first is the Charter of Human Rights and Freedoms. This applies to all NWT legislation and GNWT policies. Reporting requirements for communicable diseases in public health legislation and employment policies and practices of. the GNWT must comply with the charter. Legislation and policy must attempt to balance private rights with the public interest. Examples of rights that may be violated include those rights protected by section 7, the right to life, liberty and security of the person; the right to privacy; and section 15, which prohibits discrimination based on disability.

The second is the federal Human Rights Act. This statute applies to the GNWT and the federal government in their capacity as employers and landlords. Among other things, it prohibits discrimination based on disability in employment and the provision of services, such as accommodation.

It is important to note that the effect of human rights legislation is to prohibit discrimination to all stages of the employment process, advertising the position, application forms, interviewing, hiring, promotion and dismissal, not just termination of employment.

Were the GNWT to require that health professionals indicate their HIV status, if known, on applications for licensing or employment in the NWT, or that health professionals disclose this information if they learn they are HIV positive after they are licensed or employed, it is probable that the courts and/or Canadian Human Rights Commission would find this to be discriminatory.

Based on the current medical knowledge of HIV transmission, the risk of HIV transmission from health care workers to patients is extremely rare where universal precautions are used. Consequently, it is doubtful that the courts would find the public interest to outbalance individual rights.

This is a reply to a question asked by Mr. Nerysoo on March 27, 1992. It would defeat the purpose of the proposed review if it were predetermined who should be asked for alternative advice and expertise. The Stanton Yellowknife Hospital Board is aware of the Member's interest in inviting Mr. Lalonde to appear during the review.

This is a reply to questions asked by Mrs. Marie-Jewell on March 25th, Mr. Gargan on March 30th and Mr. Nerysoo on March 30th. Mr. Speaker, the former Minister of Health was asked a number of questions concerning pain relief for abortion procedures. In order to deal with these, an explanation of some technical terms may be helpful to a better understanding of the current concerns regarding adequacy of pain control for abortions performed at the Stanton Yellowknife Hospital.

Confusion has arisen from use of the words *anesthesia' and .analgesia* in relation to pain control. Therefore, I would like to provide definitions of these terms and relate each of them to pain control:

'Anesthesia" is the loss of all feeling or sensation including, but not limited to, the sensation of pain. With general anesthesia, the patient is unconscious. Local anesthesia reduces or abolishes sensation, including some sensations of pain in a restricted part, while the patient remains conscious.

'Analgesia* refers specifically to reducing the sensation of pain; some analgesics also alter consciousness, to produce a 'floating" sensation.

The selection of what method is used to control pain depends on balancing the risk and benefits through a decision which is made between the patient and the attending physician. The selection is made taking into account the following:

a) General anesthesia produces full control of pain but commonly produces unpleasant side effects and, rarely, some serious complications; when used for abortion, it has been found to increase complications such as bleeding.

b) Local anesthesia has fewer complications than general anesthesia, but injections into the cervix are painful and local anesthesia of the cervix does not control pain arising from the body of the uterus.

c) Analgesics produce the fewest complications and provide a broad range of pain control, but there is variation from person to person in the degree of pain control achieved; other drugs may be given to reduce anxiety, because anxiety can reduce the effectiveness of analgesics.

Pain during an abortion procedure arises from dilation of the cervix, or neck of the uterus; from evacuation, emptying, of the uterus; and from cramping of the uterus after the procedure.

This is a reply to a question asked by Mr. Gargan on March 30th. The former Minister of Health was asked the number of abortions performed per year in the NWT and whether the NWT abortion rate is the highest in Canada.

The number of abortions reported for NWT women during 1990 was 335; 255 of these procedures were performed in the NWT, all of them at Stanton Yellowknife Hospital. The most current available data for other Canadian jurisdictions are for calendar year 1989. During 1989, 261 abortions were performed for NWT women. This represents 17.6 per cent of the number of NWT live births during 1989. The comparable figure for Canada as a whole is 18 per cent. Rates higher than those in the NWT were: Yukon, 28.3 per cent; British Columbia, 25.4 per cent; Ontario, 21.8 per cent.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I have a question for the Government Leader. In one response today the Government Leader indicated that Mr. Allooloo had left Yellowknife on March 23rd. Recognizing that the session began March 24th, I would like to ask the Government Leader why Mr. Allooloo was allowed to go to his constituency on March 23rd when the session began on March 24th. Is it not the Minister's first responsibility of priority to be in this House, to be answerable to the Members in this House?

Ms. Cournoyea.

Mr. Speaker, I know there has been a lot of business and a lot of changes in schedule, but the honourable Member was perhaps not in attendance at a meeting in which I did warn the Members, when the new dates were set as to when we were coming back, that Mr. Allooloo had previous commitments on the beginning of that week if we were going to come back.

Other cabinet Members readjusted their schedules. Mr. Allooloo did make that commitment to his constituents, and the information was given to the caucus.

Mrs. Marie-Jewell.

Can the Government Leader tell me whether it was the Minister's commitment to his constituents or the Minister's commitment to TFN?

Ms. Cournoyea.

Mr. Speaker, the meetings took place in Mr. Allooloo's constituency.

Supplementary, Mrs. Marie-Jewell.

Mr. Speaker, is it basically recognized that if a Member of the cabinet has a prior commitment with their constituency that it is acceptable for the Government Leader to allow this, especially when the session is taking place?

Ms. Cournoyea.

Mr. Speaker, I think that when we had our meetings, many of the cabinet Ministers readjusted their schedules because of the changes to when we were to reconvene. It was my decision to allow Mr. Allooloo to travel because the rest of us had made a commitment to be here. So it is not the cabinet or the government's practice to have anyone gone during the session. However, in this circumstance, he had made these prior commitments, and I felt he was committed at that time. As well, when he was going over there, we did extend the responsibility so he could go to Iqaluit to attend the chamber of commerce meeting at that time. Thank you.

Oral questions. Your last supplementary, Mrs. Marie-Jewell.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to ask the Government Leader, in the future, when Legislative Assembly sessions are going on, will she ensure to take every step to advise her Ministers that their first priority, Mr. Speaker, in my opinion as a Member, is to be in this House and to be accountable to the Members of this House? Will she ensure that future absentee requirements of the Ministers to go to their constituencies will not be acceptable, and advise the Ministers accordingly? Thank you.

Ms. Cournoyea.

Mr. Speaker, that is normal practice. Thank you.

Oral questions. Mr. Todd.

Question O467-12(2: Methodology For Sale 01 NWT Power Corporation

Thank you Mr. Speaker. I have a question to the Government Leader in one of her many capacities, this time as the Minister responsible for the NWT Power Corporation. Mr. Speaker, there has been some discussion during this session regarding the possible sale of the Power Corporation to private interests. However, besides general statements that it would be looked at by the cabinet, we have yet to hear of any concrete plans regarding this matter. My question to the Minister is, has the Government Leader taken any action to begin the process and develop a methodology for the eventual sale of the corporation?

Government Leader.

Mr. Speaker, I am afraid to say we have had preliminary discussions on how we are going to do that. Hopefully, in January we can present a plan of action on how we will proceed. Thank you.

Supplementary, Mr. Todd.

Last week we passed a motion calling for the development of a report on the feasibility and the merits of the privatization of the corporation and that it be presented to the House in the September or October session. Would the Government Leader inform this House who is going to develop this report? Who is going to put it together? Is it going to be done in-house? Or is it going to be done by external expertise in the utilities field?

Ms. Cournoyea.

Mr. Speaker, I will take that as notice.

Question has been taken as notice. Oral questions. Mr. Lewis.

Thank you Mr. Speaker. I would like to ask the Minister for Social Services -- and I do not want to prolong this issue, Mr. Speaker -- I would like to ask the Minister for Social Services whether he is aware that the Yellowknife youth justice committee does not appear to be working very well. Is he aware that there are problems there?

Mr. Whitford.

Supplementary, Mr. Lewis.

Again, since I do not want to prolong this issue, Mr. Speaker -- but it is a local issue, and the Minister is aware of it, then would he undertake to examine this issue to see if, in fact, things are working properly? In other words, would he review it to make sure that the work that that committee was set up to do has been done properly?

Mr. Whitford.

Oral questions. Ms. Mike.

Thank you Mr. Speaker. I have a question to the Minister of Culture and Communications. Mr. Speaker, in 1989, an agreement was signed by several southern Canadian museums, the Inuit Cultural Institute, the GNWT and DIAND. Under the terms of this agreement, DIAND has transferred ownership of 1668 pieces of fine Inuit art to ICI to be held and cared for by the Prince of Wales Northern Heritage Centre. Mr. Speaker, I have strong concern for the way these items from our cultural history have been treated since they came into the hands of the Northwest Territories. My question is, will the Minister of Culture and Communications confirm that none of the records of the ICI collection have been entered into the Prince of Wales Northern Heritage Centre's computer data base?

Mr. Allooloo.

Thank you Mr. Speaker. I know that these pieces that our government was able to negotiate with the federal government to take, these artifacts, from Ottawa to the Northwest Territories, because of the lack of space that we have in the Prince of Wales Northern Heritage Centre, are housed in the trailer. Subsequently, after the artifacts arrived at the Prince of Wales Northern Heritage Centre, the catalogue was taken, and it was documented in the Prince of Wales Northern Heritage Centre for those pieces.

I asked my department, about two years ago, to see if they could plan to properly house these artifacts. As a result, the department came back with the proposal to put some resources into the Prince of Wales Northern Heritage Centre to properly house the artifacts. As the Member knows, this Legislature did not agree with the department, and it was ultimately voted down. At this moment, Mr. Speaker, I do not know where these artifacts could properly be housed in the Prince of Wales Northern Heritage Centre. I have asked my department what we should do with these artifacts that are currently housed in the trailer beside the Prince of Wales Northern Heritage Centre, and they are reviewing what we should do with them. There is no adequate housing available, either in the ICI region or any other region at this moment, but my department is looking into it to see what we should do with them. Thank you.

Supplementary, Ms. Mike.

Mr. Speaker, he did not answer the question I asked. My question was, the records that ICI has on the Inuit art collection that was acquired from DIAND - are they entered into computer data base at Northern Heritage Centre?

Mr. Allooloo.

Thank you Mr. Speaker. That information is available. I do not know if they are entered into the main computer of the government or of the Prince of Wales Northern Heritage Centre, but we have a list of artifacts that were given to us at the Northern Heritage Centre. We

have that information. Thank you.

Supplementary, Ms. Mike.

Mr. Speaker, I have other supplementaries on this same question. I am not talking about artifacts. Artifacts are the ones that are dug up from historic sites. I am talking about the Inuit art collection that was acquired from the federal government in 1987. My supplementary, Mr. Speaker, to the Minister of Culture and Communications, is that I understand that a small selection of ICI collection sculptures is currently on exhibit at the Prince of Wales Northern Heritage Centre in Yellowknife. But there is neither a plan nor the money to produce other exhibits of this collection in the future. Can the Minister tell the House, what is the benefit of this government's acquisition of these materials, since most are locked away where no one can see them and research activities are hampered by the absence of a computerized data base?

Mr. Allooloo.

As the Minister responsible for Culture and Communications, I am questioning that myself. As you know, we had plans to properly house these carvings and artifacts that we got from the Department of Indian and Northern Affairs. This Legislature did not see fit to spend the money to properly house these artifacts and carvings that we got from the Government of Canada. Mr. Speaker, as I said, I have asked my department what we should do with this artifacts and carvings that are historically important to the Inuit. It was an initiative of this government and the ICI people and the former Deputy Commissioner to get the artifacts and the carvings from the Government of Canada, to properly put them into the hands of the NWT people.

My department will come back, hopefully in the near future, to give me a plan as to what we should do with these carvings. Thank you.

Your last supplementary, Ms. Mike.

I did not realize I have used up my supps on the same question, Mr. Speaker. I am not talking about housing these Inuit art collections. I am asking the Minister if the records kept by the Inuit Cultural Institute on this Inuit art collection that was acquired from the federal government -- is he aware whether or not they are entered into computer data base at the Northern Heritage Centre?

Mr. Allooloo.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As I said, Mr. Speaker, I do not know if that information is entered into the main computer, but we have the information as to what kinds of artifacts and carvings we got from the government; we have a list. Thank you.

Oral questions. Mrs. Marie-Jewell.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. In followup to the question by my colleague from Pangnirtung, I would like to ask the Minister of Culture and Communications an additional question. I believe my colleague is indicating a concern of what the Minister is going to be doing with respect to the artifacts. The Minister indicates that he would like to see what the department decides. I believe the Minister should make' a decision as to what should be done. Recognizing the concern of my colleague, that this collection not only represents an asset of approximately five million dollars, but that these pieces have been crafted by Inuit people and that they are an important part of your Inuit history, will the Minister advise this House and undertake a comprehensive review of all aspects of storage, security, research and exhibit practices relative to this collection that is done at the Prince of Wales Northern Heritage Centre?

Mr. Allooloo.

Thank you. Yes.

I would like to recognize in the gallery, Mr. Gary Bohnet, the president of the Metis Nation, and a former colleague and former Member of Parliament and the present chairman of the NWT Water Board, Mr. Dave Nickerson.

--- Applause

Oral questions. Mr. Dent.

Mr. Morin.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Yes.

Supplementary, Mr. Dent.

Mr. Morin.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I will take that as notice.

The question has been taken as notice. Oral questions. Mr. Arvaluk,

(Translation) Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I have a question to the Minister of Renewable Resources. The Minister stated earlier, with regard to the survey on tranquillizing polar bears, that this type of survey has been going on for quite some time now and there was a concern whether the meat was consumable. Is this true?

Mr. Ningark.

(Translation) They use them for studies, but we will be studying some areas in the Eastern Arctic where they want to know if polar bear meat is safe to eat or not. There are several questions that I have received, even from the Kitikmeot, as to whether or not after they are put to sleep they are edible. They will be studying that.

Supplementary, Mr. Arvaluk.

Mr. Minister.

(Translation) Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The doctors revealed that tranquillizers used in putting polar bears to sleep were safe. The scientists will be taking the Inuit people along with them to assist with the studies.

Mr. Arvaluk.

On the second page, in the middle of the paragraph, it states that the hunters throughout northern Canada will then have a reliable understanding of any human health risks that may be associated with the marked bears, or in this case I guess it will be drugged bears. What will be the method of finding out whether they are acceptable for human consumption?