Good morning. Before proceeding with orders of the day I would like to recognize in the gallery, students from two grade eight classes from William McDonald Junior High School, accompanied by their teachers, Mr. Webster and Mr. Sutherland.

-Applause

Orders of the day for Monday, June 22, 1992. Item 2,

Ministers' statements. Ms. Cournoyea.

Mr. Speaker, I am rising to announce, with deep regret, that effective today at 5:00 p.m. I will be accepting the resignation from cabinet of the Member for Natilikmiot. I understand that he will be making a statement, but until his replacement is selected the following acting Ministers will be in place: for Renewable Resources, Steve Kakfwi; Government Services, Don Morin; Status of Women, Dennis Patterson.

I would like at this time to ask the Members to join me in sharing your appreciation for the hard work that this Minister has done. Thank you.

--- Applause

Ministers' statements. Mr. Morin.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I am pleased to announce that the review of the government's business incentive policy, BIP, is now complete. The BIP is one of numerous business incentive initiatives and is intended to ensure the provision of goods and services to the government, the private sector and the general public at a reasonable price, while compensating northern business for the higher cost of operating a business in the North, and to provide financial support to the northern economy through the reinvestment of corporate earnings.

Key points of the revision to the policy are: Previously the BIP excluded various types of contracts such as legal and engineering consulting contracts. The policy will now apply on all GNWT purchasing and contracts, including consulting contracts. 2) The revised policy will apply to all contracting authorities whenever 51 per cent or more of the funding is received from the territorial government. This includes boards, agencies and municipal authorities in addition to all GNWT departments. 3) Companies will be considered northern-based

on their compliance with the spirit and intent of the business incentive policy. This will be administered by a senior committee of deputy ministers and should result in a reduction of storefront businesses. 4) On projects that are competitively tendered, the following tender adjustments will be made at the time of tender evaluation: preference increased from 10 to 15 per cent for northern businesses; an additional five per cent preference will be given to local businesses.

I am also pleased to announce today, Mr. Speaker, that the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation has recently agreed to allow the application of the business incentive policy on all future projects cost-shared between CMHC and the NWT Housing Corporation.

Hear, hear!

CMHC's agreement is significant because it means that northern and local contractors will now receive preference, through the BIP, on housing contracts in their own communities.

The NWT Housing Corporation will be carefully monitoring the implementation of the BIP on its projects, and I look forward to reporting to this House in the future about the increased participation of Northerners in housing construction. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

-Applause

Ministers' statements. Mr. Morin.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As Members are aware, I was absent from this House on Wednesday, June 17, and Thursday, June 18, for the purpose of a meeting in Ottawa with the Hon. Elmer MacKay, Minister responsible for CMHC. Last February, the federal government announced that the federal funding for social housing in Canada was being reduced. Although the first indication was that only the rate of growth was being reduced, the true impact became evident later when all provinces and territories were advised that the provision of new housing units would have to be reduced substantially and that most of the available funding must go toward operating and maintaining existing housing in Canada. The impact on the NWT would be to reduce the number of new units we could provide by 59 per cent for the 1993-94 construction year.

As we still have a major shortfall of housing in the NWT, of approximately 3100 units, the effect of these reductions would be to eliminate the possibility of providing adequate, reasonable and affordable housing to NWT residents for the foreseeable future. As this clearly is not an acceptable situation, we have been working extensively with both the federal government and the provinces to restore funding to the 1991-92 levels.

In my recent meeting with Elmer MacKay, I was able to present to him the facts of our unique circumstances in the NWT that would justify and support the restoring of the funding levels. I am pleased to advise you that Mr. MacKay understood our needs and our unique circumstances. He indicated his intention to work with his colleagues, the Hon. Tom Siddon, Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development, and the Minister of Finance, the Hon. Don Mazankowski, to pursue ways and means of allocating significant federal funding for northern housing.

I will be meeting with the Hon. Elmer MacKay and the provincial and territorial Ministers of Housing on June 29 to address the planned federal funding reductions. I will report further progress to the House and to the standing committee on finance in early July following the ministerial meeting at the end of June. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker and my colleagues. Having been pressured to sign my undated letter by the other side of the House, my resignation, at the beginning of a four-year journey; having been unable to balance the boat because of the unstable waves of events; having had to defend underfunded vessels across the Arctic Ocean not able to deliver goods at every port in my designated area, Mr. Speaker; and having seen my fellow cabinet Members not being given a chance to complete one-quarter of the four-year journey; knowing that people of Gjoa Haven, Spence Bay and Pelly Bay, and I am sure the public, want direction, construction jobs and business development, not uncertainties, delays and destruction of the centre machinery, I have tendered my resignation from cabinet as of 5:00 o'clock today, June 22, 1992.

Madam Government Leader has accepted my resignation from cabinet accordingly, and now I will devote my time to my family and the people of Gjoa Haven, Spence Bay and Pelly Bay. They need attention, not ignoring. Thank you.

--Applause

Members' statements. Mr. Lewis.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to express my appreciation to John Ningark. He has been a model, in my opinion, a person who listens to people and spends a lot of time thinking about what he has to do so that he does the

right thing. It is one of the unfortunate things in public life, Mr. Speaker, that it is very, very difficult to make a lot of people happy when we have a consensus kind of government or when that is the aim. I think that perhaps it gives all Members a chance to reflect on the kinds of pressures that we put ourselves under in trying to solve the problems of a vast area; on the incredible problems that we have to resolve, and the fact that among the Members that we chose last fall to serve on our Executive Council, probably John was one of the people who got the most votes.

So since that kind of appreciation and confidence drove us in the first place to do what we did, we should recognize the kind of pressures that we operate under and contemplate that when we make our next big decision. Thank you.

Thank you. Members' statements. Mrs. Marie-Jewell.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I did want to do two things. One is with regard to Rule 21(5): I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Keewatin Central, that Ministers' Statement 71-12(2), entitled, Federal Funding, Social Housing, NWT, be moved into committee of the whole.

Your motion is in order. There is no debate on the motion. All those in favour? Opposed? The motion is carried.

---Carried

The item will be moved into committee of the whole. Mrs. Marie-Jewell.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I just wanted to make a brief Member's statement with respect to the recent announcement by the Hon. John Ningark resigning from his ministerial portfolio. I do want to tell him that, as a Member of this Assembly, I certainly have appreciated his efforts and his work that he has put into his responsibilities that have been placed on him. I know that he feels the pressure and the criticism may have been directed at him, and It is unfortunate that he felt that way. However, it is unfortunate at times that criticism has to be granted in order to get our points across.

I do know that Mr. Ningark, within time, if he would have allowed time, would have made an excellent Minister because of the fact that he is a very honest man; he is a very open man; and that is one of the fundamental things that you need to become a Minister. It is unfortunate that he did not allow for time to develop because I know he would have developed to be an excellent Minister representing all the people in the Territories.

With that, I wish you the very best with your family. I know it has been very difficult for you to be here in Yellowknife without your family at your side, and it has made it extremely difficult for you to continue with your work and the demands placed upon you and your office. But I thank you very much personally, for the work that you have given and shown to this Assembly.

-Applause

Members' statements. Mr. Zoe.

Point of privilege, Mr. Zoe.

Point Of Privilege

Thank you. Mr. Zoe filed his concern within the guidelines set out by the rules. Members' statements. Mr. Todd.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. A sound and effective northern preference policy is only one stop along the journey toward economic viability in the North. An issue that must be addressed by this government, and now, is the fact that millions of dollars' worth of goods and services are imported into the Territories from southern Canada each year because they are not produced here. That is millions of dollars that could be invested in our northern economy. Obviously, the government must move now to help northern businesses expand the range of goods produced and services provided in the Northwest Territories. A comprehensive import substitute strategy is sorely needed.

Mr. Speaker, this is not a new issue. In October of 1990, the 11th Assembly's special committee on the northern economy, co-chaired by the honourable colleagues for Yellowknife Centre and Tu Nedhe, recommended that a comprehensive import substitute strategy be developed and implemented to stop the flow of money south. To quote the SCONE report, Mr. Speaker, the government should take the concept of import substitution seriously. It should target particular areas of the economy where import substitution has the best chance of success. It should then develop a long-term strategy to make import substitution a reality.

SCONE knows that our government always seems to be having difficulty getting beyond the idea stage. It is time to get beyond the idea stage. We must put principles into practice. Much more must be done to encourage regional industry development, and growth in the service sector. We need a strategic plan that will allow our money to stay home in the North.

There are many areas that the government could look at as a

starting point. The items that we import from the South are many and varied: lumber, food, furniture, housing materials, at cetera. The list goes on. For example, Mr. Speaker, the NWT Housing Corporation imports fibreglass; tanks every year that are built in Manitoba. There is no reason why these tanks could not be built in the North.

--- Applause

I realize that implementing a substitute strategy cannot be done by one department alone. This means that Ministers will have to talk to each other about the policy. It means that the Government Leader will need to co-ordinate interdepartmental initiatives and provide the leadership we require to test out new prospects for production and supply. There must be a long-term focus which compares the reality of high production costs in the North to the overall benefit that will be realized in the North. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Todd. You exceeded your time limit. Members' statements. Mr. Arvaluk.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Today I would like to make my statement that will help not only government in developing a sustainable economy but also, more importantly, the people of Coral Harbour, Repulse Bay and other surrounding communities. There is potential to develop the best known source of limestone in North America, which occurs in large deposits across the south end of Southampton Island. It has been documented that a large deposit of oilbearing shale is located on the island as well. This oil deposit has potential for use in the local power plant and export revenues for Coral Harbour. At the north end of the island, there is a commercial fish quota of 30,000 pounds and a narwhal quota as well. Neither quota has been filled for many years because of the inaccessibility of this area.

Mr. Speaker, in light of high unemployment and lack of sustainable economy in the region, I will be requesting this government to create an action plan to build a substandard road to Tikiraq Bay. Building a substandard road all the way to Tikiraq Bay, with good gravel which does not need to be hauled or crushed readily available, would make it cost effective. There is locally available equipment, business companies and qualified manpower.

Mr. Speaker, later today I will be asking the Minister of Economic Development and Tourism if he has already made some preliminary feasibility studies of those economic potentials. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Members' statements. Ms. Mike.

(Translation) Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I am going to be talking about the Cumberland Sound fish harvest. The fishing industry is becoming an area of great economic importance for the Baffin Region. There are two fisheries in Pangnirtung which launch their winter fish harvest from Cumberland Sound. I am very pleased to inform the House that the harvest this winter was a successful one overall. As of early June, P and L Services had reported a harvest of 475,000 pounds of fish from Cumberland Sound, and the Cumberland Sound Fisheries had reported 504,000 pounds. This is a total catch of 979,000 pounds. The large majority of the fish harvest was turbot or Greenland halibut, although there was some char caught as well. This is over 600,000 pounds more fish than was caught last year, and we

are still below our quota.

Mr. Speaker, this catch means that approximately $550,000 was paid to 115 fishermen for their labour in Cumberland Sound. This is employment for local people that did not exist six years ago. Virtually all the turbot was shipped to markets in southern Canada and the United States. Industry-related income to the Pangnirtung area, including prices paid to fishermen, wages and use of local aircraft services, has been estimated in a range of $800,000.

Mr. Speaker, this is money that is now in Pangnirtung that was not there six years ago, and this is money that is coming from the South because of the vision and hard work of Pangnirtung residents. Mr. Speaker, I am proud of the efforts and achievements of the people of Baffin Island.

Ms. Mike.

Mr. Speaker, I seek unanimous consent to complete my Member's statement.

The honourable Member is seeking unanimous consent. Are there any nays? There are no nays. Please proceed, Ms. Mike.

(Translation) Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I am proud of the efforts and achievements of the people of Baffin Island. I also feel that the fisheries industry is one that has great potential for our region. It has not been many years since we first took a look at the commercial fishing possibilities, and there is still room for unbelievable growth. The government must ensure that our efforts to expand this productive industry are supported in every way possible. Thank you.

--- Applause

Members' statements. Mr. Pudlat.

(Translation) Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I would like to rise today and make my Member's statement. Mr. Speaker, I would like to make the Members of the Legislative Assembly aware that the Bourassa government and Quebec Hydro remain committed to the construction of a massive hydro power project near Great Whale River. The scope of this project is overwhelming, Mr. Speaker. The airstrip, the roadway to be built, and miles and miles of territory to be flooded, will affect the land, animals, birds and fish of the region forever. Mr. Speaker, if they are going to be building roads, the roadways in Northern Quebec will undoubtedly lead to the introduction of unwanted social influences. I would like the Members to be aware that the environment and the way of life of the people will be destroyed forever. I think all the Members are aware that we should not be destroying our environment, and there might be some diseases that are coming up our food chain if there is going to be a massive project of this kind. If Hydro Quebec goes ahead, the bird sanctuaries and all the wildlife habitats will be destroyed, and I know there are going to be a lot of contaminants that flow through this river and...

Your allotted time has expired. Mr. Pudlat.

(Translation) Mr. Speaker, I would like unanimous consent to proceed with my Member's statement.

There is a request for consent. Are there any nays? There are no nays. Proceed, Mr. Pudlat.

(Translation) Thank you, Members and Mr. Speaker. Some of the committees I represent could not get a representation in the assessment panels. We have not been allowed sufficient time to do technical submissions. More funding is required to allow NWT committees to prepare presentations to the environment assessment committees. It is not just Sanikiluaq people; It is also the people from the other areas of Nunavut that have to be involved in the assessment review panels.

There could be diseases that come from contaminants in this area, and also there are going to be a lot of social problems that are going to be coming to the North if this project goes ahead. There are many things that could be damaged permanently, and I would like the Members of the Assembly to be aware of them. Thank you for letting me finish my Member's statement.

Members' statements. Mr. Koe.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to take this opportunity to say a few words about literacy and the Northwest Territories Literacy Council. Many people in the Northwest Territories cannot read and write. Statistics show that illiteracy rates are highest in the smaller communities, and especially among the aboriginal people.

As we move to develop institutions that would give people greater control over their communities, it is critical to have a literate population. We need literate people to work for local governments and the justice system and to administer land claims. We also need people who can read and write about what is going on, so they can participate in and influence decision-making. Achieving a literate society is a tremendous task.

In 1990, the NWT Literacy Council was established to promote literacy in the Northwest Territories in all aboriginal and official languages. In May, I had the pleasure of attending the

conference and annual general meeting of the council, which was held in Inuvik. For the past two years, the council has been funding community-based literacy projects. It has also produced several promotional items, including brochures, T-shirts, posters and a display stand. In the coming year, the council will continue to produce promotional items, publish a newsletter, and put together a resource kit to assist organizations in implementing community literacy projects.

The council has declared October 9 as NWT Literacy Day. The council will be organizing a reading challenge and a writing contest for this event. The work of the council has been done primarily on a voluntary basis. A part-time worker has assisted with the administration of the council's business. The literacy office of advanced education has also provided administrative assistance. I understand the council will be submitting a proposal for funding for staff positions, and I hope this is supported. Thank you, Mr. Speaker, for giving me the opportunity to recognize the valuable contribution the literacy council is making to the Northwest Territories. Mahsi.

--- Applause

Thank you, Mr. Koe. That was one of the closest ones we had to two and a half minutes today. Members' statements. Item 4, returns to oral questions. Ms. Cournoyea.

Mr. Speaker, I have a return to an oral question asked by Mr. Nerysoo on June 16 regarding the executive secretary at the Inuvik Regional Health Board. An advertisement had been placed in a southern Canadian newspaper in an effort to recruit an executive secretary for the Inuvik Regional Health Board.

The chief executive officer of the board advises that before seeking candidates from outside the Northwest Territories, two attempts were made through local advertising to recruit an executive secretary. A renewed effort will be made to find a qualified local candidate, or one who might, through on-the-job training, acquire the necessary skills.

The department supports the decision of the board's chief executive officer to recruit or train a local NWT resident for the executive secretary position.

I also have a reply to an oral question asked by Mr. Gargan on June 18 regarding the number of abortions performed in the Northwest Territories. In response to this question by Mr. Gargan on March 30, 1992, 1 gave the following return on April 2, 1992: 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 the 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 Thank you.

Returns to oral questions. Mr. Allooloo.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I have a return to an oral question asked by Mrs. Marie-Jewell on June 19, 1992, concerning the difference between proposal call and tender call. The advertisement in News North on Monday, May 25, 1992, was a notice of an invitation to tender. On June 2, 1992, when the bid documents were opened, there was some confusion as to the best process to use to evaluate the bids, the procedures for a request for proposals or the procedures for a tender. On the advice of the Government Services officer prior to the opening of the bids, Arctic College decided that the bids should be treated as requests for proposals. Requests for proposals are evaluated on a number of criteria, whereas tenders are evaluated on overall price.

When one of the bidders later complained that all bidders should be informed of the bid prices, Arctic College staff consulted with Government Services and Justice. On the advice they had received, Arctic College decided that tender procedures which would make the bid prices public would be more appropriate. A letter announcing the per-meal bid prices was sent to all bidders on June 19, 1992.

Although there was confusion as to whether or not the bid prices should be made public, contract regulations were not violated, and all bidders received the same information. The bids received on the cafeteria food services contract for Thebacha Campus are to be evaluated at the end of June. Thank you.

Returns to oral questions. Mr. Allooloo.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I have a return to an oral question asked by Mr. Koe on June 19, 1992, concerning student financial assistance for postsecondary studies. No changes to the NWT student financial assistance program are being implemented at this time. The department is presently reviewing and assessing applications for assistance for the 1992-93 academic year. Residents meeting the eligibility criteria will not be denied assistance under the regulations of the Student Financial Assistance Act. However, the Department of Education is considering the possibility of making changes to this program. These changes will be presented and reviewed during the standing committee on finance review of the Department of Education budget this summer.

I have another return, Mr. Speaker, If I may. I have a return to an oral question asked by Mrs. Marie-Jewell on June 19, 1992, concerning denial of educational leave. The only GNWT employees who have been granted education leave for the 1992-93 academic year are those who are currently studying and are in the middle of their education programs. Due to fiscal restraint, education leave funding was not available for any employees who applied to begin a new program of studies or to continue in a second degree program in the 1992-93 academic year. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My question is for the Minister of Economic Development and Tourism. Mr. Speaker, millions of dollars are leaving the Northwest Territories every year to purchase goods and services from the South. My question to the Minister is, will the Minister inform the House whether this government, in keeping with the SCONE report and some of the economic initiatives that have been put in place, has, as of yet, embraced an overall import substitution policy?

Mr. Pollard.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, Government Services did a graphic report that outlined where the different regions of the Northwest Territories were purchasing their supplies. We have some idea now about regional purchases. There has been some progress made with regard to manufacturing in the Northwest Territories. To that end, Mr. Morin has asked Economic Development and Tourism to come forward with a paper that he can attach to the business incentive policy that will give an

increased advantage for goods manufactured in the Northwest Territories.

There has been quite a resurgence of agriculture in the Northwest Territories in the last little while, and I think Mr. Todd's group from Rankin Inlet is involved in a hog operation in Hay River, so we expect to see that expanding. Obviously it will not go in the whole of the Northwest Territories, but we expect to see an egg operation in Inuvik very shortly because it seems that one of the biggest areas that we can reduce import substitution is in the food area.

Oral questions. Supplementary, Mr. Todd.

I appreciate the Minister's comments. Are we saying that we have the GNWT embracing an import substitute policy? Is there a policy in place now that says, aside from what we have already said, that this will be a priority of the government in keeping with the BIP, business incentive policy, and everything else? Is there a policy in place?

Mr. Pollard.

There is not a policy in place, My Speaker, but as Mr. Todd mentioned, the business incentive policy does a whole lot toward purchasing more goods and services from the Northwest Territories. We figure that by adding a manufacturing component to that policy, we will increase northern participation in supplies to the government, but I will endeavour to bring forward a policy of import substitution for the Government of the Northwest Territories. Thank you.

Oral questions. Ms. Mike.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My question will be to the Minister of Economic Development and Tourism. The Minister may be aware that there are edible marine snails called whelk in the Baffin Region. They are found of depths to about 20 fathoms, and they are mainly on sandy bottoms. Recently there has been a growing demand for this species in the seafood marketplace, with gourmet restaurants as a prime consumer. Back in August 1991, the Department of Economic Development and Tourism was advised that excellent whelk harvesting areas had been identified in Frobisher Bay, Cumberland Sound and several fiords north of Broughton Island. My question for the Minister is, what priority does the Department of Economic Development and Tourism place on exploring the potential for expanding the Baffin fishery through the commercial harvest of species like whelk?

Mr. Pollard.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. There is about $2.1 million available under EDA in that particular region of the South Baffin for exploration of fishery products in that area. Mr. Speaker, there is a committee, of which we are a part, consisting of the Department of Fisheries and Oceans, DIAND, and Renewable Resources, in Iqaluit, that is presently looking for a proposal call to bring a vessel up into the Baffin, or to lease a vessel that is available in the Baffin, or buy a vessel with a view to exploring over the next few years the potential fishery in that particular area, including whelk. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you. Supplementary, Ms. Mike.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Supplementary for the same Minister. The Baffin regional supervisor of renewable resources development in the Minister's department was advised of the potential for whelk harvesting on August 1, 1991. Can the Minister indicate to the House whether he has been made aware of any action taken by the department to evaluate the potential market or the extent of the available resource?

Mr. Pollard.

No, I do not know what the available resource is. We hope to find that out, Mr. Speaker, and I will get back to the Member with regard to marketing of the whelk. Thank you.

Supplementary, Ms. Mike.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. This supplementary is also for the Minister of Economic Development and Tourism. Will the Minister make a commitment to complete a precise assessment and evaluate marketing potential for the Baffin whelk harvest prior to September 1992?

Mr. Pollard.

Mr. Speaker, I can commit to looking at the marketing, but as far as the harvesting or what is available, I could not commit to that, sir. I do not know what the potential is, but I will definitely look into the marketing by September of this year. Thank you.

Oral questions. If I could just take this opportunity to welcome the Board of Governors for Arctic College who are here with us today. Oral questions. Mr. Arvaluk.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. In light of my Member's statement, has the Minister of Economic Development and Tourism already made a preliminary feasibility study of those economic potentials that I talked

about? Thank you.

Mr. Pollard.

Mr. Speaker, with regard to the road to the Duke of York Bay, it is about 80 miles. The southern end is probably the worst end. We are presently having government people in that area look at the potential. On the shale and limestone, there will be a geologist in the area within the next six weeks, and, hopefully, we will get a better idea of the quality and the potential for those two products. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Supplementary, Mr. Arvaluk.

Mr. Speaker, I need your guidance. If I want to ask a supplementary to a different Minister, is that a now question?

That would be a different question to a different Minister. If I could just make one comment. If Members are asking questions and referring to a document or referring to a statement, they should give a brief description of the subject matter in case other Members might not have actually heard the Member's statement. Oral questions. Mrs. Marie-Jewell.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My question is to the Minister of Finance. I am concerned about the fact that the procedures used for the tendering process may be somewhat inconsistent, and I would like to ask the Minister whether there is a policy or some clause in the Financial Administration Act that outlines how tender calls should be conducted.

Mr. Pollard.

Mr. Speaker, I am not sure it is in the Financial Administration Act, but there certainly is a policy in this government on how tenders should be conducted.

Mrs. Marie-Jewell, supplementary.

Can the Minister of Finance clarity for me whether or not the procedures used for tender calls can be applied to the procedures used for proposal calls with the government?

Mr. Pollard.

Mr. Speaker, If the Member is asking, can it be changed halfway through, or can it start out as a proposal call and end up as a tender call or vice versa, I do not believe so.

Supplementary, Mrs. Marie-Jewell.

Thank you. I was under the same impression. I would like to ask the Minister if he can find out for me why, when an invitation to tender was made public for one of the departments in the government, it was at the last minute changed to a proposal call, and the bid prices were not made public.

Mr. Pollard.

I will look into that, Mr. Speaker, and report back to the House.

Oral questions. Mr. Koe.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. A question to the Minister of Economic Development and Tourism. Will the Minister be tabling a report on the GNWT operations on Expo '92 which is taking place in Seville, Spain?

Mr. Pollard.

Yes, Mr. Speaker, it will be available on Wednesday or Thursday.

Supplementary, Mr. Koe.

Is the Minister's office taking responsibility for this operation from the department?

Mr. Pollard.

No. It has been a joint operation with the Department of Economic Development and Tourism, and It has been co-ordinated through my office, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Dent.

Mr. Morin.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The business incentive policy will apply to all boards, agencies and government departments that receive 51 per cent of their funding from this government. If a department or a board is short of money, they do not come to me for that money. So maybe you can direct that question to somebody else.

Mr. Antoine.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to ask questions, but I would like to seek unanimous consent to return to Members' statements on an urgent matter before I ask questions.

The honourable Member is seeking unanimous consent to return to Item 3. Are there any nays? There are no nays. Proceed, Mr. Antoine.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to apologize for coming in late. I just arrived on a plane. Mr. Speaker, a search is still going on for one of my constituents, Mr. Johnny Tonka, approximately 120 miles up the Mackenzie River from Fort Simpson. The search is under the band council there. He was reported missing Saturday at 8:30 a.m. The RCMP and the chief chartered a 185 on floats to look for him Saturday, and a Renewable Resources boat also went up the river to look for him. Arnold Hope and I also searched for him Saturday and Sunday, but with no luck. There is a camp up there with Mary and Gabe Cazon and Mary Tsetso, and as well Peter Cazon has a camp up there. They are searching every day. I think there is still hope that he may be ashore some place.

Mr. Tonka is 71 years old and is a respected hunter and an elder. I personally have gone hunting with him many times He has taught me a lot about hunting, about our land, about our country and about the Dene history. If he is ashore some place, he would survive because of his skills.

I am concerned that not enough effort on the part of the government is being spent on him, Mr. Speaker. I say this because last winter, when an American explorer was lost looking for the North Pole, hundreds of thousands of dollars were spent looking for this person, yet someone of our own is missing, and no effort at all seems to be spent in looking for someone like this. Mahsi.

---Applause

Thank you. Members' statements. We will return, then, to Item 5, oral questions. Mr. Antoine.

Thank you. I do not know which Minister is responsible for this sort of action, so I will ask the Government Leader if she could tell the House which department would be responsible for heading up a search and rescue type of operation in a situation like this.

Ms. Cournoyea.

Mr. Speaker, the Department of Municipal and Community Affairs.

Oral questions. Is it to the same Minister, Mr. Antoine? If not, I will go down my list to Mr. Todd. Mr. Todd.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My question is to the Minister responsible for the NWT Power Corporation. On Thursday, in the Government Leader's response to my question about the extension of the Manitoba land lines into the Keewatin, I noted that the chairman of the Power Corporation had initiated discussions with Manitoba Hydro about this promising concept. Is the Minister able to indicate whether or not she has, as yet, taken a direct role in discussions surrounding this prospect either with the Power Corporation or with officials in the Province of Manitoba?

Ms. Cournoyea.

Mr. Speaker, to just make a correction, it was the president of the Power Corporation; but I did say the chairman, so I was going to make that correction. The whole discussion was at the Western Premiers' Conference, and it was to see whether we would support their ongoing power grid expansion. At that time, we said we were very much interested in it and that we would want to begin discussions as soon as possible. That conference took place not too long ago, and I intend to follow it up. Thank you.

Oral questions. Mr. Arvaluk.

(Translation) Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I have a question to the Minister of Transportation. You mentioned last year that wharves would be studied in the communities, namely, the ones near the seacoast. Will they also be doing some transportation through land because there will be developments arising from those projects?

Mr. Allooloo.

(Translation) Thank you, Mr. Speaker. We feel Economic Development will be dealing with this project and the road that will be established to the fishing sites and other areas, so I will look into this matter again with the Minister of Economic Development and Tourism. Thank you.

Oral questions. Mr. Pudlat.

(Translation) Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I have a question for the Government Leader. I am asking this question about the Great Whale project. I would like to know if she will be able to reply to me on this question. Thank you.

Ms. Cournoyea.