Supplementary, Mr. Antoine.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. We are all aware of the financial difficulties that this government has and the amount of learning disabilities that exist in some of the communities. There are quite a few students that should be assessed, and it would cost quite a bit to have them all come to Yellowknife and a bit more to go to Edmonton. I was wondering if the Minister could tell me if his department is going to be doing anything about getting the assessors to go into the communities more than they have been in the past? Thank you.

Mr. Allooloo.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. That is one of the areas we could look at. There has been a tri-ministry committee from the departments of Education, Health and Social Services, that is examining the area of services to children, and they will make recommendations to enhance service ability and delivery of this program. Thank you.

Supplementary, Mr. Antoine.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. A final supplementary. Can the Minister tell me, is his department looking at the eventual move of doing all the assessments in the Northwest Territories? Thank you.

Mr. Allooloo.

Mr. Speaker, I would have to take that question as notice. Thank you.

The question has been taken as notice. Oral questions. We will take a short break before we go onto the next item.

--- SHORT RECESS

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

Mr. Speaker, return to Question W36-12(2), asked by Mr. Nerysoo to the Minister of Transportation concerning the Department of Transportation guidelines for use of construction equipment; and return to Question W41-12(2), asked by Mr. Lewis to the Minister of Personnel regarding summer student employment with the Government of the Northwest Territories.

Hon. Titus Allooloo's return to Question W36-12(2), asked by Mr. Nerysoo on June 18, 1992: The difference in the procedures used to maintain the Dempster Highway between the Yukon and the Northwest Territories is due to the type of material available on each side of the border.

In the Yukon, the material used is a sedimentary shale, which is softer than the glacial gravel found on the eastern side of the mountains in the Northwest Territories. The Yukon shale can be easily compacted using "packers" after it has been wet bladed. The gravel material available in the Northwest Territories does not respond as well to treatment by "packers."

The department's policy with respect to surface treatment procedures is included in the highway maintenance manual which allocates budget to the maintenance activity, as appropriate to the traffic use and material resources available on specific sections of the highway network.

Hon. Stephen Kakfwi's return to Question W41-12(2), asked by Mr. Lewis on June 19, 1992: In the summer of 1991, 340 students were hired by the government. Of the 340, 241 were hired in Yellowknife and 99 were hired in the regions. It is important to note that 1991 was an all-time high for student hiring. The number of students hired in Yellowknife was more than double the number hired in previous years.

To date, 267 students have been hired this summer. Of the 267, 181 have been hired in Yellowknife and 86 have been hired in the regions.

As of June 22, 1992, the number of students employed by the government is down 11 per cent overall from the number hired in 1991. However, the student placement period is May through August. The government will attempt to continue placing students to the end of August to hire as many as possible.

Returns to written questions.

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

Item 9, petitions. Petitions. Item 10, reports of standing and special committees. Mr. Todd.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The standing committee on finance has continued to be active since this Assembly last met. The committee met in Coppermine the week of May 4 to 8 to discuss the goals and objectives of the

committee and received briefings from the Ministers of Finance, Housing and Public Works, and we met with members of the public to receive their feedback.

The committee met again in Yellowknife during the week of June 9 to 12, and the committee received briefings from the same Ministers, as well as a briefing on education, Reshaping Northern Government, the health billings dispute, Expo inSeville, the NWT Development Corporation and the NWT Business Credit Corporation.

The committee also considered the Interim Appropriation, No. 2, for 1992-93; Supplementary Appropriation, No. 1, for 1992-93; and the amendments to the Insurance Act. We will report on these bills as they come before the House for consideration.

The committee feels that it is important for residents in the communities outside of Yellowknife and the regional centres to be able to meet with and share their concerns with Members of the Legislative Assembly. It is for this reason that we held one of our meetings in Coppermine. We hope to visit other communities during the life of this Assembly.

During our meetings in Coppermine the committee held a well-attended public meeting in the community hall and metwith the Chamber of Commerce, the hamlet council and members in general. The committee had an opportunity to meet with many residents of Coppermine to discuss their concerns.

Goals And Objectives

During the previous meetings the committee discussed its goals and objectives for the examination of the fiscal initiatives of the government. However, it is the consensus of the committee that we not just review government initiatives but that we offer some practical solutions to our financial difficulties. As a result, the committee decided that it will explore some options to generate new revenue for the Northwest Territories and to use our existing resources for the maximum benefit of all our residents.

The committee developed a list of broad topic areas that we will concentrate on over the year and a half. The committee will develop option papers on each of these issues and report back to the Assembly. On new revenue resources, the committee will be looking at the ramifications of legalizing gambling, offshore investment capital, development of a heritage investment fund, and take a serious look at the development of an ethical investment fund. In terms of existing resources, the committee will be taking a hard look at the workers' compensation fund, northern pension funds and how they are used, development of a basic infrastructure policy and import replacement substitution.

The committee also discussed in some detail the Northwest Territories Power Corporation. The committee remains concerned about the operation of this corporation. In particular, we are concerned that there has been no comprehensive review of the cost and operation of this organization. The committee sees this as being of particular relevance concerning the recent application for rate increases announced by the corporation.

The committee wishes to ensure that an independent review be conducted as soon as possible. Therefore, the committee recommends that the Legislative Assembly request that the Auditor General of Canada undertake a comprehensive audit of the Northwest Territories Power Corporation and report there on to the Legislative Assembly.

With respect to Reshaping Northern Government, the committee is pleased to see the positive action by the cabinet in terms of consolidation, reforming programs, decentralization and privatization. We are supportive of the planned departmental consolidations going forward as soon as possible with no delay. Members did express two concerns: that the plans did not appear to incorporate consideration of regional bodies as expressed in recent publications of the western constitutional groups, and the Kitikmeot and North Slave have been left out of the current decentralization plans.

The committee also wishes to emphasize as well that restructuring alone will not bring about change. People in government are key to successful management of change. Their knowledge levels, attitudes and behaviour must be directed toward and supportive of change. This means better communication with employees throughout the civil service and amongst ourselves as politicians, demontstrating the political will to carry it through.

Current Government Gridlock

Members also expressed some concern, perceived or otherwise, about the current government gridlock. Since the territorial government is such a major influence in the daily lives of so many of us in the North, we cannot allow it to close ranks like a herd of musk-ox under seige Rather than halting decisions or reducing spending, there is a pressing requirement to hasten good decisions and to target more productive use of our resources and find more resources to invest in the North. We must clearly look at the revenue side and not only the expenditures. The bold political action on the business incentive policy announced by the Minister of Public Works is typical of the greater initiative that needs to be taken.

The Department of Education has committed to present to the committee in July or August an action plan for schools, and in the following year an action plan on integrating post secondary and transition to good programs. The department recognizes the enormity of the problem that exists in the Northwest Territories and has started, admittedly later than it should, to take steps to address it. It has been 10 years since the 1982 special committee on education provided a blueprint to this government on the use of education.

The standing committee on finance recognizes that there is a diversity of opinion on how to deliver educational programs and awaits these action plans in order to comment on how the department is planning to deal with our educational problems and whether our resources are properly directed. We are concerned that change may not be coming swift enough to benefit the burgeoning youth or young population of the NWT or those willing to work but not yet prepared educationally. We are also concerned at the apparent lack of communications between the Department of Education and Arctic College at headquarters and in the regions. We are, however, heartened by recent good news -- a satisfactory resolution of negotiations with the UNW and the NWTTA, completion of the boundary plebiscite, promising mineral developments in the Kitikmeot riding and an NWT company selling their services to Russia, to name a few.

On the other hand, we remain disappointed at the federal position in negotiations on health costs, public housing funds and changes to the formula funding regime. In particular, given the 3500 unit shortfall of public housing in the Northwest Territories, we are concerned that federal cutbacks will condemn our people to live in inferior living conditions and will be a serious handicap to the quality of life in which we live.

The standing committee on finance continues to support the cabinet in the fundamental changes necessary and will continue to monitor its progress and offer creative solutions where possible. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

With that, I would like to move a motion.

Proceed, Mr. Todd.

Motion To Move Committee Report 12-12(2) To Committee Of The Whole, Carried

I move that Committee Report 12-12(2), Report of the Standing Committee on Finance, be moved into committee of the whole for consideration.

Your motion is in order, Mr. Todd. All those in favour of the motion? All those opposed? The motion is carried.

--- Carried

The Report of the Standing Committee on Finance, Committee Report 12-12(2), will be put into committee of the whole. Reports of standing and special committees.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I wish to table Tabled Document 56-12(2), Sexual Assault, A Help Book for Teens in the Northwest Territories. Thank you.

Tabling of documents. Mr. Antoine.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like totable Tabled Document 57-12(2), Inter-Agency Statements on Social Issues.

Tabling of documents. Mr. Kakfwi.

Tabling of documents.

Item 13, notices of motions.

Item 14, notices of motions for first reading of bills.

Item 15, motions.

Item 16, first reading of bills.

Item 17, second reading of bills. Item 18, consideration in committee of the whole of bills and other matters: Tabled Document 9-12(2), Strength at Two Levels; Tabled Document 10-12(2), Reshaping Northern Government; Motion 6-12(2), Discussion of Sobriety Clause in Contribution Agreements;Committee Report 10-12(2), Special Committee on Constitutional Reform Report on the Multilateral Conferences on the Constitution; Bill 3, An Act to Amend the Medical Care Act, March 31, 1992, No. 2; Bill 29, Supplementary Appropriation Act, No. 1, 1992-93; Ministers' Statement 71-12(2), Federal Funding, Social Housing, NWT; and Committee Report 12-12(2), Report of the Standing Committee on Finance on Inter-Sessional Activities, with Mr. Pudluk in the chair.

The committee will come to order. Mr. Todd.

Bill 29, Supplementary Appropriation Act, No. 1, 1992-93