Mr. Speaker, I have a reply to Mr. Arngna'naaq's question regarding contracts for fuel oil delivery, Anderson report follow-up. Copies of the second phase of the Anderson report were given to the standing committee on finance and to the standing committee on public accounts on March 3. Additional copies of the report will be distributed to all Members today. In light of the report's findings, existing petroleum delivery contracts were extended for one year to enable the government to look at ways of improving the award process.

I have a reply to a question asked by Mr. Pudluk on June 19 regarding the Grise Fiord polar bear quota. In April 1992, the communities of Grise Fiord, Arctic Bay and Pond Inlet signed a co-management agreement on the polar bear population that they share. The agreement recommends that quotas cover all polar bears taken from that population. The Department of Renewable Resources will meet with the hunters' and trappers' associations from these communities to discuss some options of what should be done about the polar bears that are killed by the Greenlanders.

I have a return to an oral question asked by Ms. Mike on June 17, regarding recruitment of manager of medical travel. Ms. Mike is correct in stating that a competition was held, and the successful candidate declined the offer of the position.

Subsequently, efforts were made to identify a suitable individual within the Department of Health or the Department of Social Services, given the plans to amalgamate these two departments. Again, a suitable candidate was not identified.

The position of manager of medical travel is a very important one, and the plans to fill this position have not been put on hold. The position is now before the staffing officers, who will look for persons affected by the work force adjustment program across the Government of the Northwest Territories, in order to identify any suitable candidates. Thank you.

Returns to oral questions. Mr. Pollard.

I have a return to an oral question asked by Mr. Todd on June 18, 1992. It concerns funding for Prospects North and Russian delegates. Mr. Speaker, under the Department of Economic Development and Tourism organization support policy, Prospects North, a non-profit organization established to promote business and investment in the North, received $50,000 from the Government of the Northwest Territories in the fiscal year 1991-92 and another $50,000 this fiscal year.

The government did not provide any financial assistance to the Russian delegates attending the conference. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Returns to oral questions. Mr. Allooloo.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I have a return to an oral question asked by Mr. Gargan on June 16, 1992. On the highway reconstruction project near Fort Providence, the department has a service contract with DIGAA Enterprises Ltd. for the supply of engineering support and services personnel. On June 12, out of 19 persons working on the contract, 18 are native residents of Fort Providence, with the survey party chief being an experienced surveyor from British Columbia.

The contract for the reconstruction work is with Amy's Construction Ltd. of Rae. Of the total of 28 persons employed by the contractor, 16 supervisors, equipment operators, mechanics and servicemen are from Alberta, while three equipment operators are from Fort Providence. All of the labour and flag persons, eight in total, are local native hires from Fort Providence. The administrator of the project is a northern native from Fort Rae.

The department's own hiring policy is in line with the overall GNWT policy in that preference for casual summer employment is given to returning native students, returning northern students, and other Northerners, in that order. Thank you.

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

Mr. Allooloo.

Mr. Speaker, no, I am not aware of that kind of situation. I am under the impression that when the students are able to pass their grades, they are able to advance a grade in the following year. Thank you.

Supplementary, Mr. Gargan.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to ask the Minister whether or not he may be able to look into the situation I am referring to in Fort Providence if I refer the students and the parents that were told that?

Mr. Allooloo.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Yes, I will look into it.

Oral questions. Ms. Mike.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My question is to the Minister of Social Services. As I stated in my Member's statement today, Mr. Speaker, there is only one aboriginal person within the corrections services in the management level. What is your department planning to do to increase the number of aboriginals, or to encourage the aboriginals to get into the management level within corrections services?

Mr. Whitford.

Oral questions. Mr. Gargan.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Under tabled documents, the report of the chief electoral officer, section 10 refers to inmates voting. The chief electoral officer is suggesting that the territorial government should review its Northwest Territories Elections Act in light of the fact that recent court cases have made certain sections of the NWT Elections Act unconstitutional. I would like to ask the Minister of Justice whether or not he is aware of the Ontario case and the recommendations of the chief electoral officer, and to ask if his department is prepared to make amendments to the Northwest Territories Elections Act to reflect that?

Mr. Patterson.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Yes, I am aware of the current cases in Ontario, Sauve vs the Attorney General of Canada and the Belczowski case, earlier. Mr. Speaker, I am advised that the Belczowski case is presently under appeal to the Supreme Court of Canada, and that the prudent course of action would be to await the result of that issue by the Supreme Court before making any decision to change the NWT Elections Act, so we are awaiting the Supreme Court of Canada ruling on this case. I think we have the benefit of some time because, fortunately, there will not be a territorial election for a few years. That is the position I am now taking on that matter, Mr. Speaker. Thank you.

Supplementary, Mr. Gargan.