Good afternoon. Orders of the day for Wednesday, June 24, 1992. Item 2, Ministers' statements. Ms. Cournoyea.

Mr. Speaker, at a meeting on Thursday, June 18, the abortion services review committee presented me with its report. The report, with a translated introduction and recommendations, will be tabled at the appropriate time today. Translation is continuing on the remainder of the document, and it will be made available to Members as soon as it is completed.

The abortion services review committee completed the difficult task set out for it in its terms of reference tabled in this House on April 15, on time and within budget. I am pleased with the general approach taken by the committee, and support the positive nature of the 32 recommendations.

Earlier today, I met with members of the Status of Women Council of the Northwest Territories to provide them with an overview of the report. A complete briefing of the council's membership is taking place this afternoon.

In addition, the board of management of Stanton Yellowknife Hospital and the Department of Health, in consultation with other health and hospital boards, have been directed to examine the report and Its recommendations and to develop an implementation plan by July 31 of this year. I will table the implementation plan early in the fall session.

Mr. Speaker, it is important to note that the committee was given the mandate of referring any matter arising from the review for more specific investigation by a professional licensing or other disciplinary body where It considered such action to be desirable and in the public interest. The chairperson has advised me that there was no evidence of professional malpractice and no basis for recommending disciplinary action. As a result, the committee made no referrals.

The chairperson has also advised that all members of the committee were offered the opportunity of providing an addendum to the report to set out issues or facts which they believed warranted communication. In that respect, one member concurred fully with the recommendations, but would have preferred to see additional editorial changes to the body of the report, although no specific dissenting opinion was put forward.

In conclusion, Mr. Speaker, I would like to take this opportunity to personally thank all individuals and organizations, such as the Status of Women Council, who came forward to provide information and opinion to the review committee members. All of them played a positive and

constructive role in sharing their experiences with the expressed intention of improving the delivery of abortion services in the Northwest Territories. Thank you.

--- Applause

Ministers' statements. Mr. Morin.

Mr. Speaker, during the last session, the Member for Deh Cho announced that site clearing had been completed and foundation work for the Hay River Reserve treatment centre would begin this spring. Tu Cho Gha Contracting Ltd., a construction company which is 100 per cent owned by the Hay River Dene Band, undertook this work.

On June 4, 1992, the Department of Public Works, with the approval of the Financial Management Board, awarded a negotiated contract to Tu Cho Gha Contracting Ltd. for the construction of the centre. The contract is worth $2.3 million. The treatment centre is expected to be finished in the spring Of 1993.

This construction project will provide much needed employment for band members and valuable business experience for this company. This is the largest project ever undertaken by Tu Cho Gha. The subcontractors and suppliers are all NWT companies, and include Mackenzie Electrical Ltd., Weaner's Plumbing and Heating, United Carper/United Furniture, Alternative Energy Supplies, Igloo Building Supplies and Lakeshore Building Supplies, all from Hay River. In addition, Silverado Painting from Yellowknife is also a subcontractor.

The band leadership has played a major role in securing this facility for their community. During the past several years, members of the band, along with representatives from surrounding communities, have helped DPW and Social Services in planning this project.

The Department of Social Services has supported DPWs efforts to work with Tu Cho Gha and the Hay River Dene Band throughout the planning of the project and contract negotiations. Construction of the centre is managed by DPW on behalf of the Department of Social Services. This facility will provide an important service for many years to come. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Ministers' statements. Ms. Cournoyea.

Mr. Speaker, over the past few weeks I have been considering a re-alignment of ministerial responsibilities, particularly because of our plan for consolidation. More recently, a motion of this House has requested that I report, by today, on what I plan to do in respect to a lack of confidence ordinary Members have expressed in certain Ministers.

Mr. Speaker, I have given this matter careful consideration, and do not believe there is good reason to act on the premise of lack of confidence. However, a more equal distribution of portfolios will be announced shortly, once I have had the opportunity to speak with the new Minister to consider individual preferences and abilities in relation to the strength and workloads of other Ministers. As previously mentioned, these changes will be accompanied by the re-assignment of some deputy ministers. Thank you.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It is not often that I get an opportunity to stand here and throw compliments to Members of the cabinet on a job well done. However, today I am pleased to give credit where credit is due. Earlier this month, the Minister of Public Works, the Hon. Don Morin, brought forward a revised business incentive policy. This improved policy will allow northern businesses a greater opportunity to receive GNWT contracts. I was particularly happy to see this policy now apply to all authorities that receive over half their funding from the GNWT. This is long overdue.

Mr. Speaker, Mr. Morin was also able to convince CMHC to allow this policy to apply with respect to the Housing Corporation contracts. This is surely a major breakthrough. Many past Ministers have attempted to convince CMHC to accept this provision. Mr. Morin has succeeded in getting it done. Perhaps we should allow Mr. Morin to undertake more negotiations with the federal government, considering his stunning success.

-- Applause

It would certainly be really stunning if he could convince the NWT Power Corporation to accept a similar policy. It is no secret that I have long been a major opponent of an absolute preference for northern businesses who bid on GNWT contracts. While the revised policy does not go this far, it does indeed represent a substantive improvement that should see a large reduction in the dollars flowing south.

Members' statements. Ms. Mike.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I rise today to raise a concern about the way corrections services is administered by the Department of Social Services. Mr. Speaker, the corrections field can be a rewarding career for aboriginal people, who have had an interest in working with people, throughout the Northwest Territories. This field can offer them an opportunity to help others and to develop their skills in fulfilling work with offers and potentials for career advancement. But, Mr. Speaker, aboriginal people are not well represented within the corrections field. There are 254 corrections positions in the Department of Social Services.

Seventy-four of these are filled by aboriginal people. Mr. Speaker, that means aboriginal people hold 29 per cent of corrections jobs, and that Is not good enough.

What concerns me even more is that of 13 positions that are classified as management, only one position is held by an aboriginal person. Mr. Speaker, that is a very poor record for corrections services. Although aboriginal people are turning to the corrections field for a promising and fulfilling career, it seems there is a block within the system. Aboriginal people are simply not advancing to the management level. I am very concerned with the record of the Department of Social Services with respect to the representation of aboriginal people at the management level. The government must make serious efforts to improve their performance in this crucial area. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Members' statements. Mr. Pudluk.

(Translation) Thank you, Mr. Speaker. One of my constituents in Grise Fiord is concerned that the RCMP will be removed because of what Inspector J.W. Rushton had written. For a number of reasons, Grise Fiord feels they need the presence of the RCMP. It was created by the RCMP with the present population coming from other communities in the High Arctic. Even though it is a remote place to live in, it has been a community for quite some time now. So the people feel that if the RCMP is removed from Grise Fiord, their people might move out. The people that were raised there feel they are aboriginal and want to keep living there too. But if the detachment is to be closed and moved to other communities, the people born there will feel quite an impact of this.

They say the reason is because of the budget cutbacks but, from my point of view, I feel the funding should not be used as an excuse for law enforcement program cuts.

Today I would like to ask the federal government to review and to reconsider that the detachment should remain in Grise Fiord. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

-- Applause

Hear, hear!

Thank you, Mr. Pudluk. Members' statements. Mr. Gargan.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Members of the Legislative Assembly may recall that I introduced a motion on July 3, 1991, which urged the Minister of Justice to refer the prohibition against inmates voting contained in our legislation to the Supreme Court of the Northwest Territories so that the court could determine whether the prohibition was constitutional. At that time, a number of lower level courts had determined that similar provisions in other jurisdictions contravened the Charter right that guarantees every citizen of Canada the right to vote in an election for Members of the House of Commons or the Legislative Assembly.

At that time, Mr. Speaker, we were facing a territorial election, and I believed that it was important that the courts ruled on the issue before an election, rather than during an election and risk disrupting the entire election process. The motion was defeated, Mr. Speaker, much to my dismay.

We are fortunate that no challenge was launched by inmates during the last territorial election. A challenge could have seriously disrupted the entire election and, I believe, based on recent court decisions, would have been successful.

Very recently, Mr. Speaker, yet another high level court decision was released which held that a similar provision of the Ontario Elections Act was unconstitutional. The Ontario Court of Appeal, in the case of Sauve vs Attorney General of Canada, hold the prohibition unconstitutional saying that the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms confirms "that the right to vote must be protected against those who have the capacity, and often the interest, to limit the franchise."

Mr. Speaker, I would also like to bring to Members' attention the fact that the chief electoral officer, in Tabled Document 50-12(2), a report on our last election, has suggested that the Legislative Assembly may wish to review the issue of inmates' voting rights with a view to possible future amendments to the NWT Elections Act.

I am, today, calling on this government to recognize that our Elections Act contains a section which has been held unconstitutional by other courts and to take the wise advice of the chief electoral officer. I urge this government to correct this situation immediately and remove this ancient, outdated and unconstitutional prohibition. Thank you.

--Applause

Thank you, Mr. Gargan. Members' statements. Mr. Koe.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I would like to take this opportunity to say a few words about the programs Ingamo Hall offers to the people in Inuvik. Ingamo Hall is constantly looking at programs that will enhance the community. Since Inuvik has an equal number of Gwich'in, Inuvialuit and non-aboriginal residents, the centre tries to appeal to these groups. The staff are using innovative ways to bridge gaps in the community. One way that the centre is trying to bring people together is to plan programs that will strengthen the relationships between youth and elders. Ingamo Hall has taken on a stronger community spirit and has become involved in a variety of community agencies. The centre has provided practise space for organizations and donated time to fellow agencies.

Over the past 12 months, Ingamo Hall has run 18 regular programs, eight annual events, and hosted a variety of feasts and dances, seminars and workshops. The friendship centre has also initiated now programs. These programs are offered to the community and taught by local people. The new programs offered this year included art classes, a healing circle, literacy programs, monthly coffee houses, new dimensions, strings across the sky and a trading post. These programs were delivered to enhance the skills of the community people.

As well, the programs are accessible to any individual or group in the community. Individuals from outlying communities are also welcome to got Involved. The staff at the friendship centre are presently looking into other programs for the upcoming year.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker, for giving me this opportunity to recognize the opportunities that Ingamo Hall is providing to the people in Inuvik and the surrounding communities. Any time that visitors are in Inuvik, please take the time to visit Ingamo Hall. Mahsi cho.

--Applause

Thank you, Mr. Koe. Mr. Lewis.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I rise today because I am very concerned about the direction in which this government is going as it relates to the overall economic development of our Northwest Territories. What I have seen in the Now Directions paper is an attempt to decentralize jobs to other places, and there is a mixed signal, Mr. Speaker, when at the very time we are in need of economic development, the amount of money that is made available for the Development Corporation, which has already been reduced once from $10 million down to eight million dollars, is now going to be reduced to six million dollars. It had been our recommendation over the last four years that what we should be doing is looking at some mechanism for creating wealth in our small communities; not simply by providing government jobs.

Although that may be an interim thing, what we have to look at is to find ways to develop another sector of our economy. It is a bad signal, I think, to the people of the Northwest Territories that we have so little imagination that all we can do is out down the amount of money that will create real wealth in the future by simply replacing it in the easiest way which is simply to just move a job out. Thank you.

--Applause

Members' statements. Mr. Antoine.

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. I am going to speak in my language today. (Translation) Where I am from, there are three communities Jean Marie River, Nahanni Butte and Trout Lake, that do not have telephones. In each community, they only have one pay phone. If one wants to use it, sometimes the offices are locked up late at night, so it is difficult for people to use the phone. Now there are such things as faxes and telephones, and a person can communicate very easily, but not in those communities.

The reason I am saying this is because the NorthwesTel company over there, last year, raised a lot of money through the pay phones that are in these communities. As a government, we should get the government to assist them to get more phones for those communities. Mr. Zoe and Mr. Bernhardt have a similar situation in their ridings. I am really concerned about this, and this is why I wanted to raise it. Thank you.

Thank you. Members' statements. Mr. Allooloo.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I was very pleased last May 5 when the results from the plebiscite were finalized, and it appeared that the dream that we had carried in our hearts, Nunavut, would be established within the next decade. However, I would like to emphasize that there is a lot of work to be done before this now territory becomes a reality. The residents of the entire NWT began to march down the road toward Nunavut when we voted to confirm the boundary line. However, the next stop is up to the Inuit residents of Nunavut when we vote to ratify the Tungavik Federation of Nunavut land claim early in November. Without the acceptance of the claim by the Inuit the establishment of Nunavut becomes less likely and, indeed, almost impossible

at this time.

In order to approve the claim, a majority of Inuit in each region must ratify the claim. This does not mean that only a majority of Inuit who vote must approve of the claim, but that at least 51 per cent of all Inuit on the voters' list must agree to accept the claim. It is vital that the beneficiaries show their support by voting, as a "no show will count as a 'no'." I, as chairman of the Nunavut caucus, urge all Inuit who are eligible to vote to be sure that their vote counts that we may move toward the attainment of our shared dream, a now territory called Nunavut.

There is much work to be done before Nunavut is established on April 1, 1999. The successful ratification of the land claim is the first stop in the process, and negotiations toward the successful creation of Nunavut must proceed in an orderly manner with full participation of residents of the territory. We look forward to participating in the building of our new homeland, and wish to get on with the work. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I have cautioned ordinary Members about trying to stay within the time frames of Members' statements. I think it is only fair that I caution Ministers, when they are giving Members' statements, to try to live within the guidelines set out in the rules. Members' statements. Item 4, returns to oral questions. Ms. Cournoyea.

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.

Mr. Speaker, with regard to the last court challenge, which has been referred to the Supreme Court of Canada, it was appealed because of the recent election in Manitoba, and that was the only reason it has gone to a higher court. But that does not stop an inmate from challenging the section of our Elections Act, regardless of whether we still have three more years to go. If there was a challenge, I would think the result would be the same anyway. I would like to ask -- I am not too sure about the length of time it will take before a decision is made by the Supreme Court -- whether or not the Minister should be working on changing the section that is in the constitution now, in the event that it is challenged.

Mr. Patterson.

Mr. Speaker, I would venture to say that if an inmate challenged the territorial Corrections Act -- or I should say the Elections Act which would be the statute at issue -- there is some possibility that the court would await the final word of the Supreme Court of Canada on that

matter. I want to assure the honourable Member that if it appears that once this issue is resolved in the courts, if it appears that our statute is contrary to the Charter of Rights for Canada, then this government will bring forward an appropriate amendment to the Legislature to correct that inequity. We are prepared to do so.

I am told, however, Mr. Speaker, that there are some special circumstances in the Northwest Territories that may not have been considered in the Ontario case, and that the prudent approach would be to await the Supreme Court of Canada judgment, see whether it applies to us as well as it applies to Ontario, and then, as I said, if the judgment is that this ruling should apply to the Northwest Territories, this government will bring forward the appropriate amendment. But for those reasons, I believe the prudent course would be to await this appeal which will settle it by the very highest court in the land. Thank you.

Oral questions. Supplementary, Mr. Gargan.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to ask the Minister what he meant when he said the circumstances in the North may make it so unique that it does not require a change to our Elections Act.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, in the Ontario case, Crown counsel stated that the practical problems of providing security to inmates to vote would not be an issue in the case; that in Ontario these problems would not be argued as a justification for preventing inmates to vote. However, Mr. Speaker, in consultation with the corrections services, I think we have to be sure, in the Northwest Territories, that those practical security issues would not be a problem or would not be a barrier to allowing inmates to vote. It may be that in a small community, given our staff-to-inmates ratio, It may be that we would have practical problems in allowing inmates to vote in an election. I am not saying this is the case, but it is a factor that I think makes the Northwest Territories perhaps different from Ontario, and that was one of the considerations we will have to evaluate in light of the Supreme Court ruling. Thank you.

Oral questions. Mr. Koe.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. On June 22, 1 asked the Minister of Economic Development and Tourism whether his office was taking responsibility for the government's operations at Expo in Seville. The Minister responded that it has been a joint operation between the departments and that it has been co-ordinated through his office. My question to the Minister is, if this is a joint responsibility, can he tell me what aspects of the operation his office is responsible for?

Mr. Pollard.

Mr. Speaker, Mr. Ward reports to my office. The people on site at Expo report through Mr. Ward to the department, so Mr. Ward deals with the department when he is looking for extra supplies or logistical items. Any problems that Mr. Ward encounters come to my attention. He is usually reporting his sales daily to my office, and my office is responsible for collating that information and putting together the report that I intend to put before the House tomorrow. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Supplementary, Mr. Koe.

My supplementary is to the same Minister. Who is Mr. Ward, and what are his responsibilities?

Mr. Pollard.

Mr. Speaker, Mr. Ward is the agent general, and is running the operation for the NWT in the Canada Pavilion. Thank you.

Oral questions. Supplementary, Mr. Koe.

Is Mr. Ward a government employee, or is he a contract employee?

Mr. Pollard.

Mr. Ward is a contract employee for the life of the fair, Mr. Speaker. Thank you.

Oral questions. This is your last supplementary, Mr. Koe.

Were all residents of the Northwest Territories given an opportunity to bid on the contract, executive general, or whatever you call it, of the pavilion? Were all residents of the Northwest Territories given an equal opportunity to bid on this contract?

Mr. Pollard.

Mr. Speaker, the position was not advertised. Thank you.

Oral questions. Mr. Arngna'naaq.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I have a question for the Government Leader regarding the Great Whale project. The Premier of Quebec and Members of his Cabinet have taken the position that they are not willing to see the Great Whale hydro development delayed in order to satisfy the interests of a group of aboriginal people which they consider to be a small and insignificant fraction of the Quebec population. Is the Government Leader willing to meet with Mr.

Bourassa to convey the understanding that the communities in the Northwest Territories are very, very concerned about the Great Whale project as well? Thank you.

Ms. Cournoyea.

Mr. Speaker, yes, I will relay that message. As a matter of fact, I had a meeting, I think earlier this month, with Premier Bourassa, at which time I relayed to him a number of issues of concern that we have, and that is one issue I brought to his attention. However, I will formalize that more by stating again the concern that you have raised. Thank you.

Supplementary, Mr. Arngna'naaq.

Supplementary to the Government Leader. There has been some well-reasoned speculation that Quebec's motivation to proceed with this project is tied to prospective sovereignty issues. Is the Government Leader prepared to make the issue of transboundary environmental damage between provinces and territories a matter for discussion at national constitutional negotiations? Thank you.

Ms. Cournoyea.

Mr. Speaker, we can make an attempt to bring it forward, and I believe when Mr. Kakfwi and myself meet with the premiers at various meetings that are set, we do bring up these issues. it may not be discussed at the table, but in order to justify why we feel we should be part of the broader government discussion is because a lot of individual actions taken by the provinces really do affect us, and we will continue to take those key issues. In particular, this project has been brought up on numerous occasions but not necessarily at the table, and we will continue to do so.

Oral questions. Mr. Antoine.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My question is for the Minister of Social Services. In yesterday's Member's statement, I noted that the Northwest Territories Council for Disabled Persons has estimated that over 5000 persons with disabilities live in the Northwest Territories. During the 11th Legislative Assembly, this House was informed that work was proceeding on the development of a plan to establish disability pensions as opposed to the current process of forcing disabled people to rely on social assistance payments to meet their living needs. Can the Minister indicate to the House whether or not, under his administration, the department will set a priority on evaluating whether a system of indexed disability pensions could be developed to remove the stigma faced by disabled persons when they must turn to social assistance?

Mr. Whitford.

Supplementary, Mr. Antoine.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I have a supplementary to the Minister of Social Services. What community consultation has taken place to date with respect to identifying enhanced approaches to meeting the needs of disabled persons across the Northwest Territories?

Mr. Whitford.

Oral questions. Ms. Mike.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My question is to the Minister of Economic Development and Tourism. Yesterday when I asked him whether he was aware that there are three identified areas of scallop beds in Cumberland Sound, one being the mouth of Pangnirtung Fiord, his reply was, "Yes," and that the vessel that was used to do the resource assessment stopped due to the engine problem before the resource assessment was completed. I would like to know from where the Minister is getting his information.

Mr. Pollard.

Mr. Speaker, the resource was identified in 1987 and 1989. I believe that the vessel in question was working on those beds when it lost its engines, Mr. Speaker.

Supplementary, Ms. Mike.

Mr. Speaker, my supplementary to the same Minister. Is the Minister aware that P and L Services, who was contracted out by Economic Development and Tourism at the time, had to stop the resource assessment of scallop beds because the Economic Development and Tourism contract was not covering the costs incurred by P and L Services?

Mr. Pollard.

I am aware of some dispute with regard to that vessel, P and L, and the department, Mr. Speaker, yes.

Supplementary, Ms. Mike.

Mr. Speaker, a supplementary to the same Minister. The impression I got from his response yesterday was that the reason the resource assessment did not continue was because the P and L Services' vessel's engine broke.

Is the Minister aware that the reason why P and L Services discontinued their resource assessment was because they were losing money with the contract that was provided by Economic Development and Tourism?

Mr. Pollard.

As I have said, Mr. Speaker, I am aware that there is a problem, or that there has been problems in the past. I would advise the Member that we received an application from P and L with regard to this vessel. It was returned in March 1992 because it was incomplete. We are anticipating that their application will be tabled again tomorrow, Thursday, June 25, with a view to seeking assistance from us. Tomorrow there should be another application with regard to this vessel. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Oral questions. Final supplementary, Ms. Mike.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. All I wanted to know was where the Minister of Economic Development and Tourism getting his information from because, as I said, P and L Services did not stop the resource assessment on scallop beds due to the engine problem. It was due to losing money with the contract that they had with Economic Development and Tourism. My question was, from where is he getting his information?

Mr. Pollard.

Mr. Speaker, the information comes from the department. Thank you.

Oral questions. Mr. Koe.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. On Friday, June 19, 1 asked the Minister of Culture and Communications about a report prepared by the traditional knowledge working group. The Minister responded to one of my questions by stating that he was asked by the executive director of the cultural institute to hold back on responding to the report's recommendations until the group had a chance to review, re-evaluate and reconsider its recommendations. It is my understanding that the group has met, re-evaluated and reconsidered, and has decided that the original recommendations are still relevant. This was communicated by letter dated May 1. The Minister subsequently responded on May 25 stating that he will be bringing a proposal to cabinet in June outlining the way they are going to respond. Has the Minister brought his proposal dealing with this issue to cabinet?

Mr. Allooloo.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I have directed the department to prepare a paper for cabinet. We have not dealt with it, but I can assure the Member that it is on the move. Thank you.

Oral questions. Mr. Todd.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My question is to the Minister responsible for the NWT Power Corporation. Yesterday, in Hansard, the Hon. Nellie Cournoyea indicated that Mr. Abbott, a retired partner with Coopers and Lybrand has been retained to prepare a report on the feasibility of privatization. Would it be Mr. Abbott's intention to discuss this privatization with Northerners? Are we going to be involved in discussions that relate to privatization, or is it going to be an academic exercise?

Mr. Minister.

Mr. Speaker, I would believe that in any exercise such as this, that everyone possible who has information or some assessments should be contacted and dealt with.

Mr. Todd, supplementary.

Given that privatization could have an impact on the employees and unionized employees, will Mr. Abbott be discussing with the organized labour, their concerns and their input into this privatization thrust?

Ms. Cournoyea.

Mr. Speaker, when we took over the Power Corporation from the federal government, part of the take over included the union aspect of that corporation. When we deal with the privatization of the petroleum products, that would also be part of the consideration in privatization.

Supplementary, Mr. Todd.