Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I give notice that on Friday, June 26, I will move the following motion: I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Inuvik, that this Legislative Assembly recommends to the Commissioner of the Northwest Territories that Mr. Arvaluk, the Member for Aivilik, be appointed to the Executive Council, cabinet. At the appropriate time, I will seek unanimous consent to proceed with this motion today.

Notices of motions. Mr. Pudlat.

(Translation) Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to give notice that on Thursday, June 25, I will move the following motion: I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Keewatin Central, John Todd, that this Legislative Assembly fully support the efforts of the municipality of Sanikiluaq to obtain participant funding for the review of the environmental impact study of the Great Whale hydro-electric project; and further, that the Legislative Assembly urge the Government of Canada, through the Minister of the Environment, to conclude a memorandum of understanding that would provide participant funding in the amount of

$500,000 for the communities on Hudson Bay; and further, that the Government of the Northwest Territories, through the cabinet, provide all the required assistance and support to the people of Sanikiluaq in their efforts to obtain participant funding and the conclusion of a memorandum of understanding. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Just to correct the record, the Member said Thursday. I believe he meant Friday. If it is all right with the Member, the record will show Friday. Is that all right with you, Mr. Pudlat?

(Translation) It is all right, Mr. Speaker. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Pudlat. Notices of motions. Item 14, notices of motions for first reading of bills. Item 15, motions. Mr. Pudluk.

(Translation) Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

WHEREAS the Arctic is a place where persons can go on expeditions to challenge the forces of nature;

AND WHEREAS these adventures have caused problems when expeditions must be rescued after becoming lost, injured, or short of supplies;

AND WHEREAS the latest Weber-Malakhov expedition emphasizes some of the problems with the rescue costing about $200,000;

AND WHEREAS rescue efforts have direct implications for the people of the Northwest Territories in the form of additional direct and indirect costs to the government, the safety risked for community people, the armed forces personnel and the RCMP;

AND WHEREAS the Government of the Northwest Territories and the federal government have recognized that these problems have existed for a long time;

AND WHEREAS during the 1 1th Legislative Assembly, Bill 41 was passed, which amended the Travel and Tourism Act to include a regulation making authority whereby the Minister could make regulations regarding non-resident travellers;

AND WHEREAS the Minister of Economic Development and Tourism has not yet established such regulations;

AND WHEREAS It is important that legislative action be taken to provide for the provision of posting of bonds or insurance by adventurers and the use of the Northwest Territories guides;

AND WHEREAS there is a need to amend the Scientists Act concerning the regulating of science research and research expeditions;

AND WHEREAS it is important that this legislation be introduced as soon as possible;

NOW THEREFORE, I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Inuvik, that this Legislative Assembly urges the cabinet to proceed immediately to prepare the necessary amendments to the Travel and Tourism Act and the Scientists Act, to regulate adventurers in the

Northwest Territories;

AND FURTHER, that the Minister of Economic Development and Tourism consider making regulations under the Travel and Tourism Act to provide interim measures until the amendments to the Travel and Tourism Act and the Scientists Act are introduced. Thank

you.

Thank you, Mr. Pudluk, your motion is in order. To the motion, Mr. Pudluk.

(Translation) Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I just want to speak briefly to the motion. it is pretty well self-explanatory. I think we are all aware, as Members in this House, of the purpose of this motion for the people. It is not just for the tourists, but also for the people who have to travel long distance by walking, by skidoo and by dog team. It also includes other means of travel, especially now adays in the Northwest Territories where there is an increase in tourism, and they are starting to enjoy it more when they come up here. We are all aware that it is a nice place to live in.

It is a vast country, and there are different resources available to the people. We encounter problems when the adventurers come across some problems, or if they are lost. We all get concerned because it is our land. We do not want them to be injured, and we do not want anybody to get lost. We all know that in the Northwest Territories, even if you know your community, there are times that you can easily get lost because of the weather. A lot of times, the unexpected happens and we encounter unexpected problems. For those reasons, the adventurers in the North should be insured so they can be protected, and that is why I make this motion case something happens. We are all aware that this is not the first time this has happened, and I am pretty sure it is going to continue in the future because of the curiosity of the southern people or people from other countries. They like to come up and explore in the Northwest Territories, and this will not stop.

Mr. Speaker, as I said before, I wanted to give a further explanation or clarification as to why I made that motion, and I urge the other Members to support this motion so that it can be more suitable for the adventurers or tourists. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The seconder of the motion, Mr. Koe.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I seconded this motion because I agree totally with my colleague from the East in that there are many problems associated with these adventurers or Arctic travellers. I think a lot of it stems from a lot of the promotion we are doing about the North and about our virgin territory, untapped rivers, and we have a lot of land to travel on. We have people now going by dog team, skidoos, skis, kayaks, boats, bikes both foot peddled or motorized, travelling across our country. They are using our highways, rivers, any way they can go, and they are doing these things. They are crossing the Arctic, not only east/west and north/south, but now recently going from the West to the East. Recently we have had expeditions starting in the Yukon or Alaska travelling the Arctic coastline across. There was one expedition by dog team from Aklavik to Inuvik to Tuktoyaktuk to Paulatuk, and they even got lost between Aklavik and Inuvik where there are ice roads in place to follow, so I do not know how they can get lost. Any time these groups, tourists or Arctic explorers get lost, it costs money to go out - charter airplanes, using emergency rescue crows from whatever community is near by. Whenever these resources are taken out of a community, it takes away from the needs of the community.

I think It is really important that we do something, that we pass or get legislation in place, so that there are bonds or some kind of security, some kind of protection for these people to cover the cost of rescue operations. I fully support this motion, and I urge other Members, too. Thank you.

To the motion.

Question.

Question is being called. Would the mover of the motion like to conclude debate? Mr. Pudluk.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I am ready for the question.

Motion 20-12(2), Carried

Question has been called. All those in favour? All those opposed? The motion is carried.

-Carried

Motions. Ms. Mike.

Mr. Speaker, I seek unanimous consent to proceed with my motion today regarding an appointment to fill the vacancy on the Executive Council, cabinet. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

WHEREAS section 55(1) of the Legislative Assembly and Executive Council Act requires that there shall be an Executive Council of the NWT;

AND WHEREAS a vacancy exists on the Executive Council due to the resignation of Mr. Ningark, the Member for Natilikmiot;

AND WHEREAS it is desirable to fill the vacancy;

AND WHEREAS Members of the Executive Council are appointed by the Commissioner on the recommendation of this Assembly;

NOW THEREFORE, I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Inuvik, that this Legislative Assembly recommends to the Commissioner of the NWT that Mr. Arvaluk, the Member for Aivilik, be appointed to the Executive Council, cabinet.

--Applause

The motion is in order. To the motion. Ms. Mike.

Question.

Mr. Koe, as seconder.

Question.

Ms. Mike, you have the opportunity to conclude debate.