Good afternoon. Orders of the day for Thursday, June 25, 1992. Item 2, Ministers' statements. Ms. Cournoyea.

Mr. Speaker, the Hon. Stephen Kakfwi will be absent from the House today to attend a speaking engagement with the Chancellor's Club in Calgary. Thank you.

Ministers' statements. Mr. Morin.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I am pleased to report that cabinet has recently approved an outline for a training strategy for use with GNWT construction projects. A senior management committee, with membership from the NWT Housing Corporation, Public Works and Education, prepared the outline and will complete the development of the strategy by the end of the year. A series of pilot projects will be used to develop and test new approaches to construction trades training. The committee will recommend ways that strengthen the participation of NWT communities in the training initiatives and that rely on the expertise of NWT construction companies. The objective is to increase the opportunities for training in skilled and semi-skilled trades for GNWT construction projects. These efforts will result in increased certification of NWT construction workers and increase the number of NWT workers who can fill jobs in the construction industry. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

-Applause

Ministers' statements. Mr. Whitford.

Ministers' statements. Ministers' statements. Item 3, Members' statements. Mrs. Marie-Jewell.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the ordinary Members' caucus has met and discussed the response of the Government Leader to address our previously expressed concerns. We were not surprised with the Government Leader not taking visible action to address our concerns.

Members strongly feel that in order to address our concerns the following must be done: the Department of Energy, Mines and Petroleum Resources and the NWT Power Corporation should be delegated to another cabinet Minister; the Department of Health be delegated to another cabinet Minister; the responsibilities for Social Services be reassigned to another cabinet Minister in order to allow the Departments of Health and Social Services to be amalgamated; the responsibilities of the Departments of Education and Culture and Communications be reassigned to another cabinet Minister.

Mr. Speaker, at the appropriate time I will be placing forth a motion reflecting the ordinary Members' request. Mr. Speaker, the ordinary Members feel that if and when these steps are taken, our concerns will be addressed accordingly. Thank you.

-Applause

Thank you. Members' statements. Mr. Pudlat.

(Translation) Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My follow Members probably recall a time when I presented a question to the Minister of Economic Development and Tourism. The people of Sanikiluaq have been interested in obtaining a vessel, since they have a lot of work that is related to the bay in their area. They could also use it for hunting purposes. I wanted to further find out what will be happening because they will be submitting a proposal for funding in order to obtain a vessel, and I wanted to bring that to your attention, Mr. Speaker. Thank you.

Thank you. Members' statements. Mr. Gargan.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the traditional knowledge working group was established in October 1989. Elders worked with representatives from the government and aboriginal organizations for several months to find practical ways to preserve the traditional knowledge of aboriginal people and to use this knowledge in the planning and delivery of legislation and services for northern people. The working group prepared a report with 20 recommendations for the government. This report was tabled in the House nearly one year ago in July 1991.

Mr. Speaker, this government has expressed its commitment to preserving and using the knowledge of aboriginal people. Surely this is basic to governing effectively in the Northwest Territories. Yet in all this time, there has been no strategy outlined as to how the government will use these recommendations.

Mr. Speaker, I am also concerned about the failure of the government to make use of the recommendations of another group. The aboriginal languages conference was hold in Yellowknife March 25-27, 1991. Again, aboriginal delegates and organizations made comprehensive recommendations to the government to revitalize aboriginal languages and to involve communities with designing and providing services in this area.

The Minister of Culture and Communications said back in 1991 that he would give serious consideration to the recommendations from the aboriginal languages conference. Yet again, there has been no response or plan presented to this Assembly.

Mr. Speaker, the Minister has received written concerns from myself and from the Dene Cultural Institute and the Inuit Cultural Institute about the lack of a formal response. Members of the Metis Heritage Association and the Inuvialuit social development program also feel that this is taking too long.

I will say that I have received a written response from the Minister saying that his department is reviewing the reports and outlining programs that are being conducted by his department related to traditional knowledge and culture. But Mr. Speaker, the response I received concerns me. The department is doing a little...

Mr. Gargan, you have exceeded the time limit.

Mr. Speaker, I would like unanimous consent to continue my statement.

The honourable Member is seeking unanimous consent. Are there any nays? There are no nays. Proceed, Mr. Gargan.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker and Members. The department is doing a little here and a little there for aboriginal language and culture. But it seems to be ad hoc with no comprehensive plan or strategy. The government needs to develop a strategy, and there must be greater community control in this area. This is where the traditional knowledge working group and the aboriginal languages conference recommendations are invaluable.

In light of the constitutional developments and the now direction throughout the country to recognize the aboriginal inherent right to self-government, this government should move toward devolving Dene and Inuit cultural programs to the proper recognized aboriginal authority. It is time that this government too, recognized and supported the right to self-government. The plan of this government to reshape northern government should include a strong commitment to further the self-government of aboriginal people. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Members' statements. Mr. Lewis.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I have looked very carefully at the New Directions paper tabled by the Government Leader, and I have one concern which I have shared with the chairman of the standing committee on finance and also with the Minister of Finance. It concerns the decentralization of the Science Institute of the Northwest Territories. About six years ago, the federal government commissioned a study on the establishment of a Polar Commission which would provide Canada, as a major polar country, with a science institute or commission that would coordinate all northern science. Three years ago the federal government passed an act creating this commission which provided for a northern office. When people in Yellowknife met with the commissioner who came to examine this issue in the NWT, we told him that he should have a northern office when this legislation is put together. That is exactly what happened, and that commission is now in place. Mr. Whit Fraser was appointed to head it up.

Now the possibility of establishing a northern office, combined with the Science Institute of the NWT, seems to have been lost because you decided to get rid of it. I think that was bad planning; it was not thought through very carefully. I would urge the government to rethink that one issue because I believe that science is of interest to us all, and It has to play a co-ordinating role in one location. Thank you.

Members' statements. Mr. Zoe,

Mr. Zoe, your time limit has been exceeded.

The honourable Member is seeking unanimous consent. Are there any nays? There are no nays. Proceed, Mr. Zoe.

If I could remind Members again. It seems that probably at least half of Members' statements now are exceeding the two and one-half minutes. This Legislative Assembly has increased the time allotment from two minutes to two and one-half minutes. I would ask Members to try and live within the rules that they set for themselves. Thank you.

I would like to take this opportunity to welcome a former colleague, former Government Leader, Minister, and MLA, Mr. Nick Sibbeston.

--Applause

Members' statements. Mr. Todd.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Cultural disaffiliation, substance dependency, family violence, neglected and abused children, sexual victimization, feelings of youth hopelessness and depression have been dark and unwanted features of our northern homeland for too long. There is no denying, Mr. Speaker, that these are symptoms of a deeper underlying need in our society, As we find new ways to address the shortcomings in economic development, housing, employment and retention of traditional values, the social pressures which boil inside northern communities and households will become progressively more manageable. I believe we have already begun to make some progress in resolving the root causes of our social problems.

However, we simply cannot overlook the fact, while we are doing this, that people are hurting. We can see in every community throughout the North, children wandering around and turning to solvents, alcohol and, perhaps more dangerously, drugs. Youths, who feel separated from their culture and from their grandparents, are unprepared to cope with the stress of independent living. Men who batter women: families that communicate only through the expression of violence and pain; elders who suffer alone -we must do something to stop this pain. There must be a renewed effort to place effective and culturally aware counselling services within regional and community settings. Our current system of providing clinical expertise through a series of fly-in and fly

out circuit services is simply not working. We need to ensure that these resources are placed within the regions and communities in the Northwest Territories.

The Government Leader's New Directions initiatives states that cabinet did everything it could to protect programs in the social services field. I appreciate that, Mr. Speaker; however, we must now extend the same principle that we have applied to the regional transfer of other government programs to the Department of Social Services. We simply have to look at decentralization as a process through which we can bring mental health counselling, clinical treatment and family-based healing closer to the people who are suffering. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

-Applause

Thank you, Mr. Todd. Members' statements. Mr. Arngna'naaq.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I rise today to speak on the goings on in this Assembly this past week. I was not here at the time the motion was made by Mrs. Marie-Jewell. This was because I felt the Government Leader can assess the situation and come to an agreeable solution, and that this was not the way of my upbringing.

Considering the fact that the government is trying to consolidate certain departments in an effort to save money, cabinet has been put in the very difficult position of trying to manage a system with very limited resources.

Under Ministers' statements yesterday, the Government Leader implied that there will be reassignments after reassessing the Ministers' abilities. This is one of the routes suggested by the ordinary Members in their motion. In a consensus style of government, there has to be agreement among a majority of Members. I agree with the outcome of the Government Leader's response. I have confidence in the Government Leader. She will be able to address the concerns of the ordinary Members with regard to the recommendations in her deliberations. I have every confidence in the Government Leader that her decision will be in the best interest of all the people of the Northwest Territories. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

-Applause

Members' statements. Mr. Antoine.

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. (Translation) Since I have been elected to the House, I am beginning to know the ropes. However, there is some concern about the Government Leader and the Ministers. They are here to represent everybody in the Northwest Territories. Over the last few days I have been concerned about a few things. There are a few organizations and Members that have told me to raise certain things, so I have raised them in this House. I hey must be very concerned about things that are happening around the North for them to come to me and to tell me to bring these things to everybody's attention. If the government is not working for the people, if it does not look like it is working for the people, we are the ones that should remind them. If the people are not happy with the things they do and how they work, these concerns have to be raised. I am really concerned about these things, and that is why I wanted to raise them today. Thank you.

Members' statements. Members' statements. Item 4, returns to oral questions. Returns to oral questions. Mr. Allooloo.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I have a return to an oral question asked by Mr. Todd on June 23, 1992, with respect to outside firms bidding on northern work. Arctic College, in co-operation with the Baffin Divisional Board of Education, is currently seeking catering services for the high school and college students in Iqaluit. The college and the board contracted with the firm of Cini Little in Toronto to prepare the necessary tender documents. This firm was also asked to provide the tender documents to interested caterers in southern Canada.

Arctic College and the Baffin Divisional Board of Education followed established GNWT contract regulations. The bids received will be assessed against criteria which include the business incentive policy. The college and the board are encouraging active bidding and will award the contract according to the regulations.

Mr. Speaker, I have considered the appropriateness of tender documents being made available through a southern contract, and, while this is not an unusual practice, I will be directing Arctic College and the Baffin Divisional Board of Education to use only a northern contract for bidders in the future. Thank you.

-Applause

Mr. Speaker, I have a return to an oral question asked by Mr Gargan on June 24, 1992, with respect to factors considered in advancement of children in school. This is a further return to an oral question which I answered on June 24, 1992. Mr. Gargan informed me that it was his understanding that a seven-year-old child in Fort Providence has been held back for three years in the same grade because of his size and his age. As Minister of Education, I would like to emphasize that it is not the policy or practice of the school system to keep students from advancing a grade because of their size and age. I have asked the director of the Deh Cho Divisional Board of Education to look into this matter immediately and reply directly to the Member as soon as possible.

I have another return, Mr. Speaker, to a question asked by Mr. Antoine on June 23, 1992, with respect to education assessments of NWT children. Children in the NWT, who are experiencing difficulties learning, are given both informal and formal educational assessments within the school system. These assessments assist in planning appropriate programs, and are conducted by the classroom teacher, the special needs teacher or the special needs consultant within the child's own community.

In some cases, children are referred for further specialized assessments which involve professionals such as medical specialists. At present, these assessments are often conducted by a multi-disciplinary team from Stanton Yellowknife Hospital or at the Glenrose Hospital in Edmonton for children of the Western Arctic. Some children may also be assessed in their own community by the clinical assessment team from the Department of Social Services.

The Department of Education is aware that accessing these specialized services might be difficult. Referrals for specialized assessments must be made through a medical system or the Social Services system. These assessments are paid for by the Department of Health or the Department of Social Services. School boards have no designated funds to either provide or contract for specialized assessment services.

Because this is not just an educational issue, a working committee with representatives from the Departments of Education, Health and Social Services is looking at ways to improve the delivery of all services to children, including specialized assessment services. This committee will make recommendations for improving the access to the delivery of support services to children within the NWT during the next school year.

Mr. Speaker, I have another return which is somewhat unusual. This is a reply to a question asked by one of my colleagues, the Hon. James Arvaluk, asked on June 19 with respect to the Keewatin teacher education program. This is a further return to Question O579-12(2) which I answered on June 19, 1992.

Seven of the potential 10 to 12 students have applied to enter the second year of the Keewatin teacher education program in September 1992. After discussions between my department and the Keewatin Divisional Board of Education, it was agreed that the board would provide funding for two students to enrol in the program in September 1992. Funding for the remaining students who enrol will be provided by the Department of Education. Thank you.

One thing for clarification. I was not quite sure you said this was a further return. I am not aware of anything in the rules that allows further returns. I think I will review Hansard tonight, and tomorrow I will make a ruling on that, because it is a now concept to me. Returns to oral questions. Mr. Morin.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. This is a return to a question asked by Mr. Gargan on June 18, regarding aboriginal residents registering for business incentive policy. The benefits of the business incentive policy are available to businesses that are majority northern-owned and that maintain permanent business facilities in the NWT. The BIP compensates those businesses for the higher costs of maintaining those facilities and employees. The contracting departments are only able to determine if a business qualifies for the benefits, if, at the time of the tender evaluation, the business has registered. Native-owned and administered firms will have no problem obtaining registration. Departments must evaluate hundreds of tenders each year, and it would not be possible to check the status of non-registered businesses at the time of each tender evaluation. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Returns to oral questions. Mr. Whitford.

Returns to oral questions. Mr. Patterson.

The head office of the RCMP Public Complaints Commission has advised that the panel which heard the matter has not yet delivered its report, though it is expected to be delivered sometime this summer.

The two members of the Weber-Malakhov expedition were attempting to reach the North Pole on skis. They were unable to fully complete their journey due to poor ice conditions. On June 21, 1992, the two adventurers were picked up by an aircraft belonging to Bradley Air at latitude 88 degrees 48 minutes. There are no costs to the Government of the Northwest Territories for their aerial pickup.

Returns to oral questions. Ms. Cournoyea.

Mr. Speaker, I have a return to an oral question asked by Mr. Todd on June 17, on the status of franchise agreements.

On December 17, 1991, 1 indicated to this Assembly that there appeared to be a great deal of confusion over the purpose of franchise agreements, and that little progress had occurred to date to successfully conclude agreements between the corporation and communities in its service area.

Currently, the corporation has a request before the Minister responsible for the Public Utilities Board to authorize franchises between the corporation and each of the 10 unorganized communities. It is anticipated that this authorization will be provided shortly.

In addition, the Public Utilities Board has scheduled public hearings into the terms and conditions of the standard form franchise agreement for July 9-10, 1992, in Yellowknife. It is anticipated that these hearings will result in clarification of the requirements and parameters of an appropriate franchise agreement. These parameters will be communicated to all communities within the corporation's service area with a view to encouraging settlement of these franchise agreements. Thank you.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My question is to the Minister of Health. Yesterday, the Minister tabled the Abortion Review Services Committee Report. The committee reviewed abortion services and procedures at the Stanton Yellowknife Hospital. The Minister commented that the committee did not refer any matter for specific investigation by a professional licensing or other disciplinary body because it did not find professional malpractice. My question to the Minister is, can the Minister confirm, in this House and to members of the public, that not withstanding the finding of the review committee, that it is the right of any woman who considers she has been subject to professional malpractice to bring civil action against the doctor concerned as well as against the Government of the Northwest Territories?

I must caution Members that this question is really asking for what is essentially a legal opinion of the Government Leader. Civil cases fall within the jurisdiction of the courts. I would like to ask the honourable Member to consider rephrasing his question. Mr. Gargan.

Mr. Speaker, in light of the statement that the Minister made yesterday, I would like to ask her whether or

not a woman has the right to launch a civil suit against the doctor or against the government if the woman feels she has been subject to professional malpractice.

Ms. Cournoyea.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to say that it was in the mandate of the committee to refer, for more specific investigation by a professional licensing or other disciplinary body, any matter arising from the review where it deemed it to be desirable in the public interest. This was not done. To be very clear, yes, If people still feel they have not had the proper recourse to address their concerns, there is a process to have that request for a review on that specific matter. Thank you.

Oral questions. Supplementary, Mr. Gargan.

Just maybe for clarification, is the Minister suggesting that if the woman feels that she has been wronged then she goes to the review committee, or can she still launch a civil suit?

Ms. Cournoyea.

Yes, Mr. Speaker, it would not be back to the committee that looked at these procedures. It would go the normal recourse where they can appeal to the board of inquiry and launch a complaint.

Oral questions. Mr. Zoe.

Mr. Morin.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I am prepared to take the issue up with NorthwesTel on behalf of the Member. Thank you.

Oral questions. Supplementary, Mr. Zoe.

Mr. Morin.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As soon as I can write a letter and sign it.

Oral questions. Mr. Pudluk.

(Translation) Thank you, Mr. Speaker. In springtime in 1992, the wildlife officials were meeting in Grise Fiord, Arctic Bay, Pond Inlet and Resolute Bay. They were negotiating as to where they could put the polar bear quotas because some of the communities were satisfied with their quotas and some of them had advanced their season for polar bear hunting. Today I would like to find out exactly what they have done with this process. Thank you.

Madam Minister.

Mr. Speaker, I will take that as notice and try to provide an answer. Thank you.

Thank you. The question is taken as notice. Oral questions. Mr. Koe.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I have a question for the Minister of Economic Development and Tourism. On June 19, 1 asked the Minister about the fishermen of Great Slave Lake and the problems that they sent in by correspondence and by demonstrating here in Yellowknife to the Minister. He indicated that basically it was problem of the B class fishermen. I have correspondence that indicates that a Great Slave Lake Fish Company was established and shares are owned by both A and B class licence-holders. These fishermen still have concerns and they want some solution of these concerns because the fishing season is starting to get under way. They need equipment and some money to do the job, a job which I think they know best and can do best. They do not want to go on welfare. My question is, does this government support the fishermen's concerns?

Mr. Pollard.

Mr. Speaker, yes, we support the concern that the price of fish is not as high as we would like to see it, or the fishermen would like to see it. One of the suggestions by this company, Mr. Speaker, is to get exemption from the Freshwater Fish Marketing Corporation in some species of fish and that, of course, will have to come from the FFMC. We have told this company in a letter some two or three weeks ago, before the company was incorporated, the kind of information that we would require as a department in order to be able to assist them. To my knowledge, until today, Mr. Speaker, I have not heard that we have received a reply in that regard. Thank you.

Oral questions. Supplementary, Mr. Koe.

A supplementary to the Minister. What is the Minister's department doing to assist these fishermen in getting them exemption from the Freshwater Fish Marketing

Corporation?

Mr. Pollard.

Mr. Speaker, we have no objections to these fishermen seeking exemptions from FFMC. I should point out to you, though, that if we felt that there were going to be exemptions in the whitefish area that would be to the detriment of the other fishermen who are fishing and selling to FFMC, then we would have some concerns. To that end, Mr. Speaker, I have spoken with Mr. Ross, who I think is a principal in the new corporation, and asked him if I might arrange a meeting between himself and the Fishermen's Federation to try and resolve their differences. Mr. Ross has again refused, but I am following it up with a letter to him, asking him to talk to his people and reconsider, and at least take the opportunity to try and resolve their differences with the other fishermen. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Supplementary, Mr. Koe.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The fishermen in question established a company called Great Slave Lake Fish Company. I would like to ask the Minister what is he or his department doing to assist this company in getting established so they can operate as a business?

Mr. Pollard.

Mr. Speaker, as I previously stated, the company did approach us before it was incorporated some time around the last week of April, and we have provided to the company the kinds of information that we would require in order to be able to assist them. To my knowledge, Mr. Speaker, they have not got back to us yet, but we have provided the information to them with regard to the kinds of things we need to know to help them get off the ground. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

This is your last supplementary, Mr. Koe.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Before being appointed as a Minister, I understand that you, as an ordinary MLA, were a member of the Great Slave Lake Advisory Board. The question is, are you still a member of this advisory board?

Mr. Koe, If you are asking if he is a member of the advisory board in his capacity as Minister, it is a valid question. Mr. Pollard.

Mr. Speaker, I was never a member of the advisory board. I was an alternate. Mr. Chummy Plummer was the member, but he lived in Winnipeg and I lived in Hay River, and the meetings were always hold in Hay River or close by, and so I represented him on that particular advisory board. Upon becoming a Minister, I informed the Department of Fisheries that I would no longer sit on that board. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Oral questions. I have Mr. Lewis next.

Thanks, Mr. Speaker. I would like to ask the Minister responsible for MACA the following question: Could he indicate what stage he is at in negotiations between his department and the municipality of Yellowknife to arrange block funding for capital projects, since the whole business of funding capital projects has caused great difficulty for the municipality?

Mr. Minister.

Mr. Speaker, when the new municipal funding formula was approved by cabinet at the end of March of this year, I made a commitment to the City of Yellowknife that I would work on a block funding arrangement for the coming fiscal year, since the new funding formula allows for block funding for municipalities, and since the City of Yellowknife, amongst other municipalities, was very interested in obtaining such an arrangement. I can tell the honourable Member that discussions have been under way at the officials level. They have been hampered a bit by holidays and travel, but I understand now that Mr. Lagore is back, discussions are proceeding actively with my officials. The results have not yet come to my attention, but I know it is being worked on actively and it still is a priority with myself to get a proposal together for presentation to cabinet. Thank you.

Supplementary, Mr. Lewis.

I believe that the City of Yellowknife has made a claim for over a million dollars on capital money that is owing the city. I am wondering if there is any progress being made in returning that money to the city over the last few weeks.

Mr. Patterson.

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

The question has been taken as notice. I have Mr. Gargan next.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to direct my question to the Minister of Health, and it is with regard to some concerns I have with regard to the abortion services review committee, which was authorized by the Minister to review the abortion procedures at Stanton Yellowknife Hospital. Of the four committee members, one member was the president of the Canadian Hospitals Association, which Stanton Yellowknife Hospital is a member of, and the other is a physician. I would like to ask the Minister, can the Minister explain to the House what criteria were used in the selection of committee members to ensure that the review would be independent and objective?

Ms. Cournoyea.

Mr. Speaker, I believe the idea was to have people from the various professions who knew how hospitals worked; also to have someone from the medical profession to have a knowledge of how the medical profession works. The review of the abortion procedures at Stanton Hospital, on the report that is here, shows the terms of reference in which the committee would conduct itself. What was attempted was to find people from the professions, as well as lay people and people knowledgeable about the Northwest Territories. Thank you.

Oral questions. Mr. Todd.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I have a question for the Minister of Finance. Mr. Speaker, in October of 1990, the Public Utilities Board conducted a review of electrical rate structures in the Northwest Territories. One of the recommendations of this review was that the provision of power subsidies by the GNWT should be separated from the rate structure of electrical utilities in the Northwest Territories. Could the Minister tell this Assembly what this government has done to redesign power subsidy programs offered by this government in response to this recommendation?

Minister of Finance, Mr. Pollard.

Mr. Speaker, we have looked at It several times. There have been all kinds of recommendations made to us; getting rid of the subsidy program; making it user-pay. There have been people in the Northwest Territories who say we should be paying less because we are on hydro power, that it should not be a sort of pooled system. To answer the Member's question directly, we have done nothing as yet to address this problem that some people across the Northwest Territories consider the inconsistencies between power rates. It is a very complex subject, particularly since the Government of the Northwest Territories in many instances is the person who pays the bill for power through one means or another. So we have had some looks at it, Mr. Speaker, but we have not done anything to date. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Supplementary, Mr. Todd.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Could the Minister tell me whether these power subsidies are solely funded by dividends paid to the GNWT by the NWT Power Corporation? How are they paid?

Mr. Pollard.

That has been the practice to date, Mr. Speaker, yes.

Supplementary, Mr. Todd.

Mr. Speaker, as the Member is aware the NWT Power Corporation has been granted a six per cent interim increase in electrical rates by the Public Utilities Board earlier this year. The PUB will be holding public hearings on the Power Corporation's application this week. In fact my concern is that the power rates may even increase. Could the Minister tell me whether the power subsidy programs have kept pace with the increases in the electrical power rates?

Mr. Pollard.

Mr. Speaker, the subsidy is based on the rate charged for power in Yellowknife. So in effect it does keep pace, although If the price of power goes up in Yellowknife, obviously there is some loss of subsidy. But when there is an increase outside of Yellowknife, the subsidy does increase.

Mrs. Marie-Jewell.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Yesterday while I was away from the House the report of the abortion review services committee was tabled and I have been unable to read it as of yet. However I have heard through the media reports that there is a member of this committee who does not agree with this report and as a result will be formulating her own report. I would like to ask the Minister of Health if this is correct?

I would like to remind Members that a question should not ask a Minister to confirm or deny something from the media, but If the Member would like to rephrase the question to ask for specific information.

Thank you, I would like to ask the Minister of Health whether or not all abortion review committee Members agreed in totality with this report that was tabled in the House.

Ms. Cournoyea.

Mr. Speaker, to my knowledge all members agreed with what is in the report. One member wanted to add more. Thank you.