Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the Hon. Nellie Cournoyea and the Hon. Stephen Kakfwi will be absent from the House today to attend constitutional meetings in Ottawa. The Hon. Don Morin will be absent from the House today to attend meetings in Toronto with federal and provincial Ministers of Housing. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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

Members' statements. Ms. Mike.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The history books record that Canada's sovereignty over the Eastern Arctic was established by the early efforts of churchmen and federal officials who were commissioned to travel into the North in the early 1900s. Names like Dr. Robert Bell, Reverend E.J. Peck and Dr. Leslie Livingstone have been remembered as the expeditionaries who strengthened Canada's Arctic claim.

The history books, Mr. Speaker, have conveniently overlooked the fact that these early travellers relied on the knowledge and good will of the Inuit throughout the region. Without the guides who cared for them on the land, these early heroes of Canadian exploration would never have been able to survive.

Mr. Speaker, tomorrow, an elder in my constituency, Mrs. Samuni Kanayuk, is celebrating her 100th birthday. As I spoke with her during my last visit to Broughton Island, I realized the important role that she and so many aboriginal people of her generation played in making the North a part of Canada.

Throughout the 1920s, Mrs. Kanayuk and her first husband, Ugyualuk, served as guides for Dr. Livingstone's expeditions throughout the South Baffin. She also accompanied Maurice Haycock and Dr. Ludlow Weeks, who attempted to map Cumberland Sound and Nettilling Lake. In fact, it was the Inuit guides who tended to Dr. Weeks and brought him in off the land after a jammed rifle exploded and severed his arm from his shoulder. Livingstone, Weeks, Haycock, Reverend Peck and the rest never would have succeeded in this quest, Mr. Speaker, without the assistance of Mrs. Kanayuk and other Inuit guides.

As we prepare to celebrate Canada's 125th birthday later this week, Mr. Speaker, I hope all Northerners will take just a moment to think of elders like Samuni Kanayuk whose contribution has meant so much to our northern homeland. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I would like to take this opportunity, on behalf of the Assembly, to welcome the chairperson of the Science Institute, the chairperson Legislative Assembly Building Society, and a former colleague, the former Commissioner of the Northwest Territories, Mr. John Parker.

--- Applause

Members' statements. Mr. Nerysoo.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I had not considered taking time today to give a Member's statement, but I must rise, I think, to give defence to some of my colleagues. In particular, I want to make a statement about my support for the chairman of ajauqtit or the ordinary Members' committee, Jeannie Marie-Jewell. I think there is a great deal of criticism that has been directed toward her in her efforts in this Assembly. A great deal of those efforts were a result of decisions that were made by the ordinary Members' committee, not decisions that were made by herself or without consultation with her colleagues. I think it is really unfair of the media, and maybe people like Mr. Sigvaldason, who is the publisher, should find out whether or not he has qualified people that are writing for him or other papers, because I realty think the kinds of comments that have been made are unfair.

More importantly, lot me quote from a newspaper, Nunatsiaq News, where it says, "Cabinet jobs went to those deemed to be the best and the brightest and the ones with honesty, integrity and brains." Now the question is, is that really the case? People talk about accountability of our government, and I think that when we see our communities not receiving some of the benefits that most people take for granted, then it is in the interests of Members on this side of the House to make people in cabinet accountable for their decisions and for the policies, and programs and services that they are offering to the people of the Northwest Territories.

I think it is really unfair that the media should take their efforts to only point out that there is one Member here who is trying to make this government accountable. That is simply not true, and I think it is unfair, so I wanted to get up after being absent for a week to defend my colleague because I think the media should get their facts straight and got their information to the people of the Northwest Territories correct so that people will understand the reasons why positions and decisions are being made the way they are in this Assembly.

--- Applause

Members' statements. Mr. Koe.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. On Saturday, June 27, the Legislative Assembly Sharks, a group of athletic MLAs, staff and family members, participated in the second annual Curley Cup slow pitch ball tournament. This prestigious tournament put the Sharks up against teams made up of media personnel. There were five teams of media dignitaries from newspapers, radio and TV. As usual, the Legislative Assembly Sharks showed their sportsmanship, sense of fair play, respect and gratitude toward the media by being hospitable guests and letting them win, but not without a fight

---Laughter

The six teams competing were divided into an A and B pool. The Sharks were thrown into the scrum with teams from CBC TV and CBC Radio. The Sharks demonstrated their superiority in game one and destroyed the CBC Radio team by a score of 12 to five. I am sure this loss totally deflated the team because they went into the next game with no confidence and got wiped out by the TV crew.

---Laughter

In game two the Sharks played the CBC TV All Stars, and the TV crew showed that they meant business when they put out the first three Sharks sluggers. It was all downhill from there,

and the Sharks lost this epic battle eight to six.

The TV crew had a little help from the umpires from Northern News Services who had trouble interpreting and exercising the rules. I am sure their judgment was affected by the hot sun and the few bugs.

By winning one game, the Sharks advanced to the semi-finals and played the first place team from pool A. Unfortunately for us, this was a team from Northern News Services. After a quick caucus meeting, the Sharks decided that discretion was a better part of valour, and to ensure some good future press, the Sharks decided to take it easy and lost 12 to nine.

---Laughter

In any group performance, there are participants who deserve mention, not all "honourable." Before the games started, the Sharks team was in...

Mr. Koe, your allotted time has expired.

Mr. Speaker, I seek unanimous consent to conclude my statement.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Before the games started the Sharks team was in total disarray. People were looking for gloves, wondering what a bat or a ball was and questioning why everyone was scurrying around the ball field. It was not until Members from OMC called a caucus meeting that some semblance of order happened. By going through the agenda, we found out how many players we had, who played what position, and what hand the glove fit on. With this information, we ventured forth into the fray.

The Sharks most outstanding player had to be Ernie "Speedy" Bernhardt who covered the outfield like a barrenland caribou. Any ball hit by the opposition in Ernie's direction, if it did not fall into the water puddles, was caught by him. Ernie was also our most productive run producer by scoring four times.

The Sharks best hitter was Mike "the slugger" Ballantyne, who batted an astounding 1000, six hits and six at bat. He also patrolled first base and fell in the mud only once when he attempted a diving catch and missed.

Honourable mentions also have to go to Rassi Nashalik, our interpreter, who was able to decipher the opposing better skills and did a fine job for the Sharks on the pitching mound. Hon. Titus Allooloo, tried out for this position but because of poor delivery techniques, was demoted to the outfield and catcher.

---Laughter

On the other end of the scale for performances unworthy of mention was Titus's attempts at batting; in six at bat he was put out six times.

---Laughter

Also, our newest Minister, James Arvaluk, struck out two times and three at bats. He will have to watch because it is that third strike that hurts.

---Laughter

Once Becky and Sam decided on which hand the glove fit, they filled the spaces on the field. They better stick to politics.

---Laughter

Tony Whitford, Jim Antoine and yours truly, played steady ball all day and were the backbones of the team.

---Laughter

Our best cheerleaders were Ludy Pudluk and Kenoayoak Pudlat.

All in all it was a fun day, and honourable mention goes to the media teams for organizing this event. By the way, if anybody cares, the CBC TV team won, and they got the joyous task of organizing next year's tournament. Qujannamiik. Mahsi.

--- Applause

If Members will note, that statement is an example of a statement important enough that I think the rules can be bent to accommodate a statement such as that.

--- Laughter

Members' statements. Mr. Bernhardt.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I rise today because I am thoroughly frustrated and dismayed with this government. Not only have the infrastructure needs of the Kitikmeot been overlooked in the Government Leader's New Directions initiative, but now contracts that should have come to local firms in my constituency have gone to companies from outside our region. I am speaking about a contract which was awarded to a Yellowknife firm for the building of the extension of the health centre in Coppermine. I am also aware that a contract for the extension of the school facilities went to a Yellowknife firm as well.

Mr. Speaker, this is despite the fact that there is a well respected and dependable company in Coppermine that has over 10 years of experience and a record of 80 per cent northern hiring in Coppermine. These decisions fly in the face of all the economic development strategies that this and the previous governments have brought forward. This government may speak nobly about now directions and about reshaping northern government. I am quickly coming to learn that this is just a lot of talk. I am quickly losing confidence with the sort of decision-making that we are seeing today, and I would like to point out they should do away with this old boys' club that the previous government had, and let us start treating everybody in the Territories more humanly. Thank you.

Members' statements. Mr. Gargan.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I rise today to comment on the school achievement indicators program, a project of the Canadian Council of Ministers of Education. The project is aimed at finding out how well educational systems across the country are doing with respect to the academic training of our youth. Annual reports will be issued to show the participation rates, retention rates, and, perhaps most important graduation rates of students in the various jurisdictions.

Mr. Speaker, I am also pleased to note that the program will not stop there. A second group of indicators will provide information about the literacy levels and mathematical skills of students at the ages of 13 to 16, and will involve testing students from most provinces and both territories on a wide range of skills from basic knowledge to critical thinking. Each year we will be able to see how well Northwest Territories students compare with those in other jurisdictions in reading, writing and arithmetic, and we will also be able to find out the extent to which achievement levels increase between the ages of 13 to 16.

Mr. Speaker, during my nine years as a Member of this House I have repeatedly heard that we need to devote all sorts of funds to the recruitment, housing, benefits and salaries of southern-trained teachers. I have heard that this is especially critical to ensure adequate education at the high school level. With the CCME school achievement indicator program, I believe we will be able to see whether we have been getting our money's worth, whether our current approach to education is working, or whether we need changes. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Members' statements. Mr. Pudlat.

(Translation) Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My statement is regarding MACA. The graves that are down south are very close to a private home. The most recent ones are further up the hill. The ones that are close to the community, during 1980 there were markers to the graves; however, some have been disturbed, and some of the signs were removed because sometimes there were children that would go to the graves and disturb the graveyard and the signs. I would like to make a statement to the Minister of MACA. The community is asking for funding to upgrade the graves as well as the graveyard. We have forgotten the names of the people who are buried because the signs have been removed. We will be asking for funding. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I have a return to an oral question asked by Mr. Gargan on the Hay River ice crossing. The winter ice crossing between the Hay River Reserve and the town of Hay River would quality as a highway under the definition in the Motor Vehicles Act as it is used regularly by members of the public. However, it is not included in the schedule to the Public Highways Act, as It is not a federal or territorial responsibility, being a road developed entirely within the boundaries of the reserve and the town of Hay River. It does not cross any land which is the responsibility of the GNWT, but rather is considered a community responsibility. The Department of Transportation has never made any contribution toward the construction and maintenance of this ice bridge. However, as I indicated earlier, I am prepared to have the department convene a meeting with the band council and the town council to see it some mutually satisfactory arrangement can be made with regard to this community road.

I have another return to a question asked by Mr. Gargan on June 26, 1992. The average promotion rate for Elizabeth

Ward School in Fort Providence was 57 per cent in 1987-88, 72 per cent in 1988-89, and 81 per cent in 1989-90. In 1990-91, the average promotion rate for the school was 69 per cent

A detailed table has been provided to the Member for Deh Cho. Further information on the average progress of students at the school or the progress of individual students, can be obtained from the principal or director of the Deh Cho Divisional Board of Education.