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.

I have a return to a question asked by Mr. Gargan on June 26th. In the spring of each year when the ice goes out of the Mackenzie River, a number of tourists come to the NWT to fish. One of the favourite locations is in the north access road to the Mackenzie River ice bridge. Mr. Gargan has asked whether the Department of Transportation will take responsibility for maintaining this unofficial park and campground.

I am pleased to advise the Member that the department, in cooperation with the Fort Providence community council, has been providing a maintenance and clean-up service along this section of the highway. Barrels will be placed along the road, if required. In the meantime, the situation is being monitored on a regular basis to ensure that the amenity of the area is maintained.

I have a further return to a question asked by Mr. Antoine on June 26,1992. The tri-ministry committee, which is examining services to children, is in the process of collecting data from a variety of sources including schools, boards and divisional boards of education, and professionals such as audiologists and special interest groups. In particular, the committee is looking at the numbers of children who need services, what services they need and how many need multiple services.

The committee is identifying the specific services provided by Education, Health and Social Services, and is collecting existing studies and reports on services provided to children. It is also conducting research on models of collaborative services provided elsewhere in North America.

In addition to collecting written information, the tri-ministry committee has met with a number of individuals involved in providing services. The committee will continue to meet, collect and assess information on services to children this summer. It will report back to the three departments in the fall on the results of the data collection phase of its work, and make recommendations for the next phase of this comprehensive study on services to children at that time.

Returns to oral questions. Item 5, oral questions.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to pose a question to the Minister of Safety and Public Services. The week before, I asked the Minister whether he would consider contracting or utilizing electrical inspector services through a contracting process. At the time, the Minister indicated it was a good idea; however, he would have to review the circumstances. I would like to ask the Minister If he has reviewed my idea and whether or not he has come

to a decision.

Mr. Patterson.

Mr. Speaker, I regret to inform the Member that I have not yet had a chance to discuss that idea with my department. They are pretty preoccupied with the Royal Oak mine situation at the moment, but I will do so as soon as I can. Thank you.

Oral questions. Supplementary, Mrs. Marie Jewell.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I recognize the importance of his department addressing the Royal Oak mine situation, but at the same time, there are many of my constituents in the construction business that are being held back dollars because of a lack of electrical inspector services. Therefore, I would like to ask the Minister if he can review the situation, make a decision as quickly as possible and advise me of his decision accordingly. Thank you.

Mr. Patterson.

Yes, bearing in mind that the construction season is now under way, Mr. Speaker, I will give that matter priority, as the Member is requesting. Thank you.

Oral questions. Mr. Nerysoo.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I realize that the Minister of Personnel is absent today; however, I will direct my question to the acting Minister, or maybe I should direct it to Mr. Pollard. On the information that we have received, about five per cent of the Government of the Northwest Territories hired summer student contingent comprises southern students. I wonder if the government could undertake a review, or study the circumstances under which these students are hired, to ensure that no suitable candidates that had a higher priority had applied.

Mr. Pollard.

Yes, Mr. Speaker. Thank you.

Oral questions. Oral questions. Mrs. Marie Jewell.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I have a question for the Minister of Finance. Mr. Speaker, I asked the Minister of Finance with respect to clarification on releasing the amount of bid prices for the Thebacha campus catering contract. As I stated on Friday, I appreciated his openness in indicating that an error was made on the tender opening, and that the amounts of the tenders were not announced. I would like to ask the Minister of Finance, if he would be able to advise this House, or the public, the bid amounts that were tendered. Thank you.

I am not sure. I understand that this might be before the courts, but I am not aware of that. With that in mind, Mr. Pollard.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, there were four people who tendered. The first company was 862116 NWT Limited of Fort Smith. They bid nothing on the basic monthly charge for the first or the second year. On breakfast charges, they bid $3.65 in the first year and $3.95 in the second year; their lunch charge was $7.60 in the first year and $7.65 in the second year; and their dinner charge was $7.60 in the first year and $7.65 per meat in the second year.

The second company, Mr. Speaker, was Territorial Catering Limited of Yellowknife. They had a basic monthly charge of $17,070 in the first year and $18,145 in the second year. Their breakfast charge in the first year was $3.75 and in the second year, four dollars; their lunch charge in the first year was $6.75 and in the second year $7.20; their dinner charge was six dollars in the first year and $6.40 in the second year.

The third company to tender, Mr. Speaker, was Busy Bee Enterprises of Fort Smith. Their basic monthly charge in the first and second year was $4000. Their breakfast charge in the first and second year was three dollars; their lunch charge in the first and second year was $7.25; and their dinner charge in the first and second year was $5.75.

Martselos Services was the last tenderer, and they are from Fort Smith, Mr. Speaker. They had a basic monthly charge in the first and the second year of $20,000. They had a breakfast charge in the first and second year of two dollars; a lunch charge in the first year of eight dollars, and the same in the second year; and their dinner charge was four dollars in the first year and four dollars in the second year. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you. I want to say to the House that I thought Mrs. Marie-Jewell was talking about a different contract. In future, unless I specifically know it is in the records of the House, I will not comment on whether or not it is before the courts. It will be up to the Minister to inform the House as to whether anything is before the courts. I am sorry about that Supplementary, Mrs. Marie-Jewell.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I thank the Minister for advising the public as to the amounts bid. I would like to ask the Minister if he is aware of when the tender will be awarded.

Mr. Pollard.

I anticipate it being awarded within the next 10 days, Mr. Speaker.

Ms. Mike.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My question is to the Minister of Education. I noted the announcement that the Minister recently renewed the memorandum of understanding with the Province of Alberta which sets out the services which each jurisdiction will provide to students in the NWT. Can the Minister advise the House whether the curricula used in any other provinces were considered prior to the finalization of this agreement?

Mr. Allooloo.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Yes.

Supplementary, Ms. Mike.

Recognizing that the learning style of aboriginal students across the NWT is based on cultural experiences different from the majority of Alberta students, what has the department done to evaluate whether or not the framework of the Alberta curricula is the most suitable for teaching our students?

Mr. Allooloo.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. We have a number of courses that are available just for the NWT students. We have what is called a northern portion in our curricula to educate kids in the NWT. We have curricula development officers who are developing curriculum in native languages and the schools offer, depending on where they are and depending on what regions they are from and what languages, they have certain programs that are unique to individual regions. Thank you.

Ms. Mike, supplementary.

I have an example for the Minister. In the Alberta grade 12 English curriculum, considerable emphasis is put on peer evaluation where students are given responsibility to grade each other's work. However, many aboriginal students are encouraged in their home to be non-judgmental of others. In some schools, aboriginal students form a minority in the class and are subject to certain biases from the other students. What authority does our Department of Education have under the memorandum of understanding to vary the curricula so that we keep the same basic content, but vary the teaching standards so that they are more culturally appropriate?

Mr. Allooloo.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The department, along with the educational divisional boards of the regions, has full authority to develop curricula throughout the NWT. As we are developing our curriculum in the NWT in teaching our children, and also since we do not have fully developed curricula yet to teach kindergarten to grade 12 in the NWT, we are using the Alberta system while we are developing our curricula. Thank you.

Ms. Mike, your last supplementary.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Earlier, my honourable colleague for Deh Cho commented on CCME achievement indicator program. Will the Minister make a commitment to review the adequacy of the Alberta curriculum in meeting the needs of NWT students after the results of educational standard testing have been released?

Mr. Allooloo.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The school achievement indicators program. The NWT was requested to pilot the tests in general school settings. The pilots are taking place in Yellowknife, Inuvik and the Keewatin. The first round of testing will be held in the spring of 1993, with the reports of results in the fall of 1993.

Mr. Nerysoo.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to ask my colleague, Mr. Arvaluk, to indicate to me which portfolios he holds at the moment?

Mr. Arvaluk.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. None at the moment.

Minister without portfolio for the time being. Oral questions. Mrs. Marie-Jewell.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to pose a question to the Minister of Government Services. I believe the acting Minister of Government Services is absent, but whoever is acting leader or is taking his responsibilities may attempt to answer my question.

Mr. Speaker, there has been some questioning with respect to the annual operating costs and the liquor tax revenue of the Liquor Licensing Board that the Department of Government Services has imposed. It is an increase of a five per cent fee to a 10 per cent fee, and this fee, as the Minister had stated, is not a tax fee, but rather a licence fee collecting from licences. When one of my colleagues had asked what the purpose of it was, he basically indicated that it was a licence fee collected from licences, with no specific purpose.

Mr. Speaker, the question I want to pose is that the fees imposed on licences now in the Territories total to the amount of $486,000 in generated revenue. However, the expenditures to ensure that these fees are operable come to a total amount of $458,000, so the government still receives more money than it costs to administrate. I would like to ask the Minister, what is the purpose of this licence fee imposed to retailers in the Territories?

Mr. Pollard.

Mr. Speaker, I will take the question as notice. Thank you.

The question has been taken as notice. Oral questions. Mr. Pudlat.

(Translation) Thank you, Mr. Speaker. This is in regard to what I stated a while ago. I would like to ask the Minister of MACA in regard to the funding that the people of Lake Harbour requested to renovate the grave site. I wonder If the Minister could think about giving us funding, and find out how much it would cost to repair the grave she in Lake Harbour. Thank you.

Mr. Minister.

Yes, Mr. Speaker, I would be glad to do so.

Oral questions. Ms. Mike.

Mr. Speaker, honourable Members will recall that for the past several days I have been asking the Minister of Economic Development and Tourism a question about the Baffin fishery. I am certainly not happy with the sorts of answers I have been receiving, and I can assure the Minister that this issue is not about to go away.

Mr. Speaker, the Minister should know that a $1400 contract was signed between his department and Co-Pro Limited of Ottawa, to report on initiatives identified at the January 1991 Atlantic fisheries advisory committee meeting. One of the matters raised at this meeting was that the marine fisheries advisor should be retained to provide advice, regulatory and other factors impacting upon marine fisheries development in Baffin. Will the Minister confirm that in October 1991, an additional $41,500 contract was given to Co-Pro Limited, the same consultant who did the advisory committee report, as a retainer for marine fishery advisor services?

Mr. Pollard.

That is correct, Mr. Speaker. I believe it was under the economic development agreement subcommittee. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Supplementary, Ms. Mike.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Honourable Members should be really interested in this next one. The Minister already knows that as the marine fishery advisor, Co-Pro Limited pushed for a study of vessel sourcing options related to the acquisition of reserves booked for exploratory fisheries off the Baffin coast. Will the Minister confirm that in February 1992, another $19,510 was committed by way of a contract with Co-Pro Limited, the marine fishery advisor, to carry out the study of vessel sourcing options?

Mr. Pollard.

I believe that to be true, Mr. Speaker. Yes.

Oral questions. Supplementary, Ms. Mike.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Supplementary to the Minister of Economic Development and Tourism. There seems to be quite a pattern here whereby Co-Pro Limited of Ottawa becomes involved in recommending that certain work should be carried out and then receives a substantial contract to carry out the work. Will the Minister confirm that in the March 1992 report on vessel sourcing options, Co-Pro has again recommended that proposals be solicited through southern organization of insurable owners and operators?

Mr. Pollard.

Mr. Speaker, they were looking for a vessel to do some exploratory work in the South Baffin, and none of the three vessels that are available or are physically present in Iqaluit, or the ones in Pangnirtung, are ruled out. So all the vessels in the NWT, in that particular area that could do that kind of work, were taken into consideration as well, Mr. Speaker.

Ms. Mike, last supplementary.

What is the status of recommendations received in the Co-Pro report?

Mr. Pollard.

Mr. Speaker, that vessel is being sourced under those recommendations at the present time.

Mrs. Marie-Jewell.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I want to pose a question to the Minister of Personnel; however, I recognize he is not in the House. Last winter the government had initiated a hiring freeze, and there were many employees that were out on leave without pay or were considered priority because of layoff notices. Could an extension be considered for the time frame that this hiring freeze was imposed?

Mr. Pollard.

Mr. Speaker, regarding the people

who are on leave without pay, when they returned and said they were at the end of their leave, they would be given a job of equal stature to the one that they left With regard to the second people who are perhaps in that layoff situation and would have priority for a period of time, we would certainly extend by the length of time that we had the hiring freeze on, their ability to get a job with this government. So we will extend, Mr. Speaker.

Supplementary, Mrs. Marie-Jewell.

Why would the extension apply to the individuals that were given priority for layoff and not to individuals that were on leave without pay?

Mr. Pollard.

Mr. Speaker, as soon as those people who were on leave without pay come back to us they would be given a job regardless of whether or not the freeze was on. We had made an agreement with them to give them leave. They had agreed to have no pay for that particular time. When their leave expired, we would give them a job of equal stature.

Supplementary, Mrs. Marie-Jewell.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Does this apply to individuals in respect to being granted a job, even though their positions were filled, that the government will make every effort to ensure that they are retained in a position?

Mr. Pollard.

If their old position was filled, then we would give them a position of equal level.

Mr. Dent.

Mr. Pollard.

Mr. Speaker, a licence fee would be a fee that would be charged to an individual for them to hold a licence to perform something in the NWT where the government had jurisdiction. That licence fee would only be charged to individuals or companies who had that privilege with this government.

A tax is a much broader thing, and it may effect a commodity such as gasoline. It may effect a certain group of people such as those people who are earning money, and that would be an income tax. So I would say that the difference would be that taxes are a much broader issue affecting commodities or the status of people who are working, whereas a fee, particularly in the case of a licence, would apply to a company or a person who had a privilege to do something where the government had jurisdiction.

Supplementary, Mr. Dent.

Mr. Pollard.

Mr. Speaker, the licence fee which used to be at five per cent, now at 10 per cent, is charged the amount of product that licensed premises would purchase from the GNWT in the way of liquor, beer, wines and other alcoholic beverages. That fee has traditionally been charged to those licensees because they are going to in turn, take that into their licensed premises and resell it. There was a certain overhead with regard to issuing those licences. There is a review each year of the companies' legal affairs, how much money it owes, whether or not it has been in trouble or whether or not it has changed anything in its building. There are a certain number of inspections that incur because of that licence by a licensed liquor inspector. There are other requirements by the government that have grown over the years. Now the Fire Marshal has a great deal of say in licensed premises, as does the health inspector, the electrical inspector and all those other inspectors that we have out there. So there is a cost to government for issuing those licences because the government then becomes responsible for the inspection of those premises. So I think that is where the licence fee came from, and I think the Minister has said that he has raised it because it has not been raised in the last 20 years.

Supplementary, Mr. Dent.

The Member has essentially asked that question before, but it is a slightly different way. I will leave it up to the Minister to respond to it. Mr. Pollard.

Mr. Speaker, I cannot speak for the

Minister who is absent, but I will say that if the Member is asking my opinion in this regard, I personally welcome all the money that I can into the coffers.

---Laughter

I think if you look at how much those licences cost us to administer, as to how much we garner back from those licensees, that it would be fairly close to being even when you take into consideration the other departments involved.

I would make it clear to all Members that Members do not ask Ministers opinions, and Ministers should respond with government policy, not with their opinion.

Mrs. Marie-Jewell.