Good afternoon. Orders of the day, item 2, Ministers' statements. Item 3, Members' statements. Mrs. Marie-Jewell.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker, welcome back. Mr. Speaker, on behalf of my constituents today, I rise to pay tribute to the late Bishop Piche, who would have been 83 years old today. Bishop Paul Piche died on Friday, September 11, in Edmonton. Bishop Paul Piche was born on September 14, 1909 in Gravelbourg, Saskatchewan. He attended school in Gravelbourg College in Saskatchewan and later graduated from the University of Ottawa, taking philosophy and majoring in anthropology.

Bishop Paul Piche was ordained a Priest in December 31, 1934 and he was appointed in March 1959 as Bishop. He was consecrated as a Bishop on June 11, 1959. Initially, he was installed as a Vicar Apostolic of MacKenzie on June 21, 1959 and he replaced Bishop Trocellier who passed away November, 1958.

The Bishop of MacKenzie Diocese was installed in June, 1967 at the Cathedral of Fort Smith. In June of 1984, many of us in Fort Smith, as well as myself, were in attendance, honouring Bishop Piche in a jubilee celebration for his 25 years of service.

In 1986, Bishop Paul Piche resigned as Bishop, being replaced by Father Croteau, who is now our Bishop. Bishop Paul Piche held the title after he retired, of Bishop Emeritus, which means, "full of merits" in Latin.

I know that Bishop Paul Piche held this title with great respect. Bishop Paul Piche served many of my constituents, along with many people in the MacKenzie Diocese, with a full and very challenging job.

We will deeply miss Bishop Paul Piche and he leaves to mourn many of his relatives, particularly a niece with the Grey Nuns, Sister Denise Piche. When he retired, he retired with the Oblates at the Placid Place in Edmonton. I had recently seen Bishop Piche.

Mrs. Marie-Jewell your allotted time has expired.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I wish to seek unanimous consent to continue.

Mrs. Marie-Jewell, the honourable Member is seeking unanimous consent. Are there any nays? There are no nays, please proceed Mrs. Marie-Jewell.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker and thank you honourable colleagues. I had recently seen Bishop Paul Piche on August 26, when he was in Fort Smith, at the opening of the personal care unit. At the time his smile as always, will be remembered, and his laughs with the people will always be remembered. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

---Applause

Item 3, Members' statements. Mr. Koe.

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I would like to make a few comments about some statements made by a Minister of this Assembly.

The honourable Stephen Kakfwi, Minister responsible for Aboriginal Rights and Constitutional Development, made a presentation to the Gwich'in Assembly in Fort McPherson in late August. In his presentation, he talked about the role of civil servants in implementing community transfer initiatives.

The Minister also expressed opinions on the role of M.L.A.s in meeting this government's initiatives. For instance, the Minister claims that self-government talks have slowed considerably since the community transfer initiatives were announced last fall. I also understand that the Minister stated that part of the delay is caused by M.L.A.s, who passed a motion in this Assembly last fall, saying they want to be involved in the decision making.

I am very disappointed and cannot even envision why a Minister of this government would think that I, as an ordinary M.L.A., and those who sit on this side of the House, would even consider interfering or meddling in the operations and management of this government. How naive can one be?

My colleagues, and I, were elected to do exactly that, make recommendations and decisions on the running of this government on behalf of the citizens of the Northwest Territories. So, I for one, Mr. Speaker, intend to fulfill my responsibilities as a M.L.A. and hopefully, when given opportunities, become involved in the decision making.

Mahsi Cho.

---Applause

Item 3, Members' statements. Mr. Gargan.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. In August of 1991 the federal government announced that it had earmarked $26.4 million, over the next five years, for aboriginal justice reform.

Later today, I will table a discussion paper prepared by the Honourable Kim Campbell, federal Minister of Justice, which outlines this initiative in detail. While it is an impressive sounding project, Mr. Speaker, I must express some serious concerns.

First, the initiative promises significant consultation on aboriginal justice issues between the federal government, native organizations, and provincial and territorial governments. However, the project has been underway for over a year, Mr. Speaker, and I have yet to hear about any consultation, involving communities at this grass roots level. Has federal and territorial consultations begun? Are they involving only the so called experts in our senior bureaucracy? I will be calling on our Minister of Justice to clarify this.

I have a further concern about this federal initiative as well. This relates to the appointment of Don Avison, as the Director of the Council for Aboriginal Justice Administration. Honourable Members will recall that he was the Crown Prosecutor who ordered the arrest and detention of Kitty Nowdluk Reynolds.

Ms. Nowdluk was a victim of rape who was shamefully jailed and transported across Canada in handcuffs, something that would never have happened to a white woman. When questioned in the House of Commons, the federal Minister indicated that she felt that Mr. Avison was uniquely qualified to take the lead role in this aboriginal justice initiative. Based on his handling of the Kitty Nowdluk affair, I must disagree with this appointment. I am interested in learning more about how this decision was made.

I will have more to say on this topic at a later time, Mr. Speaker. Thank you.

Item 3, Members' statements. Ms. Mike.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I rise today to comment on a problem, which I believe exists, with respect to the way the Government Leader has allocated portfolio assignments. I wish to suggest to her that the same Ministers should not hold responsibilities for the Department of Economic and Development and Tourism, and Finance. It is my opinion that the mandate priorities of these departments conflict with each other. I also recognize that the time commitments required to carry out ministerial responsibilities for these two busy and important departments would overwhelm almost any single Minister.

I would draw your attention, Mr. Speaker, to the fact that during the 11th Assembly, the Minister of Finance had responsibility for a much smaller portfolio of Justice, and the Highway Transport Board, as well as House Leader duties. At the end of the 10th Assembly, I believe the Honourable Tom Butters was allowed to concentrate exclusively on the Finance portfolio. I believe that the assignment of these two conflicting and overwhelming portfolios to our current Minister of Finance is not the best distribution of responsibility. I would note that neither this current report, nor this "Strength At Two Levels" review recommend that these responsibilities be combined. Perhaps, that is because the working groups in each case recognize the inherent conflict in mandate and time pressures involved in these two portfolios. Later today, I will make my reply to the budget address, and will comment further on the reasons why these assignments should be reconsidered.

In closing, I wish to assure the House that I am not expressing a lack of confidence in the current Minister, the honourable Member for Hay River. Rather, I believe, that the reassignment of these two responsibilities will improve its efficiency, not only within Cabinet, and this House, but also in terms of services and programs which are our constituents rely on. Thank you Mr. Speaker.

Members' statements, Mr. Pudlat.

(Translation) Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I stand today to express concerns of the people of Cape Dorset. My statement will be to the Government Leader, and Minister of Transportation. The people of Lake Harbour are experiencing inconvenience because of the airstrip. The airstrip has to be upgraded, capital expenditures should be forwarded at an earlier date and also because this inconveniences scheduled flights into the community, and that also, it is a hardship to the community in the winter time. The Hamlet Council has agreed that the upgrading should start very soon, and that the Minister of Transportation should work on this, and the Minister has a copy of the letter. If you require a copy of the letter, I have a copy, regarding the airstrip in Cape Dorset. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Members' statements, Mr. Arngna'naaq.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I cannot recall whether any of the Members from the eastern Northwest Territories have mentioned the fact, that this particular month is a very important month for Inuit. The month of September was traditionally a very busy month for hunters. It is a time when the weather is cool, not only at night, but also during the day. It is a time for caching meat. This traditionally was a month in which the hunters would try to catch as many animals as they were able. This was a month when the meat was not going to be destroyed by bugs, or insects. This month, the weather will not always allow a hunter to do what he would like to do. He will be controlled by the conditions of the great outdoors, and yet the hunter will strive to meet his needs for meat to last the winter; a winter which could, historically, make or break a group of Inuit. Today, if you were to check on how many older Inuit were employed, who will take time off in the month, you will probably find that most, if not all, will take some time off. I recognize that this is an unusual year, and that this will not likely happen, in that we will meet in the month of September, but I find that I have not been able to be as involved as I should be. My heart has been back home caching meat. I would be remiss in doing my duty if I did not participate in this very important process of this Legislative Assembly. I have found, Mr. Speaker, that timetables of aboriginal peoples and that of southern timetables do not match. They never have, and they probably never will. This month, there will be all kinds of Inuit hunters who will spend as much of their time as possible on the land. As would be the case for some of the Members in this Chamber today, I would like to suggest on behalf of the aboriginal Members, that this Assembly avoid sitting during the month of September next year, and other years to follow. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

---Applause

Members' statements. Mr. Kakfwi.

Mr. Kakfwi, your allotted time has expired.

The honourable Member is requesting unanimous consent. Are there any nays? Please proceed, Mr. Kakfwi.

Item 3, Members' statements. Mr. Lewis.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I believe in accountability, and already did tell caucus that I would miss the opening of this session, of this Assembly.

I did so, Mr. Speaker, because some months ago, I had planned to visit my old parents in Wales, and did not believe when I bought my tickets, that this Assembly would agree to meet in the month of September. So I, in fact, had planned to be away during the month of September and changed my tickets several times, because it seems that the character of this particular Assembly is one which is completely different to previous ones. We seem to meet more often, and there seems to be a much busier schedule.

However, Mr. Speaker, having now made that a public fact, that I did miss the opening, for both the information of my constituents, and all other colleagues who did not know where I was when we opened on Wednesday. I would like to say, Mr. Speaker, that in the time that I was out of the country, I thought quite a bit about this place I have now called my home for more than 30 years. I found that the places I visited were not really happy places. The cost of living is very, very high, the people are not in particularly good spirits, the weather, as always, was awful and the cheapest meal I had during the last month was when I arrived in Edmonton last week, and had a meal at the Nisku Inn. It was the cheapest meal I, in fact, had for the month that I was away from Yellowknife. I am very, very happy to be back again amongst friends. Thank you.

---Applause

Item 3, Members' statements. Mr. Whitford.

Item 3, Members' statements. Item 4, returns to oral questions. Mr. Morin.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I have a return to oral question asked by Mr. Todd on September 9, 1992, an increase in contracts going to northern companies.

The government has seen an increase in the percent of its contracts going to northern firms, since the new Business Incentive Policy was implemented. The following information is provided for Public Works, Government Services and the N.W.T. Housing Corporation.

For the Department of Public Works in the 1991-92 fiscal year, 88 percent of all construction contracts were awarded to northern companies. During the first three months of the 1992-93 fiscal year, this increased to 94 percent, an increase of six percent.

For the Department of Government Services, a comparison was done for the months of July and August from 1991 to 1992. In July and August of 1991, 47 percent of all goods purchased were bought from northern firms. During the same two months this year, this increased to 61 percent, that is an increase of 14 percent. Northern purchases account for 52 percent of the dollar value spent in 1991-92. This increased to 62 percent during the first three months of the 1992-93 fiscal year. That is an increase of 10 percent.

For the N.W.T. Housing Corporation, it is not possible to compare this year to last year. This is because the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation, the major funding partner, did not accept the Business Incentive Policy last year. On June 3, Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation agreed to application of B.I.P. Unfortunately, by then, the majority of the Corporation's supply and construction contracts had already been awarded. To the end of August this year, supply tenders amounting to $12.7 million, or 74 percent of the total dollars, have been awarded to northern companies. Southern companies were awarded $4.6 million or 26 percent of the total. The Housing Corporation anticipates a significant increase in northern involvement in the 1993-94 contracting season, with the C.M.H.C. now agreeing to the application of the B.I.P. Thank you.

Item 4, returns to oral questions. Item 5, oral questions. Mr. Todd.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My question is for the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment Programs. In June, my honourable colleagues from Deh Cho and Inuvik raised the issue of the report of the traditional knowledge working group. On June 24, the Honourable Titus Allooloo told this House, that he had directed the Department of Culture and Communications to prepare a paper for Cabinet review.

Mr. Speaker, my question to the Minister is, will the new Minister advise the House whether that Cabinet has yet developed a strategy for implementing the Report of the Traditional Knowledge Working Group?

Mr. Arvaluk.

Mr. Speaker, because of the consolidation, and the other changes that have taken place, we have to consider all the matters that have been traditionally separate from each other, we are still discussing how we are going to handle that. In that case, not yet, Mr. Speaker.

Supplementary, Mr. Todd.

Will the Minister tell me, if any work has been done with respect to the direction given by this group, by the questions asked by my colleagues from Inuvik and Deh Cho, with respect to a report from the traditional knowledge working group? You cannot put everything on hold, because we are amalgamating, we still have to go on.

Mr. Arvaluk.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Yes, there is a prepared document and has the Cabinet dealt with that yet? I said, no. There is a prepared document, and I will be ready to take that.

Item 5, oral questions. Mr. Gargan.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I would like to direct my question to the Minister of Justice. In my earlier Member's statement, I referred to the federal government initiative on aboriginal people and justice administration. One of the goals of the initiative, is to promote and support effective consultation with aboriginal organizations, as well as Metis, and to provincial and territorial governments.

Can the Minister of Justice advise us on how many aboriginal justice consultation processes have been engaged by this government and the Government of Canada, since this federal initiative was announced in August of last year?

Mr. Kakfwi.

Item 5, oral questions. Supplementary, Mr. Gargan.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Supplementary, the federal initiative promised to include consultation with aboriginal organizations. Can the Minister indicate whether the department has been asked to assist the federal Minister of Justice, or the federal Minister of Indian Affairs, to coordinate or participate in consultation activities with aboriginal organizations?

Mr. Kakfwi.

Oral questions. Supplementary, Mr. Gargan.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My supplementary to the Minister is with regard to recognizing that the aboriginal people and justice administration initiative is of significant importance to the people to the Northwest Territories, and recognizing that federal funds were earmarked for the project over a year ago. Will the Minister of Justice contact his federal counterparts, and have their Director General initiate the process of consulting with Territorial government, native organizations and aboriginal communities without further delay?

Mr. Kakfwi.

The last supplementary, Mr. Gargan.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. In my statement, I indicated that there was $26.4 million over the next five years for aboriginal justice reform. I would like to ask the Minister of Justice, of the $26.4 million, how much is earmarked for the Northwest Territories?

Mr. Kakfwi.

Question has been taken as notice. Oral questions. Mr. Bernhardt.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My question will be for the Minister of Education. Recently, I have done some research into the number of northern students graduating from high schools across the Northwest Territories. I have discovered that students from some communities have been far less successful in achieving graduation, than those from other communities. For instance, I was dismayed to learn that over the past five years, only seven students from Cambridge Bay have graduated and there have been only two students from Coppermine in the past five years.

In contrast, there have been 13 graduates from Tuktoyaktuk, and the same number from Fort Simpson. I know that there are many bright and hard working youngsters in both Coppermine and Cambridge Bay. I have wondered whether the difference in graduation rates exist because they are receiving less than adequate preparation for high school in these communities? My question is, can the Minister assure this House that he does not support the concept of double standards where students in some communities receive better access to an elementary and junior high education than others?

Mr. Arvaluk.

Yes, Mr. Speaker.

Oral questions. Supplementary, Mr. Bernhardt.

Supplementary, Mr. Speaker. Will the Minister request that his department undertake a review of the quality of academic preparations provided to the post-secondary students in Coppermine and Cambridge Bay to ensure that they are receiving the best possible preparation for high school? Thank you.

Mr. Arvaluk.

Mr. Speaker, that is already underway, and we are preparing a number of guidelines as to how we can best serve the whole territory. That is also part of the proposed high school policy, which we will be working on, so that education across the N.W.T. is of the same standard, and also, that it is a standard that will be set for the southern universities once they graduate from high school. Thank you.

Oral questions. Mrs. Marie-Jewell.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to pose a question to the Minister of Health. Mr. Speaker, the Minister of Health has initiated a board of inquiry on September 3, referring a report to Dr. Covert. Under the Act of the board, under the Medical Professions Act regarding the board of inquiry, it indicates that a board of inquiry shall be established once a complaint has been received. Pursuant to section 24, "any person may lodge with the president, a written complaint against a medical practitioner." I would like to ask the Minister of Health, who was the complainant?

Mr. Patterson.

Mr. Speaker, I believe that the Medical Profession Act also allows the Minister to appoint a board of inquiry. I think it is pursuant to section 21, "investigate any matter referred the board of inquiry by the Minister", so Mr. Speaker, it is not only in the case of a complaint that a board of inquiry can be established. In this case, Mr. Speaker, to anticipate the Member's next question, there was not a complaint. However, as I have stated in the House, what did happen which caused me to establish a board of inquiry, was that there was a review done at the instance of the then Board of Management of the Fort Smith Health Centre by the Saskatchewan College of Physicians and Surgeons. That independent body reviewed medical practice at the Fort Smith Health Centre, and other matters, and prepared a report which caused me as Minister of Health, responsible for safeguarding the public interest, to have concerns about medical practice at the Fort Smith Health Centre. It is that

report, and the matters raised in the report, about raising questions about medical practice at the Fort Smith Health Centre, which have caused me to establish the board of inquiry, not the specific complaint of a patient, as is contemplated elsewhere in the Act. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

If I could take this opportunity to welcome on behalf of our Assembly the Honourable Jean Chretien, Leader of the Official Opposition, Madame Chretien, and Ethel Blondin, Member of Parliament for the Western Arctic.

---Applause

Oral questions, supplementary, Mrs. Marie-Jewell.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I would like to ask the Minister of Health in his response, is he indicating to this House that he was the complainant for the purpose of setting up the board of inquiry? Thank you.

Mr. Patterson.

No, Mr. Speaker, I would not characterize it as that. I would say that I have the authority as Minister, to refer a matter to the board of inquiry. The matter referred to the board of inquiry is the report of the Saskatchewan College of Physicians and Surgeons which raised serious questions about medical practice at the Fort Smith Health Centre. I was not a complainant. I was, rather, acting to refer a matter, namely a report about medical practice at the Fort Smith Health Centre to the board of inquiry, as laid out in the Medical Professions Act. Thank you.

Oral questions, Mr. Gargan.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, during last week when I got into Yellowknife for session, I noticed the sign right across from us, the Stuart M. Hodgson Building, had syllabics and Inuktitut, and the other different aboriginal languages. This is the first sign I have seen, that included, I think, all the aboriginal languages. Mr. Speaker, in August or February 28,1986, the report of the Task Force on Aboriginal Languages made its recommendation, which was approved. This is five years later, and some of the things that should have happened, like having bilingual street signs, and having services provided to include community health representatives or C.H.R.s, who have to be bilingual, English and aboriginal. It also says that it provides for interpreters when a person is arrested. An aboriginal person who is arrested, and does not speak the English language, should have an interpreter. I have not seen it happen yet, but I would like to ask the Minister of Culture and Communications, whether or not, the recommendations that were given five years ago, on February 28, have been implemented? Quite frankly, Mr. Speaker, I do not think it has been. Where is there evidence of it?

Minister of Culture and Employment Programs, Mr. Arvaluk.

Mr. Speaker, I understand that Culture and Communication has a responsibility to translate the key months, and everything else, however, the construction of these sign are the responsibility of the G.N.W.T. Thank you.

The Government Leader would like to respond on behalf of the government.

Yes, Mr. Speaker. As many of the Members of this Legislative Assembly realize, since the Official Languages Act was passed, the government has proceeded to do a number of things within that commitment we made at that time. What we have done now, in order to consolidate, to try and find out where we are, and at what stage we are going to take the official languages, as well as the traditional knowledge, we have reorganized the responsibility under the Government Leader's Office, because it is an overseeing of languages to all departments. The Department of Public Works would be the client department that would be putting up signs which is directed or required from different departments. As well, we formed the Working Group on Official Languages and Traditional Knowledge in the Government Leader's office, mainly to reassess what we have done to this date, and where we are going from here. So, this will put out a major focal point on answering many of the questions that a Member would have on where we are, and where we are going. Thank you.

Supplementary, Mr. Gargan.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Will the Government Leader inform this House the progress of this report, the report of the Task Force on Aboriginal Languages? It does give a timetable and the implementation for the next ten years. It has been five years, over five years now, and within that five year time frame there are a number of initiatives that should have been done. I would like to ask the Government Leader if she could inform this House on the progress of the implementation of the recommendations?

Madam Premier.

Mr. Speaker, I have two pages of the actions that have been taken by the department, spread across the government, and where we have been. Exactly where they fit into the timetable I am not quite clear, but I realize that there are some areas of the Official Languages Report that we have not met those timetables. Rather than going over these two sheets of paper and listing them, I would be pleased to present them to the honourable Member.

Item 5, Oral Questions. Supplementary, Mr. Gargan.

Mr. Speaker, the implementation of this report was recommended by this Assembly. It was not my report, I am not responsible for it, I was just part of the process. I would like to ask the Minister whether or not she would provide those two sheets to all the Members? I believe that a lot of the Members were here when the implementation process began.

Madam Premier.

Mr. Speaker, I will have that circulated. Thank you.

Item 5, Oral Questions. Ms. Mike.

Qujannamiik. My question will be for the Minister of Renewable Resources. He will know that the environmental restoration of D.E.W. Line sites has been controversial for our government going back as far as the 10th Assembly, when our current Government Leader held the Renewable Resources portfolio.

In fact, it was back in March 15, 1985 that this Minister stressed the fact, that it was because of her prompting that the federal agencies were starting to take the issue of D.E.W. Line clean up requirements seriously.

I understand that the federal Department of National Defence targeted five abandoned D.E.W. Line sites which were to be assessed for cleanup requirements. These initial assessments were to be carried out during the summer of 1992. Can the Minister assure the House that he has continued to insist on the same level of Government of Northwest Territories input into D.E.W. Line clean up decisions, as was established by the Honourable Nellie Cournoyea over seven years ago?

Mr. Allooloo.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Welcome back, Mr. Speaker. First of all I would like to say that I took the newly appointed Minister of the Environment, Jean Charest, to Iqaluit about two years ago, to introduce him to one of the sites that were contaminated by the military. Also, this summer he extensively visited sites throughout the Baffin and Central Arctic. I had a chance to talk to him on the need to clean up the North and these sites.

Mr. Speaker, later on this week I will be happy to give a report on what the government has done in terms of cleaning up sites, and also their plans to pursue sites that need to be cleaned up. Thank you.

Supplementary, Ms. Mike.

Supplementary, Mr. Speaker. In that case, can the Minister explain to the House, and to the people of Baffin Island and the Keewatin, why not one of the abandoned sites targeted by D.I.A.N.D. for initial assessment was located east of King William Island?

Mr. Allooloo.

Mr. Speaker, what was the question? I was not clear on the question.

Ms. Mike, would you care to repose the question?

(Translation) Can the Minister tell the people of Baffin and the Keewatin, regarding the D.E.W. Line sites left behind by D.I.A.N.D., when they would clean up the site east of King William Island?

Mr. Allooloo.

Mr. Speaker, I will have to take the question as notice.

Question has been taken as notice. Item 5, Oral Questions. Mr. Bernhardt.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I have a question for the Minister responsible for Education. As I mentioned earlier, I have been attempting to carry out some research into graduation patterns across the Northwest Territories. The department has been able to supply a listing of the total number of graduates from communities across the Northwest Territories, and I will table that later this afternoon.

However, I was amazed when someone told me that the department is unable to provide a breakdown, as to which of these students received an advanced diploma, and which received general diplomas. I was also surprised that neither the department, nor Akaitcho Hall, were able to supply the number of students from each community who were presently attending high school here in Yellowknife.

Mr. Speaker, I feel that this is fairly important information for the school system to be keeping. My question is, can the Minister indicate whether my understanding is correct? Is their record keeping so inadequate in the Department of Education, that even the most simple statistical breakdown is not available? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Minister.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. We have a very thorough recording system of graduates, what they are graduating from, from what community, and from what grade, etc. These are all readily available from my department, if the Member wishes to examine them. Otherwise, I could supply those if he wants me to do so.

Item 5, Oral Questions. Mr. Dent.

Mr. Pollard.

Yes, Mr. Speaker.

Supplementary, Mr. Dent.

Mr. Pollard.

Yes, Mr. Speaker.

Item 5, oral questions. Mr. Pudlat.

(Translation) Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to direct this question to the Minister of Education. We have been working hard toward education in the north. In the 1990-91 school year, I do not know the exact number of people who have passed. There have been a number of students requesting to go to southern schools. Would the Minister please inform the House, why some of the students, who are requesting to go to southern schools, are not accepted?

Could he also indicate that of the students who are not approved to go to southern schools, if there are programs available for them in the north? Thank you.

Mr. Arvaluk.

(Translation) Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I am well aware of the facts the Member has stated. Sometimes the students refuse, and it is because of the education program for the secondary school. We agree on the budget yearly, and according to the budget we agree on in the Legislature, is sometimes misunderstood towards the programs for the students, but when there is funding, money available, the students are most welcome.

Thank you. Supplementary, Mr. Pudlat.

(Translation) Yes, Mr. Speaker, we are well aware of that when there is funding available, because of the deficit and due to lack of funding, the students requests are not being met. We will, therefore, have to work harder and help our students to work towards staying in school. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Arvaluk.

(Translation) Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I stood up because I was willing to answer his response. I stood up without realizing. The funding is small. The Members of the Legislative Assembly agreed upon, as we all know, and have to go by the budget that we agreed upon for the funding for the Department of Education. The budget is agreed on in the Legislature.