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.

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.