Yes, thank you, Mr. Speaker. I wish to table petition 7-12(2) signed by 347 students of Inuksuk High School in Iqaluit, and it is prefaced with the following:

This is an open letter to the authorities involved in education and finance and anyone interested in the future leaders of Nunavut. Due to the increased enrolment at Inuksuk High School, student/teacher allocation is greatly out of proportion. Some classes have in excess of forty students. The amount of individual student/teacher attention will decline considerably. As a result, the students in classes with an enrolment over the acceptable limit will not be getting the attention and the quality of education that they deserve. Education is our right, and it should be your priority to ensure that these rights are respected. The following names are those of students at Inuksuk High School who petition that the additional teachers required to lower the student/teacher ratio are allocated to meet our educational needs. Qujannamiik.

Thank you. Item 9, petitions. Item 10, reports of standing and special committees. Item 11, reports of committees on the review of bills. Item 12, tabling of documents. Mr. Whitford.

Thank you. Item 12, tabling of documents. Ms. Mike.

Qujannamiik. First, Mr. Speaker, I would like to table the following document, tabled document 94-12(2). A copy of a resolution adopted by the General Assembly of the United Nations on March 18, 1992 proclaiming that 1993 will be the International Year of Indigenous Peoples. Mr. Speaker, if I may proceed, the second document, tabled document 95-12(2), is a press clipping from the August 3 edition of News/North titled "Inuit May Boycott Native Celebrations". Third, I would also like to table, Tabled Document 96-12(2), a copy of a resolution dated July 28, 1992 adopted by the Inuit Tapirisat of Canada at its 1992 annual general meeting. This resolution deals with the International Year of Indigenous People. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you. Item 12, tabling of documents. Item 13, notices of motion. Mr. Nerysoo.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I give notice that on Thursday, September 24, 1992 I will move the following motion: I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Baffin Central, that the Legislative Assembly strongly urges the Prime Minister of Canada to direct his Minister of Labour to immediately travel to the Northwest Territories to fulfill his responsibilities on behalf of the people of the Northwest Territories. Mr. Speaker, at the appropriate time, I will be seeking unanimous consent to proceed with this motion today.

Thank you. Item 13, notices of motion. Mr. Nerysoo.

Sorry, Mr. Speaker, I missed out one portion of the resolution that I was supposed to read.

Proceed, Mr. Nerysoo.

Thank you. And further that the Minister of Labour immediately develop a strategy to resolve the labour dispute at the Royal Oak Mines in Yellowknife.

Thank you. Item 13, notices of motion. Item 14, notices of motion for first reading of bills. Item 15, motions, motion 34. Mr. Kakfwi.

Thank you, motion is order. To the motion, Mr. Kakfwi.

Thank you. To the motion, Mr. Kakfwi, you have the right to make a closing. Are you ready for a question? Question has been called. All those in favour? All those opposed? Motion is carried.

---Carried

Motions, Mr. Nerysoo.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I would like to seek unanimous consent to proceed with my motion on the action by the Government of Canada in the Yellowknife mine dispute.

Thank you. Member is asking for the unanimous consent to go ahead with the motion. Are there any nays? There are no nays, Mr. Nerysoo.

Thank you. Your motion is order. To the motion, Mr. Nerysoo.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would wish to open debate by commenting first that this motion is being brought forward at the request of the Ordinary Members' Caucus. It deals with something about which ordinary Members have strong feelings, and I know that these feelings are shared by people throughout the Northwest Territories. Mr. Speaker, I believe that this is a very important motion, and it calls on the Prime Minister of Canada, the Honourable Brian Mulroney, to ensure that the federal Minister of Labour attends to a labour dispute that has caused the people of Yellowknife, and all northerners, considerable strife over the past seven months. By this motion, honourable Members of this House will be raising their collective voices in support of the Government Leader's request for federal attention. This is something that is very necessary, as this House realizes responsibility for private sector labour relations lies with the federal government, and not with the Government of the Northwest Territories.

We also know that under the Canada Labour Code the Minister of Labour, the Honourable Marcel Danis, is responsible for dealing with disputes that may arise in the Northwest Territories. Within this current framework, for a distribution of powers and responsibilities in the labour sector, we are aware that our Cabinet, and indeed this whole House, has been unable to take direct action relative to any of the statutory provisions that are normally used to resolve serious labour disputes. The Government of the Northwest Territories, and the individuals in this House, have attempted on several occasions to urge the federal government Minister to take action. These requests have not been complied with. The federal Minister of Labour has not, to date, fulfilled the responsibilities he is granted under the laws of Canada, on behalf of the people of the Northwest Territories.

We cannot wait any longer, and we cannot engage in extensive political give and take. It is essential for the federal government to act, and we are calling upon the Prime Minister of Canada to do so, and it is essential that he takes these actions now. He must direct his Minister of Labour to travel to the Northwest Territories immediately, and when Marcel Danis arrives, he must immediately undertake to develop a strategy to resolve the labour dispute at the Royal Oak Mines in Yellowknife.

Mr. Speaker, I believe that this motion will strengthen our territorial position in this matter, and I would urge all honourable Members to support the motion before the House this afternoon. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you. To the motion. Are you ready for the question, Mr. Nerysoo? Member for Thebacha, to the motion.

Mr. Speaker, we were going to request a recorded vote, please.

A recorded vote is requested. Are you ready for the question? Question has been called. All those in favour, please stand.

Recorded Vote