Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I would like to suggest that we deal with committee report 17-12(2), and Bill 33, Appropriation Act No. 2, 1992-93 and proceed to dealing with the Department of Culture and Communications.

Thank you, Mr. Nerysoo. You suggest that in that order, right? Thank you. We will be proceeding with the committee report 17-12(2), Bill 33 and Department of Culture and Communications, in that order.

We shall take a short recess before we proceed.

---SHORT RECESS

I would like to remind each Member of the House, that during the proceeding of the committee of the whole, no Member shall speak for more than ten minutes at any one time. This is a rule of the Legislative Assembly, section 88(1). This is in order to give each Member a chance to speak to the item on the table.

We are proceeding with the 1992-93 main estimates and the Department of Culture and Communications, page 05-11. A book has been appropriately provided for each Member. Mr. Minister, would you like to make an opening statement? Introductory Remarks, Department Of Culture And Communications

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Chairman, I am pleased to introduce the 1992-93 operation and maintenance budget for Culture and Communications.

Although consolidation is proceeding to establish the new Department responsible for Education, Culture and Employment Programs, at this stage two separate budgets for Culture and Communications, and Education are being presented to this Assembly.

In the case of the Culture and Communications, there are two areas which appear in the budget now, but are scheduled for transfer to other Ministries. Those are the publications and production activities, which is transferring to the new Department responsible for Public Works and Government Services. The official languages task of directorate is being transferred to the Executive. I will retain responsibility for all other culture programs.

Mr. Chairman, the budget presented for Culture and Communications, is directed at preserving, promoting, developing official languages, northern culture and the arts, and improving broadcast communications in the Northwest Territories.

To achieve this, we are seeking a budget of $10.665 million, and 100 PYs. This is a reduction of $701,000, and 1.9 PYs from last year, before the transfers and reductions from the departmental consolidation.

One actual transfer is reflected in the Culture and Communications budget. The government library task has been transferred from Culture and Communications to the Legislative Assembly in 1992-93.

Funding person years, and comparative figures for the government library, now appear in the Legislative Assembly estimates. The combining of government and legislative library operations will increase efficiency by utilizing professional staff more effectively.

One of the major achievements in public library services, last year, was the completion and opening of the new Baffin Regional Library facility as part of the Unikkaarvik Centre in Iqaluit. The centre successfully combines a visitors centre, local library, and regional library service. The 1992-93 budget includes funds for additional staffing at the Unikkaarvik Centre to provide improved service to Iqaluit, and to the other Baffin community libraries.

This year we are developing a policy that will give the highest priority to a sharing of space with schools or other suitable community facilities when new libraries are required.

Community participation in both facility planning and operational procedures, is being encouraged to ensure that libraries, and the delivery of library services, are designed to serve the needs of the general public; as well as more specific education needs. Our new consolidated department offers good opportunities for more efficient programming in this area.

Mr. Chairman, in addition to providing basic interpreting and translating services to the government and the Legislative Assembly, our language bureau made important gains last year in properly documenting aboriginal language terminologies. Terminology workshops were held in the Kitikmeot, Fort McPherson, Fort Good Hope, Rae-Edzo and Hay River. Language specialists, and elders, were sponsored to develop terminology that is acceptable for translating purposes. The goal is to improve the accuracy of interpreting and translating, by involving fluent speakers of the languages in establishment of terminology banks that are used by our interpreter/translators, and made available to others.

Following up on the work done last year, during 1992-93, we will be able to transmit documents in the aboriginal orthographies between computers in all government regional offices. This will allow us to speedily maximize the use of the translators, depending on their current workload, wherever they are located.

During the year ahead, the department will also continue to support the interpreter/translator society of the N.W.T. with its initiative to develop standard competency tests for aboriginal languages interpreters. High priority is placed on the development and implementation of certification standards for interpreters, and our new consolidated department will facilitate a coordinated approach in this area.

Less money in this year's budget will cost the language bureau to concentrate more on its primary mandate, and it will be offering less services in kind to non-government organizations. There will be less travel and contracting, with trimming in this area done proportionately more at Yellowknife than in the regions.

The museum developed a new data base for Northwest Territories graphic names, which will be used to obtain official recognition of our traditional place names. The department is also developing a geographic names contribution program, which we plan to introduce this year. This program will provide financial assistance for researchers in the communities, to provide the information on aboriginal geographic names. The funding for this is available through the Official Languages Agreement with the federal government.

Mr. Chairman, there is growing demand from the culture and arts community for assistance to promote, protect, and enhance, our culture and heritage. We continue to believe that it is important to get that support out to the people who can better achieve those goals.

Last year, we were able to provide about $500,000 in grants and contributions to cultural organizations, and individuals, throughout the N.W.T. Arts Council. Another $219,000 was provided to support various artistic endeavours.

In the year ahead, we will be more stringent in monitoring cultural grants and contributions, to ensure that the funds are being used for the intended purposes. Since restraint has meant some trimming in this area, we will make a special effort to assist clients with information about other funding program resources and how to access them, and with ideas for fund raising for private and voluntary sectors.

Mr. Chairman, when Television Northern Canada went on the air for the first time in January, it was a proud moment for all northern residents, and also for our own television and radio service division. They had worked hand in hand with the aboriginal broadcasters, and our partners in the Yukon Government, to create the new service for northerners.

Not only were our efforts critical in the planning and the development stages of T.V.N.C., but we are playing an important role in ensuring that there is a good mix of educational and informational programming on the new network.

In the year ahead, we plan to continue providing the youth oriented series, "The Tube", to T.V.N.C. This show reflects the positive side of living and growing up in the north, profiling successful young people, cultural camps, sporting events, as well as serious topics, such as staying in school, and dealing with alcohol problems.

The department will also be coordinating the provision of nine hours a week of programming from all areas of the G.N.W.T., including regional and acquired materials, and materials co-produced with aboriginal broadcasters and the private sector.

Aboriginal language funding provides aboriginal language versions of acquired programs in Inuktitut, North and South Slavey, Dogrib, Ojibwayan and Gwich'in. Mr. Chairman, a significant part of Culture and Communication funding is through the Cooperation Agreement on Official Languages this government has with the federal Secretary of State.

In 1992-93 the Culture and Communications' share of this funding is $3.219 million. This includes $2.522 million and 22 PYs related to aboriginal languages, and $1.687 million and 15 PYs related to French. The great majority of this funding will remain in the new consolidated Department responsible for Education, Culture and Employment Programs with approximately $675,000 scheduled for transfer to the Executive.

In addition to providing the necessary internal government requirements during 1992-93, funding under this agreement will be able to support community based Language Enhancement Programs through contributions. Mr. Chairman, during the year ahead, the department will continue to strive to ensure that the cultural heritage of the Northwest Territories is promoted and enhanced, and is reflected in the programs and service that we offer.

Mr. Chairman, that concludes my introductory remarks. I would be pleased to answer any questions and also, any time you wish, I could bring in the witnesses. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

Thank you, Mr. Minister. As part of the committee's tradition and procedure, now I will go to the Standing Committee on Finance. I believe Ms. Mike is making presentations. Ms. Mike.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I would like to proceed with a number of resolutions on behalf of the Standing Committee on Finance. Committee Members noted that the private sector can capably handle government publication, production and photography requirements. I move that the committee recommends that the Department of Culture and Communication include an objective in the 1993-94 main estimates to privatize publication, production and photography by March 31, 1994.

Thank you. To the motion. All of those in favour? All those opposed? Carried.

---Carried

Proceed, Ms. Mike.

On library legislation, the department lists an objective in the 1992-93 main estimates to develop a new library legislation for the N.W.T. The committee fails to see the need for library legislation. There is no hue and cry from the public for it, contrary to the best intentions, it is not good government to expend its resources, and conduct activities for which there is no significant public need.

This request pales in significance, compared to social program needs. Further, the committee is concerned that the Northwest Territories may already be over regulated with unnecessary legislation and that department's blatant use of the existence of legislation to entrench programs and drive resource requests.

I move that the committee recommends that the Department of Culture and Communications terminates its objective to develop library legislation and freeze unrelated resources. Further, the committee recommends that the Cabinet coordinate a review of all legislation to determine whether it is a valid requirement.

Thank you. I believe the motion is in order. All those in favour of the motion? All those opposed? Motion is carried.

---Carried

Proceed.

On the Baffin regional superintendent, the committee Members noted that there is an inequity with the rest of the territories by having a Baffin regional superintendent for Culture and Communications, and very little justification for keeping the position. I move that the committee recommends that the Department of Culture and Communications terminate the position of Baffin Regional Superintendent in time for the 1993-94 main estimates.

Thank you. To the motion. All of those in favour? All those opposed? Motion is carried.

---Carried

Please, proceed.

Measuring output and effect, the committee wishes to know what the department is going to accomplish with the money put into Culture and Communications programs. I move that the committee recommends that the Department of Culture and Communications report at the minimum, the following performance measurements in the 1993-94 main estimates: One, indicators of client satisfaction; two, trends in cultural retention; three, use of statistics of libraries, museums and the language bureau and; four, communication results statistics.

Thank you. To the motion. Question has been called. All of those in favour? All those opposed? Carried.

---Carried

Proceed, Ms. Mike.

Mr. Chairman, that concludes the resolutions.

General comments. We are discussing Culture and Communications on the main estimates of 1992-93. Any general comments? Mr. Nerysoo.

No, Mr. Chairman, I do not have any major general comments to make other than to ask, Mr. Chairman, if the Minister could provide this House, and this committee, with a detailed summary of all of the expenditures that have been made as a result of the language agreement with the federal government?

Thank you. Mr. Minister, I forgot to ask you. Would you like to bring in the witnesses? Are you saying, Mr. Minister, that you will respond to Mr. Nerysoo, and then proceed with your witnesses? Carry on.

Yes, Mr. Chairman.

Please proceed. Are you looking for something, Mr. Minister? Just kidding. The Chair would like to welcome the witnesses and the staff of the Department of Culture and Communications. For the record, Mr. Minister, would you like to introduce your witnesses, please?

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I would like to introduce Mr. Hal Gerein, my Deputy Minister of Education, Culture and Employment Programs; Mr. David Gilday, Assistant Deputy Minister of Culture; and Mr. Bill Setchell, Director of Finance for Culture.

Thank you, Mr. Minister. Would you like to respond to Mr. Nerysoo? Or, Mr. Nerysoo, would you like to rephrase your question again? Mr. Nerysoo, would you like to ask the same question? He has brought the witnesses.

Thank you. I do not know about the matter of doing it again, but if I could, Mr. Chairman, pose the concern, or matter, to the Minister, and his officials. I wanted to ask the Minister if he could provide me with a summary of all the projects, or proposals, that have been approved, and for which financing has been agreed to, through the language agreement for aboriginal language development?

Thank you. Mr. Minister.