Item 2, Ministers' statements. Mr. Kakfwi.

I would like to recognize in the gallery today, students of the Arctic College academic studies program, and their instructors, Marvin DeGeorgio and Cindy Cook.

---Applause

Item 2, Ministers' statements. Mr. Morin.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The first year of the Construction Worker Training Program is well under way. This program will increase the number of northerners with the recognized skills required to work on N.W.T. building construction projects. It was developed by the N.W.T. Construction Association, and the Department of Public Works, with funding and technical assistance from D.P.W., M.A.C.A., Education, and the Housing Corporation. The program is administered by the N.W.T. Construction Association. The program has 42 instructional modules covering a range of skills.

From this construction season, the program is being delivered on projects in three communities, the Fort Simpson Student Hostels, the Pangnirtung Community Learning Centre, and two Coppermine projects, the new education centre, and the renovations, and additions to the health centre. There are 11 participants in the program this year.

The trainees must all be local residents. They are paid an hourly wage. The trainees spend about three weeks in the classroom, and about four months on the job, working under the supervision of a qualified instructor. Trainee candidates are identified by advanced education employment counsellors, in consultation with community representatives. The counsellor then meets with the contractor, who selects the most suitable trainees for that project.

Currently all trainees have completed the classroom sessions, and are now working on site. All reports, to date, from the contractors, trainees, and participating communities, have been positive.

Thank you.

Item 2, Ministers' statements. Item 3, Members' statements. Mrs. Marie-Jewell.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I want to take the opportunity today to express my disappointment, and the apparent inability of our Minister of Intergovernmental and Aboriginal Affairs, the Honourable Stephen Kakfwi, to answer, what I found, to be the simplest question posed to him.

Mr. Speaker, and honourable Members in this House, you will recall yesterday I posed a simple question to the Minister. All I wanted to know, Mr. Speaker, was when will this document, "Working Towards a Common Future", which has been tabled in this House, be brought before the committee of the whole, for discussions by Members of this House?

The Minister, in my opinion, rambled on and on, for several minutes using up our time allocated in question period, and commenting on everything, except the question I had asked.

I still do not know the answer, Mr. Speaker. I am wondering whether the Minister does? Mr. Speaker, this commission was developed in 1991. Many different constitutional scenarios have been deliberated nationally and within the territories, since the initial preparation of the Commission Report. If it is not the wish of the Minister, and the Cabinet, to deal with this report, then why does the Minister not say so to the public? Why does he tell this House whether he intends to put the Commission Report on the shelf, until these other constitutional initiatives reach a clearer conclusion.

I feel that it is totally unacceptable, and clearly irresponsible of the Minister, to phrase his returns to our questions in a fashion that skirts around the issue in this House. If he has made the mistake about pushing ahead with the commission, at the time he did, knowing that there were other constitutional developments on the horizon, then why can he not just admit it now? By continually rambling and avoiding our questions, the Minister's conduct totally frustrates the Members, takes up valuable time in the House, and accomplishes literally nothing.

Thank you.

---Applause

I would like for all Members to know there is nothing in the rules that dictate, either what a Minister says, or how long a Minister takes to answer a question. I just wanted to make that very clear. Thank you. Members' statements. Mr. Todd.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Yesterday, I spoke in the House about my concern, about the transitive programs, and services, from the federal government to the G.N.W.T.

Recent decisions of the federal government have made it clear that they are increasing their efforts to axe programs and services in the Northwest Territories.

Mr. Speaker, this trend, and our government's apparent inability to negotiate adequate fiscal terms, for the delivery of transfer programs, causes me a great deal of concern, in light of the new constitutional package.

I am a strong supporter of the constitutional package. There should be no mistake about that. On October 26, I will vote "yes". However, a great many elements of the package, that are critical to the north, are being left for discussions in future First Ministers' conferences.

This causes me further concern when I see that several things were put in the package, and others were left out. For instance, the constitutional package provides for a decentralization of powers. It identifies sectors such a labour market training, culture, mining, and housing, as matters within exclusive provincial jurisdictions. This provision leads the way for the Northwest Territories to take over these programs, if we are ready. However, frameworks for funding for these programs, are very much up in the air. Federal spending was not protected in areas such as job creation programs.

Mr. Speaker, these are not minor details. Another crucial area still to be finalized, is the development of a so-called Canada common market. However, the proposed accord could clearly destroy our Northern Preference Policy. The Government Leader says she is hopeful that the First Ministers will come around on this issue, but by the time this is discussed October 26 will have passed us all by.

Mr. Speaker, we should not have allowed these outstanding items to be placed on the back burner. These constitutional questions require hard thought, and positive action, on the part of our territorial leadership. We need to see a territorial framework for further discussions and negotiations, and we need to see it brought before this House for discussion. Thank you.

Members' statements, Ms. Mike.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I am proud today to be able to rise and inform the House about exciting developments, and the development of the arts industry in my constituency. The 1992 Pangnirtung print collection will be opening September 25. That is tomorrow, Mr. Speaker, for the first time in four years.

Five years ago our print shop had to close due to the lack of funds. People were worried that perhaps we had seen the death of commercial print making in Central Baffin. The commitment of our artists, and the unique and exciting approach to market development and distribution has now lead to the rebirth of this important economic and cultural activity.

In 1991, the Uqqurmiut Artists' Association was able to purchase Pangnirtung print shop equipment and inventory, and reopen its print making facility in the former workshop building. Artists were so committed to seeing the return of this industry, that they produced the 1992 collection on their own time, without wages. The collection has come together perfectly, Mr. Speaker. Tomorrow it will open at 22 galleries from Lunenberg, Nova Scotia, to San Francisco. This year's collection features 35 images by some of the community's best known artists. Their work is simply wonderful.

Honourable Members, and art lovers throughout the north, will be able to view these limited editions prints at Northern Images store in Yellowknife, Whitehorse and Inuvik, where they are on sale.

Later today, I will table a listing of dealers who are showing our 1992 collection all across North America, and artists who have contributed. Mr. Speaker, credit for this successful venture must go first, and foremost to the talented artists and hard working board of the Uqqurmiut Artists' Association. Also, and to be honest Mr. Speaker, I never thought I would hear myself say this, I want to give the big compliments to the Minister of Economic Development and Tourism, for the manner in which his department has contributed to the success of Uqqurmiut.

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, please proceed, Ms. Mike.

Also, I believe that with the kind of funding, assistance, and support received from E.D. & T., it is possible for aboriginally managed businesses to succeed, with minimal interference from the funding agencies.

I hope that Uqqurmiut success will continue to be an example for many locally operated business ventures in small communities. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Members' statements. Mr. Gargan.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, like all Members in this House, I am very concerned about the current fiscal crunch facing the Northwest Territories. Last week, we received the news that the federal government has rejected all requests for the reinstatement of funding for social housing, and essential programs in the Northwest Territories.

Mr. Speaker, I am concerned because every year we have less, and less money to spend on essential programs such as housing, social and health programs, or legal aid, yet the demand for these programs is increasing at breakneck speed. Sooner or later, demands have to outstrip supply.

It is not enough to say that we will do more with less. We have to look at how our resources are spent, and look at ways to better distribute them to those most in need. This means that everyone must make sacrifices. One area that I have spoken about before in this House, is the benefits package available to public servants. As we all are aware, pay and benefits for public servants represent almost one third of our annual budget. I believe that some of these benefits no longer accurately portray the realities of the north.

As the Standing Committee on Finance notes, the current package is a remnant of the days when the north was considered an outpost by southern Canada.

Mr. Speaker, some of the benefits that I speak of include the northern housing allowance, vacation/travel assistance, and the payment for moving expenses for public servants who quit, and are leaving the Northwest Territories.

Today, of course, things are different. The larger centres are developing housing markets, direct air connections, and with the rest of Canada, the most modern of convenience. Just recently Yellowknife saw the opening of the new McDonalds. Surely, a sign of a modern city. I believe it is time to revisit some of the benefits available to public servants with an eye to redesign them to meet the times, and the fiscal situation of this government.

Mr. Speaker, I would hope, and believe that this can be done in concert, with the appropriate units to reach a fair and equitable agreement.

I am sorry, Mr. Gargan. Your time has expired. Mr. Gargan.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to seek unanimous consent to continue my statement.

The honourable Member is seeking unanimous consent. Are there any nays? There are no nays. Please continue, Mr. Gargan.

Thank you, honourable Members. For the record, Mr. Speaker, I would hope, and believe that this can be done in concert with the appropriate units to reach a fair and equitable agreement for all the people of the Northwest Territories. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Members' statements, Mr. Lewis.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to note, Mr. Speaker, that a very much loved priest, Father Duchausscois, will be buried today and that a service will begin in a few minutes, at St. Patrick's Church. My children and my wife, who are all Catholics, would want me to note that this was a man who was much-loved.

(Translation) I am going to speak in French, Mr. Chairman, for a few moments. He was a man who was very gentle, sympathetic and compassionate, and it is important today that all of the M.L.A.s think of him. Our constituents are at St. Patrick's Church for the funeral of Father Duchausscois. Thank you.

Item 3, 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. Pudluk on September 17, in regard to vaccinations for dogs. Canine distemper vaccinations are currently available in all outlying communities in the Northwest Territories.

Following an territorial-wide distemper outbreak in 1987/88, Renewable Resources coordinated an emergency Distemper Vaccination Program in order to protect working sled dogs. A combined rabies/distemper vaccine was subsequently re-introduced in Agriculture Canada's Northern Rabies Control Program. This annual vaccination program is administered in the communities by the R.C.M.P., and Renewable Resources staff continue to assist with these efforts. The vaccine is completely safe, and program personnel are aware of proper vaccination guidelines. Vaccination is not recommended during pregnancy, and when administered correctly, the vaccine has no negative effects on young dogs, or nursing mothers. Thank you.

Item 4, returns to oral questions. Mr. Kakfwi.