Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Yes.

Item 5, oral questions. Supplementary, Mrs. Marie-Jewell.

Mr. Speaker. The Minister said, yes, he would give us the guidelines, and the amount available. Can he advise this House as to when he will do that? Thank you.

Mr. Morin.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I will distribute copies to Members today.

Item 5, oral questions. Mr. Gargan.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I would like to direct my question to the Minister responsible for the Workers' Compensation Board. Yesterday, I asked and he answered, Mr. Speaker, the Minister, about what he has done to change the policy used by the Workers' Compensation Board to define their perception of who is principally engaged as working as a traditional harvester.

Mr. Speaker, I was surprised and dismayed to hear the Minister's response. It sounded as though he was trying to blame the fact that the policy has not been changed on the budgeting process within the Department of Renewable Resources.

Mr. Speaker, this policy has been criticized by Hunters' and Trappers' Associations, the Standing Committee on Agencies, Boards and Commissions, and even the Workers' Compensation Board's own appeal committee. Recognizing that this is not a renewable resource policy, but that it is a policy established by the Workers' Compensation Board, and recognizing that flaws in the policy have been apparent for well over a year, when is the Minister going to finally exercise some leadership and bring the new policy definition into effect?

Mr. Patterson.

As soon as possible, Mr. Speaker. I would like to clarify to the Member that I do not see the problem, as particularly one of funding. As I see it, the Department of Renewable Resources will be spending the money that they now have budgeted in a different way, in a more effective way. I have been inquiring with officials in the Department of Renewable Resources, who are preparing the scheme, since the Member's question yesterday, and I have been told that the package should be brought forward to Cabinet through Renewable Resources, and myself, in the next few weeks. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The Minister kept referring to the fact that there is not enough money in the Renewable Resources budget to pay for a more generous policy. He should realize that traditional harvesters are not asking for a more generous policy, they want one that is more sensible. Right now, the policy defines hunters and trappers in terms of minimum income level and weeks of work concepts, that have never been used in our traditional culture to recognize the hunter in our communities.

I would ask the Minister, when actions have been taken personally to bring about a more sensible definition of which persons should be recognized as traditional hunters and trappers, under section one of the Workers' Compensation Act, has he done anything?

Mr. Patterson.

Mr. Speaker, I have been encouraging the Department of Renewable Resources to use its expertise with regard to hunters and the Hunters' and Trappers' Association to develop a definition of a person principally engaged in hunting that is much more simplified, and would apply much more broadly to the average person who is dependent on hunting for their livelihood.

Mr. Speaker, I believe that great progress has been made in developing an approved definition, and, as I said earlier to the honourable Member, the new program can be funded within existing resources, provided the level of assessed income is not necessarily the same for a person working in the industrial wage economy.

I can only assure the Member that I can understand what he is getting at, I agree the definition is restrictive, it is overdue for change, a paper is about to come forward, and it may require an amendment to the Workers' Compensation Board Act. What I would request of honourable Members in this Assembly, is that if such an amendment appears to be required to make the definition fit the new scheme, that is well on the way to completion, as being developed by Renewable Resources, I would ask that we have the cooperation of honourable Members to secure speedy passage of that amendment if it turns out to be required. Thank you.

Item 5, oral questions. Ms. Mike.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I have a question for the Minister of Economic Development and Tourism. On June 22, 1992, I asked the Minister, and he assured this House, that he would undertake an evaluation of marketing potential for the whelk harvest available to the Baffin in-shore fishery.

He indicated that he would definitely look into the marketing of this edible marine snail, and have his study completed by September 1992. Mr. Speaker, September has almost come and gone, and there has been no announcements from the Minister as to the results of his review of the market potential for the whelk. Would the Minister of Economic Development and Tourism advise the House of the results of his investigations into market availability for this promising northern seafood product?

Mr. Pollard.

Mr. Speaker, the department has been working on it. Where they are at with it right now, I will take the question as notice, and get back to the Member. Thank you.

Question has been taken as notice. Item 5, oral questions. Mr. Antoine.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I have a question for the Minister of Education in regards to the Akaitcho Hall Review. It has been one month since the student residence of Akaitcho Hall has been occupied for the school year. There was a review done May 19, about 10 people were on the review team and they listened to the people who have an interest in developing Akaitcho Hall.

The task was to conduct a comprehensive review of the management and operation of the Akaitcho Hall student residence, and Home Boarding Programs, to ensure that quality care and supervision is provided for all students in the program. It describes a style of leadership which necessitates student staff working to solve problems, and plan for the future.

There were a series of recommendations that were made. I was curious, and maybe the Minister could explain, how this whole recommendation and the operation of the Akaitcho Hall residences is going at this present time. Thank you.

Mr. Arvaluk.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The report has been distributed to the Members. Up to this date, I have not received a direct complaint from either the students or the employees of Akaitcho Hall after the recommendations have been implemented there. I guess I would say that so far things have been going quite well. Thank you.

Item 5, oral questions. Mrs. Marie-Jewell.

Mr. Patterson.