Thank you, Mr. Pudluk. Orders of the day. Item 2, Ministers' statements. Madam Premier.

I have an emergency statement.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to inform the House that earlier today, I asked for and received the resignation of the Honourable Titus Allooloo. In response to a question in this Chamber Thursday afternoon, Mr. Allooloo informed Members that he attended a federal/provincial meeting in Saskatoon. In reviewing a chronology of events being prepared for tabling in the House, it came to my attention the Minister's statements may not be true.

As a result of investigations, including a personal meeting with Mr. Allooloo, I have determined that his remarks were not based on fact and constitute a serious misrepresentation to the House. This turn of events is regrettable.

Mr. Speaker, I acknowledge the considerable work that Mr. Allooloo has done for the public and the Executive Council, but the House and the public must be able to rely upon the truthfulness of statements given by Members of the Executive Council. It is a principle that I am not prepared to compromise.

Mr. Speaker, in the interim, the responsibilities for the Department of Municipal and Community Affairs will be handled by the Honourable John Todd and the ministerial responsibilities for the Department of Renewable Resources will be taken over by the Honourable Stephen Kakfwi. Thank you.

Item 2, Ministers' statements, Minister Todd.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, today I'll be presenting two important documents relating to the Workers' Compensation Board of the Northwest Territories. The first document, the 1992 Annual Report, is the official record of the year ended last December 31. In looking to the future of workers' compensation, I will also be tabling the WCB's three year corporate plan.

Mr. Speaker, the Workers' Compensation Act requires that the board prepare an annual report for the responsible Minister to approve and bring to this House. I'm pleased to present the WCB's annual report for the period of January 1 to December 31, 1992.

During 1992, the board handled over 3500 claims and was able to close 95 per cent of them within two months. However, Mr. Speaker, it is well known that the year 1992 was a difficult one in many ways for the board. A combination of factors, including a multiple-death mine disaster, stretched the resources to the point that, for the first time in its history, the WCB was not in a fully funded position. While the news has not been all good, this report confirms that the WCB has operated in a professional and conscientious manner in discharging its duties under the act.

The year of 1992 also saw the final report of this House's Standing Committee on Agencies, Boards, and Commissions which recommended a review and a legislative action paper. The former Minister, Mr. Patterson, initiated the review which was conducted by the Chief Commissioner, Garnet Garven.

In order to increase the regional presence of WCB, board members travelled to the regional centres, visiting with hunters' and trappers' associations, labour and employer groups, government agencies and members of the public. From groups like the Fort Smith Metis Assembly and Kitikmeot Regional Council, to organizations such as NWT Chamber of Mines, the board began to actively seek out the concerns, issues and suggestions of its stakeholders. I understand that this was the first time that the WCB has appeared in the communities of Iqaluit, Rankin Inlet and Cambridge Bay.

In addition, Mr. Speaker, the board mailed thousands of copies of a newsletter titled, Directions, to stakeholders across the territories. This newsletter was not some empty marketing exercise. It identified key issues affecting the future of compensation and it presented the pros and cons of each issue. I'm pleased, Mr. Speaker, that the newsletter will be continuing on a quarterly basis with the second issue of it having been just recently released.

The input received from these meetings and from submissions by the board stakeholders, have been very useful to the new board in developing the corporate plan which I will be pleased to table today. The requirement for a corporate plan, Mr. Speaker, is set out in the Financial Administration Act but this plan has not been created as a paper to be filed away. Rather, this three year corporate plan will enable the board to implement new programs and policies that answer a number of the important issues which directly affect the board's claims. Some of the initiatives identified in the plan have already begun, such as the newsletter, and the commitment to visit regional centres and communities. Others will take up to three years to complete.

Mr. Speaker, I'd like to draw your attention to some of the more important initiatives. The board has realized that it is not possible to work in isolation. The WCB has therefore established agreements and understandings with several GNWT departments. Safety and education programs and the workers' advisor position are now clearly defined by the WCB and the Department of Safety and Public Services. The board's safety and the young workers' educational program will be offered through the Department of Education.

The board also entered into an agreement with the Department of Justice with regard to inmate compensation and is now in the process of developing an MOU with the Department of Renewable Resources for the administration of the harvesters' compensation program and one with the NWT Housing Corporation to ensure compensation is available to supervisors working under the access program.

Many of the aspects of this plan are internal to the board's operation. But it will be seen by claimants and employers in the form of improved efficiency, lower operating costs and faster turn around. Mr. Speaker, the board has reduced its number of internal committees, from six to three, in order to provide more detailed decisions and expedite hearings. The format of the review committee has been changed. Formerly an external committee, it is now chaired by a full-time staff chairperson.

If we can reduce or eliminate injuries, assessment rates will obviously decline. The board has recently received a report from the Safety Education Advisory Committee, a volunteer body of employers and stakeholders. This report should allow the schools and industries to assist stakeholders in reducing accidents at the work site throughout the Northwest Territories.

Mr. Speaker, over the past months, the Workers' Compensation Board has been working toward building a more efficient, less costly system, while at the same time ensuring that the WCB is more accessible and open.

Last July, the board adopted a new impairment rating schedule, moving away from the AMA guidelines which were proving to be unfair, inaccurate and costly. It's my understanding that the board is looking at revising the classification system and implementing a merit rebate surcharge penalty program.

The board has sublet its first-floor space to a tenant, saving about $75,000 a year.

Rehabilitation programs are being carefully managed, to ensure that the services are targeted to the claimant's needs and abilities.

---Applause

The board has, however, adopted a funding strategy to return it to a fully funded position within one year, by a variety of means other than increasing employer premiums or reducing benefits to injured workers.

The primary aim of this corporate plan for the next three years is to maintain the benefits and remuneration paid to workers who are injured in the work place and at the same time achieve a balanced budget and a fully funded position.

The members of the Workers' Compensation Board are looking to the future of compensation in many ways. I believe that this new board is working to serve workers and employers on an individual basis by responding more effectively to the changing economic environment in which we live, taking the necessary steps to improve the quality of services provided to our clients and ensuring that the lines of communication remain open between the board, its staff, its stakeholders and the public. Thank you.

---Applause

Item 2, Ministers' statements. Ms. Mike.

Mr. Speaker, as Minister responsible for alcohol and drug services, I wish to inform the Members of this Assembly that a unique international conference, "Keeping the Circle Strong in Northern Communities" will be held in Yellowknife, November 22 to November 25, 1993.

The conference is sponsored by Northern Addiction Services, with funding from the federal government and the territorial Department of Social Services. The conference agenda will focus on issues of solvent abuse, fetal alcohol syndrome, suicide and addictions; all of which affect each and every one of the communities we serve.

During this conference, the capital city of the Northwest Territories will be host to people from all across the NWT, as well as delegates from the rest of Canada, the United States and as far away as Norway.

Mr. Speaker, through you, I would like to invite my colleagues to join me in commending the efforts of Northern Addiction Services and its program committee for taking the initiative in putting together such an important and innovative conference.

By joining me, this will acknowledge a strong and unified commitment on our part to resolving the difficult and perplexing problems of solvent abuse, fetal alcohol syndrome, suicide and addictions. Qujannamiik.

---Applause

Item 2, Ministers' statements. Mr. Nerysoo.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, in preparing the budget for the current fiscal year, the Financial Management Board approved the establishment of a one-time $6 million NWT workers' training fund. The objective of the fund is to support training and employment opportunities which can be managed by community governments through local sponsors. An important aspect of the NWT workers' training fund is that it is available to all communities in the territories. Funding is allocated to each community based on working age population and the number of people seeking work. Proposals must contain a job training component for each participant and must provide future access to training by upgrading skills or job opportunities.

Since the projects are designed at the local level, the fund enhances community-based decision-making and provides the kind of training and work experience that is considered important by the community.

Mr. Speaker, at this point, 525 people have received or are receiving support for training and work experience through this program. Training proposals for another 22 people are currently being processed by the Department of Education, Culture and Employment Programs. The total value of these proposals is almost $5.3 million. New proposals continue to be received by the department and we expect to spend a full $6 million by the end of the fiscal year.

Mr. Speaker, the NWT workers' training fund has been a valuable addition to the job training programs carried on throughout the Northwest Territories. It has been particularly important in helping to address the specific training needs of the communities. Mahsi.

---Applause

Thank you, Mr. Nerysoo. Item 2, Ministers' statements. Madam Premier.

Mr. Speaker, the presentation of the report of the Special Committee on Health and Social Services was very much appreciated by Cabinet and I am sure by all Members of the Legislative Assembly. On behalf of Cabinet, and more specifically, the Ministers of Health and Social Services, I would like to extend my thanks and congratulations to the Members of the special committee for a very thoughtful and considerate report.

Mr. Speaker, some work is under way in several areas in both the Department of Health and the Department of Social Services, which will resolve problems identified by the special committee. However, a great deal of work remains to be done and we look forward to reviewing the report in committee of the whole and receiving direction from this Assembly.

Again, I would like to thank the Members of the special committee for an excellent report. It will provide a solid foundation for change. Thank you.

---Applause

Thank you, Madam Premier. Item 2, Ministers' statements. Item 3, Members' statements. Mrs. Marie-Jewell.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. On November 16, 1885, Louis Riel was found guilty of treason by the Government of Canada and hung at Regina, Saskatchewan. Louis Riel was the Metis, French-speaking founder of Manitoba. The visionary who wanted to see the west free and a homeland for people to live together peacefully.

Last week, on November 16, 1993, 108 years since the death of the Metis leader of Canada, Louis Riel -- and I am sure my honourable colleagues will agree -- also commemorates and continues various forms of suffrage for Metis, not only in Canada, but in the north as well.

Over the past 20 years, issues such as Metis land base, health benefits, equity funding for Metis heritage and culture, criteria extending educational benefits for Metis and post-secondary learning institutions and equity for Metis women in the workforce are only some of the issues which northern born Metis have sought through the northern democratic process and through the territorial government.

Today, November 22, 1993, Metis can no longer identify as individual Metis on health care cards which have been removed, where once Metis could mark an "M" on our health care cards.

A ceiling has been imposed by the Department of Education for students on post-secondary education in the professions such as law, medicine and engineering. Whereby the average student including Metis students now have to pay tuition fees over and above the initial ceiling imposed by this government.

Funding criteria through contribution agreements remains stagnant for the Metis Heritage Association. Mr. Speaker, it seems when issues relating to Metis are proposed to be addressed, I certainly cannot use the words "proposed" and "implemented" because few services have been implemented, although many have been proposed.

Mr. Speaker, I challenge this government to make every effort to address many outstanding issues which affect the daily lives of Metis people in the Northwest Territories. Thank you.

---Applause

Thank you, Mrs. Marie-Jewell. Mr. Ng.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The GNWT supplies fuel to 44 of our communities. In most of those communities, the GNWT owns the bulk fuel storage facilities. However, in at least one community, Cambridge Bay, a private company owns the bulk fuel storage facility. This company charges the GNWT a storage fee for POL products in order to receive a return on their capital investment. These storage charges are added by the Department of Public Works and Services to the POL prices paid by consumers. In all other communities, where the government has spent millions of dollars in capital investments to establish and maintain their tank farms, no charges for the capital cost are factored into the POL prices paid by consumers. Mr. Speaker, this is an unacceptable and unfair situation. The GNWT, by passing on their storage fees, has created an inequity by passing on the responsibility to provide bulk fuel storage facilities in Cambridge Bay. Based on the GNWT's POL retail price list of November 1, 1992, Cambridge Bay and Bathurst Inlet consumers pay 95 cents a litre for gasoline. We share this distinction with residents of Snare Lake, as having the highest price in the NWT and possibly North America.

Mr. Speaker, the Kitikmeot region pays the highest cost of fuel oil products in the entire Northwest Territories. The average litre price for gasoline and heating oil in the NWT,-- again based on those GNWT retail price lists of November 1, 1992,-- per region is as follows: for gasoline, the Baffin averages 66.8 cents per litre, the Keewatin is 72.4 cents, the Inuvik region is 73.1 cents, in Fort Smith it's 76 cents and in the Kitikmeot it is 86 cents a litre; for heating oil, the Baffin is 59 cents, the Keewatin and Inuvik and at 63 cents, Fort Smith 65 cents and the Kitikmeot is 73.8 cents.

Four to five communities paying over 90 cents per litre for gasoline in the NWT are from Kitikmeot. Six out of the nine communities paying over 70 cents a litre for heating oil are from the Kitikmeot.

Mr. Ng, your allotted time has expired.

The Member is seeking unanimous consent to continue with his statement. Are there any nays? There are no nays. Please proceed, Mr. Ng.

Mr. Speaker, there is no apparent reason for the excessive POL pricing in the Kitikmeot compared to other regions in the NWT, with the exception of the GNWT unfairly passing on tank storage charges to consumers in Cambridge Bay.

Mr. Speaker, I'll be addressing this matter later on during question period. Mahsi.

---Applause

Item 3, Members' statements. Mr. Gargan.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, today I rise to speak about the lack of response in Fort Providence to the activities held during the alcohol and drug awareness week.

The whole purpose of this week of activities was to increase the community's awareness of alcohol problems and perhaps to refrain from drinking and reflect upon our own circumstances.

On Friday night, there was to be an alcohol-free dance held in the community but, unfortunately, this had to be cancelled due to the unforeseen ferry shutdown. The community barbecue on Tuesday was very successful with lots of children participating. As a matter of fact, they just about ran out of food it was so successful.

However, Mr. Speaker, I wish to express my disappointment about the attendance at the community feast on Saturday night. It seems to me, Mr. Speaker, that the majority of drinkers in Fort Providence chose to continue drinking rather than refrain for that one day. In fact, Mr. Speaker, there was a large turnout of children who attended the feast without their parents. It embarrasses me, Mr. Speaker, that the parents or grandparents could not stop drinking for this one day to set a good example for their children. Quite frankly, Mr. Speaker, I am angry about the lack of response by the community to stop drinking and the fact that people would not take the opportunity to re-evaluate their life-style for this one little week.

We do not ask much of the community. Has booze become so important to these people that they are not willing to compromise even a little?

Mr. Speaker, I'm very disappointed that every time I go to an alcohol-free event I end up seeing the same people who I see at mass the following Sunday. As Dene people, what is the first priority? Is it booze or our children? Our duty first and foremost, our sacred trust, is to our children, to provide for their care and education. Secondly, we as parents must try to set a good example for our children and live life responsibly.

Mr. Speaker, I have a message for the residents of Fort Providence. The Members of the community...

Excuse me, Mr. Gargan, your allotted time has elapsed.

Mr. Speaker, I'd like to get unanimous consent to continue my statement.

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