Thank you. Supplementary, Mr. Antoine.

This has been going on for quite a few years. I don't know how many more years this will go on. If you could indicate when this program will be approved, because you have the authority now to dismiss elected municipal councils as the Minister of MACA. Fort Simpson is in financial problems and I'm worried that they might go the way Iqaluit did. If you could approve this program, it might help them out. Thank you.

---Applause

Thank you. Mr. Todd.

I am only one of eight humble voices moving toward a resolution of this problem. I do recognize -- on a serious note -- that it is an important issue and it has been brought to the Cabinet on two occasions, I believe. I believe we're close to resolving this issue. It's on the agenda for the next Cabinet meeting. Hopefully at that time we'll be able to give you the appropriate answer that would satisfy the community of Fort Simpson and others. Thank you.

Thank you. Item 5, oral questions. Mr. Pudlat.

(Translation) Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I'd like to direct my question to the Minister of Social Services, with regard to what I stated earlier this week about family allowance. For those people who are unemployed or living on the sale of carvings, we are wondering in Baffin South why some people who are unemployed are not receiving family allowances any more. Many families are no longer receiving family allowance. Mr. Speaker, perhaps the Minister of Social Services can give us an indication why these family allowances have been cut. Thank you. I think this question should be directed to the Minister of Finance.

Thank you. Mr. Pollard.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I think if Members will recall, this issue was brought to our attention by Mr. Gargan and at that time the Department of Finance contacted the federal government Department of Finance in this regard. Mr. Speaker, on January 1, 1993, the federal government rolled together three programs, family allowances, the child tax credit and the refundable child tax credit.

What we have done is contacted the federal department to let them know there are some omissions in the Northwest Territories, and they have complied with our wishes and have done considerable advertising in this area. Basically, Mr. Speaker, if somebody has filed an income tax form last year, and if they met eligibility which is income less than $25,921 a year, they can apply for the child tax credit. Mr. Speaker, I won't go into any more detail. It's suffice to say that I'll meet with the Member after question period and advise him of how to get the information to his community. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you. Item 5, oral questions. Member for Kitikmeot.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My question is to the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment Programs. Given the increased activity of exploration and the strong possibility of future mining activity in the Northwest Territories, and more particularly in the Slave geologic corridor, north of Yellowknife up to the Arctic coast, and Coppermine in my constituency, what has the Minister or his department undertaken with the mining industry to identify training needs and potential employment opportunities for northerners in future mining related opportunities?

Thank you. Mr. Nerysoo.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to indicate to the honourable Member that, as a department, we've identified the need for assessment of the types of employment that would be available. Secondly, it is still our view as a department that we need to develop a coordinated approach to long-term mining programs and training opportunities in the Northwest Territories. I have indicated to the honourable Member, the Minister for Economic Development and Tourism, that we should be working together to try to develop the necessary collective approach to that particular matter. We've agreed that we're going to work together on that particular matter.

Thank you. Supplementary, Member for Kitikmeot.

What time frame is the Minister looking at as far as developing a coordinated approach to address the issue?

Thank you. Mr. Nerysoo.

Mr. Speaker, I have not identified any particular time frame, mainly because I believe that first of all there is a need for us to make the assessments about what employment opportunities would be available in any development that occurred. Secondly, how can we, as a department, respond by setting up the appropriate training programs? Thirdly, we have to determine what other affected departments will participate in the strategy, and we should reflect their training needs in the presentation as well.

I have not identified any particular time table, mainly because we have not, as a government, made a decision on how and when we are going to respond collectively on this particular matter. It is an issue of concern that I have already raised with my colleagues.

Thank you. Supplementary, Member for Kitikmeot.

Has the Minister consulted with the mining industry to see what their needs are?

Mr. Nerysoo.

Mr. Speaker, no, mainly because the honourable Member responsible for Economic Development and Tourism and Transportation was given some responsibility for coordinating the approach on behalf of government in terms of meeting with industry and the community. We have indicated to him that, as a department, we are prepared to support him in developing a comprehensive approach, both in terms of meeting the training needs for industry and training needs for other projects through government initiatives.

Let me give you one example. We are having discussions with regard to road development and there will obviously be some potential requirements there. There will be more specific issues with mining. Also, there is the matter of what happens with harbour development and the training needs of individuals who will be employed in that area.

It is a broad area that we're trying to look at in terms of making sure we have a comprehensive approach. Involved in that is more specific training requirements. We have to meet and approve the expenditures for that kind of training. Presently, it

is not clear what we need for training. Nobody's really given us an indication of what the needs are going to be.

Thank you. Item 5, oral questions. Mr. Allooloo.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I have a question for the Minister of Housing, and seeing he is not here, I will pose it to the Premier. If there are two companies in one particular community in the Northwest Territories -- one local and one from outside the community -- if there is bidding on a contract, what sort of percentage is given to the local company and what percentage is given to the company from outside the community where the job has to be done?

Thank you. Madam Premier.

Mr. Speaker, according to my recollection, the percentage is ten and 15.