Good afternoon. Orders of the day. Item 2, Ministers' statements. Mr. Morin.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Members of the Legislative Assembly are aware that I have just returned from Ottawa from an important meeting with the Honourable David Dingwall, the Minister responsible for CMHC.

The basic purpose of my meeting was to brief the new Minister on: the great need for social housing in the NWT, to both meet the existing backlog of 3,600 units of social housing in the NWT and new units needed to keep pace with our population growth; the extremely serious impact of total federal funding cuts for new social housing by the previous government; the unique northern factors which have resulted in our government assigning the highest possible priority to social housing; and, the urgent need for reinstatement of federal funding.

I am pleased to report to this House that the Honourable David Dingwall was sympathetic to our social housing problems and the severe impact of financial cuts imposed by the previous federal government. Through the good work of our Members of Parliament, Ethel Blondin-Andrew and Jack Anawak, he had already been made aware of many of our concerns.

He clearly understood that there were several housing factors which are unique to the NWT and which do not exist to the same extent in southern Canada where social housing is a small percentage of their overall housing stock. In the south there are many other alternatives to social housing. In most NWT communities, there is very limited private housing available.

The Minister indicated that he would support our request for an extension of six months to the January 1994 deadline, so that we might present our case further.

At this early stage of the new federal government, it was most important that we seized the opportunity to clearly state the seriousness of our housing problems and the critical role federal funding reinstatement will play in a solution.

I was impressed by Mr. Dingwall's understanding of the issues in the NWT and the level of his sincerity to work toward solutions.

I will continue to keep the House, the Advisory Committee on Housing, the Standing Committee on Finance, aboriginal organizations, communities and local housing associations and authorities fully up to date, on both our continuing strategy and efforts to restore federal funding.

I also took the opportunity to discuss our government's business incentive policy and its future application to federal projects.

I emphasized with the Minister that the business incentive policy is not a trade barrier, but is needed by northern companies to offset the higher costs of operating in the NWT and to compete with southern companies.

It was agreed that a senior official of the departments would examine this issue further. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

---Applause

Mr. Morin. Item 2, Ministers' statements. Mr. Todd.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As Minister responsible for the Department of Transportation, I am pleased to advise the Members of this Assembly of the signing of an agreement with the federal Minister of Transport which will provide $10 million in additional federal funding to upgrade and improve transportation and infrastructure across the NWT.

---Applause

The Department of Transportation will match the federal funds from its own capital resources for a $20 million joint program. The agreement will enable work on a number of high priority transportation projects to be accelerated or enhanced and several new projects to be initiated.

At Coppermine, we had planned for a runway resurfacing. The agreement provides an additional $3 million for a total of $3.8 million, to allow us to widen the existing runway, expand the taxiway and the apron, resurface the entire airfield and replace the lighting system. This will allow jet service to be provided in this growing community. Completion is scheduled for 1995.

At Snare Lake, $2.6 million dollars will be spent to build a new airport, including a 900-metre runway, apron, taxiway, airfield lighting and passenger shelter. The agreement has allowed this work to be advanced by a year, with work to begin this winter and be completed in 1995.

---Applause

At Deline, our original agreement with Transport Canada allowed only for minimum improvement to the airport. An additional $3.6 million has been made available, under this agreement, to allow for relocation of the airport. This has long been a high priority for the residents of this community. This project will be completed by 1997.

At Pelly Bay, the budget has been increased by $1.8 million, making $4 million available to complete realignment and extension of the runway to 1,525 metres, relocate the apron and taxiway, and provide airport lighting and a passenger shelter. This project will be completed by 1995. Thank you.

---Applause

At Lutsel K'e, $600,000 has been added to the $2.7 million budget to complete the realignment of the 900-metre runway, relocate the apron and taxiway, and provide airfield lighting and a passenger shelter.

An additional $1.3 million has been allocated at Fort Good Hope, bringing the total to $2.8 million, to complete realignment of the 900-metre runway, relocate the apron and taxiway, and provide airfield lighting and passenger shelter by 1995.

---Applause

A total of $1.4 million will be spent at Coral Harbour to upgrade the community harbour and wharf and improve the access road to the barge landing and the airport.

At Pangnirtung, $2 million will be spent to construct a breakwater, anchorage channel and a cargo marshalling area. This project was designed several years ago, in cooperation with the Department of Fisheries and Oceans Canada. However, funding was not available to proceed until now. Work has already started and will be completed by 1996.

At Iqaluit, $900,000 has been budgeted to improve marine facilities for resupply and local activities. This work is scheduled for completion in 1997.

A total of $1.5 million has been allocated to improve a marine resupply facility in Rankin Inlet. This will support improvements to resupply activities in the Keewatin aimed at major cost-savings. This program has also supported a major hydrographic survey of potential shipping lanes into a future port near Coppermine by providing a $1.2 million contribution to the Canadian hydrographic survey.

As you will be aware, work on some of these projects has already commenced. These projects will be undertaken over five years, with the agreement expiring March 31, 1998.

Mr. Speaker, I must say there was some initial reluctance by the federal government to spend these funds on territorial priorities. However, I am pleased to say we succeeded in making a strong case for these projects. This, coupled with our willingness to match the federal contribution, resulted in the acceptance of the territorial proposals.

With the support of the Members, we will continue to upgrade our transportation infrastructure, create employment and enhance our ability to transport people and goods, safely and efficiently. I am certain you will agree with me that the NWT will benefit significantly from this joint venture to invest in transportation facilities in the Northwest Territories.

---Applause

Thank you, Mr. Todd. Item 2, Ministers' statements. Mr. Nerysoo.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, during the last session of this Assembly, I announced

four new community-based teacher education programs which will help my department reach its goal of having aboriginal people make up half of the teaching force by the year 2000. These teacher education programs have proven to be much more popular than we anticipated.

Community-based teacher education programs are currently being offered in 11 communities in the Baffin, Beaufort-Delta, Dogrib and Kitikmeot regions. A total of 130 aboriginal teacher trainees are registered in these two year training programs, which is the greatest number of aboriginal candidates enrolled at any time in the 25 year history of teacher training in the Northwest Territories.

These programs are offered through partnerships involving the Department of Education, Culture and Employment, Arctic College's teacher education programs and the divisional boards of education in each region.

In the eastern Arctic, the Baffin teacher education program has 37 full-time trainees in Arctic Bay, Igloolik and Pangnirtung, while the Kitikmeot community teacher education program has 13 full-time trainees in Cambridge Bay and Taloyoak.

In the western Arctic, the Beaufort-Delta community teacher education program has 59 full-time trainees and is offering courses in Aklavik, Fort McPherson, Inuvik and Tuktoyaktuk. The Dogrib community teacher education program has 12 full-time and nine part-time trainees in Lac La Martre and Rae-Edzo.

The community-based program offers basic teacher training and leads to the Arctic College Diploma in Education and the NWT Standard Teaching Certificate.

After completing the program, graduates can either take guaranteed teaching positions with their divisional board of education, or can continue working towards a Bachelor of Education degree at the University of Saskatchewan in Saskatoon, or McGill University in Montreal, through Arctic College's teacher education programs.

In addition to the people in the community-based programs, another 52 full-time trainees are registered in Arctic College's campus-based teacher training programs. A further 12 trainees are taking courses towards their B.Ed degrees at Thebacha campus in Fort Smith and Nunatta campus in Iqaluit.

Mr. Speaker, the improved access offered by these programs is providing new career opportunities for teacher trainees across the Northwest Territories. There are already 31 newly qualified teachers who graduated from the Keewatin teacher education program this past June, as well as ten Dogrib teachers who graduated in 1992 from the first community-based program in Rae. This initiative will soon result in a well-trained and qualified force of professional aboriginal teachers. In turn, this will help make our schools more relevant and will lead to higher levels of achievement on the part of aboriginal youth. Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.

---Applause

Thank you, Mr. Nerysoo. Item 2, Ministers' statements. Mr. Kakfwi.

Thank you, Mr. Kakfwi. Item 2, Ministers' statements. Mr. Morin.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The United Nations has chosen 1993 as a year to recognize and celebrate indigenous peoples around the world. In support of this declaration, the Department of Public Works and Services has undertaken three activities.

The department has presented $500 each, to two outstanding northern aboriginal university engineering students: Warren McLeod, from Yellowknife; and Corey Wainman, from Inuvik. The students had to be entering the first year of a post-secondary technical program and, based on their excelled high school achievements, they were judged likely to succeed in these difficult programs.

In addition, four apprentices who are working with Public Works and Services will be recognized with $400 gift certificates to purchase tools. The apprentices are: Martha Aupaluktuq, from Baker Lake; Larry Benwell, from Fort Smith; Aime Panimera, from Igloolik; and Barney Tootoo, from Rankin Inlet. The selection of these awards was based on a combination of work performance and academic achievement.

As well, two posters of aboriginal employees -- Patty Greenley, from Cambridge Bay and Floyd Daniels, from Fort Simpson -- will be published in January, showing the employees as successful role models and encouraging aboriginal students to stay in school. The posters stress the department's theme of "work with us."

There is a great demand in the Northwest Territories for aboriginal tradespeople and graduates of technical programs.

Our awards recognize the success and efforts of individuals in these fields. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

---Applause

Thank you, Mr. Morin. Item 2, Ministers' statements. Item 3, Members' statements. Mr. Gargan.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, yesterday I left some papers on my desk. One of the documents was the Edmonton Journal, in which there was an article written about Kitty Nowdluk-Reynolds. It was missing this morning when I came in. I wanted to let the staff know, or whoever took it, that it is a good thing most of our statements are done by computers. I was able to retrieve a copy.

She was arrested, detained and transported from one coast to another in handcuffs. When she arrived in Iqaluit, she was transported to court in the same vehicle as her attacker.

Mr. Speaker, all northerners and Members of this Assembly, men and women alike, were horrified by Ms. Nowdluk-Reynolds' treatment. Indeed, the RCMP complaints commission stated in their report that Ms. Nowdluk-Reynolds was victimized a second time by the force's careless and insensitive treatment.

Mr. Speaker, I'm delighted today that the RCMP have reached and out-of-court settlement with Ms. Nowdluk-Reynolds. The RCMP will pay Ms. Nowdluk-Reynolds $100,000, as partial compensation for the trauma she suffered as a result of their wrongful action. In a letter to Ms. Nowdluk-Reynolds, the RCMP Commissioner, Norman Inkster, stated that he was appalled at the behaviour of several mounties. Mr. Speaker, this settlement can only partially compensate Ms. Nowdluk-Reynolds. After she pays legal fees and possible taxes, this amount is just a drop in the bucket when viewed in comparison to the emotional trauma suffered by this woman.

Ms. Nowdluk-Reynolds will most likely always be distrustful of the justice system. She will undoubtedly always bear the scars of her rape, the scars of her treatment at the hands of the RCMP, the scars of having to repeat her story over and over again and of being subjected to vigorous cross examination during the public complaints commission held to investigate this matter. I am glad, however, that the RCMP have chosen to compensate Ms. Nowdluk-Reynolds and I can only hope that we will never again see a similar situation happen to any woman, whether native or non-native. Mahsi cho, Mr. Speaker.

---Applause

Thank you, Mr. Gargan. Item 3, Members' statements. Mr. Whitford.

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

Thank you, Mr. Whitford. One note of interjection here. It's been brought to my attention by a couple of Members they find it a bit awkward if they go beyond their time limit, to sit down and stand up and sit down. What I would suggest then, for Members who want to, if you go beyond your two and a half minutes, to stay standing and request unanimous consent. You don't have to sit down and then stand up again.

---Applause

Thank you. Item 3, Members' statements. Mrs. Marie-Jewell.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, last May my constituents were shocked and saddened by the tragic death of a well-known native pilot, Billy Bourque, who owned and operated Loon Air.

Mr. Speaker, Billy Bourque was killed in Villeneuve, Alberta while he was doing a test flight with the new plane he had purchased for his company. Mr. Speaker, his death was not a result of pilot error. His death was due to the airline cables being incorrectly installed. The cables were installed backwards.

Billy had a unique personality which always allowed his generosity and sense of humour to shine. Mr. Speaker, Billy Bourque received his private pilot's license at 18 years of age. With further work, he obtained his commercial license in 1972, at age 21. In 1980, Billy established his own business which was called Loon Air, a name and a logo which truly reflects our north. His company had four planes at the time of his death.

Billy Bourque was born in Fort Chipewyan to his proud parents, Albertine and the late Joseph Bourque. He leaves behind his wife Heather, three sons: Troy, Ivan and Scottie, and his daughter Rene. Billy is also missed by six sisters, three brothers and many nieces and nephews, uncles and aunts. He lived most of his life in Fort Smith.

Billy Bourque was a man who was held in high regard by many people in the north, particularly in Fort Smith. He was a man who respected everyone, regardless of who they were or what they did.

Mr. Speaker, nothing would please my constituents more than having the new tanker base to be built in Fort Smith named in his honour. Mr. Speaker, I would encourage this government to call the new base, when it is built, the Billy Bourque Aviation Centre. Thank you.

---Applause

Thank you, Mrs. Marie-Jewell. Item 3, Members' statements. Mr. Patterson.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, for years there has been a cost-shared program in the Northwest Territories, which I believe exists in every province as well, called vocational rehabilitation for disabled persons, or VRDP. This program has been funded by the Government of Canada and the Government of the Northwest Territories. It was designed to be available for people with disabilities and special needs.

Initially, there were committees in each region empowered to make assessments and decide on how funds should be made available. As far as I know, there is no longer a VRDP committee in the Baffin region. In fact, as far as I know, there are no longer any funds available in the Baffin region. I am told that monies in the program were recently used to fund a consultant, based in Yellowknife, who has developed an assessment tool which replaced the regional committee approach which had been followed for years. As I understand it, the diminished funds now available are controlled by this headquarters person. I am also told that the program in recent years was transferred to the Department of Education, Culture and Employment, from the Department of Social Services. Mr. Speaker, there are disabled persons in my constituency and in the Baffin region who could benefit from the kind of long-term planning, counselling, rehabilitation and treatment which this program, in its initial conception, was designed to provide.

Thank you, Mr. Patterson. Item 3, Members' statements. Mr. Ningark.

(Translation) Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the students will be running the future in our land. They will work as Members of the Legislative Assembly. They will also be in the workforce. We have to work hard towards reaching these goals and I thank the government for providing adequate schools for our children. However, at this time, the communities' populations continue to grow. They have to travel long distances to get to their schools. Normally they do this by walking, many times in blizzards. There are dogs that are often unleashed and are a danger to these children. In Gjoa Haven, where I was voted in, this is becoming a growing concern and for a long time they have been requesting a bus for transporting the children. Since our children are our future, let's help them. Not just within the schools, but on their way to attend school and on their return. They experience hardships. When question period is upon us, I will be posing a question to that affect, Mr. Speaker. Thank you.

---Applause

Item 3, Members' statements. Mr. Pudlat.

(Translation) Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I too have a statement concerning Baffin South, my own constituency. This issue will probably be raised a number of times. There are some people who live in outpost camps. Economically, this is one of the most difficult places to live in prosperity. We are all aware that the airlines have to make a profit, but I am talking about children. As soon as they reach the age of two, their airfare becomes almost equivalent to the airfares of adults. In my community, we fly by Twin Air only, between 30 and 45 minutes to Iqaluit. A fare for an adult ranges between $100 to $120. Because of that, Mr. Speaker, I have had a concern. For children two and over, their airfares become quite close to adult rates. We should see if we can get the government to consider looking at this problem, especially in view of the lack of jobs and the economy being so poor in my region. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Item 3, Members' statements. Mr. Lewis.

I was going to keep this until tomorrow, since tomorrow is Friday. But I decided if I did that, it would be taken as being light-hearted and I don't intend that to be the case. Mr. Speaker, a long time ago, when I was a young man, I worked for a regional newspaper. My conditions were very cramped. There were ink-stains all over the place. All the cups were chipped. There was no flat service to put a pencil down and everything seemed to get dirty. Every time you moved, something fell down. Yesterday, Mr. Speaker, in the few hours we had last night before we met in our evening session, I had an opportunity to look at the space we have allocated to the media. That may give some explanation as to the questions that have been asked about accessibility and how we feel about our local media.

I would like to point out, Mr. Speaker, that there was never any plan to put the media in a bad mood. It was something that has happened which has caused some degree of discontent. So I would like to urge all Members to be kind to our local media. There is no hidden agenda. I do confess, when I looked at the quarters they inhabit in the back, it reminded me of many chapters I read a long time ago, where Charles Dickens describes what it is like to be in the workhouse, and the terrible conditions under which people had to work many years ago.

I would like to assure the media that it was not planned and that every one of our Members will do everything they can to treat their staff in a hospitable way. We will be kind and provide them with as much information as we can on every possible occasion. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

---Applause

Thank you, Mr. Lewis. You are looking quite comfortable up there. Item 3, Members' statements. Mr. Allooloo.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I rise today to bring up a concern that was brought to my attention by my constituents, with regard to overcrowding of schools in my constituency. I am told that the schools have to use hallways in Pond Inlet -- because of the overcrowding -- as well as porches. Later on today, I will be asking the Minister of Education why that is. It is not acceptable to the parents. I am sure it is hampering some of the teachers' ability to teach the students. Mr. Speaker, like my colleague said, our kids are the future of our country and they need good facilities in which to learn, to get them ready for the future ahead of them. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

---Applause

Thank you, Mr. Allooloo. Item 3, Members' statements. Ms. Mike.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to share with my colleagues how privileged I have been, not as a politician, but as an interpreter, to have worked with some distinguished politicians of the last decade. Such great leaders as Pierre Elliot Trudeau, John Amagoalik, J. B. Nooguang, Charlie Watt and the late Mark R. Gordon. It was ten years ago, this fall, that the First Ministers' conference was taking place on aboriginal issues. I would like to commend the Inuit Tapirisat of Canada, its president at that time, Mr. Amagoalik, and the Makivik Corporation in their success and their struggle to include the first nations and the Metis of our country in the First Ministers' conference, in dealing with aboriginal rights.

As the result of the Inuit Tapirisat of Canada and the Makivik Corporation's successful influence, the first nations and the Metis were finally included in the First Ministers' conference on the Charter of Rights. This is an example that we can achieve if we are all united. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

---Applause

Thank you, Ms. Mike. Item 3, Members' statements. Mr. Arvaluk.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I rise today to make a Member's statement on overcrowded conditions in the Victor Sammurtok school in Chesterfield Inlet. I have been asking the government to review the situation there. As I stated earlier this year and last year, there are classes being held in the industrial arts section and the home economics area. They are treated as regular teaching space because there is no other space available.

In fact, the last time I was there -- about a month ago -- there were students taking Inuktitut classes in the porch where the coats and boots are supposed to be. There were coats and boots in that porch as well. I will be tabling a petition today from Chesterfield Inlet, with community signatures, to correct these deplorable overcrowding conditions.

When Mr. Patterson was Minister of Education, he took a leadership role in making generic designs so that the schools could be expanded to suit the overcrowding conditions. This is a case where the grade extensions are occurring, students are coming back to school and students who usually drop out of school are staying. With all these conditions, overcrowding becomes inevitable. It is to the point where it has become unacceptable to the community.

I will be tabling the petition today and will be asking questions. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Arvaluk. Item 3, Members' statements. Mr. Antoine.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to say that the government is doing some good things with regard to the business incentive program, as well as negotiated contracts they have with the communities. In the past, whenever major projects come into smaller communities, big companies come into the region to do the projects. What happens there is that the work gets done and the revenues and profits leave with the company when they leave. That leaves very little in the communities and in the region.

With the new programs the government has, this is not occurring any more. They are giving work and contracts to the companies and the corporations in the smaller communities. This way, there is more profit and benefit to people right at the community level, where it counts. I would like to see more of that. It has helped in my constituency and I would just like to encourage the government to continue with these programs. Mahsi.

---Applause

Thank you, Mr. Antoine. Item 3, Members' statements. Mr. Pudluk.

(Translation) Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I also wish to rise today to talk about concerns from the high Arctic and others. The federal government has wildlife studies. They study where the animals migrate and what kinds of food they eat in the Arctic. They also study sea mammals such as the walrus, seals and others. Just recently they did a study on the walrus. They were tagging walrus in my area. This is not a major concern in my riding of the high Arctic. They are not against tagging wildlife. However, the biologists have to put animals to sleep in order to weigh them and study them.

They have killed so many animals by putting them to sleep. This happened recently, in the summer. They were trying to tag a walrus and, without meaning to, they ended up killing the animal by tranquillizing it. Putting tranquillizers into animals to study them and ending up killing them is very unacceptable to the people I represent. This is a major concern and it will be an ongoing concern to the people of the north, particularly for those people who have to depend on these animals for food.

The biologists didn't even bring the walrus back into the community because it was full of tranquillizers. This has become a major concern to the people of the high Arctic. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Pudluk. Item 3, Members' statements. Item 4, returns to oral questions. Mr. Todd.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I have two returns to oral questions. One asked by Mr. Dent on November 22, regarding the NWT Association of Municipalities' concerns with respect to the dissolution of municipal councils. The Department of Municipal and Community Affairs has procedures, well-established in legislation, for monitoring the financial and overall viability of municipal corporations and, in extreme cases, for the appointment of municipal administrators.

The Cities, Towns and Villages Act, the Hamlets Act and the Chartered Communities Act require municipal inspectors, appointed by the Minister of MACA, to perform annual municipal inspections. Each municipal inspection includes financial management, administrative and operational reviews. Each municipal inspection results in a written report which is forwarded to the Minister.

The written report, consistent with the requirements of the act, contains recommendations on the corrective actions to be taken by the municipal corporation or the Minister. A copy of the municipal evaluation report is also always forwarded to the mayor. A covering letter, summarizing the most significant concerns of the department, is sent by the deputy minister in the case of cities, towns and villages, and by the superintendent in the case of hamlets and chartered communities. It is the responsibility of council to ensure that the recommendations are implemented or responded to.

In most instances, the department and the municipal corporations are able to implement the recommendations in a cooperative manner. Failure to implement municipal evaluation recommendations, in addition to be the failure of council to exercise their duty, often may result in serious financial, legal or administerial problems by the municipal corporation.

In addition to conducting annual municipal inspections, the department monitors the financial position of all municipal corporations. Yearly audited financial statements are analyzed by the department. In addition, those municipal corporations which are not cities, towns or villages must furnish to the department monthly financial information. In almost all cases, the department is able to assist municipal corporations in resolving their financial difficulties.

Under section 192 of the Cities, Towns and Villages Act, section 192 of the Hamlets Act, and section 196 of the Charter Communities Act, a municipal administrator may be appointed when a municipal corporation is incapable of meeting its financial obligations. When the council of a municipal corporation fails to perform a duty required of it by legislation, or if the Minister is of the opinion that for other reasons it is in the best interest of the municipal corporation that it be under the control of a municipal administrator.

It is on this legal basis that a municipal administrator was appointed for the town of Iqaluit.

The present procedures provide extensive periods of time for the department and a municipal corporation to resolve problems and to agree on corrective action arising from municipal evaluations. The process ensures frequent and extensive dialogue. The mandate assigned by Cabinet for the Department of Municipal and Community Affairs and the departmental establishment policy is for the development and maintenance of local governments, responsive and responsible to the residents. The emphasis of the department has been on positive collaboration with municipal governments, with a view to increasing their authority and responsibility.

The procedure for the appointment of a municipal administrator and the dissolution of a municipal council, although provided for in the municipal legislation is, and always has been regarded as an extreme and unfortunate remedy of last resort. Even then, the mission of the municipal administrator is always to get the administrative matters back in order as quickly as possible so that the elected municipal government can be restored.

The policy focus of the department should continue to concentrate on regular municipal inspections, cooperative dialogue and other preventive measures to avert situations requiring the appointment of municipal administrators, rather than on making procedural modifications which might actually have the effect of making conditions easier for the appointment of municipal administrators.

I have a second return to oral question, Mr. Speaker, asked by Mr. Lewis on November 24, regarding options open to the Minister of Municipal and Community Affairs, re the Iqaluit situation, which I was unable to answer yesterday.

The options available under the present legislation to the Minister of Municipal and Community Affairs to deal with the type of situation found in the town of Iqaluit are limited.

Sections 192 to 205 of the Cities, Towns and Villages Act make specific provision for the conditions under which a municipal administrator may be appointed by the Minister, the authority and responsibility of the municipal administrator and other matters. One feature of the Cities, Towns and Villages Act which restricts the legal options available to the Minister in extreme cases of breakdown of municipal incorporations is that the appointment of the municipal administrator, under section 193 of the Act, automatically means the retirement of the municipal council with full vacancies on the council until the ministerial order appointing the municipal administrator is revoked and new elections are held.

The Department of Municipal and Community Affairs is prepared to develop options for possible amendments of the Cities, Towns and Villages Act and other municipal legislation to allow for the provision of additional administrative and advisory support of municipal councils in extreme difficulty, without the need to go directly to the last resort of appointing a municipal administrator and retiring the council. Thank you.

Item 4, returns to oral questions. Item 5, oral questions. Mr. Lewis.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My heart pounded with excitement when I received the copy of Mr. Morin's minister's statement which read "reinstatement of federal funding for social housing." I'd like to ask the Minister, why is his statement entitled, "reinstatement of federal funding for social housing" when there is no indication in the rest of the text that it is being reinstated?

Minister Morin.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Just for the Member's information, that's what I've been working on, reinstatement of the federal funding for social housing, so that's why it reads that. Thank you.

Supplementary, Mr. Lewis.

Thanks very much, Mr. Speaker. In the text of this ministerial statement, we learn that the Honourable David Dingwall was sympathetic to our social housing problems. How exactly was that sympathy reflected in the communication that the Minister had with this Minister of Housing?

Minister Morin.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the Minister was, to me, very committed to take up our cause and take it to Cabinet on behalf of us, to try to reinstate federal funding to the NWT. It's not his decision alone but he seemed, to me, very sympathetic and very committed and understanding of our issues. Thank you.

Supplementary, Mr. Lewis.

Thanks, Mr. Speaker. In several other meetings that the Minister has had with his counterpart in the federal

government, we have heard things like, "sympathetic to our social housing needs," "clearly understanding," "the several factors which make us different," "the commitment to fully review our concerns and needs with staff," and yet nothing has happened. My question to the Minister, how different was this meeting with this Minister, as compared with previous meetings with the Honourable Elmer MacKay?

Minister Morin.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The biggest difference between now and the meetings we had with the previous government -- previous Ministers -- previous Ministers of the CMHC were committed to try to help us but they couldn't get it on the agenda. It's as simple as that. The previous government was preoccupied with leadership conventions. They were preoccupied with elections. They were preoccupied with constitutional development and no one wanted to really address the issue. The way I read this, you have a new government. The Minister is committed to take it to Cabinet and represent our cause there, to try to get the reinstatement of funding. Thank you.

Final supplementary, Mr. Lewis.

Thanks, Mr. Speaker. Does the phrase then, "to fully review our needs and concerns with his staff and seek support from his Cabinet colleagues", mean that he will take this concern to the Cabinet so that it will be discussed in that forum?

Minister Morin.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. That's my understanding. Thank you.

I'd like to take this opportunity to welcome in the visitor's gallery, Mr. Tom Zubko, Deputy Mayor of Inuvik, and Mr. Dennie Lennie, Chairman of the Inuvik Community Corporation.

---Applause

Item 5, oral questions. Mr. Pudlat.

(Translation) Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I know my question has been asked before in the House. I have asked about it and made a Member's statement on it. I would like to ask the Minister of Transportation...It's been quite a number of years, I don't know exactly how many years it's been, but we need a new airstrip in Lake Harbour. This has been a concern for quite a long time and there doesn't seem to be any progress on it. Can the Minister of Transportation provide an update as to what year we will be getting a new airstrip? If we keep planning for the future...I know it costs a lot, but prices are going up on everything. I wonder if the Minister of Transportation has any idea when they will be doing the airstrip in Lake Harbour. Thank you.

Mr. Todd.

The short answer at this time is that, of course, the financial resources are not available to look at improving the airstrip in Lake Harbour. However, we were successful, as I indicated earlier in my Minister's statement, in securing money under the previous government that enabled us to improve and move ahead some of the airport projects.

I recognize the importance. It's a long, outstanding issue with Lake Harbour. It will be part of our overall strategy to try to get some long-term funding through a joint initiative between the federal government and ourselves. However, at this time we simply don't have the resources. I want to assure the honourable Member, that is my intention -- and he will see in the transportation strategy that it's part of that -- as we move forward in the coming months to discuss with our federal counterparts the idea of a joint initiative. Hopefully, we'll be able to secure some long-term money to bring the Lake Harbour airstrip and others up to the standard that will meet our future requirements. However, I don't have the money at this time, but I want to assure him that it is in our overall strategy. Thank you.

Supplementary, Mr. Pudlat.

(Translation) Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Supplementary to my question to the Minister of Transportation. We are aware that there are no funds available at this time. We only get twin otters in our community. There's a lot of cargo and the plane is usually full. The present airstrip we have is in a very dangerous situation. We can't get all the cargo in or out. For that reason, I wonder if the Minister of Transportation -- as he indicated before -- Mr. Speaker, maybe he can update me as to what stage they're at now, if the funding will be available in the future. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Todd.

Mr. Speaker, I want to assure the honourable Member that we are taking a hard look at it. Within the next three to four years, based upon the joint initiative we took with the federal government, we'll be able to complete almost every airstrip in the Northwest Territories where we have some difficulties, whether it's in Fort Good Hope, Pelly Bay, Coppermine or other areas. I believe, if my memory serves me correct, there are two communities that need a little more

attention. One is Lake Harbour and the other one, the one Mr. Zoe keeps telling me about, of course is Rae-Edzo.

I want to assure the Member that both these airstrips are part of the plan. I intend to go to Ottawa in the new year to see if there is any room for negotiation, if there is the possibility of developing a joint initiative between the federal government and the territorial government. If there is, I want to assure him the expansion of the Lake Harbour strip and Mr. Zoe's will be on the table and on the agenda. Thank you.

Item 5, oral questions. Mr. Ningark.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My question is directed to -- as I indicated in my statement -- the Minister of Education. Mr. Speaker, I've had the privilege of going to work, going back home every day -- when I choose to -- by taxi. If the weather is nice, I'll walk. When the weather is bad, very cold, I take a taxi. This is not the case for most of the little kids we have as part of the population of the NWT. I'm talking about white, Dene and Inuit. They could be our children, more appropriately they could be our grandchildren, but they're kids anyway. Sometimes they have to venture outside to walk over to the school in 40, 50 or 60 below zero weather and sometimes in a storm. I asked the Minister, during the Third Session of the 12th Assembly, whether the Minister of Education has a policy in place to allow the community to acquire busing services and programs. Thank you.

Mr. Nerysoo.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I did respond to a similar question asked by Mr. Pudlat, previously. I want to indicate to the honourable Member that the matter of student transportation funding will be part of the normal formula financing arrangement we will, in future, have with the divisional boards of education.

There is a supplementary appropriation in this House that requires the support and approval of Members. Once that approval has been given, we will then apply the criteria for bussing which is that funding will be provided for students: five to six years old if they live .5 kilometres or more from the school; students seven to ten if they live one or more kilometres; and, students 11 and over if they live 1.5 kilometres or more from school. Hopefully, with the support of Members in this House, we will be able to equitably finance the divisional boards to ensure there is funding for student transportation.

I did indicate to the honourable Member, Mr. Pudlat, previously, that one of the purposes for us introducing the criteria and guidelines was for the ministry, myself, to really be out of the business of determining the kind of transportation services to be offered by any divisional board or any community. My personal feeling is it should be left up to the divisional boards and the CEC to resolve those particular matters, as long as the financial resources as provided to those boards to make those decisions.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It is one of the facts, Mr. Speaker, that the Kitikmeot region has, to a degree, been neglected. Would the honourable Minister assure me there would be a fair distribution of funds to the region? Thank you.

Minister Nerysoo.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The honourable Member, yes, every student will be, and every divisional board will be, treated equally. The formula will apply on a per capita basis.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My question is for the Minister of Transportation, with regard to his Minister's statement today. Mr. Speaker, the Minister indicated he had signed an agreement with the federal Minister of Transportation for $10 million in additional federal funding to upgrade and improve transportation infrastructure across the Northwest Territories. I'd like to ask the Minister of Transportation, how was this funding deemed to be allocated for transportation infrastructure across the territories?

Mr. Todd.

Do you mean how was the decision made as to where the money should be spent? I don't want to make a long story, but I may as well tell you the history of this thing.

Last Christmas, there was an announcement made by the previous federal Minister, Mr. Mazankowski, that there would be a significant infrastructure, half a billion dollar program, across the country. It is my understanding -- and I stand to be corrected, of course, by Mr. Pollard who is the Finance Minister -- that the Northwest Territories wasn't a part of any discussion that took place to get some of this money.

Through Mr. Pollard's efforts and others, we were able to get, as they say, on the agenda. The federal Department of Transportation has made up their mind they were going to put the money in infrastructure that it already had money in place to do. I was determined to ensure that the $10 million we were trying to get would be in projects that would be reflective of our needs across the territories.

The federal Minister of the Department of Transportation wanted to put the money somewhere else. On top of that, we had the former Minister of Indian Affairs -- the now deposed, the Honourable Tom Siddon -- sorry, defeated I meant -- who also wanted to put the $10 million into hydrographic work in the Coppermine area. Again, I felt this was not the kind of priority that this government and this Assembly would support.

Based on consultation -- I had to do this thing in a hurry -- it was during the Christmas period, I remember, because it was done long distance. I was in St. Paul, Quebec. Based on the advice I got from the department, based on looking at what I thought the needs were and the direction I wanted to take the department -- and that is the improvement of the basic infrastructure in the territories -- and based upon the fact that Members from the east had indicated a need for some marine infrastructure, and the Members in the west had asked for upgrading of their airports, I decided, in consultation with the department in one day, to put the money where it currently sits.

Supplementary, Mrs. Marie-Jewell.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It's interesting that this Minister is in consultation with his department to determine where the money should be spent. It's generally the practice of this particular Minister to consult Members of this House, where we feel we should advise the Minister where the money should be spent. In the Minister's statement today, all this funding for transportation is to look after airports -- which I certainly welcome -- to also look after breakwater and wharves. I see an improved resupply facility in Rankin Inlet, even though we took funds out of the budget to attempt to address that. Mr. Speaker, I'd like to ask the Minister why have no funds from this $10 million, from the federal government, been addressed to look after any of the highways across the territories? Thank you.

Mr. Todd.

I inadvertently forgot to tell you that the federal government had to approve where this money was spent and public highway infrastructure wasn't part of the agreement. You're right, the Member is correct, I have said and I believe I have done significant consultation in my role as the Minister of Transportation and the other portfolios I have. In this particular case, I was given 24 hours to try to put together something that I felt was reflective of the needs of the Northwest Territories.

If I may, for a moment, just go through it. Deline airport, it was my understanding that was a priority of that particular area. There are some serious accidents that have occurred there, resulting in death, as in Fort Good Hope, Pelly Bay, and all airports that needed improvement, et cetera. The upgrade of the Coppermine airport, I felt was absolutely priority one. I remember saying that because of the Izok Lake project and perhaps the ability for Coppermine and the people of Kitikmeot to be a major player in the development. The Snare Lake airport construction, I think that goes without saying. On the hydrographic survey work, that was a concession I had to make at the time with the Minister of Indian Affairs, to ensure I got the rest of it because he wanted all of it. The Pangnirtung harbour, to me, was an obvious one. We have a significant fishery in that area, I understand somewhere between 30 to 40 people are involved in that activity and I felt at the time that it was an economic initiative. The Coral Harbour marine facilities, similar. Rankin Inlet, it goes without saying, we've discussed that already in the budget. I believe that I'll be able to demonstrate clearly in March, somewhere between $1.5 million and $2 million worth of savings to this government, money which can be put to better use elsewhere. The Iqaluit marine facility, that's a long, long, long history. I thought in my best judgement, we should stop deploying for a reasonable marine facility in that area because of the long, complicated and costly expenditures incurred with the unloading of their sea-lift on an annual basis.

So, there was a rationale for every expenditure. I didn't have the opportunity at the time to discuss it with everybody. Highways were not part of the agenda. I think, more importantly, we managed to get most of the dollars spent in areas certainly that both the federal Department of Transportation and the Department of Indian Affairs didn't want us to spend it on. Thank you.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I didn't ask the Minister to justify where he was going to spend the money, I just wanted to know why none of the funding wasn't allocated for highways. However, Mr. Speaker, I'd like to ask the Minister a supplementary question, with regard to his Minister's statement. He has indicated in his Minister's statement, and I quote, "A total of $1.5 million has been allocated to improve a marine resupply facility in Rankin Inlet. This will support improvements to resupply activities in the Keewatin aimed at major cost-savings." I would like to ask the Minister, why has he allocated $1.5 million of these funds to improve a marine resupply facility in Rankin Inlet when this House just yesterday, I believe -- or the day before yesterday -- deleted $50,000 for pre-engineer studies? Knowing that this was done, he came in to make a Minister's statement stating this funding will be allocated. I would like to ask the Minister why. Thank you.

Mr. Todd.

My Minister's statement was based upon the agreement that we signed previous to the recommendations being provided by the Standing Committee on Finance, and which I believe I have responded to in a positive manner. Thank you.

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

My last supplementary, Mr. Speaker, with regard to recognizing the motion that has gone through this House, with respect to the capital budget. I'd like to ask

the Minister, does he still intend to allocate these funds, even though a motion to delete funding for a pre-engineering study has been passed in the House?

Mr. Todd.

I thought I had answered that while I was up before on my budget. You have passed a motion recommending certain action to take place. I've acknowledged that motion is going to take place. I've acknowledged your action, and I will act accordingly.

I'd like to take this opportunity to welcome, in the gallery, Mr. Les Carpenter from Sachs Harbour. He is with the Inuvialuit Regional Corporation.

---Applause

I have Mr. Whitford, next.

Mr. Pollard.

Mr. Speaker, the denturist in question was licensed by the Government of the Northwest Territories on June 22 of this year. The license allows the denturists to make upper plates, total plates and total lower plates. I will admit it doesn't allow this particular person to make partial plates. I realize the problem. The legislation at the present time does not cover partial plates. There were some reasons for that, because partial plates are usually in the vicinity of teeth that are still connected to the person, still alive.

---Laughter

(Microphone turned off)

Yes, the teeth and the person.

---Laughter

For that reason, Mr. Speaker, at the time this act was put together, it was felt that because of pressures that could be put on those teeth et cetera, that that was best left with a dentist.

Mr. Speaker, the status at the present time is that the gentleman in question, the denturist, will meet with the assistant deputy minister of Health on Wednesday of next week. We have inquired from three provinces as to how they're treating this particular situation, and their legislation is coming in to show us what they're doing. We understand Ontario is considering a change, possibly Alberta. If that's the case, and we can come to an agreement with the denturist, then I will make every effort to consult with the Dental Association and make changes to the Dental Mechanics Act, Mr. Speaker. Thank you.

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

Mr. Pollard.

Mr. Speaker, we've sought advice from Justice as to how we could accommodate this particular situation. Justice has told us the revisions that need to be made. But I would stress to the House, Mr. Speaker, that I have not yet instructed the department to start that review process to change the legislation. It is not a difficult thing, it is fairly simple to change. But first of all, I would like the department to sit down with the denturist to find out exactly what he wants to do and I would like to sit down with the Dental Association to discuss the issue with them. We can see if we can come to some agreement on what changes should be made in this act. There may be other problems we have to look at as well and I

would just as soon deal with the whole issue as deal with it piecemeal, Mr. Speaker. Thank you.

Item 5, oral questions. Mr. Dent.

Minister Todd.

(Microphone turned off)

---Laughter

That is a heavy question. Mr. Speaker, I don't know.

What?

Supplementary, Mr. Dent.

Mr. Todd.

I want to assure the honourable Member that I will deal with that matter post haste and ensure that it doesn't happen again. Thank you.

Item 5, oral questions. Mr. Antoine.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My question is for the Minister responsible for Transportation with regard to his Minister's statement today. The Minister stated that he has negotiated $10 million with the federal government to develop a high priority transportation project. He also indicated that the federal government was reluctant in beginning to spend these funds in territorial priorities. In earlier questioning, he indicated that the federal government had already set some projects they wanted to work on and the Minister was able to succeed in making a strong case with the projects of the territorial government. I would like to ask the Minister which projects the federal government has in mind in doing the work with the $10 million that he succeeded in negotiating.

Minister Todd.

Good question, Mr. Chairman. They wanted to upgrade the Hay River and Norman Wells airports that were already built. It is important to point out that they already had those dollars in their budget and it was just a ploy, in my opinion, for the federal Department of Transportation to get some additional dollars. So, it was their intent to upgrade the Hay River airport and do work in the Norman Wells airport where we had just finished doing a major airport terminal building.