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

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. During the last two years Members of this House have been raising concerns about the seven communities that have no telephone service.

During the summer, the CRTC made several rulings that limited the scope of the rate increase. Final arguments were filed in September. The CRTC decision is expected in December. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The Department of Public Works and Services is working to transfer responsibility for its maintenance programs in Cape Dorset and Holman. The department has entered into a memorandum of understanding with the hamlet of Cape Dorset. The maintenance employees in Cape Dorset now work for the hamlet administrator.

The department has now contracted with the hamlet of Holman for maintenance services in that community. These arrangements are providing the hamlets with maintenance experience before the implementation of community transfer agreements, scheduled for next spring.

I am pleased to be involved with these agreements. The department will continue to cooperate when other communities initiate transfer discussions. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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

(Translation) Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The hamlet of Sanikiluaq has the authority to run their housing association. The Sanikiluaq Housing Association is having problems with their financial statements. As a Member of that area, we are asking for assistance to get the budget in order. As well, in Iqaluit, the housing corporation office should be able to assist the hamlet to take over the housing authority. I would like to ask the government, Mr. Speaker, to assist the Sanikiluaq Housing Association.

Item 3, Members' statements. Mr. Gargan.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Today, I rise to speak about certain insurance companies operating in the Northwest Territories. I used to think that sometimes during question period I got the run-around by the honourable Ministers. I wish to state, for the record, that the Ministers are mere amateurs when compared to the run-around I recently received at the hands of my insurance company.

---Laughter

---Applause

Mr. Speaker, I am sure most Members of the House recall the arguments my truck had with the bison.

---Laughter

Mr. Speaker, the end result of the bison incident was that my truck insurance quadrupled from $600 per year. At the time of the renegotiation -- and I use the term "renegotiation" very loosely -- I determined that under the new and improved rate I was being charged, there would not be much point in getting glass coverage for my vehicle. That was not a hard decision on my part because the insurance company wished to charge me more than what a new windshield was worth for this coverage.

Mr. Speaker, on November 13, the small side window of my truck was broken. As a good, conscientious citizen, and not having had any recent run-ins with the highway patrol, this wanton act of destruction was duly reported to the proper authorities. Now, is where the plot thickens, Mr. Speaker.

I decided that since I carried vandalism insurance, it might be possible to recoup from my insurance company the $160 I had to pay to replace my window. Mr. Speaker, this was not to happen. For, you see, Mr. Speaker, vandalism does not cover glass. If someone took a hammer to my vehicle and smashed up the body of my truck, that would be vandalism. However, if the same person took the same hammer and smashed my window, this would not be considered vandalism. For the window to be covered under my insurance, it would have been necessary for the perpetrator of this destructive act to break the window and steal my vehicle. Mr. Speaker, this makes a lot of sense.

---Laughter

Mr. Gargan.

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

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker, and honourable Members. Mr. Speaker, this makes a lot of sense. If a person who broke a window manages to get the truck started and manages not to roll or wreck it, and if the truck is ever found again, the insurance company will replace the window. However, if the person who broke into your truck is not the brightest thief in the world and can't figure out how to steal your truck, you're out of luck for getting any money out of the insurance company.

Mr. Speaker, now I thought I might be getting somewhere -- I have theft coverage. I thought to myself, what would happen if the next time an incident like this occurred? If the person steals something from my vehicle, something like my gun rack, I would be covered. Would I be reimbursed for my gun rack and my window? Mr. Speaker, apparently, gun racks are not considered part of a vehicle, therefore not only would I not get reimbursed for my gun rack and window, the window would not be covered because nothing was stolen.

---Laughter

I don't know if I'm making any sense here, Mr. Speaker. My gun rack was spared the attack the last time I saw my truck.

---Laughter

Mr. Speaker, I have advice for any residents of the Northwest Territories. Don't assume anything. Ask questions of your insurance agent. Find out that everything you have is covered. I know the next time I get insurance, I will be making sure that myself and my insurance agent have the same interpretation on what my insurance actually covers. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

---Applause

Thank you, Mr. Gargan. I'd like to take this opportunity to welcome to our Assembly, Mr. Roger Gruben, Chairman of the Inuvialuit Regional Corporation, and there's a delegation of other Gwich'in and Inuvialuit leaders, most of whom I introduced yesterday.

---Applause

Item 3, Members' statements. Mr. Koe.

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to inform Members of important and significant events in the Beaufort/Delta region. Later today I will be tabling a proposal

for the restructuring of public government in the western Arctic. This proposal acknowledges that community governments are paramount. In fact, it describes regional governments as a partnership of communities. This regional government will be formed by communities.

As Members know, the Gwich'in and the Inuvialuit maintain, by virtue of the Inuvialuit and Gwich'in land claim agreements, the right to negotiate self-government agreements. It is significant to note, however, that the Inuvialuit, Gwich'in and non-aboriginal people have come together to develop a proposal for the restructuring of public government. The preference for a public forum of government reflects the desire of all groups within the Inuvik region to work toward common goals and a common future in the region.

This public government will be equitable, inclusive and universal. The Gwich'in, Inuvialuit and the municipalities believe that since this form of government will be community and regionally-based, it will be cost-effective, efficient and representative.

This regional government will have the authority to pass laws and set standards on a regional level, and will assume certain authority currently held by either the territorial or federal governments. In this way, local and regional decision-making will be maximized. To the greatest extent possible, community governments will assume responsibility for delivering programs.

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

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

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. The proposal maximizes legislative authority in the region, improves the quality of government programs and secures a strong future for the region in a new western territory.

Mr. Speaker, the reshaping of government institutions in the western Arctic can be achieved either through the western constitutional process, self-government negotiations undertaken by the Gwich'in and the Inuvialuit, or a combination of both. I can assure Members that the people of the region are committed to the western constitutional process and are hopeful that it reaches a successful conclusion.

The Constitutional Development Steering Committee process is under way and there should be no difficulty in incorporating this proposal into the work of the committee so that a western Arctic regional government will be compatible with the future structure of a western territorial government. However, I must also point out that the people of the western Arctic know what they want, in terms of restructuring public government, and may pursue any number of measures to achieve their goals.

The Gwich'in, Inuvialuit and municipal governments acknowledge that the reshaping of public government in the west, and the formation of a regional government, must coincide with the establishment of a Nunavut government in the east. This regional government will be governed by a regional council of elected community representatives.

Each member community will elect one regional councillor. Two additional regional councillors and a mayor will be elected at large. In this way, the needs of the communities and the needs of the region can be represented. In this proposal, Mr. Speaker, community governments are recognized as paramount. Communities will also judge this proposal when residents vote, in community by community plebiscites, to opt into the regional government.

The intent of this proposal is not to isolate the western Arctic, but to create new relationships. Just as the people of the western Arctic share common goals and values, residents of the region also share a relationship with the people and institutions that make up the remainder of the Northwest Territories. The creation of regional government will not impair this relationship. The challenge is to create a regional government that can enjoy a complementary relationship with a central government.

Mr. Speaker, in conclusion, let me remind Members that the Northwest Territories is already regionalized. The administration of this government is based on regions. Regions are also defined by geography, language and culture and there are regionally-based land claim agreements.

The Inuvialuit, Gwich'in and municipalities realize that other people across the western Northwest Territories may be interested in this proposal. They have indicated to me that they are prepared to make presentations to any interested parties to explain the proposal. Mahsi. Qujannamiik.

---Applause

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I would like to congratulate Karla Van Pelt, a resident of my constituency, on receiving the James H. Harrison bursary from the Science Institute of the Northwest Territories.

---Applause

Mr. Speaker, Ms. Van Pelt was born and raised in Fort Smith and is currently in her third year in paleobiology at the University of Saskatchewan. This is the first year for the awarding of this bursary and I'm proud that a resident of my riding was chosen for this award. This bursary is for the amount of $3,000 and is awarded by the Science Institute, in memory of Dr. James Harrison, who was the founding chair of the Science Institute board of governors.

After Karla Van Pelt finishes her degree, she plans to return to the north, hopefully Fort Smith, and work for either Parks Canada or our own Department of Renewable Resources. Mr. Speaker, we need more northerners trained in the sciences working in our government and helping us, as political leaders, to make intelligent and informed decisions for all the residents of the Northwest Territories.

Mr. Speaker, I congratulate the Science Institute for promoting science as a viable career path for northerners of the territories. Thank you.

---Applause

Item 3, Members' statements. Mr. Arngna'naaq.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to, once again, raise an issue that the community of Arviat has been concerned about for many, many years. This issue has to do with the quality of water service to the community. For many years, the community was receiving water which was from a still lake, meaning there was no flow into the lake, nor any flow out of the lake, except to the community reservoir.

This past summer, the Department of Public Works spent funds to correct this problem, with the sponsorship of the Department of Municipal and Community Affairs. A local contractor was hired to construct a line from a creek where the people of the community go to pick up ice from. I should note that they only hired local people to construct the line.

I was stopped by the Anglican minister when I was last in Arviat, to pass the on communities' appreciation for the new water line to the Minister of Public Works and to the Minister responsible for Municipal and Community Affairs. Although it was not from a creek which the majority of people would have liked to receive their water from, it is better than Mikilaaq Lake.

I stated before, that a previous Minister of the 11th Assembly was served water with some contaminants. Mr. Speaker, I would therefore like to inform Members of the Cabinet that it is now safe. Now they are invited to come into Arviat any time. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

---Applause

Thank you, Mr. Arngna'naaq. Item 3, Members' statements. Mr. Whitford.