Thank you, Mr. Whitford. Good afternoon. Orders of the day, item 2, Ministers' statements. Mr. Todd.

Mr. Speaker, most residents of the Northwest Territories would agree that alcohol abuse poses a frightening risk to the health and happiness of our communities. At the same time, the reality is, for many people, responsible and moderate liquor consumption has become an accepted part of the contemporary Canadian lifestyle. As Minister responsible for the administration of liquor control in the Northwest Territories, I would like to take this opportunity to announce a significant initiative that will relate directly to this government's role in the sale, distribution and regulation of liquor products.

As you are aware, Mr. Speaker, the territorial Liquor Act sets out the framework for our current liquor control practices. This legislation provides for the sale and distribution of liquor, for the issuances and monitoring of liquor licences, for local options systems that allow communities to exercise some jurisdiction over liquor control, and for a number of other key regulatory areas.

Last month, I wrote to honourable Members of this House to indicate that I was planning to carry out a comprehensive review of the Territorial Liquor Act. Today, I am pleased to advise that we will be proceeding immediately with this initiative.

Mr. Speaker, although this act has been amended several times over the years, the principles and substance of our liquor control legislation have not been examined in detail since 1969, when the Choquette report recommended that former Commissioner Hodgson should bring in the existing regulatory system. The act is now over 23 years old and it is badly in need of an overhaul. It is time, particularly considering the recent reminders provided through addictions awareness week and by the tabling of the final report of the Special Committee on Health and Social Services, to get serious about improving our liquor laws.

In launching this initiative, I want to assure honourable Members that the review will be driven by a process of public discussion and community consultation. The Department of Safety and Public Services will be undertaking an ambitious communication strategy to find out how NWT residents want to see liquor products regulated. It is not going to be good enough to simply copy liquor control models from other jurisdictions. We need legislation that reflects the values, the priorities and the ideas of people in communities all across the Northwest Territories. We need a made-in-the-NWT approach.

The intention is to bring forward a legislative action paper outlining new and positive approaches to liquor regulation around this time next year. Once the House has had an opportunity to review these principles carefully, we will proceed to draft a new Liquor Act.

It will be important to count on the participation of the Liquor Licensing Board and the participation of MLAs and their constituents. This venture simply can not succeed without extensive involvement by individuals, groups and communities throughout the Northwest Territories.

Recently, we have seen a number of good examples of the way public participation, and input from Members of this Assembly, can be instrumental in the development of liquor policy. For instance, there have been repeated requests from the public, from the Standing Committee on Finance, and from individual Members of this House for a fresh look at the privatization of certain public operations.

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to inform the House that, earlier this year, Cabinet did in fact approve the privatization of the liquor warehouse distribution centres in Inuvik, Hay River and Norman Wells. These initiatives have now been successfully completed.

In August, many Iqaluit residents turned out at the liquor licensing hearings to express their opinion about the prospect of a new cocktail lounge. The members of the Liquor Licensing Board listened carefully to their views and denied the application. This sort of public participation has proven to be an important component in licensing decisions and is something we want to encourage at every opportunity.

Issues have also been brought to the our attention, very recently, by a number of parents and school authorities who have been concerned about the availability of low-alcohol beverages currently being sold openly in convenience stores and grocery markets. We are now acting quickly to put effective mechanisms into place that will restrict the sale of these products to youngsters.

---Applause

Mr. Speaker, these are only a few examples of what can be accomplished when people get directly involved in the development of government liquor policy. There are many others. I am certain that, by working together during this comprehensive review of the Liquor Act, we will succeed in crafting new legislation that is effective, balanced and reflective of northern values. Thank you.

---Applause

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

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

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, it has been 11 years since the Special Committee on Education produced its report, Learning Tradition and Change in the Northwest Territories, and seven years since the report of the Task Force on Aboriginal Languages. Since then, there have been fundamental changes in the economy and in political and constitutional development, as well as in education, culture and employment in the Northwest Territories.

The shape of government itself is also changing. The current Legislative Assembly has emphasized the importance of planning, the delivery of quality programs and the importance of reporting and measuring program results.

The establishment of the Department of Education, Culture and Employment in August 1992, has provided opportunity to use program resources more efficiently and effectively by creating stronger links between cultural programs, child day care, education, training and employment development. This consolidation, coupled with the current climate of change throughout the NWT, provides my department with an excellent opportunity to consult with northerners to ensure that our programs and services will meet the needs of the future. As a result, the department is developing a strategic plan to guide the direction and delivery of education, culture and employment programs to the year 2010.

During the spring and summer, information was collected from our many partners, from the general public and from department staff. From this information, we have established some general directions in the document called, Towards a Strategy to 2010, which the department is proposing to use for more extensive consultation.

The document identifies a number of principles upon which the future direction of education, culture and employment programs can be based.

These include the principle that decisions be made as close to the community as possible. If programs and services are to meet community needs, people in the community should have more say in directing the design and delivery of services.

The document is also based on the principle that culture is fundamental to individuals, to communities and to institutions. Culture should be the foundation of all our programs and services the Department of Education, Culture and Employment offers.

Another principle addresses the need for a solid base of knowledge, skills and attitudes on which people can build and develop skills for life. Learning should be a process that begins in early childhood and continues through elementary and secondary schooling, and throughout adulthood.

Strong reading, writing and math skills are essential today and will continue to be important for the future success of our students. These skills are necessary for developing an educational foundation for the future. In addition, employers are looking for new and improved skills in technology, communication and problem solving.

Part of a teacher's role today is to help students develop these basic skills and to support students so they can learn how to learn, in order to meet the continuing challenges of a rapidly changing world. The role of students is to approach their education responsibly. The support of their parents and communities is essential for their success.

Mr. Speaker, we are living in a globalized society in which information is essential for growth and development. In order for the people of the Northwest Territories to take their place in such a society, they must have access to information. Rapid advancements in technology are opening new avenues to sharing information. Our existing networks for distance education, school and public libraries, television, radio and telephone, should be linked to form the base for a comprehensive information network for people of the Northwest Territories, making information sharing a reality in the north.

The strategy has three critical elements, strengthening and developing partnerships, improving our programs and services, and using our resources more effectively and efficiently.

Mr. Speaker, as I travel around the Northwest Territories, I have recently become aware that there is a sense of change among northerners and a renewed sense of optimism. For many years, northerners have looked forward to land claims and the division of the territories and these things are now becoming realities. We are at a key point in the development of the Northwest Territories and my department wants to ensure that our programs and services are able to meet the changing needs of northerners. The directions for the future proposed in the consultation document need to be debated by all stakeholders in education, culture and employment and the public in general. The comments and directions we receive will shape the development of a final strategy to be completed in the spring of 1994. This strategy, in turn, will guide our programs into the next century. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Nerysoo. Item 2, Ministers' statements. Item 3, Members' statements. Mr. Whitford.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Since the late 1960s, the Department of Indian and Northern Affairs Development has provided financial support to assist in the development of policing arrangements for Indian communities. It has entered into a variety of arrangements with band councils in most provinces for the provision of policing services.

Aboriginal communities, not unlike other segments of Canadian society, have experienced a rapid growth in crime. Coupled with this situation are the concerns raised by Indian leaders about the adequacy of policing services and their ability to deal with the unique needs of aboriginal communities.

Currently, there are approximately 74 communities covered by the First Nations Policy. Not one of those communities are in the north. Mr. Speaker, the policy was developed in 1991. Our government has only made initial inquiries about the options available under this program. The benefits of First Nation community police forces are too significant to pass over.

This is an opportunity for each community to determine how and by whom they will be policed. More importantly, it is an opportunity to ensure that policing will be sensitive to culture and beliefs. It is time for this government to recognize that the aboriginal policing and justice administration is of significant importance to the Dene and Inuit of the Northwest Territories.

It is time for this government to respond to the needs and desires for aboriginal policing in this territory and begin to walk down the path to developing the programs appropriate to that aspiration. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Listening to an interview with the federal Minister of Finance, Mr. Paul Martin, last night, he confirmed what Canadians had feared most: the federal deficit is much greater than anyone ever predicted. In fact, the deficit, between $44 and $46 billion, is frightening.

Against this gloomy picture, it is obvious to me that we can't be very optimistic about special assistance from the federal government to deal with our deficit reduction problems until we've exhausted all possibilities of dealing with it ourselves.

I believe the new federal government will be required to take very tough measures. I believe we will be judged on our ability to do likewise. Our weakness on the revenue side -- our limited ability to raise taxes -- means government will have to reduce and revise its expenditure priorities.

In my view, this means that, for the foreseeable future, we should go slow on the creation of more levels of government and the intended expense for new bureaucracies. Our priorities should be on infrastructure, especially transportation, housing and training facilities and the concentration on the development of our human resources and on attracting outside capital.

I don't believe our current economic problems in Canada are related to the constitutional failures of the Meech Lake and Charlottetown Accords, it is much deeper than that. It relates to our inability to pay for the services that people have come to expect. I believe the next couple of years would be best spent dealing with economic matters and on the practice of good government, rather than more constitutional wrangling and the creation of even larger bureaucracies and more government, as we develop new forms.

On this issue, we should follow the lead of the Prime Minister. He has decided that constitutional talks should rest for a while. If we must continue, it should be a low-cost activity and a low-key activity, while we attend to the real business of good government.

---Applause

Thank you, Mr. Lewis. Item 3, Members' statements. Mr. Kakfwi.

Thank you, Mr. Kakfwi. Item 3, Members' statements. Mr. Pudlat.

(Translation) Mr. Speaker, we have radio stations in our smaller communities. They are a very valuable asset to the communities. Under budget restraint, the contribution grants for $6,000 in smaller communities seems too small for operating radio stations. When we are in our constituency, it is very difficult to release money to operate radio stations.

In my own community, we always have to contribute money to radio stations since we do not get enough contributions or grants from the government. Mr. Speaker, the $6,000 have been in the plans for I don't know how many years. Perhaps, sometime, we could have these contributions raised for operating radio stations. Mr. Speaker, the contribution amount for $6,000 is the one I'm talking about.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to take a couple of minutes of Members' time today to speak on a matter which many of the people in the eastern Arctic are concerned about. Over the past few days, we have listened attentively to discussions about difficulties that some of the Members are having, and this has to do with the highways.

Mr. Speaker, I wish that we, in the east, would have highways to speak of. This, however, is not the case. For too many years, the Government of the Northwest Territories has been preoccupied with the comforts of southern Canada and how those comforts could be brought up north. In doing so, it has concentrated on the western Northwest Territories and not the whole of the Northwest Territories. In fact, I believe that to be the case today.

The concern I am raising has to do with access roads. Mr. Speaker, Mr. Todd has made reference to this a number of times in this House, and I appreciate that. However, once again, the indications that we receive in the east are that there are no policies on access roads. There is a major difference between access roads and highways.

Access roads which are being requested would be used mainly by hunters, trappers and fishermen. This is where I have difficulty. While we were at a meeting of the hamlet council in Baker Lake, early this month, a representative of the Department of Transportation stated that a policy on access roads would have to be created which deals with recreational roads.

Mr. Speaker, why would a policy on access roads have to be created? Are there not any access roads in the west? How is it that the Government of the Northwest Territories is able to make roads in the west and not in the east? I would like to point out that a hunter from the south would be considered a recreational or sports hunter, but when you come into a community, of which the majority are aboriginal people, the hunters and fishermen are not recreational hunters. They are actually trying to feed their families. I have stated many times, when Inuit hunters are hunting, they are hunting for food. They are hunting to supplement the food they receive from Social Services or from their employment. This is true, at least, in the communities which I represent.

They are not out there hunting to show what...

Mr. Arngna'naaq.

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. Arngna'naaq.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker and honourable colleagues. The hunters are not out there hunting to show what game they have caught to their friends. They are working with the little resources they are able to acquire. I would like to encourage Mr. Todd and the Department of Transportation to complete this policy, in whatever shape it is going to take, with utmost haste. Thank you.

---Applause

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to advise this House today of a young Metis lady in my constituency and her accomplishments in the field of aviation. Valerie Cairns is a young Metis lady, born and raised in Fort Smith and graduated from PWK High School in 1987. Valerie Cairns is the daughter of Delphine and Carl Cairns, who must be very proud. Mr. Speaker, Valerie spent two years in Abbotsford, BC, pursuing her goal of becoming a commercial pilot. She took her flying lessons at Coastal Pacific Aviation and the necessary academic courses at Fraser Valley College. Valerie received her commercial pilots' licence in May of 1992, her multi-engine endorsement in December of 1992, and her instrument endorsement in April of 1993.

Mr. Speaker, Valerie started working as a commercial pilot for Northwestern Air Lease on September 1, 1993. She has already qualified as a first officer on the Metro II and on the Beech 99. The president of Northwestern Air Lease says that Val is a very good pilot, with excellent potential, and is a valuable addition to the staff of Northwestern Air Lease.

Mr. Speaker, Valerie Cairns is an excellent role model for the youth of today. A young woman of aboriginal descent pursuing a career in a non-traditional occupation serves as an example to all youth of the Northwest Territories. It sends a message that if you put your mind to it, you can accomplish anything.

---Applause Mr. Speaker, I know it gives me a great feeling of pride as an MLA to fly home seeing her as a co-pilot. I personally look forward to the day when I return to my riding in Fort Smith in an airplane flown by Captain Valerie Cairns.

Hear, hear.

---Applause

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

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I have a return to an oral question asked by Mr. Ng on November 22, with respect to communities unable to fulfil their municipal cap provisions.

With regard to the Member's supplementary question on the number of municipalities in financial difficulty, I would advise that those municipal corporations requiring debt recovery plans are those that are in positions of financial difficulty. Under the Cities, Towns and Villages Act, the Hamlets Act and the Charter Communities Act, municipal corporations are not supposed to incur deficits from one fiscal year to the next. Currently, there are seven municipalities in various stages of a debt recovery plan.

The municipalities for which debt recovery plans are in place are the hamlets of Cambridge Bay, Arctic Bay and Clyde River. In all three cases, improvements are being made to their financial administration and the outlook for their financial recovery is good. In the hamlet of Pangnirtung, a three year debt recovery plan was completed in one year, due in part to the hiring of a qualified financial controller. The hamlet is now out of debt.

In the town of Iqaluit, a debt recovery plan is now being prepared under the direction of the municipal administrator.

In the hamlets of Lake Harbour and Igloolik, debt recovery plans are being developed by the hamlet councils, in consultation with the Department of Municipal and Community Affairs. Thank you.

Item 4, returns to oral questions. Item 5, oral questions. Mr. Allooloo. I am sorry, Ms. Mike.

Mr. Speaker, you didn't see me raise my hand, but I have a return to an oral question.

Ms. Mike, we are on oral questions. Item 5, oral questions. Ms. Mike.

Mr. Speaker, I seek unanimous consent to go back to returns to oral questions.

The honourable Member is seeking unanimous consent. Are there any nays?

(Microphones turned off)

Could you please turn on your mike and make your request again, Ms. Mike, for the record?

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I am seeking unanimous consent to go back to returns to oral questions.

Thank you, Ms. Mike. The honourable Member is seeking unanimous consent. Are there any nays? There are no nays. Please proceed, Ms. Mike.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I have a return to oral question asked by Mrs. Marie-Jewell on November 23, on the alcohol and drug board of management. The decision to eliminate the board of management was made on April 13, 1992, by the Cabinet. At that point, the funding to operate the board was removed from the department's budget. However, at that time, the grants and contributions policy for Social Services required the board of management to review and make recommendations on all new requests for funding. The department reallocated money internally to allow the August 12,1992 meeting of the board to review new proposals.

Mr. Speaker, I have two more returns to oral questions.

I have a return asked by Mr. Antoine on November 24, 1993, on alcohol and drug policies. Mr. Speaker, the department takes, very seriously, the views and recommendations coming out of the various conferences on alcohol and drugs held over the years.

The 1984 Fort Churchill conference Mr. Antoine referred to was an important milestone, in terms of providing input into the development of the alcohol and drug programs.

However, the program has evolved since that time. For example, the June, 1987, document entitled, A Model for the Development of Alcohol and Drugs Services in the Northwest Territories, which was tabled and discussed in the Legislative Assembly, provided the basis for further development.

The department is now in the process of completing an overall strategic plan. One of the major components of that plan will be a strategy to address alcohol and drug addictions. The alcohol and drug workers' conference, held in Yellowknife in March of 1993, marked the beginning of this process.

The recommendations coming out of that conference, the information and ideas generated at the solvent abuse conference held last week, together with the results of consultations that are now under way, will guide the final drafting of the strategy. This plan is expected to be completed in the fall of 1994.

I have another return to oral question, asked by Mrs. Marie-Jewell, on November 24, 1993, on a revised directive for alcohol and drug projects. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to inform the Members of this House that later today, I will be tabling the Department of Social Services' grants and contributions policy, schedule A-4, the directive respecting alcohol and drug services, community projects.

Thank you, Ms. Mike. Item 4, returns to oral questions. Item 5, oral questions. Mr. Allooloo.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to ask the Minister of Education whether this government has enough resources to start French schools where they are necessary, French first language instructions where there is a demand? My question is, has the department got enough resources to address that concern? Thank you.

Mr. Nerysoo.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I just want to indicate to the honourable Member that, under the present situation, there is only one French first-language school and that is here in Yellowknife. In terms of other schools, the potential for those costs is to be provided by the Government of Canada, but there are criteria to determine where numbers warrant those schools. In those particular cases, the schools will be considered but only where the situation results in the appropriate numbers.

Supplementary, Mr. Allooloo.

I know my friend from Iqaluit is here, but I would like to ask the question to the Minister. Would that department have enough resources to start a French school in Iqaluit, which has a significant Francophone population?

Mr. Nerysoo.

Mr. Speaker, first of all, that would depend on whether there is a request that has been submitted by the parents of that particular community for a French first-language school. Secondly, it would depend on whether the submission and proposal meets the criteria that have been established under the languages agreement between this government and the Government of Canada. Generally speaking, the Government of Canada is totally responsible for paying for the issue of French first- language education. We would have to work out the terms and conditions with the Government of Canada.

Supplementary, Mr. Allooloo.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I know that the federal government has made about $12 million available to our governments in Canada, both the provinces and territories, last May. My understanding is that our government was the only government that did not apply for that fund. Is that true, Mr. Speaker?

Mr. Nerysoo.

Mr. Speaker, I just want to correct a suggestion that there was funding available and we did not apply for funding. The fact was that when the announcement was made, I believe that it was $112 million by the Secretary of State, those resources were for the governance of schools. In other words, it was for the setting up of boards or management structures in order for those agencies to have responsibility over school programming. That was the case.

In fact, in that situation, the Northwest Territories and the Yukon were not part of that particular announcement and were excluded by the Government of Canada from that funding. We have since indicated to the government Secretary of State and the Government of Canada and through working with the Yellowknife French Parents Association and Federation Franco-Tenoise, that there is a need for the Government of Canada to respond to requests for governance and for the Government of Canada to pay all costs for governance of French first-language schools. We are, in fact, submitting a proposal and request to the Secretary of State for that funding.

Item 5, oral questions. Mr. Koe.

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, earlier today the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment Programs made a statement on a discussion paper, Towards a Strategy to 2010. In the statement, he talked about the department developing a strategic plan to guide the direction of delivery of education, culture and employment programs and also said that, "we have established some general directions in the document called, Towards a Strategy to 2010". My question to the Minister, is there a document available, or will the Minister be tabling a document some time today in this Assembly?

Mr. Nerysoo.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. If the honourable Member will give us a chance to get through the order paper, I certainly will be tabling an appropriate document. In fact, I'll be tabling two documents, one in English and the executive summary in Inuktitut.

Supplementary, Mr. Koe.

Unfortunately, I don't have control over the order paper. I would like to ask a supplementary, Mr. Speaker. In various committees of this Assembly, the Minister has been quoted as saying that, "the strategy will be ready by this fall." I'm just wondering if the time frame has now changed because I note in his statement that the strategy is going to be complete in the spring of 1994. I was just wondering if this is a change in the timing of the strategy.

Mr. Nerysoo.

No, Mr. Speaker. The honourable Member may be incorrect. In fact, the suggestion that was made previously was that a draft document, a discussion paper, would be developed. The time table of that was also provided to the House and the standing committees. It is according to the agenda that was proposed in the number of remarks I had made previously.

We will conclude our final discussion by the spring, hopefully by April of this particular year. It may be approved by this session in February, March and April.

Item 5, oral questions. Mr. Arngna'naaq.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My question is to the Minister of Transportation. I would like to know how soon we can expect to see a policy on access roads. Thank you.

Mr. Todd.

The policy for access roads is complete. It will be reviewed by the Cabinet very, very shortly. We have made provision in the budget, based on the input we received from MLAs last year. Mr. Ningark, in particular, spoke forcefully about the need for one. I'm optimistic that it should be approved by the end of this session. The dollars are in the budget and it has been approved by the Legislative Assembly. We'll be able to proceed forthwith, with discussions in communities to work out cost-sharing arrangements to build these access roads as early as the new year. Thank you.

Item 5, oral questions. Supplementary, Mr. Arngna'naaq.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. There have been requests for access roads in both Baker Lake and Arviat. Baker Lake, in particular, in addition to the request for access roads, had requested a bridge so that the hunters would not have to cross a river. With these requests, the department came back to the hamlet council stating that they would like to look at the making of this bridge again. I would like to find out from the Minister whether we would be able to proceed with the making of this bridge this coming summer. Thank you.

Mr. Todd.

Well, optimistically speaking, we would like to be able to do that. However, as I said to the honourable Member, we do intend to initiate discussions immediately after the policy is approved. Baker Lake and Arviat are two of the communities that have requested that discussions take place with the department. I can't commit, at this time, as to whether the bridge will be able to be done this summer. But, I will commit to the honourable Member that we will initiate discussions as quickly as possible in the new year. The bridge is part of the access road into White Hills, I believe. I want to assure the honourable Member, if it is at all possible, we will endeavour to do exactly that. Thank you.

Item 5, oral questions. Mr. Whitford.

Mr. Todd.

I would like to point out, first of all, Mr. Speaker, that the gentleman camped outside is one of 44 and he has chosen to demonstrate his frustration by doing that. However, there are 43 other appeals under consideration at this time. I have been advised by the chairman of the WCB, Mr. Gilmour, that the board considered a proposal developed by Mr. Bourque, the chairman of the appeals committee in which he asked for the financial resources to sit for six months to try to deal, as quickly as possible, with this unfortunate situation and the length of time it takes to deal with appeals.

The board of directors have given approval, in principle, to the proposal, pending total approval of the operating budget at the next meeting of the board on December 13. So, we have approval, in principle, to proceed with a six month sitting of the appeals committee to deal urgently with the 44 appeals we currently have and the three that are pending. I'm optimistic, with Mr. Bourque's support, that we will be in a reasonable position six months from now and that these appeals will be heard.

I think it is also important to point out, if I may, that an appeal is an appeal. Based on what I've read and what I've seen, approximately 20 per cent of the appeals are overturned. Thank you.

Item 5, oral questions. Mr. Lewis.

Yes, thank you, Mr. Speaker. In 1977, we created an Education Act which replaced the old Education Ordinance. Though there have been some amendments to it, we still operate under the provisions of the act of 1977 -- February 1977, I believe it was. My question to the Minister of Education is, are there any plans to write a new Education Act?

Minister Nerysoo.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As I indicated to the honourable Member for Yellowknife South earlier during this session, yes there is and I will be making a statement on that particular matter, outlining the framework with which we are going to proceed with the work. We will be coming forward in January with the actual consultation document, itself, and we will be proceeding with the actual, totally revised Education Act -- at least according to the time table -- in the fall of 1995.

Supplementary, Mr. Lewis.

Thanks, Mr. Speaker. It has been about 16 years since we've had a new Education Act. I notice that the document today provides for a strategy for the next 17 years. My question is, is the work that is being done now based on the act that we currently have? Or is this strategy for the next 17 years going to have to be developed on the basis of a new act that may come at some time in the future?

Mr. Nerysoo.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. We would have to consider both. The fact is, our present legislation has been amended a number of times. In some cases, the legislation is not really reflective -- and in fact, is contradictory to -- new amendments that already have been approved in this Legislature.

The other thing is, there are circumstances such as governance. In other words, this Legislature has agreed to accept that divisional boards and district boards of education exist. While we have provided some amendments, there is still a great deal for us to allow for general governance of educational programs that don't exist right now.

The other point that I want to make is, if the honourable Member could allow me to clearly articulate in this House through a statement in the next week or so I will be able to clarify some of the issues that are related to the changes. The problem with trying to indicate the changes right now is that the consultation document will outline the framework of many of the changes that are going to be dealt with. It is difficult for me to articulate those issues right now without developing the consultation document.

Supplementary, Mr. Lewis.

I would like to ask the Minister, is this document, Towards a Strategy to 2010, is that the document that would be used for public discussion leading toward the creation of a new act? Is that the purpose of this document?

Mr. Nerysoo.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. This whole matter of the documentation itself and the strategy are to articulate and clarify the whole matter of this government's responsibility and direction we wish to take for educational programming. The Education Act is the manner in which we govern the whole educational area. There have been many changes that have taken place, but there are some things that we have to resolve: Our responsibility for improving programs and services that are not under the Education Act; our responsibility for things like dealing with using our resources, whether it's financial or human resources, much better; dealing with developing partnerships such as private enterprise, with government assuming responsibility for education; Arctic College responsibility for post-secondary education. All these issues are a broader matter, but the Education Act deals with the legislative issues such as the matter of governance, whether or not it's French or English first-language programming.

The other responsibility is dealing with such issues as attendance in schools. Those kinds of things that are more specific in the Education Act. This is generally the direction, as was the case of the Special Committee on Education which developed a framework, and within that we amended the legislation to create things like Arctic College, the boards of governance and those things. I think, as the honourable Member indicated, these need a major overhaul and the consultation document will clearly articulate those issues.

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

Thanks, Mr. Speaker. I'll just try one more time. Would the Minister confirm that this document, Toward a Strategy to 2010, is not the vehicle that he intends to use in order to devise some kind of framework for a new Education Act?

Mr. Nerysoo.

Mr. Speaker, there are two issues. One, this framework generally gives the direction, as was the case on the previous Special Committee on Education. What we're basically doing in this direction is developing a framework of our educational services and programs and the direction we wish to take. This, in the final analysis, could have a very large influence on the Education Act, but that is only one aspect.

There are more specific changes that need to be dealt with in the Education Act. Those issues will be specifically dealt with in the Education Act consultation document.

There are two documents: one, the general framework we wish to undertake for education; and, secondly, a more specific Education Act which will give us the mandate and legislative power to implement the directions we wish to take with the new strategy.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, in recognizing the Minister's statement made today, regarding the River Ridge incident, the Minister of Justice indicated to this House that there will be some immediate changes in security practices at River Ridge. Mr. Speaker, I'd like to ask the Minister of Justice, can he advise this House as to what type of changes in security will these be? Thank you.

Mr. Kakfwi.

Supplementary, Mrs. Marie-Jewell.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The Minister got up and made a significant Minister's statement. However, he fails to indicate, to this House, what type of changes he is proposing, or his department is proposing. He fails to know what type of changes they are proposing. Therefore, I would like to ask the Minister, would he determine what type of immediate changes in security practices at River Ridge is his department proposing, and advise this House accordingly? Thank you.

Minister Kakfwi.

Supplementary, Mrs. Marie-Jewell.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It's somewhat disappointing as a Member to listen to Ministers make statements and not be able to justify or clarify what they've said in this House. I'd like to ask the Minister, since he has indicated in his statement in this House this afternoon that there will be some immediate changes in security practices at River Ridge, and since he has stated that these changes are confidential in nature, my concern is the concern of the public in my constituency. I'd like to ask the Minister if he can, somehow, clarify his statement to give comfort to my constituents, to ensure that are security practices that are going to implemented in the River Ridge facility, and to avoid these types of incidents from reoccurring. Thank you.

Mr. Kakfwi.

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

My last supplementary. He still hasn't answered my first question. Mr. Speaker, I know that the Minister stated that they are going to review and try to avoid these types of incidents from happening in the future. I recognize that he said these changes may take time. But, in his statement in this House, he said, "There will be some immediate changes in security practices at River Ridge." All I want to know, to give comfort to my constituents, is what are the immediate changes? Can he, somehow, answer simply? Thank you.

Mr. Kakfwi.

(Microphone turned off)

Item 5, oral questions. Mr. Ng.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My question is to the Minister of Transportation. It is with regard to Coppermine's marine problems, as they relate to the sand and silt in the Coppermine River being deposited from the mouth of the river along the shore of the community. It has caused over the years, a shallow water situation, anywhere from a quarter to half a mile away from the shore. This year, the sea lift had to operate half-loads on their barges into Coppermine, as they have been grounded in shallow water for the past few years. NTCL has indicated to the community that they may have to adjust their rates to take into account these circumstances. My question to the Minister is, is he aware of this problem and if so, what are his plans to address it?

Mr. Todd.

I am aware of the problem with respect to NTCL and because of the requests for local wharfage made by the community when I was there. But, I wasn't aware of the problem as it related to silt and NTCL coming in with half-loads. Sorry.

Supplementary, Mr. Ng.