Item 5, oral questions. Mr. Whitford.

Minister Mike.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. None.

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

Minister Mike.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As Mr. Whitford knows, while he was the Minister, the Upassuraakut board for Iqaluit was in the process of establishing themselves. That is in place now and the other community he is talking about is Pangnirtung, which is my community. The hamlet has decided to sign the contribution agreement, in light of the very young people who are under the age of 13, who have been doing some solvent abuse. It was the hamlet of Pangnirtung counsellor's wish to get the contribution funds to try and educate the community about solvent abuse for the young people. The majority of the community was concerned, if the very young people were sniffing substances, that it was very dangerous. In light of that, the hamlet of Pangnirtung has discussed this problem and agreed to sign the agreement for education and awareness of solvent abuse. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Item 5, oral questions. Item 6, written questions. We'll take a short recess.

---SHORT RECESS

I call the Assembly back to order. Item 7, returns to written questions. Mr. Clerk.

Mr. Speaker, return to written question 2-12(4) asked by Mr. Lewis to the Minister of Public Works and Services concerning community POL sales.

The GNWT uses a cross-subsidy program where communities with low-landed costs pay a small amount more to offset communities with high-landed costs. This program was established in the early 1970s to ensure that all communities throughout the north could have access to petroleum products, at retail prices that were not excessive.

Item 7, returns to written questions. Item 8, replies to opening address. Mr. Ng.

---Applause

Mr. Ng's Reply

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. With the great potential, over the next several years, for mineral development in the NWT, and particularly in the Slave geological corridor, north of Yellowknife to the Arctic coast near Coppermine, the NWT has the opportunity to get in at the ground floor and maximize the business and employment opportunities for northerners. In the Kitikmeot, with the Izok Lake development of the Metall Mining Corporation in the planning stages for start of construction, the Kitikmeot Inuit Association is currently finalizing negotiations of an Inuit impact benefit agreement with the mining company, as allowed under the Nunavut land claims agreement.

Mr. Speaker, my concern for this area of the NWT without any settled land claims rights, is that local, regional and territorial interests and concerns may be bypassed and ignored by some mining companies, as there is no group or organization in power to protect their interests. The authority and jurisdiction for mining, exploration, and development in the NWT has, and continues to be, with the Government of Canada. I believe it is the government's responsibility to protect the NWT interests in ensuring that mining developments do not proceed, unless northerners are deemed to be maximizing their economic benefits from these developments.

Hear, hear.

Mr. Speaker, with respect to the potential sale of the NWT Power Corporation, I can state that a majority of my constituents and I oppose the privatization of the Power Corporation until such time as we are assured that the existing subsidies will continue and the long-term interests of all northerners are protected.

With regard to the establishment of a northern workplace commission, I have some serious reservations about the apparent needless expenditures of close to $2 million to review labour matters. If it is intended to support the establishment of back-to-work legislative powers for the GNWT, then I support it even less.

On more positive initiatives from the government, I do support their initiative to lobby for funding to develop the transportation infrastructure in the Slave geological corridor. I truly believe this initiative, if successful in establishing an all-weather road, will open up the NWT to a new boom era, which will benefit the entire Northwest Territories and the entire country, if developed in an orderly manner.

Mr. Speaker, I also support the government's building and learning strategy, the staff housing strategy, and the community transfer initiative. I believe these programs are geared toward strengthening our communities and serving the needs of our residents in a more effective manner. With regard to the government initiative to develop a comprehensive strategy, to map out the needs and requirements for educating and training our human resources, although I support this initiative, I wish to point out that there are some immediate training and upgrading needs relating to the mining industry which I feel the government should pursue as a priority.

In conclusion, Mr. Speaker, although we can not ignore our social program needs, I believe our government must take the lead role, with the support of this Assembly, in addressing our high unemployment factor. The government must do this through their continued support of small business, the development and support of our growing renewable resource sector, and a commitment to ensuring that all northerners maximize the benefits from future mining developments.

The GNWT's support of these activities must not only be from developing and enforcing policies, but through a priority to implement a comprehensive strategy for education and training our human resources, a priority to negotiate a mineral accord to protect NWT interests, and a priority to maximize the utilization of our renewable resource sector.

Mr. Speaker, we only have two years to go before a new leadership takes office. Let's all do our utmost in our remaining term to improve the lifestyle of all our residents. Mahsi.

---Applause

Thank you, Mr. Ng. Item 8, replies to opening address. Item 9, petitions. Item 10, reports of standing and special committees. Item 11, reports of committees on the review of bills. Item 12, tabling of documents. Mr. Nerysoo.

Item 12, tabling of documents. Mr. Allooloo.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I wish to table, Tabled Document 42-12(4), a letter to the Housing Corporation from Mr. Merkosak, dated September 6, 1993.

Item 12, tabling of documents. Mr. Lewis.

I would like to table, Tabled Document 43-12(4), a letter from Mr. Barry Taylor to Emily Overbo, the chief territorial firearms officer. There has been a gap in communication between these two people. It is about the request to have approved range status, several hundred kilometres from here to attract tourists.

Item 12, tabling of documents. Mr. Clerk.