Thank you, Mr. Lewis. Good morning. Orders of the day for Friday, December 3, 1993. Item 2, Ministers' statements. Item 3, Members' statements. Mr. Lewis.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Last night, Mr. Whitford spent several hours in the Explorer Hotel, while many of us were sweating it out with the Western Constitutional Development Steering Committee. But I think he spent time to much better advantage than we did. He was fortunate enough, Mr. Speaker, to meet women called, "Diamonds in the Rough." There were nine of them who were featured on a calendar, which has been produced by these women geologists. The proceeds for the calendar will go the Walter Gibbins memorial fund, which was established in 1992. These funds will be used to purchase scientific texts and other learning materials for schools throughout the NWT.

Mr. Speaker, this calendar was inspired because the women have been rather upset by a very macho article that appeared in a national magazine showing Marlborough Country type men sitting on heavy machinery, looking across the tundra with visions of great wealth. So they decided, instead of writing an article of outrage to the editor, they would produce their own calendar. This calendar contains people like: "Wildcat Wanda," who is sitting with her packsack; "Pahoehoe Pattie," who is sitting on a float of a float plane; "Kimberlite Kate," who is also on a piece of heavy machinery wearing a hard hat; "Polymetallic Pam; and, "Geophysical Jennifer." I won't go through the whole calendar because Members should really get this calendar for themselves and see what I consider to be a wonderful statement about women, by women, and the statement is so powerful. I wish people would do it more instead of being outraged. They should use humour to make a point, which is wonderfully stated in this calendar. Thank you.

---Applause

Thank you, Mr. Lewis. Mr. Lewis, I think today you are an honorary "diamond in the rough." Item 3, Members' statements. Mr. Gargan.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I will try to use humour to make a point. Mr. Speaker, when I was driving back to Yellowknife from one of my weekend trips, on November 29, it suddenly hit me -- a spruce hen, that is.

---Laughter

I would like to assure the Members that I wasn't speeding and it was definitely the chicken's fault. Mr. Speaker, they do considerably less damage to your vehicle than a bison. As I continued on my way, I got to thinking about this spruce hen and I had this sudden inspiration. Mr. Speaker, the spruce hen is a strange bird. As we all know, they are members of the grouse family of birds and are not the smartest in the world. As a matter of fact, Mr. Speaker, when you ring or cut off the necks of these birds, they will keep going because they are not smart enough to realize they are dead.

---Laughter

Some people have even speculated that if someone cut off my head I would continue talking.

---Laughter

Mr. Speaker, spruce hens are grey and white in colour and, from a distance, look like they might be eligible for affirmative action. The interesting thing about them is once you clean them, you never know what colour the meat is going to be or what they will taste like. As we all know, Mr. Speaker, these birds eat spruce needles and store them in a little pouch in their throat for late-night snack purposes. They also eat gravel to aid in their digestion, so they taste gravelly.

Lately, Mr. Speaker, some of these chickens are on the chip seal portion of the highway between Yellowknife and Hay River, so they have this unique northern/southern taste, the sprucey, tarry kind. Mr. Speaker, the reason I am going on about these spruce hens is I am trying to use them as a symbol for one of my favourite causes, the gradual assimilation of native culture by the overpowering influence of Euro-Canadians. Over the last ten years, I have sometimes wondered if I have been successful in getting my point across.

Mr. Gargan, your allotted time has elapsed.

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, honourable Members. Mr. Speaker, spruce hen are dark on the outside, but after cleaning the meat can be red or white. So, for the purpose of my statement, I'm going to call the red meat chickens, "Indian chickens," and the white meat chickens, "white chickens." You can never tell by looking at one of these birds what colour the meat will be on the inside. Mr. Speaker, as an expert on wildlife, I know that when you simmer an Indian chicken long enough, the meat will turn white.

The chicken doesn't stand alone, Mr. Speaker, in this case. There is also Indian pork that turns to pork chops and also the Indian calf that turns to veal. Mr. Speaker, my people are a lot like the spruce hen in this respect. They are in this great melting pot, being overwhelmed by white cultural influence, at the detriment of their own culture.

Mr. Speaker, the pot is boiling and the Indian chickens are getting well-done. We may not be able to put out the fire under the pot. Mr. Speaker, I urge this government to support programs, like the DCI's healing program I spoke about earlier this week, programs that encourage cultural awareness amongst aboriginal people. It is a proven fact, Mr. Speaker, that people who have pride in their heritage and pride in themselves are less of a strain upon social programs. Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.

---Applause.

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

Mr. Whitford, your allotted time has elapsed.

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

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I would like to comment on Ministers' absences from this Legislature. Mr. Speaker, since the opening on November 17, there have been only three days when all Ministers have been available to this House. Although the Cabinet may believe all of these absences were necessary, I would like to advise that it has been noted by Members that the working of the House has been seriously hindered by the absences of Ministers.

Some of these absences could have been handled in a different manner, ensuring that the work of this House continued at a steady pace. It has impeded the ability of this House to proceed with the review of the budget as originally planned. On behalf of the Ordinary Members' Caucus, I would like to ask that Ministers make every effort to be in attendance at all proceedings of the House in order that we might expeditiously complete the business of the House and better serve the people of the territories. Thank you.

Thank you, Mrs. Marie-Jewell. Item 3, Members' statements. Item 4, returns to oral questions. Mr. Morin.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I have a return to an oral question asked by Mr. Pudlat on December 2, 1993, about Public Works and Services maintenance positions in Sanikiluaq. The department has two positions in Sanikiluaq, a power plant operator/supervisor and a settlement maintainer.

The power plant operator/maintenance supervisor position in Sanikiluaq has been vacant for five months. The department is now operating the plant through contracted services. Responsibility for the operation of the Sanikiluaq power plant is scheduled to be transferred to the NWT Power Corporation in April, 1994. The NWT Power Corporation will be hiring a power plant operator who will be replacing the department's contracted services. The department did not want to staff a position that is scheduled to be transferred to another organization.

The settlement maintainer position has been vacant since the end of May, 1993. A Sanikiluaq resident was hired on a casual basis, for June and July. A plumber with the department, in Igloolik, handled maintenance responsibilities until mid-September. Since then, the department has contracted with a Sanikiluaq company, J T Ann Construction, for maintenance services. Two staffing competitions have been held. The first was unsuccessful. The second competition has just recently closed and the results should be known shortly. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Morin. Item 4, returns to oral questions. Madam Premier.

Mr. Speaker, I have a Return to Oral Question asked by Mr. Ng on November 24.

Mr. Speaker, mineral development in the NWT has the potential to provide significant opportunities for training and employment of northern residents, for new business development and new public infrastructure.

We must work in partnership with the industry, aboriginal organizations, our communities and the federal government to remove barriers and secure commitments so that benefits flow not only from new projects, but also from ongoing exploration and production activities.

These and many other issues will be addressed in a comprehensive NWT mineral strategy, which is presently being prepared and will be available for public consultation in the very near future.

Mining can be a very uncertain business. Projects may or may not be built, or could be delayed many years. The actions we take, in relation to potential projects, must therefore be compatible with their timing and status.

For mining projects which have proceeded to the advanced exploration and feasibility study stage, such as diamond properties and Izok Lake, infrastructure issues must be addressed at an early stage, due to their long lead times necessary. Led by the Minister of Transportation, we have devoted considerable effort to raise awareness of, and support for, construction of a road to link our existing road system to new mining properties and the proposed port near Coppermine.

The Department of Energy, Mines and Resources and the NWT Power Corporation have been working with mining companies for a number of months, on studies to identify sites for new hydroelectric facilities. A study has also been completed on the possible use of oil from the Mackenzie Delta for these new projects.

Ongoing efforts to increase literacy and encourage residents to return to school are vitally important to ensuring that northerners benefit from new employment opportunities. The government will also be investigating the feasibility of transportation subsidies to offset higher costs of travel for workers who live in remote communities. In order to assist us in making decisions on investing for new jobs, the Department of Energy, Mines and Petroleum Resources has commissioned a study on the financial benefits the GNWT receives as a result of new jobs being created in the mining industry.

The planning and implementation of training programs needs to track the status of potential new projects, depending on whether they are at advanced exploration, the feasibility study stage or construction and operation. For proposals such as Izok Lake, we have completed the necessary advance work to assess the skills of potential workers in the Kitikmeot communities to refine the actual job profiles. The actual training programs are being developed through Arctic College.

With several properties now being bulk sampled for diamonds, work on skills assessment and job profiles for diamond projects in the Lac de Gras area will need to start up in the new year.

Prior to construction of a new mine, a training package with the new operator needs to be finalized. For example, discussions will begin shortly on a training package for the Colomac Mine.

A benefits agreement must be entered into, between a mining company and the relevant aboriginal organizations or our government, prior to the start-up of a new mine. The GNWT has provided funding to the Kitikmeot Inuit Association to support their negotiations for the critically important IIBA with Metall Mining Corporation for the Izok Lake project.

Arrangements on business opportunities would be captured in a benefits agreement for a new project. A study on strategies to improve NWT business opportunities related to the ongoing mining and exploration activity in the NWT was planned for completion last summer, but was delayed due to several unforseen problems. We expect it to be available by January, at the latest. The Department of Economic Development and Tourism is also planning to establish an office to handle industrial benefits from major projects.

We are pursuing the devolution of responsibilities for minerals. Devolution will enable us to obtain a share of the revenues from mining activities, will give us legislative powers over the management of territorial benefits and the ability to more effectively encourage and promote increased mining activity for the long-term benefit of northerners.

Mr. Speaker, a great deal of work is being done to ensure that benefits from mining activities accrue to northerners. This covers some of the highlights. I will also be tabling a paper about our overall approach to mining. Thank you.

Thank you, Madam Premier. Item 4, returns to oral questions. Mr. Nerysoo.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. This is a return to an oral question that was asked by Mr. Charles Dent, on December 2, 1993, regarding the child day care symposium delegate selection.

Eighty-six delegates from across the Northwest Territories participated in the recent child day care symposium held in Yellowknife on September 24 to 26, 1993.

Licensed child care programs, child day care committees and other interest groups were each invited to select one representative to attend the symposium. To ensure representation from every community, invitations were sent to the hamlet offices where there were no licensed child day care programs or active child day care committees.

A comprehensive report of the proceedings is currently being printed and will be forwarded to each delegate. As well, all delegates will be receiving -- and MLAs have received -- the summary of recommendations from the symposium. These recommendations will assist the department in the development of a child day care policy.

Thank you, Mr. Nerysoo. Item 4, returns to oral questions. Item 5, oral questions. Item 6, written questions. Item 7, returns to written questions. 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. Allooloo.