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

Item 2, Ministers' statements. Item 3, Members' statements. Mr. Ng.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I hope you've all had the opportunity this week to sample the jerky, pepperoni, sausages and the roasts all made from muskox. These products were processed in the Kitikmeot foods facility located in Cambridge Bay. I hope you all enjoyed them as I was happy to have been able to provide them. As we all know, we have also had the pleasure of sampling the local white fish and pickerel provided by Mr. Lewis, and buffalo from Mr. Gargan's road kill program. I believe the qualities of these products have clearly shown that our northern country foods can, and should, displace some of the southern imports.

Mr. Speaker, it is my understanding, in discussions with my honourable colleague from Yellowknife Centre, that he entered into a negotiated contract for the cooking of his white fish and pickerel which he so graciously supplied last week. As we all know, Mr. Lewis has raised concerns regarding negotiated contracts. I'm sure he agonized over the decision of whether or not to negotiate this particular contract. Mr. Speaker, I, as well, carefully contemplated the possibility of entering into a negotiated contract. However, in the end, my political intuition advised me against it. I wasn't quite satisfied that I could identify significant economic benefits to local individuals, with the exception of one cook. The other critical factor in my decision against a negotiated contract was the fact that a large majority of the muskox products, specifically the roast, were precooked in Cambridge Bay. Mr. Speaker, although I support the concept of negotiating a contract where significant local economic benefits will be derived as a result of the contract, I'm sorry to say that in this particular circumstance it couldn't be done. Thank you.

---Applause

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, on November 8, 1993, the Canadian Council of Catholic Bishops, appearing before the Royal Commission on Aboriginal People, made 11 commitments to the aboriginal people of Canada. The Catholic Church of Canada, through this proclamation, has apologized for previous excesses suffered at the hands of organized religion, such as the abuse of aboriginals in residential schools operated by the Catholic Church.

They have also expressed their regret that aboriginal people lost their right of free expression and celebration of their spiritual life, as a result of aboriginal contact with European culture. They have also said that the church will continue to support aboriginal desire for self-government in concrete and public ways. Also, Mr. Speaker, the church has committed itself to organizing local forums where healing and reconciliation can occur, to benefit those members of the aboriginal communities who have been abused in residential schools or other church-sponsored institutions.

Mr. Speaker, I applaud the commitments made by the Catholic Church to the aboriginal people of Canada. The Catholic Church now appears to be completely behind the aspirations of aboriginals everywhere in Canada. Mr. Speaker, there are several programs that must be offered to aboriginals, in order for us to realize our goals. We must be afforded adequate housing, in order to break the vicious cycle of overcrowding and poverty. We must, as a government, implement the recommendations of the Special Committee on Health and Social Services to make the programs offered by these agencies more accessible to all residents of the territories.

Mr. Speaker, programs such as a First Nations policing program must be looked at seriously by this government. We must give the Dene, Inuit and Metis people of the Northwest Territories the mechanism to pursue our rights to self-determination. Mr. Speaker, the Catholic Church has committed itself in this process of self-determination. We, as a government, must not just state our support for the principles of self-determination. We must act on this belief in a timely and equitable manner. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, on behalf of the Ordinary Members' Caucus, it was noted that on November 29, in this House, the Minister of Social Services reported the increased expenditures her department has made in social assistance food rates. Most important was her reference to increases that were made this past October.

These increases resulted from changes in the food scales, based on the 1991 food price survey. In her words, and I quote, "For a family of four, the changes will mean increases of up to $280 per month." However, Mr. Speaker, what the Minister failed to mention was that the changes in the food scales did not result in increases for everyone. While total expenditures will go up, and while there are increases in many communities, many other communities saw their food rates stay, essentially, unchanged.

Some of these are the larger communities of Yellowknife, Hay River, Fort Smith and Inuvik. A few communities, namely Holman, Gjoa Haven, Pelly Bay, and Taloyoak, actually saw food rates decreased. Mr. Speaker, the fact is, even after these adjustments to the food rates, the amount provided by Social Services to families on social assistance is not enough. The food rates in most communities only provide for 50 to 70 per cent of the cost of a nutritious food basket, as defined by the federal government.

Although this concern was expressed by the Special Committee on Health and Social Services, the government has not acted. The October adjustment in the food rate scales still means, that on average, a family on social assistance only receives enough to buy about two-thirds of a nutritious food basket, or less. The Minister told the House on March 18, 1993, that, and I quote, "The matter of food allowances remains a priority concern of our government. Members can be assured that they will receive serious review and consideration over the next few months."

Mr. Speaker, Members don't feel that the recent changes reflect a serious review. The issue is that the food rates are not enough to adequately feed families in the north. Members believe that a serious review would address that issue, and not just tinker with the system in place. Thank you.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, on December 1, 1993, CBC Mackenzie reported on government contractual practices in Fort Simpson. Mr. Miller of the radio station interviewed a Mr. Schober and Mr. Rowe, regarding the awarding of contracts by direct negotiation, in Fort Simpson. Mr. Speaker, Mr. Schober, in this interview, stated that his company in Simpson is barely holding out, for the lack of business due to direct negotiations that the NWT corporation has executed with the band in Fort Simpson.

Mr. Speaker, Mr. Schober has received substantial contracts with the band for mechanical and plumbing work in the 1992-93 building year, as well as this current, 1993-94, building year. The Fort Simpson band says that it is making sure that the best interests of the whole community are being looked after, by ensuring the community businesses are receiving benefits from their own contracts. We have awarded contracts to community businesses even though they are not the lowest bidders, to make sure local businesses have a fair share.

They have done a labour and community breakdown with regard to this year's access projects. For the materials, supplies and sub contracts, just about half of the funds have been spent in the community. Just over half have been spent in the north, and only $216.29 was spent in the south. All of the labour dollars have been spent in the community. The Fort Simpson band membership represents approximately 70 per cent of population of the community.

Historically, opportunities for economic development and equal access to employment for the Dene has been sadly lacking. Not once have outside companies, such as those interviewed, sub-contracted the band for work, when they have been awarded contracts, themselves. The negotiated contracts with the Government of the Northwest Territories have allowed the band to make commitments to training its membership. This year we have 11 trainees registered under the construction worker training program. They have four registered carpenters' apprentices, as well as three tradesmen who are presently in the process of documenting experience and skill upgrading so they may challenge the trades certification exam.

If this contract had gone to a competitive bid, they would not have been able to afford to do all this training. At the completion of their training program, these individuals would be able to access employment...

Mr. Antoine...

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. Antoine.

At the completion of their training program, these individuals will be able to access employment that is equal in pay and benefits with the majority of people in the north. The Fort Simpson council states that it wishes to express their appreciation to this government for the existence of the negotiated contracts. Without these awards, the band membership, the majority of the people in this community, would continue to be denied the rights and opportunities taken for granted by other residents of the Northwest Territories. Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.

---Applause

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

Thank you, Mr. Whitford. Item 3, Members' statements. That concludes this item. Item 4, returns to oral questions. Mr. Pollard.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I have a return to an oral question asked by Mrs. Marie-Jewell on December 3, 1993 and it concerns, Mr. Speaker, the Alcohol and Drug Board of Management, funds for August meeting.

Mr. Speaker, the funding for the Alcohol and Drug Board of Management was eliminated from the budget of the Department of Social Services at the beginning of the 1992-93 fiscal year. The board was not dissolved at that time. The appointments of the board members remained in effect for the duration of that particular year.

The contribution policy of the department required the board of management to review all applications for new funding in the alcohol and drug field and to make recommendations to the Minister. A number of new applications were received in the summer of 1992 and, because the contribution policy had not yet been amended to eliminate the role of the board, it was necessary to convene a meeting in August of that year.

The board meeting cost, Mr. Speaker, a total of $3,176 including travel, honoraria, per diems and accommodation. The meeting was funded from the headquarters' administration budget of the alcohol and drug and community mental health division. The alcohol and drug contribution policy was amended at the beginning of the 1993-94 fiscal year to delete reference to the role of the board of management. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Pollard. Item 4, returns to oral questions. Mr. Todd.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Return to an oral question asked by Mr. Arvaluk on December 8 with respect to stockpiles transferred for roads in Chesterfield Inlet.

In response to the question raised by the Member for Aivilik on December 3, I wish to advise that there are two gravel stockpiles in Chesterfield Inlet. The one at the airport is no longer a federal stockpile, as it was part of the B and C airports transfer. The other in the community was produced by Public Works and Services for community purposes.

On analysis, the Department of Transportation found that the airport stockpile had a low fine content, which made it unsuitable for direct application to the runway surface. As a result, material was purchased this past summer from the community stockpile for the runway resurfacing.

At the present time, each of these two stockpiles contain approximately 8000 cubic metres of gravel. It has been determined that mixing gravel from both piles will produce a gravel that is suitable for the runway's resurfacing.

Therefore, with respect to the Member's question, the airport stockpile is not surplus to the Department of Transportation's need. It appears there is sufficient material in the two stockpiles to adequately meet all the community needs for some time, including both the road repair and runway resurfacing programs. And, in fact, cooperation and coordination of the granular material programs between the various departments is already occurring to provide the least cost solution to meet the community needs.

Item 4, returns to oral questions. Madam Premier.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I have a return to an oral question asked by Mr. Koe on December 8 regarding the Alcohol and Drug Board of Management.

Mr. Speaker, I understand that informal consultation did take place on the status of the board of management for alcohol and drugs. I know how important it is for consultation on this kind of issue and if full consultation was not undertaken, then this is not satisfactory.

I will talk to Ministers to emphasize the continued importance of consultation and communication to avoid confusion in the future.

Mr. Speaker, I have another return to an oral question asked by Mr. Allooloo, on December 7, regarding languages.

Mr. Speaker, first I would like to clarify any confusion surrounding the language agreements this government has with the Government of Canada.

The GNWT has two language agreements. One of these is the Canada/Northwest Territories agreement for French minority language and French second language. This agreement provides funds for French language education and is administered by the Department of Education, Culture and Employment.

The other agreement is the Canada/Northwest Territories cooperation agreement for French and aboriginal languages in the Northwest Territories, which provides funding for the maintenance, revitalization and enhancement of aboriginal languages as well as 100 per cent funding for the provision of French language services. This is the agreement which I am responsible for and to which questions have been raised in this House.

Under this agreement, funds can be transferred within a specific fiscal year between approved projects, if the transfer does not increase or decrease the affected project budgets by more than 25 per cent. Federal ministerial approval is required for transfers of over 25 per cent. All these changes must still meet the goals and objectives agreed to by Canada the Northwest Territories.

I would like to inform this House that funding under the Canada/Northwest Territories cooperation agreement for French and aboriginal languages was reduced by ten per cent for both French and aboriginal languages.

At no time did this government negotiate a reduction in this ten per cent cut.

The four per cent cut referred to by my honourable colleague, Mr. Nerysoo, applies to the Canada/Northwest Territories agreement for French minority language and French second language.