Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My question will be for the Minister of Renewable Resources. His department offers certain trapper subsidy programs which provide funds for equipment and provisions at the beginning of each fur harvest year. However, the amount of this subsidy is based on the previous year's performance of the trapper. Serious trappers who have harvested a large number of furs in the previous year, receive more start-up funding. I am wondering, however, what the impact of the low fur yield this year's harvest is going to have on the delivery of these programs during 1993-94 winter trapping season. This is something the Minister should be looking at now so that a plan can be developed well in advance. Can the Minister indicate, to the House, what he will be doing to adjust normal program criteria and procedures to account for the unusually low harvest yield during the 1992-93 fur season? Mahsi.

Mr. Allooloo.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. What we have done in terms of our contribution agreements with the local hunters' and trappers' associations is we have a number of programs that assist hunters and trappers throughout the Northwest Territories. What we have done is pull all the contributions that we give to each community and make it more flexible so that it is more up to the community to decide who should get assistance. We are putting together a harvester's assistance program also. Hunters and trappers will be able to make local decisions on who should get assistance and how much. Thank you.

Item 5, oral questions. Mr. Gargan.

Mr. Allooloo.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I believe the contributions we make are close to $2 million a year for the entire Northwest Territories. Thank you.

Supplementary, Mr. Gargan.

I would like to ask the Minister if he can provide the Members with a breakdown of how much each organization gets?

Mr. Allooloo.

Yes, Mr. Speaker.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I have a question for the Government Leader because I do not believe there is a specific Minister to address this issue. The Government Leader is probably aware that there are significant changes being implemented to the unemployment insurance bill through the federal government. It will probably have some effect on our seasonal workers such as fire fighters and other short-term casual workers. I would like to ask the Government Leader, what has this government done to address the concerns of residents of the Northwest Territories respecting the proposed changes made by the federal government with respect to unemployment insurance benefits? Thank you.

Ms. Cournoyea.

Mr. Speaker, my office and the Department of Finance are doing an evaluation of the effects of the new unemployment insurance program, and as well there should be some further announcements coming from the federal jurisdiction today. Thank you.

Item 5, oral questions. Item 6, written questions. Item 7, returns to written questions. Mr. Hamilton.

Mr. Speaker, Return to Written Question 6-12(3) asked by Mr. Zoe to the Minister of Renewable Resources concerning research undertaken on the future of hunting, fishing and trapping in the north.

The Department of Renewable Resources recognizes that many territorial residents want to continue hunting, trapping and fishing, both to provide food as well as an income. As Minister, I want these activities to continue.

The department has many programs that provide support to harvesters and the renewable resources sector of the economy. These programs support existing uses of renewable resources and also encourage new uses for renewable resources. They range from developing a fur strategy to expand the northern fur industry; to monitoring the size and condition of wildlife populations so that new harvesting opportunities can be identified; to expanding opportunities within offshore and inland fisheries.

Rather than outline all of the various programs and activities, I have invited Mr. Zoe to meet with departmental staff, who will be pleased to provide information and respond to questions.

Return To Written Question 9-12(3) asked by Mr. Patterson to the Minister of Justice concerning statistics from secure custody young offenders facilities.

The total capacity in bed days for each of the young offender secure facilities is as follows:

1. River Ridge Secure Facility capacity is 5110 bed days;

2. Hay River Secure Facility capacity is 5840 bed days; and,

3. Isumaqsunngittukkuvik capacity is 4380 bed days.

It should be noted that while Hay River presently has capacity for 7300 bed days (fiscal 1992-93), the establishment of a new psychologist position south of the lake will result in the reduction of the capacity to 5840 bed days.

The occupancy rate for each of the young offender secure facilities for fiscal year 1991-92 is as follows:

1. River Ridge Secure Facility is 3246 bed days or 63.5 per cent including 418 remand bed days;

2. Hay River Secure Facility is 3080 bed days or 52.7 per cent including 364 remand bed days; and,

3. Isumaqsunngittukkuvik is 3323 bed days or 75.9 per cent including 415 remand bed days.

It is important to note that the occupancy rate does not in any way reflect the maximum occupancy of a facility at any particular time. Population levels in all facilities rise and fall with the exigencies of the court systems. It is normal for a given facility to be at maximum capacity or even over maximum capacity several times in a month for which average occupancy rate data would seem to indicate under-utilization. Average count data does not, and cannot, reflect peak utilization. Occupancy rates can be misleading. A given facility must be capable of repeatedly dealing with peak capacity at any time. While bed days accounting accurately reflects utilization for accounting purposes, operational planning must be based upon maximum utilization.

Return To Written Question 10-12(3) asked by Mr. Patterson to the Minister of Justice concerning statistics for the women's correctional centre in Fort Smith.

The Territorial Women's Correctional Centre is a minimum security facility with a capacity of 3650 bed days annually. Since the facility opened in August 1991, a full year of data is unavailable for fiscal 1991-92. Utilization for the last twelve months to September 1992 is 2790 bed days or 76.4 per cent.

The operating maintenance cost for the eight-month period of operation starting August 4, 1991 was $797,695 including start- up costs. The permanent and casual person years for the same period were 8.505 and 1.5 respectively.

Return to Written Question 15-12(3) asked by Mrs. Marie-Jewell to the Minister of Health concerning costs of locum physicians.

On December 10, 1992, during the 3rd session of the 12th Assembly, the honourable Member requested that the Minister of Health provide the Member with the fees and disbursements paid to a number of physicians for services in the Fort Smith Health Centre, for the period of March 18, 1991 to December 10, 1992.

I regret to advise the Member that section 15.(3) of the Medical Care Act prohibits the release of this specific information. However, I am prepared to respond, in general terms, to the question.

Locum physicians providing services to the Fort Smith Health Centre are remunerated at rates of between $392 and $412 per day as per the department's salary schedule. The total number of days worked by locums at the health centre for the specified period is 997. This translates to approximately $400,000 over that period.

Locums have been used at the Fort Smith Health Centre for three main reasons:

1. Coverage for a vacant position where the health centre has been unsuccessful in recruiting a full-time physician;

2. Coverage for vacations taken by the two full-time physicians; and,

3. Coverage for the period of time Dr. Viswalingam had his privileges suspended.

Item 7, returns to written question. Item 8, replies to opening address. Item

9, petitions. Mr. Koe.

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. I have two petitions. Mr. Speaker, I wish to table a copy of a petition, Petition 2-12(3) which I received on January 17, 1993 from the staff of the Inuvik Regional Health Board. This petition has 92 signatures and expresses the employees concerns about the new staff housing policy. This petition also has a covering letter which was addressed to the Government Leader and lists the concerns plus some recommendations. Mahsi.

Mr. Koe.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I wish to table a copy of a petition, Petition 3-12(3) which I received on February 16, 1993 from the Mackenzie Delta Tenants' Association. This petition has 174 signatures and refers to the government's housing strategy. These employees wish this government to re-assess and review the strategy through a legislative committee and implement rent control in the Northwest Territories. Mahsi cho.