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

Item 2, Ministers' statements. Mr. Kakfwi.

Mrs. Marie-Jewell.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to move the long-term staff housing strategy Minister's statement into committee of the whole. Thank you.

Is there a seconder to the motion? Mr. Patterson. The motion is in order. All those in favour? All those opposed? Minister's Statement 34-12(3) will be placed on the order paper for committee of the whole.

---Carried

Item 2, Ministers' Statements. Ms. Mike.

Qujannamiik. (Translation) Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I will be speaking in Inuktitut. Mr. Speaker, the AIDS virus, known as HIV, has been recognized as a serious concern for the future health of residents of the Northwest Territories since 1986. Since then, a major effort has been made to ensure that all NWT residents were made aware of the risk of infection and how to protect themselves. In spite of knowing about the risks, there is evidence that many people are not taking action. Within communities and regions, the understanding of AIDS/HIV infection is good and improving, but there is evidence that many people are not accepting the information. They are not practising "safer sex."

The patterns of infection in the NWT are unlike that of southern Canada, where the disease is found mainly among homosexual males and in drug users. In the NWT, the pattern is more like that found in most other parts of the world, where the disease is spread mainly by sexual contact between men and women.

Mr. Speaker, in the NWT, HIV infections have been reported in the young and in the old, among men and women, among aboriginal and non-aboriginal, in the "gay" and in the "straight" community, and among the rich and the poor. AIDS can be everyone's disease, and it is everyone's problem. We all must take it seriously if the epidemic now upon us is to be stopped.

It has become clear that public education activities to date have not been successful in changing sexual behaviour, which places people at risk of HIV infection. An effort to find out more about the attitude and beliefs that affect sexual behaviour is under way. Public educational materials will be redesigned to take advantage of information regarding their relative effectiveness.

Mr. Speaker, in 1991 this Assembly took some comfort from the seemingly slow spread of HIV infection among us. This year, there is little comfort from the rapid increase in reported cases and great peril in the evidence that even those who are aware of the risk of HIV infection are failing to protect themselves. We must convince everyone that they are at increasing risk of infection from unprotected sex. Stopping AIDS is up to all of us, the future existence of NWT society is at stake. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Item 2, Ministers' statements. Item 3, Members' statements. Mrs. Marie-Jewell.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I rise today to clarify some accusations that have been made about me recently in the media. I am referring to the Focus North

program, which was aired on CBC February 1 and then on TVNC on February 3, 1993.

Mr. Speaker, it concerns me greatly that the media feels free to make allegations which are completely unfounded with no attempt on their part to verify their story with the person they are accusing. I was fortunate to see this program, but how many others have not been aware that their names have been thrown around with such disregard for the truth. I have learned to be sceptical of what the media chooses to tell the public. I certainly hope others do the same.

In this case, Mr. Speaker, the media insinuated that I had acted improperly while I was a Member of Cabinet. The program said that I awarded "choice government jobs" to family members. This is far from the truth. No evidence was offered to support this allegation and I was not even granted the courtesy of being contacted to see if this was the case. I would like to know what has happened to the journalistic principles of collecting and presenting the facts? I guess, in the eyes of Focus North, these ethics are outdated. They manufacture allegations to suit their story and to cause sensation. They pretend that they are the judge and jury.

After Focus North aired this program, I contacted their office to correct them and gave them the information that they could have obtained from me before airing the story. An apology was aired on the February 8 and 10 programs. Focus North admitted that they were not aware of any instances where I had acted as they suggested. I appreciate that this step was taken. However, I do wonder why the apology did not receive the same air time as the original allegation and why Focus North aired my picture during the original story, but chose not to do so for the apology.

---Applause

Mr. Speaker, I seek unanimous consent to continue my Member's statement.

The Member is seeking unanimous consent. Are there any nays? There are no nays. Please proceed, Mrs. Marie-Jewell.

Mr. Speaker, by choosing not to air my picture during the apology, as they did for the original story, it would not have left the same impression with the public. Rather than making a simple and clear admission that they were wrong, Focus North chose to proceed their retraction with comments that made the apology superficial, at best. It appeared that Focus North was trying to leave room for doubt. I would have hoped that journalistic integrity, if not the wisdom that comes with maturity to admit sincerely when one is wrong, would have required a more convincing apology. Perhaps, apologies are too embarrassing in the television business. In any event, Mr. Speaker, my comments today are intended to correct any false impression that may have been left as a result of Focus North's shoddy reporting. As well, not everyone watches every episode of that program. I want to make it clear that the allegations and the insinuations made were not justified and not true.

While I was a Member of Cabinet, and in all my dealings with the House, I placed a priority on conducting myself with honesty and candidness, which caused much criticism to be directed my way. I wish all members of the northern media would make a concerted effort to be conscientious of determining the facts before spreading rumours to the public. Thank you.

---Applause

Item 3, Members' statements. Mr. Pudluk.

(Translation) Thank you, Mr. Speaker. We have to protect the northern environment, specifically, we have to protect the environment surrounding our communities, from all pollutants. PanArctic Oil commenced oil exploration by drilling in the 1960s on the islands of the high Arctic, and are now in the last year of operation. Last year they were given a permit from the federal government to get rid of their metal waste and dump it into the sea. Because they have been given a permit to allow them to do this, they are now asking to do additional dumping this year. This year PanArctic plans to dump 400 tons of metal waste into the sea. Four hundred tons is about the size of Grise Fiord. The waste the company is planning to dump will not make much difference right now, but as Inuit people know, this will affect the wildlife we have depended on for years and will continue to depend on for years to come.

People living in the high Arctic are very concerned about the dumping of metal waste in the sea by PanArctic, and do not want any more of this, because they know that salt water is so strong it will eventually erode metal and waste contaminants. Waters of the high Arctic are not a dumping ground. PanArctic Oil was not worried about the cost to freight their equipment when they went to the high Arctic, but now that they have completed their explorations they are worried that it will be too expensive to bring their metal waste back down south. This is not acceptable to us. In 1953 when the federal government relocated the Inuit from northern Quebec to Resolute Bay and Grise Fiord they were not told they were being relocated to a dumping ground.

You have exceeded the allotted time, Mr. Pudluk.

I would like to ask for unanimous consent to continue.

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

(Translation) Thank you, colleagues. They were not told they were being relocated to a dumping ground. Instead they were told they were being relocated to a land that was clean with an abundance of wildlife and a better future. We do not accept the proposal of PanArctic to, once again, dump more metal waste into our sea because this will affect us in the future. I also think there should be a study done on wildlife in the sea and the food chain of wildlife in the high Arctic. Thank you.

Item 3, members' statements. Mr. Lewis.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Our government has not done well in the handling of its staff housing policy. Mr. Speaker, we expect leadership and a sense of clear policy direction. In this case, I believe most of us agree with the policy objective, however, there has been a lack of clarity in placing those objectives in front of us. Much of this difficulty could have been avoided if the government had announced its policy in less detail. Many of the details could then have been worked out with various employers and associations through joint consultation. Instead changes are being made as a result of a bewildering variety of assaults on the policy from many quarters. It has made the government look very bad in my opinion. I believe it is now too late to commence a process of joint consultation, since the policy has been announced in considerable and ever-changing detail.

Agreeing to joint consultation, Mr. Speaker, should not be seen as a mechanism for subverting the will of the policy-makers. It should not be seen as a sign of weakness. It should be viewed as the very best way of ironing out the details with the people most affected by the policy. This is not a major public policy issue, Mr. Speaker. It is really a matter of a relationship between our government and the staff it employs to carry out its issues and its will.

The degree to which this issue is now dominating the political agenda of this Assembly is an affront when there are so many major issues affecting the future of our territories to be considered. If we find this issue dominates our time and effort to the exclusion of other pressing matters, Mr. Speaker, the fault clearly lies with this government in the way this issue has been handled.

I shall not be pursuing it publicly in this House because I believe it is a matter between our government and its staff. It should not be dominating an Assembly which is supposed to deal with all the major issues that are affecting the people of the Northwest Territories. Thank you.

---Applause

Item 3, members' statements. Mr. Gargan.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I rise today to comment on the Social Service's policy which requires people who work at community-based alcohol and drug counselling facilities to make a commitment to abstain from the use of intoxicants.

Mr. Speaker, I support this policy. I have supported it right from the outset. I was pleased when my honourable colleague for Thebacha introduced a policy near the end of her term as the Minister of Social Services. I was pleased when both Mr. Whitford and Mr. Patterson continued to recognize the importance of this initiative.

Mr. Speaker, I feel it is more important than ever before to ensure that the dollars we are spending on alcohol drug prevention programs are having a maximum impact. I believe one of the factors in maximizing these effects are the positive role models which are presented to community residents by a healthy outlook and a personal commitment shown by alcohol and drug workers to embrace a substance-free life-style.

Contrary to earlier concerns, I believe this policy has proved to be enforceable and it has not lowered the morale or hindered the recruitment of workers as some opponents previously suggested. I would urge our new Minister of Social Services, the Honourable Rebecca Mike, to ensure this sobriety initiative remains as a basic cornerstone of the Government of the Northwest Territories funding agreements with the alcohol and drug agencies throughout the Northwest Territories. In doing so, she will be supporting the progress that has been realized to date and continuing the trend that has made the Northwest Territories alcohol and drug programs a leader amongst provincial and territorial administrators. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Item 3, members' statements. Mr. Patterson.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I am very pleased to see that the government is open to making changes and modifications with the new staff housing strategy, and that the desire of ordinary Members to review the policy is welcomed. I am pleased to learn of the four month delay in implementation. The policy has been rushed and many questions are still unanswered. I am glad to see the government is proposing to replace the invidious hardship allowance. I look forward to the details of the shelter assistance policy. I hope it will consider the number of dependents in a household as well as household income.

Mr. Speaker, Mr. Kakfwi and his deputy minister, Mr. Lovely, have been characterizing the anger and opposition over this rent increase as mostly coming from employees who are in it for the money. People, to quote Mr. Lovely, they will be happy to say "goodbye" to. They would have us believe the loudest complaints are coming from two-income, white transient families with a cottage in the south. In fact, this increase is hitting long-term dedicated employees with families who are committed to staying in the north because of their dedication to being teachers, government administrators, people we do not want to lose. It is also hitting lower level employees with families especially hard. These are often Inuit, most of them are women, these are the core of our clerks, secretaries, classroom assistants and junior teachers who happily constitute between 40 and 50 per cent of the present public service in my region. I will have some specific questions about one such employee later today.

I would like to close this statement by quoting from a very well-respected constituent and a long-term northern resident, in a recent letter to the Minister, Mr. Mike Gardener, writing in his personal capacity and I think some of his advice has been heeded. "I felt I should write you as someone more neutral and detached than some others, being a non-government employee. I do not think anyone can really say they can be detached from the effects of this proposed new policy of yours if it goes ahead as planned. The effect would upset the whole territories for many years to come. Already I hear so many people talk about leaving the north and they mean it. Its effect would be disastrous for years to come unless a drastic revision of your policy is publicized as soon as possible."

Mr. Patterson, your allotted time has expired.

Mr. Speaker, I wish to seek unanimous consent to conclude my statement, Mr. Speaker.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. "I hear of so many people, especially in the smaller more isolated communities, whose rent would be far more than they earn. It is true there is this hardship allowance you mention, but that reeks of welfare and will turn many people off and make them leave the north. If your policy goes ahead, it will leave our hospital here truly understaffed. It is hard enough now to get staff, let alone if their take-home pay were to be severely cut. We have heard about teachers in Igloolik and we can be sure the same would be true of most other communities. Then there would be a tidal wave effect on the rest of the northern economy, failures of local construction companies, hotels, stores and even hardship for churches."

Mr. Speaker, I hope we can proceed and look at this objectively and cooperatively in order to avoid these dire consequences. I look forward to working with the Minister to that end. Thank you.

---Applause

Item 3, Members' statements. Mr. Ningark.

(Translation) Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I, too, along with my honourable colleague, Dennis Patterson, have concerns with the long-term staff housing strategy, as a representative of the Kitikmeot. The civil servants in my region have expressed concerns of a similar nature. The Kitikmeot Teachers' Association held a general meeting which I attended in Kugluktuk. At the time, the Kitikmeot board of education and the chairperson discussed the housing strategy. They expressed their concern regarding the increases. The NWT Teachers' Association chairman was also in attendance. She made a presentation, and she felt this was being processed too rapidly. They are not overly concerned with the increases but they feel the implementation process is being done too quickly, particularly for the smaller, isolated communities. These communities have not received adequate information, and have not been consulted with by the Minister or his department. The cost of living and transportation costs are very expensive. These things need to be taken into consideration.

Our children are being taught by teachers and we should be concerned about their future. Personally I do not have a problem with the increases. However, I think the policy is being processed too quickly. (Translation ends)

The teachers and the government employees within the Kitikmeot region are willing to comply with the strategy, with the rental increases, but they want fairness in the assessment of the strategy.

Mr. Ningark, your allotted time has expired.

Mr. Speaker, I seek unanimous consent to conclude my statement.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker and my colleagues. Mr. Speaker, the teachers and the government employees of the Kitikmeot region are willing to comply with the strategy, but they want fairness in the assessment. The assessment, by comparing Yellowknife to an isolated community, is not fair. Transportation costs, the availability of housing, the conditions of housing, and the climatic and geographic location of the smaller communities should be considered. As I have stated, Mr. Speaker, the chairman of the Kitikmeot board of education is opposed to the strategy as it is in the context which Mr. Minister has stated in his Minister's statement. During the appropriate time, I will be asking for action on some of the concerns which came from the Kitikmeot region government employees. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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

(Translation) Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would also like to speak about the staff housing increases in the north. Mr. Speaker, I represent some of the smaller communities in the Baffin region and they are the northern communities. This proposed policy to raise the rent for staff housing is a concern of my constituents also. If this proposal goes ahead perhaps, Mr. Speaker, it should have some amendments to it before it comes into effect. The people are concerned this will be harmful for the teachers and some of the communities if it is implemented at all once. It should be

implemented gradually. I know this proposal will go ahead, but it should be done gradually rather than doing it all of a sudden. Perhaps the Minister should give more information to those people who are in government staff housing. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Pudlat. Item 3, members' statements. Mr. Antoine.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. We have heard, in this House many times about the impact of alcohol and drug abuse in our northern communities. Mr. Speaker, nothing goes against traditional values that aboriginal women and men have held for centuries the way alcohol and drug abuse does. Nothing violates our homes, threatens the safety of women, children, elders and reduces community productivity the way alcohol and drug abuse does. Nothing harms the spiritual well-being of the individual the way alcohol and drug abuse does.

Mr. Speaker, I am concerned about what is happening with certain aspects of this government's administration of addictions treatment. Nothing is more unacceptable than administrative inefficiency in this area. Mr. Speaker, addictions are a family disease, I believe. It is important, especially within the holistic healing framework that Dene and Inuit have embraced for centuries, that the family should be held as a unit.

I understand that some community alcohol and drug workers have been advised by the Department of Social Services they will not fund out-of-territories referrals for families. I also understand that resources for treating the family unit in the Northwest Territories are limited or non-existent. I have even heard there is not enough money to send clients to specialize treatment programs in southern Canada until April 1993. That is not right, Mr. Speaker. The Minister needs to take a hard look at the decisions her Yellowknife officials have been making in this area. Chief Steve Kotchea of Fort Liard put it very well when we commented, and I quote "the circle can be broken, but mended with proper treatment." If we are going to keep the circle strong, Mr. Speaker, we must ensure that troubled families are offered opportunities to receive the very best treatment, otherwise we as elected officials will be contributing to the problem rather than the solution. I have faith in the Minister's abilities to correct this problem and I urge her to start working on it immediately. Mahsi cho.

Item 3, members' statements. Mr. Gargan.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Honourable Members will know for a long time I have been advocating changing the benefits that we provide to government employees to better reflect the economic times...

Sorry, Mr. Gargan, I am told this is your second statement today. That is against the rules.

---Laughter

---Applause

Time had gone so quickly I thought it was only yesterday that you had spoken. Item 3, members' statements. Item 4, returns to oral questions. Mr. Kakfwi.

Item 4, returns to oral questions. Mr. Allooloo.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I have a return to oral question asked by Mrs. Marie-Jewell on December 2, 1992. The final plans for the aircraft maintenance facility in Fort Smith will be completed after the department receives and accesses the recommendations from the review of the forest fire management program. The recommendations will include a requirement for the use of large air tankers as the most appropriate method for managing forest fires. This information is required to complete the final design of the aircraft maintenance facility. No proposals for constructing the aircraft maintenance facility will be considered until the review of the forest fire management program is completed and assessed. Thank you.

Item 4, returns to oral questions. Item 5, oral questions. Mr. Patterson.

Mr. Speaker, I believe the Minister of Personnel is aware of the case of Shovinai Mike. This lady made plans to move to a new unit before the new staff housing policy was announced, because with a family of six and a husband who is a student, she needed a cheaper unit with lower rent. I think the Minister's staff knew that when she requested the move. The problem, Mr. Speaker, is that she got caught in the new strategy. It was announced as coming into effect April 1, and it will now come into affect July 1, 1993. She has been hit with the new rent right away. This seems very unfair and she is feeling betrayed. Would the Minister consider ensuring that the implementation of the new rent increase on this employee, who moved in good faith and was told to expect lower rent, will now be delayed until the strategy is finalized?

Mr. Kakfwi.

Item 5, oral questions. Mr. Antoine.

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. I have a question for the Minister of Social Services. The Minister may be aware her officials appeared to be telling some community-based alcohol and drug workers that there are no funds to refer clients for specialized addiction treatment outside of the Northwest Territories until April, 1993. Can the Minister assure the House her headquarters staff will stop doing this and give the hard working alcohol and drug counsellors the sort of support which they need to deal with this difficult clientele? Mahsi.

Ms. Mike.

(Translation) Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Yes.

Supplementary, Mr. Antoine.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Alcoholism is a disease which strikes at families, not just individuals. Recognizing, in alcoholic households, all members of the family can often benefit from the chance to attend counselling together, how can the Minister explain her headquarters officials refusal to fund family referrals for treatment? Mahsi.

Ms. Mike.

(Translation) Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I will take the question as notice. Thank you.

The question has been taken as notice. Item 5, oral questions. Item 6, written questions. Mrs. Marie-Jewell.

Mr. Speaker, I seek unanimous consent to return to oral questions.

The honourable Member is seeking unanimous consent to return to item 5, oral questions. Are there any nays? There are no nays. Please proceed, Mrs. Marie-Jewell.

Mr. Speaker, I have a question for the Minister of Renewable Resources. When does he anticipate his fire management review to be completed?

Mr. Allooloo.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The Member has asked me this question on December 2 and I replied that we were targeting for the end of May, 1993. This target date remains the same. Thank you.

Supplementary, Mrs. Marie-Jewell.

Mr. Speaker, at the same time I asked the question on December 2, I did ask the Minister if he would make a concerted effort to try to complete his review prior to the end of May, and he indicated he would. What steps has the Minister taken to try to complete his review prior to the end of May? Thank you.

Mr. Allooloo.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I have asked my department to see if we can complete the review. I have been told we will not be able to at the present time. Thank you.

Supplementary, Mrs. Marie-Jewell.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Can the Minister indicate to this House the reasons the review could not be completed prior to the end of May?

Mr. Allooloo.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The people who are involved in fire management, and also interested in fire management in the Northwest Territories, must have input into the review. The company that is doing the review will have to hear from individuals and companies throughout the Northwest Territories, such as bands, corporations and other interested parties. The earliest they feel they can finish the review is the end of May.

This is your last supplementary, Mrs. Marie-Jewell.

Mr. Speaker, besides hearing he may have a problem in consultation process, he has not really given any specific answer as to why he can not try to complete, or make a concerted effort to complete, this review prior to the end of May. Can the Minister explain, in detail, the impediments which provide him the inability to be able to complete this management review prior to the end of May? Can you give this House any specific reason? Thank you.

Mr. Allooloo.

I will be happy to give this House the detailed plan of the company doing the review. The Members will then be able to see the work plan, dates, et cetera. This will enable the Members to have full information regarding how much time it will take to do certain things. Thank you.

That was your last supplementary, Mrs. Marie-Jewell. Item 5, oral questions. Mr. Gargan.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I have a question for the Minister of Justice. The Minister made a response with regard to correctional services and the federal government coming into an agreement regarding inmates staying here based on their residency and whether they have committed a crime. During Mrs. Diane Doyle's hearing, the lawyer persistently requested that Mrs. Doyle be allowed to see a therapist in Toronto. I would like to ask the Minister whether or not there has been an exchange of service agreement completed with the Province of Ontario, so that Mrs. Doyle can take advantage of the lawyer's suggestion?

Mr. Kakfwi.

Supplementary, Mr. Gargan.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. One of the principles taken into account by the Supreme Court Justice when sentencing Ms. Doyle for this serious breech of trust, was that there must be a general deterrence for others in similar positions. Justice Irving was very aware of the fact that Ms. Doyle would serve a sentence of more than two years in a federal institution. I am very concerned about the message that is being sent to others by the privileged treatment that

Diane Doyle is receiving. I would like to ask the Minister why the justice process, and the fundamental principles of which Justice Irving based his decision on, is not being adhered to?

Mr. Kakfwi.

Supplementary, Mr. Gargan.

Mr. Speaker, I thought the women's secure facility in Fort Smith I thought would be for women who have committed very minor offenses or light crimes. I just question why Ms. Doyle, who committed a serious offence and is sentenced for three years, is allowed to be left to serve her term here. I have a question, Mr. Speaker, to the Minister with regard to the process. After her sentence was Ms. Doyle shipped south to a penitentiary or was she intervened before the shipment could occur?

A question such as this would not normally be within the knowledge of the Minister. Would the Minister like to answer in a general sense? Mr. Kakfwi.

Mr. Speaker, I do not want to challenge your comments. However, my previous questions to the Minister, respecting this specific inmate, should have allowed him to gain the knowledge that he needed to be able to answer our questions in this House. Thank you.

Thank you for your comments, Mrs. Marie-Jewell, but it is not a point of order. Item 5, oral questions. Mrs. Marie-Jewell. I am sorry, you did not conclude, Mr. Kakfwi. Would you like to conclude your response?

Item 5, oral questions. Mr. Zoe.

Mr. Allooloo.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It is more than likely that will be the case for this year. Thank you.

Supplementary, Mr. Zoe.

Mr. Allooloo.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As I stated earlier, more than likely, nothing will change this year and for the 1993 fire season. Probably during 1993 the policy will be in place and the changes will take place in the 1994 fire season. Thank you.

Supplementary, Mr. Zoe.

Mr. Allooloo.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I will have to take the question as notice.

The question has been taken as notice. Item 5, oral questions. Mrs. Marie-Jewell.

Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Minister of Justice. Following up on my honourable colleague from Deh Cho, the public is quite astounded that Diane Doyle, who was convicted of stealing over $270,000 from the territorial government, is now being allowed by our government to serve her three year sentence in the Fort Smith women's facility, instead of a federal penitentiary. However, to further this absurdity, I now have knowledge Ms. Doyle is also enrolled in the management studies program at Arctic College.

---Laughter

This no doubt raises credibility of our correction system, let alone our justice system which the Minister is responsible for. Can the Minister advise this House as to who bears the responsibility of the cost of tuition fees, books and supplies for federal inmates of the Fort Smith correctional facility when they enrol in the Arctic College courses? Thank you.

Mr. Kakfwi.

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

I recognize, Mr. Speaker, that inmates are allowed to take different programs, even federal inmates, however the majority of the times those programs are available within the institution. This education institution is certainly not within the women's correctional centre. I want to indicate to the Minister, given that the employment opportunities in the management field for someone who has been convicted of major theft and fraud from her employers, certainly is limited. Can the Minister explain the rationale used by his officials to support the enrolment of Ms. Doyle in a management studies program, rather than one that might offer her real employment prospects? Thank you.

Mr. Kakfwi.

Point of Privilege, Mrs. Marie-Jewell.

Point Of Privilege

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to raise a point of privilege. One of the fundamental privileges Members have in this House is freedom of speech. Ministers have the responsibility to fulfil government programs, the court processes accordingly. The Minister feels, to some degree, that we are uttering deliberate motives towards a certain individual. I would like you to make a ruling in respect to my freedom of speech in this House, as to whether or not I am allowed to express the concerns of my constituents or of the people of the north in this House. I do not appreciate the comments made by the Minister. He has not answered my question, therefore, I raise on a point of privilege on my

inability to express freedom of speech as a Member. Thank you.

Thank you. The chair actually welcomes an opportunity to deal with this issue because this issue has come up a number of different times. I would allow any other Member who would like to comment or debate on the particular point of privilege brought up by Mrs. Marie-Jewell. I will reserve judgement until tomorrow. I would be very interested in hearing Members' feelings about this particular issue before I make a judgement. Mr. Kakfwi.