Item 5, oral questions. Mr. Pudluk.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I wonder if the Minister of WCB could pay attention for a few minutes. Mine managers from my constituency were called to come to Yellowknife to meet with the Minister of WCB on January 20. They came down to meet with the Minister, and the Minister cancelled that meeting. Those two mine managers were wondering why they had to come down when the meeting was cancelled.

Mr. Todd.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I was not aware at the time that these mine managers were coming specifically to meet with me with respect to the WCB. However, I have made arrangements this week to meet with the president of the NWT Chamber of Mines to determine what their concerns are. I was not aware of the specific request at the time and, no, I did not meet with them.

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

Thank you. Supplementary, Mr. Speaker. Who paid for their transportation to come to Yellowknife?

Mr. Todd.

It certainly was not the department. I would imagine it would have been the industry itself that paid for these mine managers to come to Yellowknife.

Item 5, oral questions. Mr. Patterson.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My question is to the Minister of Social Services. I believe the Minister is aware, Mr. Speaker, that representatives of Upassuraakut from Iqaluit were in attendance at a national solvent abuse workshop in January of 1993 at the invitation of Pauktuutit. At that conference, delegates were advised that $1 million, federally, would be available to fund special solvent abuse projects, but that this money would be earmarked for off-reserve communities. Unfortunately those communities might not include communities in the Northwest Territories. Given the staggering problem of substance abuse in the Northwest Territories, as pointed out by Pauktuutit, I wonder if the Minister could inform this House whether she has been able to make any headway in considering having northern communities declared eligible for this federal funding to deal with this very important issue of substance abuse. Thank you.

Ms. Mike.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. There is a staff person attending a conference in Winnipeg at this moment on this issue. Thank you.

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

Mr. Speaker, will the Minister undertake to inform this House whether she has been successful in getting the criteria amended to ensure that northern communities are considered eligible for this program? Thank you.

Ms. Mike.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Yes, I will.

Item 5, oral questions.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. (Translation) My question is to the Minister of Renewable Resources. It was discussed last year that by getting the departments of Renewable Resources and Municipal and Community Affairs together, they could probably get a community freezer for Kakisa, but it has been over a year and there has not been anything done about this. We are again approaching summer and I would like to know if they have done anything about this community freezer. Thank you.

Mr. Allooloo.

(Translation) Thank you, Mr. Speaker. On July 25, 1991, the Executive Council directed my department to develop policies regarding community freezers. At that time the FMB also discussed the same issue. We have a draft community freezer policy. We also sent 120 questionnaires to communities and organizations. It was a questionnaire on how best to set up some community freezers. Out of the 120, 50 per cent were returned to us with responses from those communities. A draft policy regarding community freezers has been prepared for Executive Council to review. Thank you.

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

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. (Translation) I would like to question the same Minister. This has been going on for a while now and it seems like it gets put off further and further. Up until now, whatever the policy is on community freezers, it has not changed. Now they are saying they are going to have to discuss the policy again. I would like to know what is happening with the policy right now.

Mr. Allooloo.

(Translation) Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My department has completed a draft policy. Should it be approved by the Executive Council, then it will be implemented. We have completed the policy, it is just a matter of approval by the Executive Council. Thank you.