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

Item 2, Ministers' statements. Ms. Mike.

(Translation) Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I listened with interest to the Member's statement made by the Member for Baffin South on March 8, 1993, concerning a death which occurred in Montreal. The Member indicated to the Legislative Assembly that the Department of Social Services did not provide any funding assistance.

I would like to state for the record, Mr. Speaker, the Department of Social Services provided funding for the preparation and transportation of the deceased from Montreal to Lake Harbour. The department, through the town of Iqaluit, also provided for the transportation of a relative from Iqaluit to attend the funeral. However, I regret my department could not fulfil the request the Member for Baffin South made regarding transportation of a relative who has been a long time resident of British Columbia. Thank you.

Thank you, Ms. Mike. Item 2, Ministers' statements.

Mr. Speaker, about half an hour ago we received word from the Prime Minister's office requesting a postponement of our meeting. I take this opportunity to make this statement because it has been announced previously. We do not have a new date but he will not be able to attend the meeting on Thursday, March 11, 1993.

Thank you. That was an emergency statement by the Premier. Item 2, Ministers' statements. Item 3, Members' statements. Mr. Lewis.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I am not an expert on AIDS, Mr. Speaker, but I have read a fair amount and I listened to a presentation by the Department of Health officials last night which has convinced me that this disease is now a major threat to our population.

The first AIDS infection in the Northwest Territories was identified in 1987, although it had been identified in southern Canada much earlier, in 1980. Since 1987, on an average we have identified in the Northwest Territories, two to three new cases every year, and this occurred until 1992. In that year, however, Mr. Speaker, the number jumped to eight, and to date in 1993, three new cases have been identified. It was made clear to those of us who attended the briefing by Health officials last night that the Department of Health is very worried.

Within the last 15 months something very dramatic has happened, but these statistics do not tell the whole story, Mr. Speaker. Based on calculations done by the World Health Organization, the number of infections is likely to be ten times higher than what is reported. In fact, in the Northwest Territories there may be as many as 240 infections. It is likely there are carriers of this virus in a large number of our communities. Although great efforts are being made by top medical researchers around the world, there is a widespread belief that a cure for AIDS will not be found soon. This means this government needs to focus attention on various ways to help our population protect itself from the virus.

According to our Health officials, HIV can be stopped if we stay with one sex partner, always use a condom and do not use injection needles. Obviously this message has not had the impact we would like on the population, since the killer disease is on the rise. It is clear that we should have a full debate on this subject in this Assembly next week, Mr. Speaker. It is not easy to change people's behaviour, but that is clearly the only solution we have at the moment. I am sure with intelligence, goodwill, and the knowledge that AIDS is now a major threat to our social fabric, we can work together to protect our population.

Later, I shall table this brief report...

Mr. Lewis, your allotted time has lapsed. Before I continue with Members' statements, I would like to recognize in the gallery, Mr. David Tagoona, the mayor and Mr. David Aksawnee, the deputy mayor of Baker Lake.

---Applause

Item 3, Members' statements. Mr. Patterson.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I was delighted when an elders' facility was built in Iqaluit in the fall of 1991. This facility was designed by the NWT Housing Corporation with the full input of the Iqaluit elders' association and was located on prime land near the beach, church and shopping areas in town, with the help of town council. About a year ago, 12 elders moved into the independent units. They are very happy with the accommodation.

I rise today to express my concern that we have been unable, to date, to make arrangements to provide the necessary care for elders who would occupy the additional eight personal care units. In fact, two elders who have been on the waiting list for this facility have died in the past year while waiting for arrangements to be put in place. I realize the Department of Social Services has been making efforts to finalize the contract for the operation of these eight units. At first, it was hoped the town of Iqaluit would provide the service through their social services department, however, the significant benefits expected by the town for their employees far exceeded the department's budget. The project was therefore tendered earlier this year.

I was very pleased that an Inuit company from my constituency, Katujjijiit Senior Care Limited, whose president Ms. Leah Inutiq is in the House today, made a very impressive proposal to run this personal care facility at a lower cost than the town's proposal. I am sure all Members will agree it is critical that the staff understand and speak the language of the people they are caring for. I am sure all Members will support the principle that more northern companies should be

providing this kind of human service to our people in Iqaluit and other communities.

The company's proposal emphasized the training and employment of Inuit staff in a quality program. It emphasized quality care for the elders including daily recreation and exercise, community outings and contact with youth. The all Inuit staff would be trained in the initial period of the contract in care giving through a course offered at the Arctic College and other modules such as nutrition and St. John Ambulance courses. The staff would earn about $24,000 per year initially which is on the very low end of the wage scale in Iqaluit, with its very high living costs, and this wage includes only the basic statutory benefits such as unemployment insurance and vacation pay.

Mr. Speaker, I could run through this last couple of paragraphs, in my statement but I do not think I will do that. I think instead I will request unanimous consent to conclude.

I think it may be easier for the honourable Member to write a shorter statement than to talk faster.

---Laughter

It is hard for the interpreters to follow. The honourable Member is seeking unanimous consent. Are there any nays? There are no nays. Please proceed, Mr. Patterson.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I am still adjusting to my new role and I will work on that. Mr. Speaker, I was pleased when the Minister of Social Services informed me that her regional office is now negotiating with this Inuit corporation to run the facility. However, Ms. Inutiq tells me that the department says they cannot go above a price which is about $100,000 less than the best bare-bones price for the quality care this corporation insists must be provided to our elders.

Since training costs are a significant part of the costs of this contract, especially in the first two years of operation, I will be approaching the Minister of Education to see whether the newly announced community training program of his department, the student financial assistance program or other programs might be available to this corporation to reduce their initial costs.

Today, I will be asking the Minister of Social Services for a status report on this important project in my constituency and for her commitment to support a quality program for the elders of Iqaluit. Qujannamiik.

Thank you, Mr. Patterson. Item 3, Members' statements. Mr. Koe.

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to and express my support to some of the athletes who have won the right and honour to represent the Northwest Territories in a sporting event. Mr. Speaker, curling is an international sport and is also an olympic event. We have many curlers representing the Northwest Territories in some of the Canadian national events.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to particularly pay tribute to Kelly Kaylo and her rink, who represented us at the Scott Tournament of Hearts in Brandon, Manitoba; Trevor Alexander and his rink are presently competing in Ottawa in the Labatt Brier.

---Applause

Al Delmage and his rink will be representing us at the senior men's competitions in Edmonton; and Tara Hamer, who has my daughter Kerry playing with her, will be going to Trois-Rivieres in Quebec for the junior ladies' championships.

---Applause

Also, Mr. Speaker, in mid-April at the Yellowknife curling club, the city of Yellowknife will be hosting the Canadian Fire Fighters Curling Championships. I would ask all Members who are available to come out and support our territorial teams and see some good curling in Yellowknife. My best wishes go out to all the participants, and good luck to them. I would like to express my appreciation to all curlers across the territories who have competed and participated in this good sport. Mahsi.

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

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

Mr. Speaker, when we had the OMC meeting this morning, I told the chairman I would make a statement today or tomorrow. He told me tomorrow might not come, so I will do it today.

---Laughter

(Translation) Mr. Speaker, competitive games in the north are on the rise. There are about 50 people with sled-dogs in the Baffin region and the dogs are different breeds than the dogs from the tree line. When dog races are held, the Baffin people with sled-dogs are never included because they do not have any rules when it comes to racing. There is an individual in Arctic Bay by the name of Eric Duncan who looks after many dogs and he has a concern about the Baffin people not being included in dog racing. It would be very beneficial for the young people of Baffin to be recognized and involved in dog sled racing in the same way as the people of the western Arctic.

The Baffin regional sled-dogs are more of a working dog used by their owners to take tourists and to hunt polar bears. What I am trying to say is that people with dogs in the Baffin region are not included in the Arctic Winter Games competitions when they should be involved. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

---Applause

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

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. (Translation) For over nine years, I have stood up over and over in this House to outline a need which exists in my community, and I suspect it exists in other communities across the Northwest Territories as well. The need has never been addressed. I am not going to give up.

Mr. Speaker, we need to have facilities that allow parents and elders to go into the bush and still be confident that their children, who are going to school, will be looked after. (Translation ends)

Mr. Speaker, I gave my first reply to the Commissioner's opening address on March 1, 1984. At that time, I pointed out that if this government is going to be a true government of the people, consideration is going to have to be given to the survival of the aboriginal culture. Mr. Speaker, all honourable Members in this House know the importance of traditional harvesting for families in our smaller communities. Those who have lived in small communities know the dilemma faced by parents who wish to go into the bush or out onto the land to pursue hunting and trapping activities which are their cultural right. They know families are faced with unacceptable choices. They cannot take their children out of school because they are accused of violating the Education Act or contributing to a high drop-out rate.

They can try to find a place for their school age children to stay, sometimes where care and supervision is undependable or there is a risk of abuse, or they can turn their backs on the way of life that has sustained their ancestors for centuries and stay in town.

Mr. Speaker, for years I have been saying this government should arrange for a hostile type facility where children can stay during periods when their care givers are out on the land. During their stay they could receive additional academic tutoring, safe care and, most importantly, exposure to cultural programs which could be offered by the community.

Over and over I have been dismayed that this government's response has been consistently negative and narrow-minded. There has been a reluctance...

Mr. Gargan, your allotted time has elapsed.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to get unanimous consent to conclude my statement.

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