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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My question is to the Minister of Social Services. Mr. Speaker, I believe the Minister should be well aware of the concern of the people of the Northwest Territories with respect to social assistance rates. Ordinary Members have been saying this issue has been a priority for many years. It has been raised again today in question period. Yet, over and over, the rates are left at the same level while costs continue to rise. Mr. Speaker, in November 1990, a motion was passed in the Legislative Assembly, which should have ended the need for ordinary Members to press for a review of the rates every few years. That motion recommended that the social assistance rates be indexed to the cost of living and then adjusted at least twice a year. Would the Minister advise the House whether she will consider indexing social assistance rates to the cost of living?

Minister of Social Services.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. If he is asking me if I will consider it, yes, I can consider it. Thank you.

Supplementary, Mr. Patterson.

Mr. Speaker, in response to a question by Mr. Zoe, in June of 1992, the former Minister of Social Services, not myself, informed the House that a departmental review of the indexing of social assistance rates was to have been completed by last September. We have heard no more about this review. Is she now prepared to follow through on that commitment from her department to review this issue and provide her report to the House by the end of this session?

Minister of Social Services, Ms. Mike.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. First of all, I will check to see what the record states regarding the previous Minister's statement on Social Services and take it from there and report to the House. Thank you.

Item 5, oral questions. Item 6, written questions. Item 7, returns to written questions. Item 8, replies to opening address. Item 9, replies to budget address. Item 10, petitions. Item 11, reports of standing and special committees. Item 12, reports of committees on the review of bills. Item 13, tabling of documents. Mr. Pudluk.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to table Tabled Document 70-12(3), a letter from Johnnie Attagutsiak from the Arctic Bay alcohol and drug committee supporting young people who have problems with drug, solvent and alcohol abuse, the plans to learn and maintain traditional life skills and survival skills at an outpost camp near Iqaluit. Thank you.

Item 13, tabling of documents. Mr. Gargan.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to table two documents. The first one is Tabled Document 71-12(3), and is with regard to correspondence from chief Pat Martel, Hay River Dene band to myself dated March 1, 1993, which deals with the critical housing needs for social housing on the Hay River reserve.

The second is Tabled Document 72-12(3), Mr. Speaker, and is correspondence from Al Marlo, economic development consultant, to the Hay River reserve Dene band addressed to me and dated March 1, 1993, which deals with the proposed First Nations' trust company.

Item 13, tabling of documents. Mr. Patterson.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to table Tabled Document 73-12(3), an open letter to the Legislative Assembly of the Northwest Territories from the NWT participants in the Inuit round table on social issues, Goose Bay, Labrador, February 26-28. The letter contains important recommendations on housing for Inuit and other aboriginal Canadians in the Northwest Territories and on the GNWT staff housing strategy. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Item 13, tabling of documents. Ms. Cournoyea.

Mr. Speaker, I wish to table Tabled Document 74-12(3), payments to NWT Power Corporation president and board members. Thank you.

Item 13, tabling of documents. Mr. Kakfwi.

Item 13, tabling of documents. Item 14, notices of motion. Mr. Koe.

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. I give notice that, on Thursday, March 4, 1993, I will move the following motion.

I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Natilikmiot, that this Legislative Assembly strongly disapproves of the unilateral actions of the Government of Canada cutting contributions under the Canada/Northwest Territories Cooperation Agreement for French and Aboriginal Languages in the Northwest Territories.

Further, that this Legislative Assembly supports the efforts of the Premier and the Government of the Northwest Territories in reinstating the full level of funding committed under the Canada/Northwest Territories agreement.

And furthermore, that the Speaker convey this resolution to the Government of Canada.

---Applause

Item 14, notices of motion. Item 15, notices of motions for first reading of bills. Mr. Pollard.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I give notice that on Thursday, March 4, 1992, I shall move that Bill 20, Loan Authorization Act, 1993-94, be read for the first time. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Item 15, notices of motions for first reading of bills. Mr. Kakfwi.