Mr. Clerk, it does not appear we have a quorum. Can you do a roll call please?

Mr. Pudluk, Mr. Arvaluk, Mr. Pudlat, Mr. Koe, Mr. Lewis, Ms. Mike, Mr. Pollard, Ms. Cournoyea, Mr. Nerysoo, Mrs. Marie-Jewell, Mr. Dent, Mr. Morin, Mr. Arngna'naaq.

Thank you, Mr. Clerk. It appears we have a quorum. The chair recognizes a quorum. Orders of the day. Item 2, Ministers' statements. Madam Premier.

Mr. Speaker, the Honourable Stephen Kakfwi will be absent from the House today. He is attending a community justice conference in Inuvik. Thank you.

Item 2, Ministers' statements. Item 3, Members' statements. Mr. Dent.

Thank you, Mr. Dent. Item 3, Members' statements. Item 4, returns to oral questions. Ms. Mike.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I have a return to oral question asked by Mr. Lewis on March 18, 1993, regarding the GNWT involvement in phase I of the national AIDS strategy.

Mr. Speaker, on March 18, 1993, the Member from Yellowknife Centre asked me whether the Government of the Northwest Territories was involved in phase I of the national AIDS strategy. Mr. Speaker, the Department of Health staff participated actively in phase I of the strategy with respect to the development of the Canada blue print on HIV/AIDS and the joint national committee on aboriginal AIDS education and prevention.

The Department of Health was consulted quite extensively during the development of the national strategy, phase I, through a contractor hired by the federal government for the purpose, through the federal/provincial/territorial advisory committee on AIDS, and through the other federal bodies dealing with AIDS, such as the health promotion directorate, the laboratory centre for disease control, and the federal centre for AIDS. During phase I of the national AIDS strategy, four NWT community groups accessed funds from the federal community development and support fund.

The department has also been involved in discussion leading to phase II of the strategy. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I have two other returns, if I may, Mr. Speaker. Thank you.

I have a return to oral question, asked by Mr. Lewis on March 18, 1993, regarding the press release announcing the national AIDS strategy.

Mr. Speaker, on March 18, 1993, the Member for Yellowknife Centre asked me whether any research on AIDS is done in the Northwest Territories. As a result of the Northwest Territories' size and limited facilities, most of the research conducted on AIDS is applied research. Research, monitoring and surveillance can sometimes be very similar, some of the things we are learning about AIDS in the Northwest Territories that might be called "research" are:

1. The way HIV affects Inuit or Dene people. Each known case of infection is monitored very carefully to see if there are any differences in the way aboriginal people of the NWT get sick compared to southern Canadians infected with HIV;

2. The way the epidemic is spreading. The Department of Health has been looking at how the virus is spreading here compared to southern Canada and the rest of the world;

3. Why people are putting themselves at risk. What precautions do NWT residents take (or do not take) that places them at risk of getting infected; and

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I have a return to oral question asked by Mrs. Marie-Jewell on March 19, 1993, regarding the status of recommendations on the abortion review.

Mr. Speaker, on March 19,1993, the Member for Thebacha asked me what the department's progress was on the abortion review committee's recommendations.

Mr. Speaker, the Stanton Yellowknife Hospital is proceeding with implementation of the recommendations and will be providing an update to the department following its board meeting in April, 1993.

With respect to the other NWT hospitals, abortions have been provided to women from the Inuvik region at the Inuvik Regional Hospital since mid-January, 1993. Abortion services are expected to be available at the Baffin Regional Hospital by mid-May, 1993. Health professionals in the Baffin region will be provided with instruction on abortion counselling at a nursing conference to be held in Iqaluit in May, 1993. Community health representatives in the Baffin region will have a workshop on abortion counselling next week.

Mr. Speaker, the H H Williams Memorial Hospital and the Department of Health have agreed that while abortions will not be performed at the hospital, clients will be referred to the public health unit in Hay River for counselling and information on the availability of services in Yellowknife. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I have a return to oral question asked by Mr. Zoe on March 18, 1993 regarding the North American aboriginal summer games.

Mr. Speaker, I can confirm that the department will consider financial support to groups or teams that submit their proposals to participate in this summer's North American indigenous games.

As I indicated in my earlier reply on this matter, the department does not have a program for these games, nor have there been any specific plans made.

Mr. Speaker, the department will, however, review requests on a case by case basis and will assist with travel costs to the games, similar to our approach in 1990.

Since there is no specific program in place to allow for participation in the indigenous games, I will need to review and approve requests. To allow communities time to submit requests, I am prepared to receive requests up to May 18, 1993. I will make the decision on funding to be provided at that time and groups will have two months to prepare teams for the competition. Consideration will be given based on the official size of teams allowed by the North American indigenous games technical criteria. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. I have a question for the Minister responsible for the Workers' Compensation Board. Mr. Speaker, in mid-January a review was completed by Mr. Garnet Garvin on the Workers' Compensation Board, and the report was tabled in this House. I would like to ask the Minister the status of the final report of the chief commissioner. What is the

Workers' Compensation Board doing with the recommendations made by the chief commissioner?

Mr. Todd.

In the report made by the chief commissioner, there are recommendations that require legislative changes. On Tuesday, I will be tabling a legislative action paper. There are also a number of recommendations in the report that do not require legislative change, that can be done now based upon board direction. It is my understanding that that is happening with the new board. They are going to be taking the recommendations that can be done, outside of legislation, and enact some of them. Mr. Speaker, on Tuesday, as long as I do not have any problems with translation, I hope to table a Workers' Compensation Board legislative action paper. Thank you.

Item 5, oral questions. Mr. Pudlat.

(Translation) Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I have a question for the Minister of Education. I think everyone is aware that the divisional board's budget will now be put out quarterly instead of monthly. I am asking the Minister of Education with regard to funding for divisional board, will this be more appropriate and will they receive more interest? Can the Minister indicate what the outcome of this process will be? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Nerysoo.

Mr. Speaker, the present method of payments with regard to financing the school boards is on a monthly basis. I have spoken to the representatives of the school boards and have indicated to them that I will deal with the question of the needs of financing, but it is certainly not our intention to move away from the monthly payment schedule. We will increase the amount based on the need to accommodate their ability to delivery programs.

Item 5, oral questions. Mr. Ningark.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. To continue with the questioning of my colleague from Lake Harbour, I would like to direct my question to the Minister for Education. Initially the school boards or community education councils were funded on a quarterly basis. They were paid every three months. This allows the community education council, or the divisional board, to get into the financial management. By that I mean, they were able to make a term deposit and earn interest and use that money to fund other programs not financed by the system. I wonder if the Minister has received requests from each of the divisional boards or community education councils requesting the initial funding be reinstated on a quarterly basis? Thank you.

Mr. Nerysoo.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Requests have been made by various school boards that we pay or provide financial resources on a quarterly basis. However, as a result of our response to the Auditor General, who recommended and was approved in this House that we fund our boards based on a monthly schedule, we have responded positively. When I spoke to the boards' representatives, I indicated to them I would pay financial resources based on their need and if up-front money was required, then we would do that, but we would still pay over a 12-month schedule. The larger amounts would be given early on in the year.

Item 5, oral questions. Mr. Dent.

Mr. Todd.

Me no understandee. No, Mr. Speaker, it is my understanding, in the spring of 1980, there was a labour standards law review panel and they reported to the Minister at the time with a number of recommendations. I agree with the honourable Member that there is a need for some kind of comprehensive review of these laws because, as he said earlier, they were created in the 1960s. We are not in the 1960s, and I will be attempting, in the coming weeks, to put together a paper for Cabinet's consideration that this review take place.

Item 5, oral questions. Mr. Arvaluk.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to ask the Minister of Education along the lines of what my colleague, Mr. Ningark, was asking. It may be more of a clarification. When the Minister is handing out large amounts at the beginning of the fiscal year, will that larger amount reflect what

the divisional board has been able to generate from interest rates when they were on the quarterly contribution schedule?

Mr. Nerysoo.

Mr. Speaker, in responding to the question, I would like to indicate from the assessments which have been done, I doubt very much if we would be able to meet those reductions which have occurred. However, the honourable Member should be aware that we are presently reviewing our school financing and are considering certain proposals which could see an increase in the overall budget for schools, and that may be the basis on which we respond to the concerns that the school boards have.

Mr. Arvaluk.

Mr. Speaker, if the amount will not be near or reflected from the interest income by the divisional boards, will the Minister then be able to identify separate budgets for cultural programs and productions of materials that some divisional boards have been able to create?

Mr. Nerysoo.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I believe, presently, we are as a department, along with the support of my Cabinet colleagues, ensuring we deal with the matter of providing necessary financial assistance in the area of culture or the aboriginal curriculum side. My view is that once we have approved the curriculum, we will have the responsibility to respond with the financial resources. However, it requires approval from my Cabinet colleagues.

Supplementary, Mr. Arvaluk.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. This is my last supplementary. Can the Minister tell the House when a report on the research in this area will be ready?

Mr. Nerysoo.

Thank you. I can indicate to the honourable Member that the review has been completed. I have reviewed it and will forward it to my Cabinet colleagues for consideration, however while I may be positive in terms of my support, it still must be dealt with in the context of the financial situation which we find ourselves in right now.

Item 5, oral questions. Mr. Arngna'naaq.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I have a question for the Minister of Health. I stated in a Member's statement last week, Mr. Speaker, that there had not been an active member on the Keewatin regional health board since December, 1991. I also know there are presently two other communities in the region which are not represented on the Keewatin regional health board at this time. I would like to know when the Minister will be appointing members to the regional health board from those communities.

Minister Mike.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The vacancy for the representative position from Arviat is currently in the process of being filled. Thank you.

Item 5, oral questions. Supplementary, Mr. Arngna'naaq.

Mr. Speaker, a further question. I would like to know the process used by the Minister for appointments on the regional health boards?

Ms. Mike.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The process of selecting at the community level involves hamlet councils, the Department of Health, my office and is then dealt with at the Cabinet level. This is called for in the Territorial Hospital Insurance Services Act. Thank you.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I have a question for the Minister of Housing. Mr. Speaker, I recently received a copy of a letter from the chief of the Fort Smith native band, addressed to the Minister of Housing with regard to the concern expressed of the alternate housing program not being delivered to the band this year. Can the Minister indicate whether that particular program, since he has had many different programs developed over the past year, is the old alternate housing program still in existence? Thank you.

Mr. Morin.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The alternate housing program is part of the access program and is allocated to communities. All the allocations are made from the needs survey. Fort Smith has 101 people in core need, and has been allocated 12 units which are all under the access program. Thank you.

Supplementary, Mrs. Marie-Jewell.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. You indicated the alternate housing program is part and parcel of the access program and in the past these alternate housing programs were specifically considered for Fort Smith band members or Metis members. Can the Minister indicate to me out of those 12 units which are being allocated to Fort Smith, will the Housing Corporation consider a few of those units be designated for the Fort Smith native band or the Metis local? Thank you.

Mr. Morin.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. All 12 units are designated for Fort Smith. There is an allocation committee, which is comprised of band members, Metis members and the town, to allocate the units. That is the process. Thank you.

Supplementary, Mrs. Marie-Jewell.

Mr. Speaker, in the past, it has been the global allocation committee which determines whether they should be public units, HAP units or whatever type of units the Housing Corporation delivered. I know in the past year, the Minister's officials eliminated that process for the global allocation committee. Is the Minister indicating now that this global allocation is to be reinstated to determine the type of units that the community should have and who they should be designated to? Thank you.

Mr. Morin.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The allocation of units is based on clients who are in need. The people in Fort Smith are able to afford to run their own units, so the access program will address that need. In the past, if you wanted to trade some of those houses off for public units, you would have had to find someone else willing to make the trade because we had to keep the mix the same, public units, access units and alternate units, in order to build with the dollars we had. If the community has a request to change some of the access units to alternate units, I would be happy to consider that. Thank you.

Supplementary, Mrs. Marie-Jewell.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I am grateful that the Minister will consider the request for change, but just a minute ago he said that this is to determine, by the global allocation committee, what type of units should be delivered in the community. Are the units to be built, whether they be alternate housing programs under the access program, determined by the global allocation committee or by the Minister's office? Thank you.

Mr. Morin.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Neither. It is determined by the needs survey that the community did. The needs survey is very specific on the type of units that the community needs and the allocation is made to try to address that need. It is not the global committee that says "If we have 10 units, then we want to build five public and five alternate." It has to fit in the overall picture. We need the right percentages of units in order to maximize the number of units we can deliver in a given year. That mix has got to be the same and then we try to allocate them to meet the needs that are determined by the needs survey. The needs survey indicates it, the Housing Corporation allocates it, but if a community has a concern, for example, in this case you have ten access units, I would consider that. Maybe there is another community that wants some access units and is willing to give up some alternate units. I would consider that. Thank you.

Order, please. I would like to recognize in the gallery, the mayor of Fort Simpson, Ray Michaud...

---Applause

...and the deputy mayor of Fort Simpson, Mr. Tom Wilson.

---Applause

Item 5, oral questions. Mr. Arvaluk.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My question is to the Minister of Health and Social Services. I received a short letter from the Minister, but the letter did not answer the question I asked. I wonder if the question was understood. It was on the fuel alternative for the wood subsidy program. I stated in my letter very clearly that since the wood subsidy program is in place with the government already, why are other fuel subsidies, such as kerosene or natural gas that are used for camping or if you have a shack on the beach, not considered? The letter I received did not answer that. I would like to know why these are not included?

Minister Mike.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. If I recollect correctly, Mr. Speaker, Mr. Arvaluk's question was in the form that the primary use of heating oil was for the elders. My response was, when he asked why these are not included in the subsidy program, I would not recommend it as the Minister of Health or Social Services for safety reasons. The letter I provided him was merely asking for names because I would like to know who these elders are who use the fuels he mentioned as a primary source of fuel. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Supplementary, Mr. Arvaluk.

Mr. Speaker, I could tell the Minister right now that April, May, June, July, August and September, in those six months out of the year, the grandparents are the backbone for making spring and summer camps enjoyable and rewarding for grandchildren. These are the primary uses during those six months. I do not know what other fuel you can use in that time frame when you are out at camp. The Minister is not able to identify these very simple facts. Every one of us who comes from the eastern Arctic knows these things. According to the letter she has written me, will she try to find out?

Minister Mike.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. When I refer to "primary source of fuel", that is year-round use. Social assistance recipients purchase fuel with their social assistance money. I am from the east too, Mr. Arvaluk, and I know. Thank you.

Supplementary, Mr. Arvaluk.

Mr. Speaker, I am not going to attempt to correct the Minister's knowledge regarding this one. However, I would like to point out that buying of naphtha gas or kerosene for portable heating or cooking is part of the whole Social Services recipients allowance. They are not identified separately. If a Social Services recipient is allotted $400, the fuel is already included, contrary to what they are allotted in the western Arctic, where wood is separate from that amount. It is part of the whole page in the eastern Arctic. This is why I cannot qualify this as an alternative to the wood subsidy program under that program. It is not separate. It is not like that. Can the Minister tell me whether that is separate or part of the whole Social Services recipients allowance?

Ms. Mike.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The wood and fuel subsidy program is a separate program on its own to assist the elders, as well as the social assistance recipients, to subsidize their fuel all year. It is not for camping or going out on the land. Thank you.

Supplementary, Mr. Arvaluk.

Mr. Speaker, I cannot see that my friends in the western Arctic would only use wood when they are not in camps. They are not allowed to use it when they are in camp. What I am saying is that life-styles in the east or the west, half of the time, if you are a normal person, you will spend it out on the land. It is not like working people who take two weeks off a year and go camping. It is not like that. They actually live out in the camp for half of the year. It is not pleasure camping. They see it as part of their life-style. Perhaps the Minister can indicate by saying "yes" or "no" that the fuel subsidy in the east is part of the food allowance, part of the actual Social Services allowances, whereas it is different in the west where they get a fuel subsidy on top of the food allowance. Is this statement true?

Ms. Mike.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As I have indicated earlier, the families who go out on the land, and who are recipients of social assistance, get assistance to purchase the fuel which they require. The other subsidy program is for home owners. The elders or anyone who is on social assistance receives the subsidy. Thank you.

I would like to remind Members when they ask a question that the lead in to the question should be very short and used to set up the question. I have allowed a certain amount of latitude for more complex questions. I would ask Members to remember this. Item 5, oral questions. Mr. Whitford.

Mr. Allooloo.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Caribou are always on the move.

---Laughter

Mr. Speaker, the restriction with regard to caribou hunting on the Ingraham Trail is still in effect. Thank you.

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

Mr. Allooloo.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The hunting restriction on the side of the road on Ingraham Trail starts in November and ends at the end of April. Thank you.

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

Mr. Allooloo.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. We have had some discussion on this issue. My department is aware that there might be some safety concern on the Ingraham Trail. At the present, time we have no plans to further restrict the hunting on the Ingraham Trail. If the Members of this House want to see further restrictions on the Ingraham Trail in terms of big game hunting, we can explore that option. Thank you.

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

Mr. Allooloo.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Yes, I will ask my department to place advertisements on the radio and newspapers to inform the public of these dates with regard to the restriction of hunting on the Ingraham Trail. Thank you.

Item 5, oral questions. Mr. Patterson.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I have a follow-up on Mr. Arvaluk's question to the Minister of Social Services. Mr. Speaker, I understood the Minister in her last response to say that social assistance recipients who were going on the land are provided with monies to purchase naphtha and other supplies. Is the Minister saying there is an entitlement for monies for naphtha for eligible social assistance recipients going out on the land?

Ms. Mike.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I did not say "naphtha." I said "kerosene." I have relatives who have taken up on this social assistance program and they used it for purchasing kerosene. Thank you.

Supplementary, Mr. Patterson.

Mr. Speaker, do I understand that. In addition to the allowance for food, clothing, shelter and transportation for handicapped people, there is an entitlement to kerosene for people going on the land? Thank you.

Ms. Mike.

(Translation) Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The social assistance recipients are eligible to receive assistance for kerosene. This is part of their social assistance. Thank you.

Supplementary, Mr. Patterson.

Mr. Speaker, is the Minister saying that there is a formula or an allotment for kerosene for people going out on the land under the social assistance regulations? Thank you.

Ms. Mike.

Mr. Speaker, for recipients, when they receive social assistance, there is no certain allotment to purchase kerosene fuel. If they want to purchase kerosene fuel, they can do so. I cannot dictate. Thank you.

Item 5, oral questions. Mr. Gargan.

Mr. Pollard.

Mr. Speaker, with regard to the agricultural products, that is being dealt with by the agricultural Ministers. It was agreed by the Ministers of trade that they would allow that process to continue with those Ministers with a reporting mechanism back to the Ministers of trade. That is one of the things that is possible, depending on how provinces feel about the operation of those boards. I expect, some time in the next six months, there will be a report made back to the Ministers of trade. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Supplementary, Mr. Gargan.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. In response to what the Minister said about the agricultural Ministers getting together to discuss the continuation of those boards, are we, as a territory, not included in those boards? Are we going to be on equal footing with them with regard to quota allocations?