Good afternoon. Orders of the day. Item 2, Ministers' statements. Madam Premier.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Later today I will be tabling a report titled "A Proposal to Privatize the Northwest Territories Power Corporation."

The report was prepared by consultant Fred Abbott, a retired partner with Coopers and Lybrand, and does not represent a position of the government at this time. Ultimately, any decision on the privatization of the Power Corporation will be made by this Legislature.

The government purchased the Power Corporation in 1988, in order to make the utility more responsive to the concerns of the NWT customers and to allow it to operate as an independent regulated business.

The report concludes that these objectives have largely been achieved and that the corporation could now be successfully privatized, as a single entity, without sacrificing any of the gains made over the five years of Government of the Northwest Territories' ownership.

This opportunity raises some interesting questions about government ownership, opportunities for government investment and subsidy funding.

Government ownership of the corporation involves some indirect costs:

1. The government guarantees the corporation's debt and, although the corporation makes all the payments on that debt, the existence of the guarantees restricts the government's borrowing ability.

2. The government has $80 million tied up in its investment in the corporation. These are dollars that could, perhaps, be put to other uses. At a time when we are facing severe funding shortages, we have to ask whether this money could be used in ways that are more directly responsive to the needs of NWT residents.

There are, of course, advantages of owning the corporation. The chief benefit is probably the annual dividend paid by the corporation to the government to fund the electricity subsidy programs. However, while it is recognized that subsidies must be continued, it is not clear that they must, or even should, be funded with dividends from the corporation.

The proposal to privatize the Power Corporation provides us with an opportunity to discuss these issues and to consider our fiscal priorities. The coming months will allow time for discussion about whether continued ownership of the corporation is the best way of investing $80 million of government money.

Mr. Speaker, if a decision is made to privatize the corporation, the report proposes that the sale be made in a way that encourages northern ownership and prevents control by one or two shareholders. The report contains a number of recommendations to ensure that northerners retain some control over the utility. For example, it is proposed that Northwest Territories' residents be given the first opportunity to purchase shares and that no one can hold more than ten per cent of the shares.

The report considers the creation of Nunavut and concludes that the unique concerns of the two territories could be addressed by separate Public Utilities Boards. The report notes, however, that division of the corporation into two utilities to serve Nunavut and the west, respectively, would increase costs to a point which would make private sector ownership unattractive.

Critical issues to be examined prior to privatization include the continued employment of existing staff and the integrity of the pension plan. As the report stresses, good business practice requires that employees continue to receive an equitable level of benefits.

It is expected that Cabinet will examine the report shortly, and will make formal recommendations to this House regarding the privatization proposal when the Assembly reconvenes next fall.

Mr. Speaker, this is an exciting opportunity for northerners. The government looks forward to hearing your views on the proposal over the coming months. Thank you very much.

Item 2, Ministers' statements. Ms. Mike.

Mr. Speaker, the purpose of cancer month is to direct attention and provide information on the work of the Canadian Cancer Society in research, education, community programs, and to raise funds to support these endeavours.

The aim of cancer month is to reduce the occurrence of cancer by encouraging people to change their life-styles.

Cancer is a life threatening and disabling disease presently under intensive research to determine its cause, and to provide more information regarding its prevention, diagnosis and treatment.

The Department of Health will be collaborating with regional health and hospital boards regarding awareness of cancer month. Also, the department's health promotion section will liaise with boards to facilitate planning of awareness activities supporting the theme. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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

(Translation) Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I rise today to express my concern with the recent tactics of the Yellowknife media in publicizing personal financial matters involving honourable Members of this House. I refer to reports which aired on CBC Mackenzie this morning that some current and previous Members owe money to a local Yellowknife business. As the dean of the House, I have seen some examples of negative media reporting during my 18 years as a Member of the Legislative Assembly, but I do not believe that I have ever seen such an outright personal attack as the one which CBC broadcast this morning. No one minds when reporters dig around to find out about news which affects the people of the Northwest Territories, however, this matter was not that kind of news item.

If customers have outstanding bills then those should be left as a personal matter between the individual and the businesses involved. I do not believe that Canadian taxpayers want to hear CBC spreading gossip about personal financial matters which do not affect the public at large. The CRTC has not given CBC reporters a mandate to act as bill collectors for their friends and acquaintances.

To my honourable colleagues in this House, I want to stress that, as politicians, we must be more careful than ever before in our personal lives, as well as our public lives. I remember a time when we could count on the media to report the news, and now it seems we must be especially cautious because the media is more interested in reporting personal problems and presenting present MLAs as disreputable people.

Mr. Pudluk, your allotted time as elapsed.

I am asking unanimous consent to continue my statement.

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

(Translation) Thank you, honourable Members. Unfortunately, Yellowknife businesses are the ones that are going to suffer from this situation. Like most honourable Members, my family and I have always shopped at many local businesses when we come here for the sessions of the Legislative Assembly. If Yellowknife merchants, especially those within the so-called hospitality industry, are going to surprise out of town Members by turning outstanding accounts over to the media, then we must question the ethics of the people with whom we are doing business.

The unfortunate result is that our view of Yellowknife and its business community has been changed by this incident. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

---Applause

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

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. I, too, wish to rise today to speak about this issue which was raised in a CBC news report this morning. Mr. Speaker, I received a letter from Mr. Jack Walker, who is president of the Yellowknife Inn, and I would like to read this letter into the record. I received permission from Mr. Walker to do this.

The letter is addressed to myself as chairman of Caucus and it is regarding the CBC report dated March 30, 1993.

"In my opinion, the information is not newsworthy and does not fall within the realm of professional investigative reporting. I believe the conduct of the reporter in question should be investigated by CBC and CRTC with a view to disciplinary action.

"The Yellowknife Inn and the Legislative Assembly have had a nine year relationship during which confidentiality has been viewed as paramount. The hotel has taken precautions to ensure that there will be no re-occurrence of this unfortunate lapse on the part of its staff in the future.

"Without in any way excusing the culpability of my staff in this instance, I consider that it is a very sad commentary on the state of CBC's northern journalism when a reporter of Ms. Morphet's capability becomes more concerned with MLAs' personal credit ratings than with the many urgent and weighty issues of government. This tabloid approach to journalism has very little place in Canada and certainly none in the north where constituents know their elected representatives personally."

This is signed, yours sincerely, Jack Walker. Mahsi.

Thank you. As Speaker of this Legislative Assembly I would like to make a comment about this, which I also consider to be a very serious incident. I think by listening to the statements of the two Members, we can see a clear case where the MLAs were satisfied with the process, the owner of the hotel was satisfied and there were no complaints by the two partners in this arrangement. Suzanne Morphet fabricated a problem, because there was no problem with the MLAs and no problem with the business. It seems to me, after two weeks of very effective work by this Legislative Assembly, where the Assembly has been most effective in carrying out its duties, there was not, in Suzanne Morphet's opinion, a story. It is a clear case where a story was fabricated. I, for one, will bring to the attention of the management of CBC both Members' statements, because both Members' statements were very well spoken. Thank you.

---Applause

Item 3, Members' statements. Mr. Pudlat.

(Translation) Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Two weeks ago I had tabled a petition regarding a request for day care. Often the children are left behind alone in their homes. This is a concern to the people of the north. In the small community of Lake Harbour there has been a petition signed requesting a day care centre because the parents are working. Through this petition we are requesting a day care so the children will have a safe place to go while the parents are working. It could be taken advantage by the other parents, even though they are not working, because often the children are left alone in their house when they are too young to look after other siblings. For this reason, I have tabled a petition and wanted to comment on this petition from Lake Harbour. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Item 3, Members' statements. Mr. Dent.

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

Item 3, Members' statements. Mr. Whitford.

Item 3, Members' statements. Mr. Zoe.

Item 3, Members' statements. Mr. Antoine.

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. I would like to say that in Fort Simpson last week, March 23 to 25, there was a conference on family violence and sexual abuse. This conference was very well attended by approximately 100 delegates from a number of communities throughout the north, and people from as far as Spence Bay and the Delta participated. I would like to thank them for coming to Fort Simpson and participating in this conference.

The comments I heard about the conference was that it was worth it, and that especially the healing part of the conference, the healing circle it is called, was worth it and the people who participated feel that it was a very good experience for them. The information and plan of action from this conference will be gathered, recommendations will come from that and a plan of action will be developed. Because we will be concluded this Friday and we will not be getting back together until next fall, I wanted to thank the Minister who is responsible for Social Services, the Honourable Rebecca Mike, for coming to Fort Simpson last Thursday and participating in the feast and drum dance.

---Applause

On behalf of my constituents, it was important that you, as the Minister of Social Services, came to this conference and made a statement to the people on the position of the government with regard to the whole area of sexual abuse and family violence. The people who participated felt it was worth it for you to come to Fort Simpson, and I appreciate that.

(Translation) What I am trying to say is, last weekend there was a meeting in Fort Simpson. Many people from different regions and areas were involved. Rebecca Mike, Minister of Social Services, attended the drum dance and the feast, and she talked to the delegates there. I would like to thank her for attending this conference. (Translation ends)

...developing recommendations. Through the spring and summer you will hear about the recommendations and follow up on this course of action. Mahsi.

Item 3, Members' statements. Mr. Gargan.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I have stood in this House on many previous occasions and commented on problems with the workers' compensation coverage for traditional harvesters. Honourable Members already know what the problem is. Workers' Compensation Board policy does not consider an aboriginal person to be principally engaged in traditional harvesting unless they meet arbitrary and unfair criteria, based on a southern wage economy.

Mr. Speaker, we have been over this issue many times before. Each time we receive promises that this problem will be solved; none of these promises have been kept to date.

The Workers' Compensation Board says it is a problem to be solved by the Department of Renewable Resources because the money is supposed to come from their budget. Now the WCB and the Department of Renewable Resources are both saying it is up to the Minister of Justice to draft terms of a memorandum of agreement. Everyone is passing the buck.

In the meantime, aboriginal people who net fish for their families this summer will not have the protection of the Workers' Compensation Board, and hunters who bring caribou meat to the elders of their community will not be covered either. Mr. Speaker, there should be no mistake about where the responsibility for solving this problems lies. It lies with the Minister responsible for the Workers' Compensation Board. The Workers' Compensation Act is clear about that. For a long time we have considered the current Minister to be a man who gets things done.

Hear, hear.

He is known as a problem-solver. It is time for him to take some decisions in that direction. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

---Applause

Item 3, Members' statements. Mr. Todd.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to rise today and extend my congratulations to the Keewatin chamber of commerce for their annual general meeting held this weekend. There was approximately 150 delegates attending from across the north. It was an historic occasion in that there was a clear recognition that there is going to be an orderly transfer to a Nunavut government. I was pleased to see, as always, that the Keewatin chamber of commerce is taking an initiative to move forward in the development and the organization of a Nunavut chamber of commerce which is long overdue. Thank you.

Item 3, Members' statements. Item 4, returns to oral questions. Mr. Pollard.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I have a return to a question asked by Mr. Antoine on March 23, 1993, regarding the nature of the health billings dispute.

Mr. Speaker, the dispute is described in the Government of the Northwest Territories statement of claim document which was tabled in the Legislative Assembly on November 20, 1992, Tabled Document 11-12(3).

The nature of the dispute was also described in a March 26, 1992, letter sent from the Premier to Northwest Territories chiefs, a copy of which was provided to Members of the Legislative Assembly.

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

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I have a question for the Minister of Safety and Public Services. The Minister knows the issue of hunters' and trappers' coverage has been raised a number of times in the past. I am sure he will remember stating on February 17, that the Department of Renewable Resources and the Workers' Compensation Board were negotiating a memorandum of understanding to deal with questions surrounding coverage of traditional harvesters. I am

sure he knows his chief commissioner, who completed a review of the Workers' Compensation Board, provided a number of specific suggestions for resolving the problems. Can the Minister explain why this policy issue has not been resolved?

Mr. Todd.

Mr. Speaker, I want to assure the honourable Member, with respect to this issue, it is an important issue. I know it is particularly important to the Member and it is equally important to everyone across the Northwest Territories. I have issued, in conjunction with Renewable Resources, specific instructions to prepare the MOU as quickly as possible. The Department of Justice has the responsibility to develop the legal language which is necessary. I will determine, later on today, why there is a delay. I am optimistic that we can move very quickly on this issue. I am confident that the MOU will meet the needs and requirements of the hunters and trappers as it relates to workers' compensation and the level of compensation will be in the range that was discussed with the honourable Member. However, perhaps I will be in a better position later today or tomorrow to inform him specifically when the MOU should be complete. There is no reason for any lengthy delay at this time.

Item 5, oral questions. Mr. Koe.

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. I have a question for the Minister of Health. Yesterday, while discussing the department's budget in committee of the whole, I asked the Minister about the process which is being used to conduct the legislative review of health related acts. The Minister referred the question to Dr. Kinloch, who stated, and I quote from unedited Hansard, "The contract has been let to assist in developing some of the issues which have to be dealt with in revamping a public health act which is seriously obsolete." What process was used in letting this contract?

Ms. Mike.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I will have to check to see what process was used, whether it was put out for tender or request for proposals. Thank you.

Supplementary, Mr. Koe.

Can the Minister advise this House as to who was awarded the contract to do this work?

Ms. Mike.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As far as I know, the contract has not been awarded yet. Thank you.

Supplementary, Mr. Koe.

I have some problem with that response. Her senior official stated and I quote from unedited Hansard, "A contract has been let..." What is the official position? Has the contract been let or not?

Ms. Mike.

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

The question has been taken as notice. Item 5, oral questions. Mr. Zoe.

Can I ask Members to try to keep their preamble very short and very concise? Ms. Mike.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. From what I know, there is only one health board which is under an MOU and the rest are agreements signed by the Commissioner of the Northwest Territories. That is why the deputy minister was telling you they just finished reviewing the MOU proposals yesterday afternoon. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Supplementary, Mr. Zoe.

Ms. Mike.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I should know many other things since I got on Cabinet in December as the Member for Lac La Martre is suggesting. Perhaps if I had a magic wand things would be all right. The functions of the health boards between now and September will not be affected. Thank you.

Can I ask Ministers if they would please just respond to the question? Item 5, oral questions. Supplementary, Mr. Zoe.

Ms. Mike.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It is likely due to the change of the Minister. From the time he made the commitment to the time I received the portfolio, things were slowed down a little bit. To answer the Member's question, when I said the boards' functions will not be affected, I did not say things will not change. Thank you.

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

Ms. Mike.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I believe that is what my deputy minister said and I will make sure MOUs will be in place by the end of September. Thank you.

Item 5, oral questions. Mr. Pudlat.

(Translation) Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My question is directed to the Minister of Health, further to the question asked by the honourable colleague for North Slave. The health boards do not seem to have too much autonomy and it seems the staff and administration in the Department of Health have more jurisdictional powers. It seems the health boards have very limited powers in their regions, even though they seem to have been given a certain role designated to them as the bodies of power concerning health issues. Mr. Speaker, concerning this report upon completion, will the territorial health boards be given more powers and will their powers be more clearly defined, because in the present system all these powers seem to be held by the Department of Health. Thank you.

Mr. Mike.

(Translation) Thank you, Mr. Speaker. In response to the Member for Baffin South, the health boards have certain powers but they still have to work within the Health Act. Since I became Minister, I have encouraged them to function within those powers. I try not to interfere with their roles. Thank you.

Item 5, oral questions. Mr. Pudluk.

(Translation) Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My question is directed to the Minister of Public Works and Highways. In Resolute Bay there is water provided from the lake through the pipe systems. There has been ongoing concern regarding freezing of the pipes. Presently, today in

fact, there is some freeze up happening around the piping areas. I wonder if the Minister is aware of the problem which causes the freezing repeatedly in that area. Thank you.

Mr. Minister.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As part of the upgrading, we purchased and installed two new pumps which have increased the water supply. That improves the safety margin and the water supply. That was completed in December, 1992. Upon completion of installation of these new pumps, that main line was scoured, there was a great deal of high pressure water pushed through it. Shortly after completion of that process -- they do that to wash out any ice build up in the line -- Public Works located a small pin hole leak about 750 feet from the Char Lake pumphouse. It is believed that was caused by scouring that line. It is a pin hole leak that is causing this ice boil. It is ten feet high by ten feet wide. The pin hole is a flow metre on each side of the line, so the line going through and coming out is kept track of and the loss of water is at such a minimum, it does not register on the flow metre. So, it is not considered to be a high priority to fix it right away, but it will be fixed in the summer. There is not much loss of water, it just looks like lots with the big hill. Thank you.

Supplementary, Mr. Pudluk.

(Translation) Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Supplementary to my question. Communities pay for their use of water. It is hoped that people will not have to pay unnecessarily because of the leaking water. Thank you.

Mr. Morin.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The water from Char Lake to the reservoir is untreated water, so no one has to pay for it. It does not register on the metres at all, so you cannot even estimate how many gallons it is, it is so minimum. Thank you.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I have a question for the Minister of the Housing Corporation. Mr. Speaker, I have a concern from one of my constituents with respect to the rural and remote program. Can the Minister of Housing indicate whether there have been any rural and remote programs in the NWT which have been considered written off, or transferred to other programs within the Housing Corporation? Thank you.

Mr. Morin.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would have to look into that. I will take that as notice and get back to the Member.

The question has been taken as notice. Item 5, oral questions. Mr. Koe.

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. I have a question for the Minister of Renewable Resources. At the annual general meeting of the Gwich'in renewable resources councils, a motion was passed requesting trappers be considered for some kind of compensation for lost revenues. Many times this session, various Members of this Assembly have raised the issue of the poor trapping season. In my area, in particular, they did not have enough traps to hand out to all the trappers, even though it was a policy of this government. Will the Minister review this issue and consider developing a program for compensating trappers for lost revenues?

Mr. Minister.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My department is working on options for this particular problem in the western Arctic. Thank you.

Supplementary, Mr. Koe.

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Will the Minister and his department try to have something in place for this year, as many trappers have lost the entire winter's trapping and potential revenues? In particular, in Arctic Red River, Fort McPherson and Inuvik trappers did not even go out in some cases, so they did not earn anything from trapping. Will the Minister seriously consider look at compensating trappers this year?

Mr. Minister.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. We will be dealing with the trappers who have suffered hardship because of the poor trapping season and also because of the warm weather this winter. We will be dealing with trappers case by case. Thank you.

Supplementary, Mr. Koe.

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. In the motion I referred to earlier, I quote "Whereas the trappers of Fort McPherson and Arctic Red River who harvested in the Yukon were not properly

made aware that leg hold traps are still used in the Yukon; and where these trappers have lost one season of trapping in the Yukon." Will the Minister please check into this situation and advise those trappers in Arctic Red River and Fort McPherson as to why they were not properly informed of these regulations?

Mr. Allooloo.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I will look into the problem. Thank you.

Item 5, oral questions. Mr. Lewis.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My question is to the Minister of Justice, Mr. Speaker. In 1988, workers began the review of family law. Major aboriginal organizations, members of the legal profession, the advisory council on the Status of Women and the Departments of Social Services and Justice had people who worked on this working committee. According to the annual report of the Government of the Northwest Territories, this review was completed in 1991. Since, according to the annual report, it was completed in 1991, did the working committee disband or has it continued to work since then?

Mr. Kakfwi.

Supplementary, Mr. Lewis.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The Family Law Review report was tabled in the House by the Minister as Tabled Document 122-12(2), on October 2. Since that became a public document on that day, has there been any public reaction or written submissions received by the government?

Mr. Kakfwi.

Supplementary, Mr. Lewis.

Thanks, Mr. Speaker. Judging from what the Minister has said, what we have is a review which has 256 recommendations based on background material which is supposed to be the appendix but in many cases is not there, and that the department now has to try to figure out how these recommendations were made. It seems as if this group was never able to come to grips with the material and really never was able to agree amongst themselves as to what should be in the report. My question to the Minister is, what is the process now that this has been tabled a second time. It is an inadequate review full of holes, inconsistencies and recommendations which are not based on any obvious research material. What is the intention of the Minister in putting together another document? What will that document tell us that was not available in the original review?

Mr. Kakfwi.

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

This process was begun in 1988, Mr. Speaker, so I would like to ask the Minister, what can the Assembly expect to be completed by the end of the 1993-94 fiscal year, assuming the consultation report is finished within that time frame and that the legislation people are able to do the work they have to do? What can we expect to see by the end of 1993-94?

Mr. Kakfwi.

I would like to recognize in the gallery, Rose Okpik, the chair of the Inuit artists' association from Pangnirtung.

---Applause

Item 5, oral questions. Mr. Dent.

Mr. Nerysoo.

Mr. Speaker, yes.