Item 3, Members' statements. Mr. Allooloo.

(Translation) Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I am happy that we have a special day for celebrating aboriginal languages. I know there are many people in the NWT who work very hard to preserve our languages and use them in schools, offices, homes and in the other communities. I would like to thank all these people for all the hard work they are doing. I also envy those people who speak the Dene languages. I want to thank my colleagues for supporting aboriginal languages in this Legislature. I think in all of North America, we are the only people who recognize aboriginal languages. (Translation ends)

I learned the languages from my parents, and from my brothers and sisters. I thank them for that. I will always remember what they have taught me and I am proud of it. I would urge all the people who are not able to speak Inuktitut, who are of Inuit descent, to learn the language. It is so rich, Mr. Speaker. When you lose your language, you lose part of your culture. When I speak my language, I know the right word to describe exactly what I mean. For example, if I say to an Inuktitut speaking person, "this is my cousin," that person knows exactly which part of my family he or she belongs to, whether it is my father's side or my mother's side, by saying one word.

Mr. Speaker, yesterday Mr. John Pollard asked me "What is the word for water in Inuktitut?" So, I gave him a list of things describing salt water, fresh water, water on top of the ice, lake water, drinking water, river water and he was amazed at the different words we use in our language. I cannot always explain myself so well in English. I am always trying to find words which express exactly the same thing as Inuktitut words, but many times they do not exist. Mr. Speaker, we speak different languages, we think of things in a different way...

Mr. Allooloo, your allotted time as elapsed. Thank you, Mr. Allooloo. Item 3, Members' statements. Mr. Ningark.

(Translation) Thank you, Mr. Speaker. When we ask questions, sometimes we ask them in our language. I do not always have much to say, however, I wanted to stand using my dialect in Natilikmiot. Being aboriginal languages day, I wish to express my appreciation to Natilikmiot people who have been preserving their dialect and their language. I appreciate those hard working people in the government and the government in Ottawa, as we try and preserve our native language. I appreciate the funding they give to us for preserving our language. MLAs appreciate this day, recognizing that it is an aboriginal languages day. Thank you very much, my colleagues, and Mr. Speaker.

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

Item 3, Members' statements. Mrs. Marie-Jewell.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Over the past few weeks I have frequently raised the issue of designation of the River Ridge facility in Fort Smith as an institution for the handling of young offenders sentenced to terms of open custody, as well as those young offenders sentenced to terms of closed or secure custody. Mr. Speaker, the Minister of Justice and I have engaged, at times, I believe to be a vigorous debate on this issue. However, Mr. Speaker, neither of us are lawyers. Unfortunately, the debate on this issue seems to have focused around legal definitions, names of statutes and other technical legal issues.

Mr. Speaker, I find this unfortunate because it has obscured the real issue, which I suggest is, how will the staff and officials at the River Ridge facility treat a young offender, who is being sentenced to an institution for the first time for what may be a relatively minor offence, differently from a young offender who has repeatedly been in and out of institutions and has been convicted of a sufficiently serious crime to warrant the imposition by the courts of a term of secure custody. Mr. Speaker, the courts impose different types of custodial sentences for a reason. I am not a legal expert but it seems to me that offenders sentenced to a different type of sentences should be treated differently.

The Young Offenders Act, under section 24(1) recognizes the serious nature of secure custody by prohibiting the courts from imposing secure custody unless certain criteria are met. Given the planned designation of the River Ridge facility, as both open and secure custody, I want to be sure that the institution has developed a plan which will deal appropriately in keeping with the letter and the spirit of the Young Offenders Act, with these two different types of young offenders.

Mr. Speaker, I will continue to pursue the issue with the Minister and I sincerely hope we will be able to debate this issue on its merits and avoid getting tangled up in a debate over legal terminology. Thank you.

Item 3, Members' statements. Item 4, returns to oral questions. Ms. Cournoyea.

Mr. Speaker, I have a return to an oral question asked by Mr. Dent on March 26, 1993, to the Honourable Don Morin, who is presently travelling, regarding the tendering practices of municipalities.

When the Department of Government Services and Public Works directly purchases mobile equipment for the hamlets, the department follows standard specifications, tenders the purchases and inspects the units to ensure they meet specifications.

In some cases, MACA has devolved the purchase of mobile equipment to the hamlets. In those cases, the department provides its standard specifications to MACA for use by the hamlet. The hamlets then tender the purchases, with the assistance of MACA staff, and carry out their own inspections. Government Services and Public Works does not conduct follow-up inspections, except when requested by MACA or a hamlet.

Mr. Speaker, I have a return to an oral question asked by Mr. Gargan on March 26, 1993, to the Honourable Don Morin, Minister of Government Services and Public Works, regarding lease arrangements for social worker on the Hay River Reserve.

The department has consulted with Dene Gha Holdings Corporation at the Hay River Reserve on this potential lease.

It is anticipated that the arrangements can be completed by May 1, 1993.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I am very grateful for the government's early commitment to rebuild the Apex school and also to renovate an existing building to serve as a temporary school. However, the people of Apex and the students at Nanook School were concerned to learn that the new school might not include a gym. Their old school had a gym. I would like to ask the Minister of Education, who I believe has heard their prayers and petitions, whether the Cabinet has had a chance to consider the issue of a gym for the Apex school. Thank you.

Mr. Nerysoo.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I am not sure if we have heard all their calls and all their pleas but we have heard the most important one and that is the request of the honourable Member and the request from the school board. My Cabinet colleagues have understood the need to respond as positively as we can. The Cabinet and Financial Management Board have approved the addition of a small gymnasium for the Apex school.

Item 5, oral questions. Mr. Koe.

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. I have a question for the Minister of Justice. Earlier in my Member's statement I referred to the tabled document related to the 1992 master plan for corrections. Can the Minister please advise us as to the status of this report?

Mr. Kakfwi.

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

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. What time frame is the Minister looking at in developing a strategic plan?

Mr. Kakfwi.

Item 5, oral questions. Mr. Lewis.