Good afternoon. Before we proceed with the orders of the day, I would like to recognize in the gallery the board of governors of Arctic College. The chair of Arctic College, Chris Brodeur and the vice chair and chair-elect, Joanne Deneron.

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We welcome you here today to the Legislative Assembly. Orders of the day. Item 2, Ministers' statements. Ms. Cournoyea.

Mr. Speaker, today is international women's day. It is a day when all countries of the world recognize, in various ways, the contributions women have made to the betterment of society.

The concept of an international women's day, recognized by the United Nations in 1977, originated 83 years ago at a meeting of the international socialist women's association. It was established at a time when women were starting to make some progress in their struggle for better wages and working conditions as well as for the right to vote in elections.

Much has happened since those early days and there is a great deal to celebrate in respect to the contributions women, from all walks of life, are making in today's world.

There are also still a great deal of challenges and problems which must be resolved in order to make sure family units and values are protected and remain strong in this period of rapid social, economic and political change.

In the Northwest Territories women are playing an increasingly strong role in identifying issues and in shaping community and territorial direction. However, this is not a job for women alone. All of us, parents, family units, churches, community leaders and government must share in the work which has to be done.

We have to work harder to help ourselves. Together, we have to develop enhanced support systems for victims of spousal assault. At the same time, we must make sure everyone understands that the chronic alcohol and substance abuse

problems, family violence and sexual abuses that are plaguing society in the Northwest Territories simply cannot be tolerated.

We also have to address other matters such as gender equality, pay equity and the need for affordable and expanded child care facilities and services, particularly for single parent families trying to raise their children and work at the same time.

Mr. Speaker, women of the north are participating as equals to help make sure that these and other problems and inequities are resolved so that all individuals have the opportunity to live a life of honour and dignity.

Whether they are involved in traditional pursuits or the wage economy, northern women are helping to make a difference in today's world and they will continue to do so every day of the year. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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I would like to recognize in the gallery our Member of Parliament for the western Arctic, Ethel Blondin-Andrew.

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Item 2, Ministers' statements. Mr. Nerysoo.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. This government is working hard to create a work-force which reflects the population it serves, and to help northerners get the education and training they need to access jobs. My colleagues and I believe that many more northerners should be working in the health care system.

There are more than 370 registered nursing positions in the Northwest Territories. Less than six of these are filled by aboriginal people. To encourage more northerners and aboriginal people to enter the nursing profession, Arctic College will be offering a nursing diploma program this September.

The program will be developed and delivered in cooperation with Yukon College, the NWT Registered Nurses' Association, the Department of Health, the Department of Education, Culture and Employment Programs, hospital boards and aboriginal organizations.

The nursing diploma program will consist of two years of registered nursing instruction, and a practicum which will likely run for an additional semester. When students have finished the program, they may write the national registration exam, and if they are successful, enter the work-force. Students interested in continuing their education may enter the final two years of a bachelor of nursing program at university.

The program will be tailored to meet the needs of individuals. Students who lack the academic background to enter the program directly will be able to take a year of upgrading. Candidates who have a grade 12 advanced diploma may enter the first year of the program, while certified nursing assistants may enter the second year directly based on individual assessments. Mature students will have their previous education assessed, and will be placed at an appropriate point in the program. We also wish to encourage health care workers presently employed in the health care system to take advantage of this program.

Mr. Speaker, special attention will be paid to student support, particularly in the areas of accommodation, child day care, academic and cultural support and career counselling. Students will be eligible for funding under the student financial assistance program. This flexible approach, which allows students to work towards their specific career goals, has already been successful in areas such as teacher education and social services.

Mr. Speaker, as a result of this program we expect that 300 northerners will be trained and placed in nursing positions across the Northwest Territories over the next 20 years. As a result, health care services will largely be provided by people who understand the language and the culture of the people they care for. We expect this will result in better communication, an increase in preventative health care and help lower costs in the long run because of anticipated reductions in staff turnover and recruiting costs. We expect the financial benefits to this government will exceed the annual costs of delivering the program in less than ten years.

Mr. Speaker, the health care system touches the lives of everyone in our society. I believe the nursing diploma program will play an important part in increasing the participation of northerners in health care, and in making the system more responsive to the needs of northerners. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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Thank you, Mr. Nerysoo. Item 2, Ministers' statements. Mr. Allooloo.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to provide Members with a report on my meetings in Charlottetown with the four representatives from the European parliament.

It is fortunate that we were able to arrange a meeting at the last minute with the representatives from Britain, Germany and Greece. We learned of their visit through an indigenous survival international delegation which was in Brussels on February 23.

Since that time, my staff had numerous contacts with the international fund for animal welfare, who had invited and arranged the meeting with the European delegates. It was not until shortly before my departure that my attendance at the meeting was confirmed.

Altogether, I spent over five hours talking to the European delegates. My presentation was very well received and corrected a great deal of false information they had been provided with.

As a result, I believe the parliamentarians are returning to Europe with a much better understanding of our northern cultures and lifestyles. I explained that the Arctic is not a frontier for other people to exploit. The Arctic is our homeland and we expect others to respect and support our customs and life-styles.

In addition, both myself and Mannassie Audlakiak of Clyde River explained how important harvesting renewable resources is to our residents and how harvesting forms the basis for our cultures.

The parliamentarians did not know about the devastating social and economic impacts of the 1982 European seal product ban on Inuit communities. They did not understand that the most effective way to maintain healthy and productive stocks of wildlife is to allow residents to benefit from those resources and remain the caretakers. They had been led to believe that seals in Canada needed protection from harvesting so they would not become endangered. I told them there are well over three million harp and ringed seals in Canadian waters.

Mr. Speaker, I was also able to have a private meeting with two of the delegates. We talked about the state of our northern fur industry and our relationship with the European market.

I learned that there are different goals among animal rights organizations. Some wish to see a total ban on killing animals, some wish to see humane harvesting techniques adopted and some have environmental beliefs that are similar to our aboriginal philosophies.

By knowing more about their goals, we can actually have some organizations assist our objectives to use resources wisely.

There are also other actions we can take in response to European concerns about harvesting. First, we must continue to develop and adopt humane harvesting techniques. Second, we must find ways to separate our renewable resource products from those produced in other regions. Third, we must increase our involvement with other governments so we can ensure that their decisions do not negatively impact our life-styles or aspirations.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank Mr. Audlakiak for coming with me. He was an excellent spokesman for Inuit harvesters. The children's posters on wildlife harvesting which he provided will be part of the parliamentarians' press conference in Brussels.

The European delegation had separate meetings with representatives from the Canadian sealer's association, indigenous survival international and Fisheries and Oceans Canada. They promised to give further consideration to the points we discussed.

Another delegation from the European parliament is scheduled to visit Canada at the end of April. Their mission is to report on Canadian issues and I will be encouraging them to include a visit to the Northwest Territories as part of their trip. I will keep Members of this Legislative Assembly informed. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Allooloo. Item 2, Ministers' statements. Item 3, Members' statements. Mr. Lewis.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. On Friday there were several questions about economic development. I note this weekend in Edmonton at the Hotel MacDonald, the Canadian Polar Commission met and the subject of the conference was circumpolar trade and the Canadian agenda. Mr. Speaker, I raise this today because this polar commission, which has been in existence for over a year, has chosen economic development as the focus for its work. The workshops which were held on the weekend included large scale interests of some major companies, the issue of export readiness, the natural resources of the north, tourism, and trade among the circumpolar nations. Mr. Bailey, the deputy minister of Economic Development and Tourism attended this meeting. It is of obvious interest to our government.

I raise this issue, not because I question what the Canadian Polar Commission's mandate is or how it chooses to use its resources, because they chose this subject of economic development as the focus for their work and their major recommendation was that the federal government develop an economic development strategy for the north. This is worrisome because our government has this kind of mandate. This commission, and all the players who took part in this weekend conference, decided that there was a vacuum and that something should be done. I urge our government to get on with it, so that we can have a clear idea of where we are going. Thank you.

Item 3, Members' statements. Mr. Pudlat.

(Translation) Thank you, Mr. Speaker. A tragedy occurred on February 27, 1993, in Montreal, Quebec. A resident of Lake Harbour, Mr. Novoalia Kolola was severely beaten to death in a house he was occupying. The family was notified in Lake Harbour regarding his death and his sister was notified in Vancouver. The family was not able to afford the plane ticket for his sister to attend the funeral. Fund raising efforts were immediately started by the community of Lake Harbour. I have been requested to approach the Minister of Social Services for assistance. We have not been able to acquire any funding assistance from Social Services.

This tragedy is compounded, Mr. Speaker, by the fact that Mr. Kolola's parents both died within one week of each other a few years ago. I would like to express my deepest disappointment in the Department of Social Services for their total lack of assistance, despite meetings with the Minister, her officials and myself. I would like to acknowledge my appreciation to the people of Broughton Island, Coral Harbour, Pangnirtung and Clyde River. I also want to thank the hamlet of Lake Harbour as the hamlet is paying the difference of the fund raising shortfall. Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank the people of Lake Harbour because they were able to raise some funds to enable the sister to attend the funeral.

Mr. Pudlat, the allotted time has lapsed. Mr. Pudlat.

(Translation) Mr. Speaker, that was the end of my statement. Thank you.

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Thank you, Mr. Pudlat. Item 3, Members' statements. Mr. Dent.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to express my thanks to the Minister of Health, the Honourable Rebecca Mike, and the many constituents who attended last night's public meeting in Fort Smith. Mr. Speaker, the meeting was held to receive feedback from residents of my constituency regarding the decision not to proceed with the public inquiry into the Fort Smith health centre.

It was a very well attended meeting, despite the short notice, with over 70 people in attendance. I know that the people of Fort Smith were very pleased with the fact that the Minister came into our community and that she showed a definite willingness to listen to their concerns.

Mr. Speaker, the people in attendance were generally accepting of the decision not to proceed with the inquiry. However, many of them expressed some strong ideas about the delivery of health services in Fort Smith.

There were strong sentiments, for instance, that a new board should be formed as soon as possible to manage the health centre. There was a definite interest in giving consideration to an elected board concept. I know that changes to legislation would probably need to take place in order to address this suggestion. It is critical that some strategy be developed to ensure the hospital board fully represents the diversity which exists in the community, including representation from the town, the Metis local and the band. It is important that the component of this concept continue.

There was also recognition of the need for formal orientation and training programs for board members who serve on any health centre board. Participants felt, as well, that members of any new hospital board should be able to select their own chairperson. There were concerns expressed about the current operation of the health centre, particularly about the high turnover in medical resources created by the many locum physicians on which the health centre has had to rely upon.

I indicated to my constituents that during the next month, I will be surveying the Fort Smith population for additional ideas and will be looking forward to seeing a new board in place at the earliest opportunity. I was pleased that their comments provided a strong foundation for moving ahead for delivery of health services in our community. Thank you.

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Another very well timed Member's statement, Mrs. Marie-Jewell. Item 3, Members' statements. Mr. Antoine.

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. (Translation) I want to say something very important today about the western region. The Dene Nation is starting over and there was an all-chiefs meeting. I would like to make a few comments about that meeting. (Translation ends)...representation of all the bands in the Mackenzie Valley. All the communities were represented, and this is the first time in a long time that they have met together.

The purpose was to closely examine the organization itself and make decisions about its future. It was a very successful exercise, Mr. Speaker, with an open sharing of views and several resolutions passed, which I believe will go a long way towards preparing the Dene Nation for its future challenges. During the meeting, for instance, chiefs passed a motion to establish a special committee to review and suggest options for constitutional renewal of possible structural change within their organization. A new role has been established for regional vice chiefs, including assisting in financial review and deficit reduction.

Important progress was also made with respect to the development of the mechanism for resolution of dispute within the Dene Nation. In keeping with traditional Dene ways, the Dene Nation is resolved to deal with any future disputes without interference from other political entities, or from non-aboriginal governments, but with the full involvement of our elders. Work is proceeding with documentation of elders' understanding of agreements made with the Crown and Treaties 8 and 11, and a motion of support for the Sayasi Dene was carried. The chiefs are going to be meeting in Fort McPherson starting tomorrow to deal with health issues.

Finally, Mr. Speaker, I note that the Dene Nation has passed a motion directing the territorial government to commence core funding to the Denendeh national office. As a Dene, I am pleased with the progress that the Dene Nation has made in revitalizing itself as a national organization working in the interests of all Dene people.

As an MLA, I am happy to see the chiefs from all regions of the Denendeh come together and, again, work in unity. Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Antoine. Item 3, Member's statements. Mr. Gargan.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. This past weekend, the Hay River Dene Reserve held its annual K'amba Carnival. I would like to congratulate the carnival organizers on another job well done. Every year the carnival gets bigger, better and more organized. This year was no exception. The carnival has become so popular that it attracted people from as far north as Fort Norman, as far south as Fort Smith, as far east as Snowdrift and as far west as Fort Liard. The carnival opened Thursday and ran until Sunday evening. One of the biggest attractions was a two-day dog race which featured about 20 teams. It was a spectacular sight, Mr. Speaker, to watch so many teams in a mass start.

Coinciding with the carnival was the opening of the reserve's senior citizens' home on Friday at 1:00 pm. I would like to thank former Social Services' Ministers, Jeannie Marie-Jewell and Tony Whitford, for their efforts on behalf of the senior citizens.

When I was first elected in 1983, one of my first goals was to provide shelter for senior citizens on the reserve. I am glad this has finally become a reality, however, I must point out for the record, Mr. Speaker, we have not addressed all social housing issues.

Once again, I would like to thank chief Pat Martel, his counsellors and the Dene volunteers who organized the carnival and made it a success. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Gargan. Item 3, Member's statements. Mr. Patterson.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to rise and also recognize international women's day, and like the honourable Minister responsible for the Status of Women, I agree that northern women are taking leadership positions in Canada, in the Northwest Territories and in my constituency, and they should be recognized. I am just going to name a few, Mr. Speaker, although this list is by no means exhaustive. First we have to, once again, be proud that we have selected the first woman Government Leader in the history of the Northwest Territories. We have to be proud of people like Rosemarie Kuptana, named by McLean's magazine as one of the 12 who made a difference last year to Canada; Ethel Blondin-Andrew, who has a very significant national stature; and, Susan Aglukark, whose reputation is growing in Canada as a musician with a message, just to name a few, Mr. Speaker.

I also want to acknowledge that women from my constituency are making their contributions on the Northwest Territories Power Corporation board, and the Arctic College board of governors, which is now very well represented by women in contrast to its composition in earlier years.

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I would like to join in the congratulations to Joanne Deneron, who I know will be a very capable chairperson like her predecessors. Women from Iqaluit are also working on the NWT arts advisory council. I want to express my pleasure that this government has recently appointed an Inuk woman, who was formally the superintendent of Personnel, to the position of assistant regional director in the Baffin.

I would like to mention, once again in this House, the wisdom and inspiration of the late Leah Nuturaq. We must do more than improve the representation of women, we must ensure that they have an increasing influence on our public policy initiatives. The voice of women must be put, as we consider issues like the Justice House report, family law reform, the battle against family violence.

Item 3, Members' statements. History has been made in this session. This is the first time, since I have been Speaker, that we have gone through Members' statements without seeking unanimous consent.

---Laughter

Congratulations.

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Item 4, returns to oral questions. Ms. Mike.