Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I am quite happy this afternoon to be able to give my reply to the Commissioner's address.

---Applause

I am so happy that the Members are so eager to hear it.

Mr. Speaker, I believe it has been a fairly long and productive session of this Assembly. However, there are a number of matters which I believe to be worthy of further comment. As always, Mr. Speaker, in my reply to the Commissioner's address, I like to take the time to thank my constituents, the people of Fort Smith, for their continuing support, and for the confidence they demonstrate in me when they bring these matters to my attention.

I would like to touch on a few of those issues, Mr. Speaker. I would like to make some more general comments dealing with the political environment within this House and in the Northwest Territories at the present time.

In developing this address, I have been trying to look at the priorities of how this should be formulated. I certainly feel that the priority of my constituency is to address transportation. I would like to make some comments in the area of transportation that certainly affects my constituency greatly.

As honourable Members know, Mr. Speaker, I have believed for quite a long time that there should be a road south from Fort Smith. The only feasible way to put this road through which would be cost-effective is to put it through Wood Buffalo National Park to Fort Vermilion. I believe we could even then make use of Arctic College's heavy equipment program to build that road and I have said that a number of times in this House. Mr. Speaker, I know that Parks Canada does not want to make the commitment to maintain the road, but someone has to emphasize to Parks Canada the benefit that will be derived for the most park with regard to tourism. I also know there is a movement to address the road on the east side of the Slave River to Fort Chipewyan and then link to Fort McMurray and south. No one will dispute that this is an interesting dream, Mr. Speaker, but I believe that is what it is. A dream.

In today's climate of fiscal restraint this is just not financially feasible. A road through to Fort Vermilion only needs one bridge and there is already a cut line on that road. There was a road in existence in 1958 through the same route, and it is unfortunate that over 30 years it has not been developed further. If it was developed further there would have been a good highway on the road by now. I am asking the government to make this most economical and realistic proposal a reality for my constituents.

In future sessions, Mr. Speaker, I will be encouraging the Minister of Transportation to incorporate this within the territorial transportation strategy to set a priority on it. I am sure that when Mr. Todd considers the various economic benefits in terms of lower transportation costs as well as the perspective tourism spin-offs, he will realize that this should, in fact, be regarded as a definite goal.

Construction costs for this highway development certainly could be kept low by using Arctic College's resources, as I have stated earlier. In addition, this would provide valuable training opportunities for students in the trades and heavy equipment program. I believe this government must make a political commitment to follow through on meeting the long-standing need for a southern transportation route and to use college resources to carry out the construction.

Mr. Speaker, the other matter I wanted to raise, with respect to the Department of Transportation, has to do with the need which exists for improvement to our current highway from Sandy Lake to Belrock, near Fort Smith. I would encourage the Minister to look carefully at this important transportation route and to find ways to, at the very least, provide chipseal for that 90 kilometre stretch of highway.

Mr. Speaker, that particular highway has already a good base, so the cost per mile would probably be one third of what the cost of mileage would be in Yellowknife and the surrounding area.

Mr. Speaker, it is critical that the Department of Transportation no longer applies calcium to that highway. It kills the chickens and it is not economic strategy for long-term road maintenance. In my opinion, it is money wasted.

I would like to suggest strongly that the department take the money it is presently using for calcium supply and convert it to a program which would apply chipseal to this portion of the highway. Even if the Minister makes an efforts to look, over the next five years, at addressing that 90 kilometre stretch, my constituents would be most grateful and so would I. The Minister must direct his department to do this and then we will see movement toward a chipseal program for our highway. The Minister must not ask his department to see if they can do it because they will come back with every answer not to do it. That program was started in 1984 and nothing has been done on it since.

Mr. Speaker, the next concern with respect to my constituents is not a concern but an issue in my constituency and it is Arctic College. As honourable Members know, Arctic College is also situated in Fort Smith with one of the largest campuses. I made a commitment to the people of my constituency that we would see an academic building constructed and I am happy and grateful to see that this project is now under way, even if it is only in the early stages of developing and planning.

I am also strongly of the opinion that the Science Institute of the Northwest Territories should be formally linked with the college. Mr. Speaker, this is important. The linkage will make it possible to share resources and reduce costs. It would also facilitate the recruitment of qualified people who are willing to come to the college and work on term positions.

Mr. Speaker, at times I get quite concerned with some of the types of research that are carried out in the Northwest Territories. I am concerned that although the Research Act requires community consultation on licensing decisions, Science Institute personnel do not carefully review what sorts of activities should be licensed. Much of the research is not really relevant to the people of the Northwest Territories. Yet, Science Institute facilities and resources are often expended.

Mr. Speaker, I took it upon myself to go back to the Science Institute's book that was tabled in the House in 1990-91. Of all the different science research in the Northwest Territories, looking at the Science Institute's mandate and seeing what type of research licences have been issued, I was surprised to see that a licence was issued with regard to Dene leadership style. A licence was acquired by Sarah Pocklington of Edmonton, who will conduct interviews and library studies to study the leadership styles of Dene living in the Northwest Territories. Doing that type of study from the south, how can they really do a thorough study and research from the south?

I believe a formal linkage between the Science Institute and Arctic College will no doubt strengthen both agencies. I also believe it will result in more relevant, useful information being generated through research studies and it will only benefit all our northern residents.

Before I finish talking about Arctic College, Mr. Speaker, I would like to say I am grateful to see the proposed decentralization of the college headquarters. As I am sure you remember, this is something I have supported for a very long time because the headquarters was at one time in my constituency.

Again, I must say that I have been somewhat concerned to see that whenever we meet in sessions of this Assembly, it appears that the decentralization timetable has been delayed again. I have assurance from the Minister that the planning to do the decentralization is in the process. I am happy to hear and know that the headquarters will be decentralized to Fort Smith one year from now.

Mr. Speaker, I wanted to comment on a different issue with regard to the educational administration and programming, and particularly three different areas. First I want to remark on the very definite need which exists for renovations of the primary school in Fort Smith. The government, at one point in time, had a commitment of capital dollars for those long overdue improvements. It was unfortunate that in our capital budget these dollars for renovations were taken out. Mr. Speaker, the Joseph Burr Tyrrell School, which three of my daughters attend, was built in 1958. I even attended that school. Fort Smith families have had to watch while other communities receive new school facilities, and many other communities have smaller populations. I am not disputing the fact that they have just as equal a right to access to education. In fact, I fully support that. However, it does not seem that there is a planning process in place to look after some of our older capital infrastructure buildings. I believe it is critical that we look at that capital planning. Many of my constituents have pointed out that these capital planning decisions have been unfair, and at times, I have to agree with them.

Another issue which is of serious importance to my constituents has to do with the western Arctic leadership program. This has been an extremely successful initiative and I want to thank Stephen Kakfwi, when he was the Minister of Education, who created and thought of this initiative. It has been an initiative with many benefits to the students and families that have been involved. However, I am concerned over the level of funding to this program. It does not seem to be adequate to accomplish the kind of leadership training that should be provided.

As the western Arctic moves toward a new constitutional environment with an emphasis on community self-government and the inherent right to aboriginal self-determination, there has to be an adequate pool of well-trained leaders. The program in Fort Smith works towards that goal, Mr. Speaker. Students receive a first rate education in academic studies but the program is so uniquely effective because of the special opportunities it provides for traditional learning experiences, experimental training in land skills, traditional knowledge shared by elders, and awareness activities aimed and social and spiritual development. These are all components of the leadership training program that make it particularly suited to the educational needs of northern youth. Yet, these are precisely the sort of activities that are being placed at risk through funding deficiencies.

Mr. Speaker, I urge the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment Programs to take a close look at the type of excellence which has been achieved through this programming, and to explore funding possibilities very carefully. I have every confidence that the Minister of Education, with his commitment for youth development, will make a sincere effort to address this.

The third issue, Mr. Speaker, is one that requires the immediate attention of the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment Programs. I am referring to the serious problem which appears to exist within the administration of the South Slave divisional board of education. There have been a number of incidents over the past year which suggest that the board is not doing a proper job in managing its human resources. I am concerned that there may be serious shortcomings in terms of board leadership. I believe the Minister has to take prompt action to examine the performance of the board and address outstanding problems, before they compound.

To make this situation even more critical, as I have said in the House a couple of days ago, I have only recently been advised that the South Slave divisional board of education has passed a motion to move its headquarters to Hay River from Fort Smith. I believe that this is the most irresponsible and self-serving action that this board has undertaken so far, without even the support of the region. It even stands out in comparison to the long list of other mistakes that they have made to date. Mr. Speaker, it is critical that the Minister take a direct approach to dealing with this board and restore some accountability to its functions and to its actions for the people they serve in the South Slave. I have every confidence that the Minister of Education will address this concern and I am anxiously awaiting the results.

Mr. Speaker, honourable Members will remember the decision of the Premier, which was announced last year, with respect to building a heavy maintenance facility for the government's fleet of water bombers and other aircraft. There was no doubt that I was extremely concerned to learn that this initiative has been delayed. I believe that the Minister of Renewable Resources has to be made to realize that this hangar base is critical. It will allow greater efficiencies in meeting the maintenance needs of these expensive aircraft. It will also provide northerners with new opportunities for advanced training in aircraft maintenance technology and associated trades. The feasibility study which was tabled in this House indicates that the existing maintenance facilities in Edmonton are inadequate. It showed that there would be significant effects in terms of the positive economic impacts which this project could have, particularly in my constituency. However, there must be a firm political commitment from the government to proceed with this initiative now in order for the people of the Northwest Territories to attain these benefits. I do not believe there should be a delay in proceeding with this construction project. Mr. Speaker, I say that there should not be a delay because I know for a fact the academic building is only in its developing stages, and if there is no construction for the hangar base in Fort Smith this year, then there will be no employment opportunities for my constituents. I do not want to see my constituents, who have never had to go to Social Services, start having to go to the Social Services office in order to survive. I would encourage the Minister to make every effort to be able to negotiate with the groups in the construction of the project where he can, at least, give the green light to these groups to start construction. I appreciate every effort that he has made in addressing this issue. I want to thank the Minister for making the commitment to come to Fort Smith on April 17 and 18 to meet with the community of Fort Smith and the groups. We are very pleased to hear this. They are looking forward to the Ministers visit.

Mr. Speaker, while I am speaking about economic benefits to the north, I would like to comment that I was very pleased to see the Department of Economic Development and Tourism proceed with its study of the wood pellet production. Mr. Speaker, I believe that there is much potential for the Northwest Territories to take advantage of these new technologies and new markets in those areas. I also believe that wood pellet production facilities should be located in Fort Smith. That community has lower power rates than any other community, which would allow a greater cost-efficiency in plant operation. It is also in close proximity to timber and has a well developed support industry. I received a letter from my mayor dated March 4, stating that the town council is requesting my support in the Legislative Assembly for the location of a wood pellet plant in Fort Smith. The pellet plant could certainly be in a location where he has stated that low cost of electricity, market conditions and central location with respect to transportation would be good for transportation into other market areas. It certainly has the best road access to both northern and southern markets. So I urge the government to place the pellet plant in Fort Smith.