Good morning. Item 2, Ministers' statements. The honourable Member for Keewatin Central, Mr. Todd.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Madam Speaker, next week, I will table the 1993 annual report of the Workers' Compensation Board. This is the official record of the year ended last December 31st, and is being tabled to comply with the provisions of the Workers' Compensation Act.

---Applause

Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. This turnaround allowed the board to freeze the 1994 rates.

Last year, I told this Assembly that the board had adopted a funding strategy to return it to a fully funded position within one year without increasing employer premiums. There was some concern that this might be accomplished at the expense of injured workers. Let me stress that this was not and is not the case.

Throughout 1993, the WCB worked to create a more efficient, less costly and more accessible operation. Many internal changes were made to streamline the flow of information and improve the level of customer service.

The board introduced or refined policies on affirmative action, official languages and northern incentives, all of which are important to this Legislature. A communications campaign was initiated to reach all stakeholders through a series of community visits, focus groups and speaking engagements. A quarterly newsletter called "Directions" has been very well-received.

On July 1, 1993, the board began using a newly developed NWT impairment rating schedule to ensure fairness in awards for permanent disabilities.

Rehabilitation and medical programs were managed more effectively. The focus of rehabilitation programs was shifted from academic studies to on-the-job retraining. New courses were developed to promote safety awareness. More than 1,000 participants took part in 10 safety courses offered by the WCB in nine communities.

These changes were all directed at improving and providing quality customer service to both claimants and employers.

Faced with mounting liabilities and a sluggish economy, some jurisdictions reduced the level of benefits paid to injured workers. I'm pleased to say that our WCB has made no such cuts, and none are planned.

Turning briefly to the annual report, Madam Speaker, the board has responded to the concerns of Members of this House by including more and better information. The report shows that during 1993, the board accepted 3,307 claims, down slightly from 1992. The claim rate per 100 workers was also lower. The board served a total of 3,150 employers, which paid assessments totalling $22.5 million.

In conclusion, Madam Speaker, the board's careful attention to the balance between workers' and employers' needs has resulted in a fully funded position without cutting benefits.

The board's contingency reserve, which was completely depleted in 1992, has been re-established as two new reserves to ensure that stakeholders understand what they are intended to do. The catastrophic reserve, at $3.3 million, is to provide funds for disasters and unforeseen events. The operating reserve, at $1 million, is intended to protect against adverse financial results in future years.

Madam Speaker, I commend the board for its work during 1993, and I am pleased to accept this report and table it in the House later next week. Thank you.

---Applause

Thank you. Item 2, Ministers' statements. Madam Premier.

Madam Speaker, I am pleased to announce the appointment of Mr. Anthony Chang as the new chairman of the board of management of the Stanton Yellowknife Hospital.

As the Members know, the Stanton Yellowknife Hospital has taken on an expanded role as the regional referral hospital for the western Arctic. This expanded role required a new board structure including regional representation from all western Arctic health boards, as well as the north Great Slave. All representative groups, including the Stanton board, were contacted for nominations to the position of chair.

Mr. Chang is a 20-year resident of the Northwest Territories and brings to the position considerable management, business and volunteer experience. He is well-known as a result of his extensive travel within the north. He is an owner and operator of several enterprises and his strong management skills complement his experience in volunteer activities.

Madam Speaker, Mr. Chang will provide stability and strong accountable leadership to the hospital as it develops its new role as a regional referral hospital. Thank you, Madam Speaker.

---Applause

Thank you. Item 2, Ministers' statements. Item 3, Members' statements. The honourable Member for Baffin South, Mr. Pudlat.

(Translation not provided)

I'm sorry, we're not getting any of the technical feedback.

Excuse me. I'm sorry, according to the translators we're not getting any of your comments back. It appears that we are having some technical difficulty. We'll recess for about five minutes to address it. Thank you.

---SHORT RECESS

Item 3, Member's statements. The honourable Member for Baffin South, Mr. Pudlat, do you want to try again?

(Translation) Thank you, Madam Speaker. I am sorry for the inconvenience I have caused. Madam Speaker, maybe you can hear what I have to say now. I stand today to express my apologies for not being in the House for the last two days. I want to apologize to my constituents. I realize I have a lot of work that I have to carry out. But, I was having health problems and was unable to participate during the last two days. I wanted to express that to you, Madam Speaker. Thank you.

Thank you. Item 3, Members' statements. The honourable Member for High Arctic, Mr. Pudluk.

(Translation) Thank you, Madam Speaker. As we are all aware, we won't be meeting tomorrow as it will be Saturday. It will be October 15th tomorrow. I remember back in 1975, I was first elected on October 15th. I am very happy today that I am still here.

---Applause

At the same time, I realize there are difficulties we have to work through, whether they are verbal, or difficulties concerning our families and friends. I am very happy that I have been able to face those challenges. I expect to continue working within this House.

Looking back to October 15, 1975, it seems like a short time ago, but it has been a long time now. I want to express my gratitude to the people who have continued to vote for me and I want to thank you for helping me meet my challenges. Thank you, Madam Speaker.

---Applause

Thank you. Happy anniversary tomorrow. Item 3, Members' statements. The honourable Member for Deh Cho, Mr. Gargan.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Madam Speaker, you may recall that last week I rose in the House to make a statement on the lack of baseball in October and how it affects my constituents. As Canadians, Madam Speaker, we now face a much greater crisis. There is no hockey.

Shame, shame.

Madam Speaker, with the lack of sports on television, people are going into withdrawal. Grown men are crying because they are being forced to watch Walt Disney movies...

---Laughter

...instead of Hockey Night in Canada on Saturday nights. The Toronto Sports Network, also referred to as TSN, with the lack of hockey and baseball, have been showing some really interesting sports, such as camel racing, to satisfy the sports fan.

---Laughter

Madam Speaker, if I might be permitted, I would like to offer those poor, misguided sports fans some thoughts that may be of comfort to them in their hour of need. Now that there is no hockey to watch on Saturday night, perhaps a person could spend some quality time with their families. Go hunting, watch your own kids play hockey, confuse the wife and take her out for supper on Saturday night.

---Laughter

The possibilities are endless, Madam Speaker. They could take up the sport of MLA bashing, complain about their personalized licence plates, complain about the fact that some of us drive four-wheel drives and our plates are at eye-level. Little do they realize, Madam Speaker, that this is so we can find our trucks after a hard session at the Gold Range, the Northwest Territories' unofficial Assembly.

Madam Speaker, a person has to realize that professional hockey and baseball are games played by grown men who are paid outrageous sums of money to do what a majority of Canadian males only dream of. Whether your team wins or loses means nothing in the grand scheme of things. Your life will not improve because the Montreal Canadiens win another Stanley Cup.

Finally, Madam Speaker, a sports fanatic has to realize that Don Cherry is not a god. The man, himself, admitted that, if it wasn't for hockey, he would be digging ditches in Ontario somewhere. Thank you, Madam Speaker.

---Applause

Thank you. Item 3, Members' statements. The honourable Member for Iqaluit, Mr. Patterson.

Madam Speaker, as you may have noticed, I've been feeling a little bit feisty this week. Some honourable Members have commented to me on this and have even asked whether I'm running for re-election again. Yesterday, I even got so worked up that when the Minister of Public Works and Services took my question as notice -- even though I had given him a generous two hours notice -- I came close to uttering an unparliamentary word.

You uttered it, we heard it.

---Laughter

In fact, Madam Speaker, I guess I should be grateful that your ears were averted at a certain point in time yesterday, for which I thank you.

So, I've been thinking about how wise it is to be angry, strident and confrontational, especially after I noted the remarkable change in tone of Sedluk's Soapbox in Nunatsiaq News' latest edition. Sedluk's Soapbox, as we all know, is written by my honourable predecessor in this House, Mr. Bryan Pearson. Up until now, his very well-written columns have been full of venom and vitriol, often directed at government, sometimes even directed at the current MLA for Iqaluit, who had the gall to challenge Mr. Pearson, not once but twice, for the MLA job.

But, remarkably, Bryan Pearson has mellowed and softened. In his latest column, Madam Speaker, which begins, "Dear reader," Mr. Pearson shows his gentler, kinder side. He writes, "I appreciate the support and interest that you have shown in this column since I was invited to write it more than two years ago. Now, however, after careful consideration and soul-searching, it has occurred to me that the issues and concerns that I have raised and felt were important don't seem to bother others as much as they did me. Therefore, I have decided to write this in a much lighter vein, and to be positive for a change."

So, he then wished the new mayor and council the best of luck. He said it was a thankless job...I would like to carry on, with consent, Madam Speaker.

The honourable Member is seeking unanimous consent to continue his statement. Are there any nays? There are no nays. Please proceed, Mr. Patterson.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. He said that the mayor and councillors' jobs were thankless and then he went on to tell funny stories about tourists who thought they could drive from Iqaluit to Pangnirtung. He finished his column with a recipe for pasta Marinara.

So, Madam Speaker, inspired by Bryan Pearson, I have decided to try to become kinder and gentler from here on. I will try not to criticize the government. If I do, I will try to be more sympathetic and understanding.

For example, I've been thinking about Mr. Morin. Instead of thinking about his Department of Public Works and Services as a bloated, centralized bureaucracy with layers of architects supervising architects supervising architects, I should try to sympathize with the Minister. As he said yesterday, he is struggling with the loss of 67 person years. I think they must have all been architects, Madam Speaker, because DPW used to have hundreds of architects. I suppose now they only have dozens.

So, Madam Speaker, you will not be hearing a lot of outrage, shock and dismay from me in the coming week. In fact, I will be spending most of the week in Rankin Inlet at the NTI economic conference. Happy Friday. Thank you.

---Applause

Thank you. Item 3, Members' statements. The honourable Member for Nahendeh, Mr. Antoine.

Mahsi, Madam Speaker. Today I would like to say something about the coming elections in tax-based municipalities. I have the tax-based municipality of Fort Simpson in my constituency. On Monday, people from the community will go to the polls to elect a mayor and councillors for the village council. I just want to say that running for municipal office is a very challenging three years. It is a very important three years.

We are talking about a lot of issues that are going to affect the lives of everybody. The main one is constitutional development in the north, and people in the communities have to be more involved in the whole process. There are outstanding land claim issues in my area, as well as economic development issues. People who are running are all good people. I just wanted to say whoever gets in, I will certainly be, as an MLA, willing to work hard with them to achieve whatever their goals are. I just wanted to say that. Mahsi. Thank you.

Thank you. Item 3, Members' statements. The honourable Member for Inuvik, Mr. Koe.

Mahsi, Madam Speaker. I rise today to say a few words about a segment of our population who are well-respected; I certainly respect a lot of them and these are our seniors and elders who, over time, have provided good guidance and wise counsel to myself and, I'm sure, all of my colleagues in this House.

In the report on the Special Committee on Health and Social Services which was issued or released last November, and in our trips across the north, in the communities we visited and people we've talked to, we talked to a lot of elders and seniors in their homes and meetings, wherever we had opportunities to meet them. We took their counsel and information. We had a section in the report on elders and their needs and wishes and made some recommendations.

Madam Speaker, there is now, in the territories, a Northwest Territories Seniors' Society. They've written some correspondence to the different Ministers and also to the committee, when it existed, on their wishes. I just wish to reiterate a few of their comments. The number of seniors and elders in the Northwest Territories continues to increase and with this growth, government faces new challenges in the expansion and the delivery of programs and services to Northwest Territories residents.

The seniors' society also made some points they wish the government to consider when deliberating about their needs and programs for seniors. First, during the next two years, federal, territorial and provincial governments will be embarking on ambitious programs to reform health care and social services for Canadians. They will also be examining existing taxation regimes which affect disposable and pension incomes for seniors and elders. Finally, governments will be considering measures to reduce overlap and duplication in a number of programs and services.

Madam Speaker, my time is up. I seek unanimous consent to complete my statement.

The honourable Member is seeking unanimous consent. Are there any nays? There are no nays. Continue, Mr. Koe.

Mahsi, my colleagues and thank you, Madam Speaker. The Government of the Northwest Territories then, will need timely advice and input from seniors and elders on how these initiatives will affect them. Secondly, the Government of the Northwest Territories as we know it will no longer exist at the turn of the century.

Division, aboriginal self-government initiatives and transfer of responsibility and delivery of programs and services to community and regional governments will mean major changes in the way in which seniors and elders interact with their governments. These initiatives will hopefully improve the quality of life for all northern residents including seniors and elders who are major users of these programs and services.

Thirdly, there are a number of current and ongoing initiatives which could have significant implications, including the need for more social housing, violence and abuse of the elderly, health care benefits for aboriginal and non-aboriginal seniors and facility care for the frail seniors. The governments need constructive and coordinated advice on these issues from a senior's perspective.

Fourthly, while we may well be into the information age, the Government of the Northwest Territories needs to take steps to coordinate its approach to providing information to seniors and elders and process these inquiries.

Madam Speaker, the elders have also made many suggestions to the government and I hope they take these very seriously and assist our elders and seniors wherever they can. Mahsi.

Thank you. Item 3, Members' statements. The honourable Member for Yellowknife South, Mr. Whitford.

Thank you. The honourable Member is seeking unanimous consent. Are there any nays? There are no nays. Continue, Mr. Whitford.

Thank you. Item 3, Members' statements. Item 4, returns to oral questions. The honourable Member for Tu Nedhe, Mr. Morin.

In Pond Inlet

Thank you, Madam Speaker. I have a return to an oral question asked by Mr. Allooloo on October 7, 1994, on the investigation of a contractor in Pond Inlet. On October 7, 1994, the honourable Member for Amittuq asked a question regarding an RCMP investigation into potential false claims by the contractor in Pond Inlet.

Thank you. Item 4, returns to oral questions. Madam Premier.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. I have a reply to an oral question asked by Mr. Gargan on October 12th, as to whether the Department of Health and Social Services is doing any monitoring of drinking water in the Mackenzie and Slave rivers.

The Mackenzie health service monitors drinking water quality in all communities on the Slave and south Mackenzie river systems at least monthly for bacteria. The other regional health boards have similar monitoring programs.

In addition, full chemical analysis is conducted on an annual basis in cooperation with the Department of Indian Affairs and Northern Development.

The Department of Municipal and Community Affairs has recently completed a Northwest Territories water quality study in which the water quality of all NWT communities was examined and found to conform to the national drinking water standards.

Thank you. Item 4, returns to oral questions. The honourable Member for Mackenzie Delta, Mr. Nerysoo.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. This is a return to an oral question asked by Mr. Ng on October 13, 1994 regarding the criteria for selection of candidates for the teacher education program.

The criteria for the admission of students in an NWT teacher education program, delivered on campus or in a community, is identified in the Arctic College program calendar. Generally, the criteria for admission in a teacher education program requires that the candidate:

-is 17 years of age or older;

-has a strong desire to work with children; and,

-is mature, responsible and reliable.

The candidate must have one of the following:

-a high school diploma; or,

-a minimum of grade 10, two years successful experience as a classroom assistant, and a reference from both the principal and the community education council; or,

-the numeracy and literacy skills required by the teacher education program.

Arctic College selects candidates for campus-based teacher education programs based on these criteria. The college, in partnership with boards and divisional boards of education also uses this criteria to screen candidates for community-based programs.

Thank you. Item 4, returns to oral questions. The honourable Member for Baffin Central, Ms. Mike.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. I have a return to an oral question asked by Mr. Zoe on October 13, 1994.

The department continues to support involvement and participation from the NWT in the North American Indigenous Games. These games are held every second year, in 1993 in Prince Alberta, Saskatchewan and in 1995 to be held in Bemidji, Minnesota.

Previous support for the North American Indigenous Games has been, as Mr. Zoe noted, on an ad hoc basis as our resources allowed. The department assisted 50 athletes and officials from Rae-Edzo to attend the games in Prince Albert. I would like to see a more formal program approach to our support for these games and continue to support the ministerial initiative developed by the former Minister.

The department has discussed this matter with several teachers for the Dogrib Divisional Board of Education and advised them that we are continuing to try and establish a proper program to assist our participation in these games. Discussion on specific support for possible participants is premature, however, until we make further progress on a program for assistance. Any interpretation that we will not support participation in the games is mistaken, and unfortunate; it is that we simply do not yet know the scope and nature of our involvement.

I would, again, confirm that I support our involvement in the 1995 North American Indigenous Games and will give priority to establishing a program of support in time for proper preparation for the 1995 games. Thank you.

Thank you. You have another return to oral question, Ms. Mike. Proceed.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. This question was asked by Mr. Ng on October 13, 1994 on land use permit procedures.

DIAND procedures do call for the circulation of land use permit applications on Crown lands outside municipal boundaries to the Department of Municipal and Community Affairs for comment. The department's opportunity to comment does vary, however, and in some cases we are not involved at the application stage. Thank you.

Thank you. Item 4, returns to oral questions. Item 5, recognition of visitors in the gallery. Item 6, oral questions. The honourable Member for Kitikmeot, Mr. Ng.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. My question is to the Minister of Housing, but as he's not here right now I'll pose it to Madam Premier. It's regarding the access housing home ownership program. We know that there's been a big increase in the interest in that program over the past few years since it's been established. I would like to ask what criteria the corporation uses for establishing the repayment amount for applicants.

Thank you. Madam Premier.

Madam Speaker, there are criteria set. I will take the responsibility to have the Minister of Housing provide that information to the honourable Member. Thank you.

Supplementary, Mr. Ng.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. I would also ask, since the Minister hasn't take it as notice, that the Minister be asked to provide the information on whether the excess materials from these packages that are supplied to the home owners, whether they remain the ownership of the new home owner or if the Housing Corporation retains ownership for those materials. Thank you.

Thank you. Madam Premier.

Madam Speaker, yes I will take the responsibility to have the Minister provide that information. Thank you.

Thank you. Item 6, oral questions. The honourable Member for Nahendeh, Mr. Antoine.

Mahsi, Madam Speaker. My question is for the Minister of Safety and Public Services, the Honourable Richard Nerysoo. It's with regard to a petition that was signed in Simpson with over 120 names about revisiting the liquor restrictions that are in place in Fort Simpson. This was a request that the Minister was responsible for, to see if it is actually a plebiscite the community is looking for, at the municipal election that is coming up on Monday. If so, what is the response of the Minister to that petition? Thank you.

Minister responsible for Safety and Public Services, Mr. Nerysoo.

Thank you. The matter has been reviewed. The one issue that is important is that it is not a matter that is going to be dealt with in the municipal election. It is a legitimate request, but at this particular juncture I have not given the final approval as to whether an appropriate plebiscite would be held.

Thank you. Supplementary, Mr. Antoine.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. I'm told that there will be a question on the election ballot in Fort Simpson, to ask citizens who will be voting whether they would want to revisit the question of alcohol restriction in Fort Simpson. I would like to ask the Minister if he is aware of that. Thank you.

Minister of Safety and Public Services, Mr. Nerysoo.

Thank you. No, Madam Speaker.

Thank you. Supplementary, Mr. Antoine.

I would like to ask the Minister, what constitutes a plebiscite during an election? Is it the type of question that is worded on the ballot; does that constitute a plebiscite? I would like to qualify the question by saying that if the municipal government decides to put a question on the ballot of a very general nature, asking the citizens whether they want to revisit alcohol restriction, to put more restrictions on it or to open it up more, does that constitute a plebiscite? Thank you.

Thank you. Minister of Safety and Public Services, Mr. Nerysoo.

Madam Speaker, I am not responsible for the issues related in a municipal election. I would suggest to the honourable Member that I have not given approval for a plebiscite, so the matter is probably being raised to ask the question of the electorate in that particular community. I will have to take the question as notice, because I don't know the details of the issue. It could just be a municipal question, which is not a plebiscite.

Thank you. Item 6, oral questions. The honourable Member for Inuvik, Mr. Koe.

Mahsi, Madam Speaker. Madam Speaker, my question is for the Minister of Municipal and Community Affairs. I was very pleased when she provided some information on the international indigenous games, which she said she would be supporting. I am also very interested on a personal level, because I pretend to be an athlete, even though this body doesn't look like one.

---Laughter

I've had opportunities to participate in these games as an official and as an athlete, but due to the political career I took on, I had to forego those opportunities. There are many athletes in the Northwest Territories, Inuit, Dene, Metis, who are eligible for these games. Knowing the international level through Arctic Winter Games and other national sporting events, people who participate work very hard and are very proud to represent the Northwest Territories and the region they are from.

My question is, will the Government of the Northwest Territories be supporting team Northwest Territories for the 1995 indigenous games, scheduled for Bemidji, Minnesota?

Thank you. Minister of Municipal and Community Affairs, Ms. Mike.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. At this point in time, I cannot say because this is under review with department officials and the people involved. Thank you.

Thank you. Supplementary, Mr. Koe.

Thank you. I know it will take some planning and internal work, especially with the restructuring. I'm sure staff are very busy doing other things. But, it is important, as I mentioned, to athletes and organizers of these teams that they start their preparatory work and planning. It is a long way from here to Bemidji. I'm just wondering how soon do you see this planning you are doing coming to fruition?

Minister of Municipal and Community Affairs, Ms. Mike.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. I believe Cabinet should address these matters and I will be bringing forward a discussion paper very shortly to Cabinet. Thank you.

Thank you. Item 6, oral questions. The honourable Member for Iqaluit, Mr. Patterson.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Madam Speaker, I believe it was to be the coming week that Mr. Irwin was scheduled to come to Yellowknife, address the Legislature and meet with the Constitutional Development Steering Committee. I would like to ask whoever is in charge of this event, Madam Speaker -- the Premier or the Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs -- whether there is any news on whether Mr. Irwin will be coming and addressing the House. I believe it was going to be the coming week that he was coming. Thank you.

Mr. Patterson, I am having a problem with your question. I don't know whether you wanted to ask the Premier or the Minister responsible for Intergovernmental Affairs. The motion that this House passed directed the Speaker to invite Mr. Irwin. Would you clarify what Minister you would like to ask?

Thank you, Madam Speaker. I do understand that the invitation came from your office, but I believe the Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs had a role in coordinating the visit, so I would like to direct the question to Mr. Kakfwi. Thank you.

Thank you. Minister of Intergovernmental and Aboriginal Affairs, Mr. Kakfwi.

Thank you. Supplementary, Mr. Patterson.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. I would like to ask the Minister, is it just a question of sorting out a date? The Minister wants to come, but is it just a matter of sorting out a date, or is it a question of whether he is going to come or not. Thank you, Madam Speaker.

Thank you. Minister of Intergovernmental and Aboriginal Affairs, Mr. Kakfwi.

Thank you. Item 6, oral questions. The honourable Member for High Arctic, Mr. Pudluk.

(Translation) Thank you, Madam Speaker. I would like to direct my question to the Minister of Transportation, regarding airports. Last summer, a generator was being built in Resolute Bay. I would like to ask the Minister when that generator will be given to the airport. Thank you.

Thank you. Minister of Transportation, Mr. Todd.

Airport

Thank you, Madam Speaker. I don't know. I will have to find out from the department and advise the Members. Thank you.

Thank you. Supplementary, Mr. Pudluk.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Did I understand that the Minister of Transportation is taking the question as notice?

Thank you. Minister of Transportation, Mr. Todd.

No, I'm not taking it as notice, Madam Speaker. I am committing to advising my honourable colleague of a long tenure in this House on the status of his request. We'll get back to him sometime later on today or Monday. Thank you.

Item 6, oral questions. The honourable Member for Baffin South, Mr. Pudlat.

(Translation) Thank you, Madam Speaker. I made a Member's statement earlier that talked about a birthing centre. I'd like to ask a question about whether the birthing centre in the Keewatin is going well. I'd like to ask the Minister of Health and Social Services whether the pilot project being done in the Keewatin is going well. Thank you.

Thank you. Minister of Health and Social Services, Ms. Cournoyea.

Madam Speaker, as I've referred to it before, we are getting the statistics from the birthing project in Rankin Inlet and doing a bit of an evaluation, but I'll be in a better position to provide that information at the end of the month. So I'll take that question as notice and provide that information once it has been compiled. Thank you.

Thank you. Item 6, oral questions. The honourable Member for Kitikmeot, Mr. Ng.

Sorry, Madam Speaker. The question is to the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment. I'd like to thank him for his speedy response to the criteria for selection of the teacher education candidates. I'd like to ask the Minister, are these candidates, if they're successful in their

graduation, automatically entitled to positions as teachers. Thank you.

Thank you. Minister of Education, Culture and Employment, Mr. Nerysoo.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. No, they're not automatically entitled to positions, but one of the requirements or portions of the support given by boards is normally the identification of a position for that individual to assume. That is normal practice so that it will allow the individual to go through the educational programming with a view that there's a benefit at the end of the commitment they've made to their education.

Thank you. Supplementary, Mr. Ng.

Madam Speaker, I'd like to ask, for these students, how are they financed to go through their teacher education program. Are there grants or loans or educational leave if they happen to have been government employees prior to that, or a combination of those methods? Thank you.

Thank you. Minister of Education, Culture and Employment, Mr. Nerysoo.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. It could be a combination of the method of financing, either through student financial assistance, or there's an additional loan program that has been approved previously by my Cabinet colleagues and it's assistance for the community teacher education primarily. The other issue is that in some cases, educational leave is given to some of the TEP students who have been part of the personnel of the department previously.

Thank you. Supplementary, Mr. Ng.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. I'd like to ask the Minister if the teacher education program students are unsuccessful in completing their courses or if they are successful and decide to leave the Northwest Territories for whatever reasons, do they have to repay any portion of their grants, contributions or paid educational leave they might have received during the course of their education. Thank you.

Thank you. Minister of Education, Culture and Employment, Mr. Nerysoo.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. It all depends on the program that is being used. If there are aboriginal students who are part of the particular program, they have the normal grants and supplementary grants that are provided that are non-repayable. There is a forgivable loan that is provided to non-aboriginal, non-status people, but they must pay it back. That's normal practice under the present financial assistance that's given to students.

The other thing that was given was the whole issue of the forgivable loan and I believe that that is repayable if they don't reside in the Northwest Territories.

Thank you. Final supplementary, Mr. Ng.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. I'd like to ask for non-aboriginal people who have been granted educational leave from their previous employment as government employees, if they left the Northwest Territories upon completion of this program, would they have to repay their educational leave. Thank you.

Minister of Education, Culture and Employment, Mr. Nerysoo.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. I'd have to report back to the honourable Member, but I do not believe that the educational leave program is repayable.

Thank you. Item 6, oral questions. The honourable Member for Baffin South, Mr. Pudlat.

(Translation) Thank you, Madam Speaker. This question is to the Minister of the Department of Transportation. I would also like to thank him for what he has done for me. In Cape Dorset, they don't have a rock crusher. They want to begin crushing rocks. Madam Speaker, I would like to ask the Minister of Transportation if his department would be able to provide a rock crusher for the community of Lake Harbour because the community has a shortage of gravel. I would like to know if his department would be willing to provide us with a rock crusher in Lake Harbour and when. Thank you.

Minister of Transportation, Mr. Todd.