Thank you, Madam Speaker. I would like to take this opportunity to welcome Members back to the Sixth Session of the Legislative Assembly. I know it was a busy summer for Cabinet and also for committees of this House. Madam Speaker, the $10.8 million federal/territorial infrastructure program was finalized and is being implemented. An $8 million investing in people initiative was signed with the Secretary of State to provide social assistance recipients with specialized counselling, career and employment development, life skills and education opportunities.
As well, a public review of the Liquor Act has been conducted and a legislative action paper is being prepared. In response to the Special Committee on Health and Social Services, the consolidation of the two departments of Health and Social Services is well under way and is reflected in the capital budget. The Minister of Energy, Mines and Petroleum Resources is working towards finalizing a northern consensus on the energy and minerals accord.
In addition, an ambitious committee schedule during the summer months has placed us in good position to consider the capital estimates for 1995-96 and the Standing Committee on Legislation was particularly helpful in its review of bills to be presented to this House.
Madam Speaker, while considerable progress has been made during the term of this Assembly, there are still many challenges to be met. We are at a crossroads and our ability to continue making progress will largely depend on maintaining our fiscal integrity and on the development of a common vision shared by the federal and territorial governments, aboriginal organizations and residents of the Northwest Territories. As you know, an enormous agenda for political and constitutional change involving a large number of groups with different objectives is being discussed and negotiated in the Northwest Territories. The challenges relating to constitutional reform are difficult and require a climate of financial stability and common purpose.
As it heads into its final year of office, the government is particularly anxious to introduce some certainty into the complex issues relating to the financing of division, development of a new western constitution, the settlement of land claims and implementation and negotiation of aboriginal self-government. We are also concerned that various federal government statements regarding self-government and treaty land entitlement in the western NWT have meant different things to different people and are creating a wide range of expectations. We need a greater degree of clarity and certainty about these matters.
The need for Ottawa to explain its position on a number of matters within the context of today's fiscal reality was discussed during our last strategic planning workshop in Fort Smith. Since that time, I've had an opportunity to present our concerns in separate meetings with Prime Minister Chretien and Indian Affairs and Northern Development Minister, Mr. Irwin. As a result of these discussions, Mr. Irwin has indicated that he would be willing to make a statement to the Legislative Assembly that would set out broad principles and provide clarification of federal policies as they relate to public and aboriginal government in the Northwest Territories, to devolution and the federal government's commitment to division.
At the appropriate time, the Minister of Intergovernmental and Aboriginal Affairs will be presenting a motion which seeks the necessary approval to have Mr. Irwin address the Assembly during the current session. Madam Speaker, it is important to seek clarification of federal positions, as we move towards development of a constitution for the western territory and the formation of Nunavut by 1999.
The need for a common vision and realistic expectations is extremely important, particularly because of federal program and budget reductions. Signals from Ottawa concerning Finance Minister Paul Martin's economic statement, scheduled for mid-October, leaves us to believe that there will be more cuts in federal spending and transfer payments, and that the Northwest Territories will not be able to escape that impact.
As you know, we have already lost nearly $550 million in federal money because of changes made by Ottawa, when it introduced our current five-year formula financing agreement. That number doesn't include over $45 million that was cut in the area of new social housing, the money owed to us under the health billings dispute and the potential of a 38 per cent reduction in the level of federal funding for French and aboriginal language services in the territories.
This will amount to a loss of over $10 million during the next three-year period, if we are not able to persuade Ottawa to restore its contribution to at least the 1993-94 levels. There will have to be significant cuts to existing language programs. Discussions are continuing on this matter and I intend to keep the Assembly and various language interest groups briefed on developments. The Honourable John Pollard will have more to say on the state of the federal/territorial fiscal situation when he presents an economic overview and the government's capital estimates on Friday.
In addition, the Honourable Richard Nerysoo will be providing the House with an analysis of the federal government's proposals of reforming national social programs. The Minister is currently developing our own program of change and will be consulting with his federal counterparts on the impact of the federal proposals on our social income reform initiatives.
In conclusion, it is appropriate at this time to recognize the work of Mr. Daniel Norris, who has served as Commissioner of the Northwest Territories since October of 1989. Mr. Norris considered himself honoured to have been chosen to serve in this capacity and was particularly proud to be the first Commissioner chosen from the aboriginal people of the north.
On behalf of the residents of the Northwest Territories, I want to take this opportunity to thank him for taking on this responsibility and to invite Members to join me in recognizing his years of dedicated effort and service.
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Madam Speaker, the appreciation of Members should also be extended to the committee Members and hundreds of volunteers in Yellowknife, Rankin and Iqaluit, who organized this summer's visit of the Queen and Prince Philip. Without their assistance, the royal visit would not have been the success it was. On this note, thank you, Madam Speaker.
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