Madam Speaker, I believe that when we're sitting at the Legislative Assembly, our normal Cabinet days are Thursdays, however if there is time or if we get a heavy agenda, we generally meet as time permits. But at this time, the plan is to do and make the presentation next Thursday.

Thank you. Supplementary, Mr Dent.

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

Madam Speaker, I'll consider that question because I have not thought whether it will be an internal document, public document or a document. I would assume, once it's complete and once it gets a stamp of approval, that certainly those types of reorganization could be made available. Thank you.

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

Mahsi, Madam Speaker. My question is for the Minister responsible for Transportation. We have been made aware that there are negotiations between the federal government and the territorial government with regard to the transfer of Arctic A airports. I'd like to ask the Minister responsible for the department what the status of negotiations is. Thank you.

Thank you. Minister of Transportation, Mr. Todd.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. The negotiations with Transport Canada at the current time are close to completion. We're hoping that they'll be concluded over the next few weeks. However, the recent announcement by the Federal Minister of Transportation with respect to a national airport policy has signalled a somewhat tougher approach that the federal government wants to take with respect to base funding. We're optimistic that we can come to a successful agreement in the next three, four or five weeks and meet the deadline of hopefully April 1, 1995 as we outlined to the Standing Committee on Finance, I believe. However, if we do fail with the negotiations, we believe that given the current position of the federal government, there'll be a significant downgrading, if you want, with respect to Arctic A airports. We're on the optimistic side. We hope that we can conclude an arrangement within the next three or four weeks, then move forward and they'll schedule to transfer the responsibility effective April 1st.

However, on the other side with the statements made by the federal government with respect to looking for cuts and savings, we're a little apprehensive at this time. So it's kind of a double-edged sword. Thank you.

Thank you. Supplementary, Mr. Antoine.

Mahsi, Madam Speaker. Supplementary to the same Minister. The Minister indicated there will be significant downgrading if they are not successful in their negotiation. Is it possible for the Minister at this time to explain to the House what he means by this significant downgrading of the Arctic A airports? Thank you.

Thank you. Minister of Transportation, Mr. Todd.

I don't have the specifics, but, in general, the federal Minister has made it clear that he's going to reduce his department by close to 70 per cent over the next five years. So with those kinds of public, political statements being made, we have to assume that there's going to be a significant decrease in the level of service if he's going to cut his department by 70 per cent. In fact, I just came from a meeting in Winnipeg yesterday and he said exactly the same thing.

Now when we started these negotiations for Arctic A airports, that was two years ago. The departments tend to think it's good management, I tend to think it's a little bit of luck. The fact is that we started two years ago to establish the level and the base in terms of the dollars and the services that we require.

As I said, we are optimistic that we can secure a deal. Of course, we would have to go back to Cabinet and get its approval. However, on the other side of the coin, if we don't, given the Minister's statement, we're anticipating a significant reduction in the level of service. I would suggest, in particular, in the Cambridge Bay, Iqaluit, Resolute, Fort Smith, Fort Simpson and Hay River areas. But at this time, my optimistic side says we can make a deal, and hopefully in the next two or three weeks, perhaps even before the end of this session we might be able to at least say we have the framework for concluding a successful transfer of Arctic A airports. Thank you.

Thank you. Supplementary, Mr. Antoine.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. The Minister mentioned a number of communities where these Arctic A airports are located. As a Member representing one of those locations, I have constituents who are employed in these communities. I would like to ask the Minister how soon would we know, can he give us a time frame of how soon we can know about when these changes will take place as it affects people who live in the communities? Thank you.

Thank you. Minister of Transportation, Mr. Todd.

We're far enough along with the negotiations, Madam Speaker, that we think we'll come to some arrangements in the next three or four weeks. But even within that arrangement, I think there will be some change, depending on what kind of deal we can make with the federal government.

Again, we're optimistic that we can come to a successful arrangement. My understanding is that it requires somewhere between four to six months for the transfer to take place in terms of how its staged. If we can reach an arrangement in the next three or four weeks, we should be able to conclude by April 1st or somewhere in that timing. We'll have to see how it goes, and I'll report back to the House when we've reached an appropriate arrangement. Thank you.

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

Thank you, Madam Speaker. I would like to ask the Minister of Social Services, the Honourable Premier, a question. Madam Speaker, at a National Association of Suicide Prevention conference held in Iqaluit this summer, there was some concern expressed by delegates at that meeting that despite several years of work, expenditures of sizeable amounts of money and extensive community consultation, there has yet to be concluded the work on the suicide prevention manual for communities throughout the Northwest Territories.

I would like to ask the Premier, in light of the continuing concern about this very serious issue, what is the status of the work on the community suicide prevention manual? Thank you.

Thank you. Minister of Social Services, Madam Premier.

Madam Speaker, I would assume that the Member is talking about the training curriculum. The initiative on the 1992 draft curriculum, the original draft by Kivallik went into field testing. The initial field testing on the original draft was quite positive, although some problems were identified. Those negative comments were given by the participants in the meeting or the workshop that the Member is referring to in Iqaluit...One was also held in Inuvik. As well, in that development, an expert suicidologist expressed concerns about the clinical content.

Subsequently, aboriginal and non-aboriginal communities and regional care givers were involved in the continual review. The working group did direct the department to revise the curriculum and address the concerns.

To take it further, a pilot training program using the revised curriculum based on the Kivallik original draft was conducted in Inuvik in February 1994, and in Iqaluit on March 19, 1994. From these pilot training programs that were conducted in these two communities, the evaluation was positive. Out of that, some graduates have gone to provide workshops on suicide prevention in their communities.

The draft copies of the revised curriculum were circulated to members of the working group, regional community care givers, additionally, Dr. Antoon Lenaars who is a clinical psychologist known for his work in publications in suicidology. Dr. J. Dyke of Alberta Health has revised both the original and revised document. All comments with the curriculum received to date have been favourable, with some changes to format on clinical reference which has been suggested.

The joint working group met on September 21st, of this year, to discuss how to address concerns that CMHA had about the current document. It was agreed that the CMHA would submit both drafts to the National Scientific and Planning Council for review. Further review and consultation will occur to ensure the curriculum is clinically and culturally acceptable. It was agreed that this would be done as quickly as possible to eliminate further delays.

A training for trainers workshop was held in Norman Wells from September 22nd to October 7th, to provide a basic foundation for training techniques. The suicide prevention curriculum will not be used until such time as all partners in the project are satisfied.

So, we're optimistic that we can come to resolution and have that curriculum accepted and provided for use. Thank you.

Thank you. May I remind Ministers when questions are posed, for the answers to be brief according to our rules, and also to remind Members that if a lengthy reply is needed, to use the written question format. Thank you. Supplementary, Mr. Patterson.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Madam Speaker, the detailed reply given to me by the Minister indicates that the process has been very complex and time consuming. I was particularly concerned by her last statement that the curriculum won't be finalized until every party is satisfied. Recognizing that this is now over two years into the development, and recognizing the urgency of the problem, will the Minister make it a priority to take the necessary action to ensure that this curriculum is promptly approved and not subject to continuing political problems and processes? Thank you.

Thank you. Minister of Health and Social Services, Madam Premier.