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

No, Madam Speaker. The honourable Member may have information that I am not aware of, but we will not complete all the discussions including the matter of the staff probably until February 1995.

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

Mahsi, Madam Speaker. Madam Speaker, on September 26th, the Minister of Health for the Government of Canada wrote a press released titled, "National Strategy to Deal with Urgent Health Priorities of First Nations and Inuit." It is called, "Building Healthy Communities: A New Health Care Strategy For First Nations and Inuit." My question to the Minister of Health is, is the GNWT a partner in this new strategy?

Thank you. Minister of Health, Madam Premier.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. The specific initiative is under discussion at the federal/provincial discussions and, yes, we are part of those discussions. Thank you.

Thank you. Supplementary, Mr. Koe.

Mahsi. What involvement have our communities, regions and health boards had in the designing of this program?

Minister of Health, Madam Premier.

Madam Speaker, I would be prepared to provide that information in a little more detail to the Member. I don't have it right now. I think the discussions and involvement from health board to health board varies. I will provide that information to the Member.

Thank you. Item 6, oral questions. Supplementary, Mr. Koe.

In the press release, which I will be tabling later, it says it is a five-year, $243 million strategy. I am just curious how and when groups in the Northwest Territories can access some of this money?

Thank you. Minister of Health, Madam Premier.

Madam Speaker, as I indicated, I will provide that information. Thank you.

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

(Translation) Thank you, Madam Speaker. I have a question for the Minister of the Power Corporation. Is the department working with the people of Cape Dorset to move the power plant in the community and what stage are they at right now? Thank you.

Thank you. Minister responsible for the Power Corporation, Madam Premier.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. As the Member is aware, we have been working over the last two years with the community of Cape Dorset on the issue of providing secure power for the community. The Member is also aware that the community wants to have the power plant moved. In the assessment of the power plant, the indications from all assessments are that the moving of the power plant is not necessary at this time and that renovations would be more cost-effective.

We have another engine and we are trying to reach agreement with the community on a process to install it for this winter. It would appear that if we don't do that, then the security of power will be limited. The present system does not meet the requirements of this winter. The Power Corporation did meet with the hamlet council on September 9th in an attempt to finally resolve this situation. The Power Corporation requested a development permit to connect the modular unit. The community did not want us to connect this because this would prejudice the possibility of having a new plant in another location.

At the September 9th meeting and at previous meetings, the hamlet was advised that a new plant would cost $5 million and the modular unit, which would take care of the power needs of the community, would be approximately $1 million. At this point in time, keeping in mind the policies and procedure for permitting the development of new plants, the Power Corporation felt they could not justify a new plant construction. Since the September 9th meeting, the Power Corporation advised the hamlet that if the modular unit could not be connected, then the 270 kilowatt unit in the existing plant would be removed and a 720 kilowatt engine, contained in the module, would be installed in the plant. Installing the 720 kilowatt unit does not require a development permit.

The community felt they did not want to allow a development permit, in hopes that would force a new plant to be built. However, the Power Corporation has indicated that they would, in any eventuality, move the 720 kilowatt unit into the old plant. The Power Corporation is presently still awaiting a decision from the hamlet council. We had hoped that they would respond by the end of September, but they haven't to this date. The Power Corporation's preferred course of action is to upgrade the existing plant and to factor community concerns into the design, such as noise. This proposal will meet the load requirements, the current regulatory standards, and provide the least power costs.

As I have said, the community is opposed to this approach and the corporation is concerned that, in accepting the community's request, the Public Utilities Board will reject the cost premium, in which case the corporation will bear the costs. The corporation is currently considering a demand site management initiative that may delay the need for an upgrade based on capacity criteria. Also, the corporation is exploring the potential for residual waste heat use as an incentive to remain on the site.

We are still in dispute and uncertain whether the community will consent and give approval for us to attach the unit which is required for the stabilization of power needs for this winter. However, the units are there and can be quickly installed. Thank you.

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

Thank you. Minister of Education, Mr. Nerysoo.

Thank you. If I'm correct, the honourable Member is quoting the title for a document that we actually developed. It is a consultation document that the government has sent out to the communities to get their advice on the whole matter of income reform and social program reform so that we ensure we get the advice of northern people in northern communities.

With regard to our involvement, this matter has been on the agenda of the Ministers of Education and Labour for the last year. We have been advising and discussing the issue of income and social program reform with the view that we would not be absent from any discussions of reform that would occur. In many respects, the provinces and the territories have indicated to the federal government that it was not our view that they should proceed with any reforms without our direct participation in the discussion.

Thank you. Supplementary, Mr. Patterson.

Madam Speaker, thank you. I have heard the consultation process initiated by Mr. Axworthy, extensive consultations planned in the coming year compared to the Charlottetown Accord process. I hope it doesn't have that result. I know the Minister has invited the standing committee to visit the north and hear about our unique needs and I know we have, for example, a smaller proportion of people on UIC than the rest of the country.

I'd like to ask the Minister of Education, Madam Speaker, is it the Minister's hope that people in the Northwest Territories and our government can carve out a unique niche for ourselves based on our unique circumstances so that we can make appropriate arrangements in the north to respond to these federal reform initiatives? Thank you.