The Speaker Jeannie Marie-Jewell

Good afternoon. Before we go to Ministers' statements, I would like to take the time to recognize in the Speaker's gallery the former Member of the House of Commons for High River, Alberta, former Prime Minister of Canada, the Right Honourable Joe Clark.

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Welcome to our Assembly. Also seated in the Speaker's gallery are members of the NWT Conflict of Interest Commission: Joel Fournier, Chief Commissioner...

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...Anne Crawford, Commissioner; the Honourable Greg Evans, Commissioner; the Honourable Ted Hughes, Commissioner; and, the Honourable Jim Bourque, Commissioner.

Item 2, Ministers' statements. Item 3, Members' statements. The honourable Member for Iqaluit, Mr. Patterson.

Dennis Patterson Iqaluit

Madam Speaker, I wish to report on the situation in Iqaluit. Madam Speaker, floating debris found yesterday afternoon has been positively identified as from the missing vessel. These items included a cabin door; roof of wheel-house; wooden box for portable generator; sliding door; flashlight; and, plywood from the side of the cabin which showed heavy impact marks.

There was, at that time, no trace of the 16-foot canoe which was carried by the missing vessel and no other traces had been found of the 10 people aboard or any other personal belongings.

A continued massive air search has been under way since early this morning Iqaluit time, involving an RCMP twin otter searching the western shore, a Sikorsky helicopter chartered by DND searching the other side of the Bay and a Hercules and Aurora aircraft searching over open water. Two vessels in the area have been searching islands and the shore in the vicinity of Gold Cove and Chase Island.

I have just been informed, Madam Speaker, that two people from the missing vessel have been picked up early this afternoon on Gabriel Island. They are extremely weak and very cold. They are, at this moment, being rushed by boat to Gold Cove. From there, they will be transported by helicopter to Iqaluit later this afternoon. This search vessel also found the shattered canoe and the remainder of the missing vessel. There is no other information on any other missing men.

Madam Speaker, this tragedy involves the immediate families of at least 100 people in Iqaluit and Clyde River, and many more relatives and friends. People in the community throughout the region are suffering with the terrible anxiety of waiting and fearing the worst. They will need all of our support and prayers. Thank you.

The Speaker Jeannie Marie-Jewell

Thank you. Item 3, Members statements. Item 4, returns to oral questions. Madam Premier.

Nellie Cournoyea Nunakput

Madam Speaker, I have a return to oral question asked by Mr. Ningark on October 18, 1994 regarding interpreter services for patients travelling south.

Madam Speaker, the medical travel policy does not provide escorts for unilingual escorts escorting children. Interpretation services are available at all centres defined as the "nearest centre."

Larga Limited in Edmonton offers Inuktitut, Slavey and Dogrib interpreter services. In Winnipeg, the J. Hilde Medical Unit offers Inuktitut interpreter services. The Churchill Health Centre offers Inuktitut and Cree interpreter services. Baffin House in Montreal offers Inuktitut, French and English interpreter services.

In cases where a unilingual mother accompanies her child on scheduled flights, interpretation services are arranged at the treatment destination. Prior to departure, the community health nurse or patient referral officer provides the patient and/or escort with an information card developed by the region. This card provides details on who to contact if problems occur during travel.

When the mother and child must change aircraft, the community health nurse or patient referral officer notifies the patient referral officer in communities where the stopover occurs with information on arrival time, departure time and other requirements such as interpretation services. The patient referral officer then makes arrangements for the necessary services.

Madam Speaker, I have two further returns to oral questions.

Nellie Cournoyea Nunakput

Madam Speaker, this is a return to an oral question asked by Mr. Ballantyne on October 24th regarding extra revenues generated by high water levels. Madam Speaker, during the period of high water levels, the corporation slowly increased its rates to recover the full cost of providing power to their customers. In minimizing rate increases during this period, the corporation's earnings fell short of their approved target by $20 to $25 million. The high water levels during the last five years contributed to the corporation's ability to minimize rate increases to all of its customers.

Madam Speaker, the corporation informed me that there was a rationale for recovering the $4.8 million from all customers in the Northwest Territories. The rationale for the corporations' decision to apply to only recover these costs from customers of the Snare system is included in evidence currently before the Public Utilities Board.

Nellie Cournoyea Nunakput

Madam Speaker, I have a further reply to a question asked by Mr. Antoine on October 25th. Madam Speaker, this refers to the rationale for power rate schedule and Public Utilities Board hearings. Madam Speaker, the hearings scheduled by the NWT Public Utilities Board to consider the corporation's application concerning the setting of its rates concluded on October 12, 1994.

These hearings, scheduled by the Public Utilities Board, offered an opportunity for interested parties to express their views on the corporation's application. Madam Speaker, the public review process to consider applications by the corporation is determined by the Public Utilities Board. Thank you, Madam Speaker.

The Speaker Jeannie Marie-Jewell

Thank you. Item 4, returns to oral questions. Item 6, oral questions. The honourable Member for Inuvik, Mr. Koe. Sorry, item 5, recognition of visitors in the gallery. The honourable Member for High Arctic, Mr. Pudluk.

Ludy Pudluk High Arctic

Thank you, Madam Speaker. I would like to recognize in the gallery Simon Awa, executive director of the NIC.

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The Speaker Jeannie Marie-Jewell

Thank you. Item 5, recognition of visitors in the gallery. Item 6, oral questions. The honourable Member for Inuvik, Mr. Koe.

Fred Koe Inuvik

Mahsi, Madam Speaker. I have a question for the Minister of Public Works and Services. Currently there is a review of the business incentive policy under way. I understand that the department has put out a call for proposals to hire consultants to do this review and facilitate meetings in reviewing the business incentive policy. My question to the Minister is, what is the status of the call for proposals to hire these consultants?

The Speaker Jeannie Marie-Jewell

Thank you. Minister of Public Works and Services, Mr. Morin.

Don Morin Tu Nedhe

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Public Works and Services has advertised to hire facilitators for every region in the Northwest Territories to facilitate the public meetings on the draft business incentive policy and get public feedback. Thank you.

The Speaker Jeannie Marie-Jewell

Thank you. Supplementary, Mr. Koe.