The honourable Member for High Arctic, Mr. Pudluk.

(Translation) Thank you, Madam Speaker. Just to elaborate a little bit more on Mr. Ballantyne's statement, I, too, am very proud of what our Clerk has done. I also wish to rise today to congratulate our Clerk of the Legislative Assembly. He has been here for 11 years now. In 1975 I first was elected as Member for High Arctic. David became our Clerk in 1983, as a newcomer to the Legislative Assembly.

He made a few mistakes back then but, in 1994, after 11 years, I realize he has not made mistakes since; although he is losing hair. I would like to thank him very much for assisting us. He has never said no to me when I needed assistance, even after today. Although he has worked long hours in the Legislative Assembly, he has never shown any fatigue.

The Eighth Session of the 12th Assembly could be my last time as a Member. I know, even after I'm gone, he will constantly be here working and assisting Members of the Legislative Assembly. I personally would like to thank him for having helped me all these years while I was a Member here. I'm only talking about the good things about the Clerk, but perhaps, in the future, I will be making some comments that are not so good. Thank you, Madam Speaker.

---Applause

Thank you.

---Applause

Thank you. Item 4, Members' statements. The honourable Member for Yellowknife Centre, Mr. Lewis.

Madam Speaker, I wasn't going to make a statement today but, as we were sitting here, I noticed that my wife Della was in the gallery and she was wearing a very bright red jacket. I noticed that there were members of the RCMP also wearing red and it made me think of last week when we saw people wearing red poppies. Suddenly, something struck me that has never struck me before.

The word November comes from a word that means blood month. The blood month was the time when you killed animals, slaughtered them, and put them away for the winter. That's what the origin of the word November is. It struck me that that was an unusual coincidence, that we have Remembrance Day during this month, but also this is the month -- and this is the main part of my statement, Madam Speaker -- when there are a lot of people out there hunting animals.

This is the time of the year when animals begin moving south and there are many hunters out there. It made me think of that way of life and the people who are hunting, the blood that is being shed. And, it is my fervent hope and belief that, during this month, people remember the three most important words,

I suppose, for the hunter. Those words are safety, safety and safety. Thank you, Madam Speaker.

---Applause

Thank you. Item 4, Members' statements. The honourable Member for Yellowknife South, Mr. Whitford.

Thank you. Item 4, Members' statements. The honourable Member for Baffin South, Mr. Pudlat.

(Translation) Thank you, Madam Speaker. I rise today with regard to Remembrance Day last week. Last week we made a number of statements in remembrance of those people who went to war. Now, Madam Speaker, during Remembrance Day, we remembered those who went to war,

died and left their families. I was born during the time the war started. I wasn't even aware that there was a war going on in the world. Even the fellow Inuit people in the region weren't aware of this awful thing that was happening in the world.

However, after we learned that such a war was going on, we were very thankful that our fellow Canadians went to war to save our democracy; the democracy that we know today. We have to go through a lot of hardship in our lifetime, but today I wish to remember those people who went to war, so that we could have a better life today. I am thankful that we can live peacefully today and work together. I wish to work with the Members in the Legislative Assembly. Thank you, Madam Speaker.

Thank you. Item 4, Members' statements. The honourable Member for Kitikmeot, Mr. Ng.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Madam Speaker, on November 3rd I requested in this House an allocation under the Canada/NWT infrastructure program for the unorganized communities of Umingmaktok and Bathurst Inlet. The honourable Minister of Education, Culture and Employment committed to addressing the issue.

On November 7th, I received a letter from the Honourable Richard Nerysoo advising me that Umingmaktok and Bathurst Inlet are not recognized communities by our government. They are considered outpost camps by Municipal and Community Affairs.

The letter further advised that under the Canada/NWT infrastructure agreement, one of the requirements is that a community be recognized by the government in order to participate in the program. Secondly, that communities demonstrate an ability to fund ongoing O and M costs of projects funded under the program. The bottom line is the GNWT deems these communities as ineligible.

The Honourable Richard Nerysoo offered to provide $5,000 per community out of his department's capital budget. However, given the high operating costs and accessibility costs in these communities, I would suggest that if $5,000 were accessed, it would do little to add or improve any infrastructure in these communities.

Madam Speaker, I have spoken previously to the lack of attention to the needs of the two smaller unorganized communities in my constituency. Although the Honourable Don Morin, Minister of the Housing Corporation, has committed, in this House, to addressing the housing needs of the two communities, the rest of our government, besides maintaining the status quo, has not attempted to address any of their additional needs.

The issue of an allocation, under the Canada/NWT infrastructure agreement, I have raised and the lack of initiative of the government to attempt to address the issue to make these communities eligible is clearly indicative of what I believe is our government's indifference to the residents in our smaller communities.

Madam Speaker, it is obvious to me how I would attempt to address the eligibility requirement. Firstly, why not ask the federal government for clarification or an exception to these two unorganized smaller communities? Failing that, what about allocating resources to the base community of Cambridge Bay to be utilized by Umingmaktok and Bathurst Inlet residents?

It is my understanding that there is a continency amount allocated in the total funding for the infrastructure agreement. What is the purpose of this reserve if not to address situations such as this?

Madam Speaker, I seek unanimous consent to conclude my statement.

The honourable Member is seeking unanimous consent. Are there any nays? There are no nays. Please proceed, Mr. Ng.

Thank you, Madam Speaker, honourable colleagues. Madam Speaker, recently I brought forward the needs and requests of the residents of Umingmaktok and Bathurst Inlet: the need to establish community freezers; and, the need to address housing issues. These needs have been recognized by the GNWT and I hope will be addressed in the immediate future.

Madam Speaker, although there are approximately 60 and 22 residents of Umingmaktok and Bathurst Inlet, as compared to approximately 1,100 in Cambridge Bay and Coppermine, I don't treat their needs any differently. In fact, I may have even worked more diligently towards the needs of the smaller communities. I am disappointed in that I don't believe the government has made any serious effort in attempting to allow these communities eligibility under the Canada/NWT infrastructure agreement. Eligibility under this agreement could have addressed the housing or community freezer needs.

Our government currently supports and services both Umingmaktok and Bathurst Inlet whether they recognize them or not. The residents of these two communities may not be represented by a council, but their needs are no different than those of other NWT residents.

Madam Speaker, I ask the government to reconsider their decision and make some serious efforts towards allowing Umingmaktok and Bathurst Inlet eligibility under the Canada/NWT infrastructure agreement to meet some of the needs of their residents. Thank you.

---Applause

Thank you. Item 4, Members' statements. The honourable Member for Deh Cho, Mr. Gargan.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Madam Speaker, first I would like express my appreciation to the Minister of Energy, Mines and Petroleum Resources for his statement on the northern accord. I applaud his efforts to include all the aboriginal stakeholder organizations in the

decision-making process for the implementation of this important accord.

Madam Speaker, in the Deh Cho, there has been considerable pressure upon the communities of Kakisa and Fort Providence to open the Cameron Hills area to oil and gas development. It seems to me that the federal government is offering the oil and gas industry strong support for opening this area for exploration.

I would like to publicly thank the oil and gas companies for recognizing our interest in the area and not pursuing any exploration programs. Once the issue of jurisdiction is resolved in the area, I am confident we will be able to work with the oil and gas companies to develop the area's potential.

In a related matter, Madam Speaker, a diamond exploration company was granted to do some test drilling just north of Fort Providence. The permission was granted by the federal government. People in my constituency had some very valid concerns about the lack of consultation with the community about the drilling program. A meeting was held between the community and Gerle Gold Exploration Company. At this meeting, an agreement was made not to proceed with the drilling program at this time. I would like to thank Gerle Gold for the time to hear and act upon Fort Providence's concern. I would also like to thank the Minister of Energy, Mines and Petroleum Resources for his commitment to aboriginal organizations in the Northwest Territories in ensuring that they are more involved in the implementation of the northern accord.

I would also like to state that although I have seen a better relationship developing between the government and the aboriginal organizations, I still have a single concern regarding the implementation of the northern accord. The concern is that the land in the Northwest Territories receives priority consideration over the mining industry. The environment has always and will forever be the priority of the aboriginal people. Aboriginal people have a special relationship with the land.

Madam Speaker, can I get unanimous consent to conclude my statement?

Thank you. The honourable Member is seeking unanimous consent to continue. Are there any nays? There are no nays. Proceed, Mr. Gargan.

Thank you, Madam Speaker and all the Members. Aboriginal people have a special relationship with the land. It must be stressed that before any new mining or energy programs are developed, the government must ensure that environmental impact studies and reviews are completed and the results concluded that no harm will come to our land, the animals or our people.

This is the only way, Madam Speaker, that we can protect our land for future generations. The land and our people must take priority over the mining industry. Mahsi cho, Madam Speaker.

---Applause

Thank you. Item 4, Members' statements. The honourable Member for Aivilik, Mr. Arvaluk.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. My statement today concerns a matter I raised last week in the House. It deals with the responsible use of our renewable resources and maximizing the benefit to northern residents from that use.

Currently, the status of the Southampton caribou herd is such that a quota of 4,000 animals has been identified for commercial harvest. Residents in my constituency would like to take advantage of that opportunity to harvest these caribou.

Discussions between the Coral Harbour Hunters' and Trappers' Association, Economic Development and Tourism, Renewable Resources and the NWT Development Corporation have been going on for quite some time in order to plan a commercial harvest.

At first, a fall hunt was planned, but the latest proposal calls for a spring hunt to harvest the remainder of the quota. I also noticed that an offer has been made on the sale of caribou for the Development Corporation who will then undertake to market the meat after processing.

If I'm not mistaken, the price of these fine caribou will amount to -- I think I was told $1.25 per pound, payable to Coral Harbour residents.

Now I understand that there are costs involved in processing. What concerns me is that the final sale price of the meat may not be high enough to offset the processing costs with considerable left over. If this is the case, where do the profits go? In accordance with Economic Development and Renewable Resources's philosophy of this government, Madam Speaker, they should be returned to the community residents.

I will be following up on this issue with the appropriate Minister during question period. It is my hope that the plans are concluded and the hunt is carried out successfully, not only for the benefit of Coral Harbour residents, but for the future health of the caribou herd so that it may sustain our people for generations. Thank you, Madam Speaker.

---Applause

Thank you. Item 4, Members' statements. The honourable Member for Inuvik, Mr. Koe.

Thank you. The honourable Member is seeking unanimous consent to continue. Are there any nays? There are no nays. Proceed, Mr. Koe.

Mahsi. The Metis Nation and the Metis Heritage Association are requesting support for recognition of northern Metis political and cultural hopes and aspirations, and in recognition of national leader Louis David Riel.

So, on November 16th, please remember this great leader. I also hope that together we can work towards the promotion, preservation and enhancement of northern Metis history, heritage and culture, and for the advancement of northern Metis rights. Merci beaucoup.

---Applause

Thank you. Item 4, Members' statements. The honourable Member for Keewatin Central, Mr. Todd.