Thank you. Item 6, oral questions. The honourable Member for Deh Cho, Mr. Gargan.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. I would like to direct my question to the Minister of Justice. As most Members are aware, we just passed a Custom Adoption Recognition Act that puts the aboriginal customs into white laws. Is the Minister's department looking at ways of accommodating aboriginal standards? In other words, I have made reference to the aboriginal corrections facility, but we are still governed by building codes, fire codes, safety codes, health codes, electrical codes and so on. I would like to know if in the future, we will be able to make facilities without the application of all these codes, in order to accommodate aboriginal facilities?

Thank you. Minister of Justice, Mr. Kakfwi.

Member for Deh Cho, do you want to clarify your question, as the Minister of Justice does not appear to understand your question? Thank you. Mr. Gargan.

Madam Speaker, thank you. Madam Speaker, yesterday we passed the Custom Adoption Recognition Act. I was opposed to it being put into white laws, but now that it has happened there is nothing that I can do about it, except to say that now that we have incorporated what is considered aboriginal custom into white laws, are we going to start looking at a directive to eliminate some of those barriers that existed before? In other words, can we still be able to build buildings for aboriginal people that don't have to be so restrictive based on codes? That is what I was referring to, Madam Speaker.

Thank you. Minister of Justice, Mr. Kakfwi.

Supplementary, Mr. Gargan.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Madam Speaker, by virtue of this House adopting the Aboriginal Custom Adoption Recognition Act, does it still remain aboriginal law, or does it become Euro-Canadian law?

Minister of Justice, Mr. Kakfwi.

Supplementary, Mr. Gargan.

Madam Speaker, I would like to ask the Minister of Justice, are we the only jurisdiction that has this kind of legislation?

Thank you. Minister of Justice, Mr. Kakfwi.

Thank you. Time frame for oral questions has lapsed. The House will recess for 15 minutes.

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Item 7, returns to written questions. Mr. Clerk.

Madam Speaker, Return to Written Question 6-12(6), asked by Mr. Pudluk to the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment, concerning the costs associated with translation and television services for session.

1. What is the cost for interpreting services for the Legislative Assembly when the House is in session for one month, including wages and benefits, travel, accommodation, per diems, contract services and any committee meetings?

The costs for interpreting services for the Legislative Assembly when the House is in session is approximately $345,000 which is calculated based on a cost of approximately $11,500 a day for 30 sitting days, or six calendar weeks. This amount includes salaries, benefits and overtime for interpreter/translators, as well as the cost of travel, accommodation and meals for regional interpreter/translators. It also includes the average cost of contracting for additional French and aboriginal language services for the Assembly for this period of time.

2. How many hours of Legislative Assembly proceedings are broadcasted each day on radio and television in aboriginal languages?

There are two hours of television broadcasting in Inuktitut and one Dene language every day. Dene languages are used in this broadcast in rotation. The approximate cost of providing television broadcasting of the Legislative Assembly proceedings is $8,000 a year. There is no radio broadcast coverage of the Legislative Assembly in aboriginal languages at this time.

3. What are the average wages of government interpreters?

The language bureau of the Department of Education, Culture and Employment currently has 26 interpreter/translators.

The salaries of 18 of these employees range from about $45,000 to $50,000.

There are five assistant interpreter/translators and their salaries range from $38,900 to $42,700.

There are also three interpreter/translator managers who provide language services. Their salaries range from about $55,500 to $65,600.

4. What are the average wages of interpreters at hospitals?

There are currently 75 clerk interpreter/translators working in hospitals boards and health centres in the Northwest Territories. Three earn approximately $33,000 to $37,000, and 72 earn approximately $29,000 to $33,000.

5. What are the average wages of court interpreters?

The Department of Justice has two interpreter/terminologists on staff, one in Fort Smith and one in Iqaluit. Their salary is, on average, approximately $50,000.

Legal interpreters on contract with Justice earn $40 an hour if they are certified and $30 an hour if they are not certified.

Return To Written Question 9-12(6), asked by Mr. Antoine to the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment, concerning the definition of special needs in the NWT school system.

1. What is the Department of ECE's definition of special needs?

In 1993 the Department of Education, Culture and Employment stopped using the term "special needs." "Special needs" is a term which emphasizes the weaknesses of students, and using this term causes people to label or categorize students according to their weaknesses or problems.

We now use the term "inclusive schooling," which focuses on the learning supports students require to succeed. "Inclusive schooling" is a philosophical and practical educational approach intended to provide equal access for all students to educational programs offered in regular classroom settings.

In addition to regular classroom instruction, education staff support student learning by providing assistance in a number of ways, such as assistance with homework from time to time, or by providing multiple supports, including an individual education plan and assisting a student with his or her mobility in the school. Students who need greater academic challenges may also need support services to modify or enhance their school program. An "inclusive schooling" approach recognizes that all students have strengths and needs which have to be addressed in the classroom.

2. Are all boards of education required to use the same definition?

All boards of education and divisional boards of education are required to follow: Educating All Our Children: Departmental Directive On Inclusive Schooling.

Return to Written Question 19-12(6), asked by Mr. Koe to the Minister of Municipal and Community Affairs concerning total financial contributions to the Arctic Winter Games.

1990:-NWT team participation: $300,000, GNWT (MACA) contribution to Sport North for team selection and participation.

-AWG host community, Yellowknife: $ 10,000, GNWT (Culture and Communication) contribution to host community for 1990 games hosting; $ 16,000, GNWT (MACA) contribution to host community for cultural component of 1990 games hosting; $300,000, GNWT (MACA) contribution to host community for 1990 games hosting; $50,000, NWT Arts Council (Culture and Communications) contribution to host community for cultural program; $500,000, GNWT (MACA) in-kind contribution to host (estimated) community for 1990 games hosting; $293,000, Federal government (Fitness and Amateur Sport) contribution to host community for 1990 games hosting.

1992:-NWT Team Participation: $550,000, GNWT (MACA) contribution to Sport North for team selection and participation.

1994:-NWT Team Participation: $497,000, GNWT (MACA) contribution to Sport North for team selection and participation.

1996:-NWT Team Participation: $350,000 (estimated), GNWT (MACA) contribution to Sport North for(estimated) team selection and participation.

1998:-NWT Team Participation: $350,000 (estimated), GNWT (MACA) contribution to Sport North for (estimated) team selection and participation.

-AWG Host Community, Yellowknife: $450,000 (estimated), GNWT (MACA) contribution to host community for 1998 games hosting; $500,000 (estimated), GNWT (MACA) in-kind contribution to host community for 1998 games hosting; $275,000 (estimated), federal government (Department of Heritage, Fitness and Amateur Sport) contribution to host community for 1998 games hosting.

I have a Return to Written Question 21-12(6), asked Mr. Koe to the Minister of Municipal and Community Affairs concerning total financial contributions from Sport North to the Arctic Winter Games.

The following amounts were contributed, or are estimated will be contributed, by Sport North to the Arctic Winter Games for the preparation, selection and participation of the NWT team:

1990:$1,141, donations and fund raising; $140,738, registration fees; $ 71,905, interest; $570,677, lottery revenues from prior years; $75,000, transfer from AWG reserve.

1992:$17,372, donations; $24,099, fund raising; $187,721, registration fees; $47,873, interest; $146,959, lottery revenues from prior years; $313,934, transfer from AWG reserve.

1994:$8,200, donations; $178,675, registration fees; $943,224, lottery revenues and AWG reserves.

1996:$15,000 (estimated), donations; $175,000 (estimated), registration fees; $1,041,000 (estimated), lottery revenues and AWG reserves.

1998:$20,000 (estimated), donations; $180,000 (estimated), registration fees; $1,050,000 (estimated), lottery revenues and AWG reserves.

I have a Return to Written Question 24-12(6), asked by Mr. Pudluk to the Minister of Renewable Resources, concerning the provision of UHF radios and GPS to communities.

I agree that GPS would be useful to hunters, especially for search and rescue. The cost of GPS continues to drop. A good GPS now costs about $700, which is less than the cost of a rifle and scope. I plan to write to each HTA and provide information on where to acquire GPS and approximate costs. But, it will be up to each HTA to decide if buying this equipment is a priority for their harvesters.