Good afternoon. Before we go into proceedings of the day, as I indicated to the House yesterday, I wish to respond to Mr. Gargan's point of order. I've had an opportunity to review unedited Hansard, page 1885 and 1886 on the point of order raised by the Member for Deh Cho, Mr. Gargan, on comments made by the Minister of Transportation, the Honourable John Todd. The Member for Deh Cho's point of order was that the Minister misled the House with his understanding of the comments by the standing committee on its review of Bill 8, An Act to Amend the Public Utilities Act.

The Member for Deh Cho also stated in his point of order that Members should feel free to fully debate all legislation in this House, aggressively if necessary. Members will recall that Mr. Gargan also requested an apology from the Minister, which the Minister, Mr. Todd, offered to the House and which I feel was accepted by the House.

I feel there isn't need to go further with this point of order, as the points raised are a matter of understanding the issue and the House received two points of views. However, as I have ruled before, this is not a point of order unless the point expressly infringes on the specific rule of the House. Thank you.

(Microphones turned off)

Item 2, Ministers' statements. The honourable Member for Kivallivik, Mr. Arngna'naaq.

Madam Speaker, last week, I attended the federal/provincial/territorial Fisheries Ministers' meeting in Victoria, British Columbia. The primary purpose of the meeting was to review the federal government's plans to streamline, downsize and reduce the costs of the Department of Fisheries and Oceans. I assure you, Madam Speaker, the federal government is determined to reduce the Department of Fisheries and Oceans in overall budget and person years. In doing so, some responsibilities will be transferred to other

federal departments and to the provincial and territorial governments.

I would like to explain some of the measures the Minister of Fisheries and Oceans plans which will impact the Government of the Northwest Territories. The Minister of Fisheries and Oceans has indicated that the responsibility for freshwater fisheries will be divested. The federal government intends to delegate responsibility for freshwater fisheries management to provinces and territories, and to transfer responsibility for fish habitat and fisheries water quality to the Department of the Environment or, possibly, to provinces or territories.

This transfer will not necessarily come with the full amount of resources necessary to manage the freshwater fisheries, as most jurisdictions would prefer. Failure to accept responsibility may result in poorer management of freshwater fisheries due to a split of responsibilities between the Department of Fisheries and Oceans and the Department of the Environment. We must examine our options very carefully to manage the impact to the people of the Northwest Territories who rely on fish for subsistence and commercial benefits.

The Minister of Fisheries and Oceans stated he is not intending to dismantle the Freshwater Fisheries Marketing Corporation, although, he is not adverse to a restructuring of the mandate and operations of the corporation to meet the changes of the 1990s and the needs of the fishermen who rely on the corporation for fish sales and marketing. The Minister of Fisheries and Oceans stated that the department would retain responsibility for marine fisheries and refocus their responsibility for oceans. I emphasized to the Minister that I support the direction he is leading to, but land claims and aboriginal rights must be respected and aboriginal people must be consulted. I further reminded him that there is a third ocean in Canada, the Arctic Ocean...

---Applause

...which deserves recognition and attention similar to that given by the department to the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans in southern Canada. I recommended that a separate Arctic region be created in the restructuring of his department.

We have for too long had to accept very limited recognition of the Arctic Ocean and had to rely on the goodwill of southern regions for management and scientific assessment of Arctic Ocean resources and fisheries. I strongly believe this is an opportunity for the Northwest Territories to be established as a distinct region for oceans and marine fisheries management, as well as to take responsibility for freshwater fisheries, including Arctic char. A northern region and northern fisheries management can only benefit the people of the Northwest Territories who have had to rely on the management and permission from southern Canada to utilize their own fisheries resources in the Northwest Territories.

Other plans put forward by the Minister of Fisheries and Oceans include a reduced, more efficient and practical science program; a coordinated enforcement and vessel utilization between the Department of Fisheries and Oceans and the departments of National Defence and Transport or Coast Guard; divestiture and privatization of harbour management; and, new revenue-generating options such as licence fees that are commensurate with the value of the public's fisheries resources which all Canadians, and people of the Northwest Territories in particular, depend on for subsistence, social, cultural and economic benefit.

Provincial/territorial Ministers presented the federal Minister with a consensus document, which I will provide to Members, outlining the concerns and positions of their respective jurisdictions.

Changes to the management of fisheries are necessary for effectiveness and efficiency and offer an opportunity for northern residents to benefit from. The Department of Fisheries and Oceans will trim approximately 40 per cent from its expenditures of approximately $800 million and 6,000 employees across Canada over the next five years. I intend to ensure that this reduction is not off-loaded onto the government and people of the Northwest Territories, and at the same time, work to ensure that the management of fisheries in both the freshwater and marine sectors of the Northwest Territories improves as responsibilities change for the benefit of our people.

Madam Speaker, within the next two or three weeks, deputy ministers of Fisheries from across Canada will meet on these issues. They will first examine the impact of changes in the Department of Fisheries and Oceans for their own governments, and work out strategies to manage these changes. Our government will seek to realize the opportunities these changes will create for the benefit of the people of the Northwest Territories. It is my view, Madam Speaker, that we have the opportunity to control our own fisheries management and resources with the support of our people and for the benefit of our people in the north by our own government, if we choose. Qujannamiik.

---Applause

Thank you. Item 2, Ministers' statements. The honourable Member for Mackenzie Delta, Mr. Nerysoo.

Thank you. Item 2, Ministers' statements. Item 3, Members' statements. The honourable Member for Amittuq, Mr. Allooloo.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Good afternoon. Madam Speaker, I have just returned from Iqaluit where I, along with several MLAs from the Baffin region, attended a memorial service for eight men who lost their lives in a tragic boating accident in Frobisher Bay last week.

Madam Speaker, it was a time of great sorrow as we joined with families and friends in mourning the loss of their individuals. As with any tragedy, Madam Speaker, there is also a brighter side that can be seen through the sadness and sense of loss. During this past week, the entire region was touched by an incredible sense of unity; as people searched together, played together, rejoiced together and mourned together.

This ability of Inuit to bind together in good times and in troubled times has been what has allowed us to survive as people for many generations. I hope this tradition continues well into the future. The ability to work together, especially to deal with difficult issues.

I would like to thank the people of Iqaluit for their comfort and generosity during my stay. I would like to thank the people from all over the Baffin region who came to Iqaluit to support families and friends of eight hunters. I would also like to thank the people from Ivujivik, Northern Quebec, who came to help as well. I would also like to thank those who could not physically be there, but who offered their prayers and support.

Madam Speaker, although the search has ended and the memorial service is concluded, I would encourage the people of Nunavut, Ivujivik and the entire NWT to continue to support the families of those hunters, since the healing process has just begun. Thank you.

Thank you. Item 3, Members' statements. The honourable Member for Baffin South, Mr. Pudlat.

(Translation) Thank you, Madam Speaker. I, too, will stand to talk about our visit to Iqaluit. There were many people who were lost; relatives and non-relatives. So we went over to Iqaluit to spend time with them. We managed to make it back safely here. Madam Speaker, although it was important for us to be here at the Assembly, it was also important for us to spend some time for these people who were in mourning. We were given a safe path to get there. It was an important excuse and reason for us to be here.

Like Titus Allooloo just said -- and he expressed it well and there is not too much I can add -- people were very friendly towards us in Iqaluit and the families were well taken care of by people from all over the communities. We ran into and met with many different people who came to help out. We saw a lot of unity, despite racial differences, in that community.

It is difficult to predict what the future will be like, so we have to stay together. We also noticed that it was important for us to unite and stay close to one another because fatalities like that will occur unexpectedly. When we were in Iqaluit, we found many ways to help each other. Our prayers are with the families and friends of the lost hunters and we hope people will continue to help support one another. Thank you, Madam Speaker.

Thank you. Item 3, Members' statements. The honourable Member for Iqaluit, Mr. Patterson.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. I, too, have just returned from a very moving, emotional visit to my constituency, following the tragedy we learned of earlier last week. Although I came to Iqaluit with the idea of comforting those who lost loved ones, I ended up being comforted by the strength and faith of those families. They all expressed their enormous gratitude for the support they've received from all over the Northwest Territories, and Madam Speaker, that outpouring of support was overwhelming.

People came from Keewatin, from all over Baffin, from the south, and other parts of the territories to be there and offer support for those left behind. I want to especially convey my thanks to my fellow MLAs, Mr. Kenoayoak Pudlat from the neighbouring constituency of Baffin South, the Honourable Rebecca Mike, from the neighbouring constituency of Baffin Central, who also represented the Cabinet, and Mr. Titus Allooloo, MLA for Amittuq, who was also representing the Nunavut Caucus. I know that their taking the time to come to Iqaluit while the Legislature was still in session meant a great deal to the families of the deceased. To all those who came and to all who sent messages, food and other contributions, I wish to express my heartfelt thanks on behalf of my constituents.

I would also like to make special mention of the incredible effort of the Baffin region emergency response committee and rescue coordination centre in Halifax. They spared no effort. Many people put in many long hours on an incredible search effort. For example, immediately following the distress call from down the bay, two vessels which had been winterized and were already beached, were fuelled, had their electronic gears installed again, stores were open for food, a welding crew was assembled to prepare a skid for launching in the rough water, bulldozers were donated, a fuel truck arrived, all so that the Rhonjalee could be launched by 1:00 am. Crew members on the rescue vessels in gale force winds also went through extremely difficult times. Their efforts were critical in saving the two young men.

Plans are already well under way to establish a memorial for those who have been lost and a fund has been established at the Royal Bank in Iqaluit to help the families.

I would request a few moments more to conclude my statement, Madam Speaker.

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

Thank you. Madam Speaker, the people of my community have had a very hard week. However, they, I know, were very inspired by the spirit of compassion and caring which they were shown by everyone. I only hope, as my colleagues have said already today, that we can continue this very strong spirit of caring for one another all year round. I think that would be a very fitting tribute to Simonie Alainga and the hunters and young people who set out with him in perilous waters to selflessly give to their community. Thank you. Qujannamiik.

---Applause

Thank you. Item 3, Members' statements. The honourable Member for Kitikmeot, Mr. Ng.

Members' Statements On Illegal Activities Policy Of Cambridge Bay Housing Association

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Madam Speaker, today I'm going to speak about a new initiative undertaken by the Cambridge Bay Housing Association. On November 2nd, they adopted an illegal activities policy which deals with tenants who are aware of or carrying out illegal activities from public housing units. The basic goal of the policy is to make convicted bootleggers and drug traffickers and other tenants who allow these illegal activities in their residences unsuitable as tenants of the Housing Association operated units.

I commend the board of directors of the housing association for their bold and somewhat controversial initiative of the adoption of the illegal activities policy. Madam Speaker, the Housing Association has not recklessly adopted this policy, without any careful consideration and research of the matter. In fact, they have consulted legal counsel in preparation and adoption of the policy. I will table the policy later today. It cites various sections under NWT acts which tenants must be convicted of before action for eviction procedures will take place.

Madam Speaker, since its adoption, I have had the opportunity to discuss the policy with the secretary/manager and some of the directors of the Housing Association. Of course, my main concern about the policy was the possible infringement of individuals' constitutional rights. However, after discussions and review of the policy, I'm aware that in order to be targeted for eviction, a tenant must firstly be convicted, secondly, be carrying out the illegal activity from the premises under the control of the association and, finally, the conviction must be for the purposes of profiting from the illegal activity.

This last issue was a critical factor of the policy as it is not intended to penalize tenants or individuals who choose to use illegal drugs for personal use and may be convicted of possession charges. It is clear in the preamble that applicants for social housing with convictions for bootlegging or trafficking in illicit drugs shall be considered unsuitable for tenancy.

Madam Speaker, the one concern I do have with the policy is section 3 which deals with applicants who, within six years previous to the date of application, were convicted of carrying out an illegal activity or issued an eviction order under the Residency Act. They shall be deemed as unsuitable for tenancy. I felt it may be unfair to penalize individuals for the past mistakes for that long of a time period. In responding to this concern, the Housing Association representatives advised me that there is an allowance for special needs by resolution of the board of director for individuals who have demonstrated sincere rehabilitation efforts.

Madam Speaker, with the alcohol and drug problems in our communities, we are all aware of the need to forcefully address this issue. Many of us are aware of known drug traffickers and bootleggers operating in our communities who flourish on the victims of their trade. The Housing Association, by adoption of this illegal activities policy, has taken the initiative and has raised the stakes for those tenants who choose to bootleg or traffic in drugs.

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

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

Thank you, Madam Speaker, honourable colleagues. Madam Speaker, it may only be a symbolic gesture, as we all know of the difficulty in carrying out convictions for these types of activities in smaller communities. Nevertheless, it clearly demonstrates the recognition of the problem and the desire of the Cambridge Bay Housing Association to deter their tenants from pursuing or condoning bootlegging and drug trafficking.

Madam Speaker, our government also recognizes the rampant alcohol and drug abuse in our communities. I hope they will consider establishing and supporting the same type of illegal activity policy to deter individuals from participating in bootlegging or drug trafficking from any premises owned or controlled by the GNWT or its affiliated corporations. Thank you.

---Applause

Thank you. Item 3, Members' statements. The honourable Member for Inuvik, Mr. Koe.

Mahsi, Madam Speaker. Madam Speaker, during my last visit to Inuvik, one of my constituents raised an issue which made me think. The person was concerned about how government programs and services and policies are determined and where priorities are. I would like to set the scenario which was presented to me. In our society we say we respect enough to care for our elders. This government has programs and services in place to do some of that. When seniors are well and able to look after themselves, we provide them with housing which is provided with fuel, power and water, and they are charged minimal rents, from about $32 to maybe $67 per month. Now, when seniors are not so well and need personal care, whether in long-term care facilities or senior citizens' facilities, they are expected to contribute towards their room and board. Some of these facilities are run

by societies which are usually underfunded and employees are not very well paid. Seniors in these categories -- and it depends on the need and their source of income -- can contribute anywhere from about $378 a month to a maximum of $909 per month. This money is taken from their pensions if they are of pensionable age.

On the other hand, we have a segment of our population which is quite contrasted. These are the people who are incarcerated and end up in our prisons. These prisoners are kept in correctional centres which have lots of staff who earn good wages, and the centres usually have high O and M costs. Prisoners get three square meals a day plus a bed and some supervised programs, all paid for by government.

Madam Speaker, on top of that, the prisoners can earn wages. They receive a basic wage of $2.60 a day. Madam Speaker, I seek unanimous consent to continue.

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

Mahsi, Madam Speaker and honourable colleagues. People who work outside of jails get $5 a day; kitchen workers and tutors get $6.80 a day; and, the good prisoners -- the ones who get to clean the office and control areas -- can earn up to $10 a day.

Nay, nay.

So, Madam Speaker, not only do these people get free room and board, they also get a paycheque when they leave prison.

Madam Speaker, I thought I would make this statement just to make people think about where and how we spend our money, and how we set government priorities and deliver our programs and services. Mahsi.

---Applause

Thank you. Item 3, Members' statements. The honourable Member for Deh Cho, Mr. Gargan.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Madam Speaker, I rise today to raise a number of points and concerns I have about the whole issue of custom adoption. Madam Speaker, I feel that over the last 20 years, the entire concept of custom adoption has changed. Natives all across Canada have lost sight of the traditional reasons for the practice of custom adoption. Custom adoption, in the past, was for survival as a people. Children were adopted to ensure that they would live and grow strong. When people couldn't look after their children or they had too many children to feed or a parent died, the practice of custom adoption existed as an option for the well being of the children.

Madam Speaker, I feel that custom adoption is a collective right and not an individual one. When I say this, I mean that the practice of custom adoption has become a matter of convenience for a lot of people. It has become a way, in some cases, for people to circumvent taking responsibility for their actions. Teen pregnancies and unwed mothers are a fact of life in the Northwest Territories and, indeed, the rest of Canada. Where are the fathers of these children? Why do they not take responsibilities? I know why, Madam Speaker, it is because they know that someone in the family will take the child. I know of grandparents who believe in the traditional custom, living on a fixed income, who adopt their grandchildren's children. They might be fine when a child is an infant, when they are small and do not require as much room. But, Madam Speaker, children grow. They need room and invariably people age. The grandparents can keep up to an infant or toddler, but cannot keep up with a 10 year old.

I also have concerns, Madam Speaker, that when these children reach their teens that they sometimes end up being the prime care givers to their aging adoptive parents. This, I fear, is not...(Microphone turned off)...upon any teenagers.

Madam Speaker, I would like to get unanimous consent to conclude my statement.

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

Thank you, Madam Speaker, honourable Members. This, I fear, is an unfair responsibility to place upon any teenager. Where are all the other members of the family? Why don't they take responsibility for the elders of their own family? A teenager has enough problems growing up without those added responsibilities.

So, in essence, Madam Speaker, custom adoption has become, in some cases, a quick fix for the social ills that effect aboriginal people. Madam Speaker, this was not the reasoning that lead to the tradition of custom adoption, so how do we as a people and a government change this? As I said before, people have to take responsibility for their actions. We, as a government, must provide people with the infrastructure necessary to make changes and take charge of their lives.

Concerns have been raised in the past about the inappropriateness of some custom adoption placement. I agree, Madam Speaker, with the majority of the comments made recently on the radio by the president of the Pauktuutit Women's Association. However, I do not agree with her assertion that the government has a role in the placements of custom adoptions. I do believe there has to be a group that monitors those placements, but I am of firm belief that it should be done by the community itself.

Custom adoption has been recognized by the courts of Canada as a legitimate practice. Let us, as legislators, not over-regulate the process. The people most affected by this legislation must be able to contribute to the entire process of custom adoption. Mahsi cho.

Thank you. Item 3, Members' statements. The honourable Member for Kivallivik, Mr. Arngna'naaq.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. I would like to take this opportunity to point out to the honourable Members of the House, the November 7th issue of News/North which has no less than five large photographs of the carvers from Baker Lake. Baker Lake has always been renowned for the creativity and skill of its artisans. When the artists started in the early 1960s, most of the Inuit in the area were still living on the land. A couple by the name of Jack and Sheila Butler, moved up to Baker Lake from London, Ontario. They worked with a number of Inuit who were creators of their own design; a people who are masters of their own crafts, with the abilities to building their own mobility, their homes, their own unique style of living in a harsh environment.

In this group was a person with the ability to carve and to be able to work with some of the carvers. He has had the opportunity to exhibit his skills in places such as the United States, Japan and many times over within Canada. A gentleman by the name of Paul Toolooktook was just that person who, in the last year, was able to bring carvers together and form the Ujaraqtatit Society. As the president of the society, he has been active in Baker Lake to acquire soapstone for the carvers and other such activities.

He recently succeeded in bringing a carver, one Mr. Iyaituk, for a two-week development workshop in Baker Lake. This workshop provided instruction on carving techniques with power tools. A number of the 19 course participants were first-time carvers. Workshops like this are invaluable in ensuring that the art making skills of Inuit are passed on to the next generation.

My congratulations and thanks to the sponsors of this workshop; the Department of Economic Development and Tourism, Keewatin division, First Air and Air Inuit, who had the foresight to encourage the artisans of Baker Lake and I would like to add my own words of encouragement for the 19 carvers, who invested two weeks in improving their considerable artistic skills. Thank you, Madam Speaker.

Thank you. Item 3, Members' statements. The honourable Member for North Slave, Mr. Zoe.

Thank you. Item 3, Members' statements. The honourable Member for Yellowknife Centre, Mr. Lewis.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. The Northern News Services staff reporter, who has covered the Legislative Assembly beat for the last several years, is being assigned to another part of the Northwest Territories. She is the striking blond lady, who sits in the crowded press gallery. I hope I won't be accused of using politically incorrect words to describe her because we have such great crowds here sometimes that you really have to use words like that, so that you know exactly who I am talking about.

Madam Speaker, it isn't unknown that Rankin Inlet, in some ways, is the middle of the Nunavut empire and there are expectations about the creation of lots of news because of its geographical location. I would like to remind Members that this is also the home constituency of a man who is being called, by various Members of the press, the Minister of Everything. It is to be expected that if you are the Minister of Everything, there is going to be all kinds of news that you are going to be able to report on.

Also, Madam Speaker, if you were a very high-profile Minister and there is lots of activity, there is also lots of work to be done by a very productive investigative reporter. Although this assignment, as I understand it, is only until the end of the summer, if there is lots of work there and there are lots of things going on, maybe even Mr. Sigvaldason would let her stay there for a longer period of time.

However, Madam Speaker, the point of my statement today is although from time to time members of the press annoy us and sometimes the public, members of the press also annoy their employer. So you end up getting it from both directions. However, I have found the lady to be, for the most part, on most occasions, fair. I know that when she settles in Rankin Inlet, that she will have no axe to grind and that she will report fairly on all the activities in that part of the world.

I would like to wish her well because we don't have a press club here and we don't get to talk to people that often, except when things of a nasty nature arise. I do wish her well in her new assignment.

---Applause

Thank you. Item 3, Members' statements. Item 4, returns to oral questions. Item 5, recognition of visitors in the gallery. The honourable Member for Iqaluit, Mr. Patterson.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. I would like to recognize Mr. Allan Kingdon from Iqaluit. He is the shop steward for the Northwest Territories Power Commission, Baffin region.

---Applause

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

Mahsi, Madam Speaker. I have a question for the acting Premier. A motion was passed in this Assembly requesting that Minister Irwin from Indian and Northern Affairs come to the north to address northerners through this Legislative Assembly. Has the Minister responded to our request to come to the north to speak to northerners?

Acting Premier, Mr. Pollard.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Good afternoon. Madam Speaker, my understanding is that Mr. Irwin is unable to attend the Northwest Territories Legislative Assembly because of time schedules and because he is fairly well booked, Madam Speaker. Thank you.

Thank you. Supplementary, Mr. Koe.

Thank you for that information. I was going to ask, other than his time schedule, did he give any other significant reason for not coming to speak to us in the north?

Thank you. Acting Premier, Mr. Pollard.

Madam Speaker, I am not aware of any other significant reasons that he would not attend the Legislative Assembly. Thank you, Madam Speaker.

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

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Madam Speaker, I would like to direct my question to the acting Premier. Madam Speaker, many aboriginal groups in the Northwest Territories, particularly in the west, signed treaties with the federal government over the past 100 years. Does the government of the Northwest Territories acknowledge and recognize the treaties between the aboriginal groups in the Northwest Territories and the federal government?

Thank you. Acting Premier, Mr. Pollard.

Madam Speaker, yes, we are aware of those treaties. Thank you, Madam Speaker.

Supplementary, Mr. Gargan.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Does the government take an active role in the interpretation of those treaties or does it leave that interpretation up to the aboriginal groups and the federal government to work out?

Thank you. Acting Premier, Mr. Pollard.

Madam Speaker, the Government of the Northwest Territories is not a participant in those treaties. Those treaties are between aboriginal people and the Crown. We respect the interpretations of those treaties by the federal government. If there are any negotiations on those treaties, we respect the outcome of those negotiations between aboriginal people and the federal government. Thank you, Madam Speaker.

Thank you. Supplementary, Mr. Gargan.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Madam Speaker, there are occasions when the Government of the Northwest Territories requires an interpretation of a treaty to determine the application of a program. For some issues, there is an interpretation that both parties to the treaties agree with. However, for other unresolved issues, the federal government takes a very different interpretation than the aboriginal groups. In those cases, does the Government of the Northwest Territories adopt the federal interpretation or the aboriginal interpretation?

Thank you. Acting Premier, Mr. Pollard.

Madam Speaker, the question is broad. I would say that recently where there have been some disagreements on the interpretation of treaties, in some instances we have taken the federal government's interpretation of those treaties, Madam Speaker. Thank you.

Thank you. Item 6, oral questions. Final supplementary, Mr. Gargan.

Madam Speaker, a final supplementary again to the acting Premier. Would the acting Premier agree that, in taking one side's interpretation over the other, the government is, essentially, lending its support and becoming an active participant in the treaty issue?

Acting Premier, Mr. Pollard.

Madam Speaker, as I said, the treaties cover a broad number of issues and our position might change depending on the issue at hand. For the purposes of some the acts we have, until such time as there has been a resolution of the problem between the aboriginal people and the Crown, or until the issue has been resolved in court, we have taken the lead from the federal government. Thank you, Madam Speaker.

Thank you. Item 6, oral questions. The honourable Member for Kitikmeot, Mr. Ng.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. My question is for the Minister responsible for the Housing Corporation, and it has to do with my Member's statement regarding the housing association of Cambridge Bay adopting an illegal activities policy. I would like to ask the Minister if he is aware of the adoption of that policy and, if he is, does he support their initiative? Thank you.

Thank you. Minister responsible for the Housing Corporation, Mr. Morin.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. I would like to thank the Member for making me aware of the policy. Once I see the policy and read it, I will inform the Member whether I support it or not. Thank you.

Thank you. Supplementary, Mr. Ng.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. I would like to ask the Minister, since the housing authority has cited the Residential Tenancy Act for their authority to evict tenants for illegal activities and that Tenancy Act is one which the Housing Corporation deals with on an ongoing basis, whether or not his Housing Corporation personnel has considered this type of policy in the past? Thank you.

Minister responsible for the Housing Corporation, Mr. Morin.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. I don't know whether the Housing Corporation considered this type of policy in the past or not. Thank you.

Supplementary, Mr. Ng.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. I think the intent of the policy is to deter potential bootleggers and drug traffickers from operating in our communities. I would like to ask the Minister, if his department deems that it is a legal policy that would be binding, would he ask his Housing Corporation staff to develop such a policy and to work with housing associations in the regions to implement this type of policy? Thank you.

Thank you. Minister responsible for the Housing Corporation, Mr. Morin.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. We always work with the housing associations in the communities and if this is what the Cambridge Bay Housing Association wants to do, I will try my best to support that. I will get legal interpretation and advice from the legal division about whether or not we can do this territorial-wide. It sounds like a good idea. We don't agree with bootlegging and drug trafficking happening out of our public units and if there is a way of stopping it, I would happy to work with the communities to do that. Thank you.

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

Thank you, Madam Speaker. My question is for the Minister of Education and I will warn you, I have a bit of a preamble leading up to this question. I will try to make it brief.

Madam Speaker, on October 19, 1994 during consideration of the main estimates of the Department of Education, in light of a recent call for proposals to study future directions of existing student residences in Iqaluit, Inuvik and Rankin Inlet, including terms of reference calling for a phase-out plan for residences, I asked the Minister if it was the department's intention to get out of the business of accommodating high school students in those three regional residences. I was told in reply, page 944 of Hansard, October 19th, that "we want to identify, first of all, if there is a requirement for us to get out of regional residences."

My question to the Minister, Madam Speaker, is, if the Minister has commissioned a study to determine, in his words in this House, "if there is a requirement to get out of regional residences," then why does the department's strategy laid out in Tabled Document 41-12(6), page 52, say, "we will move to close Grollier Hall, Kivalliq and Ukiivik?" Thank you.

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

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Just so the honourable Member gets the picture straight, I think you should read the beginning of the statement, "As a result of improved access, there will no longer be the same need for large student residences." Madam Speaker, this House has approved the direction of us establishing community high school programs. One of the components deals with the issue of closing Akaitcho Hall. The issue deals with Grollier Hall, Kivalliq and Ukiivik. There is a contract now out that is evaluating the present use of those residences and will be reporting back to the government and to myself at the end of December.

It will also consider the other alternative uses for those residences in light of us having to shut them down, if that is the direction that is given to me by the contractor.

Thank you. Supplementary, Mr. Patterson.

Madam Speaker, I did read the previous statement in the department's strategy referring to improved access to high school programs, but I have to remind the Minister, Madam Speaker, that in the Baffin region, if you want to go to university and become a lawyer, doctor or engineer, you have to take the advanced diploma program. You don't have any access to that advanced diploma program in 11 out of 13 Baffin communities.

So, Madam Speaker, my supplementary question is, recognizing that outside of Iqaluit there is only one other community that gives students access to the advanced program, would the Minister agree that the continued operation of the Ukiivik residence is justified, to offer advanced high school diploma programs to students who can't get it in their home communities? Thank you.

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

Madam Speaker, no, I can't agree. The fact is, if the communities can improve the access for those programs for students in the communities, then we won't need the residence. If the report says it will take longer to do it and we need to retain the residence so that we allow the students to remain in Iqaluit, then we will have to adjust the issue of closing the residence. But, that information is not available at this juncture and I would suggest to the honourable Member that maybe one way is to improve better program access in the communities. But that is only one of many solutions.

Thank you. Supplementary, Mr. Patterson.

Madam Speaker, I'm delighted to hear the Minister say that he is willing to await the results of the report to see what is determined by the report and to see if the report says it may take longer than we thought to develop full community high school programs. But I guess I would like to go back to the Minister and say, what good is this exercise and this consultant's work -- and I know the Minister encouraged the consultant to talk to MLAs -- what good is all that if the department's tabled strategy already says on page 52, we will move to close these three residences? How can we have a meaningful consultant's process to examine all options for the future if the Minister's own tabled document has foreclosed all but one option which is closing the residences? Thank you.

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

Thank you, Madam Speaker. At some juncture, Madam Speaker, there will be no need for communities providing access to all these programs that are necessary. That is a fact. It occurred with Stringer Hall, and my honourable colleague was a part of the decision to demolish that building. It's a fact that in other communities, like Akaitcho where we don't need access; there are more residences in the Kitikmeot; there is more access to the high school program which the Member was a party to setting out that direction; and, I think it's a good direction and we should continue to work on it. What is clear is that eventually we will have to close the residences.

The fact is, Inuvik, right now, in my view, has too large a space for the number of students who are attending. The question is, what are the alternatives? Is it home boarding, is it a smaller residence? What is the use of the buildings once we make those decisions? The honourable Member could read the document as it was indicated, then it would be clear that the issue is through partnerships, it's not immediate closure. But we will get to a point where we'll have to make that decision to close those residences.

Thank you. Supplementary, Mr. Patterson.

Madam Speaker, the Minister is offering experience in Akaitcho Hall and other parts of the Northwest Territories to explain the stated intention. I would like to ask the Minister if he's examined the experience in Alaska where

after the Hooch case, a class action case provided for the right of high school education to grade 12 in every community, after those high schools were established and after regional residences were closed some 10 years or so later, the Department of Education in Alaska realized that they were failing to meet needs of certain students and ended up reopening some of those residences so that certain students from certain small communities could still have access to high school programs. Is the Minister aware of that experience in Alaska? Thank you.

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

Thank you. It's very interesting. I just had a discussion with some people from Alaska two days ago and they advised me of that issue, so I am aware of it.

Thank you. Item 6, oral questions. The honourable Member for Aivilik, Mr. Arvaluk.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. My question is to the Minister responsible for the Housing Corporation. A very short preamble, Madam Speaker. I wrote a letter to the president of the Northwest Territories Housing Corporation requesting confirmation regarding Foxe Basin Construction that has been terminated during mid-construction in Iqaluit. That is the same construction company that we had a problem with in Coral Harbour last year, and they have been awarded another contract to do construction work in Coral Harbour this coming spring. They have been awarded that already. The Minister, himself, had a tele-conference with the mayor, deputy mayor and myself, discussing that issue because Coral Harbour is very adamant about not having this construction company back again. My question, Madam Speaker, is since there was a termination during the construction season in Iqaluit of that same company, what is the plan of the Minister?

I would like to rephrase that question. Will he still honour that contract that is being designated for Coral Harbour?

Thank you. Minister of Housing, Mr. Morin.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. I would like to make it very clear to the Member that the Housing Corporation will honour all the contracts they have with contractors until we have legal advice that we could renege on any contract and not be legally sued and lose. Thank you.

Supplementary, Mr. Arvaluk.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Will he be seeking legal advice to see if he can renege on the contract since that same construction contractor has been terminated in Iqaluit, presumably for lack of performance as he did in Coral Harbour?

Minister of Housing, Mr. Morin.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. I'm aware of the issue that the contractor has problems in the Member's riding. I have talked to his mayor and his council. We're trying to work with the community to make sure that the contractor abides by the local labour content that was put in this tender. We're watching this contractor, as well as all contractors, to ensure that contracts do benefit the communities. I made a commitment to the mayor and the council, as well as the Member, that we'll work on this issue with them and try to solve it, and I still stand by that commitment today. Thank you.

Thank you. Supplementary, Mr. Arvaluk.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. I don't know how to phrase my second supplementary, but it's very important to me. The Minister assured me and the council of Coral Harbour that he will be watching this contractor very carefully. As I indicated, I was told that his contract has been terminated in Iqaluit. What other proof or other incident does he require to tell the community of Coral Harbour, yes, I'm now convinced that we have grounds to renege from a contract award that we have issued for this coming spring?

Thank you. Minister of Housing, Mr. Morin.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. The contract in Iqaluit is a separate issue. If the contract was terminated, then we do have proper grounds to terminate. But if I'm going to terminate the contract in the Member's riding, number one, I'm going to make sure I have proper grounds to do it so that the contractor cannot come back and sue this government and we'll be held responsible and have to write them a cheque for doing nothing. Thank you.

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

(Translation) Thank you, Madam Speaker. My question will be directed to the Minister responsible for environment. As we are aware, in northern Quebec, Hydro

Quebec is interested in building a dam. I wonder if the Minister of the environment has received any updates on the progress with Hydro Quebec for their plans. In the Northwest Territories, as fellow Inuit and fellow aboriginal people, we are concerned about the environmental impact, Madam Speaker. Should the desire to build a dam go ahead in northern Quebec, this can cause an environmental hazard especially for the lifestyles of my constituents. So if they come to an agreement to build this dam, for those of us who live in the NWT as well as the northern Quebecers, this is an environmental hazard. In the future, they could easily look at us and say that we were responsible for ruining the land. We will be the ones who will be left holding the bag. Perhaps there has been some further progress on this from the Minister of Environment. Thank you.

Thank you. We don't have a Minister of Environment, but I believe the Minister of Renewable Resources is responsible for such issues. Minister of Renewable Resources, Mr. Arngna'naaq.

(Translation) Thank you, Madam Speaker. The question posed by the Member for Baffin South is something that we, as a government, are trying to keep focusing on. In Quebec, people are working on reviewing the possible ways of improving what would be done. They were going to make a press release October 31st to the people who would be effected in the communities. They were going to visit the communities to do some consultations with those communities beginning in 1995. I think they will be ready to start soon. At this time, whether it has actually begun, I am not sure. There would have been a press release issued but, as of this date, I don't have anything in writing for the beginning of those consultations.

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

(Translation) Thank you, Madam Speaker. To the Minister of Renewable Resources, once the planning was in place, will you invite or update the MLAs who are connected to the Quebec plans? Will we be given updates as these things begin to progress in 1995? Thank you, Madam Speaker.

Minister of Renewable Resources, Mr. Arngna'naaq.

(Translation) Currently there is a progress report being drafted. Once I receive that, I will hand them over to the Member for Baffin South and he will get to see those papers. I will give him further information on what is happening within the 1995 year. I will keep him updated as I get information on the progress. I will extend that information to other interested MLAs as well.

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

Mahsi, Madam Speaker. Madam Speaker, my question is for the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment. The request for proposals to study and make recommendations for future directions of existing student residences in Iqaluit, Inuvik and Rankin Inlet was let and a call for proposals closed on October 4, 1994. I would like to ask the Minister, to whom was the contract awarded to do this study?

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

Thank you. I am unaware of who the contract was issued to, but I will get back to the honourable Member with the information.

Thank you. Supplementary, Mr. Koe.

Mahsi. In the terms of reference and I quote, "Three regional residences; Grollier Hall in Inuvik; Kivalliq Hall in Rankin and Ukiivik in Iqaluit, still continue to operate and decisions on their future viability must be made." My question to the Minister is, has any decision been made on the future uses of these three student residences?