There are many differences between the two of them, I won't elaborate.

We have discussed this in Caucus, Madam Speaker, and I believe most Members are agreed that it's time simply to recognize reality. Our Premier is now treated as an equal with other provincial Premiers and the Prime Minister. This status was a result of hard work since the time of Mr. Braden. It has, of course, achieved equality status in other forums with other Ministers, as well. I would cite Mr. Kakfwi's equal participation and full participation in the constitutional discussions of the ill-fated Charlottetown Accord.

Let's recognize this reality in our status. Making this change in designation can only enhance our progress, I believe, towards finally acquiring control of natural resources. And, as well, there are other issues that should be resolved, I know, such as renovating the Northwest Territories Act so as to recognize the reality that the Commissioner is now the titular head of government, the Lieutenant Governor of the Northwest Territories, and no longer the chief executive officer of the Northwest Territories.

I think this recognizes present reality and will reinforce the status that has been hard-earned by Government Leader Cournoyea, her Ministers and other predecessors. Thank you, Madam Speaker.

---Applause

Thank you. To the motion. The honourable Member for Yellowknife Frame Lake, Mr. Dent.

Thank you. To the motion. The honourable Member for Yellowknife South, Mr. Whitford.

Thank you. To the motion. The honourable Member for Yellowknife Centre.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Madam Speaker, you and I and the Clerk had the pleasure just three weeks ago of sitting in the house that was built for the Lieutenant Governor of the Northwest Territories in 1878. At that time, there were only two buildings where Regina now sits. That was the house of Lieutenant Governor plus the RCMP barracks. On Dewdney Avenue there was the site of the first territorial government, a small stone building. The civil service at that time was about ten, I think.

The point I'm making is that we have had in the past people who were called Lieutenant Governor, people called Premier. That seems to have been forgotten when the Northwest Territories became just the sparse part of Canada that we've known over the last few decades.

I was a little concerned, though, Madam Speaker, when I heard that this was going to be brought forward as a motion of the House. Not because I don't agree with it, I do agree with it. But the problem I saw was what if this motion were to be defeated? Does that mean to say that we can no longer call the Premier "Premier" if we so wished? It seems to me that what we wanted to do, we know ourselves what we are and what we do, it's to let other people know all across the country that we do have a Premier. Therefore, all correspondence of government, all correspondence of the Legislative Assembly could carry this designation.

The problem I always see with trying to do something formally like this is that throughout history, things happen. We call ourselves the Legislative Assembly of the Northwest Territories, but there is nothing in the NWT Act that says we can. It has just evolved, and it's happened. I remember CBC for many years refused to call us the Legislative Assembly, they insisted on calling us the Executive Council of the Northwest Territories. Gradually, things happen and evolve as people get more comfortable.

So the only concern I had with Mr. Patterson's motion -- and I was ready for an amendment just in case the numbers didn't look right -- that we would amend it somehow to say that the word "Premier" be used on all correspondence in the Legislative Assembly, all correspondence in the Government of the Northwest Territories, so all the stuff that goes on across the country it will be quite clear to those people that this is what we are and this is what we do. Of those Members who didn't feel comfortable about using it in the Assembly, it would be up to them. But gradually, it would become a real thing.

I think, though, that we do have the numbers, Madam Speaker, so I will not be introducing the amendment, and I urge other Members to support the motion.

Thank you. To the motion. The honourable Member for Aivilik, Mr. Arvaluk.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. I will be supporting the motion, as I believe it's inevitable that it's part of evolution that the territorial government has been evolving since it started. However, I would also like, at the same time, to ask the House and the Government of the Northwest Territories to start taking a very active role. I know that the change of the title will not get you automatic recognition from the federal government. In fact, the Northwest Territories Act still states that we come under the flagship of Indian Affairs, not reporting directly to the Prime Minister as other provinces do.

We must become more active in getting our role, and start amending or changing the NWT Act, allowing the Premier of the Northwest Territories to participate equally and report directly to the Prime Minister, rather than the Minister of Indian Affairs. That will be the true reflection of what we mean by evolution.

I think it is very, very important that when we start getting into this kind of stepping stone, first of all with a title change and, secondly, we have been recognized by the federal and provincial governments already by giving us a very, very hard time on the health billings dispute, the housing, financial contributions, et cetera. This is a form of recognition that we have more power and independence from Indian Affairs, morally anyway, not necessarily financially. So I would like to have the government start working on responding to coming under Indian Affairs under the NWT Act, and the provincial status. Something in between that will get us at least a debating power when we are making agreements, whether it's on education, housing or other agreements between the federal government and the territorial government. Qujannamiik.

Thank you. To the motion. The honourable Member for Amittuq, Mr. Allooloo.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. I'm glad to hear that the non-Inuit speaking people will be adopting the word "Premier," because the Inuit speaking people have been calling the Premier "Premier" all along. "Sivuliuqti" means a supreme...

Being!

---Laughter

...the forefront of everyone else. I think that word "Premier" means that it's the first. Like the premiere of a film. When you see it for the first time, it's the premiere show.

I'm glad that the English speaking people will be adopting the Inuktitut interpretation of Premier, because in Inuktitut we've been calling her the "Premier" all along. What did we call Dennis Patterson when he was the Government Leader? "Premier" in Inuktitut words. We called Nick Sibbeston "Premier." We called Mr. Braden "Premier." We never called the Government Leader in our words "Government Leader," Angnajuqaq. We didn't call her that, we called her "Sivuliuqti," the Premier. I am glad we are changing that.

What did you call Mr. Nerysoo?

Sorry. Yes, we called Mr. Nerysoo "Premier" when he was called in English words "Government Leader." I am glad we are adopting the word "Premier." Thank you.

Thank you. To the motion.

Question.

Question has been called. All those in favour? All those opposed? Thank you. The motion is carried.

---Carried

Item 17, first reading of bills. Item 18, second reading of bills. Item 19, consideration in committee of the whole of bills and other matters: Bill 1, Appropriation Act, No. 2, 1994-95; Committee Report 2-12(5), Review of the 1994-95 Main Estimates; Minister's Statement 5-12(5), Session Business; Tabled Document 1-12(5), Towards an NWT Mineral Strategy; Tabled Document 2-12(5), Building and Learning Strategy; Tabled Document 3-12(5), Towards a Strategy to 2010: A Discussion Paper; and, Tabled Document 11-12(5), First Annual Report of the Languages Commissioner of the NWT for the Year 1992-93, with Mr. Lewis in the chair.

The committee will come to order. When we concluded yesterday we were dealing with Bill 1 and the main estimates. What would the committee like to do? Mr. Dent.

Is that agreed that we follow Mr. Dent's suggestion?

Agreed.

---Agreed

We're on page 02-25, which is the Financial Management Board Secretariat. Mr. Pollard, do you have any opening remarks for us?

Financial Management Board Secretariat, Introductory Remarks