Thank you. Good afternoon. I have a letter from the Commissioner dated March 17, 1994: "Dear Madam Speaker, I wish to advise that I recommend to the Legislative Assembly of the Northwest Territories, the passage of Bill 17, Loan Authorization Act, 1994-95, during the Fifth Session of the 12th Legislative Assembly. Yours truly, D L Norris, Commissioner."

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

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Madam Speaker, the extension of senior secondary grades in each region means that fewer and fewer students are travelling to Yellowknife to attend school. The budget for the department which has gained the agreement of this Assembly included the closure of Akaitcho Hall. In addition, the decrease in the number of regional students attending school in Yellowknife means that the Board of Secondary Education, which has been administering Sir John, is no longer appropriate.

As a result, I am pleased to announce today that it has been agreed by Yellowknife Education District No. 1 and myself that we proceed to negotiate the transfer of responsibility for Sir John Franklin Territorial High School to the public school board, effective July 1.

---Applause

Under the agreement, the Board of Secondary Education will be dissolved on June 30.

For many years, parents of students in the Yellowknife public school system have been asking for direct authority for the education of their children, from kindergarten to grade 12. With the transfer of responsibility for Sir John Franklin, parents will have that authority.

Students from outside Yellowknife who attend high school in the city will be accommodated through agreements developed by their divisional board and either the Yellowknife public school board or the Yellowknife Catholic school board. These agreements will ensure that the needs of regional students are recognized, and will emphasize that divisional boards and community education councils are accountable for the delivery of education for those students, parents and families they represent.

The Yellowknife public school board and the Yellowknife Catholic school board may both participate in the negotiation of agreements with divisional boards for senior secondary education. Both districts will be providing home boarding programs. The Catholic school board is already responsible for programs from kindergarten to grade 12, as will the public school board, starting in July.

My department and Yellowknife Education District No. 1 have agreed that the education district will hire any staff beginning their duties at the high school this fall. Arrangements will be developed to accommodate existing staff who belong to the NWT Teachers' Association and the Union of Northern Workers. It is our target that these arrangements be concluded by July, 1994.

The department and the education district are committed to consulting with the parties affected by the transfer as it progresses. A working committee has begun consultations, as well as drafting the necessary detailed arrangements.

Madam Speaker, it is important that parents have the means to guide the education of their children throughout their school years. I am pleased that the extension of senior secondary grades in each divisional board means that parents across the NWT are able to maintain a closer link to both guide and support the education of their children. I am also pleased that grade extensions have resulted in Yellowknife parents gaining the authority they have been seeking. Thank you, Madam Speaker.

---Applause

Thank you. Item 2, Ministers' statements. Madam Premier.

Madam Premier, this statement is with regards to Ministers' absences from the House. The honourable Stephen Kakfwi will be absent from the House the week of March 21, 1994 to attend a federal/provincial/territorial Ministers of Justice meeting in Ottawa. Mr. Kakfwi will depart late Monday afternoon and will be back in Yellowknife on Friday afternoon

.

Madam Speaker, the Honourable John Todd will be absent from the House on Friday, March 25, 1994 to attend the Nunavut trade show and business conference. Mr. Todd will also be attending a meeting of Ministers of Internal Trade in Halifax the week of April 4, 1994. This meeting is of some importance to the NWT because negotiations concerning the reduction of trade barriers between the provinces and territories is at an advanced stage. Mr. Todd will be absent from the House for the planned duration of the Sixth Session in April. Thank you.

Thank you. Item 2, Ministers' statements. Item 3, Members' statements. The honourable Member for Yellowknife Centre, Mr. Lewis.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. For the past several weeks, I've been doing research on the issue of the recall of MLAs. A Gallup poll during February of this year indicated that 75 per cent of Canadians favoured recall. When I first examined the history of recall, I found that objections to recall were based on the fears of abuse by various sectors of the public. Most elected people were against recall because it could be abused by various powerful interest groups. There seemed to be no proposal which provided safeguards that elected people would feel comfortable with.

Although I initially had doubts about recall, and especially about writing recall legislation which would satisfy both the public and politicians, I now believe that recall legislation is both desirable and possible in the Northwest Territories. Across the country, we see political parties adopting codes of conduct and ethics but with no means for Members to be removed if they no longer have the trust of the people who elected them. Governments are reluctant to enact legislation because it could be used against politicians by the vested interests of the rich, powerful or very well-organized interest groups. If politicians don't bow to their demands, they could become the object of recall.

The solution, of course, Madam Speaker, is to find some way of fixing the flaw since recall is a clearly desirable mechanism if appropriate safeguards can be established. I believe that this is possible. I hope to table in the Legislature a paper on recall which I believe will convince Members that recall is both desirable and necessary. I would ask Members to be open-minded about it and request that it be put on the agenda of our strategic workshop in Fort Smith in April. Thank you.

---Applause

Thank you. Item 3, Members' statements. The honourable Member for Nahendeh, Mr. Antoine.

Mahsi, Madam Speaker. Members of this Assembly are, no doubt, aware of the David and Goliath situation that has developed over the past few days, as a result of the giant De Beers diamond company threatening legal action against the northern environmental organization, Ecology North. Because of De Beers' actions, people in Yellowknife have been deprived of an opportunity to see a documentary film entitled The Diamond Empire that was televised on American public broadcasting system only six weeks ago. This was seen by people in the north on the PBS TV channel, already. It is obviously the intention of De Beers to ensure that nobody else in the NWT sees the film.

I understand it is Ecology North's intention to encourage public discussion about the diamond industry by presenting information that the great majority of people in the Northwest Territories have not yet seen. Last week in Yellowknife, a De Beers' representative, Mr. George Burne, showed a promotional video about the diamond industry from the company's point of view. But there are other points of view about the industry, points of view that northerners should know about in order to be fully informed about an industry that could have a very big impact on our lives in the years to come.

I am sure that all my colleagues in this Assembly will agree with me that northerners are certainly intelligent enough to judge for themselves what is true and what is not true. We don't need big international mining companies making up our minds for us by telling us what sorts of information we can or cannot see. If that sort of conduct is typical of the diamond industry, the people of the NWT should think very carefully indeed before giving approval to any diamond mining on our lands.

In closing, Madam Speaker...(microphone turned off)

Mr. ...

...full public debate about diamond mining in the NWT by suggesting that this Assembly...

I'm sorry, Mr. Antoine.

Madam Speaker, I seek 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. Continue, Mr. Antoine.

If this sort of conduct is typical of the diamond industry, the people of the Northwest Territories should think

very carefully indeed before giving approval for any diamond mining on our lands.

In closing, Madam Speaker, I would like to stimulate open public debate about diamond mining in the NWT by suggesting that this Assembly consider sponsoring a public showing of both The Diamond Empire and De Beers' own film A Treasure in Trust. Mahsi, Madam Speaker.

---Applause

Thank you. Item 3, Members' statements. The honourable Member for Yellowknife South, Mr. Whitford.

Thank you. The Speaker would like to recognize in the public gallery, the grade ten students from Chief Jimmy Bruneau School in Rae-Edzo, and their teacher Paul Byrns.

---Applause

Item 3, Members' statements. The honourable Member for Mackenzie Delta, Mr. Nerysoo.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate and recognize an outstanding young athlete from the Northwest Territories on his accomplishments to date. Many of the Members here, including the Members of Yellowknife, know a young man by the name of Jeremy Jaud, who has received national recognition for his swimming skills.

He has been ranked first in Canada for his age group in the 100 metre, the 200 metre backstroke; third in the 200 metre free-style; fifth in the 200 metre backstroke; and, sixth in the 400 metre individual medley.

Madam Speaker, Jeremy Jaud is also committed to academic excellence. He completed his grade ten at Sir John Franklin High School and received a scholarship to attend grade 11 in Winnipeg, Manitoba at Winnipeg Collegiate. He has maintained an 84 per cent grade average while swimming 18 hours per week and dry land weight training six hours per week. He has won numerous awards such as the Unisys Award at the 1993 Canada Games as a member of the Northwest Territories summer games swim team.

Madam Speaker, this is an important note for Members. Jeremy will be going to represent Canada on the Canadian Youth Team at the Eight Nations Swim Meet in Cadiz, Spain on April 2, 1994.

---Applause

Madam Speaker, it is important for us to recognize athletes like Jeremy and to support this level of excellence achieved in both athletics and education. He is a role model for all the youth of the Northwest Territories, and a national symbol of what may be achieved within our educational and athletic system. I would like to ask all of my fellow Members to join me in recognizing the accomplishments of this young man who not only represents the north, but now will represent Canadians. Thank you.

---Applause

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

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Today I wish to speak about the four young aboriginal girls who have gone missing from the Yellowknife area over the past five years. I find it appalling that the RCMP took so long to form a task force to deal with these disappearances.

Madam Speaker, when a male trapper goes missing or is overdue, planes and ground searches are immediately organized. Because we were dealing with young women, the police and indeed the entire community looked at this issue as more of a runaway problem rather than the sinister tones these disappearances have taken.

Madam Speaker, one family can take solace in at least being able to bury their daughter. But, for the remaining families, it is a never-ending battle between hope and despair. They struggle to retain their faith while being burdened by media sensationalism surrounding prostitution and abduction of young people. These families deserve our sympathy and support during their time of need. We, as the government, should be doing everything in our power to ensure that the RCMP do everything possible to solve those cases.

Madam Speaker, we also need to change people's attitudes. I am positive it would have been much easier for the RCMP to find out what happened to these young women if they would have treated their disappearances as suspicious right from the start. Mahsi cho, Madam Speaker.

---Applause

Thank you. Item 3, Member's statements. The honourable Member for Yellowknife North, Mr. Ballantyne.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Today, Madam Speaker, I would like to talk about my constituents in Ndilo and Dettah and their aspirations, my constituents along the Ingraham Trail and their aspirations and my constituents in Yellowknife proper and their aspirations. Their aspirations are all different, but I believe that they can be brought together.

The Yellowknives Dene Band is taking a reasonable and pragmatic approach to get the land they need to unify their band and to bring together band members in Yellowknife, Dettah and Ndilo. They also want to provide the band with a land and economic base so they can co-exist with Yellowknife as an equal partner on their historic lands. The cottagers along the Ingraham Trail are looking for land tenure -- ideally, they would like fee-simple ownership -- and some say in the development of land use planning for the area. My other constituents in Yellowknife proper are looking for a long-term political and economic structure so they can bring up their children and expect some security for the future as they plan their lives for the next 20 years.

I believe that these three groups of people all have some stake in the resolution of this situation. In many ways, this will be symbolic of the new north. People in Yellowknife have to reach out to the Yellowknives band. Chiefs Sangris and Beaulieu are open to negotiation and I believe it's a golden opportunity for people with different objectives to come together and resolve issues. I want to put on the public record that I believe the aspirations of the Yellowknives Dene Band can be accommodated. From this opportunity can come a new partnership between Yellowknife and the Yellowknives, which could be a model for cooperation in the whole western Arctic. Thank you, very much.

---Applause

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

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Madam Speaker, there are many complicated issues before us every day as politicians. The tough issues get left to us. One of these is the issue of privatization of the NWT Power Corporation. I know, Madam Speaker, that MLAs and many organizations already have strong views and concerns on this issue. I would like to see the issue debated fully in public and in this Assembly. However, Madam Speaker, if we are to have a debate in this Assembly and if there's to be a good public debate, I hope it is a reasoned debate and I hope it will be based on facts.

The Union of Northern Workers is concerned about this issue and seeking to influence public opinion and, it seems, the opinions of MLAs. Yesterday, I received a hand-delivered letter in this Chamber on Union of Northern Workers stationary signed by Mrs. Josie Gould, chairperson of the committee against privatization. An attachment to the letter suggests to me that the UNW is engaged in fear-mongering. The attachment is titled, No Deal: How Your Power Bill Will Increase When the Subsidy is Removed. A list of communities then follows with examples of how monthly power bills will at least double when the subsidy is removed.

Madam Speaker, the fact is, the setting of electrical rates is the responsibility of the Public Utilities Board, not the Union of Northern Workers. The subsidy is undoubtedly an issue of concern if the NWT Power Corporation is to be privatized or partially privatized. However, I think it is irresponsible of the UNW to publish information suggesting power bills will increase when the subsidy is removed, as if it is a statement of fact, as if the UNW can accurately predict what rates the PUB would set, as if the UNW knows that there is no other way a subsidy can be provided, such as by a government program.

Madam Speaker, Members of this House, let us have a debate on privatization of the Power Corporation. Let us have a public discussion, but let the debate be based on a reasoned discussion of the issues, not on scare tactics and fear-mongering. Thank you.

Thank you. Item 3, Members' statements. Item 4, returns to oral questions. Item 5, oral questions. The honourable Member for Yellowknife Centre, Mr. Lewis.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. My question is to the Minister of Education. Under the Education Act, under the section dealing with the responsibility of the Minister, it says "the Minister shall have charge of and be responsible for, e) The provision of special classes, facilities and instruction for students who require special education programs."

In Yellowknife over the past year, the boards and the Stanton Hospital have ceased to provide special assistance for children who have very definite physical problems to do with hearing and speech. This service is not being provided. I would like to ask the Minister, since the act makes him responsible, is he aware of this situation?

Thank you. Minister of Education, Mr. Nerysoo.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Yes, we are aware of the situation. We have signed a tripartite agreement with Social Services and Health and the matter of providing services to those with specialized needs is one of the matters that is going to be addressed in the discussions between the departments.

Thank you. Supplementary, Mr. Lewis.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. I have received information that the tripartite committee was supposed to finish its work by the end of February. Is this agreement the result of the meeting of the tripartite committee?

Thank you. Minister of Education, Mr. Nerysoo.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. That is one of them, but the honourable Member should know that there are a number of other issues that we are required to address, not only the matter of specialized services, for example for the hearing impaired. Speech therapy is another of the issues. The question of psychological analysis assessments is another. Those are a number of the issues that we really need to address. We realize they are important and, as such, we are trying to develop a method by which we can respond to the needs of our students.

Thank you. Supplementary, Mr. Lewis.

Several parents, in this city anyway, have missed this service for over a year now and many of the students are suffering. I would like to ask the Minister, does he have any kind of time line or date by which he can tell us this issue will be resolved to the benefit of those children?

Thank you. Minister of Education, Mr. Nerysoo.

Thank you. I'm hoping we can have most of it resolved by the beginning of the new school year. However, the honourable Member should be aware that it is a tripartite arrangement and we require a working arrangement with Health and Social Services in order for us to do the best we can. It is a major concern for us from a program delivery perspective and we understand and appreciate the concerns that the parents have and have tried to respond as quickly as possible.

Thank you. Item 5, oral questions. The honourable Member for Natilikmiot, Mr. Ningark.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. My question is to the honourable Minister of Social Services. Madam Speaker, a few days ago, a young mother came to Yellowknife, medevaced from Pelly Bay. She was in labour. Subsequently, she gave birth to a premature baby at Stanton Hospital. We all know it is very painful giving birth to a child, especially when the child is not alive at birth. What is more painful, which occurred at the airport yesterday, was two people witnessed the mother carrying her little lifeless baby in the coffin. I don't think this is acceptable to anyone, anywhere, at least it is not acceptable in my society. Madam Speaker, the next incident that took place is even more shocking. One of the bystanders asked another bystander if the mother was carrying a fish in the box. Thank God, the mother never heard the question. My question to the honourable Minister is, what is the department's policy when a mother goes to another place, gives birth to a child and the child is not alive, how does the department look after the transportation of a dead child? Thank you.

Thank you. Minister of Social Services, Ms. Mike.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. The present policy of Social Services, as it stands, is when the patient goes out of their community and if that patient happens to pass away, then Social Services is responsible for transportation costs of the deceased body. Thank you.

Thank you. Supplementary, Mr. Ningark.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Is it the policy of the Department of Social Services that the mother is to carry a lifeless little body in a coffin to her community from the medical centre? Thank you.

Thank you. Minister of Social Services, Ms. Mike.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. No.

Thank you. Supplementary, Mr. Ningark.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. If the answer is no, will the Minister ensure that this incident doesn't happen again in this system? Thank you.

Thank you. Minister of Social Services, Ms. Mike.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. I will make sure that this kind of incident doesn't happen again and I will work with my colleague, Mr. Pollard, to see what has happened. Whether there was miscommunication between Stanton Hospital and my department. If there was miscommunication, then I don't think my department is aware of it. We are aware of it now, and we will inform Mr. Ningark what happened and take it from there. Thank you.

Item 5, oral questions. The honourable Member for Iqaluit, Mr. Patterson.

Madam Speaker, I am pleased to hear the Minister say that she will ensure this kind of incident never happens again. Following on the questions of Mr. Ningark, could the Minister explain to this House how such a situation could have occurred and did occur as the Member for Natilikmiot described? How could that have happened? Thank you.

Thank you. Minister of Social Services, Ms. Mike.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. I just learned of the incident on my way to work from Mr. Ningark. I can only speculate, at this point in time, if the Stanton Hospital did not inform my department about the situation this lady found herself in. I can only speculate. We have no way of knowing unless Stanton Hospital lets us know. Thank you.

Thank you. Supplementary, Mr. Patterson.

Madam Speaker, I appreciate the Minister is going to look further into the matter. I wonder if she would undertake to inform Members of this House of the circumstances in that case, so we can all ensure that procedures are in place so such an event will not occur again. Thank you.

Thank you. Minister of Social Services, Ms. Mike.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. My honourable colleague, Mr. Pollard, informs me that his department is gathering the information already and will provide it to this House. Thank you.

Thank you. Item 5, 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. I made a statement this afternoon with regard to several girls who have been missing from Yellowknife, and other girls who have been missing for quite some time also. There is a young girl from my own constituency, her name is Leona Brule. She has been missing since 1988. There has never been any information on what might have happened to her or who last saw her. Her parents don't know anything. I can only speak for the parents in my constituency about the concern the have. Since the whole investigation of the Giant Mine issue has now been resolved, how much time is now being spent to see if the RCMP could get any leads in finding these young ladies?

Thank you. Minister of Justice, Mr. Kakfwi.

Thank you. Supplementary, Mr. Gargan.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. I would like to ask the Minister of Justice if the parents are at least being kept informed with regard to the progress of their investigation?

Minister of Justice, Mr. Kakfwi.

Thank you. Item 5, oral questions. The honourable Member for Kitikmeot, Mr. Ng.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. My question is directed to the Minister of Personnel. Earlier, when we reconvened this Fifth Session in February, there were many concerns that were raised regarding the GNWT staff housing strategy. Some of the concerns were about tenants living in public housing units who were ineligible and some staff who weren't given an opportunity to choose a unit which they deemed appropriate for their current and future needs. The Minister acknowledged some of these problems and concerns. I would like to ask her if she has had an opportunity now to address these and other issues raised by Members during that time in reviewing the GNWT staff housing strategy. Thank you.

Thank you. Minister of Personnel, Ms. Mike.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. The department and I have been working on some questions that have been raised in this House, and the review will be done by the Cabinet after the second round of staff housing sales is complete. Thank you.

Thank you. Supplementary, Mr. Ng.

Supplementary, Madam Speaker. Thank you. So now the Minister is referring to a second round of housing sales, and from what I understood, the occupants of staff housing units on December 16 were supposed to be involved in the final round of sales. I would like to clarify, then, is there going to be another round of sales to employees as a result of this review of the GNWT staff housing strategy.

Thank you. Minister of Personnel, Ms. Mike.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. The staff housing sales are ongoing. After the second round of sales, I informed the House that I would keep the Members individually informed as to what is happening in their constituency, and I believe it was just two days ago, I think, that I signed the letter informing the Members of the interested staff who would like to purchase in their constituencies. Like I said, I would be willing to meet with them individually. I sent the letter two days ago. The Members should have them by now. My intention was that, once that is done, then the Member would bring the concern to my office. I don't know if the Member has received the letter or not. Thank you.

Thank you. Supplementary, Mr. Ng.

Thank you. I take it, then, that the Minister is saying that there will be another round of sales to employees. I just wanted to get that clarified. I don't believe I have gotten the answer from her answer, so I would like to ask that question again. Thank you.

Thank you. Minister of Personnel, Ms. Mike.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. We do have expression of interest from the staff at this point in time, and after this round, depending how many staff will be purchasing and if there are enough staff houses left, then, yes, there will be another round of sales. Thank you.

Thank you. Final supplementary, Mr. Ng.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Final supplementary. The Minister is aware of some of the specific problems in the Kitikmeot region as a result of delays of staff occupying units which they wish to purchase. She has already committed to looking at those on an individual basis, I guess, and I would like to ask her if she is still committed to rectifying that situation of these seven individuals as quickly as possible, I guess, and working on an arrangement that would be suitable to them in purchasing government staff housing units?

Thank you. Minister of Personnel, Ms. Mike.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Like I said in the past, after we get the expression of interest from the staff in purchasing the unit that they are occupying, I would be

willing to meet with individual MLAs if they do have a concern, work with them and take it from there. Thank you.

Thank you. Item 5, oral questions. The honourable Member for Yellowknife Frame Lake, Mr. Dent.

Thank you. Madam Premier.

Madam Speaker, the dividend or the amount is determined by what the government has determined as the cost of the subsidy, so it does recover. Thank you.

Thank you. Item 5, oral questions. The honourable Member for Baffin South, Mr. Pudlat.

(Translation) Thank you, Madam Speaker. My question is directed to John Todd, the Minister. I realize he responded to a question concerning a safe haven for Lake Harbour. I know he responded properly, Madam Speaker, but I would like clarification, if possible. He indicated that there would be a survey done. Was that to be in consultation first with the Lake Harbour hamlet council, and, if so, when will this occur? Is it for this spring or in the summer? Thank you, Madam Speaker.

Minister of Economic Development and Tourism, Mr. Todd.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. The first part of the question would be that we would consult with the municipality on the priorities they see for transportation capital spending. On the second part as to when this will take place, I am not in a position today to know exactly when that is, but I will get back to the Member. Thank you.

Thank you. Item 5, oral questions. The honourable Member for Yellowknife North, Mr. Ballantyne.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. I have a question for the Minister responsible for Municipal and Community Affairs. I know that the Minister has received correspondence from the chiefs from Ndilo and Dettah concerning the extension of their boundaries. My question to the Minister is, is the Minister prepared to convene a meeting of the Yellowknives Band and other interested parties, including the city of Yellowknife, to try to resolve this situation in a positive way?

Thank you. Minister of Municipal and Community Affairs, Mr. Arngna'naaq.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. I received a letter from the chiefs around the end of February. I responded in writing to the chiefs earlier this month and indicated that I have asked the deputy minister to convene a meeting between the Yellowknives Dene Band, the city of Yellowknife, the Department of Indian and Northern Affairs and the Department of Intergovernmental and Aboriginal Affairs, and to expect a call from Mr. Menard in the near future. Thank you, Madam Speaker.

Thank you. Item 5, oral questions. The honourable Member for Iqaluit, Mr. Patterson.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Madam Speaker, I'm interested in the Fort Smith leadership school even though it's far from my riding, because there was consideration given at the time that school was set up to the possibility of establishing a parallel school in Nunavut. I think that is even a more topical issue, with Nunavut coming in 1999. I would like to ask the Minister of Education something I meant to ask when his budget was presented and that is, has there been a review done of the Fort Smith leadership school, now that it has been in operation for several years? Thank you.

Thank you. Minister of Education, Mr. Nerysoo.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Yes, but the matter is before Cabinet for consideration.

Thank you. Supplementary, Mr. Patterson.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Madam Speaker, once Cabinet has considered the matter, is the Minister of Education open to the idea of sharing the results of the review with Members of this Assembly? Thank you.

Thank you. Minister of Education, Mr. Nerysoo.

Madam Speaker, I'll take into consideration the comment made by the honourable Member.

Thank you. Supplementary, Mr. Patterson.

Madam Speaker, I think the Minister has said in his answer, I'll think about it. I guess I would like a little clearer answer than that. Could I ask the Minister if he's open to sharing the results of the review with Members of this Assembly, or is there some reason why the review should not be made public? Thank you.

Thank you. Minister of Education, Mr. Nerysoo.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. I think the honourable Member knows, having served in Cabinet, that reports are not always a matter for public distribution. However, after consideration and after I ask my colleagues if it is with their consent and their approval that the documentation be released, I will suggest that all documentation be released, not just the report. One of the comments that was made to me was that the Nunavut divisional board did not support a leadership program in Nunavut, at the time the offer was made. I'm not aware of that fact and I've raised that point yesterday that it was my view, that if you have a leadership program, it should also be extended to the Nunavut part of the Northwest Territories.

Thank you. Item 5, oral questions. The honourable Member for Nahendeh, Mr. Antoine.

Mahsi, Madam Speaker. Yesterday, I made a Member's statement concerning emissions from Giant Mine. This morning, I noted two interesting news stories. First, on the radio, the Minister of Renewable Resources reacted to my statement by saying that Giant is on its last legs. It seems he was implying that we shouldn't expect Giant to spend any money cleaning up its emissions. However, in yesterday's Yellowknifer, there was a story that said Royal Oak Mines posted a net income of $15 million in 1993. Royal Oak's manager of investors' relations, Graham Eacott, was quoted as saying Giant Mine has many more years of life. Figures in the news report suggest that Giant has at least eight and as many as 20 year's worth of reserves.

I would like to ask the Minister of Renewable Resources why he stated that Giant Mine was on its last legs? Thank you.

Thank you. Minister of Renewable Resources, Mr. Kakfwi.

Thank you. Supplementary, Mr. Antoine.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. In the radio report, the Minister implied that forcing Giant to meet guidelines would result in lost jobs, but the company is profitable and their mine here in Yellowknife is obviously producing well now that the strike is over. Has the Minister obtained any figures, either from Royal Oak or from independent sources stating how much it would cost to significantly reduce Giant Mine's sulphur dioxide emissions? Thank you.

Thank you. Minister of Renewable Resources, Mr. Kakfwi.

Supplementary, Mr. Antoine.

Mahsi, Madam Speaker. There is an outstanding complaint filed lawfully through the Environmental Rights Act. It has been outstanding for almost three years now. The Minister has a legal and perhaps a moral responsibility to act on this situation. I think that the Minister should study the issue more thoroughly. He and his department should be aware of how much it would cost Royal Oak to reduce their emissions. Another radio report had Royal Oak claiming that it would cost over $5 million to clean up the emissions. This may be the cost of one option, but the Minister should be aware of a variety of options available to the company. Will the Minister commit to responding to this House, within the month, with estimates of the different options for reducing Giant Mine's sulphur dioxide and arsenic emissions? Thank you.

Thank you. Minister of Renewable Resources, Mr. Kakfwi.