Thank you. Good afternoon. Item 2, Ministers' statements. The honourable Member for Baffin Central, Ms. Mike.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. In January 1994, employees who were living in government-owned staff housing units in level II and III communities were given the final opportunity to express an interest in purchasing the housing unit that they occupied. In all communities except Rankin Inlet and Iqaluit, employees had until February 11 to respond to our offer. February 18 was the deadline in those two communities.

I would like to advise all the Members of this Legislature of the results of this phase of the long-term housing strategy. On a regional basis, we have received expressions of interest from employees as follows: Fort Simpson, 10; Fort Smith, 1; North Slave, 1; Inuvik, 17; Keewatin, 63; Kitikmeot, 17; and, Baffin, 39. This makes a total of 148 expressions of interest. However, this does not mean that we have sold 148 staff housing units. The expressions only indicate that these employees would like to consider purchasing a unit.

Madam Speaker, the Department of Public Works and Services will be arranging for appraisals of each staff housing unit followed by formal offers to the employees. I know that Members are concerned about the sale of housing units in small communities, but I would like to reassure the Members that most of the interest has come from the larger communities.

I will be writing to each Member very soon to let them know how many expressions of interest have been received from each community within their constituency. This will also begin the process of developing individual community staff housing plans which will address the unique circumstances in each community. Thank you, Madam Speaker.

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

(Translation) Thank you, Madam Speaker. My statement today is on a subject that I have already raised in this House regarding the selection of the senior men's hockey team for the 1994 Arctic Winter Games. I have received a response from the Minister to my oral question regarding this matter, but I am still left unclear as to why there were no players from the Coral Harbour team picked to represent the NWT at the Arctic Winter Games. (End of translation)

I do not know what the selection was, who was involved directly, what criteria was used and when the decision of team selection was finalized. Until I am clear on these matters, I am unable to give my constituents a satisfactory response to their concerns. However, Madam Speaker, I would like to tell the Coral Harbour men's hockey team that I support them all the way and I hope that, despite this setback, they can keep the faith and I fully expect that their day will come. Thank you, Madam Speaker.

---Applause

Thank you. Item 3, Members' statements. The honourable Member for High Arctic, Mr. Pudluk.

(Translation) Thank you, Madam Speaker. My statement today will be with regard to the federal legislation requiring firearms to be locked up during storage. I'm not against the safe storage of firearms whatsoever, Madam Speaker. The communities in my constituency have a very high rate of polar bear intrusions. There are often several incidents on a weekly basis of polar bears coming into the communities and camps, threatening lives and property.

This is the time of year also when there is complete darkness. It is only common sense, then, that residents should have rifles relatively handy for their protection.

If the people of the High Arctic are to follow the law to the letter, then it will not be possible to protect themselves adequately from polar bears. This is a very valid concern. My people do not want to break the law, but what can they do? They have to make a choice between protecting themselves and breaking the law.

The federal government and the Government of the Northwest Territories must work together so that the law about storing firearms is changed to be practical to my constituents. Thank you, Madam Speaker.

---Applause

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

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Today I rise on behalf of my constituents in Yellowknife North to offer our congratulations to the five northern winners of the national aboriginal achievement awards.

Cindy Kenny-Gilday is a constituent of Yellowknife North and is being honoured for her outstanding international work with the environment. Susan Aglukark is a world-class musician.

---Applause

Billy Lyall has done tremendous developmental work with the co-ops.

---Applause

Rosemarie Kuptana, as president of ITC, and for her support over the years for the creation of Nunavut.

I think our Legislative Assembly should be especially proud of the award given to Premier Cournoyea.

---Applause

She is a four-term MLA, served with distinction on many important Cabinet posts, and continues to serve us well as Premier. Her award brings honour and recognition to our Legislative Assembly. And all five awards bring recognition and honour to the recipients and to all northerners. Thank you very much.

---Applause

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

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

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

Mahsi, Madam Speaker. Once again, Madam Speaker, cruise missiles will shatter the silence of our northern skies. Once again, the opinions of northern people and this government will be ignored.

For almost 40 years, Madam Speaker, the Northwest Territories have been the playground of the United States military industrial complex. Starting in the mid-1950s and continuing to this day, northerners have had strange substances dropped on them, military satellites and cruise missiles falling on them, and nuclear submarines under them.

Madam Speaker, we, as northerners, are no longer a colony of Ottawa subject to the whims of departmental mandarins who are put on this earth to look after the interests of the misbegotten Dene and Inuit. In this Assembly, there are 24 people elected to represent the views of their constituents, and the view of the vast majority of northerners, aboriginal and non-aboriginal, is that cruise missile testing must stop.

In 1987, the Dean of the House, Mr. Pudluk, rose to make an emergency statement on the American Airforce activities in the north Baffin, in the mid to late 1950s. In his statement, the honourable Member lamented the lack of consultation and the fact that residents of north Baffin weren't even warned that Americans were up to something in the northern skies.

Madam Speaker, the only change in the American and Canadian governments' attitude toward the feeling of northern residents is that they now give us a few hours notice so our northern pilots can get out of their way. There is still no consultation. Everything is still a secret, and northerners' thoughts and feelings have not been taken into account.

Madam Speaker, I urge the Liberal government to live up to their election promise, to ban the testing of cruise missiles over the Northwest Territories. The Russian threat is gone. Let's take positive steps to wipe out the mentality that we must have bigger, stronger and faster bombs than the other guy. Mahsi, Madam Speaker.

---Applause

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

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

Thank you, Madam Speaker. I feel I must rise to respectfully correct the honourable Minister of Education, Culture and Employment on certain statements he made in this House on Friday, February 25, about the Special Committee on Education during discussion in committee of the whole of his discussion paper, Towards a Strategy to 2010. I was not present in the House that day, but the unedited Hansard shows that Mr. Nerysoo, in responding to general comments from Mr. Dent criticizing the lack of detail in his discussion paper, referred to the Special Committee on Education and stated that, "It took them almost two years and almost $3 million to do the work." Mr. Nerysoo went on to say, "What that committee took two years to do, we did in one year."

Madam Speaker, with respect, as a former Member of that special committee -- who, along with Ms. Cournoyea the only other sitting Member in this House who had the privilege of serving on that committee of the 9th Assembly -- I do feel obliged to correct the honourable Minister and set the record straight.

First, as to whether the Minister's excellent discussion paper did as much as that committee. Madam Speaker, here is what the special committee did, and it was the first committee of this legislature to be so active: it held no less than 73 meetings in 34 communities. We conducted excellent research and we prepared draft legislation.

While the committee was in existence, we were asked to and did recommend on the contentious issue of much needed reform of the student financial assistance regulations. We produced no less than 49 detailed recommendations which led, among other things, to the establishment of divisional boards of education, teaching and learning centres, field-based teacher education and the Arctic College. We even recommended the establishment of what we called the secretariat for learning under the Minister of Education to coordinate all training and learning within the GNWT. The recommendations were accompanied by a detailed implementation strategy and timetable.

Finally, Madam Speaker, the Special Committee on Education did not cost $3 million, as the Minister stated. It did all that work for just under $1 million.

Madam Speaker, I recognize that the Minister is proud of his hard work on the discussion paper, Towards a Strategy to 2010, however I would respectfully suggest to him that it may be a little too early to determine whether his discussion paper will have the same impact as the report of the Special Committee on Education. Thank you.

---Applause

Thank you. Item 3, Members' statements. Item 4, returns to oral questions. Madam Premier.

Madam Speaker, I have a return to an oral question asked by Mr. Koe on February 22, 1994 regarding the Northwest Territories Power Corporation staff housing policy.

Madam Speaker, it is the corporation's policy to encourage employees, where practical, to be responsible for their own housing costs. To this end, the corporation began withdrawing from providing staff accommodation within a five year period, commencing on April 1, 1993 in communities that have road access. In other locations where the corporation identifies surplus units, action will be taken to dispose of these units. Thank you.

Thank you. Item 4, returns to oral questions. The honourable Member for Kivallivik, Mr. Arngna'naaq.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Madam Speaker, I have three returns today. The first one is a return to an oral question asked by Mr. Pudluk on February 21, 1994. I'm responding to the Member's question and subsequent discussions with the honourable Member on community deficits.

Communities are required by legislation to prepare annual budgets. Municipalities receive funding from a variety of sources, including the Department of Municipal and Community Affairs and budgets must reflect revenues from all sources.

Our legislation also requires a municipal corporation to eliminate any deficit that may have accumulated during the year. by the end of the following fiscal year. Deficits occur in communities because expenditures exceed revenues. There are a number of reasons for excess expenditures. Unplanned or extraordinary expenditures may be required, for example, in situations where unusually cold temperatures result in higher fuel and utility bills. Unplanned expenditures may be required if a water line breaks or equipment fails, creating a need for expensive repairs. Each community is different.

Community counsellors should be receiving accurate monthly financial information from their administrative staff in order to assist them in identifying potential deficits because of such situations as I have noted. The department monitors the financial position of all communities, providing advice and assistance where necessary.

Madam Speaker, the second return is to a question asked by Mr. Arvaluk on February 28, 1994, on selection of players for senior men's hockey for Arctic Winter Games.

The manager of our Northwest Territories team for Arctic Winter Games has been delegated to the Sport North Federation. Sport North, in turn, requests that each territorial sport organization establish a process by which their teams will be selected for the Arctic Winter Games.

I'm advised that at their annual general meeting in the fall of 1993, the NWT Amateur Hockey Association agreed to select an open men's hockey team from the best players involved in the territorial trials held in January, 1994. This process was implemented in order to provide an opportunity for the best players from across the Northwest Territories to be selected, as opposed to the previous selection process which allowed only for the winning team to attend the games.

This all-star team approach has successfully been used by other sports sending teams to the games. It was decided that responsibility for choosing the final team would rest with the two team coaches. Job advertisements for these positions were sent territorial-wide and only two coaches applied for the position. Only two applied and were selected. Both of these coaches are very capable. I have been assured that following a careful screening process, the best players have been chosen for the team.

The team selected consists of six players from the Yellowknife region, two from the Inuvik region, five from the South Slave region, two from the Mackenzie region and one from the Baffin region. Any change in team composition at this point, less than a week before the games, would mean that an athlete who has been told he has a spot on the team and has been training hard in anticipation of this, would have to be bumped in order to make room for the substitution.

I'm pleased to inform the honourable Member for Aivilik that there are four athletes from his constituency who will be attending the Arctic Winter Games. In total, there are 80 athletes, coaches, officials and mission staff who will be attending the games from the Nunavut area. I have written to the president of the NWT Hockey Association, advising him of the Member's concern.

My third return, Madam Speaker, if I may, is to a question asked by Mr. Ballantyne on February 24, 1994 regarding the block funding agreement involving the Yellowknife sewer system.

As of February 16, 1993, a block funding agreement between the city of Yellowknife and the Government of the Northwest Territories has been in effect. Under the terms of this agreement, the Government of the Northwest Territories has agreed to contribute $4.1 million to the city in each of the 1993-94, 1994-95 and 1995-96 fiscal years. This funding support is being provided in order to assist the city in its delivery of municipal programs and services that are normally eligible for funding under the capital and operations and maintenance programs of the department.

The agreement allows for the city to request extraordinary funding for projects which do not fall under the parameters of the department's municipal capital assistance program, or the municipal operating assistance program. An example of such a project has been the sewer and water upgrading work on the city's central business district. In 1993, the Financial Management Board approved $1.2 million for work to be undertaken during the 1993-94 construction season.

In November 1993, the city submitted a request for extraordinary funding support for water/sewer upgrading of the School Draw area, which has also been experiencing a severe degradation of the water/sewer lines.

Over the past several months, there have been ongoing discussions between the city and department staff on the long-term requirements and priorities for water/sewer replacement and upgrading for the entire city. As a result of these deliberations, the department is in the process of preparing a submission to the Financial Management Board. The submission will request extraordinary funding assistance for the city in support of its long-term water/sewer infrastructure replacement program. It is anticipated that this submission will be reviewed by the Financial Management Board in the near future. Thank you, Madam Speaker.

Thank you. Item 4, returns to oral questions. The honourable Member for Baffin Central, Ms. Mike.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. I have two returns to oral questions. The first question was asked by Mr. Whitford on February 22, 1994, regarding the cancellation of a request for proposals for counselling services.

The request for proposals for counselling services for Hay River and Fort Smith was advertised prematurely.

Discussions with a view to cost-sharing the service were still ongoing between the Department of Social Services and the South Slave Divisional Board of Education when the advertisement was sent out to media. The oversight was noticed and an effort was made to pull the advertisement. However, instead of pulling it out altogether, News/North placed a cancelled stamp across the advertisement.

The call for proposals for this important and much-needed service will be placed in the newspapers again in mid-March 1994 once all the details respecting cost-sharing are finalized.

My second return to oral question was asked by Mr. Ng on February 28, 1994 regarding the evaluation of food allowances for social assistance clients.

When the social assistance food allowances were first established in the early 1970s, they were set lower than the actual cost of food. This was done deliberately, on the assumption that social assistance recipients would supplement the allowance with country food.

This assumption may be less valid today because of a decreased usage of country foods.

The Department of Social Services, in cooperation with other departments, is undertaking a review of income support programs, including social assistance. As part of this initiative, it is our intention to review not just the food allowances, but all of the benefits currently paid through social assistance. This review will determine what the actual costs of living are in each community, so that social assistance and other support programs can be adjusted to provide a fair level of income.

I expect this review to be completed in the fall. Thank you, Madam Speaker.

Thank you. Item 4, returns to oral questions. Item 5, oral questions. The honourable Member for Yellowknife South, Mr. Whitford.

Thank you. Madam Premier.

Madam Speaker, the time that we were informed, I believe, was prior to the initial time that they were going to test the cruise missile. I would say that would be approximately eight to ten days ago.

Thank you. Supplementary, Mr. Whitford.

Thank you. Madam Premier.

Madam Speaker, as the Members are aware, we, as a governing body, were not really informed any sooner at the initial time when they decided to do the testing. We, like the rest of the Members of the Legislative Assembly, also heard about it over the television and radio that the Liberals had changed their minds from their initial proclamation that they were going to cancel any more cruise missile testing in the Northwest Territories. We were somewhat assured by that, and we're also somewhat surprised that they reconsidered and decided to make the decision to honour the agreement they had with the United States.

In the matter of consultation with us, we were only informed yesterday that the missile testing was again put off another day.

The reporting relationship in the Department of National Defence is that they are of the opinion that they are mandated to look after the well-being and the safety of the country. They very reluctantly, when asked, do provide some information. But, in matters of defence policy, I believe they haven't changed their attitude at all about the fact that they're in charge and they will let us know when they want us to know what's happening in the matter of cruise missile testing. Although, in the last few days they appear to be advising more on a regular basis that the testing has been put off, then they will try again. But it's not for consultative purposes, really, it's just to let us know what they're doing. Madam Speaker, the attitude of the Department of National Defence hasn't changed. Thank you.

Thank you. Supplementary, Mr. Whitford.

Thank you. Madam Premier.

Madam Speaker, I did write a letter to the Honourable David Collenette on February 4. I have not received a response from the Minister of National Defence. I think the only issue that Members may feel a little comforted by is that I know the Minister of National Defence did state that the United States government should not presume further tests will be allowed after the two planned for this winter and that Ottawa is rethinking its agreements with the United States. So, the Minister of National Defence has put the United States on notice, and we are continuing to urge Ottawa to make sure that the concerns of Northwest Territories residents are paramount in their thinking when they are making their decisions and developing policy.

We have asked the Defence Minister to spend some time with us and asked also, if he is busy, that certainly, in the consultation process on what's going to happen, our officials get together at the earliest possible time. Also, when I was in Ottawa, I did mention to the Prime Minister that we had concerns about the cruise missile testing, that we applauded his initial statement and also asked that he encourage the Minister of National Defence to reply to us officially. Thank you.

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

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Madam Speaker, I would like to follow up on the Premier's recent discussion with the Prime Minister on this issue. I think, having been a long-standing Member of the Legislature, she is well aware of the strong opposition Members of this Assembly have expressed on this issue, going back to the 9th Assembly. I would like to ask the Premier if she could describe in a little more detail what she told the Prime Minister about this issue and what she might have learned about the government's future intentions once the present two tests are concluded. Thank you.

Thank you. Madam Premier.

Madam Speaker, the availability of time or the place really wasn't conducive to a meeting. However, I did feel, because this was a problem and that the initial testing was to happen yesterday, that I should bring it to his attention that we felt very happy about his initial announcement and that we felt distressed that he was not able to carry out the commitment to cancel with the United States of America. All I did was suggest to him that it is a primary concern to us, that it is of immediate concern and that we were expecting some response. I did not go any further than that, Madam Speaker.

Thank you. Supplementary, Mr. Patterson.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. I take it that the discussion the Premier is referring to took place while she was recently in Ottawa to be honoured with the achievement award, and, I guess, at the very same time that the cruise missile was to be tested. Is that when that discussion took place, Madam Speaker?

Thank you. Madam Premier.

Madam Speaker, yes.

Thank you. Supplementary, Mr. Patterson.

Yes, thank you, Madam Speaker. I wonder if the Premier has had an opportunity, or if any of her Ministers have had the opportunity, to directly convey our concerns to the Minister of National Defence on this same issue. Thank you.

Madam Premier.

Madam Speaker, other than the letter that was written to the Honourable David Collenette, Minister of National Defence, I have not personally spoken to the gentleman or made contact with him. As for the other Ministers, I am not aware of any contact with regard to this specific issue. Thank you.

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

Mahsi, Madam Speaker. My question is to the Premier with regard to the cruise missile testing, as well. I mentioned, in my earlier statement, that the majority of the NWT residents have always been opposed to cruise missile testing in the Arctic and they continue to be opposed to it. What action has been taken by this government since the Liberal government was elected to inform the federal government of this ongoing opposition? Thank you.

Thank you. Madam Premier.

Madam Speaker, the first time that we had an opportunity to bring this topic up was when the Honourable Jean Chretien visited the Legislative Assembly soon after he was elected. Among the other topics that were discussed, the issue of the cruise missile was brought up at that time. Subsequently, when he made the announcement in Ottawa in the campaign that they were not going to be supportive of cruise missile testing in the Northwest Territories, he didn't feel that it was an issue and that he was going to stand behind his commitment. But, subsequently, I believe, there are agreements that were undertaken by the previous government that he felt that he couldn't walk around. Subsequently, on February 14, I did write to the Minister of National Defence expressing our concern and asking to be consulted and to set up some meetings and discussions about that issue. Thank you.

Thank you. Supplementary, Mr. Antoine.

Mahsi, Madam Speaker. The latest action was to write a letter to the Department of Defence, I take it. Has there been any reply to this letter? Thank you.

Thank you. Madam Premier.

Madam Speaker, as I indicated before, there was not a reply to the letter. I am aware that the Minister is aware that it is an outstanding issue. I have also discussed the issue with the Inuit Tapirisat of Canada president and suggested that this problem continues, and they are trying to take an active role, as well. I know that the concerns that are raised by Members here are being heard, but at this point in time, there has not been any action to respond to how we are going to be consulted or if we are going to be consulted. It has also been stated by the Government of Canada that they are rethinking their whole involvement with the cruise missile testing, and they were going to have a series of meetings. We have requested to be involved in those meetings or the consultative meetings. So, I believe that the reason they were not able to live up to their initial commitment was because

there were agreements in place that they couldn't walk around. Thank you.

Thank you. Supplementary, Mr. Antoine.

Mahsi, Madam Speaker. Supplementary to the Premier. Although there is no reply to the letter asking for consultation, is there an indication of any kind from the federal government that the Government of the Northwest Territories will be involved in any type of discussion of a consultative nature with regard to nuclear missile testing?

Thank you. Madam Premier.

Madam Speaker, I'm not aware that the Special Committee on Defence has set a schedule yet. They are aware that we want to be involved and I've told them that the involvement is very broad-based in terms of people's interest. They haven't set the timetable to date. Thank you.

Item 5,oral questions. The honourable Member for High Arctic, Mr. Pudluk.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. I would like to follow up my colleagues' questions to Madam Premier. Given that this House has passed six motions opposing cruise missile testing and these motions followed lengthy debate opposing cruise missile testing, why did the government not pursue this issue more vigorously with the federal government? Thank you.

Thank you. Madam Premier.

Madam Speaker, I take from the question that the Member is not happy with the amount of effort that has been put into this. I've already explained to the House the steps we've taken to express our concerns and relay the concerns of the Legislative Assembly to the Minister of National Defence and the Prime Minister at every opportunity. Unless there is something else that I'm missing or should be doing, if any other direction comes forward or if you feel that we can more aggressively pursue this, I am willing to use any support that can be given in this area.

---Applause

Thank you. Item 5, oral questions. The honourable Member for Aivilik, Mr. Arvaluk.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. My question is to the Minister of MACA, in his capacity for being responsible for Sports and Recreation. I know, Madam Speaker, that he must be getting tired of my question, but I have not been repeating any of them. I am still not sure from his return to oral question that any of my original questions have been answered yet, other than the general process that the Arctic Games follows. But, I'm still not sure what actually happened during the past month.

I'm very, very happy that the South Slave, who came in eighth place, managed to get five players.

---Applause

I wish we could do the same thing in the Keewatin, coming in second place. My question is, what exactly was the selection process of the players for the NWT open men's hockey team in 1994?

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

Thank you, Madam Speaker. I'm not familiar with the details but, the way I understand it, the process used by the organization was to hire on two team coaches and the two coaches made the decision during the territorial trials held in January. They selected the all-star team that is to go. Thank you.

Thank you. Supplementary, Mr. Arvaluk.

Madam Speaker, I guess my expectations are a little bit high because I've been at this for over a week now. Can the Minister tell me, then, who was present and directly involved in this? I'm told that Coral Harbour did not have a coach. I wonder if that is the reason why they weren't selected. My actual question, Madam Speaker, is who was present and directly involved?

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

Madam Speaker, I have indicated that I don't know the details of what has happened. I do feel very badly about this situation and I think, by all accounts, Coral Harbour has a very good team and it is legitimate for them to feel that they should have had a member on the final team. I sympathize with the team and the Member for raising the issue. The fact is, I, as the Minister of MACA, cannot appoint a player on the team. There is just no way that

I can appoint a person. Even if I could, it would not be fair to those who have already been chosen.

However, what I think this debate could do is send a message to Sport North and its associate organizations that they should be more sensitive to the wishes of the smaller communities, especially those in the Nunavut area. I understand that a system is in place for fair selection for all athletes, but in this instance, no one was chosen from the second best team. I do hope this experience will be taken into account by Sport North and its various sporting bodies, particularly the hockey association.

I believe they have learned that it is important not only to have a fair and equitable process but also to be seen to be fair and equitable in their selections. I have also met with the Sport North officials and have indicated that there is a need for Sport North to be more aware of the situations in Nunavut. I have indicated to them that there is division taking place in 1999 and that they have to start preparing for this division and decide how it is that they are going to work with the area of Nunavut.

Once again, I would like to say that I do feel badly about this situation but there is really nothing I can do as Minister. Thank you, Madam Speaker.

Thank you. Supplementary, Mr. Arvaluk.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. I understand that the government is one of the major sponsors of the Sport North activities that we all support. I also thank the Minister for recognizing the athletes from my riding. That's not the subject. The subject is not Coral Harbour, either. The subject is, is there a fair practice being made in selecting who should be in the Arctic Winter Games? My question to the Minister is, will he then intervene, using his good office, in finding out exactly what happened during the selection process for 1994, and report, in writing, to this House? Thank you.

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

Thank you, Madam Speaker. First of all, I would like to point out that the contribution that this government makes is only 30 per cent of the funding that is used by Sport North Federation for the Arctic Winter Games. Our say in what goes on as far as Sport North is concerned, is probably worth that much, 30 per cent of the funding that is acquired by Sport North. However, I will find out in detail, if that is what the Member wishes, and in writing, the details of what did take place. Thank you, Madam Speaker.

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

Thank you, Madam Speaker. My question is directed to the honourable Minister of Social Services. Madam Speaker, the dreams and aspirations of people, the real people in my community, are very, very important. All people, that is. We have women who want to have career opportunities and get a job. We have women who want to further their education, but are not able to because they don't have a babysitter. My question to the honourable Minister is, what is the government policy with regard to day care policy? Thank you.

Thank you. The honourable Member for Mackenzie/Delta, Mr. Nerysoo.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Just to indicate to the honourable Member that it has been for a year now, since we took the responsibility over, that the policy has been under review. It is our intention to ensure that some basic principles are adhered to. One, the application of the policy is applied to every community that requests the support. Secondly, that the resources will be appropriately allocated so we don't have child care services that are not properly funded, nor parents who are not properly funded.

The other element that is important for us to consider is under the income support review, investing in people. It's our consideration that for those parents who are utilizing social assistance, it's our suggestion that we utilize the social assistance programming to encourage them to train, under which they would also utilize the resources for child care services.

Thank you. Supplementary, Mr. Ningark.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Supplementary, through you, to the same Minister. We have women's groups in my communities of Pelly Bay, Gjoa Haven and Taloyoak, that are very important in this program. There are women in the community who are not part of women's groups, common people, who are interested to know what is going on because we have been told for a number of years now that there is a program in place, but people in the communities are not aware of the program. I hope the honourable Minister will direct his staff within the region to consult with the people about what is available in the system. Thank you.

Thank you. Minister of Education, Mr. Nerysoo.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Yes, I will certainly take note of the honourable Member's advice. In fact, Madam Speaker, this year, for the first time, other than having a term position, we will be putting in place a full-time position for the Nunavut communities so we have a

program development officer to help the communities in Nunavut develop programs to take advantage of the child care services, including the possibilities of us improving services generally across the Northwest Territories.

Thank you. Item 5, oral questions. The honourable Member for Yellowknife South, Mr. Whitford.

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

Thank you, Madam Speaker. That information system was completed in December of 1993. Some deficiencies were identified and the work on that should be completed by March. Thank you.

Thank you. Item 5, oral questions. Supplementary, Mr. Whitford.

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

Thank you, Madam Speaker. We are looking at smaller communities through the informatics strategy. Thank you.

Thank you. Supplementary, Mr. Whitford.

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

Thank you, Madam Speaker. I'll have to take his question as notice. Thank you.

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

Thank you, Madam Speaker. I attended a wonderful event last Thursday in my riding. It was a fashion show that the Inuit Women's Association had worked very hard on. They brought a hairdresser up for the event and they had sewn clothing all year for this event. I understand some $70,000 was committed to it and about half an hour into the show something happened that nobody could have foreseen. The power went out.

I would like to ask the Premier, in her capacity as Minister responsible for the NWT Power Corporation, why did it take 48 minutes to get the power on in Iqaluit, during which time over 200 people at the fashion show had to be sent home because they were told that the emergency batteries wouldn't last long enough for the able officials at the Power Corporation to get the plant running again? Why did it take 48 minutes, Madam Speaker?

Madam Premier.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. I know how important that event was to the Pauktuutit gathering and certainly I know the amount of work and effort that was put into preparing all the presentations made by women and residents all across the Northwest Territories. The information I received regarding the power outage was those two units were operating and the newly-installed Wartsila unit tripped off due to an inadequately designed level switch. The manufacturer has since provided us with design modifications so that it doesn't happen again.

At the time of the outage, two units were running in Iqaluit. Normally, when one unit fails, a relay protection system is supposed to interrupt only a sufficient number of the distribution feeders coming out of the power house to ensure that the remaining unit can continue to carry on without overloading. When the entire town went out, the plant operator had to initiate a back-start of the generating unit to re-establish station service, followed by the restoration of service to the community. He first attempted to start the smallest unit, which is called a KS6, which is normal under these operating conditions. The KS6 failed to hold when the operator attempted to re-establish the station service. He then made a second attempt with the same result and the problem has been since been attributed to another part of the protection system.

When that wouldn't work, he attempted to start the new CAT unit and this unit failed to run up to the rated speed. The problem has since been traced to the program logic controller with remedial action under way. At the time, the operator then decided to start yet another unit, the K8, followed by the EMD and the services were restored.

Madam Speaker, when a large diesel generator is cold started, it cannot generate power right away, thus the long period to get back into play. Apparently, the unit must be run for several minutes to allow the temperature, oil pressure, et cetera, to normalize before it can be loaded. The fact that a number of units had to be started in sequence contributed to the length of this particular outage. In discussing this with the Power Corporation, they also feel very badly that this power outage had to happen during this very special occasion. Thank you.

Thank you. Supplementary, Mr. Patterson.

Well, thank you, Madam Speaker. I do appreciate the Premier's acknowledgement that her officials in the corporation feel badly about the problem. That's some small comfort. I guess I would just like to ask -- and I'm not an expert on technical issues, Madam Speaker -- but it seems that there was an inadequately designed level switch which stopped the machine in the first place. Then, as I understand from what the Premier said, the relay system failed to function. When there was an attempt to start another unit, another part of the protection failed and then there was a problem with the programmable logic controller.

I would like to ask the Premier, why did we have to learn all this when the town was in the dark? Doesn't the Power Corporation ever do checks on their back-up system so they can feel out these problems rather than testing them out in emergency situations?

Thank you. Madam Premier.

Madam Speaker, to my understanding, this sequence of events in this case were rather unusual. It is not something that usually happens. The action that is necessary has been undertaken to deal with the design shortcomings on the Wartsila and the CAT. What has been done is a remote control system for the separate EMD plant is in its final installation stages. We expect that, with the completion of all these initiatives, the reliability of the Iqaluit electrical system should continue to improve and be set for the support of the new capital of Nunavut. Thank you.

(Microphones turned off)

---Laughter

Thank you. Supplementary, Mr. Patterson.

Madam Speaker, I should maybe quit while I'm ahead here.

---Laughter

I hear certain rumblings from other parts of this House.

---Laughter

But I do have the floor and I would like to thank the Premier for those extra comments. I'm sure they will be duly noted by the Iqaluit for Capital Committee. What I would like to ask the Premier, Madam Speaker, is there has been a lot of money spent on upgrading the system in Iqaluit. There was a lot of money spent last year when there were some serious power outages and I know a lot of money was spent this summer on new units. Is there a procedure in the corporation for dealing with these kinds of problems? Is there a procedure for training operators or doing drills to ensure that the back-up systems are tested on a regular basis? Thank you.

Thank you. Madam Premier.

Madam Speaker, I believe in the last three years I've been in every community in the territories and have visited the power plant in each and every one of them. Certainly, since the take-over of the Power Corporation by the Northwest Territories, that has been one of the major areas that the corporation has tried to incorporate into the training of workers, the preventative measures that should be taken so that we don't get ourselves in these unusual circumstances. Thank you.

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

Mahsi, Madam Speaker. My question is for the Minister of Economic Development and Tourism. Reading the unedited Hansard from yesterday, the Honourable John Todd made a statement with regard to the development of a mortgage investment corporation. He mentions that his department is developing a proposal to establish a mortgage investment corporation and that there was a briefing last fall which I attended. I was one of the Members there that responded positively to that initiative. I would like to ask the Minister when we would expect to see this mortgage investment corporation in place so that people can start using it? Thank you.

Thank you. Minister of Economic Development and Tourism, Mr. Todd.

Thank you very much, Madam Speaker. Right now, we do have the consultants, a Mr. Grossman and Mr. Kostenko, working on it out of Toronto. I guess it is fair to say it is a fairly complicated investment approach. If we come to the conclusion we should do one, it will require some legislative change and it will require some support from the federal government in terms of guarantees through the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation, et cetera.

I am trying to fast-track this because we recognize there is a sense of urgency out there. However, in fairness to the honourable Member, I suspect that within the next 90 to 120 days we will know whether it is worthwhile to continue to pursue this and we will know whether, in fact, it has some serious potential to succeed. Once we have accomplished that, I am told by Mr. Grossman, it would take somewhere between six and eight months to put both the legal and legislative framework in place. So, I guess, optimistically, we could be looking at somewhere in the region of 12 months. It is certainly my intent to try to fast-track it.

I do want to caution the honourable Member and others, of course, that part of the initial review that we are currently doing is to determine if this mortgage investment corporation has potential and can clear the hurdles, if you want, that are necessary to put it in place. I am optimistic. I am hoping that the report will indicate that we should proceed, and if we should, I want to assure the honourable Member that it is my intention to try to move as quickly as possible with it and keep the House and, in particular, the Standing Committee on Finance, fully informed. Thank you.