Good afternoon. The Speaker recognizes that there is no quorum. Mr. Clerk, would you record the Members present.

Mr. Pudlat, Mr. Ballantyne, Mr. Gargan, Mr. Allooloo, Ms. Mike, Mr. Pollard, Ms. Cournoyea, Mr. Morin, Mr. Ningark, Mr. Lewis and Madam Speaker.

I notice that one Member has arrived since. Please record the rest of the Members, Mr. Clerk.

Mr. Zoe, Mr. Antoine, Mr. Arngna'naaq, Mr. Nerysoo and Mr. Whitford.

I recognize a quorum. Item 2, Ministers' statements. Item 3, Members' statements. The honourable Member for Baffin South, Mr. Pudlat.

(Translation) Thank you, Madam Speaker. Last month, a conference was held in Iqaluit, organized by the NWT Council for Disabled Persons. The name of the conference was Taking Back Our Lives and was attended by delegates from many of the communities in Nunavut. One of the things that came out of the meeting was the need for a Nunavut Council for Disabled Persons.

They have expressed concern about being able to properly fill their mandate. There is also a need for Nunavut disabled persons and care givers to have representation for their concerns closer to home, especially with division on the horizon. There is a movement now to form such an organization, but they require assistance and support to do so.

During this session, I will be pressuring the government to look into the matter and lend the required assistance and support. Thank you, Madam Speaker.

Thank you. Item 3, Members' statements. The honourable Member for Natilikmiot, Mr. Ningark.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. I would like to inform the House about some of the ordinary Members who are not in the House today. Mr. Fred Koe is in Nova Scotia for a curling championship, accompanying his kids. Mr. Patterson is in Iqaluit, attending a trade show. Mr. Dent is still in Ottawa with his wife, helping out with the new-born baby. Mr. Kelvin Ng is in Cambridge Bay attending the Kitikmeot Youth Conference and Mr. Pudluk is still in Edmonton on medical leave. Thank you.

Thank you. Item 3, Members' statements. The honourable Member for Baffin Central, Ms. Mike.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Madam Speaker, I want to add to the comments made by the Member for Iqaluit yesterday when we were discussing the Department of Economic Development and Tourism in committee of the whole. In a question to Mr. Todd, the Member stated that there were a sizeable number of seal pelts being harvested in Pangnirtung for sale to Japan.

For the record, Madam Speaker, the primary reason for hunting seals in Pangnirtung and other areas of Nunavut, is for food. It is important to recognize this fact. I wouldn't want to leave the impression in the north or in other areas of the world that the seals are being taken primarily for economic reasons. Thank you.

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

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Over the last several years, I've taken an interest in renewable resources, especially in northern products and ones you can eat. I recently acquired, through the good offices of Mr. Todd, a

product called black forest caribou, which is a product of the meat plant in Rankin Inlet. After several tests with visitors, it has been judged to be a superior product. One suggestion from someone who is an expert in the trade is that this particular kind of meat would make excellent pastrami, which is a wonderful, value-added product, which I'm sure will provide some extra source of income for the people involved in renewable resources. Thank you.

---Applause

Thank you. Item 3, Members' statements. Item 4, returns to oral question. Item 5, oral questions. The honourable Member for Nahendeh, Mr. Antoine.

Mahsi, Madam Speaker. Yesterday, during committee of the whole when we were talking about Economic Development and Tourism, we were told that the department has developed subcommittees to deal with different sectors of the industry. I was particularly asking about the tourism subcommittee that was set up. I understand that in the west, the co-chair is John Sheehan. It is a subcommittee of superintendents, I guess.

I would like to ask the Minister, is this subcommittee another layer of bureaucracy that people in the communities have to go through before they get applications approved for seeking funding for tourism projects? Thank you.

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

No, Madam Speaker. The subcommittee is an internal committee made up of superintendents who are -- as I stated earlier in the House -- part of the senior management team, when they are developing government policies as they relate to tourism. It is not a committee that deals with distribution of funds.

Thank you. Supplementary, Mr. Antoine.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Supplementary to the same Minister. This subcommittee is not another layer of bureaucracy. The Minister just indicated that they don't have any dealings with the funding, but can the Minister explain to the House the role of this subcommittee in terms of a small community wanting to get involved in the tourism industry? How does this subcommittee work with this community to try to achieve the type of tourism development they may be seeking? Thank you.

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

Thank you, Madam Speaker. When we reorganized the department and we took the steps to decentralize spending and lending authorities, it wasn't just within the Credit Corporation of the EDA, there is also a significant amount of dollars that are spent on tourism marketing and development. Each of these changes that took place and the internal changes, were driven by the superintendents and the senior management team made of the deputy and the assistant deputy minister. It is an internal committee that assists in developing policies that are, hopefully, more reflective of the needs of the regions. In the past, these policies were all developed within the centre with little or no regional input at a bureaucratic level. That is how this works. It is not a committee that deals with the implementation of policy, et cetera. Thank you.

Thank you. Item 5, oral questions. The honourable Member for Amittuq, Mr. Allooloo.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. The other day, I made a Member's statement regarding a lack of policy for students who are attending school outside the Northwest Territories. I would like to ask a question to the Minister responsible for Education, Culture and Employment. As I stated in my Member's statement, there is no policy covering the reimbursement of money to parents who decide to send their children south for high school. Given that these parents contribute to the tax base, can the Minister tell me if he is willing to develop a policy to deal with this important issue? Thank you.

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

Thank you, Madam Speaker. At this time, no. I believe that each particular case can be dealt with on a case-by-case basis. I would be very careful about suggesting the promotion of a policy that would somehow challenge the development of a northern secondary school program and policy and put at risk the development of an educational program that would be under-utilized by parents who would be taking the choice of sending their children to southern Canada. I would be very careful with that. I think the honourable Member knows I took the issue he has raised to Cabinet and we dealt with it reasonably and fairly. I would rather deal with it in that context, than have an overall policy that would see our students being sent to southern Canada.

Thank you. Supplementary, Mr. Allooloo.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Since the Minister is not willing to develop a policy to address those students who are attending school outside the Northwest Territories, is the government's priority to get our kids the best education that they possibly can? Thank you.

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

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Yes. Yes, in the context of building an educational system in the north that meets the qualifications and quality of education that will be acceptable throughout Canada.

Thank you. Supplementary, Mr. Allooloo.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. So if the kids who are attending school in the Northwest Territories are not able to take courses they are interested in because they are not offered in the Northwest Territories, could the Minister look at possible assistance to parents for those students? Thank you.

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

Thank you, Madam Speaker. I will certainly consider the suggestion that is being made by the honourable Member, but I hope it is within the context of this government and this Assembly supporting the development of a quality program and service in the area of education in the Northwest Territories.

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

Thank you, Madam Speaker. My question is for the Premier and it is regarding an announcement made today about an agreement signed between the province of News Brunswick, Premier McKenna, and the federal government, the Honourable Lloyd Axworthy, about an innovative new program to put people to work. I understand that 1,000 people have been put to work in New Brunswick. There is a guaranteed income for those people. In return, they agree to work. Anything extra they make they are allowed to keep. My understanding is there is $800 million available for these sorts of programs across the country. I know our government is working on some concepts, but I wonder if the Premier can enlighten me as to when we can expect to sign an agreement with the federal government to take advantage of this $800 million?

Thank you. Madam Premier.

Madam Speaker, the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment is handling this particular area in the government and I would defer the question to the honourable Member.

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

Thank you, Madam Speaker. I am pleased that the honourable Member was paying attention to the announcement that was made. We are working out the criteria to which we will access the $800 million. The program that has been agreed to by the province of New Brunswick is in addition to the $800 million, and our investing in people will address those same issues that the New Brunswick/Canada agreement is now responding to.

Thank you. Supplementary, Mr. Ballantyne.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. It is good that I know which Minister to address that to because there was some coordination with the Minister of Social Services and the Minister of Education. Up until now, we have heard the very broad, general concept of the sort of approach the government is going to take. I wonder if the Minister could give us a bit more specific detail as to the specific type of projects that you are now discussing with the federal government. Thank you, Madam Speaker.

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

Thank you, Madam Speaker. I am trying to find the exact details. We are attempting to lay out the criteria by which all jurisdictions will have access to the $800 million the honourable Member mentioned. What has normally happened, historically, is that each jurisdiction has negotiated on an individual basis with the federal government on federal financial resources. It was our concern across the country, both in terms of the Ministers of Education, Labour Market Ministers and post-secondary Ministers, that we did not want a situation where political favours were being paid to particular provinces. Rather than doing that, we wanted to establish criteria by which all jurisdictions were treated equally and fairly in the distribution of the $800 million. We will come to a conclusion on that by the third week in April.

Thank you. Supplementary, Mr. Ballantyne.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. I thank the Minister for that. It seems to me that in the Northwest Territories where the traditional life-style, because of the attacks by the anti-fur industry, is not providing enough sustenance to maintain people. It seems to me that there is a tremendous opportunity here in the Northwest Territories to make a case to the federal government that can provide some sort of a combination of the traditional pursuits and the wage economy, I think we could probably provide a very interesting model here. I wonder if the Minister is looking at that sort of an innovative approach to take advantage of our unique situation here in the Northwest Territories.

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

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Yes, that is exactly what we're doing. I'm working in conjunction with my colleague, the Honourable Rebecca Mike, and Cabinet has given us approval to discuss those various options. The investing in people does take into consideration that particular situation. We are also considering the proposal to be brought forward to the federal government and, in fact, I've submitted a number of proposals that have been approved by the Edmonton office and have been submitted to the federal Minister for his signature. That is being taken into consideration.

Thank you. Final supplementary, Mr. Ballantyne.

Final supplementary, Madam Speaker. Again, I thank the Minister for that. When can we expect, from the Minister, the actual specific details of some sort of an arrangement that could be worked out with the federal government on this matter?

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

Madam Speaker, I was hoping we would have some of the arrangements signed off by the federal Minister by the end of this month. I'm not sure what the reasons are for the federal government not signing off some of those CAP 3 initiatives. On the matter of the criteria for the $800 million, that will be signed off hopefully by the end of April and we can immediately access the resources.

On the investing in people, we will continue to work on a number of specific agreements that we are now considering and proposing. Hopefully, all those can be signed off no later than at least June 30 of this year, but if anything happens where we can't sign them off, I'll report back to the Assembly as to the reasons why we have not proceeded.

Thank you. Item 5, oral questions. The honourable Member for Deh Cho, Mr. Gargan.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. We're going to presumably be concluding our session within the next couple of weeks. Usually around this time, Members go back to their correspondence to make sure that anything that is overdue is responded to before conclusion of the session. I wanted to ask the Minister of Economic Development and Tourism, Mr. Todd, if he has any plans for the Lady Evelyn Falls. As you know, Madam Speaker, a substantial amount of money has been spent to create a visitors' centre there, and some facilities for sleeping quarters, et cetera. I requested the Minister, last year, if he would consider designating a person to operate that facility to come from Kakisa. The Minister hasn't said one way or the other whether a decision has been made. I have other questions with regard to that, but I want to ask the Minister whether he has considered my request.

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

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Yes, the honourable Member did write to me about the Lady Evelyn Falls Park and the maintenance contract. My understanding -- and again, I stand to be corrected -- is that we were going to negotiate a contract with the Kakisa Lake Dene Band earlier in the year. I would have to check with the deputy minister to see what the status of that is. It certainly was my intention to reach an appropriate arrangement with the Dene band that is in that area, to maintain this park. However, it may be more appropriate that I get an update from my deputy and report back to the honourable Member in due course. Thank you.

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

Thank you. Mr. Whitford, in accordance with our rules, it's not allowed for a Member to ask a question of a Minister to confirm or deny comment that is written in the newspaper. I would like to ask if you could rephrase your question, which would be in accordance with our rules. Thank you.

The honourable Member for Yellowknife South, Mr. Whitford.

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

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Just for the information of Members -- and I appreciate the question being asked -- the school funding formulas, as we all know, are used across the Northwest Territories to determine contributions. Using these formulas, the department estimates its contribution to Yellowknife Education District No. 1 will increase from $8.9 million for 1993-94 to $9.1 million for 1994-95. This 2.5 per cent projected quote in contributions responds to increased student enrolment. In Yellowknife Education District No. 1 the enrolment increased from 1,715 to 1,790, which is a four per cent increase. There are no other significant factors affecting the proposed contributions for 1994-95.

Although, not considered significant, a change in the administration formula did decrease the salaries and increase operating funds. The net effect was a decrease of $16,000. Increases to transportation and termination benefits resulting from the school finance review recommendations were implemented through a supplementary appropriation, and I'm glad the honourable Members supported them in 1993-94. The school district's press release is correct, that there is a slight decrease on a per student basis. It is also true that not all costs increase every year with the number of students. For example, the district's costs of operating its school buildings will not increase with the number of students in 1994-95. Thus, one could consider that the per student costs in this area will decrease. In other words, Madam Speaker, the school sizes are not increasing, therefore, the school O and M costs should not necessarily be.

Thank you. Item 5, oral questions. The honourable Member for Amittuq, Mr. Allooloo.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. I would like to ask the Minister responsible for the Housing Corporation a question. He is aware that a local construction company in Pond Inlet would like to negotiate with the Housing Corporation for rent supplement units in Pond Inlet. I also understand, Madam Speaker, that there have been a large number of requests from other communities to do the same thing. I would like to ask the Minister responsible for the Housing Corporation what the Government of the Northwest Territories response will be to these requests. Thank you.

Thank you. Minister of the Housing Corporation, Mr. Morin.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. I won't know the Government of the Northwest Territories response until I take it to Cabinet. Thank you.

Supplementary, Mr. Allooloo.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. When is the Minister taking the requests to Cabinet? Thank you.

Thank you. Minister of the Housing Corporation, Mr. Morin.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. As soon as the paper is prepared for it. Thank you.

Thank you. Supplementary, Mr. Allooloo.

Madam Speaker, I asked when he will be taking his request to the Cabinet, not when the paper will be ready. Thank you.

Thank you. Minister of the Housing Corporation, Mr. Morin.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. And I responded, when the paper is ready, I will take it to Cabinet. Thank you.

Supplementary, Mr. Allooloo.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. When is that going to be ready?

Minister of the Housing Corporation, Mr. Morin.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. As soon as the Housing Corporation finishes preparing it.

Fortunately, that was your final supplementary, Mr. Allooloo. Item 5, oral question. The honourable Member for Deh Cho, Mr. Gargan.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Again, I would like to direct my question to the Minister of Social Services. Madam Speaker, about a year and a half ago, I invited the Minister to come to Fort Providence. She did and I appreciate that. Oh, that was this fall, I'm sorry. During the visit, we visited the senior citizens' home. There are two units that are combined into clusters. They share a kitchen and the bathroom.

I want to ask the Minister whether or not she's been able to review my request with regard to trying to renovate those two units so they can become detached units. I've asked that question several times, but I haven't really had any response due to the unclear nature of who is responsible.

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

Thank you, Madam Speaker. My understanding is that the seniors' facility in Fort Providence is owned by the Housing Corporation. At the time, I responded to Mr. Gargan, I told him I would be working with my honourable colleague, Donnie Morin to see if we could get those two units that don't have entrances from the outside fixed.

To date, I haven't brought that concern to Mr. Morin's attention. But, definitely, I will set a time to meet with him this week to see what we can do. Thank you.

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

Thank you, Madam Speaker. My question is for the Minister responsible for Social Services. This has to do with senior facilities as well. I think I've raised this before, but I want to do it again. I have a real concern with the lack of facilities in the community of Fort Liard for the elders there. Many years ago, the band built a log structure which has four units. It is made out of logs and it is right on the ground. Elders are still living in it today after ten years and the logs are all rotting on the bottom. They keep fixing it and they have been requesting that a senior citizens' facility be built in Liard for a number of years now.

I would like to ask the Minister of Social Services, is it the responsibility of her department to work with the people in Liard to see if a seniors' facility could be built there? Thank you.

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

Thank you, Madam Speaker. I was not aware that we have a seniors' facility operated by Social Services in Liard, but I will look into it and get back to the Member. Thank you.

Thank you. Supplementary, Mr. Antoine.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. I think the Minister responsible for Social Services misunderstood me. I said there was a log structure built by the band, with band funds, for their elders. There is no facility there that was built by the Government of the Northwest Territories, to date. The band has been using the facility for some of their elders. If you go and see the facility yourself, you wouldn't want any of your elders to be put up in it.

The point here is that the community needs a seniors' facility, and I asked if your department was responsible for working with the community to see if a seniors' facility could be built there by the Government of the Northwest Territories. Thank you.

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

Thank you, Madam Speaker. I appreciate the Member clarifying his question. Yes, it is the responsibility of Social Services for seniors' facilities and to identify which communities do need senior citizen homes. Thank you.

Supplementary, Mr. Antoine.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. I would like to ask the Minister if she and her department would be willing to work with the community of Liard to see if a seniors' facility could be built there? Thank you.

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

Thank you, Madam Speaker. I think, in this House, I have already made indications that the strategic plan for facilities that Social Services is responsible for is in the comprehensive planning phase right now. The plans should be ready by September of this year. Thank you.

Thank you. Final supplementary, Mr. Antoine.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. I'm very aware of the capital planning process. My question to the Minister was, is she and her department willing to work with the community of Liard to see if seniors' facilities could be built there within the next couple of years or so? Thank you.

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

Thank you, Madam Speaker. I would just like the Member to be aware that we have a plan to set the criteria for the capital projects Social Services is responsible for. Yes, once that criteria is in place, my departmental officials will be working with the community groups and identify where these facilities have to be built. 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 responsible for the Workers' Compensation Board. Madam Speaker, about two and a half years ago, there was an accident in Fort Providence in which there was a death of a young man by the name of Aubrey Denetre. I have been working with his mother to try to resolve the issue. I don't know, Madam Speaker, whether I should be directing the question to him, Mr. Todd, or to, perhaps, the Minister of Justice. This has never been resolved. The last letter I wrote was about six months ago and I haven't had any kind of response as to whether his mother is going to be assisted or if she is going to be compensated somehow for the death of her son. Every six months I have been asking the same question without any result. I would like to ask, if not to the Minister of the Workers' Compensation Board, then maybe I could ask the Government Leader.

Thank you. Minister responsible for the Workers' Compensation Board, Mr. Todd.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. I'm not aware of the circumstances surrounding this situation. I'm not sure whether it would be a Workers' Compensation Board client -- perhaps that's the wrong term -- responsibility. I would have to get some more detail from the Member and see if we can define whose responsibility it is. If it is the responsibility of the Workers' Compensation Board -- and I stress "if" -- I want to assure the honourable Member he will get action on it, one way or the other. Thank you.

Thank you. Item 5, oral questions. The honourable Member for Yellowknife Centre, Mr. Lewis.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. I get many letters and phone calls from injured workers in different parts of the country. Although the WCB is an arm's-length agency, this, in fact, occupies a fair amount of my time. I would like to ask the Minister, since he is the Minister through who the WCB reports to the House, whether he also gets lots of letters and phone calls from injured workers outside of the Northwest Territories.

Thank you. Minister responsible for the Workers' Compensation Board, Mr. Todd.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Yes, I get my share of letters and phone calls. We're endeavouring to try to respond to them as quickly and as efficiently as possible. Thank you.

Thank you. Supplementary, Mr. Lewis.

I appreciate the Minister's answer, but I would like to ask the Minister, since this is an arm's- length agency, how does he specifically handle letters and phone calls from people who want to know exactly where their particular case lies in the process followed by WCB?

Thank you. Minister responsible for the Workers' Compensation Board, Mr. Todd.

The responsibility for determining compensation lies solely in the jurisdiction of the board. What I do is pass the information along to the chairperson who then deals with it accordingly. Thank you.

Thank you. Supplementary, Mr. Lewis.

Judging from the response, Madam Speaker, would the Minister concur, then, that simply writing a letter to an elected person only results in the letter or the phone call being transferred to the place where this matter is going to be dealt with anyway?

Thank you. Minister responsible for the Workers' Compensation Board, Mr. Todd.

Clinically speaking, I suppose that's correct. However, it does raise the issue politically and it does get addressed to myself. I alert the board or provide them with the information that this phone call has made. I would stress that in most cases it's usually in the appeals area and that's one area that I believe lies within the exclusive jurisdiction of the appeals board. That's about all I have to say on the matter at this time.

Final supplementary, Mr. Lewis.