Thank you. Good afternoon. I have a letter before me from Commissioner Norris addressed to me, dated March 3, 1994.

"Dear Madam Speaker, I wish to inform the Legislative Assembly that on Thursday, March 3, 1994, I was attended in my office by the Clerk of the Legislative Assembly, Mr. David Hamilton, and the Government House Leader, the Honourable John Pollard, for the purpose of assenting to bills. I wish to inform the Legislative Assembly that, as Commissioner of the Northwest Territories, I gave assent to Bill 13, Supplementary Appropriation Act, No. 3, 1993-94. Yours truly, D L Norris, Commissioner."

Item 2, Ministers' statements. Point of privilege, Mr. Gargan.

Point Of Privilege

Madam Speaker, I rise on a point of privilege concerning an incident which occurred in this House yesterday. Madam Speaker, yesterday I wrote and circulated a letter to all MLAs. This letter was not tabled in the House nor was it ever made a part of the formal records of this House.

Secondly, Madam Speaker, an interpretation was placed on the contents of this letter by you without providing me with the opportunity to debate or respond to your interpretation. This is a fundamental denial of the right to be heard before one is convicted...

Mr. Gargan. Unfortunately, you do not have a point of privilege. I would like to remind Members and quote from Beauchesne's ruling 168(1), "Reflections upon the character or actions of the Speaker may be punished as breaches of privilege. The actions of the Speaker cannot be criticized incidentally in debate or upon any form of proceeding, except by way of a substantive motion." In addition, Beauchesne's ruling 170, "Under Standing Order 10, Speakers' rulings, once given, must be accepted without appeal or debate." Under those rulings, I indicate that you do not have a point of privilege. Item 2, Ministers' statements. The honourable Member for Sahtu, Mr. Kakfwi.

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

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Madam Speaker, as most Members know, I just returned from a two day meeting of the Council of Ministers of Education, Canada, in Toronto, and I would like to bring the Members of this Assembly up to date on developments.

First, I am pleased to announce that the council's by-laws were amended to change the status of the Yukon and Northwest Territories from observers to members...

Hear, hear.

---Applause

This is for the first time in 26 years. This significant change allows us to take our place at the table in developing, directing and leading education in our nation. I would like to recognize the work of my staff for helping bring this long overdue recognition to our territories.

Secondly, the council discussed and furthered its six-point action plan to reshape education in this country. One of the steps in this process is a regular series of national forums to bring together all interested groups and organizations, including government, business, labour, educational institutions, teachers, parents and student federations and associations, to promote dialogue on expectations and needs and to exchange ideas.

The first of these national meetings will be held in Montreal this coming May. Plans for the meeting were reviewed and additional direction was given. This forum, which will focus on the quality of education is a national first, and all Education Ministers are expected to play key roles in the discussions. Special attention will be paid to current best practices and education successes across the country under the sub-themes of: goals and outcomes; accessibility and mobility; and, accountability.

The five remaining points of the action plan are:

-the establishment of a national working group to examine curriculum comparability and possible joint initiatives in curriculum development;

-the continuation and expansion of the school achievement indicators program, adding assessment in science to the existing program which includes assessment in reading and writing and mathematics;

-a new joint project between the Council of Ministers and Statistics Canada to develop pan-Canadian indicators on education performance;

-a new Canada-wide focus on open learning and distance education, particularly in post-secondary studies; and,

-the development of new links and partnerships with national and governmental organizations, and with business, labour and appropriate federal departments and agencies.

As part of the meetings, the Ministers also hosted the Honourable Lloyd Axworthy, Minister of Human Resources Development Canada, and discussed issues such as the continuation of the stay-in-school program, possible changes to the Canada student loans program, the planned federal reductions to the national literacy program and the implications of reform of social programs on education.

Madam Speaker, as I have done before, I will continue to keep this legislature up to date on the developments and change in education on the national scene as we work to reshape, reform and improve our system of education. Thank you, Madam Speaker.

---Applause

Thank you. Item 2, Ministers' statements. Item 3, Members' statements. Member for Deh Cho, Mr. Gargan.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Yesterday, I had a terrible day and it started about 3:00 pm.

---Applause

It went on into the evening. This morning I got up at 6:00 and thought about what had happened yesterday.

I have been a good and faithful Member of this House for over ten years, under many Speakers, including the late and honourable Speaker Stewart. I believe that the work done in this House is important and each Member has an obligation to his or her constituents to be very involved in the work we do here.

Madam Speaker, yesterday, I wanted Members to be aware of some specialists who were available to assist them with taxation issues. This is the time of year when we hear concerns from our constituents regarding tax matters. In my haste to inform Members, I unintentionally chose words which offended you, Madam Speaker. I regret that these hastily chosen words caused the difficulties they did. I have always had tremendous respect for the House and it's Members, and I will always continue to abide by its rules.

I would like to apologize to the members of my constituency for being unable to represent them in this House yesterday afternoon, and to the Members of this House for being unable to participate in yesterday's debate on bills and supplementary appropriations.

Madam Speaker, in the future I will be diligent in my choice of words taking care that they not reflect badly on this House. Mahsi cho.

---Applause

Thank you. Item 3, Members' statements. The honourable Member for Yellowknife Frame Lake, Mr. Dent.

Thank you. Your time is not up yet, Mr. Dent. However, the honourable Member is seeking unanimous consent to continue with his Member's statement. Are there any nays? Thank you. There are no nays? Proceed, Mr. Dent.

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

Mahsi, Madam Speaker. On Tuesday, March 1, I went to Fort Smith at the invitation of the students attending Arctic College from my constituency. There are about 25 students and half of them have spouses and children, so there are quite a few of them from my constituency in Fort Smith. Madam Speaker, while I was there I spoke to the management and students about the budget process and the Legislative Assembly's role in the budget process. I also spoke to social services students. The discussion was basically about constitutional development and self-government.

In the evening I had a meeting with my constituents. There was great discussion on all kinds of different issues. Madam Speaker, I'm proud to see that these people, many with families, are returning to school or going for the first time. I was very impressed and encouraged with the questions and discussions we had on the future direction of the Northwest Territories.

However, Madam Speaker, one of the major concerns expressed by the students and their spouses was the extra funding available to students in the community teacher education program. I'm told that these education students receive between $5,000 to $12,000 in extra incentive grants, depending on the size of their families. Other students do not get this who are taking other programs. Needless to say, Madam Speaker, my constituents enrolled in other programs, particularly those with families, are not very pleased with the situation. I'm, personally, not very satisfied with the situation.

Madam Speaker, I realize that this incentive program was started to encourage aboriginal people to enrol in the teacher education program and I do agree with the intent. However, Madam Speaker, the Northwest Territories needs more than aboriginal teachers who understand and can teach our culture. We need aboriginal social workers who understand the needs of the people they are supposed to serve. We need northern managers to administer programs, both for aboriginal organizations and various levels of government. Madam Speaker, this incentive program offered to students taking education needs to be dropped or modified and extended to students in other faculties.

I do not blame the students for wanting the same benefits. These students have families and deserve the same consideration as education students. I urge the government, in the spirit of fairness, to review this program and offer a constructive solution that does not discriminate against or favour students in different programs. Mahsi, Madam Speaker.

---Applause

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

(Translation) Thank you, Madam Speaker. I'm very pleased that the following young people from my constituency are going to attend the 1994 Arctic Winter Games: from Pangnirtung, Leona Nakashuk, Charlie Komoartok, Daniel Kilabuk, Helen Parfitt, Sheena Machmar, Nathaniel Qaqasiq, Eva Sowdluapik, Lizzie Etuanat, and from Broughton Island, Allan Kooneeloosie and Meika McDonald.

Madam Speaker, as I will not be able to attend the 1994 Arctic Winter Games due to prior commitments, I would like to wish them well on behalf of their communities and acknowledge their parents for the support and encouragement they gave to these young athletes. Thank you, Madam Speaker.

---Applause

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

(Translation) Thank you, Madam Speaker. I would like to make a statement today regarding home owners in my constituency and the need these people have for assistance in buying heating fuel. I'm happy and thankful with the fact that some of my constituents have been able to get assistance through the home ownership program of the Housing Corporation. One of the concerns that has been brought to my attention by home owners is the high cost of heating fuel.

I don't need to remind the House about the high costs of living because everybody here is well aware of that fact already. Some of the home owners barely scrape by in paying their heating bills, along with all the other expenses that have to be paid. I'm aware of the program for seniors where there is assistance for purchasing wood and heating fuel and I'm very happy about that. What I would like to suggest to the government is it is time now to expand this assistance to those who have a certain income level and for those who do not presently receive housing allowances from their employers. I'm not suggesting that new subsidies be given to all home owners, but target those who are struggling and who are the most in need. Thank you.

Thank you. The honourable Member for Iqaluit, Mr. Patterson.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Madam Speaker, I don't want to be too fulsome in my praise for the Minister of Social Services, since I may have questions and criticisms for her soon enough, but I would like to take this opportunity today to thank her and her assistant for taking time from their busy schedule, last week in Iqaluit, to meet with the board of directors of the Baffin Regional Treatment Centre to discuss staff housing requirements and also to tour the treatment centre, now nearly completed in Apex. I know the board expressed their gratitude directly to the Minister for the salary increases and additional settlement allowances recently approved for staff at this and other treatment centres.

I know that the treatment centre board was very pleased that the Minister actively participated with them in exploring various options to deal with the critical need to find housing for the staff at this new treatment centre. Some of these options will require her action as Minister of Personnel and another will require assistance from the Minister responsible for the Housing Corporation. I know the Minister of Social Services will use her good offices with her Cabinet colleague, the Minister responsible for the Housing Corporation, to seek solutions so we can get the long-awaited treatment centre staffed and up and running.

I want to say, Madam Speaker, I look forward to continuing to work cooperatively with the Minister of Social Services, also in her capacity of Minister of Personnel, with the Minister responsible for the Housing Corporation, with other Baffin MLAs, with Mr. Mangitak Kellypalik and his board at the Baffin Treatment Centre to resolve the housing problem for staff at the treatment centre. Qujannamiik.

---Applause

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

Mahsi, Madam Speaker. Over the next several days, hundreds of athletes, coaches, officials, organizers and spectators will be converging on Slave Lake for this year's version of the Arctic Winter Games. To reach the games is a great achievement for all of these people who have qualified to participate in the games. There are many others, throughout the north and all of the regions who are involved and who have worked very hard to make these happen. I would like to congratulate all of these people plus all of the participants in all of the sports who participated in the trials. They have all worked hard and deserve a lengthy round of applause from all of us and from everyone else, even though they did not make the teams.

I have been an active participant, official and entertainer in some of the games and trials. I know the feeling when you get on a plane to go to an event like this. There is a great feeling that you are representing, not only the Northwest Territories, but Canada. The sound of the national anthem when you are standing on a podium receiving medals brings great pride to everyone involved. I wish our athletes well, especially the athletes from Inuvik: the junior boy's soccer team; I think we have a shooter; a hockey player; and, a basketball player. My great pride and a lot of my attention will go to the curling events because I have two boys and one girl who are going to represent the Northwest Territories in the curling teams.

---Applause

So I wish them well. I wish all of our athletes well and I know they will show their exuberance and skills when they stand up on the podiums receiving their gold ulus. Mahsi.

--Applause

Thank you. Item 3, Members' statements. Item 4, returns to oral questions. The honourable Member for Hay River, Mr. Pollard.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Good afternoon. Madam Speaker, I have a return to an oral question asked by Mr. Ningark on February 22, 1994, regarding the health facility in Gjoa Haven.

Madam Speaker, on February 22, 1994, the honourable Member for Natilikmiot asked the Premier whether the Minister of Health would investigate the requirement for a new health facility in Gjoa Haven.

Madam Speaker, the health centre in Gjoa Haven was constructed in 1970. It was renovated in 1981 and again in 1987, immediately prior to the 1988 health transfer. The community has, in the past, asked for a replacement of the facility. In 1992, the Department of Public Works and Services evaluated the facility and found the health centre to be sound and functional. This evaluation was supported by the Kitikmeot health board.

The department recognizes, however, that there is a shortage of program space and it has subsequently identified renovation and expansion of the facility in its five year capital plan.

The KHB has initiated a community health services planning process for all communities, including Gjoa Haven. This exercise will identify program requirements for the community. Based on this information, a functional program will be developed which will identify the space requirements. The functional program is scheduled for 1995-96 with renovation and expansion work to commence in 1996-97. This time frame will allow the KHB to complete its community profile. This information is required in order to provide the community with the best possible service. Thank you, Madam Speaker.

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

Madam Speaker, this is a return to an oral question asked by Mr. Whitford on March 2, 1994 regarding status of computerized system for social assistance payments. A total of 44 of the 61 communities listed in the social assistance regulations are off-line. That is 72 per cent. We plan to increase the number of offices which have access to the on-line system. However, that cannot occur until the communication links are in place in smaller communities. Records of social assistance in these communities are transmitted to the closest regional centre, where they are entered into the social assistance information system. Thank you, Madam Speaker.

Thank you. Item 4, returns to oral questions. Item 5, oral questions. The honourable Member for Natilikmiot, Mr. Ningark.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Madam Speaker, my question is directed to the Premier. When the government announced the reshaping of northern government initiative back in 1991, there were a number of departments which were to undergo consolidation and amalgamation.

Madam Speaker, can the Premier advise this House which amalgamations are complete?

Thank you. Madam Premier.

Madam Speaker, unfortunately, I had a reply to that question all ready, but I cannot find it. So I will take that as notice and give a complete report tomorrow. Thank you.

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

Thank you. Madam Premier.

Madam Speaker, I would like to state to the honourable Member that the amalgamation is not on hold, we're just not moving as quickly as anticipated. One of the areas that we wanted to make sure of is that when we receive the report on health and social services, is that it gets considered with what we are doing in the amalgamation. We just haven't been able to accommodate the dates that we originally set out to do. I believe by the fall session we will be substantially along the way to having that particular function, the consolidation plan in place so that we can move along with it as quickly as possible. I just want to assure the Members of the House that we are not putting things on hold. It's just that we were not able to do as many things as quickly as we wanted to. Thank you.

Thank you. Supplementary, Mr. Dent.

Thank you. Madam Premier.

Madam Speaker, the desire of the government is to try to move the consolidation along as quickly as possible. That's our goal and that's our intent. I'm hopeful that by the fall, we'll have a plan on exactly how that can be done so we can move ahead as quickly as possible on a consolidation. Hopefully, in the fall session I'll be able to say exactly what's going to happen and how we're going to implement the consolidation, if not before, Madam Speaker.

Thank you. Item 5, oral questions. The honourable Member for North Slave, Mr. Zoe.

Thank you. Madam Premier.

Madam Speaker, the intent of the government has been brought to the Legislative Assembly and certainly in terms of the planning and organization, the information as it has been realized is transmitted to employees. Perhaps some of the concerns that employees might have is that they hear about something going to happen but the implementation plan has not been in place, so the apprehension is when is it going to happen and how is that going to affect us? Although employees know which areas have been identified, the concern is that they're not quite sure when we're going to do it and what may or may not happen to them. Sometimes we can't give those answers until the implementation plan is in place.

With regard to parks, I think the employees can rest assured because we have decided on the parks consolidation with Renewable Resources. That particular area has been put on hold and we won't be approaching that for some time. Thank you.

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

Thank you, Madam Speaker. My question is to the Minister of Public Works and Services. Over the course of the past year and a half the government has sold off a lot of its staff housing units. Theoretically, I gather, with that decrease in the number of units, the management and maintenance staff required to maintain those units won't be required at the same levels as they are now. Has the Minister's department determined yet how many staff are no longer needed as a

result of the decrease in the number of staff housing units? Thank you.

Thank you. Minister of Public Works and Services, Mr. Morin.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. We have not yet determined how many staff we need to maintain the existing stock. We are still looking at transferring whatever is left over of the staff housing to the NWT Housing Corporation, and how that stock is going to be maintained as well as the stock of the Housing Corporation. We have to look at both issues at once and then make the decision. Thank you.

Thank you. Supplementary, Mr. Ng.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. I understand that the Housing Corporation will be assuming responsibility for the maintenance of the GNWT staff housing units. With that, the Housing Corporation has devolved the responsibilities of maintaining the public housing stock to local housing authorities. Is it the intention in this amalgamation of the two departments to have the Public Works' staff become employees of the local housing authorities in the communities? Thank you.

Thank you. Minister of Public Works and Services, Mr. Morin.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Those questions that the Member has raised are good questions and we don't have the answers to those questions yet. The housing authorities are set up fairly well to administer housing and give out those houses in the communities. The Department of Public Works is also set up fairly well to maintain units, so are the housing authorities set up to maintain units. Government employees are unionized. Some housing authorities' maintenance employees are unionized, some are not, some have different unions. So it is a complicated issue to address and we are working to address it. I have directed both my departments to work together to see how we can maximize our dollars and get the best use out of our dollars to maintain the public housing stock as well as the staff housing stock, and come up with a decision paper. Thank you, Madam Speaker.

Thank you. Supplementary, Mr. Ng.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Would the Minister recognize that with the amalgamation of the two departments -- the Housing Corporation and Public Works and Services -- and the maintenance staff of both of those organizations, that there will be a surplus of staff as a result of this amalgamation? Thank you.

Thank you. Minister of Public Works and Services, Mr. Morin.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Whether there will be surplus people, I do not know, so I can't recognize them yet. Thank you.

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

Thank you, Madam Speaker. To the Minister of Economic Development and Tourism. Madam Speaker, while there has been a decrease in the demand for maintenance of staff housing as a result of sales, there has been a corresponding increase in the need to maintain private homes. This would seem to be a great opportunity to help encourage the creation of small businesses. I know the Minister is always alert for such opportunities. I would like to ask the Minister, what has his department done to encourage and support people to create small businesses, particularly in the trades, to support the growing private housing market? Thank you.

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

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Early on, when this policy was brought forward, we recognized that there would be an ideal opportunity for the development of small maintenance and trades fields. The regional staff are aware of it and are responding to initiatives that are coming from the communities. I know, for example, that Simeonie Tatty and another partner have put together a small maintenance company and are now maintaining some of the homes in Rankin Inlet. I'm told that such will be the case in other communities, particularly in the larger centres where you have a critical mass of housing that is being sold. There would be a greater opportunity than there would be in some of the smaller communities. We are responding to it. We recognize it's an important initiative and I'm confident that, ultimately, more money will be spent in the community and more economic benefits will be accrued accordingly. Thank you.

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

Thank you, Madam Speaker. My question is for the Minister of Social Services. Since the Assembly has now delayed dealing with the issue of guardianship for dependant

adults for many years, I would like to ask the Minister if the Guardianship Act has now been completed.

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

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Yes, it is.

Thank you. Supplementary, Mr. Lewis.

I would like to ask the Minister if this piece of legislation has been dealt with by the Cabinet yet.

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

Madam Speaker, no.

Thank you. Supplementary, Mr. Lewis.

Can I ask the Minister -- obviously she has no control over the Cabinet agenda -- but when is it that she proposes to bring this piece of legislation into the Assembly?

Thank you. Ms. Mike.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. That piece of legislation has been submitted to the Cabinet. It is a matter of when the Cabinet is going to deal with it and, once that's done it will be tabled in this House. Thank you.

Thank you. Item 5, oral questions. The honourable Member for Inuvik, Mr. Koe.

Mahsi, Madam Speaker, my honourable colleagues raised a lot of questions about various stages of amalgamation of departments. When we are changing and reshaping departments, people tend to get involved. People who are of concern, obviously, are employees of the various departments. My question to the Premier is, what type of information and public relation strategy is this government using to inform and keep employees informed about the various stages of amalgamations and decentralizations of departments?

Mr. Koe, could I ask you to possibly rephrase your question? It seems somewhat repetitive of an earlier question that has already been posed in the House. The honourable Member for Inuvik, Mr. Koe.

The concern I'm raising is that staff in several departments have expressed to me that they're not getting complete information about what's going on in terms of changes within their departments, for example, employees in the Department of Public Works and Services. My question is, what public relations work has been done to keep employees informed about the changes that are occurring in the amalgamation of Public Works and, let's say, Housing?

Madam Premier.

Madam Speaker, I'll try to elaborate on a similar question. Whenever the information is available on the status of amalgamation and consolidation there are general information items put out in internal government publications which go to all civil servants in the Northwest Territories. Once a decision has finally been made and employees are affected, those particular employees are notified of the changes.

The Member is aware that prior to making changes due to consolidation and decentralization, we provided a fairly broad-based information program on the workforce adjustment program. Affected employees come under that program. They can look at their career paths, there is priority hiring, retraining for another career in the GNWT, education assistance and enhanced severance payments. So if employees are affected by these changes, it is well known through the publications that go out to civil servants that this program is available to them. Thank you.

Thank you. Supplementary, Mr. Koe.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Does part of this program also include meeting with unions, with the staff being present at these meetings?

Thank you. Madam Premier.

Madam Speaker, when decentralization and some consolidation was anticipated, one of the things that was worked out with the union was the workforce adjustment program. The union was fully involved and informed in working out this special program for people who are affected by the changes. Thank you.

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

(Translation) Thank you, Madam Speaker. My question is for the Minister of Municipal and Community Affairs. It is with regard to the report, Strength at Two Levels. I understand that the villages and hamlets will have to have more power and more authority. I'm not trying to say that people in the communities are not able to perform work properly, but some employees have had difficulty performing the tasks that they are supposed to perform in their jobs. I wonder if the Minister of Municipal and Community Affairs has looked at this and the possibility of having more training in reshaping departments. Thank you, Madam Speaker.

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

(Translation) I thank my colleague, Mr. Pudlat, for asking such a legitimate question. One of the communities has had a problem with regard to exactly the same concern that my colleague has. Our employees are working closely together with the University of Ontario that is working closely together with people who are familiar with organizing local governments or community governments so that the communities and the departments may be more informed. Thank you, Madam Speaker.

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

Thank you, Madam Speaker. I believe the Minister of Health is aware that the Special Committee on Health and Social Services made comments about the need to improve dental specialist services and other specialist services in the Northwest Territories. I think he has also been working on proposals that have been offered to the department to bring dental specialists to the north, rather than sending patients to the south. I would like to ask the Minister of Health, Madam Speaker, has he made progress in reversing the situation and having the dental specialists come north? Thank you.

Thank you. Minister of Health, Mr. Pollard.

Madam Speaker, thank you. I was looking for an orthodontist who was a periodontist as well, and I have discovered that the two professions don't go into one person, Madam Speaker. That was what I was hoping for. Those are the two areas that we're looking at, at the present time. I've had discussions with the Dental Association of the Northwest Territories because they are providing services in

some of the communities by bringing people up to do this particular work, as opposed to the patients going south.

In other parts of the Northwest Territories, as we well know, people are being sent south, period. I've discussed it with the Department of Health, I've even talked with the Stanton Hospital board about it, and it would appear to me that inside of the next six weeks I'll be able to make a recommendation on how best to solve this problem.

My feeling is that the recommendation will be that we employ either part-time or by contract or full-time, the services of an orthodontist in the Northwest Territories. With the periodontic work, I think we're going to have to do that on a lesser basis because there's not as much call for that kind of speciality. Nevertheless, we do need to bring that kind of person north, as well.

I'm just gathering some more information, Madam Speaker, from across Canada. I'm finding out that orthodontists are in great demand everywhere. So we're going to have to be lucky to bring somebody up here to handle all of the work. But in the next six weeks, I'm hopeful that I'll have a decision. Thank you, Madam Speaker.

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

Thank you, Madam Speaker. My question is to the Minister of Public Works. The school extension in Coral Harbour has been slated for construction this summer. Has there been a contract awarded yet on this project?

Thank you. Minister of Public Works and Services, Mr. Morin.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. No, there has been no contract awarded.

Thank you. Supplementary, Mr. Arvaluk.

Since no tender has been issued yet, would the Minister consider that there may be a negotiated contract to benefit the local contractors in the community of Coral Harbour?

Thank you. Minister of Public Works and Services, Mr. Morin.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. I would be pleased to discuss that with the Member. Thank you.

Thank you. Supplementary, Mr. Arvaluk.

Madam Speaker, I should maybe be a little clearer on this one. Has there been discussion respecting the possibility for a negotiated contract for this project?

Thank you. Minister of Public Works and Services, Mr. Morin.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. As the Member is aware, I wrote to all Members in this House about contracts and capital projects that are being carried out by the Department of Public Works in this construction season. I've written to him as well. I believe this contract was designated to go out as a public tender. Thank you.

Thank you. Final supplementary, Mr. Arvaluk.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. The community education council is getting rather anxious in hearing from the Minister as to what is happening to this school extension. Would the Minister tell us if this can be done within a reasonable time? Thank you.

Thank you. Minister of Public Works and Services, Mr. Morin.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. I'll be in touch with the community by the end of next week. Thank you.

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

Thank you, Madam Speaker. My question is for the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment, Mr. Nerysoo, and it has to do with the learning centre. On February 25, in committee of the whole, the Minister gave a commitment, and I will quote from Hansard, "In the matter of the learning centre here in Yellowknife, I want to indicate to the honourable Member and all Members of Yellowknife, that I have instructed my staff and they are carrying out a meeting with both district boards to resolve the matter to come to a solution of how we deal with the learning centre and the delivery of programming for those students. A meeting will be held on that specific issue. We're trying to be proactive in trying to help bring about a resolution to that matter."

At that time, I thanked the Minister for that response. So I was somewhat surprised that a letter dated the same day to the Yellowknife MLAs said that, "You've already received a copy of my reply explaining why I'm not in a position to respond positively to the request for financial support." I can only assume that letter had already been drafted before the commitment was made in the House. I would like to ask the Minister, is he still prepared to honour his commitment that he made in committee of the whole?

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

Thank you, Madam Speaker. There are two issues that the honourable Member should be aware of so there is no confusion in the House. The honourable Member should realize that there was a request from the learning centre parents about a request for financial assistance direct to them. What is clear is that we are now, under our financial arrangements, providing on a per capita basis -- and that includes the students who are in the learning centre -- financial resources direct to the school boards for their education.

What really needs to be done is clearly a working relationship, or at least an arrangement where the learning centre is satisfied that their educational dollars are, in fact, being used properly and in the interests of their children. What we are trying to do is make sure that school boards take responsibility for delivering educational programming. As such, I will accept -- as I did here, in committee of the whole -- ongoing responsibility for trying to come to some conclusion and resolution to the differences of view that are being held by the parents of those students in the learning centre and the administration of the boards, particularly the differences of Yellowknife Education District No. 1 which seems to be less open to trying to resolve this. We will try to mediate and respond positively to the request that has been made by the honourable Member.

Thank you. Supplementary, Mr. Ballantyne.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. I thank the Minister for that commitment. There are, I think, two issues here, as the Minister said. One is the issue of the level of support for special needs going to the school boards, and that is something that the Minister has already committed to address. The second is the flexibility by both the Department of Education and the school boards to allow different approaches to special needs. A private school is one of those approaches.

I thank the Minister for his response, but I'll ask again, just to clarify for the public record. Will the Minister keep an open mind when he's looking at this whole area and perhaps consider some change of the policy to allow some flexibility to deal with specific needs of special needs students here in Yellowknife?

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

Thank you, Madam Speaker. I believe that the policy includes the schooling that has been approved by Cabinet and by government, previously. The policy, in our view, is a good policy. We will try to consider the concern that the honourable Member has raised and try to be flexible in our approach. But, at the same time, my concern is that some of the education leadership is not even prepared to consider the policy as it is. Therefore, it makes it very difficult to operate. I think that having met with the parents of the students at the learning centre, I found some of them to be reasonable and their expectations are that we provide good educational programming. We will try to do our best to respond to that within the confines of the policies that are available to us.