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

Thank you, Madam Speaker. The honourable Member for Iqaluit asked me a question in the House yesterday about inter-agency training on family violence and sexual abuse in the Baffin. I indicated that the training for the Baffin was provided at the end of January of this year. Unfortunately, that was an error.

It was my understanding, Madam Speaker, that the training had been delivered as it was originally scheduled. My officials have now informed me that it was not possible to deliver the training at the time. There is still a strong commitment to provide the training and it is now planned for the fall of 1994.

I apologize to the Members for providing incorrect information. Thank you.

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

Thank you, Madam Speaker. I realize it is Thursday and not Friday, but we have a long weekend in front of us. I will try to get through this in my two and a half minutes.

Around 50 years ago, Madam Speaker, the Germans introduced a vehicle called the Volkswagen. In English this means people's car. It was cheap, economical on gas and easy to fix. Yesterday, an editorial appeared in the Yellowknifer headed "If It's Not Broken, Don't Fix It." The editorial referred to comments I made in this Assembly about fixing some problems with the way our government is running.

Madam Speaker, this government is very much like an early model Volkswagen. It may still be on the road, but it wouldn't pass a mechanical inspection test. It is a little like those vehicles you sometimes see advertised in the newspapers for less than $500. They're called mechanics' specials. The bodywork isn't bad, there's just a bit of rust and the tires are very good. At least that's what the ad says, the tires at least are good. Some of these old Volkswagens, Madam Speaker, are incredible machines. The steering is loose, there's a knock in the engine, it burns a lot of oil, the muffler is full of holes, the headlights go on and off whenever they feel like it and you can only open the passenger's side door. It makes an incredible amount of noise but, amazingly, it still runs.

Of course the car isn't cheap to run any more. The price of gas has gone up and the car needs a fill-up every few hours, not once a week like in the good old days. In fact, last week Ronna Bremer wrote a well-researched article on just how expensive it is to keep this car on the road. I believe that was the point of the article.

Madam Speaker, the public knows the car is still running because they hear it wheezing and rattling along from time to time. The media watches it very closely and continually reports on its failings and shortcomings. In fact, that seems to be its major preoccupation, how things are so bad. So, I find it odd that the Yellowknifer now finds that there's nothing to be fixed, after all these years of complaining.

Madam Speaker, I've owned several old vehicles...

The honourable Member for Yellowknife Centre, Mr. Lewis.

Madam Speaker, I would like to get consent to finish my statement.

Thank you. The honourable Member is seeking unanimous consent to continue. Are there any nays? There are no nays. Please proceed, Mr. Lewis.

Thank you, colleagues. It is very rare that I ask to have an extension. Madam Speaker, I have owned several old vehicles. It is a frightening thing to see a mechanic turn on the ignition, lift the hood of the old car, start shaking his head and start making loud, long, moaning noises. Your heart begins to have a terrible, sinking feeling. You don't really want to hear the news because you know it's going to be bad.

Madam Speaker, reporters, for all their training, don't look under the hood and that's why they don't know what has to be fixed. Madam Speaker, when your vehicle is in bad shape, you don't wait until 1999 to take it into the garage. Madam Speaker, when your vehicle is driving all over the road, you don't drive very far and you would be better leaving it parked in your driveway. You wouldn't want to end up in a ditch or breaking down in the middle of nowhere at 40 degrees below zero.

Madam Speaker, the fear I have is that a final trip to the wrecking yard may not be very far away, unless we do something. I don't agree with the editorial in the Yellowknifer. The staff should look through past editions of the local newspapers and make a list of all the things they have found wrong with the way we have operated in this Legislative Assembly over the last several years. Better still, they had better ask the public, because that's not the story I'm hearing when I talk to my constituents. Thank you.

---Applause

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

(Translation) Thank you, Madam Speaker. I would like to use my Member's statement today to familiarize Members of the House to the throat singing duo known as Tuujat. Tuujat is made up of two cousins, Madeleine Alakariakaluk of Resolute Bay and Phoebe Atagutaluk of Inoucdjouac. The duo performed last weekend at the annual True North concert in the Yukon.

I was informed by George Tuccaro who was master of ceremonies that they were given thunderous ovations for their traditional throat singing and old age aya-ya songs. According to Mr. Tuccaro, they stole the show.

These two cousins met for the first time six years ago, when they were 12 years old. They have performed ever since and sometimes had to rehearse through long-distance telephone calls. Tuujat is a source of pride to myself and the youth of High Arctic. I want to give the suggestion to the government that they should be included in partnership agreements, similar to the one that was signed with Susan Aglukark. They have become excellent ambassadors of the Northwest Territories and an example for other young people. Thank you, Madam Speaker.

---Applause

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

Mahsi, Madam Speaker. The Mackenzie River Basin, or in my language the Deh Cho Basin, is the largest water basin in the world. It covers about 20 per cent of Canada. The Deh Cho Basin has a lot of industrial economy upstream. The products of the economy flow downstream to the Northwest Territories where people are more dependent on a traditional life-style and more careful with what they do to their environment.

There are many things which impact upon the basin as the Deh Cho runs towards the Arctic Ocean. There are ten pulp mills discharging waste into this water. Municipalities along the basin also flow the water through their sewer and storm systems. In the provinces there are run-offs from farm chemicals and industrial waste, which also impacts on the water quality.

On March 22 of this year, I attended a meeting of the Mackenzie River Basin Committee and the First Nations representatives. Although this committee has been meeting for ten years, only in the past few months has there been any involvement of First Nations. There were chiefs from the western provinces and the Northwest Territories at this meeting. They passed a resolution indicating the strong desire to be more involved in the committee. The resolution indicates that the existing water management regimes, established by the western provinces and proposed master and bilateral agreements, do not adequately address the rights and interests of the First Nations people.

First Nations groups should be active participants in the management of the basin and signatories to the master agreement in their own right. The resolution also states that the federal government should enter into negotiations with First Nations regarding the development of a master agreement. First Nations does not want to kill the agreement. Instead, they want to enhance it by bringing the contribution of the First Nations people who have always worked and lived with respect for water and the land.

Water is a precious resource to all people. However, to aboriginal people the river has always played a crucial role in who we are and how we work with the land. The Deh Cho River is important to those who live along it. Northern people are concerned about the quality of the water in the mighty Deh Cho. Those who use the water have noticed changes in the past few years. These changes showed themselves through the wildlife which relies on the water. An example is fishermen are finding that the fish have deformed fins and deep sores in them.

Madam Speaker, I urge the Government of the Northwest Territories to support the First Nations in their bid to be an integral part of the Mackenzie River Basin Committee. Mahsi.

---Applause

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

(Translation) Thank you, Madam Speaker. A situation which presently exists in my constituency as well as other northern communities has been brought to my attention. I have spoken to some people in my constituency including health workers. It is clear to me that there is a serious problem that exists regarding the health of our children. Parents in the communities cannot afford to feed their babies infant formula that they require to develop strong and healthy bodies. These formulas are priced very high in the local grocery stores. People have no alternative but to use a cheaper alternative known as Carnation, which has poor nutritional value according

to the health officials. This is a cause for real concern as I have been informed that the use of Carnation as an infant formula has been known to stop absorption of iron, so the babies on this formula are anaemic. In fact, mothers in the community of Repulse Bay cannot even purchase an iron fortified formula, which has been recommended by a visiting paediatrician. They can only obtain this type of formula when it is authorized by Social Services following a written letter by the nurse saying the baby is ill.

Your time has lapsed, Mr. Arvaluk.

Madam Speaker, I seek unanimous consent to finish my Member's statement.

The honourable Member is seeking unanimous consent. Are there any nays? There are no nays. Please proceed, Mr. Arvaluk.

(Translation) Thank you, Madam Speaker, and thank you colleagues. Like I said, they can only obtain this type of formula when it is authorized by Social Services following a written letter from the nurse stating that the baby is ill. This makes it very difficult, to say the least, for single mothers and parents who are unemployed. They are unable to provide their children with suitable formula and the recommended formula is only made available after their children have become ill. Madam Speaker, this situation is unacceptable and it must be addressed immediately. I suggest that we provide a subsidy for infant formula sold in communities of the Northwest Territories. I was thinking of a subsidy similar to the one put in place for naphtha fuel. When it became clear that naphtha was not affordable for hunters in the Northwest Territories, such a subsidy was provided. Surely the health of our children deserves the same consideration, so they can have a healthy life-style. Thank you, Madam Speaker.

---Applause

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

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Madam Speaker, since this is the last sitting before Easter Sunday, I would like to take this opportunity to wish my family, especially my wife, and the people of Pelly Bay, Taloyoak and Gjoa Haven, all my colleagues in this House, and especially you, Madam Speaker, and the staff of the legislature, especially Mr. Hamilton, who has worked very hard for the benefit of the Members and staff of the legislature, a very happy Easter. I hope my colleagues will take the precious time to spend time with your family on Easter weekend. Thank you.

---Applause

Thank you. I am sure all Members wish you a happy Easter as well, Mr. Ningark. Item 3, Members' statements. The honourable Member for Iqaluit, Mr. Patterson.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. On Monday, I held a public constituency meeting in Apex, in my constituency. This is a special place with special people. Among other issues raised at the meeting were some very strong opinions expressed about the need for an election in Iqaluit. I would like to share with Members of the House what several of the bright, young Inuit constituents said at this meeting. What we have in place is undemocratic. If the government believes in the democratic process, what's stopping the calling of an election and an elected body overseeing the financial problem solving? This delay suggests that an elected council can't be trusted.

Another young person at my public meeting suggested that I should tell the Honourable Silas Arngna'naaq, democracy made you a Minister.

Another young constituent offered the following analysis: there is no council in Iqaluit, the many residents of Iqaluit have no leader because of the mistakes of a very few short-term residents who have left town. We need a quick election. Long-term residents are suffering and this is very unfair. We are at a crucial time in the political development of this territory and this community. A very few people are holding back development of this community.

Madam Speaker, yesterday I talked a little bit about growing frustrations being developed by the good persons appointed to the Municipal Advisory Committee in Iqaluit. They have even been told that they should not contact the Minister of Municipal and Community Affairs, they should communicate only through the municipal administrator.

On the calling of an early election, the Municipal Advisory Council ignored that advice and they have written directly to the Minister. I think I know why they did not rely on Mr. Beaumont, the administrator, to carry their message, because he is quoted in the March 18 local newspaper as saying, "We are not ready to have a council next week. There are so many things to look at." Then he is re-quoted in the article as reciting some of the things he feels need to be looked at. Get this...

Sorry, Mr. Patterson, your time has lapsed.

---Laughter

Madam Speaker, I seek consent to finish my statement.

The honourable Member for Iqaluit is seeking unanimous consent to continue. Are there any nays? There are no nays. Continue, Mr. Patterson.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Yes, it appears there is also a paper flow problem on my desk.

Madam Speaker, Mr. Beaumont was quoted as referring to the many things that have to be looked at. He said there's a paper flow problem and there's an ancient computer system which needs to be replaced. Then in the interview he went on to talk about the need for street signs.

---Laughter

Paper flow. A new computer. Street signs. Is this now all that's standing in the way of restoring democracy in Iqaluit?

---Applause

Madam Speaker, the matter requires the urgent attention, I respectfully suggest and request, of the honourable Minister of Municipal and Community Affairs himself. I'm asking him to make a visit to Iqaluit as a priority, meet with local citizens, meet with the Municipal Advisory Committee, as a high priority, and discuss this very pressing, aggravating issue of the need to call an election in Iqaluit. Qujannamiik.

---Applause

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

(Translation) Thank you, Madam Speaker. Today I would like to follow up on the Minister's statement. There is a problem in Sanikiluaq with regard to the supply service through Great Whale River, which is the only source of supply service we have in Sanikiluaq for store supplies.

I heard from Sanikiluaq that the plane that is coming from Great Whale River, if there are no passengers will not carry supplies to Sanikiluaq from Great Whale River. Only if there are passengers will the airplane arrive. They just pass by Sanikiluaq, even if there is freight on the airplane destined for Sanikiluaq.

For that reason, Madam Speaker, I was told earlier that Makivik Corporation should meet with the Sanikiluaq hamlet, as well as the board of directors of Makivik who operate First Air. Maybe they can make better arrangements for the freight plane because mail and also supplies are always late in arriving. Thank you.

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

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Yesterday afternoon, the Honourable Silas Arngna'naaq, Minister of Municipal and Community Affairs, his officials and I travelled to Fort Providence to celebrate the official turnover of the Fort Providence water treatment plant.

Madam Speaker, the idea of this water treatment plant began back in 1982 by the previous Minister of Municipal and Community Affairs, Gordon Wray. This was the time when the government considered the piped water and sewage facility in core communities a priority. However, since the inception of the idea, the project has undergone some rough spots, with changes of Ministers and the fiscal restraints this government had to go through during the process.

After several years of delay the plant officially began operating in January 1993 and celebrated the official opening on February 17, 1993. The official transfer of this facility from the government to the hamlet of Fort Providence occurred yesterday. I was proud to witnesses this event, along with invited guests, as this was the fruit of long labour which I had to endure.

The facility included the truck fill station and a water storage, as well as the treatment facility. The facility treats water from the Mackenzie River in order to meet the guidelines for Canadian drinking water quality established by Health and Welfare Canada. The truck fill rate has also been increased to meet fire protection requirements. Madam Speaker, the plant has been designed to meet the projected 20 year water demand of the community.

As I stated during this ceremony yesterday, it is difficult to travel to communities during session due to the demands on Members of the Legislative Assembly, like myself and the Minister. I believe the Minister would agree that it was a worthwhile trip because by being there we were able to give special recognition to the hard work done by the hamlet and many residents in the community.

In return I would like to recognize and thank successive Ministers of Municipal and Community Affairs, from Gordon Wray to the present Municipal and Community Affairs Minister, the Honourable Silas Arngna'naaq, for starting and concluding the project and for...

Excuse me, Mr. Gargan. Your time has lapsed for Member's statements.

Madam Speaker, I seek unanimous consent to conclude my statement.

The honourable Member is seeking unanimous consent to continue. Are there any nays? There are no nays. Please proceed, Mr. Gargan.

Thank you, Madam Speaker, honourable Members. In return, I would like to recognize and thank successive Ministers of Municipal and Community Affairs, from Gordon Wray to the present Minister, the Honourable Silas Arngna'naaq, for starting and concluding the project and for taking the time in his busy schedule to be there yesterday. I would also like to recognize his officials, Mr. Maurice Evans, Mr. Moheb Michael and Vern Christensen for overseeing the project to the end.

Madam Speaker, a special thanks must go the residents of Fort Providence for accommodating us yesterday and those who have forged on with determination to go through the training in order to learn the skills necessary to run the operations independently. I am proud to say, Madam Speaker, that the facility is currently being run by local aboriginal residents without any supervision from outside sources.

Finally, I would like to say that piped water and sewage in core areas of the community is still a dream of my community and by no means gets this government off the hook. I would hope that in the not to distant future, the Department of Municipal and Community Affairs will reintroduce this worthwhile venture and that Providence will be considered a first priority. Thank you, Madam Speaker.

Thank you. Item 3, Members' statements. Item 4, returns to oral questions. The honourable Member for Keewatin Central, Mr. Todd.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. I have two returns to oral questions. I have a return to an oral question asked by Mr. Pudlat on March 23, 1994 regarding information for communities on WCB process.

The Workers' Compensation Board recognizes the difficulties in communicating with residents of smaller communities in the NWT and in providing them with quality service. The WCB has already taken a number of steps to reduce these difficulties:

1. During 1993, board members visited all regional centres seeking advice form local stakeholders and hunters' and trappers' associations. The board committed itself to repeating those visits in 1994. Last week, the chairperson of the WCB attended the meeting of the Keewatin Chamber of Commerce.

2. The board has arranged for short information items -- public service announcements -- to be broadcast on CBC North. These announcements promote the board's 1-800 number, which is accessible from all NWT telephones.

3. WCB's quarterly newsletter, Directions, is mailed directly to over 3,500 employers, industry associations, labour groups and other interested parties. Copies are sent to the GNWT's GLOs (government liaison officers) in every community, as well as to all town, hamlet and city offices. The regional directors of the Department of the Executive also receive extra copies for additional circulation. The newsletter is produced in a bilingual format, with English and Inuktitut.

4. Inuktitut is given priority in the board's official languages plan, which recognizes the obligation to provide services in aboriginal languages. Along with the Directions newsletter, the board's pamphlets and information sheets are being reviewed and rewritten. These pamphlets will be translated into Inuktitut. Each letter written by the board's employer services and client services divisions is sent on special letterhead. The back of the letter contains a clear explanation of appeal rights in English, French or Inuktitut, as appropriate.

6. Recent amendments to the Workers' Compensation Act will affect traditional harvesters. The WCB will work with regional renewable resources officers and superintendents to ensure that beneficiaries of the program receive efficient service.

My second return to oral question is a return to an oral question asked by Mr. Allooloo on March 30, 1994 regarding closure of weather stations at Clyde River and Pond Inlet.

Yesterday, the elusive Member for Amittuq, sorry, the Member for Amittuq...

---Laughter

...expressed his concerns about disruptions in weather reporting services as a result of Transport Canada transferring the operation of its Community Aerodrome Radio Station (CARS) service at Cape Dorset, Clyde River and Pond Inlet to the Department of Transportation.

The Member was correct in his concerns. Negotiations over the final details of the transfer continued until even as late as yesterday afternoon between the Department of Transportation, Transport Canada and Environment Canada's atmospheric environment service. Transport Canada had instructed its contractor to cut the power supply to the weather station buildings at Clyde River and Pond Inlet as of midnight tonight.

This will not occur. The Department of Transportation will assume control of the service as of midnight tonight and there will be no disruption in services at these airports. To make doubly sure there will be no service disruption, Department of Transportation officials spoke with the Northwest Territories Power Corporation officials in the Baffin yesterday to confirm the details of the transfer. I can assure the honourable Member for Amittuq that the NWTPC will not cut the power to the weather stations at midnight tonight.

---Applause

Item 4, returns to oral questions. The honourable Member for Hay River, Mr. Pollard.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Good afternoon. I have a return to an oral question asked of the Premier by Mr. Whitford on March 21, 1994. It concerns the policy for sole source contracts.

Madam Speaker, section 003 of the government human resource manual describes conflict of interest and outside employment. Paragraph 13 of this section states that "for one year from the date their employment ceases, senior officers may not own, operate, control or be employed by any business enterprise within the community in which they were employed and in which they may be in a position to unduly exploit knowledge they gained while employed by the Government of the Northwest Territories."

Madam Speaker, a senior officer is defined in this section as a deputy minister, assistant deputy minister, regional director, assistance regional director, head of a secretariat of the Executive Council, chief executive officer of a government corporation or agency, executive branch staff, regional superintendent, director, or a person appointed by a Minister to serve on executive staff who is paid out of public funds.

Madam Speaker, in conforming with the above guideline, the government, as a general rule, will not, for a period of one year, contract work out to a senior officer in the community in which the senior officer was employed and in a position to unduly exploit knowledge gained while employed by the Government of the Northwest Territories. Thank you, Madam Speaker.

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

(Translation) Thank you, Madam Speaker. I have a reply to an oral question asked by Mr. Dent on March 28, 1994 regarding a human resource plan.

Madam Speaker, the Department of Social Services will finalize a human resource plan by April 1, 1995. As a first step, the department is developing a skills inventory for all existing staff. This will be followed by the development of detailed training plans for staff utilizing the skills of our regional staff development officers who will all be hired by June of 1994. The training plans will be complete by September of 1994.

In conjunction with that, a recruitment strategy will be developed to introduce higher numbers of aboriginal northerners into the work-force of the department by April 1, 1995. Finally, the performance of every staff member will be assessed over the course of the next year to identify those with the highest potential for promotion. This will result in a departmental success plan by September 1, 1995 to eliminate the gaps in service that result from inordinate delays in filling management jobs.

The regional staff development officers will also work closely with individual staff members to assist them in preparing career plans that will allow them to achieve their career goals. Thank you.

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

I have two returns to oral questions. The first is a reply to an oral question asked by Mr. Gargan on March 30, 1994 on the reason for highest rates for water delivery in Fort Providence.

On March 30, 1994 I made a Minister's statement on the water and sewage services subsidy policy amendments, and described the impacts of the changes in terms of some typical residential and commercial water and sewage accounts. The Member inquired why the overall costs for water in Fort Providence would appear to be the highest, compared to costs in Aklavik, Pond Inlet and Pelly Bay. The differing costs to household and commercial users in different communities which I described in my statements are the costs to specific household and commercial accounts. They are meant as typical examples. Other examples could just as easily have been chosen.

The Member's question suggested that Fort Providence had been designated to have the highest rates for the delivery of water. Let me make it clear that under the water and sewage services subsidy policy, a common subsidized residential rate is established for all hamlets, settlements and designated communities. Another common subsidized rate is established for residential users in towns and villages. However, the rates that will be charged to commercial users will be dependent on the economic rate for the community in question.

The difference from community to community for residential users will be dependant only upon the respective individual metered consumptions, and whether they reside in the towns and villages category or the hamlets, settlements and designated communities category. The cost of water and sewage services to each commercial user will vary from business to business, and depend on economic rates for municipal water and sewer services in each community and on the overall consumption of water by that business.

I have a second response, Madam Speaker. It is a return to an oral question asked by Mr. Ng on March 24, 1994 on the impact of rate increases on commercially-owned residential units.

Under the water and sewage subsidies service policy, tenants of residential units owned by private companies are not subsidized. If a private company and the occupant were to make arrangements for the occupant to pay for his or her water and sewage bills directly to the municipality, he or she would then be eligible to benefit from the subsidized residential rate established under the policy. Thank you, Madam Speaker.

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

Thank you, Madam Speaker. My question is for the Minister of Renewable Resources. As I mentioned in my Member's statement, there was a meeting between the Mackenzie River Basin Committee and a number of First Nations chiefs on March 21 and 22 of this year.

The majority of the First Nations representatives at the meeting passed a resolution calling for their direct involvement with this committee. I have a number of questions about that. But, first of all, I would like to ask the Minister if he could explain to the House the current status of the water management agreement that the Mackenzie River Basin Committee has been developing during the last few years.

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

Thank you. Supplementary, Mr. Antoine.

Thank you. I would like to ask the Minister what is the position of the Government of the Northwest Territories on the resolution that was passed on March 22 with regard to the First Nations calling for their direct involvement in this agreement? Thank you.

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

Thank you. Supplementary, Mr. Antoine.

Thank you. The Minister mentioned the bilateral agreements and the master agreement that is going to be signed by all the Ministers. I understand that at the meeting, the Members of the committee will take the requests of the resolutions of the First Nations to their respective Ministers who are responsible to see if the First Nations could be involved in this committee. With the reply the Minister is giving, is it that he is not in favour of having First Nations who want to be involved in these negotiations, as signatories to this agreement? Is that what the Minister is saying? Thank you.

Minister of Renewable Resources, Mr. Kakfwi.

Final supplementary, Mr. Antoine.

Thank you. I have some concerns about that because I'm in an area where the First Nations have still retained their aboriginal treaty rights to all the lands and waters. Based on that, when the First Nations are requesting to be involved in that I have to support them. With that, I would like to ask if in the bilateral agreements were talking about a master agreement of all Ministers. The bilateral agreements are between the provinces, for example, an agreement between Alberta and Northwest Territories, Saskatchewan and Northwest Territories, BC and Northwest Territories, and so forth. Would the Minister see if the First Nations could be involved in these bilateral agreements? Thank you.

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

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

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Madam Speaker, in November of 1993, I made a statement with regard to private truckers. On December 3, I made a motion with regard to changing the regulations of operation for private truckers. I also wrote a letter to the Minister of Transportation regarding the motion, the regulations and the briefings on the regulations. I also received a letter from the Minister indicating he would be consulting all the transportation people and companies to get a response from them by the end of February. It's now the end of March so I would like to ask the Minister if, in fact, he has been requested to change the hours of operation by truckers, and do we hope to have something in place by this summer?

Minister of Transportation, Mr. Todd.

The honourable Member is correct. We did consult with a number of the truckers with respect to extending the hours on short hauls. It is my understanding that we didn't have a very good response from the truckers. However, in spite of that, the department is proposing to streamline it's permitting procedures to make approval of extended hours of service more readily available. So we are addressing that issue, Madam Speaker. Thank you.

Thank you. Supplementary, Mr. Gargan.

Are the permits going to be more readily available, or are they going to change the regulations so truckers can operate longer?

Thank you. Minister of Transportation, Mr. Todd.

It's our intent, the way I understand it, to put in place an interim measure as requested by the honourable Member, to streamline the permitting procedures to make approval of extended hours of service more readily available. Thank you.

Thank you. Supplementary, Mr. Gargan.

While this interim measure is being considered, is the department reviewing the whole Motor Vehicles Act, the Labour Standards Act and the regulations of operation?

Thank you. Minister of Transportation, Mr. Todd.

I would like to point out, Madam Speaker, that this is not only a territorial issue, it is a national issue across the country and it is currently being reviewed. This interim measure gives the department the opportunity to monitor and access the potential impact on the proposed changes that we may have to make eventually. It allows the department to benefit from the research being taken in other jurisdictions. And it will allow us the opportunity should we decide to make changes to territorial regulations that they would be consistent with what's taking place across the rest of the country.

So this interim measure, the issue which was raised by the honourable Member, is to give us some breathing space to determine what's going on in the rest of the country to assess the impact it will have on the current operators, and to bring forward, hopefully, amendments to the regulations that would meet the requirements on safety on the one hand, and, of course, the truckers' concerns on the other. Thank you, Madam Speaker.

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

Thank you, Madam Speaker. My question is directed to the Minister of Health. Is the Minister aware that mothers in Keewatin -- probably in most of the territories, too -- are no longer provided with Enfalac or Similac infant formula as a medical benefit under our health care plan?

Minister of Health, Mr. Pollard.

Yes, Madam Speaker, I am aware that the federal government did make some adjustments in their program. Thank you.

Thank you. Supplementary, Mr. Arvaluk.

As I stated in my Member's statement, if the mothers, especially in low income, and average mothers cannot actually afford...I'm told in Repulse Bay that Similac is $17 a can and it is $19 for Enfalac. Those cans are not very big. Will he investigate to find out whether that can be reinstated as a medical benefit? Thank you.

Minister of Health, Mr. Pollard.

Madam Speaker, I'll look into the matter, both the pricing in the communities because it does seem a little outrageous, and also take up the issue with the federal government and raise the Member's concerns and report back to the Member.

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

Thank you, Madam Speaker. I would like to thank the Minister of Transportation for answering my question in a very short time. I'm glad that the Minister will commit himself that there will be no disruption in services at these airports. I would like to ask the Minister, would this mean that the services that have been provided will continue to proceed the same way, like 24 hour service? Thank you.

Minister of Transportation, Mr. Todd.

Nay, Madam Speaker, nay. As I indicated yesterday, the fiscal responsibility for these services is currently provided by the federal government. It was their intent to cut this service back from 24 hours on a seven-day basis, to 40 hours on a five-day basis. We reached a compromise in Clyde River where we're looking at 65 hours on a seven-day basis, and in Cape Dorset and Pond Inlet I'm sad

to say we're looking at a seven-day 40-hour basis. Thank you, Madam Speaker.

Supplementary, Mr. Allooloo.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Is there any chance that the two communities, Cape Dorset and Pond Inlet -- which are relatively larger communities than Clyde River and they get more airplanes -- would be able to get more than 40 hours during the next fiscal year? Thank you.

Thank you. Minister of Transportation, Mr. Todd.

I did raise this issue during my meetings in Ottawa two weeks ago with the Honourable Doug Young, Minister of Transportation. I did explain to him that running these small airstrips in Arctic communities is different than running airstrips in the south because it is the primary mode of transportation. It has serious implications for emergency health care, particularly with charters, et cetera. I have drafted a letter to that effect to him. The officials are still trying to negotiate a better position than what I just explained in my last response. I'll try to keep the honourable Member informed as we move forward on this. Hopefully, we'll be able to come to an appropriate compromise between what we had before and what they are currently offering on the table. Thank you.

Supplementary, Mr. Allooloo.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. What could we, as MLAs in the communities, do to get more hours, to get more dollars out of the federal government? Could the Minister tell us what we could do? Thank you.

Minister of Transportation, Mr. Todd.

At the present time, we're doing all we can. We are trying to negotiate official to official. We are trying to put forward fairly strong arguments as to why you can't arbitrarily cut from a 24 hour seven-days a week service to a 40 hour five-days a week service or seven-days a week service. Hopefully, as I say, we'll be able to reach an appropriate compromise, but at this time it's still very much in the discussion stages. I will keep the Member informed as to what the final results are between Mr. Young's office and mine. Thank you.

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

(Translation) Thank you, Madam Speaker. The questions that were asked yesterday with regard to safety to the Minister of DPW and the Housing Corporation...The hamlet has a business license to do local contracts in the communities. The people who are given the licence, will they be given contracts in 1994-95? Thank you.

Minister of DPW and Housing, Mr. Morin.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. My understanding of the question is if people get a business licence, do they get contracts as well? The two aren't tied together. It's up to the hamlet to issue the business licence, then they would have to bid on the contracts. Thank you.

Supplementary, Mr. Pudluk.

Madam Speaker, those people who already have a business licence in the communities, are they eligible for bidding for contracts?

Minister of DPW, Mr. Morin.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Yes, everybody with a business licence in the Northwest Territories is eligible to bid on contracts. Thank you.

Thank you. Supplementary, Mr. Pudluk.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Does that mean that if Kheraj has a business licence in Pond Inlet that he will not necessarily be allowed to bid on a contract? Thank you.

Minister of DPW, Mr. Morin.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. If the contract goes out to public tender, yes he would be eligible like anyone else. Thank you.

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

Thank you, Madam Speaker. My question is to the Minister of Education. For the last two years, I believe, the federal government has made a contribution to the Science Institute of the Northwest Territories, called the science innovators program, to encourage young people to think scientifically. With the reorganization, the position that used this particular money no longer exists and this $40,000 really can't be used. So I would like to ask the Minister, what plans is he making so that this program can still continue?

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

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Two points before I get into the detail. One, the position has nothing to do with whether we can access the resources. The matter was raised with my office almost two weeks ago. We raised the concern with Arctic College and the Science Institute, the executive director. As of last weekend when the board of the Science Institute met, they too expressed the view that the program is valuable and that every effort should be made to continue its operation. The board has given direction to the administration to develop an approach to the future delivery of the program within the planned future institute's structure. The innovators program is entirely funded by the federal government. Delivery of the program through the reorganized college institute structure should not be a problem. The college currently operates a number of programs under contract with various government departments, therefore can sign an arrangement with the federal government on this particular matter. That is the extent of the answer to the question.

Thank you. Supplementary, Mr. Lewis.

Thanks. Since we will no longer have one institute but two bodies, is it proposed that the federal contribution be made to two separate institutions?

Minister of Education, Mr. Nerysoo.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Obviously, until the Members of this House approve the structure that I have proposed, it makes it very difficult for the board to proceed. However, they will proceed on the management of the arrangement that has been reached this particular year or in the past two years. They have a mechanism to do it and they will be prepared to do that. It is hoped that both Arctic College headquarters will be able to negotiate the same type of funding for both organizations.

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