Mr. Clerk, would you ascertain if His Honour the Commissioner of the Northwest Territories is prepared to address the Legislative Assembly.

Madam Speaker and Members of the Legislative Assembly, it is my pleasure to welcome you to the Sixth Session of the 12th Legislative Assembly.

The past few years have been a period of change and adjustment in the Northwest Territories, as we consolidated departments, decentralized and privatized some services, changed our approach to staff housing, and moved towards the constitutional reality of two new territories by 1999.

Standing and special committees of this House have played a major role in the process, particularly in the areas of health, social services and housing and in helping to meet the financial challenges resulting from cuts in the transfer payments we receive from the federal government.

We've been through some very difficult situations, but we have managed to maintain spending levels for essential programs and services, and to make sure that certain initiatives were introduced to create jobs now and to build for a better future.

The public servants who deliver our programs and services have faced the greatest challenge with respect to reforms instituted by the government and the Legislative Assembly. Change is never easy, particularly when the challenge is to do more with less. The process leads to uncertainty and anxiety for many people, yet our public servants have demonstrated a great deal of professionalism and integrity in tackling the job that has to be done.

There is considerable work to complete before the term of the government ends, including the development of a strategy to combat family violence and the reform of income support programs. Of particular importance to government at this time is the need to introduce significant legislative initiatives before this session is recessed later this week so that standing committees can use the summer period to consider them and undertake any public consultation that will be required.

Madam Speaker, on a number of occasions, beginning with the introduction of a private Member's bill by the Member for Deh Cho, the government and the Assembly have spoken about their commitment towards making sure our constituents have a legislated right of access to information relating to the operations of government and its institutions. Consequently, the government will be introducing an Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act before the recess.

The act proposes to provide the public with a right to access information held by government, subject to specific and limited exceptions. The bill will also control the manner in which the government may collect and use personal information about individuals and would establish an access and privacy commission on the recommendation of the Legislative Assembly. Budget projections relating to the act and a legislative action paper on establishing an ombudsman will also be presented to the House.

Madam Speaker, all of us are aware of the need to address shortcomings in the existing legislation as it relates to the safe operation of existing mines in the Northwest Territories and new mines that may develop as a result of extensive diamond and basic metal exploration currently taking place in the western territories.

As a result, a new Mine Health and Safety Act will also be introduced before the recess. The bill marks the end of a long process involving extensive consultation with the industry, trade unions, non-union workers and mine occupational health and safety committees. It will replace the present Mining Safety Act which is both antiquated and unwieldy and very difficult to understand.

The new act isn't written for lawyers and judges. Instead, the proposed bill is a clear and simple document that will be easy to understand by the average mine worker and his or her supervisors. The need for clarity cannot be too strongly emphasized. In many cases, understanding the rules about mine safety can mean the difference between life and death.

Madam Speaker, during this session, the government will also be presenting the following bills for consideration in the House: The Guardianship and Trusteeship Act, the Aboriginal Custom Adoption Recognition Act, an Act to Amend the Liquor Act, and Appropriation Act, No. 1, 1995-96.

The Aboriginal Custom Adoption Recognition Act is designed to eliminate the time-consuming process of formalizing custom adoptions in the Northwest Territories. The act establishes a simple procedure to obtain recognition of an aboriginal custom adoption that will have the same effect as a court order.

The Guardianship and Trusteeship Act provides for the court appointment of a guardian to make decisions on behalf of an adult who is not capable of independently managing his or her personal care or health care, and for the appointment of a trustee for an adult who is not capable of independently managing his or her financial affairs.

Amendments to the Liquor Act will widen the scope of the local option system of liquor control presently set out in existing legislation. It will also give the Liquor Licensing Board more control over its proceedings and enable a responsible Minister, at the request of a community, to ban the consumption, purchase, sale or transportation of liquor in the community in which a special occasion is scheduled to occur.

Finally, Appropriation Act, No. 1, 1995-96, will be presented in October. It will detail capital spending plans that are designed to maximize opportunities for northern-based construction companies and job opportunities for people wanting to participate in a wage economy.

Your government considers these bills essential to the good conduct of government business. I particularly wish to recommend passage of Appropriation Act, No. 1, 1995-96.

In conclusion, I would like to take this opportunity to express our appreciation to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II and His Royal Highness Prince Philip for undertaking a visit to the Northwest Territories this summer. A number of special events are being planned.

Madam Speaker, I would now like to commend to you, for your earnest consideration and wise judgement, the business of this House, as I declare open the Sixth Session of the 12th Assembly of the Northwest Territories. Thank you.

---Applause

You may be seated. Item 3, Ministers' statements. The honourable Member for Tu Nedhe, Mr. Morin.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Later on today, the new social housing rent scale will be tabled. Over the past ten years, ever since the recommendations of the Special Committee on Housing, there has been growing concerns about the need to revise the social housing rent scale.

The existing rent scale has been in place since 1983. At that time, communities were divided into two groups. One group was called home ownership communities. These were communities where it was felt home ownership programs would be successful. The other group was called non-home ownership communities. These were communities where the cost of home ownership was thought to be too expensive for most residents.

The existing rent scale charges very low maximum rents in the so-called "non-home ownership communities." This means that people with incomes high enough to afford home ownership, have no incentive to move. This contributes to overcrowding and housing shortages, which is so severe in many communities.

It will come as no surprise to Members, or the public, that the federal government is not prepared to subsidize high income tenants in cost-shared rental housing. CMHC will reduce its funding by a further $5.3 million, unless we address this issue with a revised rent scale that charges high income tenants more realistic rents.

That being said, Madam Speaker, a new rent scale is long overdue. Over the years, in many reports and consultation meetings, tenants, community leaders and MLAs have urged that the rent scale be changed. In the recent community consultation meetings held across the NWT, residents made many suggestions for changing the rent scale. The Advisory Committee on Social Housing and all MLAs have voiced concerns and suggested changes.

The rent scale that will be tabled today addresses many of these concerns.

1. The new rent scale will be applied in the same way in every NWT community, Madam Speaker. It will treat all tenants fairly and equitably regardless of where they live.

2. All rents will remain affordable. No tenant will pay more than 30 per cent of their household income for rent.

3. There will be no across-the-board increases in rent, in fact, lowest income tenants will be paying less rent.

4. High income tenants will be encouraged to become home owners.

5. Education and employment will be encouraged.

6. Federal funding will be maintained.

Madam Speaker, the new rent scale recognizes the high cost of living in remote communities. It also recognizes the additional costs of raising large families. There will also be deductions for units in poor condition.

Implementation of the new rent scale will be gradual. Major rent increases will be phased in over the next two years. The first increase will not take effect until January 1, 1995, but decreases will take effect in July, 1994.

Information on the new rent scale is going out to all local housing organizations, community governments, band councils and Metis locals. Representatives of these groups will be invited to attend a consultation meeting in their district in May or June, to be briefed and to discuss the new rent scale and other housing issues.

Madam Speaker, I believe the new rent scale is fair to all tenants. I appreciate the input of tenants, local housing organizations, the Advisory Committee on Social Housing, MLAs and the public in the development of the new rent scale. Thank you, Madam Speaker.

---Applause

Thank you. Item 3, Ministers' statements. The honourable Member for Mackenzie Delta, Mr. Nerysoo.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Madam Speaker, Members will recall that earlier in this session, I reported on the joint federal/provincial/territorial meetings of Ministers responsible for Labour Market and Social Services and the agenda for income security reform.

Since the Ministers' meetings, officials have been working to develop principles and criteria that would be used to guide investment in the $800 million strategic initiatives fund. The fund, established in the recent federal budget, is to provide for cost-shared demonstration projects whose design, delivery and outcomes can be considered in the redesign of the income security net in this country. It is our government's intention to gain approval under this program for the investing in people initiative, which was presented earlier to the Standing Committee on Finance.

Our initiative would see up to seven pilot projects being undertaken and the provision of over 200 additional adult training seats to our current activity levels. Subsequent work activity projects would allow people to combine academic and on-the-job training as they prepare for the labour market or further post-secondary training. The proposal calls for a joint federal/territorial investment of some $6 million over two years. The GNWT share of the resources will come from re-profiled funds from the departments of Social Services and Education, Culture and Employment.

Madam Speaker, I believe we must be both aggressive and progressive in order to participate in the national agenda of change. We cannot afford to have changes imposed upon us and overlook our unique social, cultural and economic needs. We need to make a meaningful contribution to this reform, but we will have to try some new approaches, so that we can benefit from some practical experience in larger scale employment development.

To ensure that we are on the leading edge of change, I am advising this Assembly that our government will establish, on April 11, an income security reform task group. The group will be headed by Mr. Conrad Pilon, the assistant deputy minister.

Madam Speaker, I again return to my earlier statement to inform the House that the Honourable Rebecca Mike, Minister of Social Services, and I have again been invited to meet our counterparts in Ottawa on April 17 and 19 to review the federal government's action plan. The action plan will lay out, in detail, the scope of the income security reform review and its program and fiscal principles and its objectives. The federal government has announced that its fiscal objective for 1996-97 is to reduce expenditures in the Canada assistance plan by some $1.5 billion from its projected 1994-95 expenditures levels.

Madam Speaker, it has also been a joint objective of the departments of Education, Culture and Employment and Social Services to release a discussion paper on the entire matter of income security reform. Due to the very dynamic nature of the national agenda and the continuing work on the scope of the reform, we have delayed the release of the paper until sometime after the mid-April ministerial consultation. Our paper can then be more comprehensive and match more closely the federal plans for consultations and activity over the summer months.

I will correspond with all Members later this spring and provide them with the discussion paper along with a proposed plan for consultations with respect to the reform initiative. I would expect to review progress and major policy issues in this Assembly in the fall session. Thank you, Madam Speaker.

---Applause

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

Thank you, Madam Speaker. I would like to follow up on the statement on income security reform made by my colleague, the Honourable Richard Nerysoo.

Madam Speaker, the Minister spoke about the scope of reform. The overall objective of reform is to build a social security system that better integrates social policy, income support, labour market and learning policies and programs. The focus for redesign is not on programs, but on people and will occur with the recognition that people's needs vary according to their individual circumstances and the stage of their lives.

A number of federal programs will be affected by the review. They include but are not limited to: unemployment insurance and labour market programs; the Canada assistance plan; benefits delivered through the tax system such as the child tax credit; vocational rehabilitation of disabled persons; Canada pension plan disability pensions; survivors' and children's benefits; post-secondary education; and, the Canada student loans program. For the Northwest Territories we recognize that our review in terms of linking to federal programming must include social housing rental policy, hunters' and trappers' assistance programs, our employment development and short-term employment programs, student financial assistance program, child day care programs, and there are probably other areas that can be explored. Programs for seniors are not part of the social security reform. They will be addressed separately through the development of a discussion paper later this fall. We must carefully assess the financial impact of change with the knowledge that we will undoubtedly be receiving fewer dollars and that we are going into negotiations soon on a new formula financial arrangement.

Madam Speaker, Canada's social security net is going to change. We must work in partnership to maximize the opportunities to restructure our income security programs to invest in people to allow them to become more productive, self-sufficient and self-reliant. Government, families and individuals all have a responsibility to contribute to building a strong and healthy society. Thank you, Madam Speaker.

---Applause

Thank you. Item 3, Ministers' statements. The honourable Member for Mackenzie Delta, Mr. Nerysoo.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. The NWT school system is based on the philosophy that education must be founded on local culture if it is going to be relevant to students, families and communities. The Department of Education, Culture and Employment, boards, divisional boards of education and schools across the Northwest Territories have made a good deal of progress in developing curricula and school programs that are appropriate for the many languages and cultures within the Northwest Territories. Today I would like to announce another important initiative in this area.

This coming September, Inuuqatigiit, a curriculum which enhances and enriches first language and culture for Inuit students, will be piloted in schools in the Baffin, Keewatin, Kitikmeot and Beaufort-Delta regions.

Inuuqatigiit, which is designed for students from kindergarten to grade 12, is the first curriculum designed in the north which reflects the Inuit perspective. Inuuqatigiit means Inuit to Inuit, people to people, or family to family. It also implies a togetherness and unity between people. Enhancing unity for the benefit of students, teachers, schools and communities is the most fundamental goal of the curriculum.

The curriculum is to be used by Inuinnait, Inuvialuit and Inuit across the Northwest Territories. To ensure that the concerns and priorities of all Nunavut regions are well-represented, Inuuqatigiit was developed by an advisory committee of Inuit educators from the four regions in which the curriculum will be used. These committee members have worked extensively with people in their regions, including educators, parents, key community members and elders. The elders have played a central role by providing important resource information and validating the curriculum as the work has progressed. It is the knowledge of the elders that gives the curriculum the true sense of Inuit culture.

Madam Speaker, I would like to take this opportunity to individually recognize and thank the members of the Inuuqatigiit advisory committee for their dedication and commitment to development this curriculum. They are: Rose Marie Kirby of Inuvik, representing the Beaufort-Delta; Millie Kitupana and Rosemarie Meyok, both of Coppermine, representing the Kitikmeot; Guita Anawak of Rankin Inlet, Eva Noah of Baker Lake and Elisapee Karetak of Arviat, representing the Keewatin; and, Naullaq Arnaquq of Iqaluit, representing the Baffin. The committee's work has been coordinated by Liz Apak Rose, the Inuktitut curriculum coordinator for the Department of Education, Culture and Employment.

Madam Speaker, Inuuqatigiit will play an important role in enhancing Inuit culture and language. Thank you, Madam Speaker.

---Applause

Thank you. Item 3, Ministers' statements. Item 4, Members' statements. The honourable Member for Deh Cho, Mr. Gargan.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Madam Speaker, I rise today to speak about housing issues in the Northwest Territories. In many communities we have a serious shortage in the number of units available to people who need social assisted housing. The federal government has made the decision to reduce the amount spent on social housing programs across the country. These federal cutbacks have lead to the difficulties this government has faced when attempting to fund territorial housing projects.

In January, when the Finance committee met, it took the position that this government is aiming to have no deficit. This is a noble goal and one which I hope we can accomplish. However, if we do end up with a deficit I would personally prefer that we invest that money. It is my opinion that providing shelter to people in need is an investment. The overcrowded, run down conditions which some people live in is absolutely appalling. I realize that the Housing Minister is working to ratify this issue, however it is crucial that the Government Leader, backed by her Cabinet, adopt a firm position too.

Inadequate housing affects numerous departments. It affects the Department of Social Services in that poor housing conditions may cause an increase in the need for social assistance. There may be an increase in family abuse which would, in turn, produce a need for more counselling services. It affects the Justice department because the need for corrections services will increase. Education, Culture and Employment will also be affected because the children's learning ability will suffer.

Generally, the social problems of society will be reflected by the way the government decides to invest our money. Madam Speaker, I strongly believe that the money spent today will be money saved in the future. This government must set a stage for future governments to ensure that this issue becomes and remains a priority. Thank you, Madam Speaker.

---Applause

Thank you. Item 4, Members' statements. The honourable Member for Yellowknife South, Mr. Whitford.

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

Item 4, Members' statements. The honourable Member for Yellowknife Centre, Mr. Lewis.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. On Monday, I had the opportunity, along with some of my colleagues, to be at a local gathering of people because the High Commissioner of India was visiting. Always in cases like this, you get pinholed by constituents. At this particular occasion, a local businessman by the name of Mr. Tony Chang raised the issue of law enforcement. I told him that at the very earliest opportunity, I would raise this issue with the Minister of Justice in this House. But, the next day the Minister was not here so I couldn't raise it, and he's not here again, so I can't question him.

However, I will raise it as an issue that is of concern to this constituent. My understanding is that stealing is against the law. Not only it is in the bible as one of the sins of the commandments of the good Lord, but it is also against the law to steal. His concern is that young people who engage in stealing are just getting a slight tap on the wrist and told they are bad people and they shouldn't do this. Then, they are told a second time that it is wrong and they shouldn't do this.

This constituent is concerned that the police are taking a very soft attitude and that is the wrong message to be giving to young people. Charges should be laid when people are engaged in this, and they shouldn't be encouraged to keep on doing it by just having a slap on the wrist. Thank you.

---Applause

Thank you. Item 4, Members' statements. The honourable Member for Iqaluit, Mr. Patterson.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Madam Speaker, I rise, once again, to discuss the situation in Iqaluit with regard to the town council. First of all, I would like to say that I'm pleased today to learn that the Honourable Silas Arngna'naaq has appointed Mr. Robin Beaumont, municipal administrator for the town of Iqaluit, the registrar and returning officer for the town.

---Applause

This is encouraging. Thank you. And he's got a wonderful new haircut as well, on top of that. This is very encouraging, Madam Speaker, to me, although I did note that the appointment remains in effect until December 31, 1994. The letter goes on to say, "or until such time as the municipal election process is concluded in Iqaluit, whichever comes first." So, it at least suggests to me that there is, hopefully, a good possibility of the May/June election, which I'm very confident the majority of my constituents in Iqaluit want to see.

Another promising sign that the situation of crisis -- as it was described by the then Minister of Municipal Affairs last November when the town council was dissolved -- has now subsided. I understand that Mr. Beaumont left today for a holiday in San Francisco.

---Laughter

I'm sure this is a very well-deserved holiday on his part and I think the fact that he felt that he had the opportunity to take such a holiday suggests to me that the town's affairs must be under control.

There is more encouraging news, Madam Speaker. Yesterday, I received a copy of a letter from Mayor Pat McMahon, president of the NWT Association of Municipalities to the Honourable Silas Arngna'naaq, Minister of Municipal and Community Affairs which informs him of the following motion: Motion 94-1, passed March 30 or 31 at their recent directors' meeting. "The NWT Association of Municipalities requests that the Government of the Northwest Territories establish an election date without delay in Iqaluit." The letter went on to say...My time is up.

---Applause

(Microphones turned off)

---Laughter

The honourable Member for Iqaluit.

May I seek consent to conclude my statement, Madam Speaker. Thank you.

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

Madam Speaker, no, the letter did not go on to say my time is up.

---Laughter

The letter went on to say, "The institutions of local government are revered as the very foundation of democracy. The absence of an elected body in Iqaluit is viewed by the NWT Association of Municipalities board of directors as a deprivation of democratic rights to all citizens of Iqaluit, plus has dire consequences on the orderly economic development of the town. Further, this situation is setting an undemocratic precedent within the Northwest Territories. The board of the association has strong concerns with municipalities being subjected to authoritarian government rulings without a foreseeable or preset conclusion to the situation. The NWT Association of Municipalities requests that the Government of the Northwest Territories permit re-establishment of an elected local government, without delay. Further, that the GNWT dissolve the present advisory committee upon the election of the new council in Iqaluit." Thank you, Madam Speaker, and Members for sharing these two encouraging developments. Qujannamiik.

---Applause

Thank you. The Speaker would like to recognize students from the Inuvik Grollier Hall and their chaperons. Welcome to our Assembly.

---Applause

Item 4, Members' statements. The honourable Member for Yellowknife Frame Lake, Mr. Dent.

By charter.

Thank you. Item 4, Members' statements. The honourable Member for Mackenzie Delta, Mr. Nerysoo.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Madam Speaker, I wish to speak on the matter of the Arctic Winter Games. Madam Speaker, the initial purpose of the Arctic Winter Games was to provide northern sporting and cultural events that would bring together the northern communities in Alaska, Yukon and Northwest Territories. It was intended to provide an opportunity for northern athletes and cultural performers to compete and allow for an interchange of cultural performances from each of the three Arctic jurisdictions in North America.

Madam Speaker, the Arctic Winter Games was established as an Arctic event. It was established for northern athletes and performers. It was established to provide athletic events for our northern athletes who do not always get opportunities to participate in international, national or provincial athletic events. It was established to give all of our athletes and performers, both young and old, male and female, opportunities to look forward to and maintain their participation as athletes in any sport that was approved for the Arctic Winter Games.

I want to state, Madam Speaker, that I support this concept and feel the Arctic Winter Games should maintain its original concept and abide by the principles originally adopted when the Arctic Winter Games was first launched.

Madam Speaker, the Arctic Winter Games must retain the principle of including all ages of athletes, both men and women. It must retain the idea that sports and cultural events should be supported in which we can achieve representation from each northern jurisdiction. We should not support sporting events that simply satisfy only one or two jurisdictions, but rather we must ensure that all partners participate in any athletic or cultural event in the Arctic Winter Games.

Madam Speaker, I have had the opportunity to participate in the Arctic Winter Games trials and games both as a junior and senior athlete. I have seen some in this House participate as athletes or spectators and some have indicated their support of the Arctic Winter Games. All I believe support the original principles and objectives of these games. All recognized the comparability of our northern athletes.

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

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

Thank you, Madam Speaker. All recognized that northern communities need an event that will showcase our athletes and cultural performers. The Arctic Winter Games has allowed for participation of all athletes and performers, from ten years old to 80 years old. Madam Speaker, I hope we do not lose sight of this achievement. I hope we do not lose sight of the commitment to our young and old athletes to continue to participate in good healthy living. I hope we recognize, Madam Speaker, that these are Arctic Winter Games, not simply northern athletic games.

Madam Speaker, the Northwest Territories, as we all know, spends the largest amount of dollars in preparing and allowing for participation in the Arctic Winter Games. It is important that we remember that Alberta has other events or, for that matter any other province, such as their own winter and summer games.

We owe a commitment to all of our athletes, not to simply promoting diplomatic gestures to satisfy other jurisdictions. The Northwest Territories, Yukon and Alaska athletes and performers look forward every two years to the Arctic Winter Games. The Northwest Territories directors who represent us on the Arctic Winter Games board should reflect seriously on these priorities and their priorities.

Madam Speaker, jurisdictions have the right to choose to participate in the Arctic Winter Games. I, for one, support the Arctic Winter Games based on the original concept and principles adopted in 1967 by Alaska, Yukon and the Northwest Territories. We should remember we had Arctic Quebec participating in past Arctic Winter Games and we should remember that they chose to withdraw after we participated in Schefferville, Quebec. Let history be our lesson. As soon as the costs for provinces is an issue, they will either try to influence the games to satisfy their expenditures or to reclassify the participants of Arctic Winter Games.

Madam Speaker, I ask all Members to support the Arctic Winter Games so that all our athletes, young and old, men and women, have an opportunity show their athletic prowess while parading our Arctic cultural richness.

I have heard, Madam Speaker, that some jurisdictions are pressing for the removal of senior events. I say no to this suggestion, and I would ask the Minister to promote and support all ages of athletes and cultural performers within the Arctic Winter Games. Thank you, Madam Speaker.

Hear, hear.

---Applause

Thank you. Item 4, Members' statements. Item 5, oral questions. The honourable Member for Inuvik, Mr. Koe.

Mahsi, Madam Speaker. I have a question for the Minister of Transportation, but since he's not here I will direct it to the Premier. On November 29, 1993, the Standing Committee on Agencies, Boards and Commissions presented its final report on the proposed elimination of the Highway Transport Board. The report requested a comprehensive response to our recommendations which, according to our rules, was due on March 29, 1994. My question to the Premier is when might the standing committee expect to receive a response on this report?

Thank you. Madam Premier.

Madam Speaker, I will take the question as notice and provide an answer tomorrow. Thank you.

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

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Madam Speaker, last week I made a Member's statement with regard to the work-load of the Executive Members. One of the things that I find right now is that, Madam Speaker, even within the next six months, I've consulted with several Ministers about their possibility of travelling into my constituency, and also to find out whether there could be a commitment made to do that. Even that is very difficult. Some of it I could realize why, and I think it's because they've taken on more responsibilities. I would like to ask the Premier if she would advise us as to whether she would, in the very near future, make an announcement to equally distribute the work-load among all the Cabinet Ministers?

Thank you. Madam Premier.

Madam Speaker, it's my intention to make a number of changes to portfolio responsibilities, probably at the end of April. Thank you.

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

Thank you. Minister of Safety and Public Services, Mr. Nerysoo.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Just to indicate to the honourable Member, the matter of the incident that he speaks of is presently under investigation by staff of occupational safety and health within the safety division. They have not provided the details of the investigation yet, and will probably take several days to complete that particular investigation.

Thank you. Supplementary, Mr. Whitford.

Thank you. Minister of Safety and Public Services, Mr. Nerysoo.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. What I will do, Madam Speaker, is undertake to advise all Members of the conclusion of the investigation. I cannot commit, first of all, to releasing the actual investigative report itself because there may be some details that would not normally be made available. But I will advise the honourable Member of the conclusions of the investigation itself, and, in fact, inform all Members of this House.

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

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Madam Speaker, the Minister of Municipal and Community Affairs is undoubtedly aware of some issues that have been identified as pressing by the Municipal Advisory Committee in Iqaluit, and reported to this House through myself. They include land development, the financial and operational review of the town, and the matter of an early election. I would like to ask the Minister, in response to the invitation of the Municipal Advisory Committee and myself to urgently visit Iqaluit and meet with the Municipal Advisory Committee, has the Minister been able to make plans to visit the community and undertake that meeting?

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

Thank you, Madam Speaker. At this point I am starting to make plans for travelling to various communities. One of the communities that I am looking at is Iqaluit. I understand the Member's and the advisory committee's frustration, and would very much like to meet with the advisory committee as soon as I possibly can. Thank you, Madam Speaker.

Thank you. Supplementary, Mr. Patterson.

Madam Speaker, the days of this session may be numbered. I would like to ask the Minister if he expects to be able to firm up a date today or tomorrow for this important visit. Thank you.

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

Yes, Madam Speaker, over the next day or so I should have a firmer date as to when I can get into Iqaluit. Thank you, Madam Speaker.

Supplementary, Mr. Patterson.

Madam Speaker, I would like to ask the Minister if he can inform the House of the progress on the financial audits of the town for the 1993 fiscal year.

Mr. Patterson, that is not a supplementary, however there are other Members who do require and have placed their hand forth to put questions, so I will come back as it is another item. Initially, your question posed a visit for the Minister, and not financial audits. Item 5, oral questions. The honourable Member for Deh Cho, Mr. Gargan.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Madam Speaker, again, my question is to the Premier. In her response, Madam Speaker, about the shuffling of the Ministers, the Premier did indeed indicate there will be changes made at the end of April. I would like to ask the Minister whether those changes also include the equalization of the work-load.

Thank you. Madam Premier.

Madam Speaker, that is one of the considerations. Thank you.

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

Mahsi, Madam Speaker. I have a question for the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment. On December 1, 1993, the Standing Committee on Agencies, Boards and Commissions presented its final report on Arctic College. This report also called for a comprehensive response from the government. This response, according to the rules of this House, was due March 31, 1994. As some of the rules seem to be a little flexible, I'm forced to ask this question, when might the standing committee expect to receive a response on this final report on Arctic College?

Thank you. Minister of Education, Mr. Nerysoo.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. I believe I may have tabled that response already. If not, I will get back to the honourable Member as to when I will be, in fact, providing that document. But, I think I tabled that document.

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

Thank you. Madam Premier.

Madam Speaker, it is my understanding that some employees are already taking part in a cross-cultural training program and are actively participating. However, it is anticipated that it will take about six months to have it totally up and running. Thank you.

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

Thank you. I would like to ask the Minister of Housing and DPW a question. Last fall, he was planning a trip to my constituency and the trip had to be cancelled because the Honourable Mr. Morin's mother got sick. I wonder if the Minister is still planning to visit? If he is, is my constituency on the top of his list? Thank you.

Thank you. Minister responsible for Housing and Government Services, Mr. Morin.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. It is number one on my list.

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

Thank you, Madam Speaker. I have another question for the Minister of Municipal and Community Affairs on the matter of the town of Iqaluit. Madam Speaker, I would like to ask the Minister if he could advise the House on progress in doing the official audit of the books of the town of Iqaluit for the trying year of 1993?

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

Thank you, Madam Speaker. As the Member is aware, the financial position of the town of Iqaluit is just one of the major issues that has to be covered. As far as the audit is concerned, I understand the auditors were in Iqaluit just last week. I don't, as yet, have any details of their visit to Iqaluit. Thank you.

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

Mahsi, Madam Speaker. Madam Speaker, I was very interested and quite pleased with the progress on income security reform. The Minister of Education, Culture and Employment made a statement today on it. I just have a few questions on some of the content. One of the comments the Minister made was that the program investing in people initiative was presented to the Standing Committee on Finance. Will the Minister be providing information to other Members of this House who are not Members of the Standing Committee on Finance?

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

Thank you, Madam Speaker. I will provide a package of information, once I have concluded it, to all Members of this House so they may advise their constituents of the criteria for the $800 million and the manner in which we're considering investing the $6 million over the next several years.

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

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Madam Speaker, on Tuesday, February 15, 1994, during our last session, the Premier in the opening remarks for her department, announced that the priority of the official languages unit will be the drafting of directives to ensure language programs and services are available. She went on to say that update of the progress of the official languages directive manual for employees would be provided before the

end of session of this Legislative Assembly. I haven't seen the progress report. I wonder if the Minister is prepared to table it or give us an update of the progress of the official languages directive manual for employees? Thank you.

Thank you. Madam Premier.

Madam Speaker, I will attempt to do that. I believe the work is almost complete. I will attempt to provide that information to the honourable Member. Thank you.

Thank you. Supplementary, Mr. Allooloo.

Madam Speaker, the Premier made a commitment to this House. I would like to ask the Premier if she would provide the information to this Legislature before the end of this session, since, during the last session, she was not able to do that? Thank you.

Thank you. Madam Premier.

Madam Speaker, I will provide the information to the honourable Member and all Members of the Legislative Assembly. I know the work is almost complete and I realize we will not be here for an extended period of time. If I cannot have it for tabling, I will make sure that, at the earliest possible convenience after it's completed, it will be circulated to all Members. Thank you.

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

(Translation) Thank you, Madam Speaker. I would like to direct my question to the Minister of Justice. Since he is not present, I will be directing my question to the Premier. This question has been an ongoing concern in some of my communities. It is with regard to correctional institute inmates and the policies in these institutions. From some of the communities, some relatives are welcomed to a place where there is an inmate, in the Baffin or in Yellowknife, for example. The hours are set for when you are allowed to have visitors. In Iqaluit, some relatives have tried to visit inmates from the nearby communities. Since the visiting hours were set, they were not able to see their relatives. I wonder if the policy can be changed, so these people coming from outside of the community where the correctional institute is could be allowed to see their relatives outside of visiting hours. Thank you, Madam Speaker.

Thank you. Madam Premier.

Madam Speaker, I will discuss the issue with the Honourable Minister of Justice and see if there can be some flexibility for people who are coming into town and are probably only in town for a few hours. In Yellowknife, if people are in for two or three hours, they have been allowed that privilege if they could explain that they were only in town for a few hours. I personally have arranged this on a number of occasions in Yellowknife. So I will discuss this with Mr. Kakfwi to see if that flexibility could be awarded to other correctional institutes. Thank you.

Thank you. Supplementary, Mr. Pudlat.

(Translation) Thank you, Madam Speaker. Thank you for your response, Madam Premier. I realize that the end is coming close for our meeting. I wonder if you can

provide me with a response in writing? Thank you, Madam Speaker.

Thank you. Madam Premier.

Madam Speaker, I will arrange to have that done. Thank you.

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

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

Thank you, Madam Speaker. I would like to thank the Member for bringing that to my attention. I don't believe that the recommendations have been forwarded to the department. If not, I will look into it and get back to the Member tomorrow. Thank you.

Thank you. Supplementary, Mr. Zoe.

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

Thank you, Madam Speaker. As I responded to the Member, I indicated that I will get back to the

Member and report the status of the recommended changes that were made two years ago. Thank you.

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

Thank you, Madam Speaker. My question is directed to the Minister of Health. Yesterday, on our last day of the Fifth Session, my honourable colleague from Yellowknife Frame Lake asked about the status of the functional review of the Department of Health. The Minister answered that there were some recommended changes to the department's structure in that functional review. What are those recommended changes from the functional review? Thank you.

Thank you. Minister of Health, Mr. Pollard.