Thank you, Mr. Pudlat. Mr. Kakfwi.

Go ahead, Mr. Kakfwi.

Point Of Privilege

Thank you, Mr. Kakfwi. Good afternoon. Orders of the day. Item 2, Ministers' statements. Mr. Kakfwi.

Item 2, Ministers' statements. Item 3, Members' statements.

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to inform Members of the developments relating to the construction of the new recreation complex in Inuvik. The recreation complex is a project that has been in the planning stages for many, many years and in the last few years, we've been able to move forward substantially, to the point where we're now starting to put nails in wood and get a building up.

Mr. Speaker, in spite of the substantial setbacks and demoralizing outcome of the recent Arctic Winter Games bid process, the people of Inuvik have taken new heart and new energy. They're confident that this government will take appropriate corrective action to ensure an effective and equitable selection criteria and process is developed so that all communities are able to bid on an equal basis for future Arctic Winter Games.

Inuvik has demonstrated that it is a community that possesses great initiative, complemented with a capable, competent and active volunteer base. A community-wide effort is now being made to ensure that there is successful fund-raising and timely construction of a new recreation complex for Inuvik. Once again, residents from the community have pulled themselves together to act and have committed themselves to achieving success for this project.

A new, revitalized volunteer fund-raising committee has been formed to oversee and coordinate fund-raising operations for the new recreation complex. A strong, broad-based fund-raising strategy is currently being implemented. They have a target to raise $1.4 million. The other $3 million required for this $4.4 million project has been identified and funds are currently being secured.

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

The Member for Inuvik is seeking unanimous consent. Are there any nays? There are no nays. Please proceed, Mr. Koe.

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Virtually all community organizations are involved in the process and overwhelming support has been received to date. Schools are pitching in, the aboriginal organizations are involved, volunteer and community organizations are assisting, local businesses are rallying to provide support and services in kind, and large corporations are also coming on line as partners and contributors. I would like to thank the Government of the Northwest Territories for their full support and also all the other corporate and individual sponsors who have already contributed to this project.

Phase I of the construction is now under way. Last week, five truckloads of material rolled into town and the foundation work is now beginning. Tetlit'zheh Construction from Inuvik has been retained as the project manager. The shell of the complex will be erected over the summer and interior work will continue throughout the fall. Mr. Speaker, we anticipate having a skating party next Christmas to celebrate the grand opening.

Phase II is in the planning stages and, hopefully, will be under way fairly soon. Phase II is the construction of a multi-purpose community hall which would be an addition to the recreation complex. The town of Inuvik has already committed substantial financing to this phase and is trying to pull together the additional funding resources. With the support of the Minister of MACA and this Assembly, we expect to begin construction of phase II concurrent with Phase I. It is anticipated that if this happens, it will result in substantial savings in construction costs.

The community of Inuvik supports this project and we trust that Members of this Assembly will recognize, applaud and endorse the commitment, enthusiasm, resources and energy that Inuvik is enlisting in this project. Mahsi cho.

---Applause

Thank you, Mr. Koe. Item 3, Members' statements. Mr. Antoine.

(Translation) Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I will speak in my language. Yesterday evening, we came back from our trip to Ottawa. Several Members of this government went to make a presentation to the committee working on Bill C-68. Several Members went to Ottawa and we talked to them on Monday. The Standing Committee on Justice and Legal Affairs consists of Members of Parliament working on the gun control legislation.

We had a conference with our Member of Parliament, Ethel Blondin-Andrew. She is not sitting on the committee, but we talked with her. The committee is gathering information about the bill. Monday was the first day that they sat and the Justice Minister, Allan Rock, spoke to the participants. We also had a conference with him. I feel that our presentation was good. Our Minister of Justice, Stephen Kakfwi, made a good presentation. I also gathered information from my constituents and made a presentation. I feel that the two hours we spent talking to them were good.

I feel that the federal government doesn't always think the same way as we do and so it will be hard to change their minds. Canada is a very big country. There are people living from Nova Scotia to BC and we don't all live the same way. Also, many people live in the cities. I am running out of time, Mr. Speaker. If it is okay, I would like to finish what I'm talking about.

(Translation) The Member for Nahendeh is seeking unanimous consent. Are there any nays? There are no nays. Please proceed, Mr. Antoine.

(Translation) Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. What I was saying is that Canada is a very big country and there are a lot of people. People who live up here are very different; the Inuit

and Dene are people who live on the land. I feel that I made a fairly good presentation covering this. In the cities, there are a lot of crimes involving guns and this is why, I feel, they want to change the gun laws.

In this land, we will have to abide by this gun law as well. I feel that a lot of people who use guns in the north would suffer as a result of that. People who are using guns would have to take safety courses, only after they have taken safety courses will they be able to receive gun certificates. They will also have to register all guns. If we have to register our guns with the police, we will have to pay for it.

There are many people in the communities who own guns. I also possess about eight guns. Some people possess even more than that. Also, native people lend guns to each other. With this law, if we are going to continue living in our traditional ways, it would be hard for us. This is what I am talking about today. Thank you.

(Translation) Thank you, Mr. Antoine. Item 3, Members' statements. Mr. Ballantyne.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, today I would like to recognize those GNWT employees who were recently honoured at a long-service ceremony held here in the great hall. The ceremony was presided over by the Honourable John Pollard, the chairman of the Financial Management Board. It was attended by myself and my colleagues, Mr. Dent, Mr. Whitford, Mr. Lewis and Mr. Zoe.

Mr. Speaker, residents of the Northwest Territories owe a great deal to the dedication, hard work and loyalty those individuals who have served 15, 20 and 25 years and all the people that they represent. They've been part of profound change here in the Northwest Territories. We've evolved from the days when Commissioner Stu Hodgson called all the shots, to today, when we have a fully-elected Legislative Assembly where the Cabinet calls many of the shots.

---Applause

We now have strong aboriginal organizations, strong regions, many claims have been settled and more will be settled on the horizon. We're dealing with self-government issues, we're dealing with treaty rights, and Nunavut will be created in 1999. Those people who have been here for the last 25 years have been part of these tremendous changes, and I would like to name them for the record, Mr. Speaker. Barbara Mills, Bernie Straker, Jean Grimard, Carole Lane, Carolyn McCabe, Mary Beauchamp, Blair Dunbar, Phyllis Sartor, Roland Gosselin and Eric Smith.

Mr. Speaker, today and in the past, civil servants have been criticized by many people in our society. I think the criticism wasn't fair and every day continues to be less fair. We're asking these civil servants to do more and more with less and less. They are under increasing pressure to do the sorts of things we feel are important to serve the people of the Northwest Territories. And any of us who have worked in this

system know how important those dedicated, loyal civil servants are to us.

So, Mr. Speaker, we owe a large debt of gratitude to those professional civil servants who have served us so well. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

---Applause

Thank you, Mr. Ballantyne. Item 3, Members' statements. Mr. Patterson.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I was privileged to be part of the Caucus Subcommittee on Bill C-68 which has been talked about in this House today. But I want to speak about a specific issue that has come to my attention, as a Member of that committee.

In the course of researching in my constituency the possible impacts of this bill on my constituents, I checked out just how the present provisions of Bill C-17, which is now law, are actually working in my constituency. I've found out that there are very many concerns with the implementation of the presentation legislation, and particularly the more complex process that is now in place for acquiring a firearms acquisition certificate. The form is now four pages long, it has not been translated, it requires two passport-size photos. Now, Mr. Speaker, even in Iqaluit, which is one of the largest communities in Nunavut, it is difficult to get a passport photo and it's very difficult and a real barrier, I know, in smaller communities in Nunavut.

But the biggest concern I have is about the discretion being employed by the RCMP who are taking applications for these FACs when they consider whether they will waive payment of the $50 fee. They are supposed to waive payment of the fee where an applicant is deemed to be hunting for subsistence. Now, Mr. Speaker, it has come to my attention that it is the practice of the RCMP in Nunavut communities in determining whether they will waive the fee that they will only waive the fee for people who are found to be on welfare.

Mr. Speaker, it was always our understanding that the criteria for deciding who is a subsistence hunter should be whether or not that person holds a general hunting licence. There are many GHL holders who are proud not to be on welfare. They are self-reliant, self-employed people, but they are not always rich and they cannot always afford the $50 fee that is required for this firearms acquisition certification.

---Applause

Thank you, Mr. Patterson. Item 3, Members' statements. Mr. Whitford.

Thank you, Mr. Whitford. Item 3, Members' statements. Mr. Nerysoo.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I wanted to rise, Mr. Speaker, to acknowledge an event that for me and for many others is important. That is the convocation of students from Arctic College, now Aurora College.

Mr. Speaker, with you in attendance at the Fort Smith convocation which included the Honourable Ethel Blondin-Andrew and the Member for Thebacha, Jeannie Marie-Jewell, we had an opportunity to see an event that we are all proud of whenever we see our students graduating from post-secondary institutions.

Mr. Speaker, I want to pay particular tribute to young people from my particular constituency and my region: Joyce Blake of Inuvik; Ruby Blake; Louisa Kaye; Abraham Stewart; and, Kimberly Vaneltsi from Fort McPherson. I also wanted to recognize the graduation of the Retias sisters. Mr. Speaker, I want to thank all the people who travelled from the Mackenzie Delta and the surrounding region who visited. I think without their support and involvement, the success of the students would not have been possible.

In concluding, Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank you for being in attendance along with the Member for Thebacha. I think it's an indication of the kind of support that this Assembly gives all our students. I want to pay tribute to your contribution and also the Hatlo Dene Drummers from Hay River for their contribution to the event.

I want to thank the staff, Ms. Gilles, Mr. Holtorf and all the students involved in the organization of the event. Again, congratulations to all of those graduates, wherever they may have come from, who were successful in completing their studies. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Nerysoo. Item 3, Members' statement. Item 4, returns to oral questions. Mr. Todd.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I have a return to an oral question asked by Mr. Antoine on April 7th with respect to federal royalties from oil and gas. The federal government receives royalties from oil and gas production at the Norman Wells, Bent Horn and Pointed Mountain fields. The first two are oilfields and the latter produces gas.

Norman Wells royalties are governed by the 1944 Norman Wells proven area agreement. Under this agreement, Imperial Oil owns two-thirds of the field production and pays the federal government a five per cent royalty on this production. The federal government owns the remaining one-third of the field and receives the net income from this production. The "Crown share" is a form of royalty. The combined income to the federal government from these royalties is about $45 million a year.

Royalties from the Pointed Mountain gas field are calculated on the basis of 10 per cent on the first 76 per cent of production and 15 per cent on the balance. Royalties from this field average slightly over $300,000 per year. Bent Horn pays royalties at a flat rate of 10 per cent. They amount to an average of $16,000 per year.

I would note for all Members that, at present, all royalties collected from oil and gas activities in the Northwest Territories only flow to the federal government. Thank you.

Thank you. Item 4, returns to oral questions. Mr. Kakfwi.

Thank you, Mr. Kakfwi. Item 4, return to oral questions. Mr. Nerysoo.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. This is a reply to a question asked by the honourable Member for Natilikmiot, Mr. Ningark, regarding the regulation for fire retardants on canvas tents. The Government of Canada regulates the manufacture of camping tents, play tents, ice fishing tents and personal use tents through the Hazardous Products Act of Canada, tent regulations.

The federal regulations require that all tents governed by the regulations be constructed of fire retardant materials, and that all tents sold in stores conform with the requirements set out in the regulations. I will provide full details about the federal regulatory structure to the Member, by letter, this week. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you. Item 4, returns to oral questions. Item 5, recognition of visitors in the gallery. Mr. Patterson.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I have not been in the House this week, I understand Mr. McDonald has been here. I was unable to recognize him because I was in Ottawa. So I would like to recognize him today -- Mr. Ben McDonald of the UNW -- and also note that he has been here on other days and was not recognized by any other honourable Members, unfortunately. Thank you.

---Applause

Item 5, recognition of visitors in the gallery. I would like to recognize an individual who is dear to my heart, in the gallery, and that is my twin sister Margaret Rose Elleze.

---Applause

Margaret is 15 minutes my elder.

---Laughter

Item 6, oral questions. Mr. Koe.

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I heard on the radio and read in the papers about a recent plebiscite that was held proposing a liquor outlet in Coppermine. I understand the plebiscite was defeated by the community so, basically, the issue is finished as far as a liquor outlet goes. What concerns me, Mr. Speaker, is the proponent of the proposal to open a liquor outlet in Coppermine, as I understand it, is a local RCMP officer who works in the community of Coppermine. I would like to ask the Minister of Justice what the policy is regarding RCMP officers and their abilities to seek private sector opportunities, especially related to liquor outlets in our communities.

Minister of Justice, Mr. Kakfwi.

Thank you. Item 6, oral questions. Mr. Dent.

Minister of Health and Social Services, Madam Premier.

Mr. Speaker, I do not believe that the standards have been completed at this time. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Dent, supplementary.

Ms. Cournoyea.

Mr. Speaker, I will check into the matter and get back to the Member, and take that question as notice. Thank you.

The question has been taken as notice. Item 6, oral questions. Mr. Patterson.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. To the Minister of Justice. I believe, Mr. Speaker, that in conjunction with our discussing the problems of implementing the present provisions of Bill C-17, the Minister is aware of my concern that some RCMP who are accepting these applications are determining whether to waive the fee for an FAC based on whether a person is on welfare. I would like to ask the Minister whether he believes whether a person is on welfare should be the criteria for determining whether a person is a sustenance hunter. Thank you.

Minister of Justice, Mr. Kakfwi.

Thank you. Supplementary, Mr. Patterson.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I'm pleased that the Minister will use his good offices with the RCMP to discuss this important issue. I would like to ask the Minister whether he would recommend that the more appropriate criteria -- if policemen are going to be making a judgement about whether a person hunts for food -- would be to determine whether or not that person holds a general hunting licence. Thank you.

Mr. Kakfwi.

Item 6, oral questions. Mr. Koe.

Everybody must be tired here. Mr. Speaker, it's always nice to come back home to catch up on the news and the goings-on in the Northwest Territories. I read in the paper and heard on the news about an increase in the apprehensions of young children across the Northwest Territories. I would like to ask the Minister of Health and Social Services whether or not there has been a significant increase in the number of child welfare apprehensions across the Northwest Territories.

The Minister of Health and Social Services, Ms. Cournoyea.

Mr. Speaker, the report shows that there has been a significant increase. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Supplementary, Mr. Koe.

Mahsi. Can the Minister inform us as to reasons for the significant increases in apprehensions?

Ms. Cournoyea.

Mr. Speaker, as the information has been relayed to me, there isn't anything that we can put at the top of the list as the reason there is such as increase in child apprehensions. We really can't say for one reason or another, except perhaps that there is more awareness and more people who are prepared to take these measures. However, I can't, with the information I have, provide any specific area where we could say the reason in this area more so than in others. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Supplementary, Mr. Koe.

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. I guess a lot of work can be done in our communities, preventative work that may or may not be getting done. I would like to ask the Minister about a proposal that an Inuvik interagency committee had submitted to this government, a proposal to look after the youth within the community using all the local resources. This would contribute to making the numbers... If the proposal that the committee has put forward works, it makes sense that the people in the community can look after their own children and the children that are in the care of this government. I would like to ask the Minister what is the status of that proposal?

Ms. Cournoyea.

Mr. Speaker, in terms of the specific proposal that the Member is referring to that, along with a variety of others, is being looked at. Because the issue is not relative to one community or one area of the Northwest Territories, there has been significant discussion going on under the community wellness strategy whereby the communities would look at the resources that are presently within their community and see if those resources are adequately deployed in the proper place. Is there a better way of utilizing those resources to look at the social problems or address the social problems in each community?

The proposal that is before us is one of many which we will be pursuing very actively as soon as we can get some time to make sure that we deal with the communities and the agencies in the communities so that we can have a more holistic approach to addressing the social concerns in each community. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you. Final supplementary, Mr. Koe.

Mahsi. I appreciate the amount of work that's been generated from the community wellness strategy but each community, each individual community or groups within the communities, work at different speeds. Some are more aggressive and assertive and some are more advanced in the types of work they do. Here we have a community that is ready, willing and able to do this work. They've got a very well-thought-out proposal that makes sense. I would like to ask the Minister if she can expedite this specific one so that people in the community can help reduce the numbers of children that are apprehended. Mahsi.

Ms. Cournoyea.

Mr. Speaker, I'm not proposing that every proposal has to be looked at in light of assessing how and when we're going to move with the proposals. That was not the intent of my reply to the honourable Member. I just made mention that there were several areas and several communities who want to deal with the overall social support that they can have within their community to address this issue and many others. The proposal is on the table. We've had some meetings with all the agency groups, the care givers in Inuvik, a week ago. We are looking to follow up with that and see what can be done in trying to reorganize funding so that these people can take on these added responsibilities. We don't intend to hold it up because some other areas may not be as aggressively pursuing that goal. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Item 6, oral questions. Mr. Dent.

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

Very simply, Mr. Speaker, Alberta has changed the way in which they measure students.

Supplementary, Mr. Dent.

Mr. Nerysoo.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Most jurisdictions are changing to one diploma or certificate. What is occurring is that the basis of the education that they receive is on the transcripts and the transcripts that are sent to post-secondary institutions, depending on which one they apply to, will determine whether or not they are eligible.

Supplementary, Mr. Dent.

Mr. Nerysoo.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Based on those students that are successful in their studies, there's been no reduction in their acceptance, with one exception. The honourable Member should be aware, and I think most Members are aware, that if you do not achieve a particular standard in any of the courses, even if you are to pass at 65 or 75 per cent in Math 30, Biology 30, Chem 30, there is no guarantee that you will be accepted in a post-secondary institution in this country. The lowest mark that is generally acceptable is about an 85 per cent average now. If you do not meet that standard, some institutions, such as Mount Royal College, require you to write an entrance exam before you are accepted. That is generally what is occurring across the country.

The problem with that is that there is a limitation to the amount of students that are being allowed into those institutions. That's a bit of a problem for us and we're trying to address it. We're trying to address the issue of centres of learning with the consortium of western Ministers, however, it is still a problem because of the significant increase in student population across the country.

Item 6, oral questions. Final supplementary, Mr. Dent.

Mr. Nerysoo.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Just to indicate to the honourable Member, there are some problems with regard to portability, whether or not you go from Alberta to British Columbia or Alberta to Ontario or to the other provinces. That is one of the issues that Ministers across the country are trying to address at this particular time so that there is consistency of educational standards right across the country.

The other thing is that there are still inconsistencies and non-portability of post-secondary programs. In other words, an individual who might be in law in Dalhousie may not be accepted in law at UBC or another program, and that is of concern to us, including the technical programs, so we are working on that and I hope that despite the issue with regard to the single diploma -- I mean, it's not the issue of whether or not a student gets into a post-secondary institution but rather the courses that they take and the marks that they receive. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Item 6, oral questions. Mr. Patterson.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. To the Minister of Justice, Mr. Speaker. I think that under his leadership, progress was made this week in making the federal Minister and federal MPs aware of the disastrous consequences of proceeding with Bill C-68 without major amendments, at least the disastrous consequences in the Northwest Territories.

I would like to ask the Minister if he could outline what further steps he will be taking to drive this point home in Ottawa and particularly whether the Minister will be making further representations to the House of Commons Standing Committee on Justice and Legal Affairs with other Justice Ministers to reinforce points we have already made as a Caucus subcommittee.

The Minister of Justice, Mr. Kakfwi.

Item 6, oral questions. Are there any further oral questions? Mr. Koe.

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. I have a question for the Minister of Finance. Last October, the Minister stated that this government was looking at sending out a call for proposals to study the financing of local governments and local education committees or boards or our total system in the Northwest Territories. I would like to ask the Minister of Finance whether or not the consultant has been hired to do this work yet.

Minister of Finance, Mr. Pollard.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker, and good afternoon. Yes, Mr. Speaker, a consultant has been hired, Enid Slack and Associates. I believe they have written to all MLAs and have sent some information out to the communities and advised them of the kind of information that they are seeking. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Item 6, oral questions. Supplementary, Mr. Koe.

Can the Minister advise us as to where this Slack consulting company is located? Are they a northern consulting or a southern consulting company?

Mr. Pollard.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. They are a southern consulting company, Mr. Speaker. Thank you.

Item 6, oral questions. Mr. Koe, supplementary.

Mahsi. They are a southern consulting company, Mr. Speaker. I would like to ask the supplementary again. Were there no capable northern companies that could do this type of work?

Mr. Pollard.

Mr. Speaker, I am sure that there are northern companies who can do this kind of work but I don't believe that they submitted anything during the proposal call. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Item 6, oral questions. Mr. Patterson.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. To the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment. Mr. Speaker, earlier in the session, I asked the Minister about his response to the Gjoa Haven education leaders' summit recommendations, particularly the recommendation that his department take the lead in organizing a Nunavut training and human resource planning session which the education leaders hoped could be held this spring in April or May. I know he said that he was awaiting the completion of his department's transition to Nunavut plan which, I believe, is due at the end of this month. I would like to ask the Minister, since the days of this session are coming to a close, if, after the House recesses, the Minister will be following up on the Gjoa Haven leaders' summit, contacting people involved in that summit and making a response to the recommendations, particularly about the planning conference. Thank you.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. We're certainly trying to work on addressing many issues, of which the leadership summit in Gjoa Haven is one. As soon as we can, we'll be able to resolve some of the issues.

Supplementary, Mr. Patterson.

Mr. Speaker, does the Minister agree that, in light of the imminence of April 1, 1999 and the need to have trained people in place well before that date, it would be timely if the next Nunavut education planning conference could be held within the next few months? Thank you.

Mr. Nerysoo.

Mr. Speaker, I think it is not always whether or not meetings are held, but whether actions are taken. I think the efforts of my department to bring about an appropriate strategic plan, a new Education Act, and changes in the college reflect the direction the honourable Member is pointing to. We are still working with the leadership of those involved in education and training and it's my feeling that we've developed a very good working relationship with the educational leaders. We want to continue that relationship and whenever it is possible for us to agree on an appropriate time for a meeting, we'll work with them to address that particular issue. But, we will participate.

Thank you. Supplementary, Mr. Patterson.

Mr. Speaker, I did not mean to suggest that the Department of Education, Culture and Employment is not reorganizing itself and strategizing for the challenges ahead. I think the challenge thrown out by the education leaders was to ask the department to become the lead in developing a plan to bring together all the other various agencies and organizations which have training and human resource planning responsibilities in Nunavut -- the NTI, the NITC, the Nunavut Implementation Commission, the Nunavut Secretariat, federal agencies et cetera.

The Minister indicated that it would be desirable to have a meeting. I would like to ask the Minister, is he also open to the idea of taking the lead in organizing and chairing such a meeting through one of his senior officials? Thank you.

Mr. Nerysoo.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I just want to say to the honourable Member that it's in my interests to work with the organizations the honourable Member has pointed out and we're prepared to do that. We're also prepared to determine whether or not it's appropriate for us to chair, or whether we will identify an individual who might chair a conference of this type who would be more acceptable to all participants.

We will be involved and, at the appropriate time, hopefully we will have resolved these particular issues and logistics. We'll certainly work with the organizations to address these issues.

Thank you. Item 6, oral questions. Item 7, written questions. Item 8, returns to written questions. Item 9, replies to opening address. Item 10, petitions. Mr. Whitford.