Good afternoon. I hope Members had a good weekend. Orders of the day. Item 2, Ministers' statements.

Mr. Speaker, I wish to advise Members that the Honourable Silas Arngna'naaq will be absent from the House today to tour the Trap Research Facility in Vegreville, Alberta. The Honourable John Todd's return from lqaluit has been delayed and he will also be absent from the House today. Thank you.

Thank you. Item 2, Ministers' statements. Item 3, Members' statements. Mr. Koe.

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, today I would like to acknowledge a recipient of the Commissioner's award. On Friday evening in Inuvik, the Commissioner was in Inuvik and presented Mr. Edward Lenny with the Commissioner's award for public service at the highest level. Mr. Lenny is a resident of the Mackenzie Delta area and currently lives in Inuvik. He's a businessman. The award was given to him for his contributions to the development of cultural traditions in the western Arctic. He's very instrumental in developing the traditional Inuvialuit games, northern games as we call them. He's been involved in this for many, many years. He's also very involved in organizing traditional feasts and dances and any other events that happen in the region.

Today, there was a press release issued from the Commissioner's office. The award was presented to him on Friday night and I would like to congratulate Mr. Lenny on receiving the award and take this opportunity to acknowledge his accomplishments. Mahsi cho.

---Applause

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Friday was a big day for MLAs and I've written a poem about the efforts of Members on the ice on that day. I'm sure that, although it's Monday and this is lighthearted, I'd be forgiven by my constituents and I don't think they would be urged to recall me for using my two and a half minutes on this statement:

On Friday, all Members know, we battled again our ancient foe, Our Sharks lined up at centre ice against those timid media mice.

In minutes it was four to one, we had those rodents on the run, Slick to pass, quick on the puck, the lead was due to skill, not luck.

But just as often in this House, Mighty Man becomes Minnie Mouse, The lead was slowly washed away by what was called the secret play.

'What secret play?" asked Speaker Sam, I see nothing weird from where I am." I see nothing at all," said Tough Guy Fred, "In fact, for a minute, I thought I was dead."

"That goes for me too," said defenceman Morin, "that sweat was a drop, but now she's just pouring." "What killed me," said Allooloo in distress, "Was that weird player in the purple dress."

"I think I know," said Kelvin Ng, "exactly how we lost our sting, the media's using all the stuff we leak so they haven't made us mad this week."

"I'm fitness strong," said gentleman Jim, "but after period two, I sure felt grim." "Me too," said Silas from Kivallivik, "I felt good at the start, but I soon fell sick."

When Kakfwi arrived, the score was tied, but no Shark felt his fish was fried, With Stephen on the Shark attack, we thought we'd soon get that lead back. 766With moves like Gretzky and a wicked shot,

we heard he was a demon in the slot,

But had all this been a media plan,

to make us believe he was Superman?

What if Mario gave him kryptonite,

to make us lose our will to fight?

And so we came to sudden death,

the Sharks to a player without a breath.

Breathless they stood as the women began,

the shootout, with Stephen, our only man.

It was Marty Brown who broke the tie,

the media won and we wondered why.

Then Hamilton revealed the secret trick:

"The media always make you guys sick."

---Laughter

---Applause

Thank you, Mr. Lewis. item 3, Members' statements. Mr. Ningark.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms recognizes that the citizens of Canada have a right to pursue the gaining of a livelihood in any province in Canada. The mobility rights guarantee that one is able to move to any province or territory from any other without hindrance and look for work there, Mr. Speaker. Mobility rights also give all Canadian citizens and permanent residents the right to live and seek employment anywhere in Canada, Mr. Speaker. We are grateful for all the rights and privileges in the country that we enjoy every day in our lives.

Perhaps, Mr. Speaker, there are a few Canadians who are not able to enjoy such freedoms and privileges to move and seek employment in the country. For one thing, Mr. Speaker, the high cost of gasoline in our country, especially in the remote communities of the NWT, limit the people who make their livelihood from the land, by hunting and also, Mr. Speaker, the industry has been ruined by other people who we call animal rights activists. Mr. Speaker, if we talk about equality in the country, then we should make the price of gasoline equal throughout the country. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

---Applause

Thank you. Item 3, Members' statements. Ms. Mike.

Good afternoon, Mr. Speaker. It is with pleasure that I stand to let the House know that I have a constituent here, Vera Evic from Pangnirtung, who will be a Page until Friday. I don't see her here, but Julie Alikatuktuk is also a Page. Both of these students are from grade 10 and were chosen by their class to come here to work for us this week. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

---Applause

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

Hear, hear.

---Applause

Thank you. Item 3, Members' statements. Mr. Pudluk.

(Translation) Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I rise today to congratulate ... Back in 1953, the federal government relocated people from northern Quebec to the High Arctic, to Resolute Bay and Grise Fiord. These people who were relocated have been under hardships since they were moved. They weren't sure why they were moved up there and nobody would explain it to them. Their emotions were hurt and some of them were physically hurt.

Since 1953, they have gone through much pain. I would like to congratulate Ron Irwin, DIAND Minister, that he can publicly say that they made a mistake in relocating the people up to the High Arctic and that he can say that he is sorry for moving them to another place without fully explaining to them why. The pain that these people have gone through is finally being recognized. We are happy that the federal government can apologize and finally realize that they made a mistake in the first place by relocating them to Resolute Bay and Grise Fiord.

I would like to thank the people who participated, especially Makivik Corporation. They worked very hard, especially Zebede Nungark. I seek unanimous consent to complete my statement.

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

(Translation) Thank you, colleagues. Zebede Nungark from Makivik, I would like to thank personally. They worked really hard to push the federal government and for them to admit that they made a mistake in relocating these people. Many people know that it was the mistake of the federal government, but they couldn't apologize. When those people were relocated to the High Arctic, they were sent in the fall. They were sent up by ships. There were no buildings to go in. They had to stay in tents for the whole winter without any equipment. They haven't been in that part of the north where it is dark 24 hours a day and they had to live in tents for the whole winter.

I am sure we all realize that they went through very difficult times. I don't think anybody can live in a tent for the whole winter. Some of them stayed in igloos for the whole winter. This was the very first time that they had to stay in complete darkness for 24 hours. For many of them, it was difficult. They had never been up there. A lot of them are still alive today. Even though some of them are no longer around, we want to thank those people because they went through very difficult times. Mr. Speaker, I wanted to rise to mention something about this. Thank you for giving me an opportunity,

---Applause

Thank you, Mr. Pudluk. Item 3, Members' statements. Ms. Cournoyea.

HON, NELLIE COURNOYEA: Mr. Speaker, I would like to bring to the attention of Members that on the second occasion of the aboriginal achievement awards ceremony in Vancouver this weekend, out of 13 recipients, three were Northwest Territories born and raised. They were honoured at the celebration for medicine, Dr. Noah Carpenter; in the field of business achievement, Frank Hansen; and the honour's degree for life-long achievement went to Keriojuak Ashevak. Thank you.

---Applause

Members' statements. Mr. Patterson.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I rise today to congratulate the Honourable Perrin Beatty as the new president of CBC. In addition to the many years of experience Mr. Beatty will bring to this very challenging job, as an MP in the House of Commons and as Minister of many portfolios, including Minister of Communications, I am confident that Mr. Beatty will not overlook the importance of the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation to the north because I think of Mr. Beatty as a friend of the north. He is well-travelled in the north having travelled here often, not out of obligation, but out of a genuine interest, curiosity and affection for our part of the world.

For example, when Mr. Beatty was Solicitor General responsible for the RCMP, he went out of his way to find out what it was like to travel in the north by flying from lqaluit to Pangnirtung, Clyde River, Resolute Bay, Grise Fiord and several Kitikmeot communities en route to Yellowknife in an RCMP twin otter. While in Resolute Bay, he took the trouble to meet with every special constable in the Northwest Territories. He could have travelled by Challenger jet, but instead he chose to take the long, slow route in a twin otter so he could really find out what travel up here is like so that he could visit and land in smaller communities.

Later, when he was Minister of Defence, through his good offices, the closure of the armed forces base in Inuvik was turned into at least a partly good news event when Mr. Beatty agreed to the transfer of buildings, including bed sheets, pots and pans in the student residence, for $1, allowing the then Aurora Campus of Arctic College to be established to serve the Inuvik region.

Mr. Speaker, I know there are financial restraints facing the CBC, but I'm confident that Mr. Beatty's knowledge of the north through the nature and quality of his previous visits will allow him to understand that there are no daily newspapers in the NWT --our CBC North radio is the daily newspaper of the north --that CBC is the only television broadcaster in the north producing programs in aboriginal languages which has a public mandate; that current affairs reports on CBC Radio and Television are especially vital in our part of Canada where few people can read or write even if they had access to newspapers. So I'm confident, even as we face cutbacks of up to 25 per cent in the CBC in the coming year, Mr. Beatty will want to preserve our northern broadcasting system as much as possible and will remain a friend of the north. Thank you.

---Applause

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

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Today I would like to take the opportunity to talk about the Deh Cho Divisional Board of Education. Until April 1 of 1990, Mr. Speaker, education in the Deh Cho region was managed and administered by the Department of Education out of Yellowknife. Since then, Mr. Speaker, the Deh Cho Divisional Board of Education has been

very noticeable in the region. The region is represented on the board by Wrigley, Jean Marie River, Trout Lake, Fort Liard, Nahanni Butte, Fort Providence and Fort Simpson, with consideration given to Kakisa.

Mr. Speaker, the board, in its efforts to provide the best possible learning environment for the people of Deh Cho, has been very aggressive and at the same time cautious with their limited resources. In 1993, grades 10, 11 and 12 students had to leave the region to continue their education. Since then, students can now attend school in Fort Simpson and receive their high school diploma without leaving the region.

Mr. Speaker, as enrolment in high school programs increases, the demand for student care also increases. As a result, residences were built and ready in the 1993-94 school year. Since the school program has been offered in the Deh Cho region, there have been 23 graduates. This May, we will see 16 more toss their caps into the air. Also, Mr. Speaker, the Deh Cho Divisional Board of Education has been successful in getting the community teacher education program. This program will be offered in Fort Simpson and in Fort Providence.

(Translation) Mr. Speaker, my time has lapsed and I would appreciate it if the Members would agree with me continuing to finish what I'm talking about.

Mr. Antoine is seeking unanimous consent to conclude his statement. Are there any nays? There are no nays. Continue, Mr. Antoine.

In the board's latest efforts to achieve autonomy, the attempts were being made to assume total responsibility of capital projects in the Deh Cho region. One such project was the renovation and addition to the Deh Gah Elementary/Secondary School in the Deh Cho region.

Mr. Speaker, education must be given priority in their endeavours to build and maintain the best learning environment for our children and those wishing to continue their education. The GNWT must also be consistent with their assistance as well. Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you. Item 3, Members' statements. Item 4, returns to oral questions. Ms. Cournoyea.

Mr. Speaker, I have a return to an oral question asked by Mrs. Marie-Jewell on March 28th regarding the consultant hired after forest fire management review.

Mr. Speaker, the consultant hired in November 1994 was Foulger Aviation Services Inc. A copy of the terms of reference for this contract will be tabled at the appropriate time.

I have another return to an oral question, Mr. Speaker, if I may proceed. It's an oral question asked by Mr. Zoe on March 27th, the plan of action -Mackenzie Regional Health Board. Mr. Speaker, the department is exploring the possibility of a health board for both the Deh Cho and Dogrib areas. Discussions are under way with the Dogrib Divisional Board of Education on an interesting proposal which could result in a new governance structure for the Dogrib region. A form of social council would have responsibility for all programs in the social envelope including Health and Social Services, Education, Culture and Employment, and community justice within the Department of Justice. This combined board of management for all social programs was suggested by the Dogrib Divisional Board of Education as a way of dealing with increased costs and as a way of providing one board with responsibility for those programs which have the greatest social impact on the community.

Mr. Speaker, discussions are under way with the Deh Cho Tribal Council about the establishment of a health board for the Deh Cho region. A meeting is planned for mid-April in the Deh Cho to explore the project in more detail. The Tribal Council has been informed that the department would like to see a model similar to that being discussed for the Dogrib region. I am confident that we can come up with a solution to this problem by the fall of 1995. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. This is a return to an oral question asked by Mr. Patterson on March 27, 1995 with regard to selection of consultants used by the Department of Education, Culture and Employment.

The department has entered into 32 consulting contracts since April 1, 1994, two of which were awarded to Avery Cooper Consulting. These two contracts were for a review of the interpreter/translator program and the evaluation of school/student accommodation services. Thank you.

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

Mr. Whitford, you have half a minute, but your time is up. So, do you want unanimous consent? Mr. Whitford.

En Francais.

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

Item 5, recognition of visitors in the gallery. Item 6, oral questions. Mr. Koe.

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. I have a question for the Minister of Health. In February 1994, Mr. Ballantyne and I asked questions about the review of pay scales for dental therapists and public health nurses. Both groups were involved in a transfer of health services from the federal government to this government and these groups were led to believe that there would be a review of their pay levels and probably some reclassification.

In February 1994, the then Minister of Health, Mr. Pollard, stated that he would review these issues and report back to this House by June or July of 1994. Mr. Speaker, it is now March 1995 and I'm not aware of what has been done to resolve these issues. So my question to the Minister of Health is what is the status of the review of the classification and pay rates of dental therapists and public health nurses?

Minister of Health and Social Services, Ms. Cournoyea.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to be more specific in my reply to the honourable Member. However, since there are collective agreement negotiations going on, I don't think it's the proper time to discuss any detail of the review, although I would like to let the Member know that we've done considerable work on those two particular positions. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you. Supplementary, Mr. Koe.

Can I ask the Minister, through supplementary, what time frame she is looking at to review this, especially the issue of dental therapists?

Ms. Cournoyea.

Mr. Speaker, I've been advised that once a collective agreement has been signed off, the department can conclude the work on the two professions the Member has asked about. Thank you.

Thank you. Supplementary, Mr. Koe.

May I ask the Minister, then, what is the status of the collective agreement negotiations? When is this supposedly going to be resolved?

Ms. Cournoyea.

Mr. Speaker, I will have to take that question as notice.

The question has been taken as notice. Item 6, oral questions. Mrs. Marie-Jewell.

allow a family member to stay with a senior throughout their grieving period or throughout their illness and not be penalized for having to pay rent for that particular period. Thank you.

Minister responsible for the Housing Corporation, Mr. Morin.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Yes, we can consider that. Thank you.

Item 6, oral questions. Mr. Patterson.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My question is for the Minister of Personnel. Mr. Speaker, I usually try to give notice of questions to Ministers, but today I haven't given the Minister any notice of this because of the way my constituents were treated. In the past month, several of my constituents, who are employees of the GNWT, were given notice in the form of a note posted on their door on March 3rd saying they had to be out of the premises on March 31st because the lease had terminated. I would like to ask the Minister of Personnel, is that a fair way to treat an employee? Thank you.

Minister of Personnel, Ms. Cournoyea.

Mr. Speaker, I'm not knowledgeable of that circumstance so I'll take the question as notice and check into it. Thank you.

Thank you. The question has been taken as notice. Item 6, oral questions. Mrs. Marie-Jewell.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, we all know that it is the plan of the Housing Corporation to take over staff housing for the government, which was a departmental responsibility of Personnel. I would like to ask the Minister of DPM since a lot of DPW staff have taken the responsibility of looking after staff housing in the past, is there a plan to transfer DPW staff to the Housing Corporation? I would like to ask the Minister of DPW what he plans to do with the staff who have had the responsibility for maintenance of staff housing. What will happen to the staff of DPW? Thank you.

Minister responsible for Government Services and Public Works, Mr. Morin.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. We have transferred the responsibility of the administration of staff housing to the Housing Corporation. We're also looking at the best vehicle for maintenance of staff units as well as maintenance of government buildings in our communities, how to get the best system in place to maintain all of the capital infrastructure. We are working on that now and how we can accomplish that should be known by June. It may vary in different communities; it depends on the community on which way we can solve the problem the best. Thank you.

Thank you. Supplementary, Mrs. Marie- Jewell.

Just for clarification, Mr. Speaker, is it fair to say that, in addition to the many responsibilities of the housing authorities in the communities for maintenance of public housing, the responsibilities of DPW staff may be transferred to the housing authorities to ensure that maintenance of staff housing can be addressed, which has been transferred over to the Housing Corporation? Thank you.

Mr. Morin.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. We plan on working with the community and the staff to see which will be the best way to handle the situation. For example, in some communities, there are two or three maintenance people from the housing authority and they may or may not be union people. Then you have one or two maintenance people from DPW who are union. So we have to look at how we can mix this all together, serve the community the best and still treat our employees properly. Thank you.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My question is directed to the Minister of Public Works and Services. This is subsequent to my Member's statement regarding the high cost of gasoline. In the eastern Arctic, the rate of dependency on welfare is very high. The suicide rate among the Inuit people is the highest next to Dene and others in the country, Mr. Speaker.

The trapping industry is virtually destroyed by animal rights activists, but there are people who are dependent upon trapping and hunting, Mr. Speaker. We spend a substantial amount of money in trying to deal with health problems in the country, especially in this particular jurisdiction. Too much free time can be very difficult for young people, Mr. Speaker. Hunting is healthy. Country food is no substitute, Mr. Speaker, for canned food that we buy in stores. What is the honourable Minister doing to try to solve the problem of the high cost of gasoline in the eastern Arctic? Thank you.

Minister of Public Works and Services, Mr. Morin.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. At the present time, we are finishing a review of all the petroleum products and cross-subsidy in the Northwest Territories. Hopefully, in the very near future, I will be able to take a paper to Cabinet and try to get some recommendations on how we are going to restructure the pricing of fuel and gasoline in all of our communities that are off-highway and serviced by POL.

Right now, the subsidy is based on the price of fuel in the community and the price of delivering that gas. We were instructed to look at all the costs that surround keeping the liquid in the community as well. So we have to look at the capital costs and come up with a price structure and a subsidized program that does make sense. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you. Supplementary, Mr. Ningark.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As the Premier is aware and my colleague from the Kitikmeot region, Mr. Ng, is aware, almost every meeting we have attended with the Kitikmeot Regional Council, there is an outcry from the delegates because of the high cost of gasoline. Mr. Speaker, how soon will the honourable Minister bring the matter before Cabinet?

Mr. Morin.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Fairly soon my department will be briefing me on this issue. Then I will speak to Members about it and then take it to Cabinet. Hopefully, we will get it done by June. I would just like to assure the Member, as well as other Members of this House, that we wouldn't make any drastic changes to anything until we consult with Members. Thank you.

Thank you. Item 6, oral questions. Supplementary, Mr. Ningark.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Will the honourable Minister assure me that he will bring the matter to Cabinet by June? Thank you.

Mr. Morin.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Yes, I will assure the Member that we will deal with it by June. Thank you.

---Applause

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My question is to the Minister of Public Works and Services. Mr. Speaker, I was heartened to hear the Minister state in reply to Mr. Ningark that he would be involving Members in possible changes to the POL system in the Northwest Territories. I have written the Minister about this. I understand that a consultant was commissioned by the department to review various options associated with the takeover of MOT POL facilities in lqaluit. I would like to ask the Minister if he would be willing to make that consultant's report available to me. Thank you.

Minister of Public Works and Services, Mr. Morin.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like it made available to myself first. So once I get a chance to see it, I will talk to the Member about it. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

So that means you have to read it.

Item 6, oral questions. Mr. Ningark.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My question is directed to the honourable Minister of Health and Social Services. About two years ago, I brought the matter before this House regarding the delays in old age pension cheques. Again, this year I brought the matter before the Minister. From the community of Gjoa Haven, I have received correspondence dated March 29, 1995 of the same matter. People are not receiving pension cheques on time, Mr. Speaker. My question is has the honourable Minister communicated with his counterparts regarding the matter? Thank you.

Minister of Health and Social Services, Ms. Cournoyea.

Thank you. Supplementary, Mr. Ningark.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Perhaps the federal government is incapable of meeting the deadline to bring the elders' pension cheques to the elders on time, Mr. Speaker. Perhaps, Mr. Speaker, the honourable Minister can communicate with her federal counterparts and offer them the alternative and have this jurisdiction issue the cheques to the residents of the NWT. Thank you.

Ms. Cournoyea.

Mr. Speaker, I don't know if that is possible. It is a federal program offered all across the provincial jurisdictions. There will be a meeting of Health and Social Services Ministers soon and some discussions will be how do you apply the overall standards to the various jurisdictions. This isn't on the agenda, however, I will commit to continue to follow up with the federal government to look at better ways of making sure that the pension cheques arrive on time. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my question is to the Premier and it is regarding the polar continental shelf project. As Members are aware, the polar continental shelf project has gone on for many years and the federal government, through Natural Resources Canada, provide logistical support to an amazing number of scientific experiments and projects in the Northwest Territories. I think it's probably time for an update from the government on exactly how much money has been spent on this project, what sort of input our government has into the experimental projects that go on and how we're able to access the information that has been collected over the years. If I could ask if the Minister could provide this House with an update on the activity of the polar continental shelf project.

Madam Premier.

Mr. Speaker, I can do that, but I can't do it on my feet. I understand part of the program. I know very well, particularly in Tuktoyaktuk, that they operated very, very independently from the community, very independently from anyone in the Northwest Territories. However, it was seen as a research centre that was valuable to the Northwest Territories. I will commit to provide an update to this House. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My question is for the Premier. Mr. Speaker, it seems that every day there are new revelations about just how the new federal budget will impact on the people of the Northwest Territories. We're getting bits and pieces of information from here and there. I'd like to ask the Premier, does this government have a method of monitoring the impact of federal budget decisions on the Northwest Territories? Thank you.

Madam Premier.

Mr. Speaker, as I've expressed to the House on several occasions, I expect that the various departments and the Ministers would try to follow through on the specific programs that relate to the function of their department, or attached functions or are complementary to the functions of the department. The Minister of Finance has set up an internal team to try to monitor, under the Department of Finance, just exactly what those cuts will be. As the Member, from his experience, will know, sometimes it's very difficult to get immediate response because it appears the direction is to cut, but then the departments in the federal regime are left to make those cuts. Sometimes they don't know until later where they're going to meet their budget allocations.

So we're trying to very hard to keep track of what is going on within the department and with overall planning in the Department of Finance. That's one of the reasons Mr. Pollard is in Ottawa right now, because he had an indication that the community futures program may be on the block and that if we didn't very quickly make representation; that we stood to lose it. So, it's looked at overall and monitored by the Minister of Finance. However, each program department tries to zero in on what is relative to their job functions. That's the way we're handling it now. When we have indicators that there's a problem, we try to get down to deal with the federal Minister responsible as soon as possible. That's how we're dealing with it right at the moment. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you. Supplementary, Mr. Patterson.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to thank the Premier for that informative answer. I was speaking earlier today about my concern about cutbacks to the CBC in the north. I understand that CBC North is facing possible cutbacks of 25 per cent in the coming year, after having pared its administration to the bone in previous years. I would like to ask the Premier, which Minister or department within our government would be responsible for monitoring cutbacks in the CBC and perhaps representing the concerns of the Northwest Territories if cuts should affect us?

Thank you. Item 6, oral questions. Mr.

Madam Premier.

Mr. Speaker, I've been trying to find out exactly what is happening in the CBC and how it has been affecting us. I know there has been some concern expressed, particularly in the central Arctic that has been promised some facilities and operation money. There is quite a bit of worry in the regional operations so the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment and I are both very concerned about whether those cuts will happen. It would be myself, primarily, and then the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment who are dealing with this.

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

(Translation) Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I have a question for the Minister of Health and Social Services. In the eastern Arctic, we all know that food prices are very high in the northern stores. The communities I represent get their food shipped by airlines and this has very much increased the costs of food in the stores of the three communities I represent. I would like to ask the Minister what differences there are in the food prices from southern companies. I would like to ask the Minister if she has looked into this to see if there is any difference between the food prices in the north and in the southern stores. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Minister of Health and Social Services, Madam Premier.

Mr. Speaker, I can assure the Member without any hesitancy that the food prices in the southern stores are much different than the food prices in Arctic Canada and, in a lot of communities, substantially different. What the government tries to do overall, in terms of social assistance, is the cost of the food is calculated the best we can. I know it is not always as generous as people would like to see, but we try to take that into account. I believe more and more, this government is trying to determine the cost of living, from housing to food, general maintenance of homes and livelihood, and is trying to incorporate some fairness in terms of subsidies.

For example, in Pelly Bay, we have a subsidy because the only way foodstuffs get into the region are through air flights. Just recently, we've done some experiments and tried to bring the food in by barge. The other thing, too, that's available in a lot of the communities -- and we're trying to get an understanding of who is aware of it and who is using it -- is the food freight subsidy which is available to everybody, including stores. There's a subsidy for bringing in fresh food and some foodstuffs. I've asked recently whether that subsidy is being translated into lower costs at stores for individuals. This is not a big study with a consultant, I'm just asking those questions to get a breakdown. I will try to have more detail in a few days to see where we are with that. There are substantial differences and we recognize that, Mr. Speaker. Thank you.

Thank you. Supplementary, Mr. Pudlat.

(Translation) Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Supplementary to the same Minister. She indicated that she has put out a study as to what kind of differences there are in the food prices, and a lot of my constituents would like to see this study that has been done. Can the Minister indicate to the House whether she can give me the information that she said has been put out in that study? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Ms. Cournoyea.

Mr. Speaker, I will provide for the Member the latest cost of living rates as soon as possible, perhaps later today or tomorrow. Thank you.

Item 6, oral questions. Mr. Lewis.

Minister responsible for Intergovernmental and Aboriginal Affairs, Mr. Kakfwi.