Proceed, Ms. Cournoyea.

It is a return to a question asked by Mr. Titus Allooloo on March 28th, regarding lapses under the languages agreement.

Mr. Allooloo asked about money lapsed under the 1993-94 budget for the Canada-NWT cooperation agreement for French and aboriginal languages and why this money was not used to contract consulting services.

Contract dollars were available under the 1993-94 French language budget, however, these contract dollars were to be used specifically for research on delivery models for French language services.

Due to difficulties in finding a qualified candidate, the project start date was delayed, resulting in a budget lapse of $63,671.

Though the lapse was forecast in advance of the end of the fiscal year, the terms of the past languages agreement were such that there was little flexibility to transfer funding.

The current languages agreement allows much more flexibility to transfer funds as needs arise. Thank you.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Good afternoon. Mr. Speaker, I have a return to a question asked by Mr. Koe on April 3, 1995, concerning the status of collective bargaining with the UNW in the Northwest Territories.

Mr. Speaker, the Government of the Northwest Territories and the UNW have been unable to negotiate a collective agreement. In January 1995, the parties met, with Mr. Vince Ready acting as a facilitator. The Government of the Northwest Territories and the UNW were unable to agree on the major salary, benefits and hours of work issues. Mr. Ready suggested that both parties proceed to arbitration.

Agreement has now been reached with the GNWT to appoint Mr. Vince Ready and Mr. Duncan Stewart as co-arbitrators, pursuant to section 41.5 of the Public Service Act. The arbitrators will have all the powers and authority of arbitrators under the Arbitration Act.

Pre-hearing briefs will be exchanged between the parties on April 28, 1995 with copies submitted to the arbitrators. Rebuttal briefs will be exchanged on May 5, 1995. The arbitration hearing will occur on May 9 and 10, 1995. The arbitrators will have up to three months to make an award that will set the terms for the new collective agreement. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I have a return to an oral question asked by Mr. Koe on authority for collecting damage deposits by local housing authorities.

The authority to collect damage or security deposits is provided by section 14 of the Residential Tenancies Act. The handling of security deposits is regulated by sections 15 to 18 of this act. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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

I am happy to see that Ben McDonald is back, Mr. Speaker. Ben McDonald with the Union of Northern Workers.

---Applause

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My question is for the Minister of Justice with regard to the legal interpreting program funds that were cut. Mr. Speaker, most Members are aware that there is a study now being done with the firm of Avery Cooper & Co., which was hired to conduct a review of all interpreter/translator programs in the government.

Currently there are three government departments that deal with interpreters and translators. Arctic College is one, under Education, Culture and Employment; Health; and, Justice. But this particular question is for the Minister of Justice. Obviously, this report would contain recommendations regarding the legal interpreting program in the Department of Justice; however, a decision has been made to cut the legal interpreting program when this report is not yet complete. So I would like to ask the Minister why was this decision to cut this legal interpreting program made in isolation of the global picture this report would have provided? Thank you.

Thank you. Minister of Justice, Mr. Kakfwi.

Thank you. Supplementary, Mr. Antoine.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. For months we have been waiting for a language handbook promised by the Premier. We still haven't seen it, but we have been promised it...(inaudible)...done by the government to take a cut, but not

as big a cut as was first anticipated, we realize that. But, why have decisions been made with the Department of Justice before this study with Avery Cooper & Co. is completed? This study would have perhaps made recommendations and given direction to the government on how to deal with this budget, which is not as big as it used to be. Thank you.

Mr. Kakfwi.

Supplementary, Mr. Antoine.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The Minister mentioned that there were two positions that were cut within the Department of Justice. I know there was a interpreter/translator position out of Fort Smith and a manager position. These are both positions in the Dene language terminology development positions. My understanding of these two position is they are key positions in trying to develop terminology within the legal system for Dene interpreters. The Minister said these were areas where his government could justify cutting these programs. I don't think so. I think these are two key areas. The Dene language interpreters were lagging way behind the Inuktitut language legal interpreters. These resources are now skewed from the east to the west. When he says that he can justify it, can he explain how cutting these two key positions could be justified and help the interpreters in trying to develop the terminology for legal interpreting? It is key in the west that we need more interpreters in the court system to help people in the west. Mahsi.

Mr. Kakfwi.

Final supplementary, Mr. Antoine.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. This department has already made decisions with regard to the legal interpreter/translator programs. For example, the Minister mentioned two positions that were cut. I know there are positions that have not been filled yet and are left vacant. So there are decisions already made in how they are going to deal with these cuts. What is the purpose of the firm Avery Cooper conducting a review of all interpreter/translator programs in the government? I know the government has put aside $45,000 to do this work. Before the review is done or any recommendations are put forward by this review group, the government departments have already made decisions to make cuts in some key areas. What is the purpose of this review? Thank you.

Mr. Kakfwi.