Thank you, Mr. Ningark. Good morning, Members. It is my understanding that the Commissioner of the Northwest Territories is prepared to give assent to bills. Mr. Clerk, would you ascertain if Her Honour, the Commissioner of the Northwest Territories, is prepared to enter the Chamber to assent to bills?

Assent To Bill 18

As Commissioner of the Northwest Territories, it gives me pleasure to assent to the following bill: Bill 18, Northwest Territories Energy Corporation Limited Loan Guarantee Act. Thank you.

---Applause

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

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. I've taken an interest in medication, health, economics and, of course, accountability. Today, however, my statement is about health, Mr. Speaker.

This is a letter from the University of Toronto addressed to me from Tom Rohan, professor in the Department of Preventative Medicine.

"Every year thousands of Canadians develop diseases such as cancer, heart disease and diabetes. The conditions appear to be related to the way in which people live, our eating and drinking habits and exercise patterns. Therefore, it is thought that by modifying our diet and lifestyle, it might be possible both to prevent some of these diseases and to allow us to live more of our lives in good health.

"Researchers at several Canadian universities, Alberta, BC, Toronto and Western, presently carry out jointly one of the largest studies to date to investigate the effects of eating patterns and other lifestyle factors on future health. The study, called the Canadian study of diet and lifestyle on health, has been coordinated by the Department of Preventative Medicine at the University of Toronto. In order to carry out the study, we must recruit approximately 100,000 adults from across Canada. Our purpose in writing to you now is to see if you would be willing to be a participant."

Being a good democrat and believing in participating in the life of this country, then, of course, I need to get some advice from Members. This is the crucial paragraph, Mr. Speaker.

"To participate, all that you need to do is complete the two questionnaires, one dietary and one lifestyle, which accompany this letter and to place a few strands of your hair (including the roots) in the small envelope marked "hair" and some cuttings from each of your toenails in the small envelope marked "toenails." Then, seal the questionnaires and the small envelopes in the large addressed envelope and mail them back to us. Postage has been prepaid.

"It is estimated that it will take you one hour to complete the questionnaires. Please be assured that the information you provide will be treated completely confidentially."

I have about 12 seconds, Mr. Speaker. I need unanimous consent to complete this statement because I need some advice.

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

Mr. Speaker, there has been a tremendous amount of concern expressed over the last three years, especially over the last three months, about who owns the patent for recreating each individual that we are through DNA. So, my dilemma is this: being a good democrat and wanting to participate in a health survey, I would, in fact, be giving to somebody who I don't know, my genetic make-up so that some time in the future, I could be recreated...

---Laughter

Oh no!

One is enough.

So I have a dilemma because I really believe in health and I think the Canadian health establishment is incredibly good. We have some of the best medical research going on in this country, in the world, Mr. Speaker. But, as an individual, I worry about the ownership of my genetic make-up. I wonder whether I should send this to somebody, giving somebody else, voluntarily through this letter, this information, clippings from every one of my toenails. And by the way, I do

have some. My nails are kind of gone, but my toenails are still intact. My hair is receding and I can't afford to give up very much of it.

So, I would like to ask for some advice over the next day or two about whether, in fact, I should be a good democrat and participate to help advance science in this country, or whether I should be cautious and not give up the means by which I could be recreated some time in the future. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

---Laughter

---Applause

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

I have to make one, Mr. Speaker, because it's Friday and especially now that you're in the chair. Mr. Speaker, I rise to speak about a death in my constituency and a setback for agriculture and farming in Baffin Island. Mr. Speaker, Abigail of the Arctic, Bill Mackenzie's pig, not to be confused with other swine...

---Laughter

...died this past week. I wasn't referring to any honourable Member, Mr. Speaker.

---Laughter

I have spoken before in this Chamber about Abigail, much beloved by the children of Iqaluit and Apex, nurtured and cared for for seven and a half years by Bill Mackenzie, Esq., the lord of Apex Hill.

---Laughter

She was a Hampshire pig, 700 pounds at her prime, given to Bill by his friend and neighbour, Marcel Mahe, as a 21-pound piglet as a surprise birthday present. Bill tells me that he knows it was utterly foolish for him to have kept the pig and cared for Abigail over the years because it cost him a fortune. In fact, friends of Bill, notably Mr. Bryan Pearson, tell me that the cost of food, hay and labour for caring for Abigail of the Arctic over the years has been calculated at $240,000. Just recently, in fact, Bill arranged to ship in tons of fish scrap from the Pangnirtung fish plant for Abigail.

I know that, for Bill, looking after Abigail was a labour of love and he took good care of her. Many Inuit children would otherwise have never been able to see a live pig. Mr. Speaker, Bill was always terribly offended whenever anyone suggested that Abigail should become bacon or pork and I've been asked by several honourable Members who were providing condolences to me about Abigail's death whether Abigail had been eaten this week. I told my honourable friends that if they knew Bill Mackenzie, they would know that even asking that question is an insult to Bill and his beloved pet pig.

So, in the Scottish tradition, she was cremated last week on the slopes of Apex Hill in a spectacular funeral pyre with the aid of more than a few sealift pallets and some stove oil and the remains were buried in a simple Presbyterian ceremony.

Bill tells me that to live almost eight years is notable for a pig, especially a pig in the Arctic. In fact, he noted that most pigs don't usually get the opportunity to live past their first year. Abigail's passing was noted by Peter Gzowski on Morningside yesterday by millions of listeners.

I would like to inform Members that there are still animals at the Mackenzie country estate: 50 pigeons; Billy Boy and Ma'Mselle, two goats; and many dogs. Bill Mackenzie continues to be a much-loved and respected resident of Apex Hill. His friends say that Bill was a little more subdued than usual this week but Bill tells me he will carry on. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

---Applause

Item 3, Members' statements. Mr. Ballantyne.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, today I want to talk about the EARP. As you know, it is in the process now of hearings on the BHP project. Members may recall that the panel was born in some controversy, there were a lot of delays. Finally, after much soul-searching, the federal Minister appointed four people. The four people, as Members know, are Letha McLaughlin, Walter Kupsch, Jessie Sloan and Cindy Gilday.

I remember after the announcements were made public, I got a lot of criticism from a lot of people about most of the members on that board. I heard major criticism from environmentalists about some people on the board, I heard major criticism from the Chamber of Commerce members and the mining industry about other people on the board. I made a speech to a fairly large crowd at the Chamber of Commerce a couple of months ago, and what I said there is something I think is necessary to repeat again.

At the end of the day, the board has been chosen. The people on the board all have extremely good credentials and there is a fair philosophical balance on the board. I'm proud of the fact that in my constituency live two members of that board, both Cindy Gilday and Jessie Sloan are from Yellowknife North and I want to publicly give a vote of confidence to both of them. They are both well-qualified, well-experienced people. The way the make-up of the board ended up was with three women of the four members on the board. That is major step forward for the Northwest Territories, to have a majority of women on a very, very important board.

Each member of that board should be judged on their own qualifications, on their own experience. At the end of the day, we are going to judge them on the product that they deliver. From everything I have heard, the hearings are proceeding very well. There seems to be goodwill among the members. I have every confidence that each member will be objective, will bring their experience to bear. My major message here today, the same message I gave to the Chamber of Commerce, is we have a good board, they are doing well, let them do their job.

Hear! Hear!

---Applause

Item 3, Members' statements. Item 4, returns to oral questions. Item 5, recognition of visitors in the gallery. Mr. Patterson.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I rise to recognize a well-known, familiar figure in this Legislature who represents the interests of organized workers in the Northwest Territories, Mr. Ben McDonald.

---Applause

Item 5, recognition of visitors in the gallery. Sergeant-at-Arms, I have noticed that there is blockage of the doors. Members, the doors are there for emergency purposes and I don't think they should be blocked like that when Members are in the Chamber. Could you do something about it? Item 6, oral questions. Mr. Whitford.

Minister of Transportation, Mr. Todd.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As the honourable Member has said, the policy has been in place effective April 1st. Right now, I am not sure how many people will be affected because their licences and renewal licences are based upon birth dates. What I will commit to is try to, as quickly as possible, look at the amount of revenue that would be generated from this and see if there is some way that we can reconsider this kind of policy. But I cannot put a stop to it immediately at this time. Thank you.

Item 6, oral questions. Mr. Zoe.

Minister of Renewable Resources, Mr. Arngna'naaq.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I believe that, according to our rules, I have until the 25th of April. But I will certainly will get a response to Mr. Zoe on his written question, probably Monday morning. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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

Mr. Arngna'naaq.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I think the information that the Member is seeking is readily available, so we should be able to come up with a response late today. Thank you.

Thank you. Item 6, oral questions.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I have a question for the Premier. Mr. Speaker, it has become more and more obvious to me that we, the Legislative Assembly, are becoming mired in the quicksand of what I call the three P's of politics: policies, procedures and process. I guess my point is that we can contemplate our own navels, and beat each other up with negative criticisms of each other for only so long. It seems to me that we now need that vision, that leadership, to get us out of this quicksand.

Hear! Hear!

I made a suggestion in a Member's statement earlier in the week that perhaps it is time for the Government Leader to use her office to get her Cabinet Ministers together with groups of aboriginal and non-aboriginal businessmen, and start to raise the profile of the north, start to beat the drums of the north, and start to get out there in Canada and other places in the world to put the NWT on the map. Would the Premier consider a high-profile approach between now and the election to bring a positive element to the development of the Northwest Territories? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

---Applause

Madam Premier.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I appreciate that comment and I fully agree with the honourable Member. Over the last number of months, we have been trying to put together such a strategy, with Minister Todd as the lead Minister, to try to come up with a higher-profile media strategy for developing a focus on the NWT, as the honourable Member has indicated, and we will continue to do so. We intend to try to polish that up over the next few weeks. However, Mr. Speaker, it is very difficult for us to have time when we are in session. You know our time is dedicated fully to the House. Once we are out of the House, we will attempt to polish off the work and focus on carrying forward that strategy. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I am following up on some questions asked earlier this session by Mr. Allooloo to the Minister responsible for the FMBS, Mr. Pollard. I understand that in order to smooth the way for the employment of a maximum number of summer students in all parts of the Northwest Territories this summer, we need to secure the cooperation and goodwill of the UNW to make sure that the letter and law of the collective agreement doesn't pose barriers for this worthwhile goal of employing summer students. Could the Minister give a status report on discussions, which I understand have been taking place with the UNW, to smooth

the way for employment of maximum numbers of summer students this year? Thank you.

Thank you. Chairman of the Financial Management Board, Mr. Pollard.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Good morning. Mr. Speaker, there are a number of issues. The students have said to us in the past, you assist us with loans, grants and contributions to help us get an education. Some of us would like to come back to the Northwest Territories and earn some money so that we can pay for part of our education. Some of them specifically request work in the area that they are training in, so they can get some on-the-job experience.

Certainly, the government has, over the years, tried to accommodate those students. At the same time, Mr. Speaker, the UNW, rightfully so, has certain rules and regulations in the collective agreement with regard to casual positions and obviously they want to protect their members.

The other issue becomes -- and that has been raised by Mr. Allooloo -- the amount of funds and the rate of pay that is paid to students. Mr. Allooloo contends that in his area if the rates were lower, there could be more students hired and the wealth spread around.

There is another contributing factor to this problem, Mr. Speaker, albeit a good-news problem. In 1992, we were at 416 placements; in 1993, 668; and, in 1994, 785. So there are more students out there looking for summer work. I don't need to reiterate to the House that there has been an uptake in education and Mr. Nerysoo is dealing with that.

So we have all these factors pressuring us. We are dealing with the Department of Personnel with regard to resolving our own in-house situation. We are discussing that with the Department of Education and we will raise the issue with the UNW at our earlier convenience, Mr. Speaker. Thank you.

Supplementary, Mr. Patterson.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I believe another honourable Member pointed out earlier in this session that the time to resolve these questions is now, since students who are out at school are going to be finished soon. I would like to ask the Minister if he is expecting that these issues can be resolved expeditiously before the students return to the north in the next week or so. Thank you.

Mr. Pollard.

Mr. Speaker, we anticipate having as much success as we had last year, which was 785 placements. We are doing everything we can under the existing rules and

regulations to get as many of these students into these positions that become available in the summer. I can't say that we will resolve the issue with the UNW in that short time frame, although we will attempt to raise this issue with the UNW and look for a more long-term solution. Right now, I am interested in trying to use the existing rules and regulations properly and effectively and, in collaboration with the Premier and Mr. Nerysoo, place as many of those students as possible. Thank you.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My question is for the Minister of Energy, Mines and Petroleum Resources. Mr. Speaker, earlier in the session, I asked the Minister the amount of royalties the federal government plan to receive from mines and he did provide me with that information. However, I would like to ask the Minister for the total amount the federal government is receiving from oil and gas royalties in the Northwest Territories today. Thank you.

Minister of Energy, Mines and Petroleum Resources, Mr. Todd.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I will take that question as notice. I don't have that number at my fingertips. I want to make sure that I give the honourable Member an accurate reflection of the records. Thank you.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I had asked the Minister of Transportation earlier in this session about emergency response services and whether they might be modified in my constituency, the major airport in my constituency, as a result of Transport Canada reviewing its guidelines. I would like to ask the Minister if he can give me a status report on the ERS services at Iqaluit. Thank you.

Mr. Todd.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I did answer a question raised by the honourable Member earlier in the week with these current negotiations on the nine Arctic A airports and whether the current level of service would be maintained in those airports. It is certainly our desire to do that. I know there have been news releases out recently indicating that there may be significant cutbacks in the coming months. I would like to assure the honourable Member that we will be taking every steps we can in the final days of these negotiations that we are now in, to try to retain the base funding that is necessary to maintain the current level of service in each of these airports. Mr. Patterson's particular airport is one that we are paying special attention to. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Supplementary, Mr. Patterson.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I am grateful for that response. Do I understand correctly that the whole strategy of the Department of Transportation in these negotiations is, in fact, to secure a transfer preserving, as much as possible, the present level of services provided by MOT to the Arctic A airports, so that cuts that are being discussed and forecast elsewhere in Canada may be spared for the vital airports that serve the Northwest Territories? Is that the strategy of the Minister in these negotiations?

Thank you. Mr. Todd.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I believe I have indicated on a number of occasions, when the Arctic A transfer was taking place, but I don't know whether it was by good management or accident that we have managed to maintain the adequate base funding to maintain the current level of services of these airports. We have been in intense negotiations for two years. We are at the final strokes of trying to work out some of the smaller details of the transfer. I am optimistic and confident that the arrangement that has been reached between our department and the feds is going to provide us with adequate resources to maintain the current level of services at the airport in Iqaluit. Thank you.

Thank you. Item 6, oral questions. Ms. Mike.

(Translation) Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I have a question for the Minister of MACA. During the month of February when the session first started, I asked Mr. Arngna'naaq if there would be any funding available for hunters' and trappers' associations. When we were considering MACA's budget, I asked him that question again. I hadn't received a response from the previous Minister. Now I would like to ask the current Minister of MACA whether he could provide some funding for hunters from Broughton Island to travel to Pangnirtung. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Minister of Municipal and Community Affairs, Mr. Ng. Mr. Mike, just for clarification, did you ask the question of the Minister of MACA or Renewable Resources?

(Translation) Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I'm asking my question of the Minister of MACA.

I'm sorry, it's to the Minister of Renewable Resources. I think the translation was incorrect. Minister of Renewable Resources, Mr. Arngna'naaq.

(Translation) Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I responded to Ms. Mike's written question and indicated there would be some funding available for hunters. I indicated there would be some funding provided for hunters in the Baffin. I talked to my official in the Baffin and he indicated to me that he would find some funding for the hunters. The superintendent for Renewable Resources will be looking after this. Thank you.

Supplementary, Ms. Mike.

(Translation) Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I still have not received any written response from the Minister. The Broughton Island Hunters' and Trappers' Association has indicated that they have been requesting funding; however, they were told there was no funding available. When will the Minister tell the hunters' and trappers' associations that there is funding available now? Thank you.

Mr. Arngna'naaq.

(Translation) Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I will be giving a written response to the request of the hunters' and trappers' associations and they should be getting the funding as soon as possible. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My question is to the Premier. I've already said many times that I'm a democrat and the will of the House was expressed yesterday in defeating the principle of recall. But since this issue was referred to the Premier through a motion in this House as a result of the work of the Standing Committee on Rules, Procedures and Privileges, the government developed an action paper. Is it still the intent of the government to proceed with that bill?

Madam Premier.

Mr. Speaker, yes, it is.

Supplementary, Mr. Lewis.

Is it the intention of the Premier to get that bill completed so that Members of this Assembly will have a chance to look at it if we meet in June?

Madam Premier.

Mr. Speaker, as I've stated before, that's the intention. Members will have the opportunity to have access to the paper in June or before June.

Supplementary, Mr. Lewis.

Madam Premier.

Mr. Speaker, the intent is to follow up on the referral from the Standing Committee on Rules, Privileges and Procedures to get all the issues on the table, the pros and cons.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My question is for the Minister of Health and Social Services and is with regard to a statement that my honourable colleague, Mr. Zoe, made a few days ago about the flesh eating disease called Necrotizing Fasciitis. This deadly disease came to our attention when the leader of the Bloc Quebecois, Lucien Bouchard was infected with this disease this winter. Recently, closer to home, a young man from my honourable colleague Mr. Zoe's riding was infected with it. This is a big concern for people in the north. How serious is this disease and what can the Minister of Health tell this House about it? Thank you.

Minister of Health and Social Services, Madam Premier.

Mr. Speaker, I know that something of this nature causes a great deal of concern. My understanding of this disease is that it affects perhaps one in one million, although it was given quite a bit of media hype when the leader of the opposition party was affected. This is

not an unknown disease, although there are mysteries about it, such as how it actually starts. There are some medical records written about the particular disease which can be made known. There is some speculation about how it begins and whether it is considered a virus which attacks during certain conditions, but there is still a great deal of mystery about it.

I can provide the Member with some of the material I have had access to, it's not difficult to read. I can assure the Member that although it came into the public eye recently, it's not a disease that was totally unknown. I would be pleased to provide some of the written material that I have to any Member who is interested. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you. Supplementary, Mr. Antoine.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I'm not a medical expert of any kind at all, but this concern has struck close to home and a lot of people are going to be concerned about it. It's a mystery. To get this information out to the people is a big concern. If they don't have to worry about it, then this information should go out to the people. I would like to ask the Minister if this communication has gone out to the people, perhaps through the health workers, and if the health workers are aware of the different signs they have to watch out for when this deadly disease is detected. Thank you.

Madam Premier.

Mr. Speaker, when we were faced with this new condition, the regional medical health officers prepared a facts sheet for use by health care providers who may have to respond to public enquiries on this subject. It has been widely circulated to health care givers, particularly in the west, in the most urgent way of handling and getting the information out. The health centres are made aware of the issue. They have been provided with a facts sheet. Certainly, the medical health officers are prepared to provide more information if requested by any community or community group. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Item 6, oral questions. Mr. Patterson.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to ask the Premier a question about official languages. Mr. Speaker, I won't say wasted, but we took most of question period yesterday trying to get the Minister of Justice to agree that the cuts of half the person years in the vital legal interpreters program in his department would cripple court interpreting services, would jeopardize the right of the accused to a fair trial and would also probably be contrary to the Charter of Rights and would probably jeopardize the amendment to the Jury Act allowing for unilingual juries. Mr. Kakfwi basically said he had no option. He had to cut. So I would like to ask the Premier, who is responsible for official languages if anyone in the Government of the Northwest Territories has taken a look at the money being spent on official languages in all areas of the government's services and tried to set priorities so that vital programs like legal interpreting can be preserved over lesser priorities. Has that assessment and priority-setting exercise been done by the official languages unit? Thank you.

Madam Premier.

Mr. Speaker, I felt certain that the Minister of Justice had answered the questions very well. In the area of interpretation on how we are going to proceed in providing the service, it has been discussed very extensively and the role of providing education, teaching and learning is with the Department of Education, Culture and Employment. The need for terminology development is also complemented in the Department of Education, Culture and Employment in the delivery of programs, and this is where the education and the advancement in these areas has been directed to, so that we can consolidate not only the needs of health terminology, legal terminology but just general development of language. These resources are directed at the Department of Education, Culture and Employment who will be incorporating all these requirements in a program so that the advancement of knowledge and development in terminology is not brushed to the side but coordinated and enhanced by education, training and employment within that department. That is the intention because rather than having three different departments doing terminology development, it is incorporated in the Department of Education, Culture and Employment. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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

Mr. Speaker, I understand that all the decisions have been made and everything is going to be okay. Education, Culture and Employment is going to look after terminology and training, the official languages unit is going to look after the court interpreting requirements. I would like to ask the Premier then, because we are all aware that we have less money to spend in this area of official languages, what on earth is the government doing spending 45,000 precious public dollars studying the training function for interpreters through the firm of Avery Cooper if everything has already been decided and all the ducks are lined up and everything is okay? Why are we wasting money with a study when according to the Premier and the Minister of Justice, it's all been figured out. Everything is okay. Calm down, Members; you have no reason to ask questions. Why are we still studying the problem at great expense if it's all been worked out internally and everything is okay? Thank you.

Madam Premier.

Mr. Speaker, I did not, in my response to the Member, say that everything is okay and everything is worked out. I said that we are trying to consolidate and put in one area to deal with the related issues. In terms of the study, I suggest that the honourable Minister of Education, Culture and Employment should address that issue because this is where the consolidation of this particular area of the development of language is. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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

Mr. Speaker, I am going to go back to my first question which was about the overall setting of priorities. The honourable Minister, with respect, I think has kind of done what Mr. Kakfwi did yesterday and compartmentalized or departmentalized the question by saying, this department is doing that, this department is doing that and we have an interdepartmental committee reviewing this question. I would like to again ask the Premier because she's responsible for official languages overall. I presume it's in the Premier's office so somebody can provide overall direction about priorities. Has the official languages unit sat down and decided, with less money, what are going to be the priorities and what are not going to be the priorities? Has that evaluation and global assessment been done? Thank you.

Madam Premier.

Mr. Speaker, that is what we are attempting to do. Thank you.

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

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to hear that the Premier has said, we are attempting to set overall priorities, decide what is important and perhaps what is less important. So I have to ask the Premier, if, as in her words, we are attempting to do that now, -- and I think Members on this side of the House would welcome it -- then why on earth is Mr. Kakfwi wielding the axe and cutting positions if the overall priority-setting exercise still is being done as we speak? Why would positions be cut before the overall evaluation and assessment that the Premier has referred to is concluded? Thank you.

Madam Premier.

Mr. Speaker, as I have indicated to the House on numerous occasions, we are attempting to not departmentalize the programs we have, but work in an approach where we can get the most for the dollars we have. Because of that issue and in terms of putting their resources together, the Minister of Justice has concluded that the same type of job that was done previously, regarding terminology development, could be done without the people who were terminated in his area of responsibility. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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

Mr. Speaker, I may be treading on sacred cows with this question, but we have already been talking about pigs this morning, so I will dare to do so. I would like to ask the Premier, as Minister responsible overall for official languages in the Northwest Territories, how much does it cost the Legislative Assembly to provide simultaneous interpreting services for proceedings in this Chamber on an annual basis? Thank you.

Thank you. Madam Premier.

Mr. Speaker, I will take that question as notice. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you. The question was taken as notice. Item 6, oral questions. Item 7, written questions. Item 8, returns to written questions. Item 9, replies to opening address. Item 10, petitions. Mr. Dent.

Item 10, petitions. Item 11, reports of standing and special committees. Item 12, reports of committees on the review of bills. Item 13, tabling of documents. Mr. Nerysoo.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I wish to table Tabled Document 86-12(7) entitled Community Choices: Laying the Foundation for Income Support Reform - Minister's Forum on Income Support Reform,

April 1995, in English and Inuktitut.

Thank you. Item 13, tabling of documents. Mr. Arngna'naaq. Mr. Kakfwi, your point of order.

Point Of Order

(Microphones turned off)

Speaker's Ruling

I would like to thank the Member for bringing the issue up. First of all, I would like to say that I thank the Members for the respect and confidence that they have in me by selecting me. I do review the unedited Hansard on a daily basis. I review the unedited Hansard, so as to make every effort to ensure that, as Speaker, I am upholding the rules and practices and being understanding of the actions of Members of this House.

In addition, I want to be sure that the chair is not, by any action or omission, bringing into question its impartiality or sound judgement. As Speaker, if I find that I have made an error in judgement or have provided the House with information that is not correct, I believe I am bound to advise the House and admit my mistakes so as to ensure that I am serving the Members to the best of my ability.

As Members will recall, yesterday during question period, the Member for Thebacha raised a question to the Minister of Finance concerning inclusion of Metis health benefits funding in the interim supply bill. The questions and supplementaries to Oral Question 428-12(7) are contained on pages 2050 to 2053. During the exchange, the chair advised the Member for Thebacha that her second supplementary question may have been hypothetical. I would like to quote my comments when I informed the Member, and I quote from page 2052 of unedited Hansard:

"Can I ask, Mrs. Marie-Jewell, if you could rephrase the question? I believe the question is hypothetical. Perhaps the question should be if the budget is approved. Can you rephrase your question?"

The point that has given me concern was the response by the Member for Thebacha to my statement on the admissibility of her second supplementary. I quote the Member's comments from page 2052 of unedited Hansard:

"I don't believe that is hypothetical. But, Mr. Speaker, I know I shouldn't question your ruling. I would like to ask the Minister of Finance whether or not he will consider giving Metis people reimbursement of funds for the expenses they incurred as of April 1st. Thank you."

I should note again that I asked the Member to rephrase her question, which she did, and was answered by the Minister.

I am sure the Member for Thebacha, as a former Speaker and occupant of this chair, understands that it is sometimes difficult for the Speaker to immediately comprehend procedural points and explain to an offending Member that they are out of order. As all Members are aware, the Speaker is protected against reflections on his or her actions, which is a question of privilege that is afforded the occupant of the chair. This is a long-standing practice, and I quote from Beauchesne's 6th edition, Citation 168; that:

"Reflections upon the character or actions of the Speaker may be punished as breaches of privilege. The actions of the Speaker cannot be criticized incidentally in debate or upon any form of proceeding except by way of a substantive motion."

I find that the Member for Thebacha's comments yesterday in question period were critical of my actions, and her qualification did not lessen the criticism. When I was elected as Speaker, I hoped that one of the reasons that Members voted for me was my demonstrated ability to be fair and understanding in all situations. In my term as Speaker, I was hoping and praying that there would not be reflections made on the actions I take while occupying the chair. I will not, however, spout my responsibility and it is unfortunate and not with any pleasure that I have to request the Member for Thebacha to withdraw her comments. Mrs. Marie-Jewell.

Mr. Speaker, as I had said in discussing this issue with you this morning, it wasn't my intention to question your ruling, as I had stated earlier. And I certainly want to assure the House that it certainly wasn't, and has not been, my intention to question your ruling. I do request that the comments be withdrawn, because they were not done with any type of intention on my part to question the ruling that was made, in formulating my question to the Minister of Finance. Thank you.

---Applause

Item 13, tabling of documents. Mr. Dent.