Thank you, Mr. Whitford. Our prayers are with the people. Good afternoon. I would like to take this opportunity to recognize eight young adults who have been serving as pages during this sitting. They were hired under the summer student program. The first one is Deegah-Yah Tatti, who is taking law enforcement; Colin Allooloo is going to RCMP college; Sheila Wong is taking architecture; Shane Poluk is taking business administration; and, Rosemary Mercredi is taking the teacher education program. She is over there. We also have Kylie Healy who is taking a Bachelor of Social Sciences; Sylvia Laviolette who is taking academic studies and Shelly Shiels who is taking secretarial arts. Did I say your name right? Shiels, sorry. So, those are our pages. Welcome to the Assembly.

---Applause

Orders of the day, item 2, Ministers' statements. Mr. Arngna'naaq.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I want to provide an update on the forest fire at Fort Norman.

Since this fire started two days ago, firefighting crews, both on the ground and in the air, have worked day and night to try to control the fire and protect the community. In spite of best efforts, the fire is now very close to the community.

Because of the dangerous conditions, all ground firefighting crews have been pulled off the fire. Helicopters are still dropping buckets of water. As soon as the visibility improves, the large air tankers will resume efforts to protect the community.

Mr. Speaker, this morning, the MLA for Sahtu, Honourable Stephen Kakfwi, and the Minister responsible for forest fire management, Honourable Don Morin, went to Norman Wells to meet with people who have been evacuated from Fort Norman and to look at the fire situation.

Early this morning everyone who was not needed to fight the fire was evacuated from Fort Norman. I take this opportunity to express support for those individuals who are fighting the fire and for those who have been forced to leave their homes temporarily.

Mr. Speaker, the hot and windy weather is expected to continue. As the weekend approaches, I want to remind everyone that the whole western Arctic is extremely dry. If possible, people who are out on the land should avoid having any kind of open fire. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

---Applause

Thank you, Mr. Arngna'naaq. Item 2, Ministers' statements. Ms. Cournoyea.

Mr. Speaker, I would just like to say once again that the Honourable Stephen Kakfwi and the Honourable Don Morin will be absent from the House today to review the forest fire situation in Fort Norman. Thank you.

Thank you. Item 2, Ministers' statements. Mr. Nerysoo.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The Canada/NWT infrastructure program is a two-year program designed to support the development and renewal of local infrastructure and to create training and employment opportunities. The agreement includes the commitment of approximately $5.4 million in Government of the Northwest Territories funding and an equal amount in federal contributions. Tax-based municipalities are also expected to contribute up to an additional $1.6 million, which would increase the total funding for infrastructure projects to over $12 million. The funding is divided between communities based on the number of working-aged people who were not employed in each community during the 1994 labour force survey. Minimum and maximum levels of funding for communities have been established.

This helps to ensure that smaller communities receive at least a minimum level of support even though their actual allocation based on the formula would be less. The program is being administered at the regional level by the Department of Education, Culture and Employment. Regional superintendents, in cooperation with the Department of Municipal and Community Affairs, have distributed information about the program to qualifying groups and organizations.

Local governments, band councils, designated land claim organizations, and public and private organizations were invited to participate by establishing community coordination groups in order to review, set priorities and recommend community proposals for funding. Every effort is made to encourage community consensus on proposals recommended for funding.

To date, Mr. Speaker, the co-management committee consisting of federal and territorial representatives has convened four times to review proposals. The meetings were held on November 9 and 30, 1994 and February 17 and March 31, 1995. A total of 61 proposals valued at nearly $6.8 million were approved from 35 communities in six regions.

Twenty five long-term and 290 short-term jobs have been created by these projects. All proposals which are reviewed received an environmental impact review and must demonstrate that any required ongoing operations and maintenance costs will be provided by the project sponsors.

Ongoing meetings of the co-management committee are scheduled as the need arises to assess submissions. As well, regions are encouraged to continuously advertise the program and solicit proposals from communities which have not spent their allocations. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Minister. Item 2, Ministers' statements. Item 3, Members' statements. Mrs. Marie-Jewell, your point of privilege.

Point Of Privilege

I have a point of privilege, Mr. Speaker, thank you. Pursuant to Rule 20(1), and with your permission, I would like to rise on a point of privilege to clarify a matter that was, once again, reported on the 7:30 and 8:30 newscasts on CBC Mackenzie.

Mr. Speaker, yesterday in committee of the whole, I withdrew a motion regarding the recommendation of a plebiscite question that should be put to the people of the Northwest Territories on the matter of raising the legal drinking age from 19 to 21 years. CBC failed to report the fact that the motion presented was withdrawn and instead stated that other MLAs voted against the plebiscite. Mr. Speaker, all Members are aware that there was no vote to hold a plebiscite. Once again, CBC has failed to report the accurate proceedings of this Assembly.

As I said yesterday in my point of privilege, Mr. Speaker, the media has the responsibility to report accurately comments and proceedings of this Assembly as their interpretation and reporting are of importance with regard to informing the public of what is happening in this Assembly. I want to advise the House of this issue and trust CBC in the future will make every effort to report accurate proceedings and comments and not sensationalize issues. Thank you.

---Applause

Thank you, Mrs. Marie-Jewell. Item 3, Members' statements. Mr. Koe.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to make a statement about recent disturbing events which will impact the north slope caribou calving area. Currently, the United States government is trying to come up with a budget for the next five years. United States President Clinton has submitted a proposal to Congress, who are now in a process of deciding where the money will come from to fuel that budget.

This proposed budget includes a new revenue item where about $1.4 billion will come from the selling of oil leases in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge and the so-called 10-02 lands, the Porcupine Caribou herd's calving grounds.

Mr. Speaker, the Gwich'in of Alaska, Yukon and Northwest Territories are very dependent on the Porcupine Caribou for cultural and economic survival. We are now in a situation whereby, once again, we have people in the south who are not directly impacted by the decision they make, making a decision about an area that is crucial to the lifestyles of northern peoples. The Gwich'in have depended on this caribou herd for hundreds of years.

For the US government to realize the $1.4 billion in revenues, they must remove the current bans on development of these disputed areas. The Gwich'in are adamantly opposed to this. As far as I know, the Canadian federal government also established a position in 1987 which supports that the 10-02 lands be protected. Apparently, this was confirmed in 1993 by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, the Honourable Andre Ouellett.

The United States President, Bill Clinton, also claims to protect the 10-02 lands and used this as part of his election campaign.

Mr. Koe.

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

Agreed.

---Agreed

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

Mahsi, colleagues. To date, both the governments of the Yukon and the Northwest Territories have supported this position. I hope that this government continues to support the Gwich'in in their fight to protect their heritage, their livelihood and economy by continuing to support the ban on development of the 10-02 lands, the home of the Porcupine Caribou. Mahsi.

---Applause

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

(Translation) Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Today I would like to talk about some of the problems facing families with custom adopted children. To describe these problems, I will use the community of Clyde River as an example. I am currently working with 13 families from Clyde River. Each of these families has at least one custom adopted child. These families are frustrated by the complications they have faced in trying to obtain birth certificates and social insurance numbers for these children. Some of these children are now of working age and are running into problems getting work, since they don't have social insurance numbers. (Translation ends)

Getting a social insurance number is a straightforward process for most people. However, for those who have been custom adopted, it can be a long and frustrating process, often ending without a positive result. I am now working with these families and the appropriate agencies here in Yellowknife to fix the situation. However, families should not have to go to their MLA to get help with birth certificates or social insurance numbers.

---Applause

Thank you, Ms. Mike. Mr. Whitford.

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

Thank you. Item 3, Members' statements. Mrs. Thompson.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Today I want to talk about the caribou harvesting project in Coral Harbour. The caribou population on Southampton Island has been increasing quite rapidly over the last decade. Since 1967, when 48 caribou were reintroduced to the island, the population has grown to over 13,000 in 1991 and to more than 32,000 in 1995.

A report prepared in 1975 suggested that the island's carrying capacity is 40,000 caribou.

A caribou harvest took place this spring, in an attempt to reduce the size of the herd, while at the same time providing employment to the residents of Coral Harbour. A portable facility was erected near the herd where the skinning, cutting and packaging of 2,300 caribou took place. Over 150,000 pounds of meat was then transported by skidoo to Coral Harbour, flown to Yellowknife and then trucked south.

I would like to commend the citizens of Coral Harbour for their hard work in helping to make this harvest a success. They were involved in almost every aspect of the process: hunting, skinning, cutting, packaging and transporting the meat. The harvest employed over 25 people from the community. I would also like to thank the territorial departments of Economic Development and Tourism; Education, Culture and Employment; Health and Social Services; and, Renewable Resources, as well as the federal departments of Indian Affairs and Northern Development and Agriculture for their cooperation and excellent coordination of the harvest. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

---Applause

Item 3, Members' statements. Mr. Ningark.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to advise the House that I will be absent from this House all day tomorrow because I'm tired...

---Laughter

No, because I'll be travelling to Cambridge Bay to attend the graduation ceremony of students of the Kitikmeot region from the teacher education program. Thank you.

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

Thanks, Mr. Speaker. This isn't a result of a formal constituency meeting but on my stroll through the streets of Yellowknife yesterday at noon hour and today at noon hour -- when I met my colleague Mr. Whitford who tried to claim my corner in the middle of the city -- I learned that one of the concerns that people have is this government has been thinking about introducing a sales tax.

I have tried to tell people that this is the last gasp of this government, there's nothing on the agenda, there is no legislation and no plans for this government to impose a sales tax in the few months that this 12th Assembly has left to live. I would like to point out though, Mr. Speaker, that all the great expectations of the goods and services tax imposed by the federal government some years ago have not produced the expected results and I would like to warn any future government that in our jurisdiction such a tax would really be regressive. Simply because, what happens when you put a tax on money that has already been taxed once in the form of personal income tax, what you are going to do is really reduce consumption, not just simply put money into the government coffers.

You are going to build up consumer resistance. They decide whether they are going to spend or not. Businesses get very upset when they see they have to charge ridiculous prices for things. You see sales where businesses say they'll swallow the GST and we won't have to pay that. It becomes a sales ploy or gimmick. We also have a very young population, Mr. Speaker. Older people like me have a fridge, a washing machine, furniture and all kinds of stuff because we've lived long enough and have earned enough money over a period of time to get the things we need to survive in our houses. But young people have to face a very uncertain future in terms of employment and the economy, and we should be very, very careful before we impose this kind of tax in this jurisdiction, given the kind of population we have, where half the people are below the age of 15. It is a population that really is very, very sensitive, a business community is just beginning to develop and I would warn any future government that it would not be a wise action to take. Thank you.

---Applause

Thank you. Item 3, Members' statements. Mr. Arngna'naaq.

(Translation) Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I am pleased to report to the House today on the excellent work being done in Baker Lake by Jacob Ikinilik and others. As we all realize, our elders who are rich in traditional knowledge and on-the-land skills are quickly being lost and our younger generations have not learned their ways. Without direct action the traditional ways will disappear. (Translation ends)

Over the winter, Mr. Ikinilik collected information from elders to include in the traditional lifeskills program that has begun in Baker Lake, organized by the volunteers and targeted students. The traditional camp has been set up and knowledgeable elders have been recruited as the role models for youth attending the camp. They were able to acquire some funding and make a feeble start in late February. A large two-room igloo was built near the community where youth and elders could spend time together. The school fully supported this program and the instructor allowed class time for classes to participate in this program.

I'm happy to see this cooperation and know they will have a very effective program. They are presently training young people in preparation of traditional meat. I am excited to see such initiatives coming out of Baker Lake. I have been working with the group and encourage them to continue.

My primary goal over the last four years has to been to ensure the cultural program in the school was relevant and effective. The importance of these types of projects cannot be overstressed, and I commend all those involved in making them a success. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

---Applause

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I know that I said I might speak for the last time on the gun control bill, the other day, but I continue to receive, daily, expressions of grave concern from my constituents about Bill C-68, the new federal gun control bill, and new problems emerge by the day. The latest has to do with the Honourable Warren Allmand.

Mr. Speaker, we had some sense of confidence in talking to Mr. Allmand who is known to many of us personally. The former Indian Affairs Minister knows the north and listened very carefully to the presentations our Caucus subcommittee made before his Standing Committee on Justice and Legal Affairs on Bill C-68. Now, just when his committee is about to report the results of its deliberations on this very important bill, it seems that Mr. Allmand is to be dismissed as chair of the committee for having voted against a budget bill.

Mr. Speaker, a change of chairperson at this crucial time -- the chair who had listened to us and many other persons with serious concerns about this bill -- is a setback for those persons who placed their faith in the committee and its chair.

Agreed.

Mr. Patterson, your time is up for your Member's statement. Mr. Patterson.

Is it up?

Is the time correct?

I don't think I've quite used up my time, Mr. Speaker, but I would like unanimous consent to continue whether I've used up my time or not. Thank you.

The time wasn't finished. I apologize, Mr. Patterson, for that. The Member for Iqaluit is seeking unanimous consent. Are there any nays? There are no nays. Conclude your statement, Mr. Patterson.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker and Members. As I was saying, Mr. Speaker, I fear that a change of the chairperson at this crucial time -- the chair who had listened to us and many other persons with serious concerns about this bill -- is a setback for those persons who placed their faith in the committee and especially in its chairperson. It will, I fear, cause further instability in a process which has already been criticized for not allowing enough time for thoughtful discussion and serious consideration of how the bill might be amended and might be made workable.

Secondly, Mr. Speaker, there is increasing concern about the costs of the administration of the new compulsory registration regime. It's well known we do not have the computer and satellite technology available in many of our communities to allow the Northwest Territories to become part of a national firearms registration network electronically, as contemplated by the bill. Installing the necessary computer and satellite facilities would represent a staggering cost in the north. Who will pay for these increased costs?

While communities like Chesterfield Inlet, addressed by my new colleague in the Legislature, a neighbour, are without local policemen due to funding shortfalls for policing in the NWT, will additional precious financial resources have to be spent on hardware and software for an electronic registration system no one wants or needs in the Northwest Territories?

There is also great concern over whether general hunting licence holders will have to pay for registration of their firearms. The policy now on whether GHL holders will have to pay for firearms acquisition certificates required by the present law, seems to vary widely in the Northwest Territories. Some local policemen are saying to people who apply for FACs that they will be exempted from paying a fee only if they can establish that they are on welfare; only then. Other people have found out and have been told that they will only be exempted from paying a fee for the FAC if they can prove that they are full-time hunters with incomes under $30,000. Our MP is providing assurances that gun registration will not cost anything. But the federal Minister of Justice is saying that beyond the $85 million that his government has committed to paying for the national registration system, users will pay the additional costs of registration.

Mr. Speaker, if aboriginal people and GHL holders in the NWT end up being exempted from fees for registration -- and I hope they will -- then who will pay the costs of implementing the system in the Northwest Territories? Will it have to come from our government?

Mr. Speaker, at every turn, this new legislation looks more and more like the most invasive piece of legislation ever proposed by the Government of Canada to apply to the north. I fear that it will be widely ignored or challenged by our constituents, and that the overall respect for law and order which has improved over the years in the north will suffer enormously in the process.

Mr. Speaker, in closing, someone somewhere in Ottawa must understand that this new regime is not only unacceptable, but also unworkable in the north. Thank you.

---Applause

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the Minister of Finance and the government are presently working on a transitional document to help guide the deliberations of the next Legislative Assembly and government as they grapple with a very difficult agenda which will be driven, to a great extent, by the realities of division and federal government cutbacks. The Standing Committee on Finance is

also working on a transitional document and hope to be working closely with the Minister.

The next Assembly and government will have their work cut out for them in order to provide a smooth transition to division. What I intend to do, Mr. Speaker, in the next few days, is to use at least some of my Member's statements to give some of my views of some of the ideas that perhaps should go into this transitional document and make a few suggestions to Mr. Pollard that may be useful in formulating the document.

It seems to me that the next Legislative Assembly are going to need a very tight and well-planned agenda. That agenda should be created very early in the life of the Assembly with input from Members. There should be a full debate on the floor of the House on what that tight agenda is. Because we don't have a party system, it is very difficult for the public to feel involved. It is important that we don't break down into bickering and regional differences. All MLAs should be involved in planning an agenda and debating it in the House so that it's out there for the public to have an opportunity to bless it or not bless it. At least then you are starting with something real and at least there is some possibility that the government and Assembly can be successful in completing their agenda.

I believe that, as I said, the agenda should be very tight. There should be an equal focus on two major aspects, I think. One is on building a real economy. I think we have to take advantage of the strengths in our economy. I think we have to be pragmatic and realistic. We can't afford to have our heads in the sand. If there are opportunities in mining, we have to take advantage of opportunities in mining. If there are opportunities in oil and gas, we have to take advantage of opportunities in oil and gas, or in the fishing industry. Somebody has to pay for our social programs, and it's up to us to create that economy. Mr. Speaker, I seek unanimous consent to conclude my statement.

The Member for Yellowknife North is seeking unanimous consent. Are there any nays? There are no nays. Conclude your statement, Mr. Ballantyne.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I think the other focus has to be in creating healthy communities. I think those two go hand in hand because without healthy communities there aren't people to take advantage of a healthy economy.

So I don't think we have to have the left and the right ideological battle about what a government is all about. I think that here in the north we have to do both simultaneously. I think we are going to have to break some new ideological ground, because unless we get our people and our communities up to scratch we are not going to be in any position to take advantage of any economic benefits that might come to us.

We have said many times in this Assembly -- and I think it's very important in the next government and Assembly -- that education has to be a primary tool to achieve our goals. Education has to continue to be a focus.

I think one thing that is going to be very important for the next Assembly is that we can't allow constitutional development to dominate the whole political agenda. There are other forums for constitutional development. I think the government should be creative, should be helpful, should be supportive, but I don't think that we can afford the luxury of spending all our time here in the Legislative Assembly debating constitutional issues. I think people want jobs and people want to feel safe in their communities. They want community control. I think that's something that the next Assembly is going to have to decide very early on or the next four years could be wasted essentially fighting endless constitutional battles.

I also don't think we should reinvent the wheel. I think this government and this Assembly have done some good work. I don't think we should start over again on income reform and community wellness. I think we can build on the strategies that this government has started, so I think there is a very good basis out there that we can work on.

I do think, though, that we are going to have to revitalize and take a new look at our methodology for turning over powers to communities. I think there has been a lot of work done, there has been a lot of effort and it really hasn't worked for a number of reasons. I am not saying this to blame anybody. I am just saying that the times weren't right and it didn't happen. I think the next government is really going to have to look at a new way to focus their energies to turn over real powers to people in communities.

Lastly, and I think quite importantly, we are going to have to develop a very sophisticated, forward approach with the federal government. Inevitably the federal government is going to be trying to cut us back over the next four years. They are dealing with a major debt crisis. I think it's very important that we strengthen our Ottawa office; that we know exactly what we are trying to achieve when we deal with the federal government; that we have a very well-coordinated plan when we are doing it, together with a well-coordinated media strategy.

So, with that, Mr. Speaker, these are just a few ideas that I have that perhaps the government and the Minister of Finance might consider as they put together a transitional document. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

---Applause

Item 3, Members' statements. Mrs. Marie-Jewell.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Last weekend I drove on Highway 5, and I was extremely pleased to notice a lot of work being done on the highway.

---Applause

The work being done on our highway is the long-awaited continuation of our highway pavement. The last time our highway was paved was in the 1980s, about 12 kilometres out of Fort Smith. I think it was 1982 or 1983.

(Microphone turned off)

---Laughter

The continuation of the pavement program was not placed in the capital plan due to the excuse of our highway traffic which did not warrant pavement. And it's not praise to Arnold McCallum, Mr. Speaker. It's praise to Bruce McLaughlin who was Minister of Transportation at the time.

However, Mr. Speaker, when the issue of paving was addressed in the budget session, I recall advising the Minister of Transportation, Mr. Todd, about the inequitable distribution of funds to address paving highways across the north. Mr. Todd immediately took the responsibility of addressing the inequity and found a method to find funds to pave our highway.

Mr. Speaker, I was extremely pleased to see local people working and, in addition, local contractors such as Herons' Trucking and C & R Construction assisting with the paving project.

Hear! Hear!

---Applause

I want to take the time this afternoon, Mr. Speaker, to applaud Mr. Todd's actions.

---Applause

Mr. Speaker, this is what we call a good Minister in action, fulfilling his responsibilities. Mr. Speaker, in my experience, Mr. Todd is a Minister who, when he makes a commitment, will make every effort to fulfil it. On the other hand, if he can't do something, he will state it, which I appreciate, because he knows that he is just as candid as I am. Mr. Todd has always tried to accommodate Members, Mr. Speaker, and this is probably why I hardly ever ask him any questions.

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

The Member for Thebacha is seeking unanimous consent. Are there any nays? There are no nays. Conclude your statement, Mrs. Marie-Jewell.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker and honourable Members. Mr. Speaker, once the paving is complete, I would welcome Mr. Todd once again to ride on Highway 5 with me so we can see what other paving is required. Mr. Speaker, I would encourage him to ensure further funding be allocated for future paving. But until then, Mr. Speaker, the constituents from Thebacha express our gratitude for allowing our future driving on Highway 5 to be more comfortable this summer and in the future.

---Applause

Item 3, Members' statements. Are there any further Members' statements? Item 4, returns to oral questions. Ms. Cournoyea.

Mr. Speaker, I have a return to an oral question asked by Mr. Titus Allooloo on March 27th. Mr. Allooloo asked if government liaison officers who refused revised job offers for half-time positions would be eligible to participate in the workforce adjustment program.

The workforce adjustment program does not apply in cases where positions are altered or eliminated due to budget reductions. Government liaison officers who receive layoff notices were provided with layoff entitlements, including severance pay and priority status on competitions within the GNWT for a period of one year following their layoff. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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

I have a return to an oral question asked by the Member for Thebacha on June 6, 1995 with regard to safety concerns of Bird Dog officers. I have reviewed section 13(1) of the Safety Act of the Northwest Territories. Section 13 deals with the concept of "unusual danger," relative to normal occupational hazards. The Safety Act of the Northwest Territories does not apply to air attack crews, because safety issues concerned with aircraft and airline transportation are dealt with through the Canada Labour Code.

On May 16, 1995, the chief safety officer was verbally contacted by Mr. Bob Robertson of the Union of Northern Workers, concerning a "right to refuse" by air attack crews involved in forest firefighting. Subsequently, the chief safety officer received the complaint in writing.

The chief safety officer advised Mr. Robertson by letter dated May 16, 1995, that the Government of Canada has jurisdiction in questions of safety involving air attack personnel, because section two of the Canada Labour Code defines "federal work, undertaking or business" to mean, among other things, "aerodromes, aircraft or a line of air transportation,...". The chief safety officer further provided the Union of Northern Workers with excerpts of the Canada Labour Code.

We understand that the Union of Northern Workers did contact staff of Human Resources Development Canada, formerly Labour Canada, and that an investigation was launched. 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 would like to recognize a man who really probably doesn't need an introduction, since he is a known, familiar and I would even say, a beloved figure, in this Assembly. I could go on, but I

understand I only have 30 seconds. So without further adieu and without exceeding the time allotted to me, I would like to recognize a man who isn't here only in his official capacity representing the UNW, but also, I know, as a citizen who cherishes the democratic process. I refer to Mr. Ben MacDonald. Thank you.

---Applause

Thank you. Item 5, recognition of visitors in the gallery. Mr. Whitford.

Thank you. Are there any further recognition of visitors in the gallery? Item 6, oral questions. Mr. Koe.

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, earlier today I made a statement about the plight of the Porcupine Caribou herd and the 10-02 lands on the north slope. I would like to ask the Minister of Renewable Resources if he can give us an indication of what this government's position is for the continuing protection of the 10-02 lands.

Minister of Renewable Resources, Mr. Arngna'naaq.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. This government has made every effort to comply with the concerns that we have received from the aboriginal groups in the area. In the middle of February, the Premier wrote to The Right Honourable Jean Chretien regarding a number of issues and one of those issues was regarding the calving grounds which the Member is concerned with. She pointed out the concerns that this government has with regard to Porcupine Caribou calving grounds.

Supplementary, Mr. Koe.

Koana, Mr. Speaker. There has been lots of lobbying going on and there continues to be lobbying efforts going on with the United States Legislatures. These lobbying efforts have been met and supported by the Porcupine Caribou Management Board and by the Gwich'in. The Government of Yukon has also provided some financial assistance to support some lobbyists. I would like to ask the Minister what this government is doing to support some of the lobbying efforts that are going on currently in the United States.

Mr. Arngna'naaq.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The most recent activities that have been taken by this government have been through the Premier to the Prime Minister. With the information we are receiving from the Prime Minister's office, we have heard that the President of the United States is looking at this and is very concerned. I also understand that the State of Alaska is the jurisdiction which has been pressuring to open up the area in Alaska. However, the correspondence we have received has been that the President is in support of not opening up this area. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Supplementary, Mr. Koe.

As was mentioned earlier, the Porcupine Caribou herd crosses many borders; Alaska, Yukon and Northwest Territories. Many people in these areas are dependent on the herd. So there is need for a lot of cooperation and consultation. I would like to ask the Minister, has the Minister or his officials been consulting recently with the Government of the Yukon or the Gwich'in on this particular issue?

Mr. Arngna'naaq.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Yes, we have a discussion paper prepared by the Department of Renewable Resources on options and recommendations for protecting the caribou calving grounds. I believe that consultation will take place with the Inuvialuit, the Gwich'in and the Nunavut renewable resource management boards. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Final supplementary, Mr. Koe.

I am pleased that work is ongoing and that an options paper is being developed. Can the Minister share some of those ideas with us now in terms of some of the initiatives that this government will be taking to ensure that the US Congress and the US Senate knows the position of our northern people?

Mr. Arngna'naaq.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would be more than willing to provide the Member with any information that is being prepared. I would be willing to receive input from any Member who has concerns in this area. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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

Minister of Finance, Mr. Pollard.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker, and good afternoon. Mr. Speaker, the agreement that we reached with Ottawa did not included non-insured benefits. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Supplementary, Mr. Dent.

Mr. Pollard.

Mr. Speaker, it has been the subject of a side agreement with the federal government in previous years. They reimburse the Government of the Northwest Territories. Thank you.

Supplementary, Mr. Dent.

Mr. Pollard.

Mr. Speaker, I would have to take that question as notice in order to provide a number to the House. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My question is for the Minister of Finance. Mr. Speaker, on many previous occasions in this House, the Minister of Finance has referred to what have been called fiscal irritants in our relationship with Ottawa and, particularly, with the Minister of Indian Affairs. I would like to ask the Minister of Finance whether he's had a chance to work on some of these fiscal irritants and whether he's been able to make any progress in resolving certain of these fiscal irritants with the Minister of Indian Affairs, as we draw near to the end of the term of this government. Thank you.

Minister of Finance, Mr. Pollard.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, yes, I have referred to a list of irritants. The federal grants in lieu of taxes to tax-based municipalities was a big one and that is presently going to Privy Council and will be gazetted. We hope that communities will receive their money, which they haven't received for the last few years, by July 1st of this year. So, that one is out of the way.

I think Mr. Dent made reference to the health billings dispute and, although we didn't get an excellent deal, we didn't get a bad deal. That one is settled. The Inuvik utilidor issue is settled. We received a cheque from the Minister of Indian Affairs and are now starting negotiations with Inuvik on whether or not they would like to take over the utilidor. Regarding the RCMP billings dispute, Mr. Kakfwi is having some success there and we are trying to avoid going to arbitration, which we think would lead ultimately to a court case. I think Mr. Kakfwi has presented the federal Solicitor General something that he may be interested in accepting.

Just recently, in fact this week, we concluded negotiations -- I think successfully -- on the Inuvialuit participation costs which have been irritants for some years. That, really, is the last one of the so-called irritants that we have to deal with, Mr. Speaker. Thank you.

Thank you. Supplementary, Mr. Patterson.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I'm pleased to learn that the Minister has had such success in dealing with these so-called irritants. I would like to ask the Minister if he could elaborate a little more on the origin of the Inuvialuit participation costs issue and indicate how a resolution of that issue might be shaping up. Thank you.

Mr. Pollard.

Mr. Speaker, I can't take credit for concluding these arrangements. It's been a team effort by different Members of Cabinet and many of our staff across all departments. So, I want everybody to know that many people worked on it. From the federal side, I would like to compliment Mr. Ron Irwin for making John Rayner the person we negotiated with most of the time. He's a person, I believe, who understands the Northwest Territories and has been very reasonable with us.

With regard to the Inuvialuit participation costs, Mr. Speaker, the federal government had up to $186,000 in its budget for the last six, seven or eight years that should have flowed through this government to enable Inuvialuit participation on boards of management, particularly in the wildlife area. Through some mix up in paperwork, it hasn't been arranged and, consequently, the Government of the Northwest Territories was funding the Inuvialuit to participate on these boards and activities without being reimbursed by Ottawa.

As I said, it has taken some time but we were able to resolve it last week. The Inuvialuit, the Government of Canada and ourselves agreed that the Inuvialuit final agreement would be amended so there would be a contribution agreement between Canada and the Government of the Northwest Territories, and a contribution agreement between the Government of the Northwest Territories and the Inuvialuit to enable funds to flow from DIAND to us and on to the Inuvialuit.

Mr. Braden is currently in Ottawa today meeting with Mr. Rayner and putting the last touches to the agreements. Hopefully, he will bring back a letter of comfort to us that will say that Canada will flow the money before the amendment to the Inuvialuit final agreement, which could take some time yet. That would allow us to fund the Inuvialuit to participate on the boards and other activities that they required. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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

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

Mr. Speaker, I don't have that detailed information. I will give a copy of that information with regard to Yellowknife. And what I'll do, rather than just supplying it for Yellowknife, I'll get the information for all projects and provide a copy for all Members.

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

Minister of Renewable Resources, Mr. Arngna'naaq.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I believe that there is some sort of policy that is followed internally, but at the present time I do not know the answer. So I will take the question as notice. Thank you.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to ask the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment about the cuts that were taken out of the budget with regard to the boards. It is my understanding that 2.5 per cent was cut from all the boards across the Northwest Territories and, as a result, I know our CEC has had a tremendous number of public meetings and concerns regarding the cuts from our schools. We now have to absorb something like five PYs being cut and such classes as music, library and, possibly, physical education are areas that they are looking at. Only core subjects will be able to be delivered in the schools which I believe is very shameful because kids look forward to going to school when given the opportunity to take music or go into libraries, or take other than just core subjects.

Mr. Speaker, I know this government is in times of restraint but I am wondering whether or not the Minister has been able to look in other areas of his department to find a method to possibly reinstate the base funding that was cut from these boards across the Northwest Territories. Thank you.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I must advise the honourable Members that the review itself took place over a period of approximately a year, since the advice we received approximately a year ago on our budgets was that we needed to consider the cuts. So it was done in conjunction with the boards.

Initially, we began with a ten per cent cut and we reduced it to a point where it was such that we made reductions of about 2.5 per cent across the board, with all our divisional boards of education. We reviewed the matter. We ourselves are taking a substantial reduction. That reduction includes approximately 29 PYs in our department which was approved by the Assembly. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you. Item 6, oral questions. Supplementary, Mrs. Marie-Jewell.

Mr. Speaker, I don't know if the Minister heard my question, but I asked whether or not his department was able to further review to determine whether or not there was any type of funding anywhere to be able to reinstate this 2.5 per cent cut that was granted to all the boards. Thank you.

Mr. Nerysoo.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. In our own assessment and review, having made the decision to make a number of cuts including those to the boards, we had to make the decision that there had to be some overall cuts and the result was that there was a two per cent reduction in the resources that we are providing to the boards.

Thank you. Item 6, oral questions. Mrs. Marie-Jewell.

Would the Minister be able to advise this House with regard to the overall amount of funding which was cut from each board and provide it to the House? Thank you.

Mr. Nerysoo.