Ministers' statements. Mr. Ng.

Thank you Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the Northwest Territories Crime Stoppers Association is an incorporated non-profit society with registered charitable status. The association is run by a board of unpaid volunteered directors to assist law enforcement, in particular, the RCMP in the Northwest Territories, to protect and prevent crime.

One of the principle methods of doing so is to publicly solicit and reward anonymous tips, which lead to the arrests of offenders, and often, the recovery of property and seizure of contraband.

The Royal Canadian Mounted Police provide the services of members to act in an advisory capacity, Crimestoppers solicits it's funding from private individuals, businesses and service organizations, without whose support the program would not be possible. Presently the Northwest Territories Crimestoppers Association has active programs in Iqaluit and Yellowknife and would welcome the participation of other communities in the Territories.

It has recently posted a substantial reward of $10,000 for information regarding the disappearance of Charlene Catholique. On July of 1990, Charlene Catholique, then 15 years old and a resident of Lutselk'e arrived in Yellowknife to attend the Dene Assembly in Dettah. While she was in Yellowknife, she travelled to Fort Rae to visit with friends. Charlene was reported missing having last been seen in Fort Rae on or around July 22, 1990. She has not been located to date, and the police feel the clues which will identify the person or persons responsible for Charlene's disappearance will be found in the community of Fort Rae.

The police are grateful for the cooperation and care exhibited by the people of Fort Rae to date, but are hopeful the sizable Crimestoppers reward will spur someone on to reveal some clue previously omitted. Due to the efforts of R.C.M.P. Staff Sergeant, Vern White, who has recently been transferred to another jurisdiction, and the volunteer members of the Board of Directors, the N.W.T. Crimestoppers Association has just been awarded an award for most improved Crimestoppers unit in North America, for 1995. This is indeed a notable accomplishment. 1996 promises to be as successful as 1995, as of June of this year, there were 117 anonymous tips and 9 reward payments totalling $3,825, leading to 22 arrests, recovery of $16,375 in property and the seizure of $85,520 in drugs. Mr. Speaker, I am sure that all members will join me in congratulating the Northwest Territories Crimestoppers Association and thanking them for their contribution. Thank you Mr. Speaker.

-- Applause

Thank you, Mr. Ng. Ministers' Statement, Member's Statement, Mr. Enuaraq.

Thank you Mr. Speaker. Today I would like to outline a problem that I see becoming larger and more serious. My constituency in the Community of Pangnirtung are worried about the future of their airstrip, and the air service. Mr. Speaker, anyone who has travelled to Pangnirtung knows that the airstrip is now in the middle of the town, right beside the main school. This town is growing, Mr. Speaker. It is the second largest town in the Baffin region. There are rules that 740 type aircraft may no longer be able to serve the town because of this airstrip and it's location. This is a growing town and great potential for business development. It is the centre for major arts and crafts business. A major tourism destination because it is the entrance to Auyuittuq National Park. It is also the centre of growing commercial fisheries in the Baffin region.

All of these positive elements in the community depend on the air services. The future economic growth of this community is closely tied to the airstrip. To relocate the airstrip is a major project in my community. In Pangnirtung with it's narrow land space and high cliffs, it will be a great challenge, but the work must begin now, the planning of location, the planning of facilities and, of course, the planning of the funds necessary for such a project. It might be easy for some people to say wait for Nunavut, they can pay for that, but, Mr. Speaker we all know that these projects take a long time and we must start now. I will be working closely with the people of Pangnirtung and the Minister of Transportation in an effort to get this project started to the community to continue to grow. Thank you.

(Native Language speaker)

I thought it was today, that we had Slavey translation but perhaps maybe there was not so, I just wanted to recognize the member for the Western Arctic, our MP Miss Ethel Blondin-Andrew, welcome to the Assembly.

Member's Statement, Mr. Picco.

Thank you Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate a constituent and long time family friend, Nunia Qanatsiaq, for her recent Minister's Literacy Award. Nunia is a single mom who began teaching as a classroom assistant in Hall Beach, during the mid '80s. She began taking Eastern Arctic Teaching Education Courses at Retap in 1989. She began working full time in the school, raising her two children, Jonah and Daryl. Nunia completed her Teaching Certificate and recently graduated with her Bachelor of Education from McGill University in Montreal. Nunia was the editor of the Arctic College student newspaper while attending the campus in Iqaluit and was involved with many after-school curricular activities. This mother is now helping to develop Inuktitut resource material while teaching at the college in Iqaluit. She also finds time to visit my wife and I on a regular basis to give lessons in Scrabble, which Nunia and my wife usually win.

I have known Nunia since she was 14 years old. I would like to congratulate this dedicated educator, mother and friend, for her work promoting Inuktitut literacy and her drive and determination through very trying times to complete her Bachelor of Education degree and the recent winning of the Minister's Literacy Award. I look forward to presenting the award in person to Nunia at the end of the month in Iqaluit when I return at the end of the session and standing committee meetings. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

-- Applause

Thank you, Mr. Picco. Members' statements, Mr. O'Brien.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My statement today is regarding my favourite topic, this government's budget reduction program.

Mr. Speaker, this past Thanksgiving weekend provided me with the opportunity to do some visiting in the Yellowknife area. Almost every person that I spoke to had serious reservations with this government's slash and burn approach to the territorial budget. Mr. Speaker, I was saddened by the contrast of people trying to celebrate Thanksgiving while they wrestle with despair and low morale created by being, or knowing, a government employee who wondered if they were getting a pink slip or a pay cheque for Christmas.

Mr. Speaker, I was beginning to feel like a lone wolf regarding my recent statements in this House relating to job losses and reductions to this government's programs and services.

As we all know, misery loves company. So I decided to contact some Northerners from both the East and the Western Arctic. I talked to Aboriginal, and non-Aboriginal people, employees of this government, whose names I cannot mention, and some who were unemployed. Mr. Speaker, during my conversation, I asked each person's view of this government's cutback policy. A summary of their views, is that most Northerners realize that there must be cuts, as a result of the questionable spending of previous governments.

But the question that surfaced, was, what are these cuts, and what are the costs of these cuts? Mr. Speaker, the business people I spoke to said although they originally agreed to the cost cutting exercise at first, they no longer could support this policy. The general consensus was that these cuts are out of control, and this government is acting more like a bank as opposed to a government concerned about it's people.

Mr. Speaker, generally people do not understand this governments paranoia with carrying a larger and extended debt, as long as it is consistently and responsibly reduced, within a reasonable time frame. If our circumstances, of course were different, it would be easier to tolerate these serious cuts. However, given the fact that very few jobs have been created, and in fact to date that we do not even have a job strategy in place. Mr. Speaker, I seek unanimous consent to conclude my statement.

Member for Kivalliviq is seeking unanimous consent to conclude his statement, are there any nays? We have no nays. Mr. O'Brien.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. However, given the fact that there have been very few jobs created and in fact that we do not even have, to date, a job strategy in place. We have to consider all that facts. In most communities we have the highest unemployment rates in Canada, we also have the lowest number of high school graduates, we have the highest birth rates in the country and live in one of the harshest climates in the world.

He should also remind the federal Minister of Finance that the NWT cannot withstand these cuts as we are not equivalent to provinces like Ontario, Quebec and Alberta. Mr. Speaker, I close with these words, that were spoken to me this weekend by a constituent of mine.

The Premier and his Cabinet do not seem to be listening to the concerns of the public, they have written their own agenda and they are racing ahead at all costs. We did not vote these people in to hurt us, we voted them in to help us. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. O'Brien. Members' statements, Mr. Barnabas.

(through a translator) Thank you, Mr. Speaker. (end translator.) ..especially in the north. Housing is critical to survive even in the '90s. There are still very long winters and the wind still blows. Our people have all learned to make their own homes to survive in conditions that no-one else on earth can still believe. Now we have benefitted from modern houses designed in the south, mostly built by southerners and until three years ago, often badly designed and badly built.

The member for the High Arctic is seeking unanimous consent to conclude his statement. Do we have any nays? We have no nays, You have unanimous consent Mr. Barnabas.

The Government of Canada must maintain the relatively good conditions we have come to expect in the NWT and extend our standards to the reservations in the south. Mr. Speaker, I will continue to raise this issue and I will be asking questions to the Minister in question period. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Barnabas. Members' statements, Mr. Krutko.

The member for Mackenzie Delta is seeking unanimous consent to conclude his statement. Do we have any nays? There are no nays. You have unanimous consent, Mr. Krutko.

Thank you, Mr. Krutko. Just to remind the members about ties in this Chamber. I am just looking at the rules. Again, if members feel offended by the way members dress in here, then it can be brought up, if you have an open shirt on, then you should have something that goes with it, either a beaded tie or, I do feel that we take offence to it.

Members' Statement, Mr. Ootes

Thank you, Mr. Ootes. Members' statements, Mr. Henry.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I rise today to address the government's new protected area strategy.

All northerners recognize that we live in a unique part of the world. While many see the arctic as barren and empty, we, who live here, know that appearances can be deceiving. The land has been a fruitful source of life for northern peoples for centuries. Those of us who have lived here for any length of time still recognize the bounty of flora and fauna in the north.

We also recognize that there is great wealth beneath the surface of the land. Most of those who have come to this north over the last 70 years have come either directly or indirectly because of gold, lead, zinc, uranium, oil, gas and now, diamonds that lie beneath the arctic.

Balancing the fragile surface environment with the economic needs and resources below it is an ongoing responsibility. We need both but one must not be allowed to destroy or preclude the other. I appreciate what the government is trying to do with its protected area strategy, we do need to protect our land and our environment to ensure that it is viable for millennia to come. Those who have lived here for generations have much to teach us about, and respect for, the land. But we must also have respect for those interests of those who have invested much time, money and effort into finding and developing the riches that lie beneath the surface.

That is why I am concerned that the government does not appear to have properly allowed for consultation with the mining industry regarding this strategy. I am not saying that we should not protect areas, but I am saying it is wrong to proceed with an initiative such as this without extensive consultation with all stakeholders, not just the federal government, Aboriginal organizations and environmental organizations. The mining industry, as well, should be included as a key participant in the development and implementation of this initiative. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Henry. Members' statements, Mr. Miltenberger.

Thank you, Mr. Miltenberger. Members' statements, members' statements. Returns to oral

questions, Mr. Kakfwi.

Thank you Mr. Kakfwi. Returns to Oral questions, Mr. Ng.

Mr. Speaker, I have a return to an oral question asked by Mr. Picco on October 4th in respect to the impact of foster care rate reductions. As of October 8, 1996, one foster family in Yellowknife has decided to discontinue their services and Mr. Speaker, to my knowledge, there have been no other families in the Northwest Territories withdraw their services. Several foster parents have expressed their concern about the reduction to the rate structure for children with special needs. Some have indicated that they may not be prepared to carry on, but will continue to do so in the short term while departmental staff and the Yellowknife Foster Family Association work together to review this matter. Thank you.

Thank you. Returns to oral questions. Recognition of visitors in the gallery. Recognition of visitors in the gallery. Mr. Picco.

Thank you Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I would like to welcome in the gallery today Mr. Adla Itorcheak from Iqaluit. Adla is one of the first Inuit to receive his Bachelor of Administration from Acadia University in the south and is a long term resident of Iqaluit and a good friend of mine.

Welcome to the Assembly. Recognition of visitors in the gallery. Recognition of visitors in the gallery. Oral questions. Mr. O'Brien.

Thank you Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my question is to the Minister of Finance, and it relates to the net value of this government's payroll tax. My question to the Minister is, will the Minister advise this House as to how much revenue this tax actually brings in to this government each year?

The Minister of Finance, Mr. Todd.

Thank you Mr. Speaker. The net revenue, I believe it was, the best way to describe that would be to say that the total revenues brought in by the GNWT are somewhere in the range of $12 million. Due to the way that the tax

was set up, we provide a tax deduction at the end of the year, which is approximately 11, 11.5, so the net to the GNWT is about half a million dollars. Thank you.

Thank you. Oral question supplementary Mr. O'Brien.

Thank you Mr. Speaker. Will the Minister advise this House as to what is the cost to administer and collect this revenue?

The Minister of Finance, Mr. Todd.

Yes, thank you Mr. Speaker. The approximate cost to service this $12 million in revenues is approximately three PYs which is somewhere in the region of $300,000. Thank you.

Oral question supplementary Mr. O'Brien.

Thank you Mr. Speaker. My final question to the Minister is to ask if this tax is giving such a minimal revenue compared to the cost of collecting it, will the Minister consider and commit to this House to abolish this tax in the next budget?

Mr. Todd.

Thank you Mr. Speaker. Well, I think with the level activity that may occur with respect to BHP and other operations which may provide a mechanism for employment for a large number of people outside the territories, we will have to take a look at that. And we are looking at the possibility of a re-examination of the payroll tax. Thank you.

Oral questions, final supplementary Mr. O'Brien.

Thank you Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, will the Minister commit to completing his review or assessment prior to the next budget? Thank you.

Mr. Todd.

Yes, Mr. Speaker. Yes, I will commit to trying to conclude our review of the payroll tax prior to the next budget. Thank you.

Oral questions, Mr. Picco.

Thank you Mr. Speaker. My question is for the minister for the Financial Management Board Secretariat. Has the Minister received a package from the Union of Northern Workers with certain allegations? Thank you Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Todd.

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. I welcome the question today, because it permits me the opportunity to express my diminishing tolerance, if you want, Mr. Speaker, for being subjected to this kind of groundless innuendo from the UNW. If the hoax to send the Housing Corporation job description, was not embarrassing enough for the UNW, materials released last week confirmed that there are those within that organization who prefer fiction to fact. I would say that they utilized the Oliver Stone approach, that one should never allow facts to get in the way of or entertaining conspiracy theory. It is regrettable, Mr. Speaker, that the media are only willing to be parties to this train which needlessly and recklessly damages the reputation of people committed to serving the public

interests. Although, I recognize that one has to have thick skin in politics, Mr. Speaker, there is a threshold point where one has no choice but to look at other forms to find a remedy from the unsubstantiated rumour and thinly-veiled innuendo. I want to inform the leadership of the UNW and I want to be clear today, Jackie Simpson, Bob Robertson, Dave Talbot, I am now at that point. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Oral questions, supplementary, Mr. Picco.

Thank you Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, The Minister is in fine form today again. Mr. Speaker, my question to the minister is are you officially responding to said allegations?

Mr. Todd.

My last comment Mr. Speaker, where I have provided those who bring forward these allegations is clear what my position is. If it continues I will deal with it forthwith, and I will deal with it in a correct and proper manner, by seeking appropriate legal council.

Oral questions. Oral questions. Mr. Enuaraq.

Thank you Mr. Speaker. I would like to address my question to the Minister for Transportation, the Hon. Mr. Antoine. In the community of Broughton Island, the community airstrip lies along the beach and it is exposed to wind and soft spray and stormy conditions. On my last visit to this community, I noticed just how rough the surface of the airstrip has become. I have just learned from the community that the pilots in Broughton Island have commented on this repeatedly. I also notice the cable for the runway lights lies exposed on the surface where the salty air conditions can damage electrical equipment easily.

Mr. Speaker, I know that the minister has expressed his department's top priority as maintaining the safety of the flying public. Could the Minister please advise us on the amount of money in the current year budget for the repairs and maintenance of Broughton Island airstrip? Thank you.

The Minister of Finance, Mr. Antoine.

Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the question, the concern of the honourable member is very well noted by myself. The specific question of exactly how much is in the current budget, I will have to take that as notice and then get back to him on that. Thank you.

The question is taken as notice. Oral question, Mr. Miltenberger.

The Minister of Health and Social Services, Mr. Ng.

Thank you Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, yes I have been able to obtain the information. The current contractor is undergoing local hiring. They have received ten applications from within the community of the former employees of

Trail Cross. They also have ten additional applications from other communities or other individuals from the Northwest Territories and they are going through the screening and interviewing process as we speak. Today with that anticipated November 1st opening date of the Trail Cross facility, Mr. Speaker. Thank you.

Thank you. Oral question supplementary Mr. Miltenberger.

Mr. Ng.

Mr. Speaker. It is my understanding that there will be additional clinical support from the program director who is expected to be a trained psychologist, and as well, there will be additional support provided by consulting psychiatrists and neurophsychologists. Thank you.

Oral question supplementary, Mr. Miltenberger.

Mr. Ng.

Thank you Mr. Speaker. Yes, I will certainly make that commitment to continue to keep members informed of what is happening in this area, Mr. Speaker. Thank you.

Oral questions, Mr. Barnabas.

As I mentioned in my statement earlier today, I am very concerned about the possible consequences that will flow from reduced housing programs. My question is for the Honourable Minister Mr. Goo Arlooktoo, Minister Responsible for the NWT Housing Corporation. Can the Minister please tell us about what percentage of the housing program in '95-'96 was built with money from the Government of Canada.

The Minister Responsible for the NWT Housing Corporation, Mr. Arlooktoo.

Mr. Speaker I do not have the exact number of the percentage, but the vast majority of the NWTs Housing Corporation's capital budget money is allocated through this House.

Thank you. Oral question supplementary, Mr. Barnabas.

Thank you Mr. Speaker. Can the Minister please tell what efforts this government is making now to get more assistance for the housing in the NWT? Thank you Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Arlooktoo.

Mr. Speaker, I announced last spring that the Government of the NWT would start negotiating with CMHC to transfer the entire housing program from the Federal Government to the NWT. That

effort is ongoing, and we are hopeful that the CMHC held programs will be transferred to the NWT by this spring. At the present time, we continue to make appeals to the Federal Housing Minister for more hosing funding. The Premier has made our position known to the Prime Minister and to the other Premiers, and we have had discussions with our 2 MP's in Ottawa. But the fact of the matter is in the last few years the money for housing from the Federal Government has been reduced by over $45 million, and it is an uphill battle. But we continue to try for more funding.

Oral questions. Supplementary. Mr. Barnabas.

(Translation) Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Can the Minister tell us if the number of houses built has decreased from the previous years? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Arlooktoo?

Mr. Speaker, the NWT Housing Corporation will assist in the building of more houses than we did last year, but all of these houses are home ownership units and the reason why we can build more houses, with in fact, less money, is because we are using a down payment assistance program, where the GNWT helps clients with 25 percent down payment assistance.

Thank you. Oral questions, final supplementary, Mr. Barnabas.

(Translation) Thank you, Mr. Speaker. For the new housing in the coming year. Thank you.

Mr. Arlooktoo.

Mr. Speaker, in the next few weeks the committees will be going through the business plans of the Housing Corporation, which will outline our plans for the coming year. For future housing allocations, the allocations are based on need, and the available funding that is there, so any future houses that we build will be dependent on those 2 factors.

Thank you. Oral questions, Mr. Krutko.

Again, to remind members that community empowerment is on the agenda for today. And I want to remind the Minister too, that anything that is on the Orders for Today for consideration in Committee, does not have to be answered. But you could answer the other questions, too. Minister of Finance, Mr. Todd.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I think I understand what my Honourable colleague is saying. I do not want to be offensive by making that comment. We are endeavouring in our business plans and when we make presentations to the Committees to try to explain the Honourable Members and to Cabinet that there has been, wherever possible, a fair distribution of dollars, whether it has been in capital dollars or in some of the reduction programs that we have been working on. I am not quite sure how to answer the question, to be perfectly candid. I think the business plan process will hopefully answer the questions that my colleague wants addressed. I could talk to the staff, I guess, and see if there is some way we can put that in some summary to assure him, and others, that in most cases, we try to be fair and reasonable in terms of whether it is budget restraint or whether it is in capital expenditures. I am not sure whether that satisfies my colleague or not, but that is the best I can do right now. Thank you.

Thank you. Mr. Krutko. Just again to remind the Members that a question must not be asked to seek information about a proceeding in a Committee which has not been reported in the House yet. So just a reminder, okay? Mr. Krutko, oral question.

Mr. Todd.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I understand where my colleague is heading with his questioning, and I would answer this way. The process we have now in place provides a more balanced approach and a fairer approach in the way in which capital monies and dollars are distributed. It may be fair to say that historically, that balance was not there, and I can provide them, if you want, with as much information as possible under this Government and the previous one, if that would be adequate for him. Thank you.

Oral question, supplementary, Mr. Krutko.

Mr. Todd.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. There is a process in place that provides the opportunity for the communities within my Honourable colleague's constituency to determine the appropriate priorities in capital expenditures. Those capital expenditures then come in through the system, and to the appropriate Ministers. Decisions are made then, and then back to the Committees, the appropriate Committees and advice and direction is given then. I think that process now is in place, and has been in place certainly in the term of this Government, and as a previous Minister and the previous one was in place then. I think if there are some disparities that are glaring, as my colleague is suggesting, that we need to find a way to work with him and the Ministers involved, whether it is in MACA or in Health or whatever, in an effort to see if there is arrangement to be made to balance out what he sees as an imbalance in where the money has been spent over this last year in particular. Thank you.

Mr. Krutko.

Mr. Todd

Thank you Mr. Speaker. I think it is important to point out that we just give directions to cabinet ministers in terms of targets. The Department of Finance and the FMB does not advise the individual ministers how to spend the money. I think the most direct way to deal with this would be that subject to approval by the Premier that we meet, as I have suggested with Mr. Krutko tomorrow, and some of these people in an effort to see where we can provide them with assistance to try to include this, perceive a real balance that he is talking about. Thank you.

Thank you. Oral questions, Mr. Ootes

Mr. Premier.

Thank you Mr. Speaker. That is an interesting preamble the member had leading up to the question. The members are fully aware, those members capable of reading the business plans and I guess, absorbing the information that we supply as a government to them. I know it is a lot of information. Information is in those business plans, the PYs are in the business plans. You have to read the documents, you see it as clear as day, as far as a sole-source and

negotiated contracts, that are supplied to the committee that that department is responsible to report to. So the information is there, all the member has to do is pick it up and read it. Thank you.

Thank you. Oral question, before I recognize Mr. Ootes, I would like to recognize in the Gallery Mr. Jack Anawak the MP for the Eastern Arctic. Welcome to the Assembly. Mr. Ootes, oral questions.

Mr. Morin.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would be pleased, under a personal and confidential letter to the Member, supplying him with that information, and also that information is available to the Government. Thank you.

Thank you. Oral question, supplementary, Mr. Ootes.

Mr. Morin