Mr. Speaker, on Wednesday we acknowledged the important role small business plays in our lives. Business people and their employees represent just over half of our northern workforce. It is within the mandate of the Department of Resources, Wildlife and Economic Development to provide financial assistance and support to aid in the expansion of this essential part of our economy. Mr. Speaker, I would like to highlight what we are doing

with respect to financial support to stimulate the small business sector.

In the last six months, the department has approved 147 grants to small businesses totalling $300,000. Eligible businesses are small and include arts and crafts producers, commercial renewable resource harvesters and other businesses, most of which would be considered "cottage industry."

The Business Development Fund offers larger sized contributions to businesses for such purposes as business plans, start up costs, market and product development and improving business skills. Since April 1996, 208 contributions, total $2,682,561, have been awarded to some 200 northern businesses. Through this program Wha Ti Development Corporation has purchased surveying equipment and will offer survey training to local residents. An Aklavik resident is establishing a local tourism venture. A Pangnirtung resident is starting a welding business and Pelly Bay businessman is attending a financial business management workshop.

As Minister of Resources, Wildlife and Economic Development, I am also responsible for two corporations that are important players in stimulating economic development. The NWT Business Credit Corporation provides loans to territorial businesses, In 1995 the Corporation provided 85 loans for a total of $8 million, so far this year, 49 loans totalling $3,900,000 have been approved.

The Northwest Territories Development Corporation manages businesses in 19 of the smaller communities. About 400 people are employed through these operations.

Mr. Speaker, our Government knows that growth of our economy depends upon the private sector. The Northwest Territories is rich with natural resources. With their knowledge of the land, northerners have some special abilities that can be applied to mineral exploration. One of our small but successful programs, has been providing grubstakes and training for potential prospectors. This year, training courses were held in Arviat and Kimmirut and $90,000 have been provided to 22 prospectors.

The last area I would like to highlight is the traditional economy. This is the oldest sector in our economy, so I suppose we could say that the men and women operating in this sector are the longest established independent business persons in the Northwest Territories. They harvest the bounty of the land and waters using the results of their labour and experience to feed themselves and their families. They manufacture products for their own use and to sell to others. Some of their effort may generate some seasonal income. The work these people do is not always recorded in the employment and income statistics, but it is an important part of our economy. The estimate value of the wildlife harvest alone, excluding commercial operations, is over $35,000,000 a year. We know that over 90% of Aboriginal households participate in these activities and this work fulfils the same basic needs for food, clothing and shelter as wages and profits do in the wage economy. As well, these activities maintain the traditions and skills of our northern cultures.

To support the traditional economy, approximately $1,000,000 has been provided this year to purchase equipment, access harvesting areas, encourage trappers to produce well-handled, high quality furs, teach harvesting skills and conduct organized hunts for communities. For seven years, the Department has also provided funding for projects that demonstrate new ways to use renewable resources or promote environmental protection. Since the beginning of the fiscal year 30 projects have received a total of $80,000 to test outpost camp incinerators in Southern Baffin, to test a heater that will use waste oil in Inuvik, and to conduct salt water fishery tests for cod in Hudson Bay. Regional land claim organizations and communities are also developing their harvester support initiatives by matching funds with the $5 million they will receive from the Department.

Mr. Speaker, this government is committed to expanding and strengthening the northern economy. These are a few examples of how public funds are working to benefit our residents and economy. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The people of the Western Territory have an opportunity before us. A committee of western MLAs and Aboriginal leaders have met over the summer months and have released a Draft Constitution for public consultation. I trust everyone agrees that it would be good to dwell together in harmony and unity.

The guiding principles are the foundation of partners in a new beginning. If we agree to these principles, we have a good start.

The model being presented is a draft. As much as I doubt that the majority of my constituents will embrace this specific model, I recognize that Aboriginal leaders will face similar challenges in arriving at a deal that their constituents can support.

It will only be a good and workable alliance if all parties can willingly participate because they see the proposal as balanced and fair. Let us stay focused on what we are trying to achieve bringing public and Aboriginal self-government together in partnership.

Representation is a key issue, because the people see it as their vehicle of significant, and clearly defined, participation through elections. A large and costly central government is contrary to the trend of the diminishing role of our central government. Communities through community empowerment and regional Aboriginal self-government through devolution of powers and authorities are assuming more and more control.

Powers of the central government are supposed to flow up from the communities and the regions as opposed to powers being devolved downwards. In that regard, in this draft, I do not necessarily see protection for those governments. I have no problem with guaranteed representation in a partnership agreement, however, I believe that there may be more equitable models of representation presented in the original one-house and two-house models contained in appendices, other models considered.

The demographics of the 14 existing ridings, ranging from populations of 800 to over 4,000, is already fairly generous in terms of regional representation. Ten of the 14 ridings are predominantly Aboriginal in make up and will continue to be for some time to come. To add eight guaranteed Aboriginal seats to this mix raises the question of perception of fairness and balance.

I also have some concerns regarding ratification of the constitution, but it may be premature to address this until a plan has been proposed and defined.

I would like to seek unanimous consent to conclude my statement. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. A lot of work has gone into this document. It is based on good principles. It would be a shame to see it break down, but concerns on all sides must be respectfully addressed. I remain confident that northerners have the capacity to do that. We need to ask the necessary questions, we need to search for the right answers, and we need to do that together. If we proceed with good faith, with common sense, and with a willingness to hear and observe other points of view, our chances of being collectively successful will increase considerably. I look forward to returning to my constituency and starting this process of consultation. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I wish to take this opportunity to thank the members of the Constitutional Working Group for all the time and effort they have put towards the presentation of this Draft Constitutional Proposal. It should be noted, however, that this is only a draft proposal for discussion purposes only, and that the document in question still requires endorsement of each individual Aboriginal group.

Mr. Speaker, my statement today has more to do with the ratification process. In a recent western caucus meeting, a member of this Cabinet strongly suggested that the ratification process may not be a plebiscite of one man - one vote, but rather block voting by the concerned groups on the name for the new territory. This option was again voiced in the recent Constitutional Development Steering Committee in regards to the ratification of the constitution in total.

I also have here, Mr. Speaker, a memo from the chair of the Western Caucus suggesting a meeting on options for ratification of the new constitution.

Mr. Speaker, this Government and this country as a whole, has in place an accepted form of ratification called the public plebiscite, and I for one will not even consider any other form of ratification than one man - one vote. This issue of Division of this territory was decided in this manner. It follows that ratification of the constitution of the new territory should follow the same pattern.

Mr. Speaker, I would not support funding of the ratification process, other than the normal and accepted form. I would also not support funding at the Constitutional Working Group, as this group will be touring the communities for the following reasons:

1. The group would be seen and perceived as the group responsible for selling this proposal to the public.

2. That in these times of restraint financing... Mr. Speaker, I would request unanimous consent to finish my statement.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

2. In these times of restraint financing, we as a government cannot afford the funds set for a large touring group, while at the same time we cut 3 or 400 positions.

Mr. Speaker, I could and would, however, support funding a small panel of three impartial persons with constitutional background experience to undertake the responsibility of touring the communities and seek comments and in the end bring back to this House a final draft for consideration and ratification by the public at large.

Mr. Speaker, I am concerned as to what the position of this Government is in regards to an accepted democratic constitutional process, and I will be asking the Premier for his position on this at the appropriate time today. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.