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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. This current government is being faced with many difficult decisions which will impact the people of the Northwest Territories for years to come. We are having to deal with such important issues as division, a new constitution, large-scale development and, less we forget, our deficit which is having a negative impact on many, many lives.

Mr. Speaker, the timing for us could not be worse. The task seems insurmountable. We are forced to resolve these issues for our residents and hopefully make the Northwest Territories a better place for all peoples. I am beginning to feel a sense of great distaste for some decisions that are being made. In a time when we should be unifying our people, we seem to be doing the opposite. We are degrading and dividing the people we are supposed to be representing.

This government has chosen to adopt a very paternalistic approach to aboriginal people which will only divide aboriginal and non-aboriginal. I draw attention to the socio-economic agreement this government has signed with BHP and the draft constitution as two examples of this approach. The socio-economic agreement contains clauses which require the company to hire certain percentages of aboriginals and northerners.

While I agree with the requirements to having a strong northern workforce, I have a question, Mr. Speaker -- what business is it of this government to require private companies to follow any form of affirmative action policy? Requirements such as this cannot help but degrade aboriginal people. We have aboriginal people who are more than capable of getting jobs on an equal footing to their fellow northerners. We have to stop telling aboriginal people by such statements, that they are not good enough. Is this what we are telling them when we protect jobs for them? You are not good enough to compete?

This can only cause racial disharmony and prejudice between the very people we are supposed to represent as a government. We have to have harmony among our people and we must do all we can to ensure that harmony in the future. We cannot afford to be prejudiced any longer and risk losing what we have gained.

The draft constitution has also raised feelings amongst our citizens of racial division. As a government, we cannot afford to sit back and allow our people to be divided along these lines. If we do, as a government, we will lose one of our responsibilities. One message that is coming back loud and clear is that this draft constitution does not give the people of the Northwest Territories an equal say. We are a government which is supposed to represent all its peoples. Mr. Speaker, I request unanimous consent to conclude my statement.

Thank you. The member for Yellowknife South is seeking the unanimous consent to conclude his statement. Are there any nays? There are no nays. You have unanimous consent Mr. Henry.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. We are a government which is supposed to represent all its people and I say that the time has now come that we stand up and be a government for all. We have no business dictating government policies in the public sector any more than we have business endorsing a constitution which will forever divide people in the Northwest Territories. This, Mr. Speaker, is totally irresponsible of the government and I urge my fellow members to endorse only that which will provide equality for every citizen. We cannot afford racism to become another issue and, if we do, it will be far beyond any solution this government can find. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Henry. 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. Mr. Krutko, you have unanimous consent.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. We are faced with two difficult jobs which must be done at the same time and that must not be allowed to destroy each other. We are on a direct and rapidly moving journey to the division of the Northwest Territories into two territories. We are also, by our own legislation, bound to reduce this government's deficit so that these two territories will start with a balanced budget.

Mr. Speaker, either of these two jobs are very large and difficult to accomplish alone, to deal with both at the same time is more than doubly so. It is easy to believe that dividing something is to break it, to damage it and to make something worse. Our job, Mr. Speaker, is to show the people that we are creating new things that are, at least, as valuable as the ones they replace. We need to the wisdom of Solomon, who make experience in deciding about the division of assets, and we need the patience, the determination and open honesty to our aboriginal brothers if we are to complete both of these jobs successfully. I welcome the Premier's recognition of division as the number one priority for this government. We must ensure that the division process does not become a poor relative of the budget reduction process. We must make sure that the cutting of the budget is an open and fair process, clearly understood and accepted by the people of the Northwest Territories.

I see that we are counting the days of the division publicly. In the great hall outside of this chamber, this week, marks the beginning of the final journey to the destination. We are in a unique situation of being passengers and pilots at the same time. I would like to wish us all a safe and satisfying trip. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

-- Applause

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

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

Thank you, Mr. Roland. Members' statements. Members' statements - returns to oral questions. Mr. Morin.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I have a return, asked by Mr. Rabesca on November 27, Snare Lake fuel costs. The cost of fuel is particularly high in Snare Lake because of the cost of the winter resupply. The winter road to Snare Lake is connected to the government's winter road system by 100 kilometre trail that is built by the private sector. The cost of transporting goods on this stretch road is added to the cost of all materials brought in over the trail. This means the costs of all goods in Snare Lakes, including petroleum products, was higher than the surrounding communities. Fuel

prices in the communities supplied by the government are subsidized in the amount of approximately 6.7 million. However, I agree there is a need to rationalize the price structure to eliminate some of the inconsistency in fuel prices between the communities. Mr. Arlooktoo has agreed to review the price structure in the spring of 1997 in conjunction with the privatization initiative, to see if there is a way to lessen the burden on the communities, such as Snare Lakes. Thank you.

Thank you. Returns to oral questions, Mr. Antoine.

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. On Wednesday, November 27, 1996, the member for Natilikmiot asked me about the grounding, this summer, of the M.V. Hanseatic in the Simpson strait off King William island and Gjoa Haven. The member was correct that the jurisdiction over marine affairs belongs entirely to the federal government and does not involve the territorial Department of Transportation. Regardless of the legal jurisdiction, the incident took place in northern waters and northerners have every interest in knowing what happened. The Hanseatic went aground on the Simpson strait on August 29th and was caught there until the Canadian coast guard pulled her off on September 5th. Fortunately no serious consequences came of the grounding. No passengers or crew were injured and there was no loss of fuel or any other type of contaminants. It is still too soon to answer the member's question on the cause of the accident.

There are no fewer than four investigations in progress today. Transport Canada is investigating to determine, first of all, whether the accident involved any regulatory violations or infractions, and secondly, if there were any violations, whether prosecution is warranted. Transport Canada should finish this investigation early in the new year. The Canadian Transport Accidents Investigation Safety Board is examining the accident to identify the conditions and circumstances that led to it. Due to the nature of its investigation, the Transportation Safety Board typically does not come out with its final report and recommendations until a year or more after the event. The Hanseatic is registered in the Bahamas and therefore the Commonwealth of Bahamas is conducting its own investigation into the incident. The Federal Republic of Germany is also investigating the incident because the Hanseatic is owned by a German company and officers in charge of the ship, as well as, most of the passengers were German. I do not know when the findings from these investigations will be available, Mr. Speaker.

We will probably find the report from the Transportation Safety Board the most informative and we will simply have to wait for it. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Antoine. Returns to oral questions, Mr. Todd.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I have a further return to Question 24-13(4) asked by the honourable Member for Yellowknife South. I can inform the Members of this House that no lay-offs related to the 1997-98 budget will occur until after the main estimates are approved by this Assembly, this winter. It is important to note, however, that some employees may receive notice of lay-off prior to the approval of the budget. The provisions of the collective agreement entitle employees to a 90 day lay-off notice and these notices will have to be sent out over the next several months to ensure that all aspects of the budget can be implemented on April 1, 1997.

Final decision to implement specific measures are, of course, dependent on the decision of the Assembly with respect to the 1997-98 main estimates that will be considered during the winter session. Thank you.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Given the comments made by my colleague earlier today, and the need to extend an olive branch to my colleagues in the union organization, I would like to recognize Ms. Pat Thomas, President of the NWTTA and Ms. Jackie Simpson who is the President of the UNW. Thank you.

-- Applause

Welcome to the Assembly. Recognition of visitors in the gallery, Mr. Barnabas.

(Translator) Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to recognize my spouse and a resident of our community who is here to attend a meeting with the Aboriginal Headstart Program for Nunavut. I would like to recognize the two ladies up in the gallery. Thank you.

-- Applause