Thank you, Mr. Arlooktoo. Orders of the day, item 2, Ministers' statements. Mr. Morin.

Mr. Speaker, I do have an emergency statement and since it is Friday and I know that Members have put many long hours in all week, we also have to take time for a bit of ha-ha in our lives, Mr. Speaker.

I rise today to speak to an issue of significant public concern. Public servants, and others, may have noticed a recent change on the face of cheques issued by the Government of the Northwest Territories. The change is located in the lower right hand corner of GNWT cheques, where you will now find the signature of the Honourable John Todd. I wish to assure everyone that I have received legal and financial advice which confirms that even with Mr. Todd's signature, the cheques remain good.

---Laughter

This is only the first of several changes planned by Mr. Todd. GNWT will soon issue its own currency to complement federal changes.

---Laughter

Our contribution will be a $3 coin. Therefore, the public should be preparing for use of not only the loonie, but also the federal "twonie" and the GNWT "Toddie." Thank you very much, Mr Speaker.

---Laughter

---Applause

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I wish to advise Members that the Honourable Jim Antoine will be absent from the House today as he is representing the Government of the Northwest Territories in Chicago, Illinois, to promote tourism and marketing for the NWT. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

---Applause

Thank you. Item 2, Ministers' statements. Are there any further Ministers' statements? Item 3, Members' statements. Mr. Enuaraq.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Good morning, colleagues. Mr. Speaker, I was very interested to hear the statement that was made yesterday by the Honourable Kelvin Ng, Minister of Health, about community wellness. Mr. Ng stated that community wellness was a top priority for this government. The statement also made mention of the $2.9 million for the community action fund which was established for the current fiscal year.

The community of Broughton Island in my constituency has some good ideas for community action projects. In Broughton Island, they want to bring elders into the school to work with some people imparting traditional knowledge. They also want to help the young mothers to develop parenting skills at the community health centre. Unfortunately, Mr. Speaker, although these projects have been worked on for months, nothing is yet happening because the Department of Health and Social Services apparently cannot agree to pay administration fee is to the hamlet of Broughton Island, which has been asked to administer the funds.

When this government asks hamlets to administer funds at the community level, an administration fee is paid. I believe this is a usual business arrangement entered into between parties, when one party is delivering service for another. When public funds are involved, paying the hamlet for its administration costs also means that most of the available money can go into programs, rather than staff people dealing with administration.

Later today, Mr. Speaker, I will be asking the Honourable Kelvin Ng why this simple issue has been delayed -- Broughton Island's community action plan -- for so long. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Enuaraq. Item 3, Members' statements. Mr. Roland.

Thank you, Mr. Roland. Item 3, Members' statements. Mr. Barnabas.

(Translation) Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my statement today is about medical patients from Grise Fiord, Resolute Bay and Arctic Bay, who have experienced delays getting home following treatment or going to the hospital in Iqaluit. I have heard several complaints that people from these communities are approved to return home, go to the airport to travel on a scheduled flight and end up being very disappointed and inconvenienced when they are told they cannot have a seat on the plane.

This is especially frustrating for my constituents, since there are not very many scheduled flights going to my constituency from Iqaluit anymore. This concern has been expressed by the mayors of those three communities and was discussed at a recent Baffin leaders' summit meeting. In attempting to solve this problem, I have approached senior officials with First Air and I have also written to the chair of the Baffin Regional Health Board to ask the health board to assist in solving this problem. I am hopeful with better communication between health officials and the airlines, this frustrating problem for my constituents will soon be resolved. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Item 3, Members' statements. Mr. Picco.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Good morning, colleagues. Mr. Speaker, I note that later today on the order paper is a bill to amend the Public Service Act. Mr. Speaker, I have expressed in Caucus very strong concerns with this proposed amendment. I publicly state that I am against the amendment and look forward to debating it in the House.

Mr. Speaker, I also want to say that I have been asking the Minister of Education, over the past several days, questions concerning the financial implications of transferring Nunavut Arctic College programs and will continue that line of questioning in the House today. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I would like to remind the Members that a topic on the order paper for the day shouldn't be made reference to until the issue has been dealt with. That is just a reminder. Item 3, Members' statements. Mr. Erasmus.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I was provided some information on some dog mushers who are at the 105-mile world championship at The Pas, Manitoba, practising up for the Arctic Winter Games. In first place after the first day was Richard Beck from Yellowknife.

---Applause

Third place is Frank Kelly from Yellowknife.

---Applause

Fourth place is Grant Beck from Yellowknife.

---Applause

Fifth place is Raymond Beck from Hay River.

---Applause

Eighth place is Ernie Campbell from Yellowknife.

---Applause

Twelfth place is the only girl in the race, and a rookie, Heather Beck.

---Applause

In thirteenth place is Jim Essrey from Hay River.

---Applause

Thank you.

Item 3, Members' statements. Mr. O'Brien.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the issue I will once again speak to today is with regard to the Rankin Inlet tank farm project. Mr. Speaker, since it appears we are still in a holding pattern for information relating to this project, I feel compelled to read the following press release that was issued last week by the Arviat hamlet council.

It reads as follows:

The Arviat hamlet council once again questions the need for the proposed Rankin Inlet fuel resupply hub.

Arviat (February 6th) - Acting Mayor Peter Kritaqliluk, reacting to the press release from Public Works and Services Minister Goo Arlooktoo announcing the resumption of negotiations for a contract to construct a P.O.L. hub tank farm at Rankin Inlet, wishes to bring the following issues to the attention of the general public.

Does the GNWT, in light of division of the NWT in 1999, have the mandate to negotiate and enter into a contract for 20 to 25 years?

With the councils of Baker Lake, Arviat and Coral Harbour previously on record as being opposed to this project, on what authority does the GNWT feel it can proceed with this project?

"With clearly more than 50 per cent of the representative population of the Keewatin region against this project, why is it that the GNWT is treating this as a priority project and proceeding with negotiations? Is the government refusing to listen to the people?" said Kritaqliluk.

The churchill tank farm, owned by the Government of Canada, as noted in Arlooktoo's press release of February 2, 1996 is, "scheduled to shut down in 1998. The territorial government had the opportunity to purchase this facility, but declined."

"Our initial inquiries indicate that the Churchill facility will close in 1998 because it would no longer have a purpose if the GNWT isn't going to store fuel for the Keewatin there." said Kritaqliluk.

A committee struck by the Arviat hamlet council has discovered that the cost of upgrading the existing Churchill fuel storage facility was estimated at a fraction of the estimated $16 million required to construct a Rankin Inlet facility. The tank farm component of the Rankin Inlet project, by the GNWT's own estimate, would be in excess of $6 million alone. In addition, marine and navigational improvements for the Rankin project would cost in excess...

Thank you, Mr. O'Brien. Your time is up.

I am seeking permission to continue my statement, Mr. Speaker.

The Member for Kivallivik is seeking unanimous consent. Are there any nays? There are no nays. Conclude your statement, Mr. O'Brien.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

...marine and navigational improvements for the Rankin project would cost in excess of another $10 million, making the total cost of the project in excess of $16 million.

"In light of the GNWT's projected $150 million deficit, how can this project still be justified?" asks Kritaqliluk.

Mr. Speaker, I will speak to this further during question period. Thank you.

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

Mr. Ootes, your time is up. Mr. Ootes.