Thank you, Mrs. Thompson. Good afternoon. Item 2, Ministers' statements. Mr. Dent.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Good afternoon. Mr. Speaker, White Cane Week took place between February 4th and 10th. The Government of the Northwest Territories is pleased to acknowledge the work that has been done with the blind and visually impaired of the Northwest Territories and to reaffirm its commitment to northerners facing special challenges.

We must continue to develop a supportive attitude towards blindness and visual impairment in the Northwest Territories. Residents who have poor or failing vision often play important roles in our communities.

We must also work to draw blind and sighted northerners closer together, not only in the workplace but in activities in our communities and our families. We commend the work of the CNIB in this area.

Mr. Speaker, we all know of blind or visually-impaired members of our communities. I urge each of you to pause for a moment and think about these individuals, the lives they are leading and if there is anything we can do to improve conditions for their benefit.

Blind and visually-impaired individuals should be integrated into the mainstream of community life based on their ability to function in the community.

Mr. Speaker, it is up to us to assist groups such as CNIB in finding ways for blind and visually-impaired individuals to lead satisfying lives. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you. Item 2, Ministers' statements. Mrs. Thompson.

Mr. Speaker, as many of the Members of this Legislative Assembly know, the 1996 Arctic Winter Games will be held in Chugiak-Eagle River, Alaska, from March 3 to 10, 1996. The NWT has participated in the 13 Arctic Winter Games held since the first games were hosted by Yellowknife in 1970.

Team NWT for 1996 will consist of 371 athletes, coaches and mission staff in 19 sports, plus a cultural contingent. The team has representation from 33 communities across the NWT, a fact we are particularly proud of.

Mr. Speaker, I will be sharing with Members of this Assembly, a complete list of members of Team NWT, so that they may be aware of those athletes who have earned the right to represent the NWT at this, the largest and most important games in the North. (Translation ends)

The Arctic Winter Games involves far more than these 371 athletes, Mr. Speaker. The regional and territorial trials used to select the final team are an important opportunity for broad-based competition. Nearly 2,400 participants from 52 communities were involved in the regional trials that took place in November and December of 1995.

From these regional trials, 1,389 participants from 44 communities advanced to territorial trials that were held in 11 different locations in the NWT, January 18 to 21, 1996.

Providing opportunity for as many young athletes as possible, regardless of the community in which they live, is an important objective of the Arctic Winter Games. Participation in sport and recreation can contribute to individual and community wellness, and extending these benefits as broadly as possible to all young people is our intention.

It is true that there is a cost to the broad-based competitions that we sponsor in the Northwest Territories. However, Mr. Speaker, this government's direct contribution is modest: $150,000 each year, or $300,000 for each games held every two years. Revenue is raised from registration fees, lottery proceeds and other donations to offset total costs.

Mr. Speaker, the biggest factor in keeping costs of the Arctic Winter Games down are the hundreds of volunteers who make all this happen. Without the volunteer officials, coaches, managers, chaperons and organizers, the Arctic Winter Games would simply cost too much and this opportunity for our young people would be lost. It has been conservatively estimated that volunteer time was $420,000 for the regional trials; $230,000 for the territorial trials; and another $25,000 for the games, nearly $700,000 in volunteer help. These figures do not include the months of volunteer time of every coach who trained teams or individuals for the competitions. In fact, it has been calculated that volunteers who work with the various territorial sport governing bodies contribute $5.5 million of their time each year.

I wish to say a special thank you to the parents and other adults whose commitment and hard work has made this all possible.

Mr. Speaker, I am sure Members will join me in congratulating those who will be representing the Northwest Territories at the 1996 Arctic Winter Games and wish them the best of luck in their competitions. May they compete in a spirit of friendship and goodwill. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

---Applause

Thank you. Item 2, Ministers' statements. Item 3, Members' statements. Mr. Rabesca.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My constituency of Rae-Edzo was most interested in undertaking the brush-clearing contract of Smiley Lake and Frank's Channel. The request for quotes on the contract date was February 7th, and the closing date of February 16th, leaving nine days for the Rae band to forward the original submission to the Northwest Territories Power Corporation in Hay River. The residents had nine days to review and assess almost 50 pages of tender document costing and development of appropriate quotes.

Given the GNWT's stated commitment to increasing employment and business opportunities at the local level, we presumed the Northwest Territories Power Corporation shared this strong commitment. Had there been consultation with the Rae band on this employment opportunity for their members, it would have been a clear example of what this government has been saying it will do. However, this was not the underlying intent judging by the unrealistic requirements in the tender document.

The process expectation and financial commitment that this tender requires is beyond the ability of local organizations and business to compete because of the limited financial resources. The expectation in the tender document requires a 10 per cent bid bond and a performance bond in the amount of 50 per cent of the contract price, and a labour and material bond is also in the amount of 50 per cent of the contract price. Given the significant size of the contract and the Rae Band Limited financial resources, it is almost impossible for my constituency to accommodate the security requirements.

The time frame for submissions allowed no room to negotiate financing or to make other arrangements precludes us from satisfying the Northwest Territories Power Corporation. The irony of this process is that the brush clearing is within the area of Rae-Edzo, but the approach taken by the Northwest Territories Power Corporation sabotages any idea that employment may be possible for the local residents. Fundamental change is critical here if the Northwest Territories Power Corporation is committed to creating employment at the local level.

I would suggest that for contracts of this nature, advance consultation with the communities in the area be undertaken and realistic security requirements be developed.

Mr. Rabesca, your time is up.

May I have the consent of my colleagues to conclude my statement?

The Member for North Slave is seeking unanimous consent. Do we have any nays? There are no nays. Conclude your statement, Mr. Rabesca.

The irony of this process is the brush clearing is within the area of Rae-Edzo, but the approach taken by the Northwest Territories Power Corporation sabotages any idea that employment may be possible for the local residents. A fundamental change is critical if the Northwest Territories Power Corporation is committed to creating employment at the local level.

I would suggest that for contracts of this nature, advance consultation with the communities in the area be undertaken and realistic security requirements be developed; and that the contract terms and conditions be negotiated officially if the work that is to be done is near the communities.

I will be asking the Minister of the Northwest Territories Power Corporation a question on these concerns later today, Mr. Speaker.

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

(Translation) Thank you, Mr. Speaker. This is in support of the dogteams participating in the Arctic Winter Games. Mr. Speaker, I am proud of the fact that we have Inuit and their dogteams participating in the Arctic Winter Games.

Since the Arctic Winter Games began, many Inuit and other native people have been expected to compete in sports such as basketball and volleyball, which are not our traditional sports. I am very happy that the Arctic Winter Games include Dene games, Arctic sports and dog racing because these sports are traditional for aboriginal people. When we include Arctic sports like dog racing in the Arctic Winter Games, it reflects our northern way of life and our culture.

I don't think the Arctic Winter Games should only include the sports they play in southern Canada. Dogteams are a very important part of our history and our culture in the North. They are also very important in Yukon, Alaska and Greenland. The use of dogteams is growing in the Eastern Arctic.

I hope that the Arctic Winter Games will continue and that the games will continue to be a reflection of our northern way of life and our culture. Thank you.

---Applause

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Yesterday, the honourable Member for Baffin Central spoke about receiving his tie from the Premier. Today, I'm proud to say that I'm wearing the tie given to me by Mr. Jerry Ell of Iqaluit. Yesterday, after an intense search and rescue in Iqaluit with Hercules aircraft and helicopters, my friend and official agent of my election, Jerry Ell, and his brother, John, were plucked off the ice floe on Frobisher Bay; safely, I might add.

Hear! Hear!

---Applause

Mr. Speaker, I want to acknowledge the coordination and professionalism of the ground search team from Iqaluit, Mr. Simon Nattaq who kept watch at the floe edge and kept radio contact with the search and rescue people in Iqaluit, the Canadian Air Force Hercules crew and Canadian Helicopters based in Iqaluit.

Mr. Speaker, during this operation, the Honourable Manitok Thompson, Minister of MACA, kept me informed and up to date on the progress of the operation in Iqaluit and I thank her for that.

Mr. Speaker, I wear my tie proudly today in recognition of Jerry Ell and his brother, John, and the search and rescue people in Iqaluit and the Ell family. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

---Applause

Item 3, Members' statements. Mr. Barnabas.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. With the date for the establishment of Nunavut on April 1, 1999 only about 36 months away, I'm becoming concerned that there are some very important questions, particularly about the financing of the new Nunavut government which we are not getting answers for.

As a Member of the Nunavut Caucus in the last Assembly before division, I want to be sure that there's enough funding for the Nunavut government. With Nunavut so close, we should know that the funding will be available so that the new government can do its job properly.

I was concerned when the Nunavut Leaders' Summit planned for Arviat had been cancelled this month because there was no one available to speak for the federal government to tell us what is really going on in Ottawa. I understand that under the Nunavut political accord signed by the federal government in 1992, the federal government is required to consult with the Government of the Northwest Territories and with Nunavut Tunngavik on the financial arrangements for Nunavut.

Later today, I will be asking our Premier if he has been informed of what the federal government is doing about the funding for Nunavut, and if our government has had input. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Good afternoon, colleagues. Mr. Speaker, I wish to give my strong support for the NWT Development Corporation. Mr. Speaker, this corporation creates jobs in small communities like the ones I represent, where the private sector won't go. This corporation creates jobs for people who otherwise wouldn't have them.

Across the Territories, Mr. Speaker, 80 per cent of the people who work in Development Corporation projects are aboriginal, 65 per cent are women and 46 per cent the sole income for single families. I understand that in 1996, the Development Corporation will spend about $17 million in the Northwest Territories. Of that, $9.5 million will be spent employing about 1,200 people and the rest will go to northern businesses. To conduct themselves, the Development Corporation will spend a total of $5.6 million of government contributions of all kinds; including subsidies, purchases of assets and working capital and administration costs. For an expenditure of about 32 cents...(inaudible)...including investments, the Government of the Northwest Territories will put $1 directly in the territorial economy through its Development Corporation, if we just count up the cost of head office and loss allowance and not investments.

It costs the government only 16 cents to create $1 in the Northwest Territories. The economy in my riding, the Uqqurmiut Weave Shop employs 15 to 20 people a year. Since it began, Uqqurmiut is projected to expend up to 1998, $3.5 million in purchases and payments to the artists.

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

The Member for Baffin Central is seeking unanimous consent to conclude his statement. Are there any nays? There are no nays. Conclude your statement, Mr. Enuaraq.