Thank you, Mr. O'Brien. Good afternoon. Orders of the day, item 2, Ministers' statements. Mr. Kakfwi.

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

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I have an emergency statement. During the past weekend, 18 children were sent out from the Keewatin to Manitoba because of chest infections. The health centre nurse believed that most were suffering from a croupy illness called respiratory syncytial virus, usually referred to as RSV. RSV is a common winter infection of babies that makes it hard for them to breathe. This winter it has been particularly prevalent in the Prairie Provinces, in fact Saskatchewan has hundreds of cases. Last winter, there were many cases in the northern Baffin region. The last NWT outbreak was in Sanikiluaq in 1991.

Mr. Speaker, the department will be sending an experienced medical health officer into the region tomorrow to assess the situation and to assist the health board in dealing with the matter. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you. Item 2, Ministers' statements. Item 3, Members' statements. Mrs. Groenewegen.

Item 3, Members' statements. Mr. Evaloarjuk.

(Translation) Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the Baffin Leaders' Summit met in lqaluit January 13th and 14th. As the chairperson of that meeting, I am reporting to the Assembly on our discussions. The Baffin

Leaders' Summit is composed of all MLAs and mayors of the Baffin region. The four executive members of BRIA are the three chairpersons of the regional health and education boards and the regional chamber of commerce.

During our January meeting we passed 14 resolutions which dealt with a range of topics, some of the more significant resolutions were, one, invite the Minister of DIAND to visit lqaluit, the future capital of Nunavut; two, endure the principles of our decentralized government for Nunavut based on the Iqaluit-as-capital model developed by NIC; three, pledge our cooperation and goodwill towards the leaders and residents of the Kitikmeot and Keewatin regions; four, support the maximum number of jobs in all communities of the three Nunavut regions through a highly-decentralized Nunavut government and through community transfers; five, petition the Minister of Health and Social Services to allow communities to take on the transfer of positions or programs without having to take over the entire departmental responsibilities in the communities. Mr. Speaker, I would like to have unanimous consent to continue with my statement.

The Member is seeking unanimous consent. Are there any nays? There are no nays. Conclude your statement, Mr. Evaloarjuk.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Six, support our MP, Jack Anawak, as he works to have the federal government deliver on a 1998 commitment to provide a new hospital for the Baffin region; seven, encourage the Minister of Justice to support community justice initiatives as alternatives to expensive court circuits and correctional facilities; eight, develop community-based plans to address community wellness issues; nine, have Nunavut Arctic College develop community development training programs; 10, petition the Government of the NWT to suspend the sale of staff houses in Nunavut until a strategy is put in place to address the future staff housing needs of the Nunavut government; 11, urge Cabinet and the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment to reinstate a suitable level of funding for public service training to meet the spirit and intent of article 23 of the Nunavut land claim agreement; 12, reform the system for providing student financial assistance in the Baffin region.

Mr. Speaker, later today, I will be tabling the resolutions passed at the Baffin Leaders' Summit. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, plans to change the resupply operations in the Keewatin region have been under development for the past three years. While we all agree with the need to be as efficient as possible in all government departments, including resupply, there have been a number of concerns about the government's plan to start using Rankin Inlet as a hub for fuel resupply in the Keewatin. Mr. Speaker, in response to these concerns, the Minister of Transportation and Public Works provided a briefing in Caucus this morning on resupply operations, specifically on the proposed changes in the Keewatin resupply. I would like to

thank the Minister and their staff for providing us with the detailed information on this important subject.

However, I still have some concerns in this area, Mr. Speaker. One major example is the issue of anticipated cost-savings on using Rankin Inlet as a hub for fuel resupply in the Keewatin. Mr. Speaker, when the option was first proposed, I understood the government expects to save $1.8 million per year. However, I understand the figures have changed and we are now looking at a savings of approximately $600,000 per year.

Mr. Speaker, I think we all need time to digest the information provided to us before we proceed with such a large and important project. I appreciate the assurances received from the Minister that due to other circumstances, the project will not be going ahead in time to meet the summer of 1997 deadline.

Mr. Speaker, I am sure all the Members of the House will be able to take the extra time now available to ensure that this project receives the full and careful consideration that it deserves. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I rise to pay tribute to a man who was much loved and very much respected in his home of Resolute Bay, in the High Arctic, throughout the circumpolar North and indeed throughout the world. Bazel Jesudason died in Resolute Bay on August 9th of last year after a brief illness. Born in India in 1941, Bazel chose to be buried in the Arctic amongst people he loved.

Mr. Speaker, Bazel was a man well-known for his love of people and acceptance of many cultures. He spoke many languages, including Inuktitut, and was a devout Christian all his life. Bazel first came to the North in 1969 to lqaluit and then Lake Harbour as a power plant operator and mechanic. In 1970, he was transferred to Grise Fiord. It was there he met his lifetime partner, Terry DiPasquale.

Bazel had travelled extensively with Inuit on the land and decided to start his own business in tourism. In 1979, Bazel left the security of the civil service and launched High Arctic International Explorer Services Ltd in Resolute.

Starting with well-organized sled trips between Resolute and Grise Fiord, the business expanded to include a hotel which was very much a home away from home under Terry's guiding hands, and package trips were added to other High Arctic destinations including the North Pole.

Mr. Speaker, I seek unanimous consent to conclude my Member's statement.

The Member for High Arctic is seeking unanimous consent to conclude his statement. Are there any nays? There are no nays. Mr. Barnabas, conclude your statement.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Bazel become well-known worldwide for his sound advice to a wide variety of groups who planned assaults on the North Pole, whether by dogteam, snowmobile, ultra-lite aircraft, skis or on foot. Bazel often joked that he was going to be the first one to reach the North Pole by elephant.

Many major expeditions relied on Bazel for logistical advice and radio support. In the slower winter season, Bazel travelled extensively around the world giving slide shows wherever he went. He was a wonderful ambassador for the North. More than any other person, Bazel put the High Arctic on the international tourism map.

Even though he was very well known throughout the world, Bazel never lost touch with his many beloved friends and neighbours in my constituency and in the North. He involved Inuit in his business and was very happy to take them with him on some of his trips. His old friends, Pijamini from Grise Fiord and my predecessor, Mr. Ludy Pudluk's father, Mr. Kalluk, went with Bazel to Las Vegas and even to India.

Mr. Speaker, Canada and the Northwest Territories has benefitted enormously from Bazel's work in making the North accessible and friendly to all who came to explore. Bazel's efforts produced lasting benefits for the airline, communications and travel industries, and resulted in new facilities and knowledge in the North.

Beyond all this, though, it is the man we will always remember for his humanity, his humour and his joy in living. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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

Member's Statement On Industry's Concern With Privatization

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The honourable Mr. Don Morin announced in the Assembly on February 14th that a number of government functions will be privatized; among them, computer systems and services. A number of northern businesses currently providing these services have concerns as to how this privatization will be achieved. They believe that an open and competitive tree market provides the government with the best goods and services at the lowest prices, and wish to be consulted on the privatization plan that will be executed.

At this time, they have not been consulted and are concerned that a privatization plan may have been developed completely in house without any consultation from private companies arid industry. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Good afternoon, colleagues. Mr. Speaker, I will be tabling in this House several petitions from my constituency of lqaluit and other communities in Nunavut against the amendments to the Public Service Act. Mr. Speaker, I spoke against the proposed act in this House

earlier in the week, and, Mr. Speaker, unanimous consent at that time was not there.

Mr. Speaker, I think that putting the proposed amendments to the act to the Standing Committee on Government Operations, which I have the privilege of sitting on, was the correct process. Mr. Speaker, over the past days, I've been called a unionist. Mr. Speaker, I am and I do not deny this. However, I do understand the principle of the bill and I've tried to articulate this in and out of this House.

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased that the Government Operations committee had the opportunity to seek input from the two major stakeholders on this issue, and I thank all of my constituents who have phoned arid faxed me to let me know that I had their support. I would also like to thank my fellow brother and sister MLAs for their support. Thank you.

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

Mr. Speaker, I would like to take this opportunity to tell the House that this week is one of the most important weeks for my people in my constituency. They are presently negotiating with the federal government on self- government in Rae Lakes, and I am very sorry that I cannot be there with them while the session is on here.

I wish to tell this House that I strongly support my people for all the energy, time and effort that they have put into this very important initiative. I wish them all success and I want them to know that thoughts are with them. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

---Applause

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

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

Hear! Hear!

---Applause

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

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

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

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. (English not provided)... Mr. Speaker, today I would like to speak in my own language. because of a shortage of money. We can't afford it, so I will speak in English.

On January 15th, Mr. Speaker, I had the pleasure of attending an awards ceremony in my home constituency of Fort Simpson. The Commissioner of the Northwest Territories, Helen Maksagak, hosted the awards presentation and recognized the three individuals who rescued a Fort Simpson man from certain death. Mr. Ernie Paul Isaiah and Mr. Jack Lee Mouse received the Commissioner's Award for Bravery at the Highest Level.

They were instrumental in saving Mr. Mike Cazon from a burning house in Fort Simpson, which had ultimately taken the lives of three others in September of 1993. Mr. Isaiah and Mr. Mouse were in a neighbouring house when the community fire alarm sounded. They ran to the burning building, ran inside and while searching through the smoke for residents, they discovered Mr. Cazon unconscious and pulled him into the hall. While both ran back to look for others who still may have been in danger, Mr. Loutit entered the building and helped Mr. Cazon outside. By that time the whole building was engulfed in flames and both Mr. Mouse and Mr. Isaiah had been forced to give up the search.

Although Mr. Cazon received burns to 60 per cent of his body, he is here today as a result of the heroic efforts of Mr. Ernie Paul Isaiah, Mr. Jack Lee Mouse and Mr. Ernest Wayne Loutit. I wish to acknowledge the risk that these men took with their own lives and there are many people in the North who show heroic feats and we should acknowledge them in this House. Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.

---Applause

Just to let the Member for Nahendeh know, I believe there was a ruling in the federal Parliament and Mr. Anawak did make a statement in his mother tongue. The ruling was that you have the political right to be heard, but not understood. Mr. Antoine, you do have the right to speak in your own language in the House and it is up to the Members if they want to make a point of order regarding whether they understand Mr. Antoine or not. The rules are there for the Members. It is up to the Members to use them.

Item 3, Members' statements. Item 4, returns to oral questions.

Thank you. Item 4, returns to oral questions. Mrs. Thompson.

Mr. Speaker, I have three returns to oral questions. Can I read them all at once?

I would like to make a return to an oral question asked by Jake Ootes on February 19th regarding the Arctic Winter Games.

Mr. Speaker, the following officials plan to attend the Arctic Winter Games as representatives of the Government of the Northwest Territories

I will attend, Mr. Speaker, as Minister responsible for sport and recreation. While at the games, I will attend a meeting of elected officials from all the participating units with the Arctic Winter Games International Committee. These meetings are scheduled to discuss strategic plans for the future of the Arctic Winter Games.

Also attending the Arctic Winter Games will be the Honourable Helen Maksagak, Commissioner.

Staff of the department who will attend are the deputy minister, who will attend with me the elected officials meeting and also meetings with Sport Canada officials who fund a portion of Arctic Winter Game costs; the director of the sport and recreation division will also attend, who is our representative to the Arctic Winter Games International Committee and the committee's technical director; the manager of sport programs will also attend, who is our representative for liaison purposes with the NWT Team mission staff.

Mr. Speaker, these are the government officials and staff representing the GNWT at the Arctic Winter Games. There are other Members of this Legislative Assembly and other government staff who may choose to go on their personal time and at their own expense. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

(Translation) Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I have a reply to an oral question asked by Mark Evaloarjuk on February 19th. Mr. Speaker, the question concerned the retention of surplus in the hamlet of Hall Beach.

Mr. Speaker, the question from Mr. Evaloarjuk was regarding the water and sewage services budget in Hall Beach. Recently, the economic rate for Hall Beach water and sewage services was raised because it was too low and there was a deficit in the program. The rate was increased to help recover that deficit. There is no surplus in Hall Beach.

Community water and sewage service rates are occasionally adjusted to reflect the costs of the program. If there is a surplus in the water and sewage services fund, the economic rate is lowered; if there is a deficit --as there is now in Hall Beach --the rate for water and sewage services must be raised. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. (Translation ends)

I also have a return to an oral question asked by Mr. Mike Miltenberger yesterday on the GNWT staff dedicated to Arctic Winter Games support.

Mr. Speaker, the department has no positions that are responsible full time for Arctic Winter Games, Sport North, a non-government federation of territorial sport governing bodies, is responsible for overseeing the selection and participation of our NWT Team for the Arctic Winter Games, but it also has no positions dedicated full time.

Mr. Speaker, the only full-time position I am aware of is the position of 1998 Arctic Winter Games general manager. This position is a city of Yellowknife position, recently filled and with responsibility for the planning of the hosting of the next Arctic Winter Games to be held in Yellowknife. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Item 4, returns to oral questions. Mr. Kakfwi.

Thank you. Item 4, returns to oral questions. Item 5, recognition of visitors in the gallery. Mr. Picco.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I would like to recognize Jeannie Areak-Kullualik of CBC North Radio, based in lqaluit.

---Applause

Thank you. Welcome to the Assembly. Item 5, recognition of visitors in the gallery. Mrs. Groenewegen.

Thank you. Welcome to the Assembly. Item 5, recognition of visitors in the gallery. Mr. Barnabas.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I am pleased to recognize Mr. Ron DiPasquale, of Yellowknife, Bazel Jesudason's brother-in-law. With him are Makkosan and Satomeesan, long time friends of Bazel's from Japan, who are here in Yellowknife on their way to Resolute.

---Applause

Welcome to the Assembly. Item 5, recognition of visitors in the gallery. Mr. Krutko,

Welcome to the Assembly. Item 5, recognition of visitors in the gallery. Mr. Henry.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to acknowledge a group in the gallery. They are a group of grade 8 students from Range Lake North School and their teacher, Ms. Tina Kennedy.

---Applause

Welcome to the Assembly. Item 5, recognition of visitors in the gallery. I would like to acknowledge some scouts who are with us today as Pages. They are: Jonathan Bilodeau; Andrew Bishop; Ben Singer; Julian Morse; Zoltan Kalnay; and, Chris Mercredi.

---Applause

And one person I missed is Adam Gordon, too.

---Applause

Item 5, recognition of visitors in the gallery. Mr. Evaloarjuk.

(Translation) Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to recognize Hugh Lloyd, who used to be a teacher in the adult education centre in Igloolik. During a student exchange between Greenland and Baffin, he was the coordinator when we travelled to Greenland. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

---Applause

Welcome to the Assembly. Item 5, recognition of visitors in the gallery. Item 6, oral questions. Mr. O'Brien.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My question is directed to the Minister of Public Works and it relates to my

Member's statement. Mr. Speaker, could the honourable Minister please confirm to this House the revised completion time frame for the Rankin Inlet tank farm project? Thank you.

Thank you. Minister of Public Works and Services, Mr. Arlooktoo.

Mr. Speaker, the original plan for the Rankin Inlet fuel terminal, as per Cabinet direction from the previous government, was that construction was to start this summer with the tank farm being in operation in June 1997. Because of a series of delays and concerns brought up by people in the communities of the Keewatin region, it is now no longer possible to get the project up and running for this summer, mainly due to time required for shipping, ordering tools, et cetera. So there is a minimum of a one-year delay on this project.

Thank you. Item 6, oral questions. Mr. Picco.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, in the House on Monday, the Minister of Education said that the Lloyd report on the transfer of Arctic College programs is available to the public at Nunavut Arctic College's headquarters in lqaluit. Mr. Speaker, media and some of my constituents have requested copies of the report, but were denied by staff in lqaluit. Mr. Speaker, the Minister did assure this Member and this House that copies were available to the public. Mr. Speaker, my question to the Minister is why can't the public get copies of the stated report, as stated by the Minister. Thank you.

Thank you. Minister of Education, Culture and Employment, Mr. Dent.

Thank you. Item 6, oral questions. Mr. Evaloarjuk.

(Translation) Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My question will be directed to the Premier. Mr. Speaker, at the Baffin Leaders' Summit held in lqaluit January 12 to 13, 1996, the Baffin leaders discussed and endorsed the model for a decentralized government for Nunavut: proposed by the Nunavut Implementation Commission because that model will provide the most jobs for Baffin communities outside lqaluit.

My question to the Premier is whether the Government of the Northwest Territories accepts the decentralized government model proposed by the Nunavut Implementation Commission.

The Nunavut Implementation Commission proposed the model whereby 93.5 new jobs in Igloolik would be created after Nunavut and 77 new jobs would be created in Pond Inlet. If these new positions are to be established in 1999, there will need to be houses and office space built to accommodate them. I would like to ask the Premier if this government is now planning the infrastructure necessary to support these new jobs in Pond Inlet and Igloolik. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Premier of the Northwest Territories, Mr. Morin.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The Government of the Northwest Territories supports the main principles as outlined in the NIC model. They have mentioned many times in this House stressing government at the community level, as well as distributing new jobs through the regions and communities and decentralization where practical, with due regard to costs. We do have a deficit and we have to take costs into consideration at all times. We do not wish to be locked into endorsing all particulars of the NIC model. I note that the Baffin Leaders' Summit endorsed it. It is important for us to keep flexibility in the planning process. We are in a changing environment. Our government is confronted with serious fiscal constraints and discussions with the federal government on incremental funding for division are far from being completed. We have initiated those discussions. I talked to Mr. Irwin about this in January. Our officials are working on them as of today.

I would note, however, that the GNWT has done infrastructure costing for the NIC based upon the NIC model of government organization. This information was included in a supplementary report that NIC issued. Basically, on planning for jobs in Igloolik and Pond Inlet and building of office space and houses, we can't proceed until the federal government comes up with the cash. Thank you.

Thank you. Supplementary, Mr. Evaloarjuk.

(Translation) Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Can the Premier tell this House whether the federal government has accepted the decentralized government model as

recommended by the Nunavut Implementation Commission? Thank you.

Mr. Morin.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I believe that the federal government is best able to speak for itself as to the position of various issues; however, I would like to make the following comments. First, the GNWT officials have had some discussions with the federal officials on the federal approach to division. Second, the key question is probably the amount of funding that will be made available for division between now and 1999. It is our understanding that the federal government is basing its process for the establishment of Nunavut on the NIC model. It is my understanding that this would be establishing available funding levels, without locking us into acceptance of all details of that model. With that, thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you. Item 6, oral questions. Mr. Krutko.

Premier of the Northwest Territories, Mr. Morin.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. One of the very first things we did as a government was meet with the Aboriginal Summit in the Western Arctic. We have talked to them and offered our support on aboriginal self-government. At one of our first meetings with the members of the Aboriginal Summit, they made it very clear that the implementing of inherent rights is one of their major priorities, and we agreed with them that we would work with them to make sure that that happens and that this government fully supports their inherent right to self-government.

Earlier this month, the government and the Legislative Assembly announced its vision and the priorities for the next three years leading up to division. One of the priorities that we have adopted as a government is to take aboriginal rights, treaty rights, aboriginal concerns and views into account, and to move forward with a meaningful self-government agenda that is based both on recognition of inherent right and on public government and self-government models for the rationalization of delivery of services.

We, as a government, also have contributed $50,000 to the Sahtu Secretariat to assist in the Self-government Forum '96 to be held in April. The government has contributed an additional $48,500 to the Aboriginal Summit to enable it to prepare materials and possible linkages between aboriginal government and public government for the use of the Self-government Forum '96. The GNWT will use the results of the conference to finalize its approaches to self-government so that our negotiators can participate in a more effective way in the decisions.

Finally, Mr. Speaker, my government remains committed to the development of new relationships with the members of the Aboriginal Summit, and is willing to discuss with the summit a protocol to formalize meetings and for the Aboriginal Summit to meet with Cabinet. I feel quite confident that the Minister responsible for Aboriginal Affairs, Mr. Jim Antoine, will work with the Aboriginal Summit to get signatures to that protocol.

Finally, Mr. Speaker, yes, this government does support the inherent right to self-government.

Thank you. Supplementary, Mr. Krutko.

Mr. Morin.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The government has not finalized the policy on self-government, including taking a position on what should be the purpose and the scope of regional government institutions. Government will await the results of the Forum '96 conference before it formulates any self-government policies. When we met with the Aboriginal Summit -- I believe it was last month -- they raised that concern at that time, that we shouldn't be developing policies without their input on aboriginal self government or regional government. So we are going to wait and work with them leading up to that forum.

There are some sources we can look at for guidance in getting to that end result, Mr. Speaker. The general consensus from the CDSC constitutional conference in 1995 concluded that the government must be the basis of any new structure. The community must be a basis of any new structure of government. All four levels of government --community, aboriginal, regional and central --are necessary. There is a need for a central government that is community driven. Communities should have the power to form regional and district governments. While the primary focus of self government will be shifting the power to the communities, there will clearly be a role for regional institutions, particularly suggesting that certain decisions should be made and programs and services delivered at a regional level. I am confident that self-government negotiations will determine the appropriate division of governmental authority and responsibility within the regions. With that, thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you. Mr. Krutko.

Mr. Morin.

Thank you. As I mentioned earlier, we are working with the Aboriginal Summit and we are working up to Forum '96 that will be held in the latter part of April or early May. Hopefully out of that, there will be some very clear direction of where we're going to go in the 1990s with our aboriginal partners to establish a new Western Territory. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you. Item 6, oral questions. Mr. Miltenberger.

Minister of Renewable Resources, Mr. Kakfwi.

Thank you. The question has been taken as notice. Item 6, oral questions. Mr. Ootes.

Minister of Transportation, Mr. Antoine.

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. I said a couple of days ago to another Member's question that at the present time there are no negotiations of any kind in terms of dollars or anything with this Canarctic Shipping Company. Thank you.

Thank you. Item 6, oral questions. Mr. Miltenberger.

Minister of Renewable Resources, Mr. Kakfwi.

Item 6, oral questions. Mr. Henry.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to direct my question to the Minister of Public Works and Services. Has the privatization plan for computers systems and services, been developed, and, if so, what information or consultation with local businesses was used in the development of this plan?

Minister of Public Works and Services, Mr. Arlooktoo.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It is true, last week the Premier did announce that the government will be privatizing the computer services function of the Government of the Northwest Territories, partly in response to

industry's request and the fact that they have been saying they can do it better and cheaper.

At this time, the different government departments are looking at what needs they have in the area of computer services, what they do now. Coming out of that will be implementation plans, and during that time there will be information gathering from different areas of the community, including industry. They will be consulted.

Thank you. Item 6, oral questions. Mr. Steen.

Minister of Transportation, Mr. Antoine.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to thank the honourable Member for Nunakput for his concerns with regard to transportation linkage between Inuvik and Tuk. He has raised this issue with me before, and I think it's a good initiative for his part of the area. The department experts have looked at this section of the road that is being proposed, and with their best estimates, the figure --as Mr. Steen stated - was roughly $160 million to build such a road. On the other hand, it is correct that the federal government is responsible for all new roads in the Northwest Territories. This being a new road, it fits under their mandate. This is one of the areas that the Department of Indian and Northern Affairs has the task, has no money and has nobody running that program for them.

Until the federal government decides to spend more money on their infrastructure development in Canada, only then will we have a chance to get some money from the federal government for new roads. On the other hand, the federal government is also looking for places where there could be some programs for employment development. Perhaps that might be an area to seek it out. But at the present time, the Department of Transportation, as everybody in this House knows, is going through a business planning process and we have been asked to look at reducing how much is in this budget already. By adding a project of that significance, it is difficult. On the other hand, I have no problems in looking into a joint venture project at the same time as making cuts in different areas. We also have to look at what we can do to enhance economic development in different areas. Perhaps this would be one area to look at. I will seriously consider such a proposal perhaps once the Member puts forward a good proposal. Maybe we can talk about it. That is what we are here for: to look at what we can do to develop the North. Mahsi.

Just to remind the Members, try to keep your preambles brief and to the point. Item 6, oral questions. Mr. Miltenberger.

Minister of Renewable Resources, Mr. Kakfwi.

Mr. Miltenberger.

Thank you. Minister of Renewable Resources, Mr. Kakfwi.

Item 6, oral questions. Mr. Barnabas.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I have a question to the Minister of Health and Social Services and Housing. I have a question regarding funding for alcohol and education programs. Why hasn't his department responded to the letters that were sent from my constituency --from Arctic Bay and Resolute --requesting funding for these programs? This program is being funded by the hamlet and it is getting to the point where it is accumulating a deficit for the hamlet. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.