Thank you, Mr. Rabesca. I would like to send our condolences to Mr. Evaloarjuk, who lost his mother. Mr. Clerk, would you ascertain if Her Honour, the Commissioner of the Northwest Territories, is prepared to enter the Chamber and open this Third Session of the 13th Legislative Assembly.

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Mr. Speaker, Members of the Legislature, good afternoon. I am pleased to welcome you to the Third Session of the 13th Assembly. This is the start of the Assembly's first budget session. The session will be recessed later this month until the Minister of Finance presents the government's budget for 1996-97 in late April or early May. Before it recesses, the government will be seeking approval for interim appropriations to cover expenses until the main budget is approved. During the session, the government will also be presenting a number of other bills for the consideration of Members.

Mr. Speaker, as you know, the agenda for change outlined by the government and this Assembly since taking office in November is more than just avoiding a projected deficit and keeping our spending at a level we can afford. It is also about people in the communities, our neighbours and our friends. It is about making it possible for them to take control so they can set their own priorities and make their own decisions on the way programs and services are delivered at the local level. It is about self-sufficiency, self-determination, northern control over northern resources and taking our place within a Canada that understands and recognizes the important role of our people and our land within Confederation.

Mr. Speaker, the Northwest Territories has a population of strong and determined people. They are people who want to get the job done and who are prepared to make sacrifices in order to achieve a new and brighter future. You don't hear much about them. You seldom hear them on the radio, see them on television or read about them in the newspapers. In today's society, there is often more attention paid to reporting negative or controversial issues. In the process, we frequently forget there are thousands of northern residents who live together in harmony and have a wellness of body, spirit and mind that continues to be the backbone

of this territory. They want the Territories to succeed, and they are taking the time to help others in need, often at their own expense.

Mr. Speaker, in recent months, I travelled to a number of communities to speak with many of our residents and to present a number of Commissioner's awards. This afternoon, I want to officially recognize some of them. They include Andy Kaotalok of Cambridge Bay; Ernie Paul Isaiah of Fort Simpson; Jack Lee Mouse of Fort Simpson; and, Ernest Wayne Loutit of Fort Simpson. All of these men were presented with the Commissioner's Award for Bravery. Emmanuel Felix Senior, of Tuktoyaktuk, was given a Commissioner's Award for Public Service. In addition, I will be presenting a Commissioner's Award for Bravery to Michael Teener of Whale Cove in the near future and letters of commendation to Sam Kenerk, James Kununak, and Clarence Siutinnuaq, all of Gjoa Haven, and Peter Anikina and John Dick of Tuktoyaktuk.

Mr. Speaker, I also had the honour recently of congratulating Brenda Kanayuk of Pond Inlet who was presented with the National Native Role Model Award, at a ceremony at Rideau Hall, for her work as a recreation leader and a general leader of youth throughout the Baffin region. And, finally, I have just recently returned from the Arctic Winter Games where I had the opportunity to witness excellent games and hundreds of athletes and coaches, volunteers and supporters working towards the common objectives of good sportsmanship.

Mr. Speaker, it is people like these -- and thousands of others who live here -- who will make it possible to shape a new identity for the Northwest Territories in the 21 st century. No single individual will solve all of our problems. But by working together in a positive fashion, we will make sure the potential of our human and natural resources is realized and contributes to a sense of community wellness, dignity and personal accomplishment. That is what the agenda for change is all about. That is what we are working toward and that is what we will achieve.

Mr. Speaker, during this session, your government will be introducing a legislative program that includes the following bills for the consideration of this House:

Amendments to existing legislation include: An Act to Amend the Education Act; An Act to Amend the Income Tax Act; An Act to Amend the Workers' Compensation Act; and, An Act to Amend the Territorial Court Act.

New acts include the following: Interim Appropriation Act, April 1 to June 30, 1996; Appropriation Act, 1996-97; Forgiveness of Debts Act, 1995-96; Supplementary Appropriation Act, No. 3, 1995-96; Write-off of Debts Act, 1995-96; and, Loan Authorization Act, 1996-97.

Mr. Speaker, the government considers all of these bills essential to the good conduct of government business and I recommend passage for each of these acts.

At this point, I would like to commend you for your earnest consideration and wise judgement of the business of this House as I declare open the Third Session of the 13th Assembly of the Northwest Territories. Thank you.

--- Applause

Good Afternoon. Orders of the day. Item 3, Ministers' statements. Mr. Premier.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, in a statement last month, I advised Members that we would be restructuring our organization to save administrative costs, to provide focus to the priorities of this government and to make government more effective for the people that it serves.

The restructuring of government comes as a direct result of both our budget planning process and the priorities that have been established by this government.

Today, I am announcing a number of renewed ministerial and senior management assignments that will place this government in a better position to achieve the objectives and priorities that we have established in cooperation with the standing committees of this House.

Effective Monday, March 25th:

The Honourable Stephen Kakfwi will become Minister of Economic Development and Tourism, Minister of Energy, Mines and Petroleum Resources. Mr. Kakfwi will maintain his responsibility for the Department of Renewable Resources and national constitutional affairs.

Mr. Speaker, Mr. Kakfwi is being tasked with the responsibility for amalgamating the three key departments responsible for sustainable development.

The new department will have the prime responsibility for developing and implementing strategies to meet this government's priority of sustainable development and job creation.

The Honourable Kelvin Ng maintains his existing responsibility for Health and Social Services and will become the Minister of Justice.

Mr. Speaker, we all know that the social problems facing the Northwest Territories are many and that the cost of providing these programs is climbing relentlessly. With responsibility for both Health and Social Services and Justice, Mr. Ng can better coordinate this government's efforts to deal with our social problems.

The Deputy Premier, the Honourable Goo Arlooktoo, maintains his responsibility for Public Works and Services and will become the Minister responsible for the Northwest Territories Housing Corporation. Mr. Speaker, these responsibilities have been combined under one Minister because of the similar functions of these departments.

Mr. Speaker, I have spoken many times over the past number of months about the importance for this government and for northerners to gain control over northern resources. The negotiation of a northern accord on oil and gas and minerals remains a priority of this government. I will continue to be the lead Minister in these negotiations. To coordinate our efforts to deal with federal Ministers on this and other issues, the responsibility for intergovernmental affairs will be transferred to my office. Mr. Speaker, all other ministerial assignments will remain the same.

I have consulted with my Cabinet colleagues concerning deputy minister assignments to ensure that we match the skills of our senior managers to the job that must be done. The following changes are being made, effective Monday, March 25th:

Andrew Gamble will leave Transportation to become the deputy minister responsible for the consolidation of the departments of Economic Development and Tourism, Renewable Resources and Energy, Mines and Petroleum Resources;

Penny Ballantyne will move from the Northwest Territories Housing Corporation to assist the Honourable Manitok Thompson in implementing the community empowerment initiative of this government as the deputy minister of Municipal and Community Affairs;

Bob Doherty will move from Public Works and Services to become deputy minister of Transportation;

Ken Lovely will leave Health and Social Services to become deputy minister of Public Works and Services;

David Ramsden will move from Municipal and Community Affairs to become deputy minister of Health and Social Services;

Joe Handley will leave Renewable Resources to become the president of the Northwest Territories Housing Corporation;

Don Cooper, presently director for the Department of Justice's legal division, will become the deputy minister of that department; and, Bob McLeod, presently assistant deputy minister of Renewable Resources will become acting deputy minister of that department until it is consolidated with Economic Development and Tourism and Energy, Mines and Petroleum Resources.

Mr. Speaker, these changes are significant. They task individual Ministers and Cabinet in a better position to work with the standing committees of this House to accomplish the priorities of this government. Thank you.

--- Applause

Thank you, Mr. Morin. Item 3, Ministers' statements. Minister of Finance, Mr. Todd.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. One of the major issues of contention during consideration of amendments to the Public Service Act in February was the change to the exclusion provision of the bill. The Union of Northern Workers expressed their concerns that this provision of the act would be used indiscriminately and would result in over 35 per cent of current unionized employees being excluded.

Mr. Speaker, I gave my assurance that the changes to this provision of the act would only increase exclusions by approximately six per cent of the total number of GNWT employees. To reaffirm this, I made a commitment to this House to table a list of the employees excluded from the bargaining unit under the amended Public Service Act.

Mr. Speaker, later today I will table a revised list of excluded employees. This list clearly shows that I have met my commitment. The number of exclusions have increased from 717 to 1,050, a total increase of 333 employees. In fact, this represents a five per cent increase in new exclusions, from 11 to 16 per cent of the total number of GNWT employees.

This listing clearly defines who is a member of the bargaining units representing our employees and will, in future, limit any conflict or misunderstanding about who has the right to strike.

Mr. Speaker, recognizing that the exclusion provision of the Public Service Act remains a concern for the membership of the Union of Northern Workers, I have asked my officials to work with the executive of the union to find an arrangement for monitoring exclusions that will ensure that this provision of the act continues to be applied in a fair and consistent manner. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

--- Applause

Thank you. Item 3, Ministers' statements. Mr. Premier.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I wish to advise Members that the Honourable Stephen Kakfwi will be absent from the House today and tomorrow to attend a ministerial conference on the Arctic Environmental Protection Strategy in Inuvik. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Morin. Item 3, Ministers' statements. Mr. Antoine.

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, there have been concerns raised by some Members over the proposed reorganization of Keewatin resupply operations. I have, therefore, decided, with the Minister of Public Works and Services, to re-establish the Keewatin Resupply Steering Committee and to revisit the possible resupply options in the Keewatin region.

The committee will be made up of the three Keewatin MLAs, representatives of six Keewatin communities, the Kivalliq Inuit Association and the Keewatin Chamber of Commerce. The MLA for Kivallivik, Mr. Kevin O'Brien, has kindly agreed to chair the steering committee.

The committee will review all the options, costs and related community concerns to determine the best approach to the delivery of bulk fuel and dry cargo to the Keewatin communities. I have asked that the committee provide its recommendation by the end of June 1996. Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Antoine. Item 3, Ministers' statements. I would like to thank the band who were just playing out there. For the Members' information, that was the Sir John Franklin Symphony.

--- Applause

I will also write a letter thanking them. Item 4, Members' statements. Mr. Enuaraq.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Good afternoon. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to speak in support of the fishery in Baffin Island. My constituency, and those of other Baffin MLAs, lies next to waters in Davis Strait which contain a lot of turbot. In fact, Canada is about to allocate a quota of 12,500 tonnes in this area, which is called area "0." Mr. Speaker, these waters are next to our communities. Article 15 of our Inuit land claim agreement requires that the Government of Canada recognize and give special consideration to "the principles of adjacency and economic dependence of Nunavut communities" in allocating commercial fishing licences.

Mr. Speaker, four licences are being applied for from the Baffin region totalling 3,000 tonnes. They are from Pangnirtung Fisheries, Broughton Island HTA, Qikiqtaaluk Corporation and the Qikiqtaaluk Wildlife Board. The last two applications will represent the entire Baffin region, which means that all communities of Baffin will benefit if these licences are granted.

Mr. Speaker, we know that we are facing strong competition from the South for these licences, even though the fish are in our waters. I pledge my full support to these applicants from my region. If we can obtain our requested allocation of 3,000 tonnes, this will be worth about $12 million.

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

The Member for Baffin Central is seeking unanimous consent. Are there any nays? There are no nays. Complete your statement.

Mr. Speaker, this is a much-needed economic opportunity for communities where unemployment and the cost of living is much too high. I will be urging my fellow Baffin MLAs and the Minister of Renewable Resources, and his officials, to devote every effort to seeking the approval of the Minister of Fisheries and Oceans, the Honourable Fred Mifflin, for our fair share of these valuable groundfish from our waters.

--- Applause

Thank you. Item 4, Members' statements. Mr. Ningark.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Good afternoon. On Monday, March 18th, the beneficiaries of the Nunavut land claim voted in the election for a position on the executive of Nunavut Tunngavik Incorporated. The results were announced yesterday on behalf of the Nunavut Caucus. As the co-chair of the Nunavut Caucus, I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate Jose Kusugak on his re-election to the presidency of NTI.

--- Applause

I have appreciated, Mr. Speaker, the opportunity to work with these gentlemen in the past. I look forward to working with them in the Assembly and NTI to cooperate in preparing for the creation of Nunavut in 1999. Thank you.

--- Applause

Thank you, Mr. Ningark. Item 4, Members' statements. Mrs. Groenewegen.

Item 4, Members' statements. Mr. Barnabas.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. This statement is directed to the Minister of Municipal and Community Affairs. In recent discussions about the capital plan in communities in my constituency, I learned that communities like Resolute Bay and Grise Fiord, with populations under 250, are not eligible for an arena and are only eligible for an outdoor rink.

Mr. Speaker, the severe wind and cold experienced much of the year in these High Arctic communities in my constituency means that an outdoor rink, unless there is protection from the wind and blowing snow, would be quite inappropriate.

I know that the government believes in investing in our youth in these small communities. They are very much in need of winter recreation opportunities. I know they would love to skate and play hockey.

Mr. Speaker, community leaders agree that it would be very helpful if the Department of Municipal and Community Affairs would consider modifying their outdoor rink program to take into account the extreme climates of communities like Resolute Bay and Grise Fiord. The communities would like to see if a way could be found to protect an outdoor rink using a frame-sprung structure. I understand that this kind of facility, which is not too costly, has worked well for many years in Nanisivik, although it must be properly maintained.

Mr. Speaker, I have asked the Minister of Municipal and Community Affairs for her support towards our goal. I am hopeful that the Minister and her officials would be open to modifying the policies and programs now in place respecting outdoor rinks, to allow for some shelter in extreme climates. Also, I have asked the Minister if her officials in recreation could advise on what kind of structure would be able to withstand the strong winds and cold climate and also what would be the most cost-effective.

Finally, if there is any other innovative solution which you might consider, it would also be appreciated. Mr. Speaker, I ask for unanimous consent to conclude my statement.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I look forward to working with the honourable Minister and her staff and obtaining support from my colleagues in this Assembly to come up with a different approach to outdoor rinks which will work in the wind and cold of the High Arctic. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you. Item 4, Members' statements. Mr. Picco.