Thank you, Mr. Rabesca. Mr. Henry.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I find this an exceptionally bright day today. I would like to read a newspaper article which my fellow Members may wish to consider for our government.

Despite years of effort, business has had only modest success in convincing government to reduce the regulatory burden.

It is a burden that is especially onerous on small businesses that don't have large administrative resources to cope with government regulations.

But even for major employers, regulatory compliance adds significantly to costs.

There was hope of an important breakthrough in cutting federal government regulation with the introduction of the Regulatory Efficiency Act, but it remains stalled in the House of Commons.

One of the most encouraging examples of what can and should be done to unwind the red tape strangling businesses is the action of the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador.

As noted in the Post's Special Report on Small Business, in February, in its 1992 budget, Newfoundland eliminated 171 fees for licences; from the $10 fee for a birth certification, to the $25 fee for renewing a waste management certification to a $15,000 fee for selling a high-volume of gasoline wholesale.

What should be carefully reported by all governments is that these changes cost Newfoundland $2 million in lost revenue, but it has saved $3 million in administrative and collection fees.

Newfoundland now plans to scrap up to 50 per cent of all existing regulations and paper burdens on small business.

So what we have here is the best of all possible worlds: The government saves money by reducing administrative costs, and will further benefit by collecting more tax revenue from businesses that are more profitable and new start-ups are encouraged."

I would like to suggest to the Premier that after he forms the Special Advisory Committee on the Economy, as he has talked about earlier in this House, this is exactly the type of recommendation that the committee will be making to him. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

--- Applause

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I know that our government has financial problems and must cut its spending back. However, I wish to express my concern today that in the small isolated communities that I represent, lay-offs and drastic reductions in pay and benefits could cause serious problems in continuing to deliver vital government programs and could seriously affect the local economy. Let me use my home community of Arctic Bay as an example: Of 15 government workers in Arctic Bay, 11 are Inuit and the remainder are mostly committed long-term community residents. Our power plant superintendent has done that job for 11 years and our head nurse has been in Arctic Bay for seven years. Mr. Speaker, the employees represent decades of dedicated experience and commitment to my constituents. If they are laid off, it would be very difficult to replace them. Furthermore, since jobs are quite scarce in Arctic Bay, the Inuit employees are each supporting large, extended families. If there are drastic cutbacks in wages and benefits, it would affect many more people than the individual employees. Also, local businesses are very much dependent on these people for their spending power. These employees are committed to Arctic Bay. The money they earn stays in the community. If their wages and benefits are cut back drastically, they will no longer be able to support local businesses.

I am told that uncertainty about what will happen next is causing great anxiety. For example, one of my constituents was considering buying his government staff house but now he's hesitating because of uncertainty over his future as an employee. Mr. Speaker, I know that cuts will have to be made; however, I would recommend that the government and the Minister of Finance please take into account the special situations of the remote...

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

The honourable Member is seeking unanimous consent. Are there any nays? There are no nays. Please proceed, Mr. Barnabas.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

... please take into account the special situations of the remote isolated communities where long-term and experienced government employees are providing critical services. They are relied upon by many people other than their own families and give critical support to local businesses. Cutting these vital positions to save money should be a last resort. It will only have a harmful effect on the delivery of the government programs. Secondly, I believe it is important that we work together to finalize the budget as soon as possible so that our employees know where they stand. I believe that the job losses may not be as bad as my constituents fear but they don't know that now. Everyone is afraid that they will lose their job. Mr. Speaker, today I will be tabling petitions from the dedicated government employees in Nanisivik and Arctic Bay and a letter from a long-term employee from Arctic Bay. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I would like to briefly speak about the Kitikmeot Regional Council. The Kitikmeot Regional Council consists of the mayors from Pelly Bay, Taloyoak, Gjoa Haven, Cambridge Bay, Coppermine, and Holman Island. The Kitikmeot Regional Council has been functional for many years and I hope it will remain that way for many years to come. The Kitikmeot Regional Council is a major voice for the communities in that region. The Kitikmeot Regional Council talks about the major issues reflecting the economy, health, social services, education, and many other things that relate to the well-being of the region and of the communities in that region.

Mr. Speaker, the Kitikmeot Regional Council is aware of the bad financial situation that this government is faced with and they are willing to work together with this government to make life easier for the people of that region as well as the other regions in the system within the given jurisdiction. Mr. Speaker, the Kitikmeot Regional Council has done a lot of research for the planning of that region. In the very near future, Mr. Speaker, the Kitikmeot Regional Council will be requesting a meeting with the Premier of this government and the other representatives of this government. Thank you.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Good afternoon, colleagues. This past weekend the honourable Member for North Slave, Mr. James Rabesca, invited MLAs to his home community for a feast to celebrate the election of Mr. Joe Rabesca as chief. Mr. Speaker, the hospitality shown to myself and Mr. Seamus Henry, the MLA for Yellowknife South, on our visit to Rae was exceptional. The food was second to none and I thoroughly enjoyed the short tour of facilities by the mayor and Deputy Commissioner Dan Marion. Mr. Speaker, I also had an opportunity to meet elder Elizabeth Mackenzie and Chief Rabesca.

Mr. Speaker, these types of events give many of the MLAs a chance to visit and see different communities, East and West. I would like to thank the honourable Member for North Slave, Mr. James Rabesca, for the opportunity to visit Rae and partake of the feast. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

--- Applause

Thank you. Item 3, Members' statements. Item 4, returns to oral questions. Item 5, recognition of visitors in the gallery. Mr. Arlooktoo.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to recognize today in the visitors' gallery, three visitors from my constituency: the mayor of Kimmirut, Kowisa Arlooktoo; a councillor with the hamlet of Kimmirut, formerly Lake Harbour, Matthew Akavak; and a third-generation RCMP member, now stationed in Yellowknife but from Lake Harbour, Jimmy Akavak.

--- Applause

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

Mr. Speaker, I would like to welcome two of my NARB colleagues here today: Andrew Tagak, chairman of the Nunavut Arbitration Board, chairman of the NWT/NTI Baffin Appeal Board, manager of the Language Bureau, and a resident of Iqaluit; and, sitting next to him, well-known Yellowknife author and businessman, and as some Members have said, a little right of Attila the Hun, Mr. Dave McCann. Thank you.

--- Applause

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I was going to recognize Mr. McCann, and he's the only one that I recognize up there. I was wondering if there would be some consideration given to a mirror just above your head so I could see who's up in the gallery the odd time. For anyone from Yellowknife South who's in the gallery, Mr. Speaker, I welcome them to the Assembly.

--- Applause

Thank you, Mr. Henry. Item 5, recognition of visitors in the gallery. Item 6, oral questions. Mrs. Groenewegen.

Minister of Housing, Mr. Ng.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, yes, I would be willing to have the Housing Corporation personnel contact the seniors' society and arrange to have something in place for them. Thank you.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Good afternoon. As I indicated in my Members' statement earlier, the Kitikmeot Regional Council wants to be able to work together especially at this time when there is a need for people of the jurisdiction and the bodies to work together. The Kitikmeot Regional Council wants to work on mutual concerns together with the territorial government. They understand the bad financial situation that we are faced with. My question to the honourable Premier of this government: Is the honourable Premier aware of the request of the Kitikmeot Regional Council to meet with this government? Thank you.

Mr. Premier.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Yes, I'm well aware of that request. I believe the council will be in town next week. I believe I will be travelling with prior commitments so I will be unable to meet with them, but other Ministers of the government will meet with them. Thank you.