Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, it is a pleasure for me to acknowledge an individual who has served the people and Government of the Northwest Territories with distinction, perseverance and great success, during his 40 years in the North.

I am referring to Jim Robertson and, in particular, to his contribution over the past eight years as the chairman of the Northwest Territories Power Corporation. Mr. Speaker, when his term expires at the end of this month, Mr. Robertson will be able to look back at an impressive list of accomplishments.

When this government purchased the assets of the former Northern Canada Power Commission in 1988, Mr. Robertson was asked to bring the utility to its new home in the North, make it safe, reliable and cost effective and, at the same time, ensure a fair rate of return for the shareholder.

I am pleased to report that he has met these challenges. Mr. Robertson accomplished the tasks with the kind of grit and determination that has distinguished so many northerners who also began their working careers with the Hudson's Bay Company.

In his term as chairman, and on occasion as chief executive officer, he has built a utility that is profitable and well managed. He ensured that it operated on clearly-established business principles. The Power Corporation has revenue of more than $100 million annually. From its allowed rate of return, it finances its own capital investment program and long-term debt, as well as the territorial power support program.

Mr. Speaker, the corporation is prepared to continue to play a significant role in the North's economic future. It can point to an excellent environmental record, as well as initiatives in alternative energy sources.

I believe that one of the most significant achievements under Mr. Robertson's chairmanship is the Snare Cascades hydro development. This partnership between the NWT Power Corporation and the Dogrib Power Corporation is an outstanding example of how the diverse aboriginal and business concerns can be forged into a project that will benefit the Yellowknife and Dogrib regions for many decades to come.

Jim Robertson's record of service extends beyond the Power Corporation into many areas of community and territorial involvement, including a term as mayor of Inuvik. He will be staying active in the North's business and, I hope, public sectors, to which he has already made impressive contributions.

The Northwest Territories, and indeed all of Canada, was built on the strength, skill and integrity of people like Jim Robertson. Mr. Speaker, I invite all Members of this Assembly to join me now in thanking him and in wishing him continued success in the future.

Mr. Speaker, as Minister of Energy, Mines and Petroleum Resources, I would like to take this opportunity to bring Members of the Legislative Assembly up to date on our efforts to encourage oil and gas development in the Mackenzie Valley.

On October 31, 1995, the Department of Energy, Mines and Petroleum Resources, on behalf of the Government of the Northwest Territories, filed a complaint with the National Energy Board concerning the tariffs charged to ship oil on the interprovincial pipeline system from Norman Wells to Zama, Alberta. The department requested a hearing to review the tariff levels, with a view to having the board order a reduction from the current tariff of $6 per barrel.

During November, December and January, the parties to the complaint exchanged letters outlining their positions. This exchange was followed in early February by a request from Interprovincial Pipeline Ltd. for a delay in any proceedings so that they might conclude negotiations with Imperial Oil.

The results of these negotiations were released on March 8th. The changes, if ratified, will result in a decrease in the Norman Wells pipeline tariff of between 20 and 25 per cent. This will reduce the shipping cost of a barrel of oil from $6 to $4.50.

We are generally pleased with the progress made to date on this issue.

As a next step, we have asked IPL to convene a settlement conference which will include all the parties to the complaint, in order to obtain clarification of the proposed changes and to provide a forum for seeking general agreement to the changes. We have offered to suspend our request for a formal hearing should a settlement conference be convened before the end of April. Should such a conference not occur, we will then aggressively pursue a hearing before the National Energy Board.

Mr. Speaker, a reduction in pipeline transportation costs will increase the value of our oil and gas resources. This should in turn lead to increased exploration and development activity and create new jobs, business opportunities and other economic benefits. The subsurface lands held by the Sahtu claimants should also attract greater industry interest as a result of these lower tariffs.

Mr. Speaker, we must finalize a package, therefore, which will provide for northern control over northern resources and thereby ensure that resource revenues which are created in the North remain in the North with the people. Thank you.

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Mr. Speaker, the foundation for learning and for developing life skills is built during early childhood years. Research has shown that children who participate in quality preschool programs perform better in school, and later on show greater productivity in the workplace and have greater earning potential. Early childhood programming results in a notable improvement in the development of language and thinking skills, as well as reading and mathematics. It is clear that early intervention with high-risk infants and young children is critical in the prevention of serious problems in later life.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to bring this Assembly up to date on work my department is carrying out in early childhood programming and early intervention.

The term "early intervention" generally refers to support for children from birth to six years of age who are at risk for, or are experiencing, delays in their development caused by social, emotional and/or environmental factors. Intervention can range from family education and support services to specially-designed child development programs.

The goal of early intervention is to enable children to be born healthy and reach their full potential through a variety of wellness programs.

Early intervention services are currently offered through a number of territorial and federal departments. However, there is need for better integration of services and a closer working relationship of all partners to make our resources go as far as possible.

Mr. Speaker, quality child care plays an essential role in ensuring children have the opportunity to develop to their full potential. The early childhood program supports quality child care in the NWT by licensing facilities, by offering training sessions for child care operators, supporting certificate or diploma programs at the public colleges, lending resources and providing written information to child care operators and publishing a newsletter.

One role of the early childhood program is to administer the user subsidy, which helps parents complete their education or training, and participate in the labour force. The subsidy also provides access to child development programming for children who specifically need it.

I am pleased to inform this Assembly that over the past fiscal year, the administration of the user subsidy has been decentralized to Education, Culture and Employment's regional offices. Each regional office has identified how to administer the subsidy in a way that best suits the needs of people in the region. The decentralization has resulted in a number of benefits, including better client service and better communication with clients. It has also improved controls and the accountability of the program.

Mr. Speaker, quality early childhood services play an important role in helping children develop the skills they need to succeed in school, in advanced education and in the workplace. I am pleased that the decentralization of the user subsidy has resulted in better service to parents. I look forward to improvements in early intervention services as the work of the social envelope progresses. Thank you.

Mr. Speaker, last week, I represented this government at the third Arctic Ministers' Conference on the protection of the Arctic environment in Inuvik. Mr. Speaker, I spoke on the importance of responsible trade in renewable resource products; in particular, fur and on the concerns of northerners about the increasing levels of contaminants in country food and in the Arctic environment. I was pleased to hear very strong messages of support on fur and on contaminants from federal Ministers, Honourable Sergio Marchi and Honourable Ron Irwin.

Mr. Speaker, our message was heard very clearly by the Environment Ministers from Norway, Sweden, Finland, Denmark, Russia and the United States. Each of these Ministers will take home Canada's views for review within their respective governments.

The Arctic environmental protection strategy began in 1989 and the first ministerial conference took place in Rovaniemi, Finland, in 1991. The whole initiative started as a result of growing national and international appreciation of the importance of Arctic ecosystems and an increasing knowledge of global pollution and resulting threats to the environment and to the people who depend on country foods in the Arctic and Sub-Arctic. The second conference of the Ministers took place in Nuuk, Greenland, in 1993. The Ministers signed a declaration on environment and development in the Arctic. Canada was represented at this third conference by the Honourable Ron Irwin, Minister of Indian and Northern Affairs; the Honourable Sergio Marchi, Minister of the Environment; and, Members of Parliament, Ethel Blondin, Audrey McLaughlin and John Finlay. For the first time, the Government of the Northwest Territories was recognized as a full partner in the Canadian delegation and given opportunity to speak at this conference. As well, I had the honour of hosting a lunch serving northern foods for 60 Ministers, ambassadors and senior officials from participating countries. As host, I used this occasion to speak about the importance of a healthy environment and how important our renewable resources economy is to our people.

Mr. Speaker, the Arctic Environment Ministers signed the Inuvik declaration on environmental protection and sustainable development that includes the full commitment of all eight Arctic countries to establish an Arctic council as early as the summer of 1996. The Canadian delegation to future meetings of the Arctic council will include representatives of governments and indigenous people from Nunavut and from the Western Arctic. The Arctic council will be a forum for international cooperation in environmental, economic, cultural and social concerns of northern people.

Mr. Speaker, this government will continue to do everything it can on both trade and contaminant issues and will continue to urge the Government of Canada to do the same. Thank you.