Thank you. The honourable Member is seeking unanimous consent to conclude his statement. Are there any nays? There are no nays. Please conclude your statement.

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

(Translation) Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I rise today to express my thanks. First, I would like to say that I really appreciated the people of Arviat. They really welcomed us. I really enjoyed the dogteam ride. I would like to thank Joe Manik who gave me his winter clothing for the ride. I would also like to recognize a lot of the singers who we enjoyed watching. There were a lot of singers there. (Translation ends)

I would like to express my thanks to the Honourable Manitok Thompson for taking time out of her busy schedule to visit Resolute Bay and Grise Fiord on April 16th to 18th. The highlight of her visit, Mr. Speaker, was the official opening of the new hamlet offices and council chambers. For years, the hamlet council and staff have operated out of the old community hall and government offices. Up till now, council had to use the small entrance of the government offices for its council meetings, setting up tables and chairs and then taking them down after each meeting. Now that the hamlet council has taken on more responsibilities for delivering community services and is actively working on taking more responsibilities, I believe that it is very appropriate that the council and its staff finally have a proper place to meet and work.

I am very pleased that the honourable Minister and her officials were there to celebrate this happy event with local residents and also that she took time to meet with the mayor and hamlet council to discuss their desire for a covered outdoor rink, community access roads and land administration. I am also very pleased that Ms. Thompson was able to visit Canada's northernmost community. In Grise Fiord, following a community tour...

Mr. Barnabas, your time is up.

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

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. In Grise Fiord, following a community tour, we met the council and discussed street lights, erosion protection, an enclosed outdoor rink and the fencing of the lake. The hamlet also suggested that with hamlets expected to take on even more powers through community transfers and community empowerment, the Legislature should consider changing the eligibility requirements for council to permit hourly employees, but not management employees of the hamlet council, to be able to run for office.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the Minister and her officials for coming to my constituency. I think this is the best way to find out what is going on. Also, on behalf of local artists, I want to especially thank Ms. Thompson for not being able to pass a crafts workshop without buying something. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

--- Applause

Thank you. I would like to remind Members, when you make your Member's statement, please stay with one subject per Member's statement. Mrs. Thompson.

(Translation) Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I rise today to appreciate our mothers. Yesterday was Mother's Day. I would like to thank the mothers of Nunavut and my mother, who prays for her children often to do well. This has always been the case growing up. My mother always remembers her sons-in-law, daughters-in-law and children in her prayers. I am very proud to have her for my mother. (Translation ends)

I would also like to take this opportunity to thank Mrs. Rena Thompson, my husband's mother, who has been willing to support Tom and 1. We love her very much and we appreciate her. I would just like to take this opportunity to recognize all mothers who have done such a great job of having babies and all these men. Thank you to all the mothers in the Northwest Territories. Thank you.

--- Applause

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. On Sunday, May 12th, the Stanton Regional Hospital, in cooperation with Arctic Runners' Club, the Yellowknife Seniors' Society and the YWCA held a Mother's Day osteoporosis walk/run.

The purpose of this event was to raise awareness and funds for the crippling disease of osteoporosis, which is a serious health issue for many women. Regular physical activity is a key preventative step which women can take against this disease. Approximately 130 men, women and children and dogs walked or ran the 10-kilometre course and returned back to the Stanton Regional Hospital, where the Lion's Club supplied a barbecue. The Lion's Club also funded a jazzy T-shirt, which all participants received with their registration fee. Many local businesses sponsored this event through donations of food, prizes, gift certificates and other forms of support. Funds were raised through registration fees and pledges. While the total is not yet in, several hundred dollars is expected which would be shared between the Osteoporosis Society of Canada and education and awareness programs at Stanton Regional Health Board.

I have been informed that there are still wonderful T-shirts available at a cost of $10. That will be a donation to osteoporosis and they can be obtained from Stanton Regional Hospital. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

--- Applause

Item 3, Members' statements. Mr. Roland.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I would like to recognize a businessman and member from Arviat, Mr. George Kuksuk. George is the recently-appointed director of the Workers' Compensation Board and is also vice-president of the Arviat Development Corporation.

--- Applause

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

Thank you. Minister of Municipal and Community Affairs, Mrs. Thompson.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The NWTAM's 1996 AGM was held in Inuvik, March 28th to 31st. They passed a total of 37 resolutions. Eighteen of those resolutions were directed to MACA. The department and the NWTAM jointly maintain a tracking list which is being developed now. The deputy minister has asked the president of the NWTAM, His Worship Mayor Dennis Bevington, for a meeting to discuss the resolutions and other matters suggested legislative review. A date has not been set yet for this meeting, but we are dealing with all the resolutions that were connected to our department. Thank you.

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

Thank you. Mr. Premier.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. On the northern accord, I did not speak to Mr. Irwin specifically on that issue. We spoke on many other issues. Most issues concerned Nunavut and transition, leading up to Nunavut on April 1, 1999. I have spoken to him before. I have received correspondence from the Minister. He's in agreement to appoint a negotiator to negotiate with this government on the establishment of the northern accord for the Northwest Territories. Thank you.