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

Thank you, Mr. Kakfwi. Item 2, Ministers' statements. Mrs. Thompson.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I wish to congratulate the 16 students who have graduated successfully from the first community land administration certificate program.

A graduation ceremony was held for graduates last month in Iqaluit, where the first course was held. In particular, I wish to acknowledge the four students who were named to the honour roll for outstanding achievement: Geoff Kusugak, Rankin Inlet; Levi Killiktee, Grise Fiord; Allen Oniak, Kugluktuk; and, Jerry Panigoniak, Arviat.

Mr. Speaker, article 14 of the Nunavut land claims agreement provides that title to municipal lands will be transferred to the communities of Nunavut by July 9th of this year. With ownership of the land comes community responsibility to administer the land.

To assist communities with this responsibility, the Department of Municipal and Community Affairs, in collaboration with Nunavut Arctic College, developed the community land administration certificate program. The goal of this program is to provide a northern training opportunity for municipal land administration.

Funding for the program was made possible through the support of the Nunavut Implementation Panel, which consists of members representing Canada, the Government of the Northwest Territories and Nunavut Tunngavik Incorporated.

The first program began in 1995, at the Nunatta Campus of the college in Iqaluit, and 17 of the 25 Nunavut municipalities sponsored students in the program,

Mr. Speaker, the 16 graduates of this first program are now working in their communities, helping to manage and administer municipal land.

Mr. Speaker, when I spoke recently to Members about the department's land reform initiatives, I indicated that training of community staff was a key cornerstone of our plans. We can point to their first class of graduates as concrete evidence of our commitment to this training and one of the examples of our efforts to empower communities.

Our efforts to train community land administrators will continue. Earlier this year, a second group of students began the community land administration program. This course is being offered in Rankin Inlet and we have 13 students; eight from Nunavut and, for the first time, five from the Western Arctic. The department is discussing plans for a similar program in the Western Arctic with Aurora College.

In conclusion, Mr. Speaker, the first graduates of the community land administration certificate program are already making an important contribution by helping community councils take over authority for lands within their boundaries. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

--- Applause

Thank you, Mrs. Thompson. Item 2, Ministers' statements. Item 3, Members' statements. Mr. Ningark.

(Translation) Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Many of us in the Northwest Territories make money. Many of us are provided with housing in our communities. We eat good, nutritious food. However, we have many concerns to deal with. If our pay level is going to be reduced, then we will have many problems. We have complained many times. We have expressed our concerns on TV and through the radio. We have also expressed our concerns through the newspapers. Many of us have expressed our concerns through forums such as meetings like this.

Mr. Speaker, the Inuit have their own concerns as well and have desires like us. They have relatives and children they have to take care of in their own communities. The Status of Women stated that women who have returned back to the Northwest Territories, as well as the band members in communities and Metis local members who have travelled outside of the Northwest Territories who apply for social assistance, have to wait for three months before they can get their application approved, even though they have children and need housing.

Mr. Speaker, may I have unanimous consent to conclude my Members' statement?

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

Mr. Speaker, the NWT is a very generous community. Most of us, Mr. Speaker, are fortunate to have jobs, a roof over our heads and able to have three square meals a day. There are those of us who have moved out of the NWT and come back after three months or more to be denied the social assistance and can't find accommodation for their families. Mr. Speaker, I am speaking for people who live here all their lives and move back from the South: Inuit; band members; Metis.

Mr. Speaker, I have received information from the Yellowknife Women's Centre about five cases of aboriginal people who have lived down south for three months or more. Having come back to the NWT, they try to get social assistance from the system and are told they have to live here for at least three months or more in order to be eligible for social assistance. These people come back to their home land only to be denied the rights to feed their families and find a roof over their head for their families. Mr. Speaker, in this day and age where most of us fight over the spoils of this government, surely there should be enough money to go around for those people in need.

At the appropriate time, I will be asking the Minister of Social Services about the policy of this government in the area of social assistance programs. Thank you.

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

Thank you. The Member for Thebacha is seeking unanimous consent to conclude his statement. Do we have any nays? There are no nays. Conclude your statement, Mr. Miltenberger.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. There are presently a number of legislative proposals before this Assembly which seek to make this government more accountable, open and responsible to the public we serve. The amendments proposed to the Legislative Assembly and Executive Council Act would allow for the appointments of a single Conflict of Interest Commissioner rather than the present panel of up to nine.

An important element of this proposed change is that of reducing the cost of investigations under the act, while providing experience and impartial handling of such reviews. The role of an Information and Privacy Commissioner, as proposed in the Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act would ensure that the decisions not to provide requested information made of public bodies can be impartially reviewed.

Another proposal being examined would create the office of the Northwest Territories ombudsman. An ombudsman would investigate allegations brought against this government of bias, improper influence, abuse of power or merely incompetence, neglect, idleness or other causes amounting to maladministration.

The role of the Conflict of Interest Commissioner, Information and Privacy Commissioner and ombudsman each strive to raise the level of service provided by this government. Each of the three offices function independently of government, thereby ensuring impartial and unbiased review. The powers of investigation and the ability to conduct quasi-judicial functions are also shared by each office. Because of the many similarities of these three offices, the creation of a comprehensive ombudsman's office would fulfil each of these roles while reducing the cost of delivering these programs to a level which will not only justify but also encourage the creation of an ombudsman's office.

Mr. Speaker, the residents of the Northwest Territories are no different than the residents of other jurisdictions in Canada when it comes to their need for governments to address the grievances of its citizens. For the public, the ombudsman is a welcome device for ensuring that justice is done and the bureaucracies treat their clients fairly, promptly and respectfully. For bureaucracies, it is an additional failsafe check on their operations to ensure that any mistakes that have been...

Your time is up, Mr. Henry.

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

The Member for Yellowknife South is seeking unanimous consent ... Can we have some order in the House, please? The Member for Yellowknife South is seeking unanimous consent to conclude his statement. Do we have any nays? There are no nays. Conclude your statement, Mr. Henry.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I am content with that. For the public, the ombudsman is a welcome device for ensuring that justice is done and that bureaucracies treat their clients fairly, promptly and respectfully. I think that is worth repeating twice. For bureaucracies, it is an additional failsafe check on their operations to ensure that any mistakes that have not been spotted are eventually caught and rectified. It also serves to identify unintentional impacts of otherwise well-intentioned procedures.

The cost of bringing these three offices under the umbrella of an ombudsman office would certainly be far less than separate agencies. It has been suggested that the access to information and privacy legislation could cost as much as $3 million. An ombudsman's office fulfilling all three roles could be operational on an annual budget of much less. Clearly, this government must be cautious in any new spending. However, the creation of an ombudsman's office would send the undeniable message that this government is committed to change, away from the ivory tower politics towards the philosophy of accessibility and collaboration. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

--- Applause

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

(Translation) Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, during my election campaign, one of the main concerns I heard many times from my constituents had to do with regularly-scheduled air transport, or lack of it, between the communities of Repulse Bay, Igloolik and Pelly Bay. For instance, if one wishes to travel to Repulse Bay from other communities, they have to stop in Rankin Inlet, Chesterfield and Coral Harbour or even Iqaluit on most schedules. Currently, there are three airlines that serve the Keewatin and Kitikmeot areas: Calm Air; Skyward; and, First Air. None of them make direct flights between Repulse Bay, Pelly Bay and Igloolik. The people I represent have strongly voiced to me their wish to have more direct flights provided between the communities I mentioned. These, traditionally, have been closely-connected communities through intermarriages and family lines.

The present schedule makes it difficult to travel back and forth among their relatives and friends. Mr. Speaker, I believe that if there were direct flights between these communities, they would be well used. This could provide healthy and much-needed competition, it would also save a lot of time, trouble and expense for my constituents.

I would suggest that flights could ideally be set up so that people could conveniently make visits and return home without having to make them travel a long way there and back. I will have more direct questions to the appropriate Minister later on in this regard. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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

(Translation) Thank you, Mr. Speaker. (Translation ends) ... complex situation which is arising in my constituency. As I see it, there may be a possible conflict between Parks Canada's plan to consider a new national park at northern Bathurst Island and a strong expression of interest in those same lands for new ore reserves for Polaris Mine.

Parks Canada first expressed interest in the park in 1992. A study to look into whether a park should be feasible began in October 1995. The geological survey of Canada is also doing mineral and energy resource assistance of northern Bathurst Island. Many meetings have been held in Resolute Bay about these proposed developments. Many parties are getting involved: the federal departments; territorial departments; the Baffin Regional Inuit Association; and, Cominco, owner of Polaris Mine.

Lately, the Canadian Nature Federation and the World Wildlife Fund are getting involved. The community of Resolute Bay is in the ... (inaudible). It isn't surprising that there are differences of opinion within the community. There are some people, for example, who support the land withdrawal until the studies are completed. Others are concerned about how a new park might affect Polaris Mine. The president of Cominco has stated that Cominco would like to explore northern Bathurst Island because they want to find a new ore body before Polaris is out of ore.

The company says that a land withdrawal would prevent them from exploring the area. Natural Resources Canada is opposed to the land withdrawal as well. They would like to see this area of high mineral potential left open to exploration.

On the other hand, DIAND and Parks Canada support the land withdrawal. Recently, a position about land withdrawal has been referred to the Minister of DIAND, Natural Resources Canada and Canadian Heritage.

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

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