Mr. Ootes, your time is up.

The Member for Yellowknife Centre is seeking unanimous consent to conclude his statement. Do we have any nays? There are no nays. Conclude your statement, Mr. Ootes.

Thank you. Just to correct the Member, 'Iksivautaaq" means Mr. Chairman. Mr. Speaker is "Uqaqtii.' I didn't know that either, so...

--- Laughter

Item 3, Members' statements. Mr. Roland.

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

(Translation) Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I will bring this up even though the Minister is not here. The Minister is already aware of my statement. (Translation ends)

The Government of Canada and Mineral Resources International Limited entered into an agreement to develop the mine and townsite. This mine was Nanisivik, located in Strathcona Sound. The language and terms and conditions of the agreement make it very clear that the interests of northern residents were to be protected, both before and after the mine and townsite were established.

The agreement provides for education and training for northern residents to ensure that the people of the North benefit from the mine being established on their lands. The Commissioner of the NWT was supposed to appoint a counsellor. The counsellor was to have the responsibility of arranging training and educational upgrading for northerners. Training and education would give them hiring priority. The counsellor was also responsible for helping northerners working at the mine with work and living conditions, helping them cope with stress from working in the mines.

It is clear that this type of person would help northerners to get and keep jobs in the mine. However, it appears that this government has never appointed a counsellor. With no one monitoring the agreement and ensuring the terms are being adhered to, northern residents are being left out in the cold. As a result, the number of northern residents employed by Nanisivik Mine has declined in recent years. There are plans for other new mines in the Northwest Territories. Northerners have the same concerns now as they did in 1974, NWT residents need the benefits of this mine to stay in the North. Among the biggest benefits from opening the mine were provided to its employees and to boost the economy...

Mr. Barnabas, your time is up.

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. Conclude your statement, Mr. Barnabas.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. This government has been very clear in its intention to have as many northerners working in the new mines as possible. Perhaps this government can back up its intention by implementing this dated promise from 1974 and follow through on its good intentions. I intend to ask questions to the appropriate Minister on Monday when he is in the House. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Over the past week, we have heard from various Members who addressed concerns over the imminent closure of the northern addictions program for inhalant and substance abuse, which is currently offered in Yellowknife, with services used from across the North.

As my fellow Member from Yellowknife North stated, this facility will be forced to discontinue the program next month due to a lack of federal government funding. This situation is very unfortunate as there is such an obvious need. The eight-bed facility is operating at capacity and has a waiting list of youth needing this service.

Mr. Speaker, within the past week, we have had several calls of concern from our community over the closure and are in receipt of a large number of letters supporting the continuation of this facility. I will be tabling these letters later today in the House.

This facility has a valuable role in our social network. I believe our youth are our future and we must provide enough resources for them to grow into healthy members of our society. If we do not, we will further place a burden on our social, health and justice systems. It is vital that we provide the needed programs for our youth. If this means we have to sacrifice some levels of programs for adults, then so be it.

We must provide the services for all youth who need support from drug, alcohol, substance and solvent abuse. If we do not, the repercussions felt later will far outweigh what the costs are for providing these services now. Later today, Mr. Speaker, I will be asking the Minister for some responses.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, a major loss occurred approximately two weeks ago when this honourable Member, in response to the dapper and debonair standards of this House, were called into jeopardy, Mr. Speaker.

As a result of these standards, proceeding from the Centre Square Mail area to my domicile, it became evident that my suit appendage was missing. Mr. Speaker, 26 appendages - or neck ties in some circles -- were gone astray. Retracing my steps, I was not able to recover the appendages, but lo and behold, the Honourable John Todd jumped into the breach and presented me with two wonderful ties.

However, Mr. Speaker, as most Members know, because my neck and my style are a little different than the Honourable John Todd, I have only worn those ties twice. I will endeavour to reciprocate the honourable Member when he comes to Iqaluit next week for his visit and I would recommend to the Minister that he would wear the pull-away ties on his visit to Iqaluit. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

--- Laughter

--- Applause

Thank you. Item 3, Members' statements. Item 4, returns to oral questions. Mr. Ng.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Chairman, I have a return to an oral question asked by Mr. Roy Erasmus on May 16, 1996, in response to his request for intervenor funding.

Mr. Erasmus asked me about an application for aboriginal rights court challenges funding on behalf of the Yellowknife Dene First Nation and the Treaty 8 Tribal Council.

I acknowledge that letters were received in connection with this application, dated April 19, 1995, December 21, 1995 and May 8, 1996. No written response has been sent by the Department of Justice, but there has been contact by telephone. The chairperson of the Aboriginal Rights Court Challenges Committee called after both the April and December 21 letters and explained the nature of the additional information that would be required before the application could be considered. That additional information has not been provided.

Although this request for additional information has been conveyed by telephone, I have asked the Department of Justice to ensure that a letter is sent confirming the additional information that is needed. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you. Item 4, returns to oral questions. Item 5, recognition of visitors in the gallery. Mr. Krutko.

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

Thank you. Item 5, recognition of visitors in the gallery. Mr. Ningark.