Thank you, Mrs. Thompson. 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. Later today, I will be travelling to Fort Smith with the MLA for Thebacha, Mr. Miltenberger, for the signing of a block funding agreement with the town of Fort Smith.

The mayor of Fort Smith, His Worship Dennis Bevington, and I will sign a three-year agreement that will provide the town an annual block funding contribution for all MACA-related programs, both capital and operations.

The Premier has announced, as part of the agenda for change, that block funding arrangements with community governments will be a key feature of the community empowerment priority.

Mr. Speaker, block funding is an important means of empowering community governments:

- it gives a community government control of financial resources, without conditions;

- it allows a community government to set its spending priorities to meet the needs it identifies;

- it maximizes the accountability of the community governments to its electorate -- councils must answer to community government for its decisions; and, - it minimizes reporting to the GNWT to areas where there are core territorial interests.

The block funding agreement with Fort Smith provides the town with a greater degree of certainty in budgeting for future municipal services and programs. Council will be able to budget with the flexibility to match resources with its priorities.

Other block funding agreements with follow, Mr. Speaker. We have agreement with the town of Hay River and will sign its agreement some time in June. The town of Inuvik has expressed interest and discussions have begun on an agreement. Other agreements will follow.

I am pleased to advise Members of this very concrete example of our commitment to empower communities. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I am pleased to stand before the House today to announce the appointment of 16 members of the private sector to the Premier's Panel on the Economy and Employment.

Mr. Speaker, this panel will provide an opportunity for informal and direct dialogue between this government and representatives of the private sector. The panel will provide advice to this government on how the business climate in the Northwest Territories can be improved to attract jobs, investment and capital.

Mr. Speaker, a strong, healthy economy cannot be achieved by government initiatives alone. Government and private sector must create strong and effective partnerships if we hope to improve economic opportunities for northerners.

Mr. Speaker, the members of the Premier's Panel on the Economy and Employment, who have been selected to represent the diversity of economic sectors and geographic regions in the Northwest Territories, are: Willard Hagen of Inuvik; Russell Newmark of Tuktoyaktuk; Larry Wallace of Norman Wells; Joanne Deneron of Fort Liard; Mike Magrum, Gary Jaeb, Jack Walker and Stefan Simek, all of Yellowknife; Sandra Jaque of Fort Smith; Russell King of Hay River; David Ittinuar of Rankin Inlet; Leonie Napa Duffy of Coral Harbour; Wilf Wilcox of Cambridge Bay; Dennis Lyle of Taloyoak; Naomi Akavak of Kimmirut; and, Bob Hanson of Iqaluit.

I am hoping to convene the first meeting of the panel at the earliest opportunity and I am looking forward to a very useful and productive counsel and I am confident this panel will provide that for us. Thank you.

--- Applause

Thank you, Mr. Morin. Item 2, Ministers' statements. Item 3, Members' statements. Mr. Enuaraq.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It's nice to be back in the House today. Believe me, Mr. Speaker, I didn't know Mr. Picco was going to wear a red tie today, so I put on my red tie for today.

Mr. Speaker, as a new Member of this Assembly, I have often found myself amused observing the interaction between fellow MLAs in the many committee, Caucus and other meetings we attend. No relationship is more entertaining to observe than that between Mr. Todd and Mr. Picco. I'll give you a good example, Mr. Speaker, since it was reported in the Nunatsiaq News May 17th issue.

Mr. Speaker, all Members will recall, especially Members of the Nunavut Caucus, how Mr. Todd is always reminding us that the decisions we are making for Nunavut will not only affect us, but they will affect our children and our children's children. I guess being our eldest Member of the Nunavut Caucus, next to Mr. Ningark...

--- Laughter

... Mr. Todd is expected to give us this wise advice, from time to time. And I do appreciate this advice, Mr. Speaker. What I found very funny, Mr. Speaker, was what happened to Mr. Picco when he dared to use one of Mr. Todd's favourite sayings at the recent Nunavut Leaders' Summit in Arviat. I think what Mr. Picco did wrong was that he should have asked Mr. Todd for permission to use one of his favourite phrases, but Mr. Picco went ahead and used the phrase without asking Mr. Todd's permission. As Nunatsiaq News reported, Mr. Picco said, at the Arviat Leaders' Summit, when he was expressing his concerns about the amount of money available to set up Nunavut: "I don't want to see my children and your children inheriting a debt in the Nunavut government that we cannot pay."

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

The Member for Baffin Central is seeking unanimous consent to conclude his statement. Do we have any nays? Conclude your statement, Mr. Enuaraq.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would have thought that such a strong statement, especially with the reference to Mr. Todd's favourite phrase about my children and your children, would be welcomed by our Minister of Finance. However, Mr. Speaker, instead of endorsing Mr. Picco's strong statements, Mr. Todd is quoted as saying:

"Ed's right in some ways," he said, referring to Mr. Picco, "but he does tend to overdramatize.

--- Laughter

I would say it takes one to know one, Mr. Speaker.

--- Laughter

--- Applause

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I won't even try to top that statement.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to introduce to the Members, a program that has been running in Iqaluit for the past six years. The program is found world-wide and it's called *The Duke of Edinburgh Award." It has proven to be a program that has helped kids stay in school.

In Iqaluit, it is offered through the Terry Fox program at Inuksuk High School. There are three levels of difficulty, and to achieve the award requires participation in four main areas: learning new skills; competing in regular physical activity; participating in community service; and, going on a three-day outdoor expedition.

Mr. Speaker, this program is introduced at the high school level in the Terry Fox program, and has proven to be a key motivator in helping the students achieve both academic and vocational success. Every year, about a dozen Terry Fox program students earn the award and, in 1994, three of the students were flown here to Yellowknife to be presented the award by the Duke himself.

The teacher who introduced the program is a well-known, long-time northerner, Nick Newbery. Mr. Newbery has spent many hours of his own time to ensure the success of the Duke of Edinburgh Award and must be congratulated for his dedication and service to the youth of Iqaluit.

I am proud to have been invited to present the Duke of Edinburgh Award later next month in Iqaluit and would invite Members to contact me for more information about this most useful program. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. We have heard on the radio this morning about my region mourning the loss of a young man from Snare Lake. This young man was 25 years old and had not even started his life. Gerry Kodzin was a very bright and ambitious young man. His parents were very proud of him. He worked hard and helped his family with trapping and hunting. He provided his friends

and family with many happy memories; unfortunately, his life came to an end on the dangerous Highway 3 between Yellowknife and Rae.

As many people before have said, the road needs to be upgraded, it is a very dangerous 100 kilometres that has claimed many people over the years and still no work has been done. How many more of our people will lose loved ones on this stretch of highway before anything is done to this highway to be safer? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I will speak today on a problem in our society that is one which is the highest of any other part of the country. The problem, Mr. Speaker, is fetal alcohol syndrome and fetal alcohol effect, which I will refer to as FAS and FAE.

I have brought forth this concern before in this House, as has the Member for Yellowknife North. Mr. Speaker, this is one problem we cannot ignore. The cause of FAS and FAE is alcohol and it is preventable. It is not curable. Alcohol, when consumed by a pregnant mother, can have devastating and irreversible effects on the victim. In this case, the unborn child. Some research indicates that consumption of alcohol by both males and females prior to pregnancy can also contribute to this condition.

In the North, we have an extremely high rate of this condition. In some of our communities, it is estimated that the number of children affected is 25 per cent or higher. Some of these children have severe burdens to carry. There is no cure or medicine for this condition which results in many, many disorders. Some of the results may include problems with school; which, in turn, manifests itself in troubles with the law, social, sexual and mental problems, to name but a few. We have been carrying this disease in the North for too long. Something needs to be done. We have to get educated so we can prevent and manage this condition. The burden our society has with these difficulties is immense, especially with our courts and correction facilities. There have been some attempts within our schools to establish a program for a while with FAS and FAE, but the problem is so large it requires a much more sustained attack.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to inform the Members of this House and the interested people in our communities of a conference which will take place this September in Seattle, Washington, which is sponsored by the fetal alcohol and drug unit of the University of Washington, with support from the disabilities prevention program of the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention and the United States public health service.

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

The Member for Yellowknife South is seeking unanimous consent to conclude his statement. Do

we have any nays? There are no nays. Mr. Henry, conclude your statement.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The program will include new studies on FAS/FAE; mental health and FAS/FAE; school, employment and independent living; sexuality and ... (inaudible) ... criminal justice and FAS; funding, screening, diagnosis services; Native American and special issues, and programs and institutional responses to FAS.

Mr. Speaker, I cannot stress the importance for us, as representatives of this government, to take serious consideration of this matter. I would suggest this conference is an ideal opportunity for this government to take a strong role in learning about this condition, as well as what can be done about it.

Innocent young victims often turn into members of our society who fill our institutions and without positive intervention, Mr. Speaker, this trend will continue. 1, for one, will be attending this conference and urge that Members of this government would be well advised to gain first-hand knowledge by attending such conferences as the one I'm proposing. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I like to believe that I speak for the elders, women and children. These people don't belong to any associations or any group who will speak for them in a public forum. Mr. Speaker, I have been speaking for some of the elders in my area since the day I became elected in 1989.

Mr. Speaker, many dates of birth were rejected many years after the fact, especially in the Eastern Arctic area. There are many cases whereby an individual who should have been receiving an old-age pension is not receiving it because of the inaccurate issuing of the documents. Mr. Speaker, these are Canadian citizens. They should now be receiving what is rightfully theirs to enjoy the much-needed income, but still do not receive anything.

Mr. Speaker, I have approached the Department of Social Services and the Department of Justice regarding an individual living in Taloyoak who should now be receiving an old-age pension but is not receiving one because of the records. Mr. Speaker, elders in the Taloyoak area and in the Pelly Bay area and in the Gjoa Haven area know exactly what year the gentleman I'm talking about was born. According to the record that came from the RCMP office, it shows the gentleman is much younger than he really is. I have communicated with the Department of Social Services and with Justice in the past few years, only to be told that the records they have are correct; whereby, the individual is not eligible to receive an old-age pension as of yet.

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

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Thank you, my colleagues. I am sure the case in Taloyoak is not the only case. I'm sure there are cases within other regions, perhaps in the Western Arctic, where the elders who should now be receiving an old-age pension are not receiving it because of the registration that was made 10 years after these individuals were born.

During question period, Mr. Speaker, I will be asking the Department of Justice to ensure that these people be given the money that rightfully belongs to them. How can we correct this situation within the system? Thank you.

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