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.

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

Thank you, Mrs. Groenewegen. Item 3, Members' statements. Mr. O'Brien.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I would like to take this opportunity to express my condolences to the families and many friends of two respected elders who passed away last week in Arviat. I refer to Casimer Nutarasungnik and Mr. Paul Iniksak. Mr. Speaker, I would also like to express my sincere thanks to Mr. Picco and Mr. Barnabas for visiting with Casimer while they were at the Arviat summit last week. Mr. Speaker, these gentlemen will be sorely missed by all who knew them.

Mr. Speaker, moving on to a happier matter, one that I'm sure these elders would have...

The rules are quite clear about your Member's statement. You must restrict your Member's statement to one topic only.

I believe that it is. Thank you.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Last week I spoke of my concern about employment of northerners in Nanisivik Mine in my constituency. I expressed my concern that the agreement between the mine and governments, which was put in place when the mine was first established, may not have been honoured in some respects.

Today, I wish to raise another concern about this matter. I understand, Mr. Speaker, that the Nanisivik Monitoring Committee was set up under the master agreement for the

creation of the mine. It includes the mine, the federal government, the territorial government and the community of Arctic Bay. Under the agreement, the regional director of Baffin represents the GNWT, along with the deputy minister of Energy, Mines and Petroleum Resources.

It is clear that as long as the mine exists, the committee must exist. The next meeting is scheduled for this summer and I am very pleased to learn that they plan to meet in my home community of Arctic Bay. Later this session, I will be asking our Premier who will be representing the GNWT in light of the termination of the regional director's position in the Baffin region.

Mr. Speaker, I am very concerned about the employment issues. I believe that recent trends have shown that northern employment has been diminished and turnover rates have been increasing. I understand that the committee has recently been considering the issue of northern employment, with the full support of Nanisivik Mines Limited. This concern lead to the Department of Economic Development and Tourism to issue a contract to Kakivak Association to study this committee.

I believe that especially due to the issue of employment, it will be important that the GNWT continue to have strong representatives on this committee, especially in light of current concerns about northern employment and benefits in my constituency.

Later this session, I will be asking our Premier, who will be representing the GNWT in light of the termination of the regional director's position in the Baffin region. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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

Thank you, Mr. Dent. Item 3, Members' statements. Mr. Erasmus.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I rise today to speak about the income support which was formerly known as social assistance. Mr. Speaker, we've often been told that the budget will not be balanced on the backs of the poor; however, I have received several letters from constituents as well as from the Yellowknife Women's Centre indicating that clients who go to the Yellowknife Career Centre are being told that unless children are a factor, no person is eligible for an emergency appointment even though they, themselves, are without food or accommodation. Even if a client with children is considered for an emergency appointment, which means they are either without food or a place to stay, the average delay to receiving any assistance is about two weeks.

The Women's Centre has also been told by some of their clients that people with children are either being told emergency assistance no longer exists or they are denied emergency assistance, even though they have no food for either themselves or their children. Clients have also been told, whether they have children or not and they're seeking a regular appointment with an income support worker, on average they are delayed five to six weeks before they are assisted.

Similarly, clients with or without children who miss appointments are denied assistance until the following month, which means they are unable to pay their rent or buy food and diapers for a period of six weeks to two months.

Mr. Speaker, the Yellowknife Women's Centre is being told by their clients that clients are told to access food at the Yellowknife food bank which is no longer in operation, or at the Salvation Army food bank, until their appointment with an income support worker. The Salvation Army indicates that they generally limit a person's ability to access limited types of food to twice in one month, and they only provide food for a couple of days at a time.

Numerous clients have also complained that the receptionist at the front desk of the Career Centre is rude, abusive and obstructive in her behaviour. The Women's Centre has also been informed that appointments with income support workers are often scheduled mid-month, even if clients book ahead. Therefore, they aren't able to meet the legal requirements of paying rent at the 1st of the following month, which leaves them open for eviction by landlords.

Mr. Speaker, the Women's Centre has also been informed that students on income support who attend Aurora College from the communities outside of Yellowknife and have had airfare provided by their families to go home for Easter break, have had that amount of money deducted from income support which left them unable to pay for rent or food for themselves or their children.

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

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. A further complaint that the Yellowknife Women's Centre has heard is that clients are not being informed that they have the right to appeal decisions that have been made by the income support worker, nor are they provided with the appropriate documentation to pursue an appeal.

Mr. Speaker, we have often heard that this government will not balance the budget on the backs of the poor. Surely, Mr. Speaker, if some of these allegations are true, then perhaps we are indeed attempting to balance the budget somewhat on the backs of the poor. These types of things should not be happening. I would urge the Minister responsible for income support to look into these matters. I put him on notice that I will be asking questions at the appropriate time. Thank you.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to recognize a good friend of mine and also my brother-in-law from Clyde River, Mr. James Akavak.

--- Applause

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

Mr. Premier.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. It was my intention at the very onset of establishing this panel to pick people who are very committed to the North, very committed to seeing the North develop and creating jobs in the North. It was my understanding that we would not be paying any honorariums to panel members. There is talk of some of the panel members requesting at least $1 a year to be paid, so there was some type of contractual arrangement between the two.

Supplementary, Mr. Miltenberger.

Mr. Morin.

As Members know as well, most of the Northwest Territories is subject to the settlement of comprehensive claims and most of those have benefit agreements that are required by law to be fulfilled when projects are being proposed. There are discussions with communities and regions as to trying to find ways to encourage communities, particularly aboriginal people to take on jobs and training in the industries that are most prevailing. Those are the types of initiatives that this government tries to advance, as well as looking at partnerships between the mining companies and the aboriginal claims organizations in the area to ensure that a working relationship is established at the onset and the working relationship is posed to result in some very real benefits to both parties as work progresses. Thank you.

Thank you. Supplementary, Mr. Barnabas.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. In 1974, an agreement was made with what became Nanisivik Mines Ltd. This agreement was meant to ensure that jobs at Nanisivik Mines went to northerners. Does the Minister plan on implementing similar agreements with mines that are planning to open in the Northwest Territories? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I apologize earlier for calling you Mr. Chairman. Mr. Speaker, the panel have all accepted their appointments and I look forward to calling a meeting around mid-June. Thank you.

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

(Translation) Thank you, Mr. Speaker. (Translation ends) ... Mines and Petroleum Resources. In his Budget Address, the Minister of Finance stated that mining companies are welcome here as they are prepared to create jobs for northerners. Can the Minister of Energy, Mines and Petroleum Resources explain what this department is doing to ensure that the mining companies do indeed create jobs for northerners? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you. Minister of Energy, Mines and Petroleum Resources, Mr. Kakfwi.

Mr. Kakfwi.

Thank you. Supplementary, Mr. Barnabas.

(Translation) Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The agreement that was made for Nanisivik Mines was established. (Translation ends) ... the Commissioner was supposed to appoint a counsellor whose job it would be to assist northerners in getting jobs administered along with getting appropriate training and support, but such a counsellor was never appointed. As a result, the number of northerners working at Nanisivik Mines has been disappointing. Can the Minister ensure this House and ensure all northerners that he and his government will follow through on any agreements made with the mining companies planning to open new mines in the NWT to ensure that northerners get the jobs at those new mines? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Kakfwi.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As I indicated in my Member's statement, an elder living in Taloyoak should now be receiving an old-age pension but hasn't yet received it. That pension fundamentally belongs to the individual. Mr. Speaker, I have talked to this issue since the day I got elected in the year 1989 with no avail. There are a number of occasions that have come to my attention for the past six and a half years.

Here is one more which hasn't been delivered. The individual in question is unilingual. He has no knowledge of the western legal system. The gentleman has no access to a lawyer at the community level. The individual is an elder who should now be receiving an old-age pension. The individual knows that there are people much younger than he is receiving the old-age pension. In the community, according to the knowledge of elders, the church records and the records from the RCMP office are incorrect and these elders can attest to that fact. My question is to the Minister of Health and Social Services and the Justice Minister, in this case. Will the Minister direct his staff to Mr. Jimmy Totalik __ I will spell the name, for the record; T-O-T-A-L-l-K -- and have a legal aid worker talk to Mr. Totalik to find a way to make sure records are corrected, so the gentlemen will receive the old-age pension that he should be receiving? Thank you.

Thank you. The question was directed to the Minister of Justice, Mr. Ningark? Minister of Justice, Mr. Ng.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the honourable Member is correct, he has brought this issue before me as the Minister of Health and Social Services in the past. It is difficult to deal with the issue when you are trying to substantiate records contrary to what is on file with the RCMP and what is on file with the church groups. However, recognizing the issue the honourable Member has brought forward, I will have someone take a look at the matter once again to see if there is anything that can be done to rectify the situation about this individual's age. I have to say that it will be difficult, without some form of substantiation that we will need, to bring forward a case for having his year of birth corrected, Mr. Speaker.

Supplementary, Mr. Ningark.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I believe, Mr. Speaker, the records can be rectified. I say that because I have talked to many elders in Taloyoak who were around at the time the gentlemen was born. So will the honourable Minister talk to his staff to make sure records are corrected, once and for all? There are necessary documents that can be witnessed by the elders. Will he get his staff to talk to Mr. Totalik and deal with the matter once and for all?

Mr. Ng.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, as I indicated, yes, I am willing to have a staff person speak to Mr. Totalik to try to get some information. As I indicated earlier, if the records were improperly recorded to begin with, then it is a difficult situation unless you have someone who was there at the time who can correct what was recorded in the case of this individual's year of birth. As you know, back then it was a federal responsibility for those types of records. We will work with the honourable Member and with his constituent to try to resolve the situation. Thank you.

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

Minister of Justice, Mr. Ng.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the Legal Services Board of the Northwest Territories has jurisdiction for decisions relating to how they provide services throughout the Northwest Territories. That decision to amalgamate the two boards in the Inuvik area was made by the Legal Services Board as a whole. There was representation from the region who sits on the Legal Services Board. Having recognized the Member's concern, I will ask the Legal Services Board to review the decision that they've made. But as it stands now, I am supporting the decision of the board. Thank you.

Supplementary, Mr. Krutko.

Mr. Ng.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, we are taking into consideration the Legal Services Board's action on this particular matter to amalgamate the two boards. There have been some significant cost savings identified through combining the administrative functions of those two boards. That is where a lot of the savings are being identified, Mr. Speaker. Thank you.

Thank you. Item 6, oral questions. Mr. Krutko, supplementary.

Thank you. There was no question there. Again, I would like to remind the Members about their preamble. Have your preamble at the beginning. Mr. Krutko, you added about four minutes of speech to your two supplementary questions. Mr. Krutko, your point of order.

Point Of Order

Mr. Krutko, could you ask the question to the Minister then? I heard a statement but I didn't hear a question. Mr. Krutko.

Mr. Ng.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I'm not certain about the numbers of applications, one versus the other. However, I will say that the Legal Services Board is an independent board. They allocate the funding based on what they see as the needs throughout the Northwest Territories, and they place those resources as they feel they are most required, Mr. Speaker. Thank you.

Again, just to remind the Members, if any Members are questioning the ruling of the chair, I have to, in this case, Mr. Krutko, review the Hansard to see whether you did in fact challenge the chair. Item 6, oral questions. Mr. Picco.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the Minister of NTPC announced a serious situation with the generator failure in Iqaluit on Friday in this House. Can the Minister for NTPC give us an update on the developments there? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The Minister responsible for the NWT Power Corporation, Mr. Dent.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. On Friday I made a Member's statement and indicated that my constituents on the Ingraham Trail were concerned about the upkeep of the Ingraham Trail. My question is for the Minister of Transportation. Who pays for the upkeep of the Ingraham Trail?

Thank you. Minister of Transportation, Mr. Antoine.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The Department of Transportation has the task of maintaining the Ingraham Trail. Thank you.

Thank you. Supplementary, Mr. Erasmus.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to know if the big trucks that are carrying loads back and forth on Ingraham Trail pay in any way for the upkeep of that highway.

Mr. Antoine.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. No, the transportation companies do not pay for the maintenance of the Ingraham Trail. Thank you.

Thank you. Mr. Erasmus, supplementary.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Considering the fact that these trucks carry considerable loads and often at maximum capacity -- and, it has been heard, at overcapacity -- is it possible to put a surcharge on large vehicles that are travelling back and forth; say $200 a load or something?

Mr. Antoine.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, at the present time, the department does not charge large transport trucks for transporting any of our infrastructure in the Northwest Territories, including along the Ingraham Trail. Thank you.

Thank you. Final supplementary, Mr. Erasmus.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to thank the Minister for his information, that we currently do not have a surcharge. Is it possible, under our current legislation, to implement a surcharge for these large trucks? Thank you.

Mr. Antoine.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, this government is under a lot of financial restraint and we're always looking for innovative ways to try to generate revenues. As we know, 80 per cent of the NWT government's revenue comes from transfer payments, we have a very small private sector contributing to our economy. As we go through the budget and begin work in the next three years, perhaps it's one of the areas where we could

look to see what we could do as the Department of Transportation in trying to increase the private sector contributions to our revenue. This is a good suggestion and I'll take that as advice. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My question is directed to the honourable Minister of Finance. Mr. Speaker, my better half is the chairperson of the local education community in Pelly Bay, my son is a member of the teaching staff and I have about five grandchildren who are attending school. In the event that government employees would rule on the contract, what is going to happen then? Will there be a strike? Thank you.

Minister of Finance, Mr. Todd.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. If the UNW employees do not ratify the agreement that they're supposed to set out this week or next week and they vote no, it will mean that we'll have to move to mediation. Mediation takes 21 days. I've made it abundantly clear to the union and the union has made it clear to us that there is no other room for any further compromise or additional dollars, so a no vote would mean the inevitability of a strike. Thank you.

Thank you. Supplementary, Mr. Ningark.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. In case there is a strike within the system, is the government prepared? Thank you.

Mr. Todd.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Let me answer that by saying that this government is certainly not advocating a strike. We did move forward in trying to negotiate in a reasonable and fair way with our colleagues in the UNW. We came to a standstill and both parties agreed to send the agreement out. It's my understanding that the union will be recommending to vote no. I think it's unfortunate. However, Mr. Speaker, we are developing a plan and will be ready for a strike, should it occur. But it's certainly not the position of this government to advocate that at any time. Thank you.

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