Thank you, Mr. O'Brien. Good afternoon. Orders of 'the day, item 2, Ministers' statements. Mr. Ng.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, yesterday afternoon I had the pleasure of participating in the appointment of 16 RCMP auxiliary members as police officers. I would like to take the opportunity to recognize the significance of that event. This program is the first for the Northwest Territories. It allows citizens to take an active part in the policing of their community and is a major step towards the enhancement of RCMP resources. The RCMP auxiliary policing program would not have been possible without the initiative and efforts of the RCMP members of "G" Division, who worked so hard to make this program concept a reality. I congratulate those members responsible for the development of this program.

Mr. Speaker, this is an important program and is totally dependent upon the participation of volunteers. The volunteer is a special individual. These persons put others ahead of themselves and are willing to give something back to the communities in which they live. In this instance, they have dedicated many hours of personal time to this program, over and above the basic training requirements, and will continue to receive training on an ongoing basis. They have participated in a number of community events such as the 1996 air show and zero tolerance policing activities.

Their presence has been noted and well-accepted by the public. Mr. Speaker, I would like to take a moment to mention the new auxiliary members: Paul Mounsey; Mike Bourque; Linda Thiel; Mitch Siemens; Emmett Crossman; Melanie Lacroix; Ron Nickle; Ross Jan; Jeff Steinwand; Steven Pagotto; Michael Dunsmore; Jim Peterson; Allison Gloeden; Gerta Groothuizen; Lorraine Conway; and, Francis Jackson. I would like to thank them for volunteering for this program and to wish each of them luck with this very worthwhile endeavour. I am confident that the RCMP auxiliary policing program will be a successful one and that these individuals will prove to be an example for others to follow. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

--- Applause

Thank you, Mr. Ng. Item 2, Ministers' statements. Mr. Dent.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It is my pleasure to announce that last evening there was a Commissioner's award ceremony in Gjoa Haven, followed by a feast and a dance. The people of Gjoa Haven celebrated the commendable bravery of three young men. They are Sam Kenerk; James Kununak; and, Clarence Siutinnuaq. They saved the lives of five children who were going to play hockey on a lake which had just frozen over, in September of 1995.

The all-terrain vehicle they were on went through the ice in the deepest part of the lake. Some of the children pulled themselves out, when three men went over and pulled out the rest of the children who had fallen through the ice. We are all grateful that Sam, James and Clarence unselfishly came to the aid of the five children.

--- Applause

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

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

Hear! Hear!

Hear! Hear!

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, an important event is happening at the present time in Iqaluit. The community is holding a community wellness conference. Workshops on topics like communication skills, sexual abuse, parenting skills, suicide, traditional Inuit healing practices, smoking, elders' issues and mental health are just some of the topics being discussed. Phyllis Chelsey from the Alkali Lake Indian Band will be one of the keynote speakers. The conference is being co-chaired by Mayor Joe Kunuk and Lena Evic Twerdin.

Mr. Speaker, this conference is part and parcel of the type of activity envisioned when the GNWT announced the community wellness strategy. Community wellness, to me, means taking control of our lives and social conditions at the community level. We have to build bridges and support mechanisms between cultures and economic conditions. We have to base the strengths of the community and balance these against the undercurrents of helplessness that have permeated through our communities.

Mr. Speaker, this conference in Iqaluit will build on the pride that has been evident in our community over the past several months. I congratulate the organizers, participants and volunteers who have made this event possible.

I will not be in the House tomorrow as I will be travelling to Iqaluit with Mr. Todd. I will be participating in a panel discussion on community wellness this weekend and, of course, will be hosting Mr. Todd. I am looking forward to participating with the guests and participants of the community wellness strategy and, of course, playing host to Mr. Todd, who will be much in evidence and in the spotlight this weekend in Iqaluit. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. A week ago today I talked about my optimism for the Baffin fishery. Today I am pleased to report some new developments.

In response to a letter sent on March 27, 1996, on behalf of all Baffin MLAs, the Minister of Fisheries and Oceans, the Honourable Fred Mifflin, has sent a reply to us, care of Mr. Arlooktoo, dated May 16, 1996. The Minister included with the letter a copy of a letter he had written recently to the chair of the Nunavut Wildlife Management Board, Mr. Ben Kovic.

Mr. Speaker, I am encouraged by the contents of the Minister's letter. In his letter he stated, "I understand the importance of marine fisheries to the people of Nunavut." In his letter to Mr. Kovic, the Minister also noted that weather has devastated the 1996 winter fishing for inshore turbot, as I have already described in this House. Taking that bad weather into account, the Minister stated that he would allow unfished inshore quotas to be transferred to offshore fishing for Nunavut in the amount of 970 tonnes.

He also agreed that again in 1996, Pangnirtung Fisheries will be allowed by the Minister to arrange to charter a Newfoundland vessel to fish for turbot in area "0," since they do not yet have a vessel of their own.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Today I am pleased to stand in the House to announce that at the Mowhi Community Learning Centre there will be a graduation ceremony for 36 young adults who have worked hard to better themselves over the past year. I wish I was able to attend this important event. Mr. Speaker, I would like to congratulate each and every one of them for their achievements, as well as congratulate all the graduates from across the Northwest Territories.

The graduates for the academic upgrading program are Bessie Apples; Doreen Apples; David Gon; Marilyn Kotchilea; Madeline Mackenzie; Mary Adele Mackenzie; Tiny Mackenzie; Alice A Mantla; Kathy Simpson; Mary Louise Tinqui; Adeline Wedzin; and, Alice Wedzin.

For the northern skills development program the graduates are Nora Beaverhoe; Therese Drybone; Johnny Dryneck; Nora Ekendia; Betty Ann Mackenzie; Joyce Washie; Betty Ann Wedzin; Lena Drybone; Rose Bailey; and, Mary Margaret Mantla.

For the pre-trades program the graduates are Peter Beggair; Peter Eyakfwo; Paul Lafferty; Gilbert Mantle; Raymond Mantle; Jean Louie Rabesca; Stanley Wallin; Alfred Whane; Justin Whane; William Tatzia; Wayne Sabourin; Jerry Quitte; and, Richard Bishop.

Mr. Speaker, these are the graduates and I would like to congratulate them and say best wishes for the future. Mahsi cho.

--- Applause

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

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

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

Qujannamiik, Uqaqtii. I wish to make a few further comments about the need for executive representation in the Baffin region. I know that this government made the decision to terminate the regional director's position in all regions as a financial restraint measure and I know that most Members of this Assembly, except the Members from Baffin, supported this decision. 1, therefore, accept that the decision was made and the positions are gone.

However, Mr. Speaker, I wish to point out to the Premier and his Cabinet that I still believe that they have a strong need for a representative of the Cabinet to be located in the region. My main concern is that our government should be represented at the executive level in the Baffin region in the years leading up to Nunavut. We already know that the federal government is planning on significantly enlarging their presence in Nunavut; especially, I suspect, in Iqaluit.

I believe that our government needs someone senior in place who can represent the government as a whole and represent the views of this Legislature and the Cabinet as the federal government enlarges its presence in Nunavut. Of course, we want to get along with the new federal departments and bureaucrats who will be moving into Nunavut, but I also believe that we should have someone there who will protect the interests of this government and this Assembly and monitor what is going on. I know that the plan is that various superintendents will coordinate responses on an issue-by-issue basis, and I understand that Municipal and Community Affairs will have a major role in filling the former functions of the regional director. However, Mr. Speaker, I am doubtful that one or more superintendents can easily assume the duties of what was a busy office of four persons.

As we all know, our superintendents are busier than ever before...

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.

Qujannamiik, Uqaqtii. ...dealing with financial restraint, employee morale, lay-offs and turnover. Mr. Speaker, I am not only concerned about the "fix-it" role that regional directors have played in the Baffin region, as I mentioned in my Member's statement yesterday. I am more concerned now about the role of the regional director in representing and, if necessary, protecting the interests of the entire territorial government.

I believe that as we move rapidly towards implementing division, it will be especially important to have good communications and working relationships with Inuit organizations and the federal government which is moving back into the Eastern Arctic in a big way. They will be spending $32 million in capital and operations and maintenance in the next few years up to 1999. For the past 25 years in the Baffin, regional directors have represented the Department of the Executive of the territorial government.

I am making these comments, Mr. Speaker, to respectfully suggest to the Premier and the government that some thought must be given now to new ways of establishing a better presence for the executive in the Baffin region. I hope the Premier and Members of Cabinet agree with me that it is especially important that our government have strong and senior representation in the Baffin at the same time as a major transition to the new Nunavut Government and the establishment of a new territorial capital is under way. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I rise today to speak on why community wellness should be focused on our youth. Listening to Mr. Ootes, I am glad to see that the federal government sees youth employment as top priority. I am concerned that too narrow a focus on employment will not help the youth of our nation. Many of our youth face tremendous barriers in their search for a place in Canadian society. This is especially true with aboriginal youth and youth in northern Canada. Some of these barriers are shared with all Canadian youth: the changing economy; the decline in manufacturing and resource industries; and, the rise of service industry.

There are some barriers which affect aboriginal and northern youth in much higher numbers. One of the highest barriers is that of substance abuse. We have tremendous problems with the abuse of drugs, alcohol and other intoxicants in the North. It should be obvious to the young person who is enslaved by addiction, that they are not likely to have very good employment prospects. Not only would an addicted youth be unlikely to get a good job, but he or she is unlikely to get an adequate education.

Addicted youth, rather than contributing to our society, are far more likely to represent a heavy burden on our strained social system. They will require more health care services, more remedial education, more social assistance payments and more intervention than would youth who are drug free. If we want to see the youth employment situation improve for northern and aboriginal youth, we have to address problems such as addictions. That is why I am confused by the mixed messages put out by both the federal and territorial governments. On the one hand, the government speaks of youth as a priority and funds training initiatives, the federal Taskforce on Youth and other projects.

On the other hand, the federal government takes money away from projects that are already making a positive difference to our youth. The territorial government also says there are no funds for this. 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. In 1993, the federal government started funding a pilot project to address adolescent solvent abuse in the North. The Northern Addictions Services adolescent solvent abuse treatment program has been a great success to date. Starting with eight beds managed by Northern Addictions Services, the program has helped 60 youth on the road to healing.

As I said at another time, the Northwest Territories has the youngest population in Canada. The 1991 census showed that over half our population was under the age of 25. Given that we have the highest birth rate in the country, that figure will probably be even higher when the 1996 census results are tabled.

The mixed messages we are sending to our youth are not very helpful about where our youth fit in amongst the governments' priorities. We need to be sure our youth are healthy first, ahead of anything else. All the training programs and educational strategies in the world are a complete waste of time and money to youth who are coping with the slavery of drugs, alcohol and solvents. If the federal government and the territorial government want to be taken seriously on the issue of youth employment and other youth initiatives, then a holistic approach is needed. Don't just look at issues like the transition from school to work, difficulties with labour market entry, or real and perceived employment barriers. Look at the health of our children; look at providing the services needed to help families overcome problems of substance abuse, physical abuse, sexual abuse, neglect, disease and inadequate housing.

We have many examples in the North of youth who have applied themselves with dedication and hard work and have developed into productive, happy, healthy adults with growing families. If we can strengthen the health of all of our youth physically, emotionally and spiritually, then we can be sure that all of our youth will have a much better chance of making the transition.

Mr. Speaker, Yellowknife is different from any other community in the North. The population in Yellowknife has increased by 1,000 in just over one year. In some cases, we could fit two or three of our Members' communities into that population increase. One of my constituents has indicated that you can buy drugs, any kind of drugs, as easy as buying candy in Yellowknife. He told me that a 14 year old was approached by a drug dealer who wanted to sell cocaine in cough syrup to that child.

The child also told my constituent that he could buy marijuana joints for $5 a piece on the streets of Yellowknife. My constituent also told me that drug dealers are getting 14 and 15-year-old girls high on drugs -- whether by shooting up intravenous injections or by other means -- and then they sell their bodies to their customers; prostitution, Mr. Speaker, amongst our youth in Yellowknife. As I say, I don't think any other community is like that.

This is why I am saying that community wellness should address the youth, particularly in Yellowknife. When this government makes money available for community wellness, we need to put guidelines in place to use that money for our youth. Thank you.

--- Applause

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

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I wish to comment briefly on a shameful situation that is existing in my region of Kivallivik. Mr. Speaker, this government has placed our precious elders in a very frightening situation. Mr. Speaker, with the adjustment of the fee schedule for elders living in government-run centres, in Arviat alone we will have six elders who will be leaving the centre due to the fact that they cannot afford to stay there. Mr. Speaker, these elders will be going back to live with their extended families in situations where there is overcrowding and they will not get the care and time they deserve because the families they will be living with are presently working and trying their best to look after their children.

Mr. Speaker, this is not my idea of treating our elders, the pioneers of the North, with respect and dignity. I will be addressing this issue later on to the appropriate Minister. Thank you, Mr. Speaker,

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. We would all like to have the freedom to live where we want. For some of us, it might be the place of our birth. For others, it might be a larger community. Unfortunately, the reality for many is that we have to go where the jobs are. Even within this House, we have evidence of just that. The Premier has requested that his Ministers move to Yellowknife simply because that is where they are needed to do the job. It has finally dawned on me why, in one community, we have a small

unemployment rate and in another, the unemployment rate is very high. The simple fact of the matter is, there aren't enough jobs in the communities with the higher unemployment.

In my community of Yellowknife, we have a low unemployment rate because if people don't have a job, they have to leave and go to where they can find one. It is a basic rule of the wage economy. Everyone, I believe, would love to have a Lac de Gras at the edge of their community. It would be so nice and convenient. The reality is, Mr. Speaker, this is not the case. People who want jobs will have to inconvenience their lives and be prepared to go where the work is. This is nothing more than what the Ministers in this House have done. I would ask MLAs to encourage their constituents to look for work and be prepared to move to find it.

Let's look at the aboriginal people as an example. Aboriginal people who lived on the land went to where the food was. They migrated to different areas in order to sustain a food supply. Now, in our wage economy, we must use that simple principle and go to where the jobs are which will provide us with the means to supply food for our families. Some aboriginal people still choose to live their traditional lifestyles of living off the land. I commend them for that. For some, this lifestyle is not their first choice and it is those who must seek a sustainable lifestyle in the wage economy and go to where the jobs are. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I have a return to an oral question asked by Mr. Picco on May 16th with respect to the application of seniors' housing rates. The full transfer of the property management function for the government's inventory of staff housing units to the Northwest Territories Housing Corporation was completed in April of this year. This transfer does not change any of the terms and conditions for employees who occupy staff housing.

Housing Corporation policies, such as rates for seniors, apply only to tenants in public housing. These policies do not apply to tenants in staff housing. The policies that govern the terms and conditions for tenants in staff housing continue to be the responsibility of the Financial Management Board. The role of the Housing Corporation, acting as property manager, is to ensure that these policies are adhered to.

As part of the government's commitment to ensure that all housing is managed as efficiently as possible, in cases where staff housing units are no longer required for that program, one of the options that will be considered is converting them into social housing units. This will be determined on a case-by-case basis. Only when this occurs, would the social housing policies of the Housing Corporation apply.

Item 4, returns to oral questions. Item 5, recognition of visitors in the gallery. Item 6, oral questions. Mr. Enuaraq.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I was very pleased to see that, yesterday, the Deputy Premier tabled the interim measures for the contracting procedures to comply with article 24 of the Nunavut final agreement. I was wondering why these are only interim measures and not permanent government policy. Thank you.

Thank you. Deputy Premier, Mr. Arlooktoo.

Mr. Speaker, as the Member is aware, it takes some time to consult and implement a government policy. Cabinet felt that time is of the essence. We need to implement these measures immediately. We need to get the Inuit workers and businesses participating as much as possible in the upcoming contracting season. Therefore, we have implemented these measures in the interim. In the meantime, we will be working with NTI to develop a policy to be tabled in September.

Supplementary, Mr. Enuaraq.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Recently, in the article of Nunatsiaq News, the president of NTI is of the view that the GNWT is not in favour of the four birthright corporations owning and contracting all the new infrastructure to be built in Nunavut. Could the Deputy Premier please explain exactly what the GNWT position is on this? Thank you.

Mr. Arlooktoo.

Interim Measures For

Mr. Speaker, by way of background, I think it is important to know that there are several issues here. First, the decision by the federal government to use Public Works Canada as the infrastructure manager for infrastructure construction in Nunavut, rather than the GNWT. The GNWT took exception to that because we are of the view that we can do that cheaper and can build more infrastructure with the amount of dollars that are there than the federal government. At the same time, they have also indicated their interest to make a special deal with NTI birthright development corporations, to own and construct this infrastructure.

When the GNWT raised its objections on who will do the managing, because of the cost factor, I think it was immediately interpreted by NTI to mean that we were somehow not in favour of their birthright development corporations being involved. We have tried to make it clear to them, since then, that it is a GNWT position that the birthright development corporations have an important and critical role to play in the infrastructure development of Nunavut and I've said that many, many times.

However, related to that, it is my own view that it is important we foster individual Inuit businesses, whether on their own or in partnership with others, to make sure that we have a large number and a broad base of businesses that will support the Nunavut economy, rather than the economy being dependent on three or four major corporations. I've tried to make that clear, but I can't seem to get through to NTI for one reason or another, but that is the view.

We are in favour of the birthright development corporations and they should be involved. So should the GNWT and all Inuit of Nunavut. Thank you.

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

Thank you. Mr. Premier.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It's my understanding that aboriginal groups have been consulted, as well as all public in the Northwest Territories, for any cuts that this government is making. As far as the federal government responsibility for aboriginal rights and the federal government's legal responsibility to aboriginal people, we have raised this issue many times; that we, as a government, feel that the federal government has not lived up to its legal obligations to aboriginal people on many of the programs. Thank you.

Thank you. Supplementary, Mr. Krutko.

Mr. Morin.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I don't know if all Members of the Legislative Assembly met with their constituents, but I can say that I did because I had public meetings in my riding and that included all people from my riding, including treaty and Metis people who gave myself advice, just like they would give every other Member in this House advice of what to cut, what not to cut and what to try to maintain. Thank you.

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

Mr. Morin.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. We made it very clear at the outset of this government that we will be consulting and talking to aboriginal leaders throughout the Northwest Territories. I'm very confident that Mr. Antoine, who is in charge of Aboriginal Affairs, is dealing with that issue and working with the aboriginal groups to get a protocol agreement signed so that this government will recognize band councils as well as Metis locals as a government structure in the communities. Thank you.

Thank you. Item 6, oral questions. Mr. Krutko, you asked two questions in your first question so you have asked four questions. Item 6, oral questions. Mr. Ootes.

Minister of Education, Culture and Employment, Mr. Dent.

Thank you. Supplementary, Mr. Ootes.

Thank you. Mr. Dent, two questions.

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

Mr. Dent.

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

Minister of Justice, Mr. Ng.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the RCMP regionalization plan is still under way. They're keeping us apprised of developments as it moves forward. There aren't any identified savings to date because it is a moving study. They're anticipating, by the end of the 1996 year or during the course of this year, that they will have some of those numbers firmed up, Mr. Speaker. Thank you.

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

(Translation) Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My question is directed to the Minister of Justice and it's with regard to a previous year. There was a bowhead whale hunt in 1994. I'm wondering what the Department of Justice has done about the charges being laid. Is there a possibility of the charges that have been laid being dropped? There are a lot of organizations, such as ITC and Nunavut Tunngavik, who have supported the hunters in Igloolik; however, the GNWT Department of Justice has never been involved in this issue. The bowhead whale hunt that happened did not interfere with aboriginal rights. I think it's within the aboriginal people's rights to hunt the bowhead whale. The reason they hunted the bowhead whale was to grant an elder's wish to have some more muktuk before he

passed on. A lot of regions in the Nunavut area supported the hunt. However, I want to find out what the Minister of Justice will do to make the federal government drop the charges for those hunters. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Just to make it clear with the Members, I'm not aware of the case itself and I understand that the charges may have been dropped. But if they haven't been dropped and it's still in the courts, then the question must be ruled out of order. I'll ask the Minister for clarification on this issue.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the charges were federal charges from the Attorney General's office. To my understanding it is still before the courts, so I can't comment on that. Thank you.

Under the sub judice convention, we can't ask questions when matters are still in front of the courts if a decision hasn't been made yet, so I must rule the question out of order.

--- Ruled Out of Order.

Item 6, oral questions. Mr. Ningark.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My question is directed to the Minister of the NWT Housing Corporation. Mr. Speaker, on May 8, 1996, during his Minister's statement, Mr. Arlooktoo indicated to this House that he had a meeting with the federal Minister. His senior officials met with the senior officials of the federal Minister of Housing. He also indicated there was an additional $9 million given to the territorial government from the federal government. He also indicated that there is a need for housing in the area of 3,000 units in the NWT, if I'm not mistaken.

Gjoa Haven happens to be one of the communities in the Territories that has a severe housing shortage. People are now living in units without running water. Gjoa Haven is also one of the fastest-growing populations in the Territories. Will the community of Gjoa Haven be seriously considered for allocation of units from the additional $9 million? Will the community of Gjoa Haven be considered seriously by the Minister? Thank you.

The Minister responsible for the NWT Housing Corporation, Mr. Arlooktoo.

Mr. Speaker, I believe what the Member is talking about is the initiative announced by the federal government on northern housing; while the federal government, on one hand, is taking $ 10 million off our base, they announced one-time funding on remote housing for $10 million. It's a current issue that we're working on. The northern remote housing dollars that were identified will be

distributed and used, based on need in the communities. I understand and appreciate that the Member's community, along with many others, is in dire need of extra housing. So, based on that -the needs survey and applications -- I will assure the Member that it will receive fair consideration. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. According to my understanding, having had a meeting with the people of Gjoa Haven, having had to visit the homes in the community, I know there is a need for housing in that particular community and I believe that community deserves to have very serious consideration from the Minister. How soon will the Minister determine which community will be allocated much-needed units within the system? Thank you.

Mr. Arlooktoo.

Mr. Speaker, as I said earlier, the allocations are based on need, on actual surveys that are done in the communities. 1, as Minister, do not play a part in hand-picking communities and individuals who will get housing, but I am aware that Gjoa Haven is on the list, as many, many other communities are, of needing houses immediately. That's all I can report.

Thank you. Supplementary, Mr. Ningark.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I realize the honourable Minister is not in the group which hand-picks which community will be allocated the units. How soon will the Minister be able to tell me and this House that government will determine which community will be allocated, using the funds that this government has received from the federal government? How soon will be the Minister be able to tell me which community will be allocated the units? Thank you.

Mr. Arlooktoo.

Mr. Speaker, about two weeks ago, I wrote to all Members to inform them of the allocations of houses to their communities, based on this year's construction season. Since then, the Housing Corporation has been working on a second list of allocations to communities with this new federal money. I expect to have this list within the next 10 days to two weeks and, once I receive that, I will provide it to the Member.

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

Mr. Ng.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, where an individual lives, no matter what status they have or where they originated, is their personal choice. If that individual is not in our care, in a facility for medical purposes or social services purposes, in the case of a child, then we would not have ongoing responsibilities for providing services to a resident who was not in the Northwest Territories, Mr. Speaker. Thank you.

Supplementary, Mr. Krutko.

Mr. Ng.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, it's my understanding that contributions that are received for various services are based on a per capital basis, based on census statistics that are updated through the Department of Vital Statistics. I can't see how, if an individual doesn't reside in the Northwest Territories, we would be receiving funding for that individual, Mr. Speaker. Thank you.

Supplementary, Mr. Krutko.

Mr. Ng.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, with respect to those band lists, the Department of Indian and Northern Affairs would have band funding, which is federal, and would not apply to this government, Mr. Speaker. Thank you.

Final supplementary, Mr. Krutko.

Mr. Ng.

No, Mr. Speaker, because I don't have access to the information of federal funding to bands in the Northwest Territories. Thank you.

Item 6, oral questions. Mr. Ootes.

The Minister of Transportation, Mr. Antoine.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the honourable Member is referring to a document that he has received. It would be very good for me if I knew what document he was referring to. In the Department of Transportation, there are a lot of training documents and planning documents that are in existence. It might be one of the documents that he has access to. In reference to what the honourable Member is asking about, the last government had agreed to make changes to the Department of Transportation in terms of developing an eastern component of the Department of Transportation. This was done before I became the Minister of Transportation. There are planning documents in the works on how different scenarios could be developed.

It is good to do that because each department is looking at these things. Eventually there will be division. We have 33 more months before division and if we hold off on any of our plans or on how each department is going to look, we are going to be in trouble when division happens. So the Department of Transportation took the initiative in the last government to begin looking at how this department is going to function once division happens. There were some positions put in place by the last government. There is an assistant deputy minister in Rankin Inlet and there have been plans to put more PYs in the East. Upon the advisement of the standing committee, we put a hold on that. There are plans in place to do more of these transfers but, at the present time, this has been put on hold. Thank you.