Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As the budget review draws to a close, Members can see what each and every region is receiving in the way of capital works and O and M expenditures for this fiscal year, as well as a forecast for the next year. Some regions are fortunate, in that millions of dollars worth of capital work will be undertaken over the next couple of years; capital works such as new schools, highway construction, marine facilities and land development. In comparison, other regions, such as my region, will see very little in the way of capital works. This is very unfortunate.

Mr. Speaker, those living in the southern part of the Territories do not seem to realize how fortunate they really are. They take for granted their paved roads, modern airports and all the luxuries of the city and large towns. For example, the other morning, while on my way to work in this Assembly building, I watched a large cleaning machine washing the streets and I thought it ironic that some areas can afford to wash their roads while some communities don't even have a decent road to drive on; never mind washing it.

Another example is the number of schools for some communities, whereby the residents can afford to choose where to enrol their children based on religious beliefs. Other communities receive new schools, even though the numbers don't justify the need at this time. Meanwhile, those communities that have schools that are in need of repairs or extensions are told to make due for another year or two.

Mr. Speaker, Members are told that the capital works budget is based on the needs identified by the communities. This government has the responsibility to ensure that each community has the fundamental community infrastructure before granting extras to other communities.

Mr. Speaker, I urge this government to assure this basic fundamental rule of good government is strictly adhered to. I suggest Members representing large communities in the southern part of the Territories should travel to the small, northern communities and see for themselves what we don't have, before asking for more capital in their regions.

Mr. Speaker, discrimination, in this and future budgets of this government, against the far northern regions of the Territories will only serve to feed the determination of people, of my people, for regional government and self-determination. No doubt, they feel there are other options available to them, but there are no other options available to them for proper expansion and economic development opportunities in their region.

Mr. Speaker, this is very unfortunate as this desire for regional government will serve to divide this territory into many different pieces. Recent decisions by the federal government, with regard to funding for the creation of a Nunavut government, suggest to me that the feds aren't too impressed with the way this government operates. I suggest the feds may be just as receptive to suggestions that regional governments are the way to go to assure equal distribution of resources and economic opportunities. It makes me wonder what this territory will consist of come 1999.

Mr. Speaker, when I came to this House last October, it was with the thought that this quest for regional government was not justified and, therefore, not necessary. I must say my thinking is rapidly changing and, unless there are drastic changes in the thinking patterns of this government, I will soon find myself in full support of this move to regional government. There will be no other alternative ways to respond to this discrimination against the have-not regions.

As an example, Mr. Speaker, within the past three months, my communities, on two separate occasions, requested the opportunity to negotiate construction contracts. On both occasions, they were turned down. Yet, this government continues to negotiate contracts in other regions. New policies are being created which are applicable only to a certain region of this territory.

Another example is the access road program of this government. It seems to apply only to certain regions at this time. Mr. Speaker, I don't believe the request for work and economic opportunities brought forward to this House for my people can be considered extravagant or unreasonable.

We are requesting work rather than welfare. We see millions and millions of dollars being spent on the southern portion of the highway system and next to nothing on the northern portions. The response we get is the funding this government receives for highway construction is earmarked only for existing highway infrastructure and can't be used for the construction of new highways. However, I note this government had no problem using federal funds earmarked specifically for construction of two new hospitals for other purposes.

This fact cannot be denied as this funding is not in our coffers at this time. Mr. Speaker, I wonder what these hospital capital funds were spent on and in what region. One thing I am sure of, there was nothing in my region, at least not in this budget.

Mr. Speaker, in the first draft of the budget, the Minister of Transportation identified expenditures of $9 million over the next three years, towards the construction of an all-weather road north of Yellowknife. I thought this was a very positive move and a way of indicating to the federal government that this Assembly was in support of this project continuing on to its conclusion on the shores of the Beaufort Sea. Unfortunately, along comes the Standing Committee on Resource Management and out goes the majority of this funding ensuring we are continuing with the hard topping of the highway south of Yellowknife.

I urge the Minister to reintroduce this project in next year's budget. I also urge the Resource committee Members to be more considerate of other people's needs and aspirations when doing future draft budgets.

Mr. Speaker, since the signing of the final agreement in 1994, the Inuvialuit have not been sitting back idle waiting for development to come to them. For example, they have planned to take advantage of an overabundance of muskox on Banks Island.

The Inuvialuit Petroleum Corporation is in the process of developing a viable natural gas which could serve to supply the town of Inuvik with a cheaper source of energy. We also have the only herd of reindeer in the NWT, which can still be expanded into a more economic project. The Inuvialuit believe both the muskox harvesting project and the reindeer herding project could be made more viable through the establishment of a meat processing plant within one of these communities. This would serve to reduce freight costs which is the major factor in preventing these projects from succeeding at the present time.

Mr. Speaker, you would think that, with the fear in Europe of widespread mad cow disease, these disease-free meat products would market better. I urge the Minister of Economic Development to work closely with these business groups towards this end.

Mr. Speaker, the people in my region were not high from solvent abuse when we put forward the natural gas proposal. We are not inflicted with mad cow disease when we talk about muskox and reindeer harvesting. The conclusion of the highway to Tuk is not a wacky-backy pipe dream, like some people would like to believe. Let me assure you that we believe these are viable projects that would benefit both the region and this territory as a whole.

Mr. Speaker, the Premier has requested economic development ideas that would benefit this territory. I suggest he send his representatives to talk to the business people in my region, if he is unable to come himself. No matter who comes, they must come with a positive attitude

in order for the meetings to be successful. Mr. Speaker, I believe the Premier started off on the right foot when he appointed Mr. Newmark to serve on the Economic Development Advisory Panel. I thank him for his positive attitude in accepting this nomination brought forward by me as a representative of my people.

Mr. Speaker, while reviewing the Department of Public Works and Services in Committee of the Whole, I brought forward a motion to suspend the business incentive policy until this government can present a balanced budget. Mr. Speaker, I did not expect this motion to pass and it didn't. My true purpose was to see what measures this Assembly was willing to support in order to achieve this goal. It was also a way to force Members to show their true colours, so to speak. Members have stated in the past that they do not support cuts to programs for the needy, in favour of continuing with subsidy programs with the business sector. Only one Member present in the House at that time, other than myself, backed up their words with action.

My honourable colleague from Hay River even went as far as to suggest this government would be shooting itself in the foot if we suspended the BIP at this time. Mr. Speaker, the more I think about this suggestion, the more I believe it could be a very honourable move on the part of this government. By all means, this government should take a pot shot at its own foot.

--- Laughter

However, Mr. Speaker, if the honourable Premier or the Finance Minister do decide to carry out these suggestions, then I suggest they obtain a heavy calibre weapon, such as a 50 calibre size buffalo gun. That way, if they should flinch at the last moment and miss the proverbial foot, they might by accident nail that sacred cow right between the eyes.

--- Laughter

--- Applause

Then we can all say good riddance. Then this government could justly boast that everyone is being made to bear their equal share of the pain. Then we may avoid a strike by employees this summer, as the employees would be able to see that this government is not asking them to bear all the pain.

Mr. Speaker, I wish to advise my honourable colleague for Hay River that there are many business people in my region, as well as in other parts of this territory, who have indicated to me that the suspension of the BIP would not affect them in the least. Some say their business was never established through the subsidy program while others say they will continue to operate successfully in the NWT, regardless of

Business people believe this government is responsible for the high cost of living in this territory. The BIP is the largest contributing factor in the formula. Many people have stated that they would gladly do without the subsidy, but because this government has made the subsidy available to one business person, they must make it available to all. Mr. Speaker, I urge this Assembly to reconsider and support the suspension of this subsidy in future, possibly when we return in the fall.

Mr. Speaker, as my honourable colleague, Mr. Henry, has stated in the past, the business community believes the Finance Minister can balance the budget and wipe out this government's cumulative deficit. If he and the rest of this Assembly have the political will to do so, I believe this is possible. The Finance Minister, the Honourable John Todd, has stated that he will accomplish this next year or the year after. These are very encouraging promises, Mr. Speaker. However, until the Finance Minister introduces further cuts to other subsidy programs such as the BIP, there are some of us who believe we will see pigs fly before Mr. Todd can fulfil his promise. We hope he proves us wrong.

Mr. Speaker, the implementation of community empowerment through block funding can be considered as a positive move on the part of this government. We all look forward to the success of this program. Getting control of these social programs in the hands of the people most affected is definitely a good move and I would support this policy.

However, sufficient funding to carry out the programs must accompany this political move; otherwise, the communities are doomed to fail. In most cases, the community councils are forced to try to succeed with less where, in the past, this government failed. I will be watching very closely at the success of this program and, in particular, this government's support of the communities to ensure the program works. I don't want to see the communities left holding the bag when the going gets rough.

Mr. Speaker, over the past number of months since this Assembly was elected, this government, under the capable leadership of Premier Morin and other Members of Cabinet, has been working with all concerned parties towards drafting a constitution that would serve the western NWT after division in 1999. I am glad to say I believe this was accomplished very efficiently and without undue expenditures. I believe we are now at the point where the honourable Minister of Aboriginal Affairs, Mr. Antoine, can be encouraged to table a draft constitution in this House early in the fall session for deliberation by the Members.

Mr. Speaker, I encourage the Minister to table a draft constitution that will be colour-blind and fair to all residents of this new territory. It is the only type of constitution that would serve to hold the future territory together. There can be no special rights for any one group or individual. Each and every person in every walk of life, no matter from what side or from what ethnic origin, must be seen and treated as equal. I believe, if we accept this fundamental principle early in our deliberations on this important subject, it will not take this Assembly long to agree on a document that could then be presented to all residents of this future territory for ratification, in the form of a plebiscite.

Mr. Speaker, I wish to take this opportunity to wish you and the rest of my honourable colleagues a warm, safe and enjoyable summer. I look forward to debating with them again in the fall. Thank you.

--- Applause

Mr. Speaker, I give notice that on Wednesday, May 29, 1996, I will move the following motion: I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Keewatin Central, that notwithstanding Rule 4, that when this House adjourns on Wednesday, May 29, 1996, it shall be adjourned until Wednesday, October 2, 1996.

And further, that at any time prior to October 2, 1996, if the Speaker is satisfied, after consultation with the Executive Council and Members of the Legislative Assembly, that the public interest requires that the House should meet at an earlier time during the adjournment, the Speaker may give notice and thereupon the House shall meet at the time stated in such notice and shall transact its business as it has been duly adjourned to that time.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I give notice that on Wednesday, May 29, 1996, I will move the following motion: I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Thebacha, when this House reconvenes on October 2, 1996, the Minister responsible for Aboriginal Affairs table the draft constitution package for the purposes of public discussion.