Thank you, Mrs. Groenewegen. Good afternoon. Orders of the day, item 2, Ministers' statements. Mr. Antoine.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Honourable Members will already know that the House of Commons is considering proposed legislation which, if enacted, would amend the Canada Food and Drugs Act to require that health warning labels are placed on alcohol beverage containers sold in Canada. I wish to assure the House today that the Government of the Northwest Territories will be taking a leadership role in encouraging the passage of this bill.

Since 1992, Mr. Speaker, our NWT Liquor Commission has had a policy which requires health warning labels to be placed on products sold in liquor stores within our jurisdiction. We have found warning labels effective in raising awareness of the risks associated with alcohol consumption, and they have become a key component of our broader health promotion strategy.

There are only two Canadian jurisdictions to establish a warning label program for liquor products. We are one, the Yukon is the other.

Bill C-222 would require similar labels to be placed on alcohol beverage containers sold all across Canada. The warning would advise consumers that alcohol consumption impairs their ability to operate machinery or to drive. It would also indicate that alcohol consumption may cause health problems or cause birth defects during pregnancy.

Mr. Speaker, Bill C-222 has now received second reading in the House of Commons and has been referred to the Standing Committee on Health for public hearings.

Frankly, we have been shocked and dismayed by some of the arguments that opponents of this bill have raised at public hearings to date. The industry lobby has suggested that warning labels are ineffective and costly. Our experience in the Northwest Territories has been the exact opposite.

I am pleased to confirm that we will be sharing that experience with the Members of Parliament who are now reviewing Bill C-222. On Thursday, May 9th, my honourable colleague from Inuvik, Mr. Floyd Roland, will be leading a three-person delegation to Ottawa to appear at public hearings on Parliament Hill.

Mr. Roland and the officials accompanying him, will tell the standing committee that the Northwest Territories fully supports the passage of Bill C-222 and they will be taking direct aim at some of the misinformation that has been provided by lobby groups who claim that liquor product labelling is ineffective and unimportant.

Mr. Speaker, this is an issue that has implications for people and the Government of the Northwest Territories. Passage of Bill C-222 will not only provide consistency in the message given to Canadians about the risks of alcohol abuse, but it will also shift the onus for funding the costs of liquor labelling to the industry, where many northerners feel it belongs.

Mr. Speaker, when the Premier gave his opening statement, he indicated that this government will ensure that northerners' views are fully represented at the national levels. On the matter of health warning labels and the review of Bill C-222, I can assure you that we will be heard. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

--- Applause

Thank you, Mr. Antoine. Item 2, Ministers' statements. Mr. Arlooktoo.

Mr. Speaker, Members will recall that last week I was able to travel to Ottawa and speak with the federal Minister. In addition, at that time, the president of the NWT Housing Corporation was able to meet with senior officials from the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation to discuss major issues.

--- Applause ... and possibly as much as $15 million to be used for housing in remote communities with a population of 2,500 or fewer people.

Mr. Speaker, this money must be cost shared by the NWT Housing Corporation on a 75/25 basis. That is, for every $75 the federal government provides, the NWT Housing Corporation must provide $25. Because this is one-time money, it is conditional that the money can only be used for work that is completed within the 1996-97 fiscal year. As I speak, the NWT Housing Corporation is working out plans of how this new money can be used on existing home ownership projects that can be delivered and completed this year without any requirement for additional grants from the Government of the Northwest Territories.

I am very pleased that we have been able to reach an agreement on this new federal funding for housing at a time when cutbacks and decreases seem to be affecting us all. This new money is much needed and will, in a small way, help alleviate the housing crisis we have in our remote, offroad communities.

As well, Mr. Speaker, these new housing dollars mean jobs in the North and needed support to suppliers and manufacturers. It is estimated that the $10 million will build 50 to 70 additional houses and will create the equivalent of 500 to 700 jobs during construction.

I must emphasize that this new money is only one-time capital dollars which must be used for home ownership in remote communities. While it is greatly appreciated and needed, it does not replace the proposed CMHC reductions in operations and maintenance of social housing which I informed Members about earlier. The NWT Housing Corporation will be facing these challenges in the next few weeks when other meetings are held with CMHC officials.

--- Applause

Thank you, Mr. Arlooktoo, Item 2, Ministers' statements. Mr. Antoine.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I wish to advise the Members of the House and their constituents that, through the month of May, local law enforcement officers will be conducting seatbelt checks on the highways and roads in communities across the Northwest Territories. The failure to wear seatbelts is the leading cause of death and injury in motor vehicle collisions in the Northwest Territories.

Checkstops will be set up to see that drivers and passengers are wearing seatbelts and young children are properly secured in child restraint seats. According to Transport

Canada's last seatbelt survey in October 1994, the seatbelt usage rate in the Northwest Territories was 78 per cent. This is considerably lower than the national average of 92 per cent.

The seatbelt checks coincide with Transport Canada's national seatbelt survey this year all across Canada. For the first time, the survey will include all the people in a vehicle. The Northwest Territories aims to achieve the national occupant restraint program goal of 95 per cent usage for everyone in a vehicle by the year 2001. While past efforts have improved the usage in the Northwest Territories, there are still 20 to 25 per cent of drivers and passengers who fail to wear their seatbelts.

The use of child restraint seats is especially poor. Only 35 per cent of children travelling as passengers are safely secured in restraint seats. The Yellowknife and Hay River fire departments will offer child seat clinics to help parents make sure that their child restraint seats are securely installed and properly used.

Most of the deaths and injuries resulting from motor vehicle accidents could be avoided if only people would get in the habit of wearing their seatbelts. My message is simple. I urge everyone in the Northwest Territories to buckle up. Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.

--- Applause

Thank you, Mr. Antoine. Item 2, Ministers' statements. Item 3, Members' statements. Mrs. Groenewegen.

The Member for Hay River is seeking unanimous consent to conclude her statement. Do we have any nays? There are no nays. Conclude your statement, Mrs. Groenewegen.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Good afternoon. Mr. Speaker, there is a public outcry from my area about the current justice system of this government; in particular, from the community of Gjoa Haven and the Gjoa Haven Justice Committee. The Gjoa Haven Justice Committee wants the community to have more control over the justice system in

that community. It has seen a justice system that has failed to meet real meaningful resolutions in some areas of justice.

Mr. Speaker, I have a statement from the Gjoa Haven Justice Committee, and I quote, "We want to make clear that the western justice system is still necessary, but reform is needed as a result of its many inadequacies. It is an adversarial system where one person wins and another loses. This system is ineffective because it relies on lawyers who are not from the communities and are the only ones who know the legal procedures of the system. It is a serious matter that the western justice system will continue to be necessary. However, more referrals are needed to a community-based justice system because it can deal with some problems better than any court can. It is clear that jails are not the answer. We want our people to be on the land, and not in jail, where they can learn how to survive."

Mr. Speaker, at the appropriate time, I will be asking how quickly this government is prepared to give more responsibilities of the justice program to communities. Thank you.

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

(Translation) Thank you, Mr. Speaker. We are experiencing a severe housing shortage in my constituency, as well as across the NWT. These are the main roads to our ongoing social problems and continuing health-related problems which, in turn, affect the very lives of people in the communities in a detrimental manner. Many people are struggling to make a living at a time of high unemployment, fiscal restraint and job cuts. The social and health problems, in turn, place a higher demand on services and a budget that has already been cut to well below what is really needed.

I realize that the government's staff housing units are being transferred to the authority of the local housing associations through the Northwest Territories Housing Corporation programs, and I applaud the Minister for this endeavour in allowing housing associations to have more involvement and more decision-making powers at the community level, in keep with the GNWT's initiative of empowering communities. It is important that we continue to look at housing issues and problems at the community level. I hope this will result in more flexibility in the allocation of staff housing units and social housing under one umbrella, which will free up more units to local people as needs arise.

As the Member representing the Amittuq riding, I will have more specific questions concerning these programs to the appropriate Minister during question period. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to thank Honourable Jim Antoine, Minister of Transportation, for the visit he made to my constituency on January 30 and 31, 1996. The visit began with a very happy evening, celebrating the opening of the new Pangnirtung air terminal; a splendid building which cost over $1 million. I know that the people of Pangnirtung are very happy with this much-needed new facility for their very busy airport.

The next day, Mr. Speaker, we went to Broughton Island. The hamlet council expressed their concerns about their airstrip. The strip is pretty well worn down to bedrock and the hamlet would like it lengthened.

Mr. Speaker, I am very pleased to learn from the Baffin regional office that this project is to go to tender later this month and that there are plans to resurface the runway over three years, beginning with gravel crushing this fall. I understand that this contract is valued at approximately $800,000 for each of the next three years.

Later that day, we went to my home community of Clyde River. There, the hamlet council talked about the need to improve access to a prime hunting area called "Tupiqtaalik." Mr. Speaker, the Minister made a commitment to help the community, and I am very pleased to learn that the sum of $50,000 will be spent this summer and in each of the following three years. Mr. Speaker, this will be a great help to hunters in Clyde River.

The hamlet also talked about the need for renovating the air terminal in Clyde River. Since then, I am pleased to learn that the hamlet has been contracted to perform renovations to improve the situation until a new terminal can be built.

The mayor and hamlet council also discussed the need for a new breakwater and harbour improvements. Once again, I am pleased to learn from Mr. Kunuk, the regional superintendent, that a study of the Clyde River harbour has just been completed by Ferguson, Simek and Clark, which should lead to detailed plans for improving the harbour.

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

The Member for Baffin Central is seeking unanimous consent to conclude his statement. Are there any nays? There are no nays. Conclude your statement, Mr. Enuaraq.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank Honourable Jim Antoine, Minister of Transportation; his assistant deputy minister, Jason Brown; and, Mr. John Graham, manager of community airports, for coming to my constituency and for the good responses they have made to our concerns.

For all these projects, I am pleased that the regional staff plan to visit the communities soon to go over the detailed plans with them. Mr. Speaker, I like the way this Minister and his officials work.

--- Applause

Item 3, Members' statements. Mr. Miltenberger.

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

Community Empowerment

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I don't know if I can top that, Michael. A job well done.

This government has outlined the course of action it will take over the next four years, in a document titled Northwest Territories Agenda for Change. Of the 10 priorities the government listed, improving social and economic conditions ranked two and three effectively; community empowerment ranked fourth; and, control of our future is ranked in the ninth position.

The govern ment-stated vision includes a healthier and "better educated and self-reliant northerner able to enjoy a good quality of life, access to more jobs and more jobs they want and need." Mr. Speaker, I believe we will have to settle for a more practical vision of helping northerners.

A pragmatist viewing our current plans would wonder how the government can hope to improve social and economic conditions when they are reducing or withdrawing funds put in place to ease social realities and raise the level of our education and training programs.

The communities have already questioned the real meaning of empowerment, asking how the level of the children's education can be raised when school boards are being forced to lay off numerous teachers. The Kivallivik region alone will lose six teaching positions this year: one in Baker Lake and five from my own community of Arviat.

Mr. Speaker, this is a prime example of an issue that will not only have a direct negative impact on our children, but will indirectly impede our progress in preparing for a sound foundation for Nunavut. When we tie the critical issue of education with the decreased incremental dollars, some of which are for training, with the sum recently announced by Mr. Irwin, I believe we will all agree that our deep concerns over education and training are more than justified. Mr. Speaker, when we consider the reduction in our federal funding of approximately $100 million and the incremental funding for division as proposed by Mr. Irwin, the net gain is shameful. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Matna. Mahsi cho.

--- Applause

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

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, this past weekend I was home in Iqaluit and was able to attend two memorable events: the Baffin Regional Inuit Association and their community economic development arm, the Kakivak Association, opened their new office building, the Parnaivik Building.

Mr. Speaker, this is more than a building. It is the fruition of a dream that Kakivak has had for the past few years. In 1992, it was on the drawing board but because of fiscal restraint, the project had to be delayed. The staff of the Kakivak Association did not despair. They redrew their plans and on May 3rd, the building was officially opened.

Mr. Speaker, Pat Agnakak, David Berman and the rest of the Kakivak staff have to be justifiably proud of their new building. It contains their office, along with an incubator mall for new Inuit businesses to begin their entrepreneurship.

Having worked closely with Kakivak since 1992, I know the amount of time and frustration that they faced to build a building that the critics said would not be built.

Mr. Speaker, the manager of the Kakivak Association, Pat Agnakak's father is the Reverend Mike Gardener. Mr. Gardener is officially retiring from active ministry of the St. Jude's Parish in Iqaluit after 40 years of service to the residents of the Eastern Arctic.

Mike is well known and respected all throughout Nunavut and I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate and thank Mike for all the years of his devoted service and unselfish devotion to our community and the people of Iqaluit, and his former parishes of Pangnirtung, Kimmirut and Cape Dorset. We all wish him and his wife, Margaret, the best in their retirement. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

--- Applause

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

(Translation) Thank you, Mr. Speaker. (End of translation) I am pleased to rise today to recognize the outstanding achievement of one of my young constituents, Cadet Master Corporal Tina Muckpaloo of 3045 Arctic Bay Army Cadet Corps.

On April 29, 1996, Tina travelled to Ottawa to attend the celebrations for the 117th anniversary of the Army Cadet Corps of Canada. At a ceremony attended by the Prime Minister and other dignitaries, including a grand parade and marching bands, Tina Muckpaloo was awarded the Silver Star Award for being the most proficient army cadet in the Northwest Territories.

Mr. Speaker, Tina was given this award, not only for her good work with the Arctic Bay Army Cadet Corps, which is commanded by Mr. Dennis Hubbell, who is a local teacher, but also for her community service.

Tina has been in the Arctic Bay cadets since August 1993. She received the most-improved cadet award in 1995 and is one of the top female shooters on the rifle team and is a member of the zone 4 drill team. She has always had perfect attendance at school; where she is an exemplary student, and she never misses cadets. Her commanding officer, who nominated her for this award, says that he is often impressed with the great respect that is given to her by her peers. This is revealed by the immense concern for others in the corps and within her community. For example, Tina is the type of person who cleans her neighbour's house when they are ill.

This young woman is a credit to herself, her community and her family. Her parents are Koonoo and lama Muckpaloo. In a recent letter, the deputy mayor of Arctic Bay, Mr. Pauloosie Muckpa, said that Tina should feel proud of her personal achievement and for the healthy competition from her fellow cadets who helped her achieve the award. Mr. Speaker, I seek unanimous consent to continue.

The Member for High Arctic is seeking unanimous consent to conclude his statement. Do we have any nays? There are no nays. Proceed, Mr. Barnabas.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The deputy mayor went on to say that he expects this to be one of the many successes Tina will have in her life. I am sure all Members will wish to join me in congratulating this outstanding young woman. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

--- Applause

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Yesterday I stood in this House and asked the Minister of Transportation a question regarding ABT being invited for a tender call. First, let me state that ABT came to me not looking for any special treatment, but to have an opportunity to bid on a contract in our area. I do realize the need for a policy, but this policy seems rather unfair, when you consider a company being invited to submit a tender on a job worth $100,000 but not able to bid on the one worth $2 million. This could easily show favouritism. I think all contracts that are tendered should follow current policy, such as northern preference and business incentive. Maybe it is time we reviewed the tender policies currently in use.

I find it very frustrating that our government, on one hand, promotes and encourages local people to start businesses and, at the same time, this same government refuses to allow a locally-owned company to pursue active contracts that will hire and train local people in our area who are needed now and more so in the future.

I am also concerned with the Minister's lines of communication, as stated in an oral question of yesterday. I received a letter from the mayor of Rae-Edzo on Thursday, May 2, 1996, at approximately 9:22 a.m. Mr. Marion came to my office at approximately 1: 15 p.m. to deliver letters to the Premier and Ministers, with the letter from Grand Chief Joe Rabesca going directly to the Premier and Minister via fax at 11:15 a.m.

Mr. Speaker, as you may recall, the Minister indicated that he had no knowledge of this concern until noon of May 7, 1996. Something didn't work. I would like to thank the Minister for his reply. However, he should take note that I will be asking further questions today. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Last Friday, I spoke on the subject of electronic monitoring of prisoners. This alternative to traditional jails allows those convicted of non-violent offences to serve their sentences at home. I note that I am not the only one who thinks this is an idea worth implementing. Monday's News/North included an editorial which agreed with me that any solution which could reduce overcrowding in our jails and save money is worth a closer look.

When I questioned the Minister of Justice on the subject on Friday, he responded by saying that electronic monitoring wouldn't be practical in the Northwest Territories. I can appreciate that immediate savings in such a program might not seem worth the initial expense, but there are a number of factors to consider. For example, our jails right now are running at almost 30 per cent over capacity. This problem is projected to get even worse very quickly. If electronic monitoring means we don't have to spend scarce dollars on new jails or if it means we can avoid an incident such as the riot at Manitoba's jail in April, it will probably prove very worthwhile in the long run.

I recognize our potential problems with implementing this technology. We don't have a large inmate base compared to other jurisdictions. We would probably not be able to have 60 or so inmates on this program at any one time. Long distance telephone calls are an important part of the program, As we all know, these costs are high up here.

Many northerners' homes don't even have telephone access. Inmates on an electronic monitoring program need support to successfully complete the program. We don't always have all the support and resources we need for our inmates. Similarly, supervisors can't just drive from Yellowknife and visit, whereas supervisors in BC's program can from their offices.

This government has much of the concept of community empowerment and community justice. Non-violent inmates who need to serve short or intermittent sentences might need only minimal or community support using the same resources intended for community wellness and justice initiatives. Local elders and other people could prove to be an effective source of limited supervision and other support. Staying in the community would save travel dollars and would allow those convicted of relatively minor offences all the benefits of remaining in their community. 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. Proceed, Mr. Erasmus.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, about 33 per cent of our inmates are in jail for offences which did not involve violence. About 13 per cent of all inmates have no violent history. If some of these inmates can serve their sentences outside of the additional walled prison, we might be able to avoid many costly problems down the road.

Earlier today, Minister Antoine indicated that Cabinet was shocked and dismayed by some of the arguments that were made by opponents to Bill C-222. Mr. Speaker, 1, too, am shocked and dismayed that a government department's first response is merely that it is too expensive. We have never done it that way before. It wouldn't work up here. My response is that the government has to learn how to think more creatively. Remember, jails are very expensive. They were never used here before the Second World War and they aren't working very well up here either. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

--- Applause

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Yesterday, during the review of the Education budget with the Minister of Education, Mr. Dent indicated that Yellowknife has a utilization rate in all Yellowknife schools of 80 per cent. This figure takes into account the old St. Patrick High School, which this previous government saw fit to replace and not renovate. I suggested to the Minister that the actual utilization rate in Yellowknife was over 92 per cent. I did not feel that using space of portables and the old high school could be factored into this rate.

Mr. Dent indicated that: "The Member appears to be absolutely right. If you take out the old St. Patrick High School, the level of utilization would approach 92 per cent. That still leaves 322 seats available, which is a fair number of seats for an influx.' I said we can deal with an influx if that is what happens.

Mr. Speaker, the Minister indicated 322 seats available within the city's 10 schools would be sufficient to address the needs. I would like to challenge this figure, as I feel it may be misleading. If we were to break down the number of seats overall and distribute them into the 10 schools, this would mean that each school in Yellowknife would have approximately 30 vacant seats. Mr. Speaker, this is not the case in many schools.

Currently, our two high schools have very high utilization rates, which are well above the 85 per cent utilization rate set by the department. We can incorrectly think that the actual number of seats available at the specific grade levels will accommodate the needs for further growth. Currently, the utilization rate of Sir John Franklin High School is 99.29 per cent and the rate at St. Patrick High School is 107 per cent; both well beyond the acceptable level of 85 per cent set by the Department of Education. Further indicators reflect much higher rates for the next year.

Later today, I will be asking the Minister further questions on this issue. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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

Thank you, Mr. Kakfwi. Item 4, returns to oral questions. Mr. Todd.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I have a return to an oral question asked by Mr. Roland on May 6th with respect to the education tax increases.

Education tax rates in tax-based municipalities and education and property tax rates in the general taxation area are set annually by the Minister of Finance by the issuance of an establishment order under the Property Assessment and Taxation Act. The establishment order implementing the increase for 1996 has been signed. In the past, no prior notice would normally have been given until this was done.

In recognition of the open nature of doing business in this government, it is my intention to keep Members advised of the initiatives of this nature. However, in this case, the Member is correct that MLAs were not informed of the increase and I apologize for this oversight.

On the subject of the revenue gain from the increase in the education and property tax, it is estimated to be $575,000 in 1996-97. Of this amount, $160,000 is expected to be collected from the education tax in tax-based municipalities, and $415,000 from education and property tax in the general taxation area.

The impact of the tax increase depends on the level of assessment on each property. For tax-based communities, average assessments range from approximately $40,000 in Fort Simpson to $90,000 in Inuvik. The average rise in education tax would therefore be from $306 to $336 in Inuvik and from $172 to $190 in Fort Simpson, increases of $30 and $18 per year respectively.

In the general taxation area, the increases are similar. In Cape Dorset, for example, where the average assessment of a single-family income is $43,000, property and education taxes would rise from $287 to $316, an increase of $29 per year. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you. Item 4, returns to oral questions. Mr. Morin.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I have a return to an oral question asked by Mr. Picco regarding tabling of sole-source contracts.

Mr. Picco asked if the government would publish the sole-source and negotiated contracts of this government. The government now publishes all contract payments quarterly, where the contract payments are over $5,000. This report is sent to Members of the Legislative Assembly and to the NWT Chamber of Commerce. It is available to any member of the general public for $9, to cover the cost of printing. This report captures all tendered, negotiated and sole-sourced contracts entered into by this government and identifies the contractor, the contractors' location, the source document contract number, the nature of the contract payments, the location where the contract service or benefit is provided and the amount of each contract. The report also identifies whether the contactor is northern or southern. The most recent version of this report has just been sent out under cover letter from the chairman of the Financial Management Board, the Honourable John Todd. Thank you.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to recognize some very important ladies in the gallery. The Status of Women Council of the NWT board is holding its annual meeting in Yellowknife this week. Board members present in the Speaker's Gallery today are President Rita Arey, from Aklavik...

--- Applause

I'll just go down the list and they can all stand up. Vice-President Sister Agnes Sutherland from Fort Smith...

--- Applause

... Vice-President Rebecca Kudloo from Baker Lake...

--- Applause

... Director Elizabeth Lyall from Taloyoak...

--- Applause

... Director Joan Kalaserk from Rankin Inlet...

--- Applause

... Director Vera Morin from Hay River...

--- Applause

... there are also council staff who are present in the Speaker's Gallery who are Sharon Buness-Hall, executive director...

--- Applause

... Marsha Argue, researcher...

--- Applause

... Theresa Handley, administrative assistant

--- Applause

... Susan Starr, meeting facilitator...

--- Applause

... and Bertha Norwegian, special advisor on women's issues.

--- Applause

Thank you. I really appreciate these ladies.

Thank you and welcome to the Assembly. Item 5, recognition of visitors in the gallery. Mrs. Groenewegen.

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

Welcome to the Assembly. Item 5, recognition of visitors in the gallery. Item 6, oral questions. Mr. O'Brien.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my question is directed to the Minister of Finance, Mr. Todd. Mr. Speaker, in a recent newspaper article, it was inferred by the NWT Federation of Labour president, Jim Evoy, that the Minister responsible for the WCB intends to use the accident fund to finance the Mortgage Investment Fund. Mr. Speaker, this statement concerns me and I would like the Minister to advise whether this is true or not.

Minister of Finance, Mr. Todd.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would start off by saying it's the usual unsubstantiated rhetoric from this organization; in particular, the spokesperson who represents them.

Hear! Hear!

I want to assure my colleagues and the constituency at large that nothing is further from the truth.

--- Applause

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, as I stated in my Member's statement regarding the justice system in the smaller communities, my question is directed to the honourable Premier of this government. Mr. Speaker, sometimes the conventional method doesn't always attain the expectation of the public. There are times that you have to try something new. Mr. Speaker, I'm not about to compromise the safety of the people of this government to get into a new program. However, Mr. Speaker, the current justice system is not working in some smaller communities, especially with the offences with lesser crimes, as my colleague Mr. Erasmus has indicated. I think what the people sometimes need is to get closer to nature, get closer to their communities, their cultures, get closer to the Creator; in this case, out on the land with the elders and appear before the elders. How soon will this government enhance the plan of this government to allow the communities to take on some of the responsibilities of justice? Thank you.

Thank you. Mr. Premier.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I know the capable Minister, Mr. Ng, will work with the communities to have community justice and community alternatives to the justice system developed with the community. I know this government has a track record of working with the communities to improve the justice system, and we will continue to do that. Hopefully, next week, on Monday or Tuesday, Mr. Ng could answer the Member more specifically on his issue and alleviate that problem that his community has. Thank you.

Thank you. Mr. Ningark.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Supplementary to the Premier. Mr. Speaker, I remember during the 12th Assembly, that dream of having justice closer to the community, sentencing coming from the community for lesser crimes was on the table. Today, as I speak about the same problem, nothing concrete has been done to allow the communities to have more say in our justice system. Will the Premier seriously have a talk with his colleague and get back to the people of Gjoa Haven on how soon the community will be able to take over some of the responsibilities that community rightfully should have? Thank you.

Mr. Morin.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. We are on record, as a government, saying that we do support community empowerment, we do support the communities to take on more responsibilities, and we definitely support the communities in taking on more responsibilities in the justice system. It has been proven already by communities that have taken on that responsibility, where they have elders' committees or elders' sentencing circles or the community involved anyway. It does help in the community and it does help to decrease the crime in the community.

Next week, I will be happy to have the Minister of Justice meet with the honourable Member and get moving on his community initiative. Thank you.

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

Housing

(Translation) Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to ask a question of the Minster of Housing. As I stated, I have a concern about housing with the new arrangements to place government staff housing units with local authorities. I would like to ask if people in the communities will be able to purchase the government houses in the future.

Minister of Housing, Mr. Arlooktoo.

(Translation) The people will be able to purchase the government staff houses. All the staff houses will be up for sale in the near future.

Supplementary, Mr. Evaloarjuk.

(Translation) Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It has come to my attention that in the community of Igloolik there are eight GNWT staff housing units empty but heated. At the same time, the government is renting units to house government employees. Can the Minister explain the reason for this arrangement and the economics of this? Thank you.

Mr. Arlooktoo.

(Translation) Mr. Speaker, we are looking into this right now. The staff houses that are empty are up for sale. There are 21 people who are interested in buying these homes and I feel they will be bought in the very near future. We don't want to give them to the local housing associations because these are going to be purchased personally. Thank you.

Supplementary, Mr. Evaloarjuk.

(Translation) In Hall Beach there has been an agreement reached with the housing association there and the district NWT Housing Corporation office, whereby they will be given the authority to take over the responsibility of the GNWT staff housing units. Now they have been told that, because of the different funding, those units will not be available. Could the Minister explain why this has happened after the agreement was made?

Minster of Housing, Mr. Arlooktoo.

(Translation) I will have to come back with that answer.

It hasn't been taken as notice. Mr. Arlooktoo.

Mr. Speaker, I would rather that I research the issue and pass the information on to the Member as soon as possible so he gets the information sooner.

Item 6, oral questions. Mr. Picco.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I would like to take this opportunity and thank the chairman of the FMBS for providing me the contract reports for the first, second and third quarters of 1995-96. Mr. Speaker, however, the listing provided does not tell me what were negotiated contracts and what were sole-source contracts. Will the Premier provide this information?

Mr. Premier.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I believe I made a commitment in this House to table negotiated contracts. If the Member has any specific contract he would like or needs information on, I would be happy to share that with him. Thank you.

Thank you. Supplementary, Mr. Picco.

Mr. Speaker, I think the point I'm trying to make here through my line of questioning over the last couple of weeks is that public money has to be accountable to the public, and that includes all government contracts, wages, benefits, the whole nine yards. So there's not an individual contract. I would like to see the tabling which we see here, but it doesn't tell me what's negotiated and what's sole-source because, as you can see, it would take me six months to go through all that. So I would like to know what's negotiated and what's sole-source, and can the Premier provide that information. That is my question again.

Thank you. Mr. Morin.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. 1, for one, fully understand and fully appreciate that the public should know how the government spends its money. That is why you have a contract report that is available to the public for $9, the price of printing, so the public does know how we spend our money.

I would like to clarification from the Member, if he's talking about every local authority purchase order, whether it be for a box of pens or a sheet of paper or two, or what does he really want for information and to what degree of information does the Member want, Thank you.

Mr. Picco.

Mr. Speaker, I don't know how much clearer I can get. Sorry.

The Minister is asking a question. I turned to the Member to respond, but it's still oral questions. Mr. Picco, clarification.

Mr. Speaker, I just want to ask you, does this mean I'm going to lose one of my supplementary questions?

Mr. Picco, I asked for clarification. That's not a supplementary.

The answer to the Premier is no, that's not what I'm looking for.

Mr. Picco, supplementary.

Mr. Speaker, I'm not asking these questions for PR purposes or to pursue a vendetta. During my campaign I said that the government had to be accountable, thus this line of questioning. My supplementary question for the Premier is can he provide the list of contracts and tell me are they negotiated or sole-source over $5,000. 1 can't make it any clearer, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Morin.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Now it's clear. Yes.

Thank you. Item 6, oral questions,

Point Of Order

Mr. Speaker, so it's clear, does that mean yes, he will publish them?

That wasn't a point of order. Your final supplementary, Mr. Picco.

Mr. Speaker, sorry. My final supplementary: Will the Premier table in this House a list of all negotiated and sole-source contracts by identifying them as such, over $5,000?

Mr. Morin.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Like I said previously and I'll say it again, I will provide the Member with the information he is requesting. Thank you.

Item 6, oral questions. Mr. Ootes.

Minister responsible for the Power Corporation, Mr. Dent.

Thank you. Supplementary, Mr. Ootes.

Mr. Dent.

Supplementary, Mr. Ootes.