I would also like to deal with an outstanding procedural point that was raised on Friday, November 29, 1996, which was the day before the House adjourned. The matter relates to a point of order raised by the Member for Yellowknife Frame Lake, Mr. Dent, which is contained on page 77 of the edited Hansard. The Member raised a point of order concerning comments the Member for Yellowknife South, Mr. Henry, made in his Member's Statement which is contained on page 58 of the Edited Hansard.

When the point of order was raised, I offered the Member, Mr. Henry, to make comments on the point of order. At that time, Mr. Henry indicated that he would like to respond to my point of order but wanted some time to review the comments in Hansard and respond accordingly. As the Session adjourned, the Member did not have an opportunity to respond. I would like to offer the Member for Yellowknife South the opportunity to respond to the point of order raised by the Member for Yellowknife Frame Lake. Mr. Henry.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. On November the 29th, Mr. Dent raised a point of order on a Member's Statement I had made earlier that day. I had indicated I would like to respond later, and I would like to provide that response now.

There seems to be a couple of concerns raised by Mr. Dent. First, he felt that I was suggesting that the constitutional package represented a government position. I would like to clarify, Mr. Speaker, that I did not state that the constitutional package was a government proposal, nor did I say that the government had endorsed the proposed package yet. I did say the government could not afford to sit back and accept a proposal that would divide northerners.

Mr. Dent's second concern was my comment about the government behaving irresponsibly. In my statement, I did not say the government was irresponsible but instead that if the government endorsed the current constitutional proposal that action would be irresponsible. I hope that helps you, Mr. Speaker, in making your ruling. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Henry. I will consider your comments on the point of order. Mahsi cho. Orders of the Day. Item 2, Ministers' statements. Mr. Morin.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As we resume the Fourth Session of the 13th Assembly today, and continue with the business we began several weeks ago, I would like to open my remarks by wishing the Members and their families a happy, healthy and prosperous new year.

As we begin a new calendar year, I believe it is only appropriate that we take a moment to look ahead into 1997, and make some resolutions that will ensure that we, as the leaders of this territory, serve the best interests of the North.

Personally, I resolve to pay attention to where I am walking ... a resolution I am unfortunately and painfully reminded often of these days.

When I spoke at the beginning of this Session in late November, I reminded Members that we have embarked on a path of change. A path that we must collectively believe is for the best for both the people of the Northwest Territories, as well as for the future of the two new territories.

When we were elected, we acknowledged these would not be easy times. I stated that if anything, our jobs would become more challenging in the weeks to come. Mr. Speaker, next week, on January 27, Mr. Todd will be presenting the 1997-98 budget in this House.

We have one more year in our deficit reduction plan. We are on target to achieving what appeared to many to be an impossible goal -- financial security for the North.

Unfortunately, as we have discovered in the past year, this is a goal that represents changes to the status quo. But good, effective leadership sometimes means bringing change and making hard decisions. Decisions that, in the short-term, may seem to hurt more than they help, but that in the long-run, will change lives for the better.

For example, it is not easy to propose the elimination of funding for the Delta House Addictions Treatment Centre in Inuvik. While some people believe the government sees this as a straight financial decision to cut $650,000 from the budget, I would like to remind Members about the millions and millions of dollars this government spends on addictions services. Millions of dollars that we would like to see invested in the best way possible to help our people.

Therefore, when we present the 1997-98 budget over the next few weeks, you will see we are proposing a shift in how this government views and invests in addictions services to ensure it better meets the needs of the North. To some, what we are proposing will mean difficult decisions. But they are decisions we believe are the right ones, and that need to be made to address this problem.

Mr. Speaker, the treatment of addictions, and the reform being proposed by this government, is just one part of the budget we will be introducing in this House January 27. Over the next few weeks, as we discuss and debate the budget, you will see more detail to this and other programs that represent not only a shift in how we spend, but also a shift in how we face our challenges, and resolve our difficulties.

In our 1997-98 proposed budget, we will be looking at continuing to change the way we operate as a government, at moving more decision-making to the community level, and making other changes to help improve economic conditions, and address other social problems facing Northerners today. And as much as these decisions may represent unsettling change for some people -- the decisions we make today are truly for our future.

Therefore, the ultimate question we must ask ourselves is what is the legacy we wish to leave for the people of Nunavut and the new Western Territory when our work is done? I, for one, Mr. Speaker, want to leave a legacy of hope and potential prosperity, and I am committed to doing everything I can to ensure that is the kind of future I can help create for my children, my grandchildren, and for the generations that follow them.

This is not a time to look back and remember how things were, or talk about how, in a perfect world, we would like things to be. Nor is this is a time to second guess ourselves. This is a time to show our political backbone and see this through. Making difficult decisions alone will not be enough. We must maintain the will to get the job done. Now is a time to live up to the commitment we made to the people of the Northwest Territories to reshape how we deliver programs and services so they meet the true needs of the North, and make a difference today, and for the future.

Mr. Speaker, this government welcomes Members' thoughts, questions, comments and suggestions -- but what we need, and what our citizens need, is for us to focus on positive end results, and not on preserving a past we can no longer afford financially or otherwise. As a government we are always willing to listen to advice -- good advice that reflects the fiscal realities, and helps us move ahead in a positive direction.

As a government, we do not have all the answers. But we do have a willingness to put ideas out in the name of progress. And, we are committed to make the hard decisions if that is what is best for the North.

Mr. Speaker, at the beginning of this Session, we had about 850 days left to accomplish what we need to do. At that time I told Members that we could not afford to waste even a half a day, if we want to make a difference for the people of the North, and to leave a positive legacy.

Today, as you may have noted from the countdown sign that stands in the Great Hall, we now have only 800 days. Time is just as valuable a commodity, and perhaps more valuable, to us today than all of the diamonds and other natural resources found in this territory.

We need to remember that with this short amount of time left to us, we have an obligation to use it wisely. We are a team in this Legislative Assembly, and like any good team, we are only as good as each one of our players. Each one of us is in a valuable position, not only representing our constituents, but in shaping the future of Canada's north. Fighting with other members of the team means we lose the game. But working together, to resolve our differences and reach a workable solution, we all win. It is a great honour to be serving in this, the last Legislative Assembly of the present Northwest Territories. But it is also a great responsibility.

Therefore, Mr. Speaker, I ask every Member in this House to make it their New Year's resolution to remember why we are here, and what we were elected to do. Each one of us owes it to our constituents, our friends, our families, to all of the people in the North, and to ourselves to think of the best interests of the whole, not just a few. If we do that, we can indeed lay the groundwork for 1997 to be a happy, healthy and prosperous new year for the Northwest Territories. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mahsi cho.

Thank you, Mr. Morin. Ministers' statements. Mr. Morin.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I wish to advise Members that the Honourable Manitok Thompson's return from Rankin Inlet has been delayed due to weather conditions, and she will be absent from the House today. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Ministers' statements. Mr. Todd.

I would like to advise the House that on Monday, January 27, 1997 I will deliver the Budget Address. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Todd. Ministers' statements. Item 3, Members' statements. Mr. Roland.

Thank you, Mr. Roland. Members' statements. Mr. O'Brien.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, following the Premier's comments, I also note that today we mark another milestone with 800 days left remaining until the division of the territories. Mr. Speaker, there is still much work ahead, in order for the residents of Nunavut to be ready to function on its own as a new government. There is great anticipation and hope with the proposed new jobs and infrastructure that have been earmarked and that, I believe, will accompany the new Nunavut government.

Mr. Speaker, this dream of Nunavut, which means "our land", has been in the works for approximately 25 years. It is very difficult for people, I am sure, not living in Nunavut, to completely understand how important this is to its residents.

Mr. Speaker, having said that, it is important to note that the jobs and the new infrastructure that I spoke of earlier, must take place in order for Nunavut to be successful. We are all very confident that this will be realized through the dedicated efforts of NTI and of course, the NIC report, Footprints 2. In the case of my riding of Kivallivik, the Footprints 2 report identifies 50 new jobs in each of the communities of Arviat, Baker Lake and the accompanying required infrastructure, housing and office space, et cetera. This, Mr. Speaker, is significant when looking at the 70 percent unemployment rate that each of these communities suffer from.

Mr. Speaker, I strongly believe that, if ever before, the timing for us to work closely together with our partners, NTI, NIC and the federal government, this is that critical time. I look forward to working with these parties to ensure that these much needed jobs in Arviat, Baker Lake and all small off-road communities are secured. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. O'Brien. Members' statements. Mr. Picco.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Welcome back. Welcome back from the holidays. Mr. Speaker, for the past few weeks, while home in Iqaluit, I have had several constituents contact my office on concerns with income tax and our friend, Revenue Canada.

Mr. Speaker, the concern here is that the letters and requests from Revenue Canada are often sent to unilingual residents, who then have to find someone to interpret the letters or notices. Needless to say, Mr. Speaker, that at the best of times, Revenue Canada letters can be intimidating and hard to decipher. This has resulted in some of my constituents having to pay back several thousands of dollars in income tax.

Also, Mr. Speaker, many unilingual people and others, do not have the facility to fill out these forms and to make sure that they are done correctly. Recently, I have had some constituents not receive GST refunds or child tax monies because of the system in place. Mr. Speaker, I know that this is not a new issue, but as a government we have the responsibility to ensure that our residents, the people of the Northwest Territories, are given every assistance to help them in this area. Later today, I will be asking the appropriate Minister what type of logistical assistance we will be offering to the people who will need help with filling out the forms, and how we can assist the many residents of the Northwest Territories, who may not have filed forms, because of any number of reasons as mentioned.

Mr. Speaker, this is of course beneficial to the Northwest Territories because we might be missing out on needed income tax dollars, as well as possible refund checks, which would be in circulation, helping stimulate our economy. In the smaller communities, people do not have access to H & R Block or other professional tax filers. Maybe, Mr. Speaker, with the advent of e-mail and electronic filing, this might help these residents. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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

(Translation) Thank you, Mr. Speaker. First of all, I would like to state that we are back here in good health again. Mr. Speaker, I would like to state that this winter, in 1996, I have already spoken on it. I am still going to be presenting this to you in 1997, especially Pangnirtung from my riding, that they definitely need a new air strip in the community. Pangnirtung has different aircraft coming in at different times and the air strip is right in the middle of the community. As I have stated before, the territorial government and the federal government will have to look into this in the very near future because Pangnirtung definitely will be needing a new air strip. This year, I will be asking the Department of Transportation to do a survey or review on the Pangnirtung airport to make it better.

Also, Mr. Speaker, I would like to state that Pangnirtung Hamlet mayor has stated that when they do get an air strip, that they would like to see the air strip on the shoreline of the community, and this is what we are recommending. I will be working quite hard on this and also I will be asking the Minister of Transportation about this later on. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.(Translation ends)

Members' statements. Mr. Barnabas.

(Translation) Thank you, Mr. Speaker.(Translation ends) I would like to thank the Qikiqtani Association for holding their regular meeting in Arctic Bay. This is the first time they have had the meeting in my home town to my knowledge. With the advent of Nunavut on April 1, 1999 the Qikiqtani Association will become more involved in political and social economic needs for the Inuit in Baffin and in Nunavut. When I look back over the years and see the growth of the Qikiqtani Association I am proud of their representation for all needs in our region. The hospitality of Arctic Bay is famous all over Nunavut and I regret not being able to be in my home town during this eventful meeting. I would like to take the opportunity to thank the President and the Executive for selecting Arctic Bay for this meeting. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Barnabas. Members' statements. Mr. Miltenberger.

Thank you, Mr. Miltenberger. Members' statements. Mr. Krutko.