Thank you, Mr. Barnabas. Good morning. I wish to inform the House that today is a very special day for one of our Members. The youngest Member in the House, the Member for the High Arctic, Mr. Barnabas, is a year older today. Happy Birthday, Mr. Barnabas.

-- Applause

Happy Birthday!

Mr. Arlooktoo. Orders of the day. Item 2, Ministers' statements. Mr. Ng.

Mr. Speaker, tomorrow history will be marked in the Northwest Territories. On January 25, 1997, the first graduates from the Aurora College Nursing Program will receive their diplomas. What started out as a dream in the early 1970s, has become a reality. We now have northerners who have been able to receive a quality nursing education program right here in the Northwest Territories.

The Department of Health and Social Services is proud to have been a partner with the Department of Education, Culture and Employment, Aurora College and the Northwest Territories Registered Nurses' Association in this program's development.

These nursing graduates began their first year of academic preparation in 1993 through the Nursing Access Program. They have studied diligently through two additional years of nursing education and have completed a four-month senior practicum in an acute care hospital in the Northwest Territories.

Most recently, on January 22, they wrote the national standardized exams of the Canadian Nurses Association Testing Service. Successful completion of these exams will qualify them to be licensed as registered nurses.

Developing a northern workforce continues to be a priority of this government. With the graduation of these 11 northerners, we move one step closer to that goal. It is the beginning of a northern registered nurses workforce that reflects the population it serves - Northerners caring for Northerners.

The Department of Health and Social Services is committed to helping NWT nursing graduates become integrated into the workforce. To that end, a Nurse Mentorship Program has been developed and is ready to be launched with this graduating class.

The Nurse Mentorship Program will provide an opportunity for new NWT nurse graduates to gain important work experience under the guidance of an experienced nurse acting as their mentor. It is a unique way for nurses to help nurses.

I would like to recognize the first graduates of the Aurora College Nursing Program: from Yellowknife: Ms Lisa Bossert, Ms Maggie Jacobs, Ms Deana Kobasiuk, Ms Lester Maw, Ms Jennifer Menzies and Ms Jennifer Tweed; from Inuvik, Ms Karin Binder; from Iqaluit, Ms Jean Furtan and Ms Cate Lauzon; from Fort Smith, Ms Dawn Lappin; and from Cambridge Bay, Ms Kim Quilluniq.

On behalf of all my honourable colleagues, I would like to salute the Class of 1996 and wish them well in making the transition from student to registered nurse. Congratulations! Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

-- Applause

Thank you. Ministers' statements. Mr. Arlooktoo.

Mr. Speaker, the government has reviewed and considered the recommendation from the Standing Committee on Government Operations to defer the amalgamation of the NWT Housing Corporation with the Departments of Transportation, and Public Works and Services.

In response, let me start by saying that, as a government, we recognize the time and consideration the Committee put into reviewing this document. In discussing the report tabled in the House earlier this week, we were pleased to see that the Committee agrees the proposed amalgamation would, if accepted, take us one step closer to creating a more efficient and effective government. We are also pleased to receive comments and alternate options from them on how we could reduce duplication and improve coordination among the three departments. And finally, we agreed and acknowledge along with the Committee that division is indeed quickly approaching.

But while we all appear to agree on these fundamental points, overall what the Committee is telling us are all of the reasons why we cannot, or should not, proceed with this amalgamation. Therefore, I think it is important at this time to take a few moments to revisit why this amalgamation proposal was put on the table in the first place.

This initiative is not simply one aimed at cutting the budget, or creating a more efficient and effective government structure. While it is noteworthy that this amalgamation would produce a leaner, less expensive government structure, and it would create cost savings -- minimal at first, but up to $3 to $5 million a year beginning in 1998-99 -- the amalgamation proposal is really aimed at two key things.

First, it was an attempt to better meet and serve the needs of our clients --the people of the north. What we who are in government often forget is that the people who need to access the services do not care about how the services are managed, or who manages them. What people care about is that what they need is available to them when they need it. When you go to a grocery store, do you really think or care about how the food got to the store, about the person who stocked the shelf, about the person who manages the store, or about how that store was able to buy that product in the first place?

The second key reason behind this amalgamation is preparation for division. It is about laying the groundwork for the future of two new and progressive governments, and about improving financial and structural situations that they would inherit as part of our legacy to them. It would be an easy solution to put off any new initiative until 1999 -- to push this kind of difficult decision onto the elected officials for the two new governments, in which, if I can remind everyone here, people in this House may play a role. But this government believes that would be a step backwards. It would mean turning our backs on a situation we could fix today, while it is still one problem for one government, not a problem for two governments.

In the government's review of the comments from the Standing Committee on Government Operations, we recognize we do not have the support to fulfil this positive and productive initiative. That is to say the least, disappointing. However, in an attempt to work with our colleagues in the House, we are prepared -- based upon the input provided -- to defer this initiative. But let me be clear. While this government is not going ahead with amalgamation at this time, we firmly believe it was necessary and right for the people of the north today, and in the future.

This amalgamation was a good idea in that it was aimed directly at improving services and programs for the people who elected us to serve. But as the Premier has stated many times, this government also believes in working together with all of the Members in this House to best serve the people of the north. This is what consensus government is all about. Therefore, we are prepared to work with you on this issue to help you see the long-term benefits for the north, and to see beyond the short-term workload and challenges it may cause.

Mr. Speaker, let me remind Members of the Premier's comments earlier this week, and in fact, over the past year. Good effective leadership is about making the hard decisions. About accepting the short term pain for the long term benefits of change such as this. We have the opportunity to improve this situation now. An opportunity which will diminish over time as we move closer to division, and as we develop a more complicated set of problems.

Given the lack of support shown in this House, we cannot proceed with this initiative. If Members do not believe amalgamation offers us a good opportunity, we invite them to offer us other ideas that will address the issues this amalgamation proposal is designed to address. In our minds, postponing this kind of decision, and making it the responsibility of a future government is not good government. Nor is it what we were elected to do. In fact, it is the opposite.

For the record, Mr. Speaker, this government believes the amalgamation initiative was the right thing to do. While the process may need some fine tuning, the outcome is vital. It is our hope for the next two years that we will still be able to make decisions that will improve the quality of life and the quality of services this government offers to people no matter what part of this territory they call home. How many more issues are we going to shift to the plates of the two new governments, rather than do the jobs we were elected to do? Thank you.

-- Applause

Thank you, Mr. Arlooktoo. Ministers' statements. Item 3, Members' statements. Mr. Miltenberger.

Members' statements. Mr. Rabesca.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I find it rather ironic that just days after our Grand Chief, myself, and our honourable colleague, Mr. Ootes brought forward our concerns regarding the safety of No. 3 Highway between Rae and Yellowknife, I find myself again standing in the House to

inform our Members that last night one transport truck travelling this road did in fact go into the ditch and flip over onto its top, resulting in depositing some of its contents onto the lake.

I hope that the Minister was informed of this matter, and that the content was not dangerous goods material. I do not have any details of this accident. However, it is important to know that, hopefully, we will be able to prevent any further accidents. I also hope that the Department of Transportation is informed that these type of goods are travelling on this road. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, yesterday in this Chamber I raised the issue concerning the families in the community of Rankin Inlet that were evicted from their homes in the dead of winter. Mr. Speaker, I believe that we all agree that we all must live up to our responsibilities whether it be paying rent on time ...

Point of order, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Todd, your point of order.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My honourable colleague indicated that families have been evicted from homes in Rankin Inlet. It is my understanding from discussions yesterday with my community, which is my constituency, that they have not been evicted. Thank you.

Mr. Todd, I cannot make any ruling on your point of order until I hear the statement. I have not heard the statement to make any type of ruling. Mr. O'Brien, continue.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I believe that we all agree that people must be responsible for their rents and other associated costs to which they have agreed. The intent of my statement yesterday was to indicate the fact of the timing when people may be evicted from their homes. I think we all agree that it should not take place in the dead of winter. By the same token, I am not saying that it is appropriate or proper for people not to pay their rents or whatever the cause of the evictions were.

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to report today that I had a call early this morning from Mr. Peter Ernerk from Rankin, stating that the families that were asked to leave their homes have been returned and special arrangements have been made. Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you. Mr. Todd, do you still wish to make a point of order?

Yes, it is my understanding and I could check Hansard, Mr. Speaker, that my honourable colleague indicated that these families have been evicted. I think that is inaccurate and I just want to make my position clear.

Mr. Todd, you do not have a point of order. I believe this statement does affect all the people in the north. Members' statements. Mr. Picco.