Thank you, Mr. Arlooktoo. Good morning. Orders of the day. Item 2, Ministers' statements. Mr. Antoine.

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, earlier this year, communities in the Mackenzie Delta were surprised to hear reports that the Yukon Territorial Government was considering closing the Dempster Highway during the winter months as a cost-saving measure. The Delta communities were quick to respond, pointing out the importance of this highway link for the delivery of their fresh groceries and supplies. They also identified the volume of business that Delta residents and businesses create in the Yukon every year.

I am happy to report to the Members that the Yukon Government does not plan to close the Dempster Highway.

-- Applause

Here in Yellowknife, the Members for the Delta area, community and business representatives and I met on Wednesday, January 29th, 1997, with the Honourable David Keenan, Yukon's Minister of Community and Transportation Services. With the exception of the short periods each fall and spring, when the Mackenzie and Peel River crossings are out of service, we confirmed that maintenance on the Yukon portion of the highway will continue and traffic will continue to flow.

Yukon's government is facing the same financial problems we are. Like ourselves, budget cuts in the Yukon are a reality. Early in their budget exercise, the Dempster Highway was targeted and options evaluated. I am pleased to say that they contacted us and gave us an opportunity to contribute to their evaluation. This week's meeting shows that they gave our concerns and advice genuine consideration and the impact of the budget cuts on Delta residents has been minimized.

The cuts to the Dempster Highway's budget are best described as operational efficiencies rather than service cuts. The closing of one of the three highway maintenance camps may result in little longer response times to changing road conditions but should not affect the safe operation of the highway. The closing of the highway and redeploying of staff to other activities, during the fall and spring periods when the Mackenzie and Peel River crossings are also closed, will have only a minimal impact on the highway's use. Even this impact can be reduced by scheduling opening and closing dates, so that travel and shipping plans can be made in advance. Other changes, such as increasing dust control and eliminating snow catchments, will actually improve the service on the highway, while achieving long-term savings in operating costs.

While he was here, I expressed my appreciation to Minister Keenan for the cooperative approach his government has taken in this matter. Today, Mr. Speaker, I would also like to acknowledge the efforts of honourable Mr. Krutko, Mr. Roland and Mr. Steen, as well as the community and business representatives, who took the time to offer their advice and expertise, both to my office and directly to the Yukon government. By working together, Mr. Speaker, there will be no interruption in the Dempster Highway's vital link to the communities of the Mackenzie Delta.

Mahsi cho, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Antoine. Ministers' statements. Item 3, Members' statements. Mr. Henry.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the issue of revenue generation opportunities in the north came up several times recently in the House. It is important, Mr. Speaker, that we develop a strategy to gradually reduce our dependence on transfer of payments from the federal government. We have to explore innovative ways to broaden our economic base by examining new avenues to generate revenues in the north. We must strive to create new economic opportunities and jobs so that we can achieve a sustainable level of growth.

Mr. Speaker, we must be proactive and seriously examine the revenue side of our budget, to help ensure a more hopeful and promising future for our children. Promoting the north, and enhancing economic links with the south, is one viable option. Mr. Krutko has been a visionary in this regard since he combines Mickey Mouse ties with traditional attire. Mr. Speaker, I wonder if we can pursue this innovative approach in our desire to creatively explore potential revenue generators in the north. With these colourful Mickey Mouse ties displayed on the television screen, the Disney company has certainly been benefiting from this free form of advertising.

Mr. Speaker, I wonder if, in the north, we can now share in the wealth, by inviting Disney to come to Yellowknife and develop a show about the north, or even take part in discussing the dress code in the House. This item has been referred to the Rules Committee, of which I am chair, so I believe we will be inviting Disney to appear before that committee. They can also promote the north's fashions in the south, but also our northern environment and lifestyle. Given Mr. Krutko's contacts with Mickey Mouse, perhaps he can link us with Walt Disney and invite them to the north. We can send a copy of Hansard, with our invitation, and also invite the national media to get maximum national coverage, here in Canada and in the US.

Mr. Speaker, we have all the amenities to accommodate events such as this and display our northern hospitality. I am sure this event will benefit many businesses in the north, including airlines, hotels and restaurants. Mr. Speaker, this may seem a mickey mouse way to generate revenue, but so what, as long as we get the revenue and the publicity. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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

Thank you. Members' statements. Mr. Picco.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, over the past week we have discussed at some length the new budget. We have spent the first year and a half of our mandate as an Assembly trying to deal with the legacy of debt that we inherited. We have also spent time gearing up for division. With this in mind, it is unclear how replacing regional librarians in the east with support services from the west is either cost effective or logistically sound. Mr. Speaker, in less than 800 days two new territories will be formed. Is it sensible for this government to downsize, in this case, library services before division because on April 1, 1999, Nunavut will not have the regional librarian position because the whole basis of the operation will be in far off Hay River. What will we do then, Mr. Speaker? Who will provide those library and languages services? Language is an issue here, Mr. Speaker, because the regional librarian coordinates and facilitates the collection of Inuktitut materials. Following on this, Mr. Speaker, the proposed closure of the language bureau is another attack by this government on language and education. How can we justify closing the language bureau when the monetarial savings will be minimal? No, Mr. Speaker, we need this government involved with language issues. We need a presence with Dogrib, Gwich'in, North and South Slavey, Cree, Inuktitut and other aboriginal languages. It is sad, Mr. Speaker, sad that some people see the language bureaus as only a den of interpreters and translators. The language bureau is more than this, and I will be asking questions on this area, later today. Mr. Speaker, a reputation for a 1,000 years can depend on the conduct of a single moment. Let the Members of the 13th Assembly remember this, Mr. Speaker.

-- Applause

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My statement today, is in regards the service that is available through Stanton Hospital. Mr. Speaker, the other day I made a statement concerning eye glasses. My intent, Mr. Speaker, was to try to fix the problem, wherever it may be, whether it is through the prescriptions, the dispensing of the prescriptions, or if it happens to be the people who make the glasses down south, or whatever. I have tried different means of getting some action prior to that, but there was one avenue that I was not aware of, and I would like to make the public aware of that today.

When people deal with health care professionals and facilities, it can be an intimidating thing, particularly for people who do not work in offices. They may be unhappy with how they were treated, or they do not understand why some things were done. Stanton Hospital recognizes this, and they recognize that patients and families may have questions, but do not know where to find the answers or that they may have a complaint to register. To help the general public, Stanton has appointed a patient representative back around 1993 or so, and patients or their families who have questions or concerns can go to this representative. They can raise questions about the hospital itself, its various clinics, or its staff. The patient representative tries to help in a way that is easy for the patient or the family. The current representative is Heather Chang, and she can be contacted in person at the hospital or else you can call a toll free number which is 1-800-661-0896, or you can reach her by letter at Stanton Hospital. She will do what she can to try to help you. Each and every concern is followed up, and additionally a summary of concerns is given to the board and a quality management committee regularly. This is how the hospital has responded to try to listen and to improve its service. 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. You have unanimous consent, Mr. Erasmus.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As I said, the hospital is trying to respond to concerns in this manner. One of the things that I would like to suggest is perhaps they could advertise this a little bit better, so that more people know about the representative and this 1-800 line and the rest of that. Perhaps they could up a sign prominently displayed at the hospital, at the eye clinic, at the health clinic and the various offices that they have, so people will know this. Mr. Speaker, I applaud the Stanton Hospital's efforts to be responsive to the needs of their patients, and if people have a concern or questions to ask, I urge them to let Stanton Hospital know through this agency, because if they do not know there is a problem, they cannot fix it. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Erasmus. 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. You have unanimous consent, Mr. Ootes.

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

Members' statements. Item 4, returns to oral questions. Mr. Arlooktoo.

Mr. Speaker, I have a return to oral question asked by Mr. Enuaraq on January 23, regarding housing shortages in Clyde River. Mr. Speaker, I would like to address the question raised by Mr. Enuaraq about the Housing Corporation's policy on so called matchbox houses. There are approximately 300 homes left that were built under the northern (inaudible) program of the federal government back in the 1960s and early 1970s. Many of these homes have been renovated to more modern standards. There are only a dozen of the old matchbox houses left. Clyde River is the only community in the NWT which still uses the original matchboxes for rental units. The Housing Corporation, as a result of the elimination of federal funds for new public housing, has had to amend its policy about replacing all northern rentals. A recent letter to all LHO's from the Housing Corporation's president outlined the new plans. All of the northern renters are being evaluated with particular emphasis on those home which still lack basic facilities like hot and cold running water. The Housing Corporation will renovate or replace all northern rentals in poor condition. The matchbox houses will be replaced with new homes in 1997/98 and 1998/99. Thank you.

--Applause

Thank you. Returns to oral questions. Item 5, recognition of visitors in the gallery. Mrs. Groenewegen.

Welcome to the Assembly. Recognition of visitors in the gallery. Mr. Krutko.