Thank you, Ms. Thompson. Good morning. I would like to update all Members on how our colleague, Mr. Evaloarjuk, is doing in the hospital in Montreal. Mr. Evaloarjuk is doing well and able to walk independently with the help of a cane, although he has some pain in his wrist. He has an appointment on October 15th and he will be informed then when he will be discharged. It is a pity that he will not be home with his family for Thanksgiving. Mahsi cho.

--Applause

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I wish to advise Members that the Honourable Stephen Kakfwi will be absent from the House today to attend to a personal matter in Fort Good Hope. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you. Ministers' statements. Mr. Antoine.

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to report progress on efforts to establish a constitutional framework for the new Western Territory. In June, the Constitutional Working Group released a report following its first round of public consultation last winter. The Round One Summary Report provided an overview of the first round of community consultations including areas of agreement, areas of concern and a working group response to most issues.

It also provided the public with:

-a legal, historical and political context,

-the principles and objectives guiding the working group process,

-summaries of four possible models of government for the western Northwest Territories,

-the purpose and description of a possible companion self-government agreement, and

-answers to some commonly asked questions about western constitutional development.

Over the summer, working group members made presentations at the annual assemblies of each aboriginal organization, as well as, board meetings of the NWT Association of Municipalities and the NWT Chamber of Commerce. Generally speaking, people were satisfied the working group had responded to concerns expressed during the first round of public consultations. In particular, they were pleased that the working group has adjusted its work plan to ensure the public is kept well informed and involved in the development of a new constitution. The working group is preparing materials for its second round of public consultations, scheduled to begin in January, 1998. Members want to provide the public with new information and give them an opportunity to further explore and discuss options before making a firm recommendation on a single model next summer.

Progress on a constitution for the west is closely tied to progress in negotiating aboriginal self-government agreements. Working group members are very sensitive to this issue. The materials being developed for public release will include as much information as possible on the meaning and substance of aboriginal self-government, the linkages between self-government arrangements and a future territorial government for the west.

The working group has approved a work plan for the period of October 1997, to March 1999. It is the working group's objective to present a final constitutional package, ratified by northern residents, to the Government of Canada before April 1, 1999. I will table a document later this afternoon which describes the Constitutional Working Group's proposed schedule of activities. The successful completion of the working group's work plan is dependent on adequate, long-term financial support from the federal and territorial governments. It is also dependent on the continued commitment and participation of western MLA's, members of the Aboriginal Summit, federal officials, representatives of the NWT Association of Municipalities and women's organizations. The Government of the Northwest Territories has committed over $200,000 to the Constitutional Working Group for the remainder of this fiscal year. It is anticipated that a small delegation of Constitutional Working Group members will meet with the Honourable Jane Stewart, Minister of DIAND in early November to discuss continued federal support.

Constitution building is, by necessity, a slow, careful process. However, progress is being made, and with the continued support and involvement of the public, I am confident we can bring this project to a close in the near future. The people of the west will have a new constitution upon which to establish a system of government that can effectively carry the new territory into the next millennium. Mahsi cho, Mr. Speaker.

--Applause

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

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The community of Broughton Island has been told that there is a program where they can apply for money to build docks. The community would like information on how to access this program. They have made requests for information on the program but have not had any replies. There is a Marine Infrastructure Program within the Department of Transportation that has funds for building docks. The community of Broughton Island has not been able to gain access to this program. For this reason, I will pursue this matter later. Thank you.

Thank you. Members' statements. Mr. Roland.

Thank you, Mr. Roland. Members' statements. Item 4, returns to oral questions. Item 5, recognition of visitors in the gallery. Mr. Ng.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I would like to recognize Geraldine Balzer, vice-principal of the high school in Kugluktuk and the secretary of the Northwest Territories Teachers' Association. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

--Applause

Welcome to the Assembly. Recognition of visitors in the gallery. Mrs. Groenewegen.

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

Thank you. Recognition of visitors in the gallery. Mr. Barnabas.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I would like to recognize Elizabeth Allakariallak Roberts. Elizabeth has retired after 19 years of Government of the Northwest Territories service and she presently is my constituency assistant in Resolute Bay. In the past, she performed a great deal of volunteer services with the Northwest Territories Status of Women, Sport North and as the president of Resolute Bay Co-op. Presently she is a member of Resolute Bay community land and administration committee, the chairperson for Baffin Treatment Centre Board, and the community women's working group in her community. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

--Applause

Welcome to the Assembly. Recognition of visitors in the gallery. I would like to recognize our law clerk and her sister, Lisa in the gallery. Welcome to the Assembly.

--Applause

Item 6, oral questions. Mr. Picco.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, after our meetings last week it came as a shock to have heard that Ms. Ann Hanson had resigned as chair of the Baffin Regional Health Board. Mr. Speaker, I spoke to Ann almost daily on Baffin Regional Health Board issues and, as I stated earlier, I know how much time and energy she put into the position. Mr. Speaker, with the recent cursory review of the Baffin Regional Health Board and the Keewatin Health Board, there is much concern with the operations of these agencies. Can the Minister for Health clarify how board members are appointed and does the department have any discretionary responsibility with these appointments? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The Minister of Health and Social Services. Two questions.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, it has been the practice of myself, as a Minister of Health and Social Services, to receive nominations from communities if it is a community representative and have that individual appointed as their representative to regional health and social services boards. Mr. Speaker, I do have discretion, of course, if I deem the candidate not to be suitable, not to have to undertake their appointment. That has not been the case to date, Mr. Speaker. Thank you.

Thank you, Oral questions. Supplementary, Mr. Picco.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the Minister has completed the cursory review as earlier stated. There is still concern with the amalgamation of health boards and social services. Has the Minister appointed any staff person to monitor the activities of the various boards in the Northwest Territories? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Ng.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker we have not had any direct employee tasked with that responsibility. However, as it has been indicated in the review that was undertaken of the Keewatin Health Board and the Baffin Regional Health Social Services Boards contemplated move, we recognize that we may, well we do, have to have a requirement to put in some monitoring and evaluation processes to provide some support quite frankly to the boards and quite frankly to provide additional insight as a ministry into the operations of boards to make sure we do not get into situations that may cause difficulty, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you. Oral questions. Supplementary, Mr. Picco.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, that seems to be a very serious concern right now with health boards in the Northwest Territories, especially in those two regions that we just talked about. I wonder what framework the Minister is looking at and, when does he think these people will be in place to monitor the activities of the board and ensure that indeed, the policies and regulations of this government are being carried out? Also, how the operations are being set up so that the health care is indeed at the level it is required for the residents of this territory? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you. Mr. Ng.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, it is important to recognize that the review and results of the review just came to me less than two weeks ago. I have directed the department to start to design and put in place that monitoring and assessment capability. I believe that certainly within 30 to 60 days we would have that completed. In the meantime, we are in regular contact with the board, CEOs and myself with the chairs on a regular basis trying to keep a sense of some of the issues and some of the happenings in the boards. Mr. Speaker, thank you.

Oral questions. Final supplementary. I am sorry you have already had your final supplementary. You had two questions in the first one. Mr. Enuaraq, oral questions.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My question is directed to the Minister of Transportation, Mr. Jim Antoine. How do communities access monies that are in the marine infrastructure program? Thank you.

The Minister of Transportation, Mr. Antoine.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the community usually just makes application to the Department of Transportation at the regional level. Perhaps maybe as an MLA you could bring that to my attention as a Minister. We try to work these requests into our business plan after we analyze each request. Thank you.

Oral questions. Supplementary, Mr. Enuaraq.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Can the Minister indicate which communities benefited from this program in the last year? Thank you.

Mr. Antoine.

Thank you Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, in the last few years there were a number of communities, particularly in the Nunavut area, that benefited from harbour enhancement. I do not have the list of the communities handy but there are a number of communities that over the years have benefited from this program and, it is a multi-year program, it is not a year to year program. The nature of the weather in the east and the nature of the sizes of the project we have to do a multi-year type of a planning. If the Member would like, I will get the department to compile the list of the communities that have benefited from this program and provide them with that information. Thank you.

Oral questions. Mr. Steen.

The Premier.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would be pleased to look into this issue for this Member of who actually named the park, whose idea was it for the park and who maintains the park, as well as, who has the keys for the washrooms in the park. Thank you.

Thank you. Oral questions. Mr. Miltenberger.

The Minister responsible for the Financial Management Board. Mr. Todd.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Well, unfortunately my honourable colleague is correct, I had a very busy schedule last night, worked late into the evening and started work early this morning at 6:30 a.m., quarter to seven and; unfortunately, I was not able to get a hold of Mr. Bailey who was equally as busy doing other things. I will commit to the House and to Mr. Picco particularly that I will give him a full briefing in this House on the marketing strategy for the rural fund later next week. Thank you.

Oral questions. Supplementary, Mr. Miltenberger.

Mr. Todd.

Mr. Speaker. Well let me humbly apologize to my colleagues for being unable to determine what the marketing strategy for this Aurora Fund is as I was busy trying to assist my honourable colleague, Mr. Kakfwi, in negotiating appropriate arrangements for BHP; speaking with Mr. Voytilla in an effort to continue to balance the budget and, of course, getting ready for this morning's debate. Thank you.

Oral questions. Supplementary, Mr. Miltenberger.

Mr. Todd.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I think I could be ready for Monday, Mr. Speaker. That may be the appropriate time for me to make that approach. Thank you.

Thank you. Just briefly, I would like to, on behalf of the Member for Hay River, recognize her sister in the gallery. Janet, welcome to the Assembly. Oral questions. Mr. Miltenberger. Final supplementary.

Mr. Todd.

As the Premier has often told us we have to work during holidays, and I am sure, I will be here as I always am while my honourable colleague is enjoying a turkey. I will commit to giving the Aurora Fund Marketing Strategy on Tuesday so we can get on with the business of the House, balancing the budget, taking care of our constituents and all that stuff.

Thank you. Oral questions. Mr. Roland.

The Minister responsible for the Financial Management Board, Mr. Todd.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I am so used to apologizing in the last two days and I have apologized more times in the last two days than in the last two years. So, I apologize to my colleague for misleading him yesterday. I believe the actual turnaround time is supposed to be seven days. I hope that he will accept my apology and my corrections this morning.

Oral questions. Supplementary, Mr. Roland.

Mr. Todd.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, well, once again, I apologize to everybody. For about the 16th time in the last two days. I believe it is a federal requirement and sometimes we are not able to meet that as the private sector is occasionally. As I said, on a serious issue we are trying to take steps to correct that. We do recognize that when

somebody gets laid off they need to find some source of income and unemployment insurance is one means of it. Once again, Mr. Speaker, just for clarity purposes, I apologize, I apologize, I apologize.

Thank you. Oral questions. Supplementary, Mr. Roland.

Mr. Todd

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I am not sure. I do not think there are any penalties, if that is where my honourable colleague is heading, but certainly it is the desire of this government to try to meet the regulations that are set forth in the federal system. It is our compassionate desire, as my colleague frequently talks about, to get the documentation necessary to collect UIC to our employees who have been laid off. I would have to check with my department as to the actual, if you want, legal requirements and the ramifications of not meeting those requirements and report back to him next week. Thank you.

Thank you. Oral questions. Mr. Barnabas.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I would like to follow-up my colleague's, Mr. Picco's, question to the Minister of Health. My question is, does the Minister foresee any delay in the construction of a new Baffin Regional Hospital because of the recent resignation of the chair? Thank you.

The Minister for Health and Social Services, Mr. Ng.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, no, not as a result of the recent resignation of the Chair. Thank you.

Oral questions. Mr. Ootes.

Mr. Premier.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, at the present time as the Members are aware that we have gone through business plans with them of how our government is proceeding with next year's development of our budget. I do not know whether it would be proper of me to say, at this time, what would be happening in the future until we have our budgets approved by this Assembly as well as committees. Thank you.

Oral questions. Supplementary, Mr. Ootes.

Mr. Morin.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, no.

Oral questions. Supplementary, Mr. Ootes.

Mr. Morin.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the current positions in the 1997 business plan of these there are eight. Two are vacant at the present time and six are staffed. Of the six, two are on transfer to assignments, one person is on leave prior to retirement in a position in Fort Smith. This, in no way, takes away from the responsibility of the Personnel Secretariat and the Personnel Secretariat is still responsible for auditing, training and human resources support to every department. The whole thrust of the government has been that we would put the responsibility of hiring and personnel training in the hands of the department, within the

management of that department and hold them accountable and that seems to be working quite well. Thank you.

Thank you. Oral questions. Final supplementary, Mr. Ootes.

Mr. Morin.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, there was never any intention of the Personnel Secretariat functioning at the same level as the Department of Personnel was functioning. That was never the intention. It was always very clear. There was open communication with the Members of this House that we were no longer going to have two different departments involved in the training, hiring, the recruitment, and the career pathing of government employees. The managers of every department were going to be responsible for that function, and they were going to be held accountable as well. I do not see any downturn in any services to our employees. It is fairly straightforward and it seems to be working a lot better. Thank you.

Oral questions. Mr. Erasmus.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Premier. Mr. Speaker, a year or so ago, the Cabinet saw fit to do away with the Personnel Department which had been, I guess, monitoring affirmative action, monitoring the interviews and hiring practices of this government. When that was done, we were informed that the onus would now be on the deputy ministers and the Ministers to ensure that affirmative action was properly implemented. What I would like to know is, has the numbers of employees with affirmative action status increased since we put this onus on the managers? Thank you.

Mr. Premier.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I will have the FMBS chairman answer that, he is in charge of that. Thank you.

The Minister responsible for the Financial Management Board, Mr. Todd.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I do not have the actual numbers with me today, but direction was given by the Premier to the Ministers that this was a priority of this government, and they would be held accountable in this House for their actions. We are, and were confident that by putting the political responsibility on the Ministers, that we would get a greater participation by aboriginal people in the Government of the Northwest Territories. I can provide my colleague, probably later next week when I speak to Mr. Voytilla, as to the results of our efforts to date and the future plans we have in relationship to increasing aboriginal northerners in the civil service. Thank you.

Oral questions. Supplementary, Mr. Erasmus.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, one of the recommendations of the subcommittee on affirmative action was to increase the value of human resource programming, specifically affirmative action, within the performance appraisal so that how a deputy minister worked or their performance in regard to affirmative action would be part of the performance appraisal, and it would be given a higher value in their performance appraisal. I was wondering if the Premier is going to implement this particular recommendation? Thank you.

Mr. Morin.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I have made it very clear to the deputy ministers of this government when they are to be evaluated. I will evaluate, sit down and discuss it with them once a year. I made it very clear to them that I want to see affirmative action numbers increased in this government. I want to see career plans, career paths and human resource development plans from the departments when I evaluate their performance soon. Thank you.

Oral questions. Supplementary, Mr. Erasmus.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I understand that the deputy ministers operate on bonuses. If these instructions

have not been complied with, is it possible that these bonuses could be affected detrimentally? Thank you.

Mr. Morin.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Guaranteed, that is the whole reason this new contract system was brought in with the deputies in the last government, so you can sit down and work out with your managers, at the beginning, what is very clear the direction of government. This is the priorities of the government. This is how we expect our senior management to work and one of the highest priorities of this government is to ensure that our northern people are brought through the system, so they can end up being senior management. As well we do hire affirmative action. It will affect deputies' incentives which is in their contracts if those things are not met. Thank you.

Oral questions. Mr. Picco.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my questions are on the federal tax matters. Mr. Speaker, after getting several phone calls from my constituency concerning Revenue Canada it was getting a little tiring to have Revenue Canada continuing to hassle Northwest Territories' residents on northern benefits deductions and continuing to request residency information to the same people each year. Mr. Speaker, my question is to the Finance Minister. Will he contact Revenue Canada to look at this harassment and see if northerners are unfairly being singled out for this northern benefit deductions? Thank you.

The Minister of Finance, Mr. Todd.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would not categorize the Revenue Canada's request for information as harassment. They have a responsibility and obligation to ensure that the public purse is protected, but I know that my own colleague is correct. I have received the request myself about the need for me to provide them with additional information. I think it is probably just a bit a blip in the system right now. I will talk to Revenue Canada later next week and see whether or not this is an ongoing decision, or whether it is just a strategy right now to determine the kinds of deductibles that we use for our people in the north. I think we are the only jurisdiction in Canada that has it. I am not sure, but I think we are.

Thank you, Oral questions. Supplementary, Mr. Picco.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I understand that the Yukon and certain parts of northern Quebec, Newfoundland, northern Alberta, have northern resident deductions. It may not be perceived as harassment. However, requesting the same information each year, asking the person to prove that he lived in the Northwest Territories, they must have something on file, Mr. Speaker, to indicate with the T-4 slip, so on and so forth, that they are a resident. After saying that, Mr. Speaker, continuing with my questions on tax matters, there has been negotiations underway with the federal government in basing the CPP, and the territorial government, of course, had been involved in that. I am asking questions on tax matters. This is a tax. What is it if it is not a tax? It is a tax. My question is on the CPP negotiations with the federal government. Can Mr. Todd update us on those negotiations?

Thank you. It is a new question, Mr. Picco, but I will allow you to have your question asked to Mr. Todd.

Yes, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, we have had a number of meetings with the finance Minister from the provincial and territorial jurisdictions with respect to Canadian Pension Plan. We reached a recommendation, something this jurisdiction did, with Minister Martin with respect to the changes that we felt were necessary to bring it back into a fully funded situation and that was the first step. There are other meetings that have to take place I believe, in the new year, to carry on with discussions to ensure that the Canadian Pension Plan is fully funded for future generations like Mr. Picco. Thank you.

Thank you. Oral questions. Supplementary, Mr. Picco.