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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As Minister responsible for Nunavut Transition Planning, I am pleased to update the Assembly on key issues concerning the creation of Nunavut.

Last week, Minister Todd tabled the transition action plan. This plan provides a detailed review of transition issues and costs. This document will serve many purposes, and it is important, I believe, that we all share the same understanding of what this document is intended to provide:

- advice to all the parties and in particular, the Interim Commissioner, on what needs to be done in this transition period;

- for the Western Territory it provides a basis for planning; and

- for the federal government it is a comprehensive costing that identifies gaps in the transition funding necessary for implementation.

The Report on Transition to a New Western Territory, tabled by Minister Dent yesterday, supplements the transition action plan and will provide a starting point for the establishment of a strong and viable Western Territory.

In addition to the intensive communication effort we have put forward to date on the action plan, I plan to attend the upcoming NTI Annual General Meeting in Igloolik to discuss the transition plan and to emphasize the importance of working together toward our common goal.

Mr. Speaker, in the critically short time that we have, I urge all parties to conclude financing discussions on transition costs, with an appropriate agreement, as soon as possible. We need the security of knowing that appropriate funding is in place so that we can focus on the immense task at hand, that the current standard of programs and services are in place on April 1, 1999.

Although we are partners in this process, the Interim Commissioner is clearly in the spotlight. Mr. Anawak has the responsibility of creating a functional Nunavut government by April 1, 1999. As we have stated on many occasions, Mr. Speaker, this government will continue to support and provide assistance to the Interim Commissioner wherever required.

The Interim Commissioner will be using the decentralized model, set out in Footprints 2, to establish the Nunavut government. This includes planning for the establishment of headquarters functions in several communities and the repositioning of regional services to many other communities throughout Nunavut. The Government of the Northwest Territories recognizes the challenges facing the Interim Commissioner to implement the decentralized model before April 1, 1999, because it is largely dependent on the construction of the necessary offices and houses for Nunavut government staff and federal funding.

As I, and many of my colleagues, have stated on several occasions, the Government of the Northwest Territories strongly supports the decentralized model. We have also said that there are some efficiency issues that will need to be considered by the Nunavut government.

The office of the Interim Commissioner will also need to work with the Government of the Northwest Territories to ensure that Government Northwest Territories employees, occupying positions in Nunavut, will be transferred to the Nunavut government with the existing terms and conditions of their employment intact. For new headquarters positions in Nunavut, it is our view that priority must be given to Government of the Northwest Territories headquarters employees wishing to relocate to Nunavut, subject to meeting the objectives of Article 23 of the Nunavut Land Claim Agreement.

The creation of a justice system for Nunavut is also an issue of critical importance. When we talk about a justice system for Nunavut, we are speaking of many different parts of an integrated system. There are the nuts and bolts of the structure. These include a Department of Justice that can provide legal advice to the government of Nunavut and draft new laws. It also includes a court system that will continue to provide essential services - judges, crown prosecutors and attorneys, justices of the peace, court workers and legal aid, to name a few. There are also the court registries and the registries where you can file corporate and land title documents.

It is of paramount importance that the Nunavut government have the capacity to continue these services on April 1, 1999.

Some of these functions will need to be up and running in Nunavut. Others may continue to be provided during a transition period through intergovernmental agreements with the Western Territory or other jurisdictions.

Of course, having the basic structure in place by April 1, 1999, so that necessary programs and services are provided, does not prevent the Nunavut government from changing the system to bring it closer to the people and better reflect cultural values. I am encouraged when I hear that the Interim Commissioner wishes to consult with the people of Nunavut on the kinds of changes that could be made.

Mr. Speaker, I recently had the privilege of participating at the signing of the Nunavut Municipal Incremental Infrastructure Program in Iqaluit on September 19th. The agreement signed by Indian Affairs and Northern Development Minister, Jane Stewart, and Manitok Thompson, Minister of Municipal and Community Affairs; provides $8.22 million to the territorial government to meet projected infrastructure needs in 11 Nunavut municipalities this year. This is a three year infrastructure program worth an estimated $32 million.

The Nunavut government will need almost 700 new public service jobs. As a result of decentralization there will be a significant increase in the Baffin, Keewatin and Kitikmeot regions' population. With the expected population growth, communities must be prepared to meet the new demands for municipal services: more site development for housing and offices, classroom space, infrastructure and municipal services will be needed.

The $32 million in capital projects will upgrade and expand services such as water and sewage, fire fighting, schools and the site development for housing and office space. I am pleased to inform Members that all of the projects being managed by the Government of the Northwest Territories are proceeding on schedule.

Mr. Speaker, all Nunavut communities will benefit from the increased training and employment opportunities under the Municipal Infrastructure Program. Also, considerable effort has gone into providing appropriate training opportunities to prepare Inuit for the new positions in the government of Nunavut. Incremental resources provided by the Government of Canada supplements the $100 million the Government of the Northwest Territories is already investing in education and training in the Nunavut region this year.

The Government of the Northwest Territories is an active partner in the Working Group on Human Resources and Training. In September of this year, while in Iqaluit, Minister Dent, on behalf of the Government of the Northwest Territories, signed a Contribution Agreement with Minister Stewart to cover this year's funding requirement for the training programs under the Human Resources Strategy. We are now in the second year of the four year intensive training program, and this is perhaps the year in which most of the training will take place. In 1996-97 the strategy provided training for 232 Inuit, and it is anticipated that up to 400 students will enrol in 1997-98.

The Government of the Northwest Territories is also involved in delivering some of the training directly, in order to help prepare Inuit for jobs in the new government. For example:

- 21 people are training as middle managers in the Government of the Northwest Territories regional offices; and

- a program is in place to prepare Inuit for senior management positions, right now 13 people are in the program, and six more will soon be hired.

Preparation for Nunavut also requires changes to legislation. Until April 1, 1999, Nunavut and the Western Territory will be governed by the same laws. This legislative base will be inherited by each territory on April 1, 1999 and each territory will then be free to shape its laws according to its needs and wishes.

To assist this process a Statute Revision Commissioner has been appointed to prepare separate consolidations of the laws of the Northwest Territories as they will apply in Nunavut and in the Western Territory in 1999. This process has begun and will be completed 1999.

Our Assembly will be called upon to enact a number of measures to assist in the establishment of two territories. An important example is statutory measures to provide for a single Power Corporation and Workers' Compensation Board. It is critical that agreement be reached on these issues so that legislation can be introduced and enacted in the near future to establish a stable planning environment.

Federal legislative action will also be required. We are closely monitoring the progress of the Nunavut Act Amendments, which will also include an important amendment to the Northwest Territories Act.

Changes to the Nunavut Act are needed in order to allow for the election of a Nunavut Legislative Assembly that can take office on April 1, 1999. This change must be enacted early in the new year, in order to prepare for the Nunavut election. Other changes to the Nunavut Act are required to clarify certain sections so that we all know the legal regime in Nunavut on April 1, 1999.

In addition, federal legislative action will be needed to:

- provide for representation for Nunavut and the Western Territory in the Senate and House of Commons; and

- reduce the minimum size of this Assembly to 14 Members, pending the development of a new Constitution for the Western Territory.

It is critical for the Nunavut government and for this Assembly that these amendments get made as soon as possible and I will keep the Members posted on any progress.

The areas that I have outlined today are what I believe to be the immediate and priority issues for all partners in this process. April 1, 1999 is the first day of the new Nunavut government. There will be many issues that evolve and changes to take place, especially in the first few years. Many of these issues are for the elected Members of the new Nunavut Government to decide. For now, it is important that we keep our focus on the immediate and priority issues to ensure that the current standard of programs and services continue to be provided on April 1, 1999.

Mr. Speaker, I believe that the challenges that are ahead will require an extraordinary effort on the part of many, and the cooperation of all of the partners in this process. I will be working hard, with this Assembly and my Cabinet colleagues, in particular Mr. Dent and Mr. Todd, to ensure:

- the continued cooperation of all; and

- the successful completion of these tasks, tasks which will ensure the creation of two new territories.

Most of all, we can not lose sight of the fact that, despite the complexity of this process, this is about: the realization of the long held aspirations of the people of Nunavut to have their own government. Thank you, Mr. Speaker

Thank you, Mr. Arlooktoo. Ministers' statements. Mr. Todd.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The purpose of this statement is to set out the government's plan for dealing with pay equity during the 1997-98 collective bargaining. The concept of pay equity, Mr. Speaker, is one that I fully endorse and support. Indeed, Mr. Speaker, how can one argue against the principle of paying employees equally for doing similar or substantially similar work as set out under the Northwest Territories legislation or doing work of equal value as provided for under federal legislation? The issue before us is not with the principle of pay equity. The issue before us today is one of uncertainty. How do we achieve pay equity? What will it cost? Who are the winners and who are the losers?

As you are aware, Mr. Speaker, there is an outstanding pay equity complaint. That complaint has been referred to a Tribunal pursuant to the Canadian Human Rights Act. Mr. Speaker, addressing a pay equity complaint is an extremely complex process. It involves the comparisons of actual evaluations of positions with evaluations against a gender neutral job evaluation system. It involves statistical models for identifying and comparing female and male jobs to determine if there are any wage gaps. It involves the examination of reasonable factors that may justify differences in male and female wages.

Mr. Speaker, the UNW and the government have commenced a mediation process for examining these complex issues. The objectives of a mediation process are to facilitate a negotiated settlement of the pay equity complaint and to expedite the Tribunal hearing process in the event that negotiations are unsuccessful. We are hopeful, however, that the Tribunal process will be unnecessary as our objective for the mediation process is to structure a settlement proposal that we can table with the UNW at collective bargaining and place before the Tribunal.

Mr. Speaker, this brings me to the two other areas of uncertainty about pay equity that I mentioned. What is the cost? Who are the winners? Who are the losers? Mr. Speaker, there has been much speculation over the years about what it would cost to resolve the pay equity complaint. I will not add today to that speculation. In the mediation process the parties examine job evaluation data, statistical methodologies and reasonable factors to determine any gender wage gaps that may exist. The parties must negotiate a responsible and fair settlement that is acceptable to the government, the UNW and the employees it represents.

I realize, Mr. Speaker, that implementing a new job evaluation system and resolving the pay equity complaint will result in an overall increase in the cost of the public service. I am hopeful, Mr. Speaker, that we can absorb this increased cost through initiatives already taken to balance the books. It is important, however, that the issue be resolved with a negotiated agreement that is financially responsible. The challenge before us is to find a solution that makes everyone a winner. A settlement that we cannot afford would require further large scale program reductions. Mr. Speaker, the losers from large scale program reductions would be the population of the north who rely on government programs and services and employees who would lose their jobs as a necessary consequence of such large cuts. Yes, Mr. Speaker, employees.

Mr. Speaker, as the elected representatives of the people of the Northwest Territories, we must put our support making pay equity in the Northwest Territories a winning proposition for everyone. To do this, we must begin to bargain in good faith and show willingness to compromise in a way that is in the best interest of the population of the North.

Mr. Speaker, today, I have served formal notice to the UNW pursuant to the Public Service Act to commence collective bargaining for the renewal and revision of the Collective Agreement that expires on March 31, 1998. My staff have been instructed to meet with the UNW and work out a schedule that will see this matter settled before March 31, 1998.

--Hear! Hear!

Mr. Speaker, let us put an end to uncertainty. Let us turn the situation around and make everyone a winner. Let us advance the rights of women in the Northwest Territories by finding a pay equity solution that is financially responsible and fair. Let us lend our support to the government and the union negotiators in finding an early settlement, one that can be recommended to this government and union membership for ratification. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

--Applause

Ministers' statements. Ms. Thompson.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, today, I wish to make a statement as Minister responsible for the Status of Women. I am disturbed about an article found in the October 3rd edition of the Nunatsiaq News. The article reports on a church minister who resides in Kuujjuak, Northern Quebec and was charged and pleaded guilty to four sex charges involving young girls. Mr. Speaker, I am deeply angered and concerned with statements that were made during the course of this trial. A long time friend of the accused, who is also a clergyman, gave evidence at the hearing that crimes committed by the accused were not actually crimes at all in the Inuit culture.

--Shame! Shame!

In fact, he further claimed that the actions of the accused were acceptable in the old Inuit traditional ways of treating young women so that they may feel proud of their womanhood.

Mr. Speaker, crimes against women and children, particularly if they are of a violent and sexual nature are absolutely not acceptable in any culture. Crimes against women have never been acceptable in the Inuit culture. They are not acceptable now and were not acceptable then. Mr. Speaker, we cannot and should not accept the excuse that this type of behaviour is part of the old Inuit culture. I hear too many of these excuses used by both aboriginal and non-aboriginal people. I believe these excuses about what is acceptable in the Inuit culture, and in general in the aboriginal community, is exactly that an excuse. Hopefully, the justice system will continue to see this for what it is, a weak and poor excuse, and will continue to punish the guilty with appropriate sentences.

Although this incident occurred in another jurisdiction, I believe that it reflects on women and the Inuit culture as a whole. Let me assure you, Mr. Speaker and Members of this House, that activities of this nature have never been and should never be considered part of the Inuit culture. Actions of this nature against women and children must never be considered acceptable. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

--Applause

Thank you, Ms. Thompson. Just to remind the Minister that with regard to the statement, it is a sensitive statement, but also you added a bit more that deviated from your main statement which was not recorded and filed with the Clerk. Thank you. Ministers' statements. Item 3, Members' statements. Mr. Roland.

Thank you, Mr. Roland. 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, Mrs. Groenewegen, you have unanimous consent.

Thank you, Mrs. Groenewegen. Members' statements. Mr. Miltenberger.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Today I rise to bring forward a concern that has had an impact on my home community of Rae-Edzo for a number of years. I realize that this government and previous governments have tried to make the Municipal Funding Formula as equitable as possible. However, due to the unique situation in Rae-Edzo being one of the largest non-tax-based communities and the fact that over the years Rae-Edzo has concentrated on developing a private economic base instead of relying on this government to provide capital infrastructure, we have been short changed when dealing with the current formula. This formula deals with how much funding each non-tax based community receives to perform their day-to-day operations. However, when the officials try to use this to determine the funding of Rae-Edzo, it falls short due to the size of the community in the lack of public infrastructure. One of many areas that this formula does not address is the issue of protective services. There is not enough dollars to provide for by-law enforcement. I believe this is not just an issue from Rae-Edzo, but territorial wide one.

There are many concerns that I know the honourable Minister of MACA is addressing through the municipal funding review that is currently taking place. I hope this review will show that there are still inadequacies which have become apparent over the past number of years since the last change in the funding formula and will also come up with the equitable solutions for all communities across this vast land. I would also like to inform the Minister that later today I will be asking her some questions regarding this important issue. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Rabesca. 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. Mr. Ootes, you have unanimous consent.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the transition action plan as released by Mr. Todd poses many questions, but also gives some direction and addresses the magnitude of the decisions and work that has to be done before April 1, 1999. It is not a perfect document, but it is a starting point that will be discussed and evaluated by the effected parties.

The issue of funding. A funding shortfall as presented by the federal government is outside the scope of the monetary ability of this government. On April 1, 1999, when Nunavut begins, we want it to be successful and properly financed. Over the next several months, the continuing negotiations and the gross expenditure base for Nunavut and the new Western Territory will be decided, but this does not impede this government or the federal government to help facilitate a smooth transition so that on April 2, 1999, Nunavut residents will still be able to access programs and services, receive their pay cheques, attend school, et cetera. This is what the transition action plan outlines. Nothing less, nothing more. Mr. Speaker, this government has reiterated its commitment to decentralization, and now it is up to the federal government to help pay the cost of the recommendations made in Footprints 2. The document is advice to all parties and to the Interim Commissioner. The gaps in the funding to date have been identified and the time line is getting shorter to division. Mr. Speaker, it is time for the Nunavut Caucus to call another Nunavut leaders' meeting to address the transition action plan, and the work that has been done and has to be done by April 1, 1999. Later today, I will be asking the Minister for Division questions on this matter. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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