Thank you, Mr. Roland. Good afternoon. I would like to recognize in the gallery today, the Honourable Lawrence MacAuley, the federal Minister of Labour. I would also like to welcome the Honourable Ethel Blondin-Andrew, the Member of Parliament for the Western Arctic and the Secretary of State for Youth. Welcome to the Assembly. I would also like to inform the House that I have received the following message from Her Honour, the Commissioner of the Northwest Territories.

Dear Mr. Speaker: I wish to advise that I recommend to the Legislative Assembly of the Northwest Territories the passage on Supplementary Appropriation Act, No. 2, 1997-98 during the Fourth Session of the 13th Legislative Assembly. Yours truly, Helen Maksagak, Commissioner

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

Thank you, Mr. Kakfwi. Ministers' statements. Ms. Thompson.

Thank you Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker last May I tabled a document titled, Empowerment Through Community Legislation, a discussion paper on proposed changes to community government legislation. This document was the basis for our consultations on phase 2 of the Municipal Legislation Review.

I am pleased to report to the Members of this Assembly that the consultation that took place over the summer was a success. We have generated a great deal of discussion, interest and support among our community leaders. Communities have told us what kind of legislation they need to be more effective and more empowered. In the near future, I will be proposing to Cabinet that a new community act be drafted and introduced in this Assembly.

The new act will be a cornerstone of community empowerment. It will take away the barriers that frustrate communities when they try to find local solutions to local problems. The act will get rid of unnecessary controls and restrictions. Community governments will be better able to focus on their accountability to their residents.

Mr. Speaker, a consensus has emerged from our community consultations that we need a new community government act in time for 1999. Communities have a critical role to play in the creation of two new territories. Flexible and modern legislation will give them the tools they need to be even more effective community governments.

Mr. Speaker, with the Northwest Territories Association of Municipalities and the support of the Members of this House, we have already succeeded in making important changes to municipal legislation this year. I would like to thank the Members and the communities and ask for their continued support in this important initiative. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Ms. Thompson. Ministers' statements. Mr. Todd.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to address the concern raised by a number of Members in this Assembly. Several honourable Members were concerned that a news report yesterday on CBC radio cast doubts on the federal government's commitment to discuss costs related to division identified in its Transition Action Plan that I tabled last week.

Mr. Speaker, based on these concerns I asked my officials to contact the office of the Minster of Indian Affairs and Northern Development, the Honourable Jane Stewart, to clarify the commitment that was made last week. I am pleased to advise that Ms. Stewart has confirmed her commitment to a table to allow all parties to assess the transition costs identified by this government. In fact, a preliminary meeting of all parties to discuss this issue and to review the Transition Action Plan has already taken place.

Mr. Speaker, while I am pleased that these discussions are going ahead, it is important to clarify the issues raised by the report on CBC yesterday. The Transition Action Plan was prepared by this government in a spirit of cooperation and partnership and in an attempt to further the division process in both the west and the Nunavut. It is not, as reported yesterday on the CBC, a request for additional funding. The plan is an alert to all parties that we believe that there are significant transition costs associated with creating two territories.

It is our view that the plan identifies a number of fundamental issues with respect to costing and implementation that have not been discussed previously and, as such, is a good starting point for all parties to assess these issues. We are looking forward to our discussion with the federal government and other parties on these issues. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

: Thank you, Mr. Todd. Ministers' statements. Ms. Thompson.

Mr. Speaker, the southern areas of the Baffin and Keewatin regions continue to be experiencing severe weather conditions, with freezing rains and winds up to 120 kilometres per hour as an Arctic hurricane moves through the regions. This is a very severe condition which seems to occur on a ten-year cycle. The effect of the storm has been felt in communities as far north as Hall Beach and to Sanikiluaq in the south. The communities of Cape Dorset and Rankin Inlet have been experiencing such severe conditions that a state of local emergency was declared for a 24-hour period for the safety of the public. We are still receiving reports on other communities but information is a bit slow.

The community of Arviat has a number of houses without power. The community is alternating generators between the homes to keep them from freezing up. Most of the people on the land have been accounted for in the Keewatin region. Local radios, CBs and HF radios are keeping citizens from a number of communities informed of weather, closures and emergency numbers. Although not a complete listing, the preliminary damage caused by the storm includes: Cape Dorset, 5 boats damaged; Hall Beach, 6 power poles between the community and the airport have been blown down; Kimmirut, damage to three boats; Whale Cove, 12 power poles down, resulting in 14 houses without power; Rankin Inlet, damage to two trailers and two mobile homes which were blown over and the roof of the Northern Store was lifted by winds gusting to 135 kilometres per hour.

The estimates of damage excluding large businesses is close to $50,000. The Emergency Measures Organization has now made contact with Rankin Inlet via the recently installed satellite telephone MSAT units and is now receiving regular updates. The community of Rankin Inlet has lost long-distance telephone communication since late Tuesday afternoon. Contact with Hall Beach continues to be by radio out of Winnipeg. In both regions, the regional emergency response plans are in effect and the volunteer committees are monitoring community situations as the storm progresses. The full extent of the damage is not yet known.

The role of the Emergency Measures Organization throughout this process is as advisor to the regions, if and when required to the communities themselves. All effected communities have emergency response plans which give guidelines for the community's response to emergency incidents such as what is occurring presently. Community representatives have been trained in emergency response, especially those involving a stand-alone response where outside resources cannot be delivered to the effected community due to extreme weather conditions.

The Arctic hurricane is predicted to move out of the region over the next day, but only time will tell. The Emergency Measures Organization, through its regional contacts, will continue to monitor the situation. In closing, Mr. Speaker, I would like to recognize the efforts and hard work of all community emergency teams in the Keewatin and Baffin as well as the Emergency Measures Organization. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I am pleased to advise that later today I will be tabling the Official Languages Policy and Guidelines. These policies and guidelines, which were developed in close consultation with community groups, outline the standards for the provision of government services in official languages. These documents are important, as they define the basic requirements when offering official language services. These documents again illustrate this government's commitment to the official languages of the Government of the Northwest Territories.

Developing these documents was not an easy task. A number of factors had to be kept in mind such as the number of official languages, the number of speakers and their geographic distribution. Because of the complexity of this task, it was necessary to undertake extensive consultation with community groups and with government departments. The end product reflects the reality of the north, but also addresses language needs in an efficient and effective manner.

The tabling of this document does not complete this task. The next step is the development of implementation plans. This will include monitoring mechanisms, evaluation criteria and reassessment of approaches. The policy is issued under the authority of the Executive Council and I, as the Premier, am accountable for its implementation. Ministers are responsible for the delivery of programs and services in accordance with the policy and guidelines, and I will ensure compliance with the policy and guidelines.

Having both of these documents in place, Mr. Speaker, will enable the Government of the Northwest Territories to more efficiently and effectively offer services in the official languages of the Northwest Territories. This is an essential part of supporting our languages and respecting all citizens of the Northwest Territories by providing language services. In closing, Mr. Speaker, I would like to acknowledge the individuals who worked so hard on the development of the policy and the guidelines. Mahsi.

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

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to seek unanimous consent to waive Rule 34(6) so that all Ministers' statements filed with the Clerk can be delivered today.

The Member for Keewatin Central is seeking unanimous consent to waive Rule 34(6). Do we have any nays?

There are no nays. Mr. Todd, you have unanimous consent.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker, and I thank you colleagues. Mr. Speaker, in accordance with the Financial Administration Act, the Northwest Territories Workers' Compensation Board is required to submit to this Assembly, an annual report of its activities. I am pleased to table this document for the period January 1 to December 31, 1996 today. This report is an accounting of the boards financial affairs including audited financial statements and an actuarial opinion regarding the adequacy of its liability reserves. It is not often I am stuck for words Mr. Speaker. Beyond that, Mr. Speaker, this document reports on the programs and activities undertaken by the board in the interest of its stakeholders.

In 1996, assessment revenue from the Northwest Territories' employers totalled $23 million while the boards' investment income totalled almost $15 million. Meanwhile, the Workers' Compensation Board paid or set aside $26.6 million in benefits to injured workers. Over and above its liabilities, Mr. Speaker, the board has nearly $28 million and in its operating catastrophe reserves, an increase of over $9 million in 1995.

In response to this strong financial position, the average employer assessment rate was reduced by 10 percent in 1996 and, in July, this year's maximum insurable remuneration (YMIR) was increased for benefit purposes to $49,000.

Mr. Speaker, fully funded status is the general measure of an effective compensation system. It means that the Workers' Compensation Board has adequate assets to meet all the present and future commitments to injured workers by maintaining this balance. The Workers' Compensation Board can ensure that assessment rates continue at their lowest and most cost-effective level.

Last year our government entrusted the responsibility for Occupational Health and Safety to the Northwest Territories Workers' Compensation Board. In spite of the additional costs, the board not only maintained its fully funded position, Mr. Speaker, but improved it by five percent. More than ever before, the focus of the Workers' Compensation Board is now accident prevention. In 1996, the Workers' Compensation Board addressed this new mandate with a balanced approach to education and enforcement. Workers' Compensation Board safety advisors provided safety training to over 1,000 workers and employers in 15 communities. An additional 375 individuals, many of them young workers, receive training made possible by the Workers' Compensation Board materials.

The Workers' Compensation Board Industrial Safety Unit made 55 community visits last year, completing 1,047 inspections. At the same time, the Workers' Compensation Board Mine Safety Unit conducted 100 mine inspections, an extensive mine safety audit and considerable maintenance testing and monitoring. The safety incentive and rate reduction program was implemented in 1996, 52 employers were targeted with additional assessments and safety training. Revenue collection from this program will support safety education activities in the future.

Mr. Speaker, while the accident prevention was and will continue to be a major focus of the Northwest Territories Workers' Compensation Board, it will not detract from the primary responsibility for compensating injured workers. In 1996, the Workers' Compensation Board began a concerted effort to improve and evaluate its existing compensation programs. A new program policy manual was developed along with operational procedures to support the manual. Ongoing training was provided to the staff and education programs were delivered to service providers, workers and employers. A performance review of the WCB service providers was completed, as was an evaluation of the WCB's early intervention program. A client satisfaction survey was distributed to hundreds of employers and claimants.

Mr. Speaker, while balancing its role as educator, regulator and compensator, the NWT Workers' Compensation Board, like other organizations, must prepare for division. Options are being researched for the delivery of compensation following division. A legislative review of the board's four acts was also undertaken to identify amendments that may be required as a result of division. I plan to introduce these amendments early next year. Mr. Speaker, the 1996 annual report of the Workers' Compensation Board contains a financial, statistical and philosophical overview of the work performed by the WCB last year. It confirms the WCB's accountability to me, as the Minister responsible to this Assembly, and it reaffirms its commitment to the workers and employers of the Northwest Territories. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I am very pleased to report to the House today on a positive approach we are taking to improve the flexibility and the economy of fuel resupply in the Keewatin region. I say we because this improvement is a direct result of the partnership between MLAs and Ministers working together on Keewatin resupply.

The infrastructure in several Keewatin communities was designed only for barge deliveries of the annual fuel resupply. This restricted our ability to look for the most cost-effective fuel and delivery. I am announcing today that Public Works and Services will be issuing a request for proposals in November for the private sector to construct fuel delivery pipelines in Chesterfield Inlet, Coral Harbour, Arviat and Rankin Inlet. Consultation with the affected communities is still under way, so that we can decide on the right locations for the pipelines.

When the construction is completed, the government will lease back the pipelines for a five-year period, at which point they will be owned outright by the Nunavut government.

Mr. Speaker, there are great savings to be made from direct fuel tanker delivery rather than barges. We project savings of $65 million to $100 million over the 20-year useful life of the pipelines. These savings are more than enough to fund the lease costs of the new pipelines.

Following the issuing of the proposal call for fuel pipeline, Public Works and Services will be issuing another proposal call for petroleum products resupply for the entire eastern Arctic to replace the current contracts with NTCL, which expires at the end of the 1998 resupply season. As part of that request for proposals, companies will be asked to bid on the supply of dry cargo for the Keewatin region. By assuring this coordinated proposal call, Mr. Speaker, for both petroleum products and dry cargo, we will continue the current linkages between the two types of cargo to make resupply economical for all.

The residents of the Keewatin can look forward to some savings during the period when the new pipelines are being paid for. However, they will see a significant reduction in fuel prices after the five-year buy back period, and this should have a major impact on the Keewatin standard of living.

I think that all Members of the Assembly can be very proud of this achievement of the Keewatin Resupply Committee. It shows what we can do when we work together.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

--Applause

Thank you, Mr. Arlooktoo. Ministers' statements. Ms. Thompson.

Mr. Speaker, today I would like to say a few words about a long term northerner, a former senior manager with the GNWT and a community leader upon his retirement from public life. Mr. Speaker, I am speaking about Mayor Max Melnyk of the town of Norman Wells. Mr. Melnyk, born in Saskatchewan, joined the Navy and came to the north in the early 1960s. In 1962 he married Agnes Mercredi in Inuvik and started a family. I congratulate Max and Agnes for their many years of marriage.

Mr. Melnyk's position in the military took him to postings in the north and in the south. After leaving the Armed Forces, Mr. Melnyk returned to the north, where he has been an active community member both in Inuvik and Norman Wells. In recognition of his dedication to community service, in 1994, Mr. Melnyk was the recipient of the Northwest Territories Outstanding Volunteer Service Award. This is the highest honour the Department of the Municipal and Community Affairs can bestow on an individual.

Mr. Melnyk has been an active member of the Royal Canadian Legion and one of the founding members of the Inuvik branch. As a public servant, Mr. Melnyk held the senior GNWT position in Norman Wells as the area director for the Sahtu. As the mayor of Norman Wells, he has worked hard to improve the quality of life for the residents of his community. Over the years, Mayor Melnyk has worked closely with the Department of Municipal and Community Affairs on all the changes that have taken place within the GNWT and our relationship with community councils. Mr. Speaker, please join me in wishing Mayor Melnyk and wife Agnes all the best in their retirement. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Ms. Thompson. Ministers' statements. (Translation) I have in the gallery several elders from Fort Providence who have come to see how their MLA works, where he works, and what he does. I have always felt that it is important to maintain contact between these wise people and myself. The elders have always told me and made sure I never forget, that to be a successful leader, you have to be a leader with the people, not a leader of the people. I have always tried to follow this advice and found it to be true. Now I am proud to introduce these elders and the others in their group. Thank you all for visiting. Thank you.(Translation ends) Item 3, Members' statements. Mrs. Groenewegen.

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

The Member for Mackenzie Delta is seeking unanimous consent to conclude his statement. Do I have any nays? There are no nays. Mr. Krutko, you have unanimous consent.

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

The Member for Thebacha is seeking unanimous consent to conclude his statement. Do we have any nays? There are no nays. Mr. Miltenberger, you have unanimous consent.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, over the past several months I have continued to ask this government about accountability, transparency, responsibility, and I have asked for more openness in the way we do business. The motion of last May asked for the publishing of the contracts issued by this government and to list them as negotiated, sole- source or tender. Mr. Speaker, the government has finally begun to do this. They have also provided the disks so that the information can be downloaded. Mr. Speaker, I would like to congratulate the government for this initiative.

--Applause

--Applause

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I rise today to speak to the relationship between dogs and the humans in the north. In most northern communities, dogs are not allowed to run loose. However, those dogs that are allowed to run free pose no threat to members of the community. There is a very clear relationship between the dogs and the people. If a dog breaks this relationship, this trust and attacks a human, it is destroyed. No questions asked. The circumstances behind the attacks are of no account. The fact that a dog attacks a human means it must be destroyed.

A few years ago, in Arctic Red River a dog team attacked a passerby. Sadly, the whole team was destroyed because of this act. The fact is, Mr. Speaker, this eliminated the chance of this ever happening again. It is sad but, most aboriginal people know that any dog that violates a human is destroyed without question.

Mr. Speaker, that leads me to a recent case of four-year old Jordan Drybone, who was mauled by a dog this September. To-date, nothing has been done about this dog, despite calls from Jordan's mother, that the dog should be destroyed. Mr. Speaker, by-law advisory constable, Larry Weber, says nothing is being done about the dog. I find it very disturbing that Mr. Weber feels that it is the fault of the boy, that the mauling was brought on because the dog was provoked or teased. I am very concerned about the situation, Mr. Speaker. The dog is shut up behind a fence and tied up. It has very little contact with humans other than its owner. By being confined in a fenced in yard, I doubt the dog would have reacted any other way to strangers.

Mr. Speaker, if anything, the dog is provoked by being confined to a small area. It is unacceptable that nothing has been done because of this matter. It is clear the relationship between humans and a dog has been broken. It hurts me deeply that this boy will have to suffer humiliation and scars of this attack the rest of his life, perhaps never to marry, being reluctant to mingle, be discriminated against. Our policy in this House is zero tolerance towards violence. Why is it, Mr. Speaker, that this animal's welfare is being put above the human being? If any human had been acted in this manner even if provoked, this person would pay a price. Would it be different just because a tyke provoked a dog? The public and our children's safety depends on our acting to protect them and correct the situation. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

--Applause

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I rise today to talk about an aboriginal joint venture. Mr. Speaker, in the last couple of weeks I have heard lots about diamonds and I have listened with interest. You will recall that last year, I asked several questions about a diamond sorting and valuation facility and made statements that sorting and valuation should be done in Yellowknife. I am glad to see that all the Members agree that it is a worthwhile cause. Since last year, I have taken upon myself to learn more about diamond sorting and valuation. I have talked to people, I read up on it, and recently, I took a trip to Antwerp from London with other MLAs. I saw first hand that you do not need a degree or even a high school diploma to work in a diamond industry. On the contrary, it seemed as though most sorters, polishers, cutters that we saw had poor education. Mr. Speaker, we have artists of all sorts in the North. They sew with beads, silk, and moosehair. We have carvers. We have international acclaimed painters. It is easy to see that people up in the north could do sorting, policing or even cutting with enough training. Since coming back from Antwerp, I have participated in putting together a joint venture, an aboriginal joint venture between the aboriginal birthright groups in the diamond area. I say the birthright groups because they are the people of aboriginal title and other rights in the diamond area, and that is why the federal government insisted that BHP negotiate impact benefit agreements with them.

The joint venture consists of the Dogrib Nation, the Yellowknives Dene First Nation and the Kitikmeot Inuit. The aboriginal joint venture recently sent a letter to the DIAND Minister and the Government of the Northwest Territories, Minister of Resources, Wildlife and Economic Development. The joint venture has offered to provide a Yellowknife-based facility and services for diamond sorting and valuation to the governments and industry. They indicated this is to maximize economic opportunities for their shareholders and other residents of the Northwest Territories that diamond mining regulations should require the sorting and valuation of Northwest Territories' diamonds at a Northwest Territories community site. They have offered to construct a facility or facilities in Yellowknife that meets both government and industry layout and operational requirements. They would bring in additional expertise that would enable it to supply a range of quality technical services to governments and industry.

Mr. Speaker, the aboriginal joint venture's goal is to create infrastructure so the Northwest Territories diamonds can be processed in the Northwest Territories with a maximum of benefits for shareholders and other residents. Mr. Speaker, I seek unanimous consent to conclude my statement.

The Member for Yellowknife North is seeking unanimous consent to conclude his statement. Do I have any nays? There are no nays. Mr. Erasmus, you have unanimous consent.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The reason I helped put this aboriginal joint venture together is because I felt it could be a strong argument for the federal government to ensure the sorting and valuation is done in a Northwest Territories' community. The venture has the support of the city of Yellowknife and several prominent Yellowknife business people. I am happy to report, that today, they have put in an application for land at the Yellowknife airport for a sorting facility. Why the Yellowknife airport? Because it has less security risks, as the diamonds will not even have to leave the airport to be sorted and valuated. Mr. Speaker, I am sure all

Members here join me, in wishing the aboriginal joint venture every success. Thank you.

--Applause

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

Today I would like to talk about a matter of grave concern and safety to the residents of my home community, Clyde River. As the Members are no doubt aware, Clyde River relies solely on air transportation as its link to the outside world. The government has money budgeted in the near future to build a taxiway and apron in front of the new terminal building they also plan to build.

Mr. Speaker, this new construction certainly solves the community's previous problem of having to cross the runway to get to the terminal building, an important safety issue in itself. However, Mr. Speaker, it does not address the real problem at the airport in Clyde River, which is the prevailing winds in the area always resulting in the pilots having to land on a cross wind. You can ask any pilot and find out that this is not a good situation. It makes it hard for pilots to land the plane safely.

I am worried, Mr. Speaker, that it would take an accident to have this problems correctly. I strongly urge the Minister of Transportation to look into this important safety issue for my constituents and plan a course of action to address the problem. Thank you.

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

Thank you, Mr. Ootes. Members' statements. Item 4, returns to oral questions. Mr. Antoine.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

On Monday, October 14, 1997, the Member for Baffin Central asked me what the Department of Transportation was doing to help families buy healthy foods.

As the Member mentioned, transportation to the remote, off-highway communities is limited to the air and marine modes. The operation of safe and reliable community airports makes it possible for air carriers to bring scheduled air services to these remote communities. Although the department cannot influence retail prices directly, today's scheduled air services deliver a wider variety and more regular supply of perishable, fresh foods than was possible even a few years ago.

At the beginning of this session, in a statement to the Assembly, I reported that, with the northern air carriers, the Department of Transportation is doing everything in its power to protect northern communities from the effects of NAV Canada's proposed new fees for air navigation services. An increase in transportation costs makes everything a small community needs just that much more expensive.

The Department of Transportation has a strong and productive working relationship with the Canadian Coast Guard. The department acts as the Coast Guard's delivery arm in the Northwest Territories for the maintenance and improvement of shore facilities improve the efficiency of cargo handling and help to keep down the cost of resupply.

In 1993 the Department of Transportation helped the Department of Public Works and Services restructure the fuel resupply contracts for the Keewatin region and eastern Arctic communities in 1993. The reorganization resulted in an eight percent annual saving in the cost of delivered fuel. In 1995, the department persuaded the Canadian Coast Guard to award three-year contracts for the eastern Arctic sealift. The longer term contracts resulted in savings of between two and 17 percent in dry cargo freight rates.

Whether through better physical infrastructure or the rationalization of more cost effective transportation services, the Department of Transportation is looking for new ways to bring down the cost of northern transportation. Lower transportation costs are essential to bringing a higher standard of living for the families in remote communities.

Thank you, Mr. Antoine. Returns to oral questions. Item 5, recognition of visitors in the gallery. Ms. Thompson.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Today I would like to recognize my old teacher, Mr. Carnia, who is sitting in the gallery. He was our Grade 5 and Grade 6 teacher in Coral Harbour. We appreciate his commitment to his students during the time he was teaching in Coral Harbour and the people in Coral Harbour will always remember his smile and brown curly hair which is gone.

--Applause

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

Welcome to the Assembly. Recognition of visitors in the gallery. Item 6, oral questions. Mr. Enuaraq.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My question will be directed to the Minister of Municipal and Community Affairs, Honourable Manitok Thompson. My question is, since the community empowerment started some months ago, how many people have lost their jobs because of this community empowerment? Thank you.

The Minister responsible for Municipal and Community Affairs, Ms. Thompson.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I am sure the Members of this House would be yelling and screaming at me if there were any layoffs in their communities. Up until now, we have not had complaints from the communities who are receiving transfers. One of the main objectives of community empowerment is to increase local employment by transferring functions and programs to the community level. Through community empowerment, local people have more opportunities for employment. Being transferred from one department to another department is just a different boss. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I will give an example first, before I ask another question. For example, GLO positions were full-time about two years ago, and they were transferred to hamlet councils and municipalities. If that was part of community empowerment, then why are they in half-time positions? Thank you.

Ms. Thompson

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As I recall the GLO's were already downsized in their previous positions and responsibilities where they were just delivering mail from one office to another office. When the hamlets took over the GLO position, it was through an agreement with the territorial government and the municipalities. We would not have transferred the GLO's to the hamlets if the hamlets opposed it, but instead hamlets were agreeing to this proposal and the transfers. We have given them different responsibilities which might be different from their previous jobs. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you. Oral questions. Mr. Picco.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, as I said in my Member's statement, the RFP system as practised by the Government of the Northwest Territories seems to be fundamentally anti-market and non-competitive. My question is for the Premier, why would the government use an RFP as opposed to publicly tendering? Thank you.

Mr. Premier.

Request for proposal is a public tender process. It is just another process that we use to request proposals of interested parties interested in certain works done by this government. Thank you.

Oral questions. Supplementary, Mr. Picco.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the RFP is publicly tendered in that you advertise in the paper, but it is not publicly tendered in the fact that we use the public tender guidelines. My question for the Premier is, are the rules for an RFP estimate more fluid than a publicly tendered contract? Thank you.

Mr. Morin.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. We have strict guidelines for requests for proposals and it is implemented by the department that is doing it. It is a public tender as we know what we want built or we know what we want and we request a public tender for prices on it. A request for proposal is when we are not exactly sure how the public will respond. They will not only tell us what they will do, but they will tell us how they will do it and they will tell us the price. Then we calculate all of those things and award. Thank you.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, let us get this right now. The Premier is telling me that we do an RFP, we request a proposal. Then in the paper we advertise it as such. So x-number of firms send in a contract bid on what was requested. Some group decides which is the proposal they want and that is the one that the government accepts. On a publicly tendered contract, Mr. Speaker, the person sends in the bid. At the end of the day, it is published, and tells how many people have bid on it, then who won the contract and what the amount of the contract was. The RFP does not do that. So, my question then is to the Premier, if he can explain the process, what rules and regulations? We already know that in some cases regulations and policies of this government are being circumvented. I wonder what types of rules and regulations are in place to guide the RFP. Thank you.

Mr. Morin.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I could probably try to explain it over and over to this Member, but I do not know if he would fully understand it at this time. So what I will do is make a full briefing available, especially for him. All he has to do is have the date arranged and I will make arrangements with my competent Minister of Department of Public Works to have that briefing for the Member. Thank you.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, in these dark days and these dark rooms and these little briefings that we get, that is great and fine, but I am not the only person asking this question. How about the other 10,000 contractors in the Northwest Territories who put in requests on these RFPs and do not have an opportunity to know what is happening. So, my question again is to the Minister, although I have a problem understanding some of this stuff like negotiated contracts and the sole-sourced which he agreed and now they are publishing, my question on the RFP, maybe he can explain the regulations. Are there regulations and what regulations?

Two questions. Mr. Morin.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. One thing I learnt very early when I was a Minister in charge of the contracting for this government was if 20 people bid or 20 people took out a request for proposal, I was guaranteed that I was going to make 19 of those people mad. That is just a part of the job, but public tender, once again I will say, is we know what we want. We go to public tender. People bid. We accept their bids and the lowest of those bids gets that. The request for proposal is when we want a function performed on behalf of this government and we request for proposal, not only do they tell us what they are going to bid, they tell us what they are going to do and how they are going to do it. Then we have a committee in the department that evaluates that and it is very strict and straightforward. Then, they award accordingly.

Oral questions. Mr. Krutko.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. This government does not make donations. We make capital contributions for equipment depending on what the boards request on a priority basis. We have to weigh the needs between the different boards and weigh which boards may have deficiencies in trying to catch up with other standards in the other boards. It is part of the whole capital equipment program, Mr. Speaker, that is reviewed on a yearly basis depending on priorities and requests that are submitted, Mr. Speaker. Thank you.

Oral questions. Supplementary, Mr. Krutko.

Mr. Ng.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, this government has actively pursued the development and completion of guidelines for breast cancer screening programs that have been submitted to the regional boards as I have said in the past. It is anticipated that the regional boards will establish working groups to identify what their issues and specific requirements are and the actions necessary to allow all woman access to quality breast cancer screening services, Mr. Speaker. Thank you.

Oral questions. Supplementary, Mr. Krutko.

Mr. Ng.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, having an mammography machine is certainly an important aspect of breast cancer screening. It is not the only aspect though, annual clinic examinations and self-examinations are an important part of early detection as well. I do not disagree with the Member if he feels that it is a high priority to put some of our scarce financial dollars and resources into a mammography machine, then we will consider it, but I would like some suggestions of what programs he would like us to take it from, Mr. Speaker. Thank you.

Oral questions. Final supplementary, Mr. Krutko.

Thank you. There was no question there. Oral question. Mr. Ootes.

The Minister responsible for Public Works and Services, Mr. Arlooktoo.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I believe the reason for why we are going to be putting out a request for proposal is because there are a number of issues that have to be dealt with in the contract that include where the pipelines will be located, the environmental aspect of pipelines, the size of ships that would be able to go in because there are hydrographic issues to be dealt with. Those are the kinds of things that the government does not have answers to right now. So what we are going to be doing is asking companies to submit to us proposals on how they would deal with those problems and at what cost. That is the reason why we were going on the RFP route rather than the public tender route.

Oral questions. Supplementary, Mr. Ootes.

Mr. Arlooktoo.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. That is something that I would have to check into. I do not know.

Oral questions. Supplementary, Mr. Ootes.

Mr. Arlooktoo.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Normally we do not publish who replied to RFPs. We do, however, publish the winner and the cost of the contract. There have been cases, though in the past requests of companies that at the request of MLAs where we will make certain information available as to how and why a certain company won a contract or on the flip side why a certain company lost an RFP.

Oral questions. Final supplementary, Mr. Ootes.

Mr. Arlooktoo.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would say the varies from contract to contract, but the evaluation process of RFPs are very technical in nature. We have experts and technical staff from different departments that evaluate these proposals and assign percentage points depending on how well their proposal goes towards the completion of a certain project that we have.

Thank you. Oral questions. Mr. Henry.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My question is to Mr. Kakfwi, Minister responsible for Wildlife and Economic Development. The Minister released today Wildlife Business Regulations and the package that will change those regulations. As the Minister is aware, I have brought several concerns on the Wildlife Act to his attention in the past. My question to the Minister is, could he advise me what, if any of these changes, affect the current hunting regulations for individuals?

The Minister responsible for Resources, Wildlife and Economic Development, Mr. Kakfwi.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Maybe the Minister did not understand my question. What I wanted to know was the current Wildlife Business Regulations that he has signed off on, are there any changes in those regulations that effect individual hunters?

Mr. Kakfwi.

Oral questions. Supplementary, Mr. Henry.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to know what consultation took place and what parties were consulted on the changes he is introducing today? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Kakfwi.