Thank you, Mrs. Groenewegen. Good morning. Orders of the day. Item 2,

Ministers' statements. Mr. Todd.

Yes, thank you. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to announce that a negotiated agreement has been reached with the NWT Teachers' Association. The NWTTA will submit the agreement to our teachers with a recommendation for ratification. Ratification results are expected by October 24, 1997.

The agreement covers the period September 1, 1996 to August 31, 1999. It contains all the provisions which were put in place on December 6, 1996. In addition, the agreement updates the northern allowance rates effective September 1, 1997 to reflect current cost-of-living differences especially in smaller and more remote communities. It also provides a onetime $1,500 signing bonus for teachers on strength during the 1996/97 school year.

The agreement contains a memorandum in which the GNWT agrees to strongly recommend to the Interim Commissioner and future government of Nunavut that the terms and conditions embodied in this collective agreement be continued as terms and conditions of employment for those employees located in Nunavut. Mr. Speaker, teachers are our employees and the educators of our children. They like most of our employees, are uncertain about their future as we create two new governments. We need to provide commitments and assurances to employees to make sure that both governments have the trained and skilled employees after division. That, Mr. Speaker, is one of the reasons why I felt strongly about a negotiated collective agreement, one that provides reasonable composition for our employees and labour stability as we work together to shape our future.

--Applause

Thank you. Ministers statements. Mr. Kakfwi.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As a MLA for the Baffin region, Mr. Speaker, I rise today to speak about the recent confusion regarding the financing of a new hospital for the Baffin region. Members of the Legislative Assembly from the Baffin region have been hearing many things, some contradictory regarding this issue and I have been very concerned.

For example, has $47 million been committed or is it $25 million? Why do Baffin residents have to pay for their hospital and other regions do not? What does 85 percent federal contribution mean in real dollars? Is the money for renovations or replacement of the 35 year-old hospital? Why has the board said no to private financing or have they? Mr. Speaker, I believe more than anything else all of the stakeholders were suffering from the lack of information and a clear understanding of the complex issues around the financing of the hospital.

I arranged for a meeting with the Baffin MLAs, the Minister of Health and Social Services and his staff in an effort to remedy this as soon as possible and avoid raising public concern unnecessarily. The Minister and his staff answered the many questions put to them by the Baffin MLAs. I also requested Ann Hanson. chair of the Baffin Regional Health Board to come to Yellowknife and meet with the Baffin MLAs to outline the issues and to clarify her concerns. I appreciate the fact that she responded immediately and came to Yellowknife on very short notice.

The meeting in my opinion was very productive. I believe this cooperative effort gave all of us a better picture of the issue and cleared up the misconceptions. We found common ground. After all, Mr. Speaker, we all share the same goal of getting a new hospital for the people of the Baffin region.

Ann Hanson and the Baffin MLAs will work together to prepare a letter to Minister Ng outlining the issues discussed at the meeting and confirm that the Baffin Regional Health Board remains open to all options for financing the Baffin Hospital. Ms Hansen will be discussing this issue when the foundation board meets on October 9th. In closing, Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank the MLAs, Mr. Picco, Mr. Ningark and Mr. Barnabas for helping on this important issue.

Thank you. Members' statements. Mr. Miltenberger.

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

Thank you. Members' statements. Mr. Enuaraq.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Good morning. Mr. Speaker. Nine kilometres from Broughton Island is the Fox-5 DEW Linesite. Two kilometres from the community is DEW Line cargoing beach that was used by the DEW Line. These sites are of great concern to local people. A 1991 study of the area was done by Roads Rhodes Military College Environmental Science Group. The group found a lot of visible debris at the sites which needs to be cleaned up, debris that includes waste such as oil, scrap metal, storage containers and barrels. In addition, the group found several locations where there were high levels of PCBs and some of the PCBs were moving from the landfill area towards Davis Strait.

Mr. Speaker, this site being so close to the community of Broughton Island and the possible impact on local wildlife, the priority of this site needs to be moved forward. It is because of this concern that I will be bringing this issue forward during the oral question period. Thank you.

Thank you. Members' statements. Mr. Roland.

The Member for Inuvik is seeking unanimous consent to conclude his statement. Do we have any nays? Mr Roland, you have unanimous consent.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, last year I had asked the Minister for Health about breast cancer screening and availability of portable screening equipment.

This weekend there will be a walk here in Yellowknife and other communities to raise the awareness of breast cancer issues. Mr. Speaker, the north is experiencing dramatic increases in the instances of breast cancer. In a recent summary report produced by the NWT Breast Cancer Working Group should be prerequisite reading for all Members of this House. The report was carried out in 1996. Sixteen breast cancer survivors were interviewed. At the time of diagnoses the women were 30 to 64 years of age and the average age was 46. Participants represented the cultural diversity of the Northwest Territories, two Inuit, two Metis, two Denes, eight Euro-Canadians and two new Canadians were included in the group. In Nunavut and the Western Arctic, we have begun to see increased awareness of breast cancer and increased incidence of the disease. Many of the diagnosed breast cancer patients are left in the situation with an uninformed and nonsupportive environment.

Mr. Speaker, there should not be any stigma attached to the disease. If this government would help with information and support breast health awareness programs as asked and recommended by the Northwest Territories Breast Cancer Working Group, then we will have made some progress. In Canada a women dies of breast cancer every 90 minutes. Mr. Speaker, if breast cancer is detected early, the five year survival rate can be more than 90 percent. The problem here, Mr. Speaker, is that since my questions on screening equipment last year in this House, very little has been done. Mr. Speaker, I was not aware of the issues surrounding breast cancer until a constituent came to my office in Iqaluit last year and explained the problems, loneliness and lack of community-based counselling. It was heart wrenching and the ignorance I felt about the disease is too wide spread. It was after that I asked about the screening equipment in this House that could help with early detection.

The report made by the NWT Breast Cancer Working Group has made several recommendations and later today, I will be asking again the Minister for Health for an update as to the progress the department and this government is making on this most important issue. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

--Applause

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I rise today to speak about Student Financial Assistance. Mr. Speaker, recently many college and university students went back to school. I am asking our esteemed colleagues across the hall to ensure that those students can continue going back to those colleges and universities by maintaining the current rates of student financial assistance and, in fact, increasing them in some places.

Mr. Speaker, the current assistance we provide to students is only a portion of the actual cost of attending university or college. Tuition rates, book allowance and travel costs seldom cover the actual amounts students have to spend. I am concerned that the appointment of a task force by the Honourable Charles Dent, the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment, means that this government is looking to cut funding levels. The report has not been tabled yet, but the task force conducted public hearings on potential changes to Student Financial Assistance. Many students do not have other sources of income other than summer jobs to help pay for a year of food and shelter. Older students with families who are trying to better their education are often hardest hit. Students who struggle to pay their way can find themselves with bad credit ratings when they cannot pay all their bills.

I must warn against comparing the Government of the Northwest Territories Student Financial Assistance Program to other jurisdictions. The opportunities for northern students to take courses close to home is quite limited. While the Aurora and Nunavut Arctic Colleges are filling roles, many students still must travel thousands of miles from home to study at university. Not only are their travel costs high, but the cost of trying to stay in touch with family members is also high. The Members of this current Assembly have identified education as the answer to many of the north's social problems and unemployment rates. Providing adequate student financial assistance is an investment in the north's future and as someone much wiser than I once said, if you think education is expensive, think of the cost of not .supporting education. Thank you.

--Applause

Thank you. Members' statements. Mr. Henry.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Last year, Mr. Speaker, I brought forward to this House an information item dealing with pride. The source of my pride was my constituency. To me, Yellowknife South is the best place to live. It really is great. So great, that six of my honourable colleagues choose to reside in my constituency last year. This year, two more of my colleagues, the honourable Member for Hay River and Nunakput have seen the light and decided to join us. Welcome.

Mr. Speaker, why do so many from our Assembly want to live in the riding of Yellowknife South? Is it because of excellent schools, good roads and easy access to retail stores? Is it that they feel well represented in this Legislature Assembly?

--Laughter

We must, because, eight of us live there. Perhaps, my honourable colleagues have just liked each others company. For the Premier and the honourable Members who have not realized that Yellowknife South is the best place to live, we are waiting. What is the matter? If half of the Cabinet and one-third of the honourable Members have chosen Yellowknife South to live in, why have not the rest of you? I wonder, Mr. Speaker, since I represent one-third of the Members in this House, can my title be changed from honourable Member to Yellowknife South party leader?

--Applause

For those honourable Members who have chosen to live in Yellowknife South, I will continue to represent you in the Legislative Assembly to the best of my abilities. For those of you who have yet to make the move, what are you waiting for? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

--Applause

Thank you. Members' statements. Mr. Rabesca.