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

Mr. Speaker, I wish to advise Members that the Honourable Kelvin Ng will be absent from the House today and tomorrow to attend the Ministers' Council on Social Policy Renewal Conference as well as the Federal/Provincial/Territorial Ministers of Social Services Conference in St. John's, Newfoundland. Mr. Ng will be back in the House by mid-afternoon on Wednesday.

As well, Mr. Speaker, I will be leaving the House shortly to represent Cabinet at the funeral of Effie Krutko this afternoon. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you. Ministers' statements. Mr. Morin. Minister's Statement 106-13(4): National Unity

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to announce that later today I will be tabling the agreement reached in Calgary on September 14, 1997 by Canada's Premiers and the Yukon Territorial Leader, except Premier Bouchard of Quebec. This proposal provides a framework and guidelines to consult Canadians on national unity. It is also intended to get the views of Canadians on how to make Canada stronger. The framework for consultation, is, in itself, an example of how the provinces and territories can work together on matters of importance to Canadians and the future of Canada.

A key priority of this government's Agenda for Change is our intention to be heard at the national level. We know that national financial and political development can and will have a real impact on the interests of the Northwest Territories. We know that decisions made in Ottawa and by the provincial Premiers on social policy, education and health issues have a direct impact on the programs and services enjoyed by northern residents. We have taken a more coordinated and focused approach in our relationships with Canada and the provinces to build partnerships and ensure that the views of the Northwest Territories are taken into consideration. With this in mind, I participated in the Calgary meeting with three key priorities.

Mr. Speaker, our first priority was to ensure the continued inclusion and full participation of the Government of the Northwest Territories in an ongoing national unity process. Secondly, we wanted to secure a meaningful role for aboriginal leaders in an ongoing national unity process and thirdly, we wanted to ensure that any themes or principles developed in Calgary or any subsequent national unity process reflected the concepts of democracy, people, children and building for the future.

I am happy to say, Mr. Speaker, that we were successful in reflecting these priorities in the framework for consultation. The framework, Mr. Speaker, proposes that each province and territory will conduct open, grassroots public consultations on how to strengthen the Canadian federation, The framework for discussion on Canadian unity and the guidelines for the process of public consultation which make up this framework were agreed to by all Premiers and the Yukon Territorial Leader to provide a common element to seek the views of Canadians. All provincial and territorial leaders agreed to initiate consultations this fall and report their progress prior to the January, 1998, Team Canada trade mission with the Prime Minister. Each jurisdiction will determine the scope of its own consultations and the most appropriate mechanisms.

Mr. Speaker, over the next couple of months, Northwest Territories' Ministers and MLAs will be consulting with their constituents about concerns and aspirations of northern Canadians on how to make Canada stronger. In addition to constituency meetings and questionnaires, we have the benefit of modern technology with toll free number, electronic mail or web site communication to reach even the most remote areas of this vast territory. On behalf of Cabinet, the Honourable Stephen Kakfwi, Minister of National Constitutional Affairs and the Honourable Jim Antoine, Minister of Aboriginal Affairs will take the lead with me in guiding this public consultation process. This process must involve partnership with the Members of this Assembly and all Northwest Territories' residents. I will be proposing a mechanism today, Mr. Speaker, for the consideration of Members as a vehicle for this partnership.

Mr. Speaker, in addition to public consultations, the Prime Minister committed to host a First Ministers' Meeting to discuss social policy renewal, health care and youth unemployment. The issues that are at the centre of "people" concerns. This meeting is scheduled for early December. I intend to participate with my federal, provincial and territorial colleagues at the meeting to bring forward the views of northerners on these and other national/territorial issues raised during the Northwest Territories' public consultation process.

Also, as part of the framework for discussion on Canadian Unity, all Premiers agreed to meet with aboriginal leaders in Winnipeg on November 18, 1997 to hear their views on strengthening Canada and the role of aboriginal peoples within Canada. In addition to actively participating in the Winnipeg meeting, I fully intend to provide Northwest Territories' aboriginal residents with the opportunity to express their views on the future of Canada and their place in Confederation during the Northwest Territories' public consultation process. I have asked the Honourable Jim Antoine, to take the lead in ensuring the views of aboriginal residents are heard.

Finally, Mr. Speaker, it is essential that we provide a mechanism, a partnership, to ensure that activities of the government and Legislative Assembly in relation to the public consultations and future national unity activities are coordinated and transparent information and updates on activities need to be provided to Cabinet, Members of the Legislative Assembly and Northwest Territories' residents. I propose that a special committee be established to provide that partnership role in coordinating this important activity. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

--Applause

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

Thank you, Mr. Kakfwi. Ministers' statements. Mr. Henry.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I seek unanimous consent to waive the rules to adjourn the House until 3:15 p.m. to enable Members to attend the funeral of the late Mrs. Effie Krutko, mother of the Member for Mackenzie Delta. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you. The Member for Yellowknife South is seeking unanimous consent to waive the rules to adjourn the House until 3:15 p.m. Do we have any nays? There are no nays. Mr. Henry, you have unanimous consent. We will adjourn until 3:15 p.m.

--Adjourn

I call the House back to order. Item 3, Members' statements. Mr. Enuaraq.

Mr. Speaker, the community of Broughton Island needs housing for their elders. The Hamlet Council in Broughton Island has asked me to bring this to the attention of this Assembly. The community feels that this is a serious need. It is also felt that the need for seniors' housing in Broughton Island has not been addressed by our government. The community would like to know how and when this issue

can be dealt with. I will follow this on their behalf during oral question period. Thank you.

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

Thank you, Mr. Miltenberger. Members' statements. Ms. Thompson.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, today I rise to take a minute to speak about the need for medical solutions to the disease of cancer not only in the north but across Canada. We have all been impacted by cancer either by a loss of a mother, father, family member, colleague or close friend. Unfortunately, this summer I also felt the results of this disease. As Members know I lost my mother-in-law to cancer. It is time we do more to solve cancer. Mr. Speaker, as Canadians we probably know of the efforts of all people across Canada in raising money for cancer research. Together the citizens of my three communities went out during the Terry Fox Run and raised a substantial amount of money to support cancer research. My communities are asking what the Cancer Society is doing with their money to cure cancer? I would like to say how proud I am of the efforts Coral Harbour, Chesterfield Inlet and Repulse Bay, just as I am sure that Members of this House are proud of their communities and the efforts they have made to support cancer research.

(Translation) Mr. Speaker, this has been an ongoing concern to the communities. I would like to congratulate some of the communities that I represent because they have done some fund raising with regards to cancer research. Their proceeds will go to cancer research. Some of my communities have been involved in the Terry Fox Run to raise some funds. Some of the communities are asking to find out what is happening with the cancer research. (Translation ends).

Communities across the Northwest Territories are asking where is the cure for cancer? It is about time the Cancer Society found a cure. Too many people are dying of cancer in the northern communities and across Canada. Mr. Speaker, I would like to continue with my statement if the Members allow me to do so. Thank you.

The Member for Aivilik is seeking unanimous consent to conclude her statement. Do we have any nays? There are no nays. Ms. Thompson, you have unanimous consent.

I also noted in the throne speech to open the First Session of the 36th Parliament of Canada that there is reference to the need to provide all our citizens with access to the highest possible quality of health care. The throne speech recognizes the importance of our health system to the Canadian fabric. I would also like to encourage territorial leaders at all levels to continue to push the federal government, the medical profession and institutions to find a cure for cancer. It is about time, Mr. Speaker.

--Applause

Thank you, Ms. Thompson. Members' statements. Mr. Rabesca.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Today again I would like to talk about our dangerous Highway No. 3. I know that the Department of Transportation is trying to do the best they can to ensure the public safety. However, over the course of this past weekend one of the most dangerous portions on the highway collapsed which caused an area of the road to drop approximately two feet. It was about 15 feet long. When this section dropped, it basically left only one lane of traffic at this spot which could have quite easily caused serious damage to any unfortunate or unsuspecting driver and his vehicle. As this happened this weekend, no one from the department had put warning markers in place to inform drivers which could again have caused an accident. To elaborate on the road in this area, when coming to Yellowknife, you can come around a fairly sharp left hand curve that has a small lake on either side of the road and a very steep embankment, also from either side.

Under normal driving conditions a vehicle if it went off the road could easily roll into one of the lakes. Luckily there was no accident or mishap on this section. This morning when I came into Yellowknife I noticed the Department of Transportation crews were investigating this section and hopefully by tonight it will be repaired. As I have stressed over and over in this House we need the highway from Rae to Yellowknife upgraded before we have a serious accident. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

--Applause

Thank you. Members' statements. Mr. Arlooktoo.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As Members of this Assembly know, soap stone carvings are a major source of income for the communities of Kimmirut and Cape Dorset. These two communities, which I also represent, are world renowned for producing some of the very best Inuit carvings to come out of the north. To give some idea of the importance of this economy, Kimmirut, with a population of 450 produces more than a half a million dollars worth of art each year. Cape Dorset, with a population of around 1,300 produces more than $2.2 million worth of art annually. Mr. Speaker, this is a significant amount of revenue which touches almost every member of these two communities, especially given the high cost of living and unemployment rates in these communities.

This summer, the Department of Resources, Wildlife and Economic Development in partnership with Qikiqtani inuit Association and its and its business arm Qikiqtaaluk Corporation undertook a clean up of two major quarry sites close to Cape Dorset and Kimmirut. For those that are not familiar with quarry sites, these are basically free for all mining operations that are operated by hand by picks, axe, shovels and crowbars. Not only did the project provide a long overdue clean up of these sites, more than 15 local people were hired to work on the projects. Also, due to the quarry clean up, Mr. Speaker, a half million dollars of high quality carving stone was accessed that otherwise would not have been available. This is a major return on the $100,000 investment to clean up the site. Mr. Speaker, I believe that these sites should be maintained through a smaller scale clean up on an ongoing, annual basis. This will achieve several things. One, it will provide some more local employment. It will require a smaller investment in one large scale cleaning operation every few years and, most importantly, it will improve the safety of these sites. I would like to thank Minister Kakfwi and his departmental staff for their support and I look forward to working with them again to ensure that this important project continues to be an ongoing project. Thank you very much.

Members' statements. Mr. Ootes.