Mr. Antoine.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the honourable Member is correct. Once a highway system like the Jean Marie access road is now a more of a fair weather road than an all-weather road. However, it is a road that will be used all year round. It will be subject to some operations and maintenance budget which we will have to see where we can get it. At the present time we keep it open during the winter months. We just have to find the necessary operations and maintenance to keep it open during the summer months. Thank you.

Oral questions. Mr. Ootes.

The Minister of Transportation, Mr. Antoine.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the section of the highway between Rae and Yellowknife is subject to pretty slippery and rough conditions during rains and especially at this time of the year, fall. It is especially tricky to go through that area. I was not aware that

there was a section that failed during the weekend. This was brought to my attention first thing this morning. Thank you.

Oral questions. Supplementary, Mr. Ootes.

Mr. Antoine.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the section that failed is a very treacherous area. According to our reconstruction plans, the area between Rae and Yellowknife is scheduled to be one of the first to be reconstructed beginning in the next fiscal year. Thank you.

Oral questions. Item 7, written questions. Item 8, returns to written questions. Item 9, replies to opening address. Item 10, petitions. We will take a 10-minute break.

--Break

Recall back to order. We are on petitions.

Item 11, reports of standing and special committees. Mr. Enuaraq.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The four family law bills cross the broad range of family law issues. At some point, most Northerners are affected directly or indirectly by this legislation. My apologies, Mr. Speaker, I thought I was in committee of the whole.

For this reason, the committee felt it was important to allow all Northerners to comment on the bills. Unfortunately, financial realities prevented us from personally reaching all communities. However, we did provide opportunities for people to come to the committee through meetings in every region.

To maximize the use of resources, we split into two subcommittees for the purpose of public hearings. The first group including myself, Mr. Enuaraq, Mr. Ningark and Mr. Barnabas, we travelled to Rankin Inlet, Iqaluit and Cambridge Bay. In addition to the public meetings, Members also took part in local radio shows, with a particularly successful phone-in show in Rankin Inlet. The second group consisted of Mr. Miltenberger, Mr. Erasmus and Mr. Roland, who travelled to Inuvik, Fort Simpson, Hay River and Fort Smith.

The full committee then met in Yellowknife in June for the final public hearings. Written submissions were accepted until late August. In mid-September, the Committee held clause by clause reviews on three bills with the Minister.

The family law bills expand eligibility from married couples to married and common-law couples. However, they stop short of recognizing same sex couples. The definition of spouse is limited to homosexual couples. There were two areas where this area was an issue. The proposed Adoption Act does not allow for both partners in a same sex relationship to adopt a child. Partners in same sex relationships are not given rights to spousal support and division of property under the proposed Family Law Act.

The committee received many presentations relating to the inclusion of same sex couples in these bills. However, presenters were split on whether to amend the bills to include same sex couples. The committee members agreed that a change to include same sex couples would be a substantive change to the legislation. Since there was no clear indication on the preference of the public during our hearings, we have decided to leave this matter to debate in the House.

Any Member of the Assembly will have the opportunity to introduce amendments to one or both of the bills in question during committee of the whole. To assist in the debate, the committee wrote to each MLA in early July. We provided an information sheet on the proposed changes and asked each Member to consult with their constituents on this matter.

The committee asked that the preamble be added to each bill. These preambles will set the philosophical context of the legislation. During the public hearings, people raised concerns about issues such as the importance of family and making sure family law matters are dealt with quickly. We hope that preambles will address these kinds of concerns. The committee wants any legislation to be understood by the people who read it. In our opinion, the proposed legislation is not yet written in plain language. We hope in the future the government will attempt to revise the Acts so they are written for all to read and understand.

The success of these new bills will depend a large part on their implementation. Part of the implementation process will be the drafting of the regulations. We are pleased that the Minister has committed to working with us to ensure that the regulations will be consistent with the public direction. We also are pleased with the government's commitment to ensure adequate training and support for front-line workers as they adjust to the new approach in family law. We look forward to regular updates on this work by the Minister.

The Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Commissioner raised a number of concerns with the bills. The departments have been working with the commissioner indirectly to identify the key issues. Amendments will be introduced in the House to address these concerns.

In the two bills put forward by the Department of Health and Social Services, there is a particularly strong focus on community involvement and community decision making. The committee agrees with the approach. We encourage the government to take this opportunity to expand the role of local justices of the peace. As community residents, they have knowledge of families and individuals which make them uniquely qualified to deal with many family law issues.

The committee would like to thank many territorial residents who made presentations or wrote us with the concerns about the proposed family law bills. We appreciate your comments and have done our best to ensure the issues are addressed by the Minister. We would also like to thank the Minister and his staff for their efforts working with us to produce the best possible legislation.

Finally, we would like to express our appreciation for the members of the original family law review in the early 1990's. While the bills cannot accomplish everything they recommended, we believe they go a long way toward achieving the results the review members envisioned.

Mr. Speaker, that concludes the report of the Standing Committee on Social Programs, and therefore, I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Thebacha, that the Report of the Standing Committee on Social Programs on the Review of the Family Law Bills be received by the Assembly and moved into committee of the whole. Thank you.

Thank you. Your motion is in order. To the motion. Question has been called. All those in favour? All those opposed? Motion is carried. Reports of standing and special committees. Item 12, reports of committees on the review of bills. Item 13, tabling of documents. Mr. Morin

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I wish to table the following document entitled Framework for Discussion on Canadian Unity. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Tabling of documents. Mr. O'Brien.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I have two documents or letters to table, one from the Hamlet of Arviat stating they do not accept the amendment to the Boundaries Commission. The second letter is from the Hamlet of Whale Cove from the Mayor stating they do not wish for the vote to go ahead until they have been properly consulted regarding the amendment to the Boundaries Commission. Thank you.

Tabling of documents. Item 14, notices of motion. Mr. Arlooktoo.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I give notice that on Wednesday, October 8, 1997, I will move the following motion:

Now therefore, I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Thebacha, that this Assembly establish a special committee to be named Special Committee on National Unity and further that, notwithstanding rule 88(2), the Special Committee on National Unity shall consist of six members and, furthermore that the following members be appointed to the Special Committee on National Unity: The Honourable Don Morin, The Honourable Jim Antoine, The Honourable Stephen Kakfwi, Mr. Roy Erasmus, Mrs. Jane Groenewegen and Mr. John Ningark.

Further, that the terms of reference for the Special Committee on National Unity be established as follows:

1. The themes that will serve as the basis for the Special Committee's consultation with the residents of the Northwest Territories a) ensuring that principals and resolutions reflect the concerns of Canadians for their well-being and the future of their children including social policy renewal, health care and youth; b) securing a meaningful role for aboriginal leaders in the national unity process; c) recognition that Canada includes both territories and provinces and that the territories must be included in the national unity and reform within the federation processes.

2. Oversee and monitor a Northwest Territories' consultation process during the fall/early winter of 1997 which will include consultation by members with their constituents through constituency meetings, questionnaires and a toll free, electronic mail or web site communications.

3. Provide strategic advice on the range of consultative mechanisms which Members can use to obtain reaction from their constituents recognizing that the NWT constitution development agenda is already overloaded in terms of creation of two new territories and self-government issues.

4. Ensure that Members and NWT residents are provided with regular updates and analysis and the national consultation process with particular reference to how aboriginal and Northwest Territories issues are being addressed.

5. Prepare a report based on consultations and including written submissions for this Assembly to consider at a special session which may be convened in December, 1997

And furthermore the Special Committee on National Unity shall: a) conduct its business in a manner approved by the Committee and in accordance with the Rules of the Legislative Assembly; b) be provided with the necessary administrative and professional support by the Legislative Assembly and the GNWT: c) be in power to retain the services of such professional staff and advisors as deemed advisable by the Committee; and d) be provided the necessary funds to carry out its responsibilities from the appropriations of the Legislative Assembly.

Mr. Speaker, at the appropriate time I will be seeking unanimous consent to proceed with this motion today.

Thank you. Notices of motion. Item 15, notices of motion for first reading of bills. Item 16, motions. Mr. Arlooktoo.

The Member for Baffin South is seeking unanimous consent to deal with his motion regarding the establishment of Special Committee on National Unity. Do we have any nays? There are no nays. Mr. Arlooktoo, you have unanimous consent.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

WHEREAS Premiers representing all provinces and territories except for Quebec, met in Calgary on September 14, 1997 to consider the implications of another Quebec sovereignty referendum on national unity and how the Canadian federation can be strengthened;

AND WHEREAS Premiers agreed that the provincial and territorial residents must have an opportunity to provide their views on strengthening the Canadian federation and Quebec sovereignty before governments can finalize their plans to deal with the national unity issues;

AND WHEREAS Premiers have agreed on a framework for consultation and discussion on national unity issues, as well as guidelines for approach for public consultation in each province and territory;

AND WHEREAS the framework for the consultation process will provide an opportunity for NWT residents to affirm and recognize aboriginal Canadians as a fundamental characteristic of Canada; to reinforce the status of territories as a legitimate partner in confederation and have to say how the Canadian federation can be strengthened;

AND WHEREAS it is expected that provincial and territorial Premiers and the Prime Minister will be discussing national unity issues when the meet in November with national aboriginal leaders, in December when they meet to discuss social policy reform, and in January before the Team Canada trade mission to South America;

AND WHEREAS each provincial and territorial Legislative Assembly is committed to passing a resolution on national unity and strengthening the Canadian federation on its public consultation process at an appropriate time during the next year;

AND WHEREAS the NWT Government and Legislative Assembly have effectively worked together in the past to advance Northwest Territories' interests in national unity and constitutional reform talks;

NOW THEREFORE, I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Thebacha that this Assembly establish a special committee to be named the Special Committee on National Unity.

And at this point in time, Mr. Speaker, I seek unanimous consent to deem the resolution portion of the motion read and printed.