Thank you, Mr. Antoine. Orders of the day. Item 2, Ministers' statement. Mr. Dent.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, it gives me great pleasure today to inform the House that Ms. Joanne Deneron of Fort Liard has been appointed as Chairperson of the Workers' Compensation Board, effective January 1, 1998.

--Applause

In the past, Ms. Deneron served as a Band Councillor and Chair of Arctic College. Ms. Deneron now serves as a school librarian and as president of the NWT Literacy Council in a volunteer capacity. Ms. Deneron is also the vice-chair of Aurora College, the vice-chair of the Canadian Polar Commission and the Deputy Mayor of Fort Liard. As well, Ms. Deneron is an entrepreneur with business interests in Fort Liard. Understandably, this busy lady will require some time to fulfil current commitments. Therefore, as an interim measure, Ms. Deneron will serve as a Member of the Workers' Compensation Board until she assumes the Chair on January 1, 1998. In the meantime, the duties of the Chairperson will continue to be performed by the vice-chair in an acting capacity. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

--Applause

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

(Translation) Mr. Speaker, I would like to take this opportunity to express my thanks to the Members of this Assembly who supported the motion I put forward on Thursday regarding the electoral boundary for Sanikiluaq proposed in the Report of the Nunavut Electoral Boundaries Commission. With all things considered, including my discussions with the Mayors of Whale Cover, Arviat, and Sanikiluaq, I believe that this support was based on a recognition of the unique circumstances of Sanikiluaq, a desire by Whale Cove to remain within the Keewatin, and is an acknowledgement of the close ties between Whale Cove and Arviat. Once again, thank you for your support. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. (Translation ends).

--Applause

Members' statements, Mr. Miltenberger.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, today I would like to speak about a clean up about an abandoned American naval base at Padloping Island. The site was used as a weather station from 1943 until 1956. When the United States government abandoned the site they left behind everything. Today there are no buildings or equipment at the site except for remanding foundation and debris. Mr. Speaker, my constituents are awful concerned about chemical contamination at the site. An environmental assessment was done last year by the Royal Roads Military College environmental science group. It was recommended in this assessment that clean up will restore at the abandoned site to environmental safe conditions. The Department of Indian and Northern Affairs started the clean up on this site but never finished. It is critical that this site be cleaned up in order to restore the environment and protect health and welfare of people close to the site. Mr. Speaker, here in question period, I will be asking the Minister responsible for environment, with regards to the clean up and Padloping Island. Thank you.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I am concerned that we will lose control of opportunities from the diamond development like we did with the fur industry. All residents of Canada and particularly the Northwest Territories should be concerned. I am concerned that again, as with the fur industry, our lives will become dominated by people who live on the other side of the earth from us because it will be in Europe, Mr. Speaker, that NWT diamonds will be sorted for sale unless we can convince Minister Stewart for the north's need to have those processes performed in the Northwest Territories. There is a worry that the federal government will make decisions on behalf of the people of the north without our full input and concurrence. My concern grows into fear, Mr. Speaker, that we will lose control and have to watch valuable resources that come from the NWT leave and take with them the hopes and aspirations for a better future for our residents. Over the past years of this government we have expended a great deal of time and effort and dollars to try to resolve the crisis that occurred when the bottom dropped out of the fur market. Extensive lobbying was done in Europe by numerous groups from the north. We had to react to the stress placed upon the livelihoods of many people.

Mr. Speaker, when we review the fur lobby in Europe, we see the cost to the people of the Northwest Territories, the cost of reacting to change introduced by a foreign government. Despite all the NWT and the federal government's efforts we never gained back what we had before the lobby was introduced. When we approach agreements for the development of our diamonds it is the time to be pro-active and not reactive. By being pro-active, the cost to the people and the government will be less. We must have control of our destinies. We must start now to convince Ottawa and industry before it is too late. We have learned from our experience with the ban of furs in Europe, now it is time to gain control for our futures in the diamond industry. Our government should continue doing extensive strategic planning and lobbying to ensure that we have a role in the decision making process in the diamond industry. In negotiations with the federal government we must be an equal partner. Mr. Speaker, the time is now, not later to plan for the future. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, last Thursday you may recall my honourable colleague Jane Groenewegen made an appeal regarding speech languages services. Today I would also like to speak on this very important service. In my region the school staff has requested these services for the past five years, and have been told that the only responsibility the speech language pathologist is to assess the students not to provide treatment plans or therapy in the schools. Which means Rae-Edzo has a visit twice a year, they assess children, write the assessment reports and mail back to the community. In many cases the report states that intensive speech language therapy is required and only if the parents bring their child to Yellowknife if time is available.

This, of course, costs money and time, which the Community Service Board pays. Recently, the Community Service Board requested the job descriptions of these pathologists which indicated that these language pathologists are to provide on-site assessments. Therapeutic or consultative service for pre-school and school-aged children as well as some service to the adults. These service are to be available at clinics in Rae Edzo, Wha Ti and Yellowknife for the residents of Rae Lakes and Snare Lakes. This is not happening in all cases the come for treatment to Yellowknife at considerable expense to the community service board. However, Yellowknife, the schools are privileged to get these services free for every six school days.

In one recent case from Rae Lakes a father brought his child to Yellowknife for a week of therapy. One half-hour session for five days. The cost of this service was approximately $2,000 in time, accommodation, travel, plus stress with the family being away from home. This is only once incident. Now with this in mind the fact of community empowerment, the Dogrib community service board request the immediate transfer of one position or a portion of one speech language pathologist funding. So we can at least provide this valuable service to our people. This position should be transferred no later than January 1, 1998. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Rabesca. Member's statement, Mr. Roland.

Thank you. Member's statements, Mr. Picco.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Over the past few days, I have been asking about the policies of this government. Policies that allow the widest interpretation and policies that can be circumvented it seems without repercussions. Mr. Speaker, as an elected official I have tried to ask questions in this forum to bring out publicly what privately many people in the Northwest Territories are asking. The problem with policy is that it can be followed and interpreted seemingly at the discretion of the user. That is not right. Legislation; however, like the Financial Administration Act has the penalties incorporated within the act.

The ethics policy has table outlines, guidelines and prohibiting work after a senior employee leaves the employ of the government. Mr. Speaker, that sounds good, but under the procedures, #18, states that an employee may apply to the chairman of the FMB to be exempted from any or all provisions of that section of the policy. Yes, Mr. Speaker, exempted. Than the question is, why have a policy if it is not enforceable or can be circumvented by writing the chairman of the FMB. Mr. Speaker, the policy is designed to prohibit, halt, nullify, negate and prevent an employee using information and contacts gathered at and one the job site and profiting from that information. However, the GNWT's policy has no teeth. It has no hammer, basically Mr. Speaker. It is a policy that has never been fully followed and interpreted very freely.

You may ask why this is a concern. Mr. Speaker, by questioning this government, we want to show that the public money spent for the public good, can be accountable. It has to be transparent and if there is a policy and it has been circumvented or very liberally interpreted than there should be a penalty or mechanism to make offender accountable and disciplined. That includes Ministers of this government and do I dare say, Mr. Speaker, the Premier himself.

Mr. Speaker, some Members seem perturbed by questions of accountability, transparency and responsibility. They would like these questions and the questioner to go away. Mr. Speaker, I am not Harry Houdini. I will continue to raise these public questions, publicly and hopefully, honourably. Thank you , Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Picco. Members' statements. Mr. O'Brien.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker in the reference to the debate that took place yesterday in committee of the whole, and further to Mr. Arlooktoo's comments today. I firmly believe that the critical issue where or point was missed in the debate. The issue I believe was consultation. I stated that yesterday on a number of occasions. The people of Arviat, Whale Cove, simply ask to be consulted that a vote be delayed until they had the opportunity to be openly, honestly, consulted on the issue before the vote on the amendment to electoral boundaries study went forward. Mr. Speaker, this seems to be, there seems to be an ongoing trend here in this Assembly when it comes to consultation. And the trend being lack of.

Mr. Speaker, some evidence to support this was the lack of consultation regarding the Keewatin Tank Farm study and fiscal. The recent frustration, criticism, fear regarding what has happened with the Keewatin Health Board, the Dental Therapy Program, Medical Service being discontinued and replace with other services without the full and proper consultation of the communities involved. Mr. Speaker, it signals that the government is not listening, they are not providing the opportunity for the residents, the people that they were elected to represent. They are not listening and they are not providing proper consultation in time for these people to be heard. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. O'Brien. Member's statements, Mr. Barnabas.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. (Translation) I will be speaking in Inuktitut. I stand up today to speak on two news releases. I know that these two mining companies have a lot of people that are employed in that mine, and they have really helped out the communities that are surrounding this particular mine. However, there has been some concern about this mining and the environment surrounding the mine. I just wanted to indicate that if they are going to be closing down such mines that have created employment within the communities, I am very much in support of creating employment opportunities as a government. I will be asking some questions in regard to this Nanisivik Mines when it comes to oral question period and I will be asking about how we can improve the conditions of mines particularly in Baffin Region. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Barnabas. Member's statement, Mr. Erasmus.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I rise today to speak about the lack of a central switchboard and the confusion that it is has been causing. Mr. Speaker, last year this government discontinued our central switchboard services in Yellowknife to save money. People used to be able to phone one number and get phone numbers of staff, MLAs, or even to be transferred to those numbers if they were in Yellowknife. I recently received complaints from several Yellowknife North constituents. As a result of that I did a survey by phone and there were 78 residents who were consulted and 75 of them said that we do need a switchboard.

When they were informed that they could get the numbers on the Internet, the majority of them said they could not access the Internet and in fact many of them do not even have a computer or know how to use a computer.

I also talked to several of the staff in different departments and a lot of them said they were wasting time phoning around and could not find the right person. They said that this is a waste of time and money and it is very demoralizing to be reminded of how many people are being laid off. It is so hard to find people. As an experiment I tried to use the blue pages in the phone book and just about half of the numbers I called were no longer in service. It was very difficult. I got switched around to here and there and I am sure that most of it was primarily because I was an MLA, people were trying to be courteous, but it did not work. Finally I had to phone the Legislative Assembly for the number that I wanted to find.

Mr. Speaker, our communities are vast distances apart, and long distance is expensive, but phone calls are necessary to do effective business with the government of the Northwest Territories. We should have a central switchboard. It would cut out needless waste of time and long distance cost while trying to find the proper person to do business with. People call from across Canada and indeed from across the world, they should have a central number to call which can direct them to the appropriate person or department they wish. Mr. Speaker, at the appropriate time I will direct some questions to the appropriate Minister. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Erasmus. Member's statement, Mr. Ootes.

Thank you. Members' statements. Item 4, returns to oral questions. Item 5, recognition of visitors in the Gallery. Mr. Antoine.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I would like to recognize Mr. Ernest Cazon who is sub-chief of the Liidli Koe Nation in Fort Simpson.

Welcome to the Assembly. Recognition of visitors in the Gallery. Mr. Arlooktoo.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It gives me pleasure to introduce Mayor Peter Kattuk of Sanikiluaq.

Thank you. Welcome to the Assembly. Recognition of visitors in the Gallery. Mr. Barnabas.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I also would like to recognize Peter Kattuk, my long time colleague from Baffin Regional Board and also mayor of Sanikiluaq. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

--Applause

Recognition of visitors in the Gallery. Item 6, oral questions. Mr. Ootes.

Thank you. Mr. Premier.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Yes.

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

Mr. Morin.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I do not know.

Oral question. Supplementary, Mr. Ootes.

Mr. Morin.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. No, I have not asked each and every individual Member whether or not they are subject to an investigation by the RCMP. The RCMP have not told any of the public or ourselves who is under investigation in this government whether it be a Cabinet Member or an MLA or senior bureaucrat or somebody else, I do not know that. Thank you.

Thank you. Oral question. Final supplementary, Mr. Ootes.

Mr. Morin.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Sure, I will do that.

Oral questions. Mr. Miltenberger.

The Minister responsible for the Financial Management Board, Mr. Todd.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I believe my colleague was asking with respect to the scheduling for the implementation of the digital communication system. I was just answering the Premier's question, when he asked me if I was under investigation for RCMP and I said I did not know. Mr. Speaker, there have been some delays on the implementation. We are hoping. We have to do what they call a test bed, test the system. It would be fair to say that I am a little disappointed in the delays. However, my notes indicate that they hope to have the test bed completed and the service standards established, hopefully, by November 15th. Thank you.

Oral question. Supplementary, Mr. Miltenberger.

Thank you. Two questions. Mr. Todd.

Let me say, Mr. Speaker, when we announced this program, there was a great deal, from all of us, I believe, enthusiasm about its value not just now but in the future. In particular, when we talk about distance education, distance health, et cetera. So conceptually, I think, we are all excited about the idea about distance education, health and the fact that we are going to put the north into the 21st century with the transportation highway or whatever the term is. My understanding that is the first deadline, I think, we have missed. I did say earlier that I am disappointed with it. We have put the company on notice. They better get their act together. They had better meet the standards and meet the deadlines that we have now set. If they do not meet the deadlines by November 28th, which is when the request for the completion of the report is, then I will have to look at the options that are available to me, advise my Cabinet colleagues accordingly, get their support and advise the company as to what steps we are going to take.

In fairness to the Ardicom group, we are confident and optimistic as a northern based joint venture company that it will be able to meet the new deadlines set before it as it enters into this new millennium on the information highway.

Oral questions. Final supplementary, Mr. Miltenberger.

Mr. Todd.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Well, I do not know. I am not a technical expert on communications. I do not know whether the Ardicom group has outdated technology. I certainly hope not. I do not know if compare the technology of the Internet service providers whether theirs is superior to what is being proposed by Ardicom. What I do know is that we want to put the Northwest Territories on the cutting edge of the communications highway. That is what we intended to do. Certainly, it was my intention in the early stages that we would try to find some way to accommodate these Internet service providers as my honourable colleague has said from Yellowknife all the way to Rankin Inlet, Inuvik, Iqaluit and Cambridge Bay. I thought quite frankly that there was to be a meeting held between my department which is

responsible for this communications and the local suppliers in the communities. My notes indicate that has not happened. I apologize to my colleagues for that. I just got word of it right now. I will assure them that when this House is finished today, it will happen as quickly as possible and we will try through whatever efforts we can to protect and integrate the interests of the community-based internet service providers along with the visionary communications highway that we hope will unfold as we move into the 21st century. Thank you.

Thank you. Oral questions. Mr. Roland.

The Minister of Finance, Mr. Todd.

I suspect I know where my honourable colleague is heading with this line of questioning. I believe that in the Department of Resources, Wildlife and Economic Development there are some policies in place with respect to market disruptions as it relates to grants that may be given to companies. I could not tell you categorically today whether, in fact, there is a market disruption policy as it relates to this local internet service providers and the Ardicom contract. I would have to look into that. Thank you.

Oral questions. Supplementary, Mr. Roland.

Mr. Todd.

Well, the short answer is yes, Mr. Speaker, I will look into that issue. I think that I need to elaborate a little bit. I recognize the concerns of Mr. Zubko in Inuvik and others in Cambridge Bay, Rankin Inlet, et cetera. But when we held this program forward, it was never the intention to take away business from these local suppliers. I thought that we would work together to see if there would be some compromise reached where we could integrate what they were doing and what we are doing. I mean this initiative of a digital communications system is territorial wide. It connects into the international digital service, et cetera. It was a proposal put forward, I want to remind everybody, a joint venture owned and operated by a number of Aboriginal and non-aboriginal groups in the territories.

It certainly was not the intention, at least not mine anyway, to take away from those who are delivering at a local level some of the digital communications systems. I understand the frustration of my honourable colleague and his other colleague from Fort Smith. I will undertake to first of all, one, determine if there is in fact a policy in place and, two, perhaps more importantly get the meeting that should have happened weeks ago between ourselves and the local internet service providers to see if there is some arrangement that can be reached and some compromise so we can get on with this very important initiative of providing distance communications to all our communities across the territories before April 1, 1999. Thank you.

Thank you. Oral questions. Mr. Picco.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my questions is for the chairman of the Financial Management Board. The FMBS under the direction of the Financial Management Board have, I understand, completed an inventory of potential sites across the Northwest Territories that may have environmental liability. Could the Minister update this House on that inventory? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The Minister responsible for the Financial Management Board, Mr. Todd.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. That is twice in two days. I will have to take that question as notice because unfortunately I do not have detailed response that I know my honourable colleague for Iqaluit would want me to give a him. It would probably be more appropriate for me to provide him with a full descriptive explanation of where we stand in this issue which I will do later on this week. Thank you.

Oral questions. Mr. Ningark.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My question is directed to the Minister of Transportation. Mr. Speaker, the people of Pelly Bay appreciate that we are able to give yearly supply by the Canadian Coast Guard. Mr. Speaker, there is a significant saving realized by this government in supplying the community with housing materials, bulk fuel, and heating fuel in this case. I believe that the local consumer is losing money.

A mother goes shopping to buy milk for the baby and the elder goes to the Co-op store to buy flour to make bread and the hunter goes to Co-op to buy ammunition, snow machine parts, outboard motor and so on. The local consumer does not realize any saving. In fact, we are losing about $80,000 a year. Mr. Speaker, we were told that it would be cheaper to bring in barge as opposed to air carrier to the community and that there would be savings realized by the local Co-op. There is no saving. We have had a meeting with the Minister. The hamlet council mayor this year has met with the Minister on many occasions on this issue. My question is, will the honourable Minister revisit the community, at the request of the Hamlet of Pelly Bay to look into ways and means to reduce the cost of freight rate to Pelly Bay? Thank you.

The Minister of Transportation, Mr. Antoine.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, yes, I will revisit this request by the Honourable Member. I just wanted to add that a lot of the communities in the north, their only link, in many cases, are through the airlines and in this case, this government had supported the community of Pelly Bay with the yearly re-supply to the Canadian Coast Guard in conjunction with them, we provide re-supply. If that is not adequate, then certainly we should take another look at the situation. Thank you.

Oral questions. Supplementary, Mr. Ningark.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Supplementary to the same honourable Minister. How soon will the Honourable Minister revisit the request? Thank you.

Mr. Antoine.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, whenever we have question periods and different information like this comes forward, the department is listening. I am sure that the work has already begun to see what information is there and what we could do about it. As soon as I have some information, I will let the honourable Member be aware of what we have come up with. Thank you.

Oral question. Supplementary, Mr. Ningark.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Supplementary to the same honourable Minister. Will the honourable Minister direct his officials to communicate with the Hamlet of Pelly Bay on the process?

Mr. Antoine.

Thank you. Yes.

Oral questions. Mr. Henry.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I would like to direct a question to the Minister of Resources, Wildlife and Economic Development. Could the Minister provide details to this House and to the people of the Northwest Territories of what his department is doing to ensure the diamond industry in the north will not suffer the same annihilation as the fur industry did? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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

Oral question. Supplementary. Mr. Henry.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I understand that the federal Minister, Ms. Stewart, is presently working on changes to the current mining regulations. My question to the Minister is, does he have any of his departmental staff assisting the Minister in this process? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Kakfwi.

Thank you. Oral questions. Mr. Miltenberger.

The Minister responsible for the Financial Management Board, Mr. Todd.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I am looking at my notes. It was the intention for the department to meet with the local Internet providers earlier in the year. For one reason or another, it does not appear to have taken place. I will instruct my staff then later on this afternoon to communicate with the appropriate people to get a meeting together so that we can try to seek results and some compromise to this issue so that we can all get on with real positive aspects of trying to put this country and hold this country together through a digital communication system that puts us on the information highway. Thank you.

Oral question. Supplementary. Mr. Miltenberger.

Mr. Speaker, I want to assure my honourable colleague all aspects of this issue will be on the table. I want to apologize again both to him and to his other eloquent ally to his immediate right, Mr. Floyd Roland, who spoke so eloquently about this issue in a number of occasions that we will bring all of the players to the table as quickly as we can. I also apologize to the users out there that we should have had this meeting earlier and I take full responsibility for it not happening. I will also take responsibility for it happening. Thank you.

Oral questions. Mr. Picco.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, each time beer and liquor is purchased in the Northwest Territories, a percent is charged back as a deposit fee. My question is what happens to that deposit fee charged less the refund when the empties are returned. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The Minister responsible for the Liquor Licensing Board, Mr. Todd.

Mr. Speaker, my apologies. I did not catch the question. I wonder if my honourable colleague could repeat it again because I did not have my hearing aid plugged in. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Todd. Mr. Picco, would you repeat your question please.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. If you had to follow the Internet, you would have had heard that. Mr. Speaker, each time beer and liquor is purchased in the Northwest Territories, a percentage is charged back as a deposit fee by the user. The person who buys the beer has to pay a deposit fee. What

happens to the deposit fee that is charged less the money that is returned when the bottles are returned, when they are brought back? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Todd.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I do not really have time to look at the Internet or the time the people were saying about me as Mr. Picco does but I understand anyway. My understanding is that any revenues that are net revenues generated within the liquor component rolls back into the revolving fund. That is my understanding of it. Thank you.

Oral question. Supplementary. Mr. Picco.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, that revolving fund I understand has a considerable sum of money in it that could be used to help facilitate some of the social problems that we have tabled about in this House. Can the Minister tell us what happens to that revolving fund?

Mr. Todd.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It revolves. Thank you.

Oral questions. Supplementary. Mr. Picco.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It sounds like the Minister is in orbit. My question is this, Mr. Speaker, when x number of thousands of beer and liquor is sold in the Northwest Territories this government charges a fee for let us say ten cents a dozen of beer. If those beer bottles are brought back, the person gets refunded so there is a considerable amount of money that is being accumulated in this revolving fund. My question is what we are doing with that money? I know it is being orbited somebody should give Mr. Minister a lesson on the planetary orbiting as we go back to the planet Vega. Thank you.

Mr. Todd.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I know it is a serious question so I will try to answer to my good friend, comrade Uri, but Mr. Speaker, any revenues that are generated from the sale of liquor whether it is in the sale of liquor or it is in the ten percent that we get on the bottle of whatever goes back into the general fund of the government at the end of the day and on the balance sheet in relationship to revenues. I have said many times that I cannot say where we got $30 million with the sales here, we are netting out $10 million or let us assign that $10 million to specific programs. That money goes in the general revenues. Any expenditures not set frequently to the House and the committees that required on the social end of things have to come through the normal business planning exercises, et cetera. and voted on this House. Thank you.