I would like to call the House back to order. We are still on oral questions. Mr. Miltenberger.

The Minister of Education, Culture and Employment, Mr. Dent.

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

Mr. Dent.

Thank you. Oral questions. Mrs. Groenewegen.

The Minister of Justice. Mr. Ng.

Mr. Speaker, the honourable Member is correct. There has been a meeting between officials. A formal request from Justice went to RWED to request that the rates for firewood to seniors be allowed to revert to $55 and that approval, to my understanding, has now been given to allow for that sale of firewood to seniors at that rate. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you. Oral questions are over. Mr. Miltenberger.

The Member for Thebacha is seeking unanimous consent to return to item 5. Do we have any nays? There are no nays. Mr. Miltenberger.

Welcome to the Assembly. Item 7, written questions. Mr. Erasmus.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I have a written question for the Minister of the Financial Management Board Secretariat concerning grievances. The question is, can the Minister provide the following information for grievances filed in the calendar years, 1995 and 1996? 1) Number of first level grievances; 2) Number of second level grievances; 3) Number of grievances sent to the third level; 4) Number of grievances resolved at the third level; 5) Number sent to arbitration; number of arbitration rulings in favour of the employee; number of arbitration rulings in favour of the employer. Thank you.

Thank you. Written questions. Mr. Erasmus.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I have a written question for the Minister of the Financial Management Board Secretariat concerning staff training participation levels. Can the Minister provide the following information from each government department? The total number of staff as of December 31, 1996, broken down into aboriginal staff and non-aboriginal staff; number of staff who have been involved in at least one training course in 1996; number of aboriginal staff who have participated in at least one training course in 1996; and the numbers to complete the chart below for 1996. The chart is for management - aboriginal staff and management - non-aboriginal staff; aboriginal staff/non-aboriginal staff and, for each one, to indicate how many have taken one training course, how many have taken two training courses, how many have taken three training courses, how many have taken four or more training courses? Thank you.

Thank you. Written questions. Item 8, returns to written questions. Item 9, replies to opening address. Item 10, petitions. Item 11, reports of standing and special committees. Item 12, reports of committees on the review of bills. Item 13, tabling of documents. Mr. Evaloarjuk.

(Translation) Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, on the topic of restructuring NWT libraries, I wish to table a letter I received from Jessie Nutarak, Chairperson of the Pond Inlet Community Education Council, in support of the government's initiative to extend library services to all Northwest Territories' libraries, Tabled Document No. 48-13(4). However, the Pond Inlet Community Education Council strongly objects to reducing funding to the Pond Inlet Public Library as a means to achieve this goal. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. (Translation ends)

Thank you. Tabling of documents. Item 14, notices of motion. Item 15, notices of motion for first reading of bills. Item 16, motions. Motion 11-13(4). Mr. Erasmus.

Mr. Speaker, I make the following motion, seconded by the honourable Member for Natilikmiot. It is on the Seniors' Fuel Subsidy Program.

WHEREAS the seniors and elders across the NWT have made significant contributions to these families and communities;

AND WHEREAS we wish to support and encourage seniors to live independent lives as much as possible;

AND WHEREAS the Seniors' Fuel Subsidy Program provides assistance for seniors in the high cost of heating their homes;

AND WHEREAS the Seniors' Fuel Subsidy Program helps seniors and elders to maintain healthy lifestyles;

AND WHEREAS the majority of seniors and elders live on fixed incomes, support extended families and live in areas where the cost of living is high;

AND WHEREAS the Legislative Assembly had approved a change to this program in 1996/97 to eliminate seniors with high incomes from being eligible for the program;

AND WHEREAS the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment instituted changes to the program beyond the expectations of Members;

AND WHEREAS the majority of Members, along with the Standing Committee on Social Programs, have been encouraging the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment to maintain this program;

AND WHEREAS the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment intends to eliminate the program in the 1997/98 budget;

AND WHEREAS there is a fragmented approach to the delivery of programs and benefits for seniors, including inconsistencies in the criteria and ages for eligibility;

AND WHEREAS the social envelope departments have not completed the comprehensive review of all subsidies to seniors.

Now therefore, I move, seconded by the Member for Natilikmiot, that the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment be urged to continue the Seniors' Fuel Subsidy Program with the following changes:

- increasing the single income threshold to, at least, exceed the Statistics Canada poverty level for a single person, indexed to Yellowknife's cost of living;

- indexing qualifying incomes to the cost of living across the Northwest Territories, using Yellowknife as a base;

- including seniors who rent private housing in the eligibility criteria.

AND FURTHER that the funding necessary for this program should come from instituting a rent policy for seniors living in public housing;

AND FURTHER that the revised Seniors' Fuel Subsidy Program remain in place until the recommendations contained in the report of the comprehensive review of all programs and benefits to seniors and elders is reviewed by the Standing Committee on Social Programs and the Legislative Assembly. Thank you.