The Minister of Finance, Mr. Todd.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I believe in the budget address, I tried to outline what the GNWT's position was as it relates to staff in Nunavut that exists there. We believe that these jobs should automatically be transferred to the new Nunavut government effective April 1, 1999. With respect to headquarter jobs that would be reassigned or reallocated to the Nunavut area, our position is subject to article 23 of the affirmative action policy that there should be a hiring priority for people in the headquarters currently in Yellowknife that would move to Nunavut. Thank you.

Thank you. Oral questions. Supplementary, Mr. O'Brien.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, how will this preference or priority affect or coincide with those individuals in Nunavut that are anticipating this potential employment, that are residents presently in Nunavut? Thank you.

Mr. Todd.

Mr. Speaker, I think that there is a desire in everybody, including this House and certainly our partners in the division issue, NTI, that we would like to see more aboriginal content to the civil service, particularly at the senior management level. I think it would be fair to say that we have not been as successful as we should over the years. However, the position that we have taken with respect to headquarters staff is that there is some obligation, never mind the practicalities of having people that know the job, but there is some obligation for us to promote the fact that our staff in Yellowknife who would theoretically move to Nunavut in headquarters positions, should be given the priority in relationship to recruitment. It would have to be done as long as it was done in the context of article 23 of the claim which talks about the affirmative action requirements that the Nunavut government has to have; that is, it is expected that the new

Nunavut government's civil service would reflect the population. demographics, representation. Thank you, my colleague for Thebacha. It would represent the representative components of the populace in Nunavut. Thank you.

Thank you. Oral questions. Supplementary, Mr. O'Brien.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I am not trying to be difficult here, but I am just trying to find out what level of comfort the Inuit or the residents of Nunavut will have. I think that we know that, as it relates to article 23. The other question is what level of comfort can the GNWT employees have as relates to article 23? We say a preference. What actually does that mean? Thank you.

Mr. Todd.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Well, you know this obviously is a sensitive issue and it is a very important one as it relates to people's livelihoods, et cetera. I think that the original requirement for further discussion on this issue, and you are absolutely correct, it is our intention to discuss this further with the parties, NTI and, of course, with the interim commissioner. The interim commissioner will ultimately have the legislative authority to enter into collective bargaining agreements with the interim civil service that will be required. I think that it requires a little more careful consideration by all parties. Now, I am talking specifically about the headquarter's staff. I think that is what my colleague is alluding to. Again, I have to be clear. Our position is clear and I do have heart. Our position is clear when it comes to the current residents or employees in Nunavut. They fundamentally must be transferred to the new Nunavut government. On the headquarter's side, there is a requirement for further discussion by the parties. We need to embrace the interim commissioner whoever he or she may be, and move forward to seeking a satisfactory resolve to this important issue. One, to the staff that are currently there and two, quite frankly, to ensure that the operations and the mechanics of government will be up and running on April 1, 1999 to ensure the financial system that I know is well in place, to ensure that the operations of government run. I am confident that all parties will see the need for a practical approach to this issue. I see that I have everybody's attention.

Could we have some order here, please.

I am sure that we will be able to reach...

I would like to remind the Members that displaying things of any nature in this Chamber is not allowed. I would like ask that the Members have their documents on their table, but not to display anything.

Mr. Todd. Your response.

Maybe, I went on too long. But I will try to keep it short. I have 16 minutes. What I am trying to say, Mr. Speaker, is that we need to continue to discuss how we are going to provide an appropriate approach to the transition for headquarter's staff from Yellowknife to Nunavut, to Iqaluit which has been designated as the capital. That is our intent here. However, we recognize this is important to say publicly, that there is a desire, understandably so, and there is understanding that the new civil service under the new Nunavut government has to be representative of the population that is there. That is what I wanted to say. Thank you.

Thank you. I want to thank the Members for their cooperation. Oral questions. Final supplementary, Mr. O'Brien.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the point of my question is, with the limited time that we have left before division, to make sure that all parties know exactly where they stand and more importantly, I would like to ask the Minister, is this issue going to be discussed at the Cambridge Bay meeting this weekend? Thank you.

Mr. Todd.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Well, staffing for the Nunavut government is an issue and I would assume that it is going to be reviewed by all parties at the table on Sunday and Monday. It will be an issue. We are looking for an appropriate consensus by all parties as to how we move forward in a very practical way. That is my intent as the chair of the division committee, recognizing the obligations not only morally but the legal obligations that we have to meet the requirements of a representative civil service of the people of Nunavut.

Hear! Hear!

Thank you.

Thank you. Oral questions. Mr. Barnabas.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my question is to the Minister of the Housing Corporation. I would like to ask him about the Arctic Bay Housing Association in my constituency which is maintaining staff units in Nanisivik which is 20 miles away from Arctic Bay. I would like to know if the housing association is being budgeted to travel, or the maintainers to travel to Nanisivik, to maintain the units? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The Minister of NWT Housing Corporation.