Thank you, Mr. Ootes. Good morning. Orders of the day. Item 2, Ministers' statements. Ms. Thompson.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker and good morning. Mr. Speaker, today I will provide Members with information on the development tools the Department of Municipal and Community Affairs has prepared to help communities become empowered.

Mr. Speaker, since community empowerment is community driven, communities set the pace and decide when they want to pursue greater opportunities. Our job, Mr. Speaker, is to facilitate the empowerment process by providing the tools, training and support. Mr. Speaker, community development is not an overnight process. We expect to be in this business for some time, as communities move from one level to another along the continuum of empowerment.

The Department of Municipal and Community Affairs and other government staff are working together on a number of community development approaches that will provide support. My department has held workshops, developed resource materials and provided training to empowerment resource people in the communities. A community-based planning workshop was held last summer to train regional government staff in community-based planning and assessment. These training sessions were not just for MACA staff, they involved staff from all departments who work in communities and will assist in the community-based planning process.

A Training Information Fair was also held to streamline government training resources and strengthen training support networks. A Training Resource Catalogue for communities was compiled which lists all the government training resources available to elected officials, boards and agencies, community staff, government staff and the public. Copies of the Training Resource Catalogue were sent to community empowerment resource staff for further distribution to communities. Members of this Assembly also received a copy. Staff are also working to co-ordinate information on training from other sources and through programs like the Nunavut Unified Human Resource Development Strategy.

Late last year, community empowerment orientation workshops were held in all regions. These regional workshops increased awareness of community empowerment, developed a consistent approach to community development activities, and developed government staff to fulfil their role as regional resources to communities. Regional staff are now beginning their travels to communities to carry the message and have the necessary discussions at the local level.

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to report that departments have formed interdepartmental teams at the regional level to plan information sessions for each community. MACA is co-ordinating these efforts and a greater understanding of the Community Empowerment Initiative is growing.

Recently, I provided all Members with copies of our newest resource kit called, "Stepping Forward: Putting Vision Into Action". This resource kit will assist northern communities in determining how to take increased responsibility for programs and services to better meet local needs. Skill development workshops are planned for community resource people. These workshops will develop local skills and confidence so communities can begin the visionary planning process. For those communities with identified training needs, training opportunities are available. Training is a shared responsibility between the individuals who will receive it, the communities who want and support it and this government who has available resources.

Our government departments continue to offer over 130 training opportunities to elected officials, boards and agencies, community staff, territorial government staff and the public. Regional interdepartmental teams are working in partnership with communities, to determine where training gaps exist and to focus training efforts to fill those gaps.

We recognise that communities are at different levels of readiness and ability. Several communities have already taken over certain areas of control from the territorial government. Many others have expressed keen interest but want more information on the initiative before forging ahead. Communities have many questions for empowerment resource people. I welcome their questions, suggestions and input.

Mr. Speaker, community empowerment starts and ends with people in our communities. It is our responsibility to help people take on more responsibility by providing them with the necessary tools, resources, training and support so they can empower themselves. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

-- Applause

Thank you, Ms. Thompson. Ministers' statements. Mr. Dent.

Thank you, Mr. Dent. Ministers' statements. Item 3, Members' statements. Mr. Ootes.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Today I would like to bring to the House a concern that has an impact on the way our government provides service to its residents. Earlier my colleague, Mr. Erasmus, asked about the publication of the GNWT telephone directory, whereas most know it as the "green book". Mr. Speaker, I believe this government is trying, to the best of their ability, to provide good service with the limited dollars available in trying to use the latest technology available. However, when it comes to the issue of this green book versus phone numbers accessed by the Internet, I have concerns. Mr. Speaker, I believe we should, in any way possible, use the latest technology to help make our staff more effective and knowledgeable. However, this may be fine for communities that can access all this new technology. It does not hold much water for the smaller communities that do not have this luxury.

Mr. Speaker, it is important for our government to be able to give access for all of our residents, not just the ones who can access the Internet. Many boards and agencies rely on this green book to get the required information from the right employees, not having to make numerous calls in order to find a person you need to talk to. This can be very expensive, considering the high cost of phone service that we in the north have to pay. Mr. Speaker, there must be some way that we can get a new phone listing of our people in a cheaper and efficient manner. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, when we came to this House as new Members, we were informed that Friday mornings were supposed to be a little light and a little jovial so I will try and do my part. As MLAs we are required to do significant amounts of reading as part of the job, we deal with high volumes of correspondence and are expected to read binders full of information as part of the job. I expect other Members feel this to be a burden at times as the material can be very dry and we are forced to keep a clear head and digest all that we read. There is not much opportunity for light reading or even entertaining reading material but when there is, it sometimes proves to be worth sharing. Mr. Speaker, I refer to an article on page 664 of the unedited version, Hansard of February 4, 1997 when I thought my mind was truly going. Mr. Speaker, I was aghast to read that the honourable Minister of Finance stated, and I quote, "I do not have underwear right now because our agenda is so full..."

-- Laughter

Mr. Speaker, had I an extra pair of underwear that day, I would have gladly lent it to Mr. Todd. I do not think anyone should have to suffer that embarrassment. Another such case of light reading comes to mind when I read the February 5th editorial in the Yellowknifer on page seven, paragraph two, regarding the City of Yellowknife appointment of Mr. Bob Brooks as alderman replacing Mr. Dalton. The article talked about Mr. Brooks and the quote was about Mr. Brooks, "he is a respected member of the Yellowknife community with the record of public service including council experience".

-- Laughter

Our city council should feel privileged that they had an opportunity to find such a well rounded individual as Mr. Brooks, although I do wonder what a record of public service really means and how this service will be beneficial to our city council. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

-- Applause

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

Thank you, Mr. Roland. Members' statements. Mr. Picco.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate Mr. Bruce Rigby of Iqaluit. Bruce has just been recognized by Environment Canada for his efforts in changing the dynamics of environmental research in the Northwest Territories, by building bridges between scientists and northern communities. Mr. Speaker, Bruce and I go back to our college days when we worked together. Today, he is the director of the Nunavut Research Institute. The award, well known as the Patricia Roberts Pichette Award, is for those who have demonstrated enthusiastic leadership and commitment to advancing ecological monitoring and research in Canada. Bruce is also widely known for his successful work on behalf of the college with fund raising and accessing third party funding to continue the work of the Nunavut Research Institute. Mr. Speaker, through his work at the institute, which is part of the Nunavut Arctic College, Mr. Rigby has achieved this by promoting and developing ways in which community and educational institutions can have a greater role in local environmental monitoring programs. Mr. Speaker, I am proud to call Bruce a friend and a constituent of Iqaluit. Congratulations Bruce. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

-- Applause

Members' statements. Mr. Erasmus.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My statement today is about the birth rate in the Northwest Territories and the potential effects of this. Mr. Speaker, we often speak about the forced growth in the Northwest Territories. Our birth rate is three to five times higher than the national average. Of course, this means spiralling costs for education, health and social services. Many of our young people are having babies in their teens and this should cause us even greater alarm, Mr. Speaker, than the fiscal reality that it costs money. I am talking about the potential for spreading infectious diseases. Last week, there was an article in the Globe and Mail concerning the spread of HIV, AIDS, and I would just like to read a little bit out of it.

"The epidemic of HIV infection appears to be growing especially among drug users and young people of both sexes who Health Canada officials say are ignoring warnings about risky sex. The average age for new infections is now 23 years of age down from 32 in the early 1980s. This means that a significant number of people now being diagnosed with HIV must have been infected as teenagers because there can be a long delay between contracting the virus and diagnoses. The rate of new infections has declined dramatically among older Canadians who are apparently taking precautions because they have seen the illness and death among their peers but it has climbed among those in their teens and early 20s, Health Canada said. The fact that the average age is 23 means that half of all new cases occur in people 23 years of age and younger. If we are going to prevent new infections we will have to aim at a much younger population," said Dr. Sutherland from Health Canada.

Mr. Speaker, our young people are our most precious resource and I urge this government to develop and implement a program so we can reach our young people and get them to at least take precautions if they insist on having sex at such a young age. Thank you.

-- Applause

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I also rise today on a sad note. My home community of Arviat has lost one of its most respected elders and a good friend of mine, Lucy Aiyarani died this week in Arviat. Lucy is also the only living aunt of one of our Members here, John Ningark, and the mother of a very well-known entertainer in the Keewatin, Charley Panagoniak. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. O'Brien. Members' statements. Item 4, returns to oral questions. Mr. Arlooktoo.

Mr. Speaker, I have a return to an oral question asked by Mr. Erasmus on February 19th, on the impact of communications privatization. Since 1967, the government has had a switchboard service in Yellowknife. Originally this was combined with a receptionist service in the Laing Building. An internal phone book in a green binder was also provided. The GNWT has now outgrown these approaches.

All other provinces and territories provide phone number information through the public phone book's blue pages and an internal phone list on the Internet. The GNWT is now moving to that same approach.

Special attention has been given to the blue pages in the NorthwesTel 1997 phone book, so they will be helpful to the public. Communications co-ordinators in all departments are aware of the importance of keeping their electronic phone list up-to-date. Systems and communications are working on an additional access point. Soon any employee with a computer and access to e-mail will be able to download a copy of the phone book in the same way employees download Hansard. I believe that the impacts of these changes will be a positive one. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Arlooktoo. Returns to oral questions. Item 5, recognition of visitors in the gallery. Mr. Picco.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I would like to recognize in the gallery Mrs. Pat Thomas from the NWTTA. I would like to confirm that the NWTTA is represented by Mrs. Pat Thomas to recognize the legitimate representative of the teachers in Nunavut. There was no other endorsement extended or implied with regard to visitors in the gallery yesterday. Welcome Pat.

-- Applause

Recognition of visitors in the gallery. Mrs. Groenewegen.

Recognition of visitors in the gallery. Mr. O'Brien.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I would like to recognize a good friend of mine from Baker Lake, a businessman, a sometimes friend of Mr. Todd, also the deputy Mayor of Baker Lake, President of Keewatin Chamber of Commerce, and Vice-chair of the Keewatin Education Council, Mr. Glen McLean.

-- Applause

Recognition of visitors in the gallery. I would like to welcome everybody. Item 6, oral questions. Mr. Miltenberger.

That was two questions. The Deputy Premier.

Mr. Speaker, I would clarify that decision made in Cambridge Bay was amongst the Nunavut Leadership and the three parties. The three parties being the NTI, the GNWT and the federal government. The decision was to support the position of the Nunavut Implementation Commission, which suggests the Power Corporation and the WCB remain intact after division to provide shared services to both the western and Nunavut territory. The final decision to be made by the GNWT, in consideration of recommendations of that decision and all MLAs. If I could exercise my discretion as Deputy Premier in the absence of the Premier, I will ask the Minister of the Power Corporation to answer the second part of that question.

Mr. Dent

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

Again two questions. Deputy Premier.

Mr. Speaker, I believe the position of the government has been clear. In general we support the recommendation by the NIC to keep those two agencies intact, because of the reasons they have provided and the reasons that we see. But, also, to be very clear, the final decision will have to be made by this House in which the western Arctic Members are a part of. They will be fully informed and will be a part of the decision making group.

Thank you. Oral questions. Mr. Picco.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Minister of Finance. Mr. Speaker, last week I asked the Minister of Transportation about the possibility of diverting some of the royalties from the Iqaluit Airport fuel sales, to help offset the upgrading and training for the ERS, or emergency response service, for Iqaluit. Can the Minister commit to looking at this possibility for safety's sake? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The Minister of Finance. Mr. Todd.

No, Mr. Speaker, we would not be prepared to do that at this time. The fact of the matter is, the revenues generated from POL operate in the revolving fund. It would be inappropriate for us to divert from the course we have. If there is requirement for additional expenditures to meet the requirements in Mr. Picco's riding, he has to debate and argue that in the House, seek support for it in committee and get the territorial Minister to support it. You cannot divert a revolving fund as it relates to POL products so it can take care of a particular situation in his particular riding at this time. Nyet.

Oral questions. Supplementary, Mr. Picco.

I see the Minister is learning Russian. Mr. Speaker, the situation here is the ERS is going to be phased out. I think we have come to that realization and eventuality. The airport fire department in Iqaluit are trained to fight fires. The volunteer department in Iqaluit do not have the proper equipment to respond. If we cannot get money out of the revolving fund, is it possible to have a portion of the fuel sales, the royalties of same, or maybe an extra tax or something, so we can generate the funds to pay for the $260,000, I think it is, to upgrade the truck and also to provide that training?

Mr. Todd.

Dosvedanya, Comrade Picco. Mr. Speaker, the reality is, it is not just Mr. Picco's riding. We have had to do the same thing in Ikaluktutiak. We have had to do it in other constituencies and the answer is no. There is a budgetary process in place, committee structure, and that is the process we have to deal with. I understand he has to represent his constituency as the MLA, but the reality is it was part of a fiscal restraint process. That was one of the areas it was felt had to be cut. It was not cut just in Mr. Picco's riding. It was cut in others, comrade.

Oral questions. Supplementary, Mr. Picco.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the honourable comrade just told me no again. Mr. Speaker, my question is this. I have to clarify, you cannot compare apples

and oranges. The phasing out of the ERS in Iqaluit had nothing to do with the budgetary response of this government. The ERS was cut in Iqaluit because federal regulations said we did not need it. The federal regulations do not take into account, the geographic location, the transportation hub that is Iqaluit. We do not have any roads. All we have is an airport. I know we do not have the six million passengers or whatever level we need, but we also do not have the fire fighting equipment if it is phased out. So, my question to the Minister is, he is talking about bringing it up through the committee level, talking it here and talking it there. That is great, that is fine and wonderful, but it does not give me the help I need, the help my community needs.

I am asking the Minister, what course of action should I take so this government can help me with the five million litres of fuel that is sold by this government in Iqaluit to generate the extra revenue so we can, at least, find the $260,000 to fight the fires? I know the Transportation Minister is helping me here with this but we have to find these funds. I am trying to find it from on-site in Iqaluit, not take it from anywhere else, but take it from there. Maybe he can try to help me with this.

Mr. Todd.

My honourable colleague is correct. It is a safety complaint and we are concerned about safety. Here we have Fort Simpson, Cambridge Bay, have all lost them. Is he asking me as the Finance Minister, to look at revenue generation in a narrow focus just for his riding? I am saying to him that is inappropriate. The decision was made by the federal government to get out of this business for a variety of reasons. That is not a decision we made. That is a decision Doug Young made when he was Minister of Transportation when I was the Minister of Transportation. I am not prepared to look here today at one particular riding as though a way of generating revenue is for them. We have to look at the big picture here. I know Mr. Picco wants to look at the big picture. We have a responsibility, not just to people in Iqaluit, but to people in Rankin Inlet, Baker Lake, and Cambridge Bay. The kind of questioning is inappropriate.

Oral questions. Final supplementary, Mr. Picco.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the government of the Northwest Territories represents every person in the Northwest Territories. I did not imply that I am asking for favouritism. All I am saying is there are 5 million litres worth of fuel sold directly in the Iqaluit Airport. Maybe we could use some of this money to offset this training. This is a serious safety concern in Iqaluit because our volunteer fire department does not have the equipment to fight a fire at the airport. They do not have the training. There is a liability issue here. We have already had a crash of a CF-18 in my community. We had a 747 Jumbo Jet come down. Did that happen in any of these other communities? No. My question to the Minister is, can he tell me how I can generate revenue or off-site sales or something, so we can provide the extra $260,000? That is what I am asking.

Mr. Todd.

I like it when my colleague gets emotional. Let me explain to my colleague that if we are going to look at any revenue generation as he has asked me frequently in this House, I cannot look at it in isolation for Iqaluit. He did ask me if I would consider specifically Iqaluit revenue generation to protect his interests. No, we are not prepared to do that. We are prepared, as I have said in this House many times, after we are through this budget, to spend some time, through discussion with the Members and others, in looking at revenue options for the well-being of the total budgetary concerns this House has to take into consideration.

Thank you. Oral questions. Mr. Erasmus.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. First of all, I would like to thank the honourable Minister of Public Works and Services for the quick reply on the impact of communications privatization. In his reply, the Minister indicated that since 1967 the government has had a switchboard service in Yellowknife and an internal phone book, popularly known as the "green book", but that the GNWT has now outgrown these approaches and went on to discuss the green book but he did not mention anything else about the switchboard. Are we still going to maintain a switchboard from now on? Thank you.

The Minister of Public Works and Services, Mr. Arlooktoo.

Mr. Speaker, I will have to check into that question. I do not believe so, but I will find out the answer and give it to the Member.

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

Thank you. Mr. Speaker, I have received some complaints about the on-line access on e-mail because some of the departments are not keeping up-to-date with the people that are in their positions. With the revolving door we have had here the last little while, nobody seems to know where anybody is. Could we get a commitment that the Deputy Premier will instruct the various departments to keep their information up to date? Thank you.

Mr. Arlooktoo.

Mr. Speaker, I had indicated earlier that is something we are doing already. We have communication coordinators appointed in each and every department and they have been working hard to get this new system in place. There may be some wrinkles in the system at this point in time but we are working on them. I can assure the Member the phone list will be as up-to-date as possible. Thank you.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my question is to the Minister responsible for division. Mr. Speaker, at the recent leaders' meeting in Cambridge Bay, a number of critical issues were agreed to but unfortunately did not get the profile they should have. Agreement was reached with reference to the decentralized model as proposed in Footprints 2 and, also agreed to by all signatories, was the infrastructure model and scheduling. Mr. Speaker, there are a number of issues we unfortunately did not get to. One of these issues brought to my attention by my constituents was who will have the mandate or the authority to negotiate leases once Nunavut is here? Thank you.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. First of all, the development of the new infrastructure, as it relates to the decentralized model proposed by NIC, we have no authority over that. It is being done by the federal government in conjunction with an arrangement they reached with NTI, two years ago in relationship to ownership of facilities. The interim commissioner will have the interim authority to enter into fiscal arrangements with the federal government, prior to the election of the new Legislative Assembly. So, whoever the interim commissioner is would have the legislative and legal authority to enter into fiscal commitments on behalf of the future government of Nunavut until such time as a Nunavut government is elected and its officers put in place. Thank you.

Oral questions. Supplementary, Mr. O'Brien.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, is the Minister saying we will have to wait until the interim commissioner is approved and in place before these leases can be negotiated and, if that is the case, when can we expect this to occur? Thank you.

Mr. Todd.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. (Mic. off) right because I know it is a very important one for my colleague, and certainly an important one for people in the east. This an arrangement between the federal government, Public Works Canada, DIAND, and NTI. All the new infrastructure requirements for the Nunavut government in a decentralized model, offices, houses, etc. will be owned by NTI. The legal obligation to commit to monies that have to be spent prior to the election of the Nunavut government lies under the authority of the interim commissioner. Thank you.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, assuming all the infrastructure that is required will not be in place by 1999 and, as a result, there will be a requirement for leases to be arranged. That is the point I am getting at. Can the Minister confirm that? Thank you.

Mr. Todd.

I think my colleague is saying if there is a requirement for housing or office space now or before 1999, who would enter into making those arrangements? Is that what he is saying? As an interim requirement? I want to repeat again, for the sake of everyone, my understanding of the situation is all new infrastructures required for the decentralized model into 11 communities as proposed by NIC, will belong to NTI through an arrangement they have made with the federal government. If there is any pre-implementation or early need for housing or office complexes that are not in place, the person who has the legal authority to enter into a fiscal arrangement and commit dollars is the interim commissioner. Thank you.

Thank you. Oral questions. Final supplementary, Mr. O'Brien.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It appears the only time we can bring some closure to this issue is upon the appointment of the interim commissioner. That brings up another question that has been asked in this House many times and I hope the Minister can be a little more precise as to the timing of the appointment of the interim commissioner, and not that it is just imminent. We have asked the question a number of times in this House. I think it is long overdue that we get an answer as to when can we expect the announcement of the interim commissioner, and when will he start? Thank you.

Mr. Todd.

Yes, I think we all concur the sooner we get the interim commissioner in place, the sooner we can get on with trying to pre-implement, or have a transition period as we move toward April 1, 1999. My understanding from my discussions and the Premier's discussions with the Honourable Ron Irwin in Cambridge Bay that it would be done by the end of March. Thank you.

Thank you. Oral questions. Mr Ootes.

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

Oral questions. Supplementary, Mr. Ootes.

Mr. Dent.

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

Mr. Dent.

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

Mr. Dent.

Thank you. Oral questions. Mr. Henry.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My question is to the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment, regarding the NWT Arts Council awards. In January of this year, the Minister announced successful applicants of the NWT Arts Council, which consisted of 34 NWT artists and groups who will be receiving funding in the amounts of $192,600 to carry out creative projects. Mr. Dent further indicated that the Arts Council plays an important role in nurturing and promoting the arts in the Northwest Territories. My question is: I would like the Minister governing this program to explain how the NWT benefits from some of these grants by promoting the development of arts in the NWT to third parties, when recipients of these grants are not required to be current residents of the Northwest Territories? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I appreciate that response from the Minister. He had mentioned he was not aware of any awards being attributed to individuals or groups not living in the Northwest Territories. I ask the Minister if he could retract that and report back to the House as to a list of groups that may have received funding that are living outside of the Northwest Territories? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Dent.

Thank you. Oral questions. Mr. Barnabas.

(Translation) Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I will be asking a question in Inuktitut. My question is directed to the Minister of Resources, Wildlife and Economic Development, Minister Kakfwi. We are aware of and some of the Members, such as Mr. Ningark, have asked questions in the House. The question I have for the Minister is how do you allocate polar bear quotas to various communities? Thank you, Mr. Speaker. (Translation ends)

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

Oral questions. Supplementary, Mr. Barnabas.

(Translation) Thank you, Mr. Speaker. How come there are different numbers of distribution amongst communities? Some communities have a larger quota and the communities that are more populated have less quota. Why is that? Thank you, Mr. Speaker. (Translation ends)

Mr. Kakfwi.

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

(Translation) Again, Mr. Speaker. My supplementary question to the Minister is, how are the quotas set? In Canada we have so many polar bear quotas. For instance, in Greenland there is a number set. How is the number set for the Territories? Thank you, Mr. Speaker. (Translation ends)

Mr. Kakfwi.