Thank you, Mr. Ningark. Good morning. Orders of the day. Item 2, Ministers' statements. Mr. Morin.

Than you, Mr. Speaker. On February 4, 1997, I met with members of the Aboriginal Summit together with my Cabinet colleague, the Honourable Jim Antoine. The purpose of this meeting was to discuss a number of issues of mutual concern. During the course of our discussions an issue emerged regarding the extent to which the Government of the Northwest Territories recognizes band councils and Metis locals.

Mr. Speaker, it was suggested that it would be useful if I could clarify the government's position for the public record regarding our recognition of community aboriginal governments. I agreed to do so. It is for that purpose that I stand to make this statement today. Mr. Speaker, I would like to state firmly and clearly that the Government of the Northwest Territories recognizes the band councils, Metis locals and Inuvialuit community corporations of the communities as institutions of aboriginal governance. Indeed, these institutions are the current structures of self-government.

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

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

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, today I would like to tell the Members of the success the Department of Transportation's marine services division is having in training northerners as captains on our ferries. By regulation, the people who operate our public ferries must be fully qualified ship's captains holding a Master of Minor Waters certificate issued by Transport Canada. In the past, the department's ferry contractors could only find properly qualified captains in southern Canada on the east and west coasts. A few years ago, the marine services division began encouraging young northern deck hands, who showed promise and interest, to seek their Master of Minor Waters certification and become ferry captains.

The Pacific Marine Training College in North Vancouver, British Columbia, offers a six-week course for the Master of Minor Waters certificate. The recruit's travel, accommodation and tuition costs for the six-week course are paid for by employment insurance and matching 50/50 contribution from the Department of Transportation and our ferry contractors.

Captain Ian Leishman of Fort Providence graduated from the Pacific Marine Training College in 1995 and has since served two seasons as captain of the MV Merv Hardie at the Fort Providence crossing. Captain Mervin Simba of Kakisa earned his Master of Minor Waters in 1996 and served as relief captain last year on the Merv Hardie at Fort Providence, the Lafferty at Fort Simpson and the Johnny Berens at the Ndulee crossing.

This year, two of my constituents, Sean Cli and Steven Lenoir of Fort Simpson are at the Pacific Marine Training College and will complete the Master of Minor Waters course at the end of this month. Ron Antoine, also of Fort Simpson, entered the Marine Services training program this summer. He worked as an oiler at Fort Providence on the Merv Hardie accumulating eligible time towards certification as a marine engineer.

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased with the success of the Marine Services training program in opening professional career opportunities for northerners. I am sure that Members of this House are with me in looking forward to the day when we can crew our ferries entirely with northerners and we no longer look to southern Canada for qualified personnel. Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Antoine. Ministers' statements. Item 3, Members' statements. Mrs. Groenewegen.

Thank you, Mrs. Groenewegen. Members' statements. Mr. Enuaraq.

(Translation) Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Good morning colleagues. (Translation ends.) Mr. Speaker, in this House, Members show a lot of concern for language differences. Many of us from Nunavut spend a lot of time helping unilingual constituents get information and solve problems. Recently, I have been working on behalf of two people from Broughton Island. They have experienced difficulties at lest in part, because they are unilingual. I would like to share their story. In 1969, two people from Broughton Island were offered some work at the Fox 2 station. They worked for about six weeks, shovelling and digging out 45 gallon drums and loading them on a plane. Their understanding was that the pay was going to be $100 per day. The problem is that they apparently did not receive a pay cheque for this work.

During the 1970s, Commissioner Hodgson was approached by these two people on one of his visits to their community. As a result, they were each paid $300 and told the balance would be paid once the records were located. They have heard nothing, Mr. Speaker. Although previous MLAs and many staff have tried to find the records, we cannot seem to find them.

It is possible that, because they are unilingual, they did not understand the terms and conditions of the work they did. They maybe also did not understand what the Commissioner had promised. All we do know is what they thought they were told.

This story points out how confusing things can get for unilingual people. I hope we can have a happy ending. Later today, I will be asking the Premier whether this government will be able to live up to the commitment made by the Commissioner so many years ago. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

-- Applause

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As you are aware, we have discussed affirmative action many times during this session. I feel that this is an important issue that should stay in the forefront of this government. Mr. Speaker, this policy has been in effect since 1985 and we still have a long way to go to reach the government's goal of 50 percent native employment. It is important that this government realizes the need to have a competent, home-grown employee base. How else can this government expect to provide its services without the understanding of the issues and the way of life our people share throughout this great land?

Mr. Speaker, what is needed to make this or any other employment policy work? I believe we must start by supporting and promoting education at all levels. We need to provide a broader education base so that all our residents can utilize the education services that are currently available. We must allow all residents access to education. As it stands presently, we do not allow any form of adult education in a number of communities. This must change.

Mr. Speaker, as my colleagues have mentioned previously, we need to teach our people the different skills required to take over the government positions. We need to provide the basic training in communities which will allow interested residents to strive for more. Mr. Speaker, I believe we can provide this which will then make this or any other employment policy redundant. It is important that we get our people educated to the level that they can take over the positions they wish, which will allow for fair and competent competition between all that apply. Until this happens, we must strive to increase the level of native employment and reach this government's goal of 50 percent or possibly change our policy to better reflect our needs of today. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, in Cambridge Bay during the leadership meetings, there was, I think, some confusion over employees now employed and employees to be employed by the Nunavut government on April 1st, 1999. Mr. Speaker, the plan at the present time is to have the initial 150 positions to be hired and in place on April 1st, 1999. However, this government has reiterated time and time again, that employees working prior to April 1st, 1999 and living in Nunavut, would be still employed on April 1st, 1999. It is important to say this, Mr. Speaker, because since the Cambridge Bay meetings, I have had numerous calls, e-mails and faxes from long-term, dedicated staff who are wondering about their future.

Mr. Speaker, while no job or position can be guaranteed in these days of reductions and fiscal clawbacks, I think it is safe to say that there will not be a major layoff of current employees prior to 1999. Mr. Speaker, all employees should be aware that a new government or employer will be in place on April 1st, 1999 and that government may decide to change job descriptions or re-profile employees. There is no anticipation that will mean current employees will be laid off en masse. This government has made that clear and I believe that it will be confirmed over the next few weeks.

Mr. Speaker, employees raising young families, purchasing homes and acquiring mortgages have been quite stressed over the past few weeks. I hope that this clarification will help put those concerned at ease. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

-- Applause

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

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

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the Minister responsible for the NWT Housing Corporation recently rose to announce Plan 2000. This is a plan to provide housing to 2,000 more families by the year 2000. On the surface, this seems like a laudable effort. I was intrigued by the announcement that went on to talk about the program details, in particular, on the enhanced down payment assistance program. What I saw did not make me happy. It also did not make me happy to hear the Minister say in a radio interview that households with incomes between $50,000 and $90,000 would be eligible for assistance.

Mr. Speaker, we talk about empowering people but we develop programs which encourage dependence on government. We are making people dumb. We are teaching them they cannot manage on their own. We have to help them. What kind of a message does this program send to the many middle income families who have bought their homes the old-fashioned way by earning the down payment themselves? As a government, we talk about developing a private sector economy, then we create a program which totally disrupts the natural development of the economy.

birth rate. This government knows the birth rate is out of control, yet it does not do anything about it other than build more housing.

Mr. Speaker, the funds proposed to be expended on this new program should be put into programs that will modify and teach responsible attitudes in the NWT and encourage parents to know that the government cannot continue to support the high birth rate until we have an effective wage economy. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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

Qujannamiik. I have heard many opinions in this House on the affirmative action policy. I believe we need the affirmative action policy. I agree that the current policy has maybe not had the results we would want. The levels of employment of aboriginal and Inuit people are still not representative of the general population. However, Mr. Speaker, without this policy, there would be even fewer Inuit people in the workforce in my area. The people in my region are very capable of doing the jobs that need to be done. It is true that many people do not have a lot of formal education. Inuit people recognize this and are trying to upgrade their education. Young people are staying in school and getting their grade 12. Adults are returning to college to improve their skills. Education is only a piece. A person's experience, approach to life and knowledge of local customs and values are very important for being successful as a GNWT employee.

Mr. Speaker, Inuit people without a lot of education may bring a wealth of practical experience to the job. In Nunavut, we hope to have Inuit people represented in the new government. The affirmative action policy is providing the starting point. We cannot abandon it now. We must find ways to improve it, to increase the willingness of employers to recognize the life experience of Inuit people in the hiring process. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

-- Applause

Thank you. Members' statements. Mr. Krutko.