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

Mr. Dent.

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

Thank you, Mr. Miltenberger. That was your final supplementary.

Thank you. Oral questions. Mr. Barnabas.

(Translation) Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my question is to the Minister of Municipal and Community Affairs, Ms. Manitok Thompson. Mr. Speaker, last year, in the winter when the Minister visited one of my communities, Resolute Bay, she spoke to the Hamlet of Resolute Bay in regards to the hockey arena. We have not

heard up to today, what is happening with the arena that was supposed to be established in Resolute Bay. I wonder if the Minister could respond to that question. Thank you. (Translation ends)

The Minister responsible for Municipal and Community Affairs. Ms. Thompson.

(Translation) Thank you, Mr. Speaker. When I was in Resolute Bay, I was very thankful that I was made to feel welcome and I am aware of the concern of the Member. We discussed the arena with the residents of Repulse Bay. We told them that we had some money to build an outside arena. It is not really an arena but it is an outdoor hockey rink with a fence around it. That is all the money that we have to build an arena of that kind. I asked my officials to look into whether they could put a roof over the arena outside, even though there is not enough funding. In the fall of 1996, MACA officials had someone do a plan as to what kind of hockey arena would be built outside. At the end of February, I will hear from my officials as to what is happening with the arena and I will let the Member know. The Resolute Bay residents will be informed as well. Thank you. (Translation ends)

Oral questions. Mr. Picco.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, yesterday in answer to some questions, Mr. Todd stated that the sale of staff housing was going at about 25 to 40 cents, I guess, on the dollar to the appraised value. Needless to say, that has caused some concern in my community where it is around 85 cents or more of the value. Can the Minister clarify where we are going with the actual cost or the appraised value on the sale of staff housing. Thank you.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker and I appreciate the question asked by my honourable colleague. I may have inadvertently confused everybody yesterday which is not unusual. What I intended to say was that the appraised value of the housing is somewhere in the region of 25 to 40 percent off replacement value. That is what I meant to say. If I said otherwise, I apologize to my colleague and, of course, to those people who are purchasing their houses. I also indicated that the average price that we were getting, off the appraised value, is somewhere in the 86-87 percent. So, it was my intention to talk about replacement as it relates to appraised value, not sale. So, I apologize to my colleague and to the public at large who are out there purchasing these houses at this time. I appreciate the opportunity, given to me by my colleague from Iqaluit, to clarify the position that we have. Thank you.

Oral questions. Supplementary, Mr. Picco.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I have quite a few people in my constituency attempting to buy these staff houses. One thing that keeps coming up is the appraised value. Can the Minister tell me if the value on the house is appraised by a government-appointed appraiser or can, I, as an individual, bring in my own appraiser? What is the story on that?

Mr. Todd.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. While the appraisers were territorial appraisers, they were independent business people who, over the last year, year and a half, have gone across the Territories appraising the houses, which of course this government paid for. If an individual tenant was not comfortable with the appraisal, he would certainly be entitled, at his own expense, to ask for another appraisal. Thank you.

Oral questions. Mr. O'Brien.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, yesterday in my statement, I referred to the need for long-term, sustainable jobs. Mr. Speaker, training is a central component when looking at future jobs. Mr. Speaker, my question is to the Minister of Education. Can the Minister update this House as to the status of the unified training plans for Nunavut? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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