Mahsi, Mr. Antoine. (Translation) Thank you, Mr. Antoine. Good morning, Members. Today has been designated Aboriginal Languages Day in the Assembly. As you are aware, Michael Kusugak, the Northwest Territories Literacy Council president challenged myself and the Assembly to set one day aside on which Members would speak their aboriginal language in the Assembly. I have waived the requirement for advance notice under our Language Services Policy and urge all Members who speak an aboriginal language to consider using it today when they are addressing the House. (Translation ends)

It is very important that aboriginal people in the Northwest Territories, our grandparents, moms and dads, our siblings and our people, see that their languages are alive and are being used on a regular basis. As Members of the Legislative Assembly, we play a major role for the people in a number of areas including the promotion of aboriginal languages. We here in the Legislative Assembly provide Inuktitut translation on a daily basis and rotate the provision of Dene and French languages services on a weekly basis. We have to remember that language is an important aspect of our culture and today, when many of our languages are struggling to survive, it is critical that we, as leaders, do our part to help preserve them. Being aboriginal role models must start with aboriginal leaders. Do not just talk the talk, but walk the walk.

(Translation) I would also like to thank the president and members of the NWT Literacy Council and the Languages Commissioner, Judi Tutcho of Deline, for their efforts in promoting the use of aboriginal languages and helping to arrange activities to celebrate Aboriginal Languages Month. I urge all communities in the Northwest Territories to join in the celebrations promoting aboriginal languages, it is so important in this day and age. Also, I would like to urge all Members to use their language. If we do so, we will continue to be strong. This is what I would like to say about aboriginal languages for today. Thank you very much. (Translation ends)

-- Applause

Orders of the day. Item 2, Ministers' statements. Mr. Morin.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to acknowledge the beginning of Aboriginal Languages Month and also to remind Members that March 16th to 22nd is Francophone Week.

All across the NWT, community organizations and individuals will be undertaking initiatives that promote the importance of languages.

In order to commemorate Aboriginal Languages Month and Francophone Week in a meaningful way, the Department of Executive has established a Community Language Leader Award Program. This award is designed to recognize individuals who promote the use of their language.

Later on this month, I will be happy to once again announce the winners of the Community Language Leader Award.

Mr. Speaker, I would also like to take this opportunity to advise the House that later today I will be tabling the 1995/96 GNWT Annual Report on Official Languages.

Thank you. Mahsi.

-- Applause

Thank you. Ministers' statements. Mr. Morin.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As this session of the 13th Assembly draws to a close, I would like to take a few moments to speak to the employees of the Government of the Northwest Territories. Over the past several weeks, there have been a number of issues that have come up in relation to staffing of government positions. In fact, this session has been a particularly heavy one with all of the implications and questions surrounding the government's hiring practices and a budget which represents the second year of a two-year deficit reduction plan. It is understandable that what has been discussed over the past eight weeks has brought some stress to some people and, perhaps at times, you felt as if you are no more than just a number on a piece of paper.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to reassure all employees of this government that the decisions we make in the Legislative Assembly are not made lightly nor without thorough consideration on how it affects government employees. As we noted at the beginning of the budget process, the past 12 months have been a time of unprecedented change in the way that government programs and services are delivered. But with the passing of the 1997-98 budget, our restructuring is largely complete. We can now look forward to greater stability within this government.

-- Applause

Mr. Speaker, stability does not mean we will stand still as an organization, but it does mean we can better manage our future and how we handle changes to the public service. On behalf of all of the Members of the Legislative Assembly, I would like to offer a sincere thank you to all government employees for your patience and understanding as we have publicly debated initiatives and actions that may affect you directly and personally. It is debatable which is harder, to set the vision or to fulfil it. But one thing is for sure, we need to work together to make it all happen.

Mr. Speaker, I would also like to recognize all of the Members in this House for realizing we must not forget the effect our decisions have on individuals. It is easy to lose sight of the people themselves when we limit our discussions to numbers, statistics, cultural backgrounds or the places we come from, but I believe that every Member of this House truly cares about the people who make up our public service.

In closing, Mr. Speaker, I would like to take this occasion to publicly recognize all of the employees of the Government of the Northwest Territories. The efforts you put in every day of the year make a difference. You are the backbone of this government. While your good work rarely makes the headlines of the newspapers, there is one thing you can be certain of, you are valued and appreciated. Thank you and mahsi cho, Mr. Speaker.

-- Applause

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

Hear! Hear!

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. (Translation) Mr. Speaker, March 8 is a special day. On this day we celebrate International Women's Day. A day when people, not just from the Northwest Territories but from around the world, come together to celebrate the contribution of women to society. Mr. Speaker, women are playing an increasingly strong role in identifying issues and in shaping community and territorial direction. However, this is not a job for women alone. All of us, parents, family units, churches, community leaders and government must share in the work that has to be done. Mr. Speaker, International Women's Day is a day for women and men to recognize and celebrate the contributions women have made to society. Northern women, whether they are involved in traditional pursuits or the wage economy, are helping to make a difference in today's world

and they will continue to do so, every day of the year. While there are still problems and systemic barriers that need to be overcome, Mr. Speaker, International Women's Day will celebrate the fact that every woman makes a difference. This special day will allow women and men around the world the opportunity to reflect on women's progress, celebrate this effort and acknowledge the work that is yet to be done. (Translation ends)

Mr. Speaker, there will be a telephone phone-in show for youth that is intended to stimulate thought and discussion about teen life. "Live and Well" will be on self-esteem for young women in the north. I encourage people to tune in live or tape this TV show on Wednesday, that is tonight, March 5, as part of International Women's Week celebrations. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

-- Applause

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The improvement of economic conditions is one of the core priorities of this government. A key component of that goal includes establishing an appropriate regulatory environment which protects northerners while minimizing government "red tape" and eliminating unnecessary barriers to economic growth.

Today, along with my honourable colleague, the Minister of Resources, Wildlife and Economic Development, I am pleased to announce a new initiative that will improve the way this government carries out its regulatory responsibilities. A small, specialized Regulatory Reform Secretariat will be established to consult with stakeholder organizations, business people, local governments and concerned individuals to find ways in which our regulatory programs and services can be delivered better. The secretariat will use the feedback it receives during these consultations to find new efficiencies in program delivery and to eliminate outdated or unnecessary regulatory processes which are creating impediments to the growth of northern industry and business. The initiative will be a joint responsibility of the Minister of Finance and the Minister of Resources, Wildlife and Economic Development, who will take the lead in responding to matters raised in the House regarding the work of the Regulatory Reform Secretariat.

Mr. Speaker, I want to emphasize that any reform of regulatory programs and services will be structured in such a manner as to ensure that the health, safety, workplace fairness and environmental quality of northerners are not adversely affected. At the same time, however, it has become increasingly clear that many of our current regulatory regimes have evolved in isolation from each other, sometimes to the point where they are unduly complicated and cumbersome. Often, there has been little or no adequate northern input on the adoption of codes and standards. Many stakeholders believe that too much of our regulatory policy and legislation is outdated, excessive and ineffective.

Over the course of the Regulatory Reform Initiative, we will identify measures for making sure that regulatory programs are consistent with the government's fiscal situation, with the current state of business and industry across the north, and with the emerging needs brought about by technological change or workplace trends. We will be examining alternative mechanisms for the delivery of inspections, licensing and other services and we will be finalizing the work initiated by the previous government on the reform of liquor control legislation and practices.

Of course, input and involvement of honourable Members will be vital to the success of this endeavour and we will work closely with the standing committees and MLAs throughout each stage of the Regulatory Reform Initiative.

-- Applause

Thank you, Mr. Todd. Ministers' statements. Item 3, Members' statements. Mr. Steen.

The Member for Nunakput is seeking unanimous consent to conclude his statement. Do we have any nays? Mr. Steen, you have unanimous consent.

Thank you, Mr. Steen. Members' statements. Mr. Evaloarjuk.

(Translation) Qujannamiik, Mr. Speaker. Today, being Aboriginal Languages Day, I wish to speak a little bit about how I appreciate my own language. It is good to have such a day of recognition of the first people's language in the House. I have had the fortune of being elected as a Member of this House and I have had the fortune of participating fully as a Member of this House, using my own language as the only unilingual Member here. I have to extend my gratitude to the interpreters without whom I may not have been able to do the work that is required of me. I wish to recognize the tremendous pressure and hard work the interpreters here and elsewhere have had to work under to ensure that I can do my job as best I can. Also, today being Aboriginal Languages Day, I would really like to thank the interpreters because I appreciate the work they do. Mr. Speaker, even though some of us do not speak the English language, in the Inuktitut language we have some words that are different. For example, there are different words in Inuktitut for snow. When you say snow in English, it is the only word you have. In Inuktitut you could describe snow in different ways. There is a soft snow and there is another type of snow pukajaaq which means that the snow is soft on the bottom. Mr. Speaker, I would like consent to complete my statement.

The Member is seeking unanimous consent to conclude his statement. Do we have any nays? There are no nays, Mr. Evaloarjuk. You have unanimous consent.

(Translation) Thank you. Also there is tisillukkaaq which means the snow is hard and also another word is qanniuq which means that when there is a snowfall, the soft snow on top of the hard snow is called that. When you are walking on the snow and you find the ground is soft, you call that maujaq. There is also another word called ujjajuq and that would be when there is a storm and the ground becomes hard. Also there is sittujaaq another word in Inuktitut describing snow and it is when there is a blizzard or when there is a snow drift. Those are the different types of snows that I could describe in Inuktitut and I am glad that I was able to teach the Members a few things in Inuktitut. Thank you. (Translation ends)

Thank you, Mr. Evaloarjuk. Members' statements. Mr. Krutko.