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.

The Member for Mackenzie Delta is seeking unanimous consent to conclude his statement. Do I have any nays? There are no nays. Mr. Krutko, you have unanimous consent.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. (Translation) Mr. Speaker, today in honour of Aboriginal Languages Day, I am speaking in my native language. Most of my constituents, especially the elders, will be happy for this day. It is very important that we, as the different aboriginal groups across this country, make an attempt to keep their language alive. It is very important for our culture to keep our language. Mr. Speaker, today we find ourselves on the last day of this sitting. I thought it would be good to reflect on the last few weeks. As we all know, we started sitting on January 21st and since then we have had numerous heated discussions regarding the budget's deficit cutting measures, employee housing, reduction of speed on Highway 3 and numerous other topics. At times, it has been a struggle to maintain our focus. However, through everything we have been able to provide this government with direction and insight. Mr. Speaker, it is now time for us to go home, visit with our family and friends, get out on the land to recharge our batteries and to give thanks to our creator for the things we have. I know we all need this coming rest and I look forward to it. Mr. Speaker, this coming break will be good for all. There are still many items that we must deal with and one of the most important ones will be the community consultation with our western NWT constitution. This, I am sure, will prove to be most interesting. I hope that our community leaders will see this as a positive move and assist us to ensure we come up with the best possible constitution that will reflect the diverse cultural society we live in. Mr. Speaker, I hope everyone will have a safe journey home and a very restful break. Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. (Translation ends)

Thank you. I have allowed the Member from North Slave to go on, but perhaps just to remind the Members to take a glance at your clocks when you are making your statements so that when your time is up, you seek unanimous consent to conclude. Members' statements. Mr. Miltenberger.

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

(Translation) Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Good morning, colleagues. Last year I was able to take part by using mainly Inuktitut and English. This time around, I have been able to use my aboriginal language and I am proud of this. Today, I want to talk about our young people. Mr. Speaker, in the Northwest Territories, our young people are rising in anything they undertake to do. Our young people are also involved in larger conferences that take place in parts of Canada. They will be responsible for running our Nunavut government. Some of them will start in the year 1999 and I am very proud of the fact that young people are getting serious in taking part in running our government. I also want to state this with regards to the young people that their job will not always be very easy, but with hard work they will be able to proceed and achieve their goals. As the Legislative Assembly we have to support the young people's aspirations. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. (Translation ends)

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

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

Mahsi cho, Mr. Speaker. (Translation unavailable) Mr. Speaker, I wish to recognize and acknowledge the dedicated work of the elders and educators of Arviat and Baker Lake for their tireless efforts in preserving and promoting the Inuktitut language. Mahsi cho. (Translation unavailable)

-- Applause

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

(Translation) Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I too would like to use my aboriginal language. First of all, I am very proud of our language. When you travel to the Baffin communities, you can appreciate the different dialects that are spoken in the Baffin communities. I am very proud of our language, even though they have different dialects. If I come from northern Quebec and I say that I am afraid in Inuktitut, then in my community it means that I am happy or vice versa. As well, when I was a member of the education authority, I have come across a lot of community members who have lost their language. This was a great loss to them. We had witnessed community members who would cry because they have lost their aboriginal languages. I am proud of our people today who can hold onto their aboriginal languages. As well, with regards to students in our communities, when they are working with the older people from our community, they are collecting historical information from the elders from the communities. This is great to be preserved as well and put into data for later use. This is also in Inuktitut. I would thank to thank the rest of the Members for putting up with me. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. (Translation ends)

-- Applause

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

The Member for Yellowknife Centre is seeking unanimous consent to conclude his statement. Do we have any nays? There are no nays. Mr. Ootes, you have unanimous consent.

Thank you. Members' statements. Mr. Picco.

(Translation) Thank you, Mr. Speaker. (Translation ends) (Translation unavailable) has reached watershed stage with the completion of a projected balanced budget yesterday.

-- Applause

Bravo! Bravo!

With the projected surplus, hopefully the GNWT has turned the corner and we will be able to, as an Assembly, focus on the needs of the people instead of the needs of our creditors. New employment strategies to new housing initiatives and some of the regulatory reform work that will become the focus as we lead into division are important steps in that direction. I think that the people of the NWT are tired of hearing the doom and gloom of deficit reductions.

Hear! Hear!

I know I am.

-- Applause

Mr. Speaker, on Friday many of us will be going home for the first time since the 15th of January. Although the hospitality of Yellowknifers is second to none, it will be good to get back home. We will then have to reflect on some of the legislation, debates and, of course, the budget passed by the 13th Assembly. There have been some good debates over the past several weeks and, although I have not agreed to all of the budgetary measures, it is within the framework of our legislative system that allows me and every MLA the right to say that. I would like to take this opportunity to publicly thank my wife, friends and my wife's co-workers, who have been supportive of my family while I have been away. Sometimes being in the public eye is very difficult and stressful, but it can also be stressful for the people at home. As today is Aboriginal Languages Day, I would like to take this opportunity to say to my wife. (Translation unavailable) Mahsi cho, qujannamiik, merci, quanaq (Translation unavailable) Thank you.

-- Applause

Members' statements. Mr. Ningark.

(Translation) Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I think that the world is shaped like a heart. Mr. Speaker, as children we went to school in Chesterfield Inlet, perhaps, before the other Members from the communities that are represented here were born. When we were in Chesterfield Inlet, we were encouraged not to use our aboriginal language and our parents, when we went home, could not speak English. When we attended school in Chesterfield Inlet, we were taught the English language and then when we got home to our communities, we were encouraged to speak our language. I would like to thank today's government because they are responsible for teaching the aboriginal languages, in particularly Inuktitut. As well, I want to thank all the teachers who are responsible for teaching the Inuktitut language.

Another topic with regards to what Mark Evaloarjuk was talking about as he was referring to different types of snow. I appreciate this as well because we have different meanings as well. Mr. Speaker, when we get into the Nunavut government, the Inuktitut language will be the working language and I am very proud of this. As well, with regards to our children, they are being taught the Inuktitut language and they are also being provided assistance through the government for their education curriculum, which is provided in the Inuktitut language. Language is part of your heritage. It shows who you are. When we are at home, we do use our language, but when we are in different communities, we have different names for different items or different things, maybe even with the land. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. (Translation ends)

Thank you. Members' statements. Mr. Erasmus.

Thank you, mahsi, Mr. Speaker. My Member's statement today is on the value of education. Mr.

Speaker, there is a strong relationship between education and income and employment levels. Fourteen percent of Canadians 15 and over, have less than a grade nine education. At the same time in the NWT, 27 percent of our residents, 15 and over, have less than a grade nine education. That is two times higher than the Canadian average. Mr. Speaker, dropping out involves high costs to government. Canadian society loses billions of dollars over the lifetime of dropouts. For example, Canada will lose $4 billion over the working lifetime of the nearly 140,000 youths who dropped out instead of graduating in the class of 1989. Costs include less earning before spending and lost tax revenue. Costs also include the personal cost to the dropouts. Studies have shown that dropouts experience more social problems. These social problems include poor personal health, lower social status, higher unemployment, dependents of social security payments and their children as well are less likely to stay in school. It is a never ending cycle.

Mr. Speaker, the NWT spends proportionately less on education than the Yukon and the provinces. It is no wonder that we have the lowest education rate in Canada, if we spend the least amount on education per capita. Mr. Speaker, this cannot be allowed to continue. We need to put more money into adult education. We cannot leave our education levels at a rate where people with grade nine or less are two times higher than the Canadian average. Thank you. Mahsi.

Thank you, Mr. Erasmus. Members' statements. Mr. Antoine.

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. (Translation) Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Today is Aboriginal Languages Day so I will be speaking in my language. As my friend, John Ningark spoke, I also think of when I was a child, I went to Fort Providence from Fort Simpson to go to school. I went to school there for four years. During that time, I did not see my parents and we were taught only in English. We were prohibited to speak our language and so the majority of the native students spoke mostly English. When we went home, we spoke only our aboriginal language. That happened not only in his area, but all over the country. I am thankful that we can still speak our native languages today. When I left my community I was gone for a fair amount of time and when I arrived back in my community I spoke a little bit of my native language. When I became a chief, I spoke my language fairly well. As I learned more from my elders, I continued to speak better in my language. Today, the students seem to have a hard time speaking their native language. It seems like everything is mostly in English, like TV and so on. They do not seem to speak their native languages that much and the elders predominantly speak in their native language, so there is a communication gap. Today, we are starting to learn to write our languages. I would like to seek unanimous consent to conclude my statement. (Translation ends)

(Translation) The Member for Nahendeh is seeking unanimous consent to conclude his statement. Are there any nays? There are no nays. Mr. Antoine, you have unanimous consent to conclude your statement. Mr. Antoine. (Translation ends)

(Translation) Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Nowadays in the communities the parents, if they still speak their native languages, it would be good if they continued to speak to their children in their native language. Today, the children want to speak their language. When they are taught in the schools it is not taught that extensively. Today the students that are just starting school are learning the languages, but the students in the advanced grades are not being taught their languages. I still speak my native language and I am glad that I still do. I represent six communities that all speak their native languages. When I go to the communities, I only speak my aboriginal languages. I am thankful for that. When I come back here, I have a little bit of a difficulty speaking the English language. Today is Aboriginal Languages Day. That is as much as I would like to say. Thank you. (Translation ends)

Members' statements. Item 4, returns to oral questions. Mr. Morin.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I have a return to an oral question asked by Mr. Ootes. Mr. Ootes asked what percentage of GNWT employees employed in labour and related jobs are aboriginal and what percentage of GNWT employees employed as social workers and wildlife officers are aboriginal.

Government-wide data for 1995 has just been completed and verified. Based on the 1995 data from the Government Human Resources Information System and from Stanton Regional Hospital and the health boards, 71.3 percent of the GNWT's labourer and trade work force are aboriginal. Wildlife officers and social workers are included as program delivery staff. Aboriginal people make up 52.4 percent of all GNWT program delivery staff. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you. Returns to oral questions. Mr. Dent.

Thank you, Mr. Dent. Returns to oral questions. Ms. Thompson.

I have a return to an oral question asked by Mr. Edward Picco on February 24, 1997.

I have reviewed the department's fire training plan in preparing my response to the Member's question on GNWT support for the emergency response services program at the Iqaluit airport. In 1995/96, MACA and the Department of Safety and Public Services initiated a three-year fire training plan to better address the training needs of community fire departments.

This training plan was aimed at addressing recommendations of the NWT Association of Municipalities and the NWT Fire Chiefs Association, which called for public education programs, basic fire fighter and specialized fire command officer training. The goal of this initiative was to develop a foundation for community-based fire instruction and public education programs. Community participants are provided Level 1 and 2 fire fighter training, which is followed up by community specific training on local equipment and facilities. Command officer training and train-the-trainer programs are also offered to selected candidates.

However, funding was not provided as a part of this initiative for a training program to support ERS at airports. The level of service to be provided must be rationalized with the actual risk and the ability to respond. This issue prompted Transport Canada to revise regulations which removed the necessity for providing dedicated full-time ERS at most Canadian airports. Statistics do not support the maintenance of full-time ERS at all airports.

It is not recommended that ERS response be maintained at any but the busiest airports. There are serious liability concerns if an airport attempted to maintain a full ERS response but was unable to prevent certain fatalities after a serious accident. It would not be necessary to utilize the Duluth training facility, referenced by the Member earlier in the House, unless the government was committed to maintaining a full ERS response capability. This would be a very expensive proposition.

Airport certification requirements do not require an ERS response but do require an adequate airport emergency plan to be in place. The risk management advice received by the government supports the premise that this more cost effective approach will minimize the liability that may follow an airport incident.

MACA plans to collaborate with the Department of Transportation and the town of Iqaluit on the development of an airport emergency plan which will reflect new emergency response arrangements. Planning will need to commence to revise the airport emergency plan to establish formal links with the GNWT regional emergency committee and the town's emergency response system. It is envisaged that the airport emergency plan will operate in conjunction with the community's emergency plan and as a component of the GNWT regional plan.

The GNWT regional plan will be able to provide the medium for a co-ordinated multi-agency response to an airport incident in Iqaluit. This will not be an ERS response, but it is considered a reasonable and manageable plan to implement. The town of Iqaluit will not be asked to maintain the current level of ERS response once provision of this service is terminated by the Department of Transportation on March 31. The town is considering participation in a multi-agency response to an airport incident, which would include territorial and municipal agencies. The town will be invited to work with the Department of Transportation and MACA officials to establish such a response system. GNWT staff are prepared to initiate this process as soon as agreement from the town is received.

Issues related to appropriate equipment and training will also be addressed during planning meetings, which will need to occur in the immediate future. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Ms. Thompson. Returns to oral questions. Item 5, recognition of visitors in the gallery, Mr. Ningark.

Qujannamiik. (Translation) Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I wish to recognize the divisional board of education chairman, Ms. Pat Thomas. (Translation ends)

-- Applause

Recognition of visitors in the gallery. Mr. Steen.

Recognition of visitors in the gallery. Mrs. Groenewegen.

Recognition of visitors in the gallery. Mr. Morin.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. On behalf of the government, I would like to recognize an old friend and like they say about old friends, sometimes you have a tendency to disagree on certain issues, but friendships do survive that. I would like to recognize Pat Thomas, president of the NWT Teachers' Association, who is a very positive, always smiling. She is very good natured, friendly, honest, hard-working, and just an all around good person and also a very good liberal, Mr. Speaker.

-- Applause

Thank you. Recognition of visitors in the gallery. Mr. Krutko.

Recognition of visitors in the gallery. Welcome to the Assembly. Item 6, oral questions. Mr. O'Brien.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My question is to the Minister of Finance, also responsible for division. My question is a follow-up to discussions held recently in Cambridge Bay. It is my understanding that the GNWT, through MACA, will directly or indirectly be involved with the infrastructure arrangements for Nunavut. This will include such areas as site development, water and sewer, et cetera. Can the Minister advise this House whether or not there is a central co-ordinator in place to ensure that all parties are on the same wavelength and in sync? Thank you.

The Minister of Finance, Mr. Todd.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I think it is important to point out that we are managing this. Thirty-four million dollars of community infrastructure is required as my honourable colleague said, for rural development pads, et cetera, that will be associated with the decentralized hub of the NIC. While we do not write the cheques, we are assisting federal government in the overall co-ordination of the requirements in these communities and it is my understanding that my colleague, the honourable Manitok Thompson's deputy minister chairs a co-ordinating committee to do exactly that. Thank you.

Oral questions. Supplementary, Mr. O'Brien.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, with the proposed infrastructure and promised jobs for the smaller communities like Arviat and Baker Lake, it will be necessary to have the majority of the infrastructure in place prior to 1999. Mr. Speaker, in order for these proposed jobs to become a reality, there has been a commitment by the federal Minister to spend millions of dollars on various construction projects. Can the Minister confirm whether or not there is policy in place as to how these projects or contracts will be tender? Thank you.

Mr. Todd.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It is important to indicate, as I have on a number of occasions, that the responsibility for the development of the infrastructure of office space, housing, et cetera, lies with the federal Department of Public Works through DIAND and our partners in division, NTI. We have a limited involvement in that. It is almost marginalized. We do not have, at this time, any indication as to how they are going to go about the construction phase of it. We understand it and are sympathetic that the ultimate ownership of the assets on the ground will be owned and operated by NTI. On the actual construction and the rules of engagement, as to how that construction is going to go about, whether it will be public tendered, whether it will be negotiated, whether all northern businesses will have access to it, whether some of our northern preference policies are included, we are not aware to what degree and how the NTI and the federal government are going to go about building this infrastructure. Thank you.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I am sure the Minister can understand that there are a number of small contractors in the operative communities that are awaiting the word as to exactly how these contracts will be awarded. I would ask the Minister if he could contact the responsible parties and get a message back to the Members prior to the House reconvening again? Possibly he could write to us over the next two weeks and let us know? Thank you.

Mr. Todd.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I have seen some of the federal time lines and NTI time lines as they relate to infrastructure development. It is my understanding that there is a desire, understandably so, to get moving on this in 1997 and 1998. I would be only too happy to, through the Nunavut Secretariat, communicate with the federal government and ask them for clarity and clarification as to how this infrastructure is going to be built, by whom, and what the rules of engagement are and will communicate directly with all Members of the House. Thank you.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, at the Cambridge Bay meeting, Minister Irwin acknowledged that the infrastructure would be forthcoming and he was somewhat vague about the timing of it. Has Mr. Todd had any word from the federal department or the federal Minister as to the scheduling of the infrastructure? Thank you.

Thank you. Mr. Todd.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I do not have an updated time line schedule of the infrastructure. With his concurrence, I will add that to the communique that we will have with the federal government next week. We will try to get an update on the time lines and what the rules and regulations are going to be with respect to the construction itself. Thank you.

Thank you. We are still on oral questions. Mr. Krutko is next and we will break until 1:30.

-- Break

The House will come back to order. We are in question period. Mr. Krutko.

The Premier, Mr. Morin.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Previously, the way of tendering in the Government of the Northwest Territories saw many outside and southern companies coming into your communities and leaving after the capital projects were done. I could use my community for an example. Prior to becoming an MLA, we had a capital project in our community of a little over $1 million for the building of a bridge. After everything shook out of the wash, less than one percent of those capital dollars were spent in my community. After that, we started negotiating contracts, not only in the communities that I represent, but many communities throughout the Northwest Territories. We saw, at that time, more dollars were left in the community. People had a tendency to train people in the community so they hired local people. They also learned how to run contracts, learned to administer contracts and we have seen more stay at the community level and at the regional level. Thank you.

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

Mr. Morin.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. In some communities, where we have had negotiated contracts, there may not be a need for it to continue but there is also the principle of community empowerment that we are looking at. That is another way of talking about negotiated contracts. The

question has to be asked, whether or not groups in the communities can benefit from the dollars spent at the community level to supply services to their own people. Whether that is through community empowerment or negotiated contracts, it is yet to be known. I would like to assure the Member that we do not see ourselves changing direction in the very near future. We will continue to make sure that communities benefit from the dollars that are being spent in them. Now that we have the whole issue of Article 24, we have made a commitment already to this Legislative Assembly to work on a policy. A negotiated contract policy is being worked on for all departments of the Government of the Northwest Territories. So, we will do that. Thank you.

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

Mr. Morin.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. With all negotiated contracts for the government, it is part of the negotiation that development corporations and community organizations that are carrying out the contract at the community level, have to supply all that information to the government, all the jobs it creates, all the local people they hire, the regional people and where every cent of that contract is spent. That is part of the information the government compiles and, as Members have seen when they first came here, the best picture that we have seen on the economic front, when we were presented with the economic position of this government and what we did in the previous Assembly to create work in the north, was from our negotiated contracts and our manufacturing in the north. That was the only place we saw the scale go up, where we created more employment in the north, especially at the community level. Thank you.

Oral questions. Final supplementary, Mr. Krutko.

Mr. Morin.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would request that information from the Ministers who are in charge of contracts, Transportation, Public Works and Services, Housing Corporation, for example, to try and compile that information. I will make it available to the Member as soon as I get it. Thank you.

Thank you. Oral questions. Mr. Evaloarjuk.

(Translation) Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My question is directed to the Minister of MACA and requires her assistance. Mr. Speaker, as I understand it, four people were hired during the summer of 1968 to remove 30 graves from the old Hall Beach Cemetery and then have them moved to the current site. I have been told, Mr. Speaker, that these four people did not get paid for the work that they did. I would like to ask the Minister of MACA if she would look into this situation and advise me of her findings? Thank you, Mr. Speaker. (Translation ends)

The Minister of Municipal and Community Affairs, Ms. Thompson.

(Translation) Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to let the honourable Member know that I understood him clearly and I will be speaking to the superintendent of MACA, Mike Ferris. He will be working with the community concerning the graves that were relocated in Hall Beach. I will make sure I will look into why these four people did not get paid for the work that they did. Mike Ferris will be working on this as soon as possible. I will let the honourable Member know as soon as I learn what is happening here. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. (Translation ends)

Thank you. Oral questions. Mr. Picco.

(Translation) Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to ask a question to the Minister of Finance concerning income tax (Translation ends) about help for unilingual and other constituents with income tax problems. I note that Revenue Canada has placed ads now in Yellowknife newspapers about helping residents here with their income tax. My question to the Minister of Finance is, has he contacted Revenue Canada about my earlier concerns and/or assistance in Nunavut and other parts of the Northwest Territories about help with income tax filings? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The Minister of Finance. Mr. Todd.