Thank you, Mr. Rabesca. The honourable Member for Iqaluit, Mr. Picco. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Picco. Members' statements. The honourable Member for Kivallivik, Mr. O'Brien. Thank you.

Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, today I rise on a sad note. Two weeks ago my home community of Arviat suffered a terrible tragedy. A three-year-old child came in contact with a team of dogs and was severely mauled and died from her injuries. Mr. Speaker, I ask that you and my fellow colleagues join me in offering our sincere condolences to my friend Dennis Okatsiak, his wife and family for the loss of their precious Panik. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. O'Brien. Members' statements. Member for Yellowknife North, Mr. Erasmus. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. First of all, I would like to welcome everyone back to the fair city of Yellowknife. Also, I would like to welcome the Pages who are from Iqaluit. Welcome to Yellowknife. I hope you have a good time. Mr. Speaker, my Member's statement today is on division. This government has finished a second year of the deficit reduction plan. This means that most communities can breathe a sigh of relief as they will have no more reductions.

With division some Nunavut communities may even look forward to growth. Unfortunately, Yellowknife is not in this enviable position. When division hits there will be smaller government in the west. Programs and services in communities will not be reduced. However, headquarters functions will naturally be reduced as there will be less volume of users. In other words, division is going to mean a slightly smaller headquarters staff in Yellowknife. For some displaced employees there will be opportunities to join Nunavut government and move to Iqaluit perhaps. Others may not be able to move for family or other personal reasons. Mr. Speaker, I am concerned about the impact of division on Yellowknife residents. No matter what we call it, division will mean that some staff will not have jobs after April 1, 1999. We have talked about how we need stability. As much as possible, we have to give headquarters staff that same stability. As the government develops its pre-division plans, I will be closely watching to ensure the impact on active staff is minimized. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

-- Applause

Thank you, Mr. Erasmus. Members' statements. The honourable Member for Inuvik, Mr. Roland.

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

Mahsi. (Translation) Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I will speak in my language. I am glad that we have gathered here to meet for another two weeks. So, I am glad to see you. During our break, I was able to go home to my community. Recently, we had an ice breakup in Fort Simpson and when this happens there is usually a lot of commotion. This year there was a lot of water and in places like Jean Marie River, there was a lot of commotion for the few days that there was a breakup. They were scared that it might flood, but that did not happen so I am thankful for that. Recently, when I was in my constituency, and when I arrived in Fort Liard, I was glad that the leaves had come out. It is not like around here -- when the leaves come out in Fort Liard and birds are out and the people are out visiting, I am glad that I went to visit them.

Today is another new day. I am glad that there are a lot of new items that people are working on in the community and us too at the Legislative Assembly. I suppose that we would like to be out in the good weather, but during the duration of the meeting it would be good if we worked well together. Thank you.

-- Applause

Thank you, Mr. Antoine. Members' statements. Item 4, returns to oral questions. Item 5, recognition of visitors in the gallery. Mr. Krutko.

Thank you, Mr. Krutko. Welcome to the Assembly. Recognition of visitors in the gallery. Mr. Picco.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, today it gives me great pleasure to welcome Allan and Eliza Kingdon, also known as Mr. and Mrs. Canada, from Iqaluit. Eliza is here this week helping me with the seven Pages from Iqaluit. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

--Applause

Thank you, Mr. Picco. Welcome to the Assembly. Recognition of visitors in the gallery. Mr. Enuaraq.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to take this opportunity to recognize Billy Merkosak from Pond Inlet. Thank you.

--Applause

Thank you. Welcome to the Assembly. Thank you. Item 6, oral questions. Mr. Enuaraq.

(Translation) Thank you, Mr. Speaker. During Members' statements I made a statement about the school in Pangnirtung that will be built. The gymnasium is too small. I would like to ask the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment what he has done up-to-date about the size of the gymnasium. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. (Translation

ends)

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

Thank you. Supplementary, the honourable Member for Baffin Central, Mr. Enuaraq.

(Translation) Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The Community Education Council in Pangnirtung were told that the gymnasium in the new school, if they have to extend the gymnasium, the Community Education Council has to provide $250,000. They are not able to provide this money, and I feel that the GNWT should help the community extend the gymnasium. The school that burned down had a bigger gymnasium and I wonder if the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment can look into this further to see if the gymnasium could be extended? Thank you. (Translation ends)

The honourable Mr. Dent.