Good afternoon. Thank you, Mr. Enuaraq. Item 2, Ministers' statements. Mr. Todd.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, during the past two years it has been all too rare to hear good news about new program spending. For reasons all Members know well, it has been my responsibility to present the sobering, if not always popular, facts of this government's difficult financial situation. Our government was determined to lead, rather than be led, by circumstances seemingly beyond our control. But today I have the privilege of reporting that the last 18 months of difficult decisions and wise choices are beginning to pay off.

Responsible and prudent fiscal management has allowed us to reallocate government funds. Funds that we have raised from the sale of our property holdings such as staff housing are being reinvested in people and in community economic development and job creation.

Mr. Speaker, after consultation with my colleagues in the House who identified the need for such a program, I am pleased to announce today the launch of the Northern Employment Strategy. This $16 million, in each of the next two years, is a focused action plan to stimulate job creation, economic growth and labour force development. It is specifically targeted to young people and those out of work - people out of hope - people who need a reason to believe in themselves and to believe in a better future.

Certainly, the challenges facing our communities are great. Whether we talk about unemployment, school drop-out, teenage pregnancy, alcohol and solvent abuse, crime or suicide rates, northern communities account for some of the most alarming statistics in the country. Clearly, Mr. Speaker, we cannot wait for our economic futures and fortunes to improve before we act. We face a socio-economic crisis that demands an urgent response.

I am confident the Northern Employment Strategy will go a long way to providing that response. Here is how it will work. The GNWT will directly support private sector and community economic development initiatives which:

- Stimulate immediate job and work experience opportunities, particularly for summer students and youth;

- Provide new job and work-related educational opportunities to social assistance recipients and unemployed residents; or,

- Offer training and technical support to build capacity within individual communities.

We will invest in seed initiatives that result in increased private sector access to equity capital and debt financing programs. This, in turn, will stimulate partnerships that lever other sources of funding to optimize access to capital, job creation, skills development and economic activity.

If approved by this Legislative Assembly, the Northern Employment Strategy will invest $16 million in departmental programs. When combined with existing budgets, this means a total of $30 million will be strategically invested in community, economic and labour force development initiatives this year. A further $8 million is projected to be levered through contributions from partnerships and client equity. A minimum of $12.5 million in project funds is expected to be spent on NWT goods and services.

As a result, at least 43,000 work weeks of employment -- the equivalent of 1,072 full-time jobs or $17 million in payroll -- will be created, this year alone. With the infusion of an additional $16 million in the next fiscal year, we anticipate even greater results.

Mr. Speaker, the Northern Employment Strategy will be coordinated and co-managed by the Department of Resources, Wildlife and Economic Development, the Department of Education, Culture and Employment and the Financial Management Board Secretariat. These three departments will work together to reduce red tape and get more mileage out of every government dollar. They will maximize benefits to communities by offering an integrated one window access to capital and skills development opportunities to meet immediate job creation needs and to stimulate long-term economic growth.

Communities are the key to the success of the strategy. Consistent with this government's commitment to community empowerment, the Northern Employment Strategy will strengthen community efforts to achieve greater self-sufficiency and to improve social and economic conditions.

It will increase support for empowerment initiatives by providing the necessary advisory, human resource development, planning support and programming. It will give business, industry and communities the tools and flexibility they require to make wise economic decisions that will lead to the responsible management of our resources.

Mr. Speaker, we know the GNWT is no longer the engine of the economy. Business and community development drive economic growth, and are the lifeblood of job creation in a sustainable economy. We know, too, that the only lasting solutions to community challenges are invariably homegrown. That is why community-based and regional organizations, working in partnership with local private sector interests, will have control over project design, development and, more importantly, delivery.

With these new powers come new responsibilities. Communities will now be held accountable for the outcomes of their employment strategies. Achievable targets have been identified and projects will be measured against these standards to assess whether initiatives produce the expected results.

This represents a significant shift in the government's approach to how programs are delivered and how results are achieved. In today's difficult economy, it is essential that we focus our energies and resources on strategies that demonstrate the best performance. It is also important to note that the additional $16 million, this year and next, will build on what ever works. In the interests of efficiency and cost effectiveness, most of the funds will go to six existing programs with the reminder being reinvested in two new initiatives. The monies will be allocated as follows:

- $3 million to the Business Development Fund, to stimulate business growth through business planning, creation, marketing and the development of business skills;

- $3 million to Community Futures, to replenish community funds that have been exhausted and to expand the program into the Sahtu, Deh Cho, Kitikmeot and North Slave regions;

- $2 million to the Community Initiatives Program, which supports community-based projects such as community wellness, municipal infrastructure, student programs and pathways;

- $2 million to the GNWT/Canada Infrastructure Initiative, to revitalize local infrastructure, provide skills training, work experience and short-term jobs to individuals in the community;

- $2 million to investing in people, which helps individuals become more employable through adult basic education and personnel development;

- $2 million to Working Together, Youth at Work which will provide subsidies to employers who hire students or young people;

- $1.5 million to the Community Empowerment Development Fund to support municipal governments as they take on more responsibilities transferred from the GNWT; and,

- $500,000 in grants to small businesses which are geared to individuals - typically social assistance recipients - who are unable to access larger business programs.

I remind this House that these are not new dollars. They are reinvested dollars. Dollars re-directed to areas of greatest need. We are making strategic investments, investing in people, providing incentives for learning, encouraging self-reliance and creating opportunities for economic growth and lasting employment. We are increasing our investments where it counts, in the areas that will make the most difference over the longer term. More to the point, we are putting our investment in people first.

Mr. Speaker, I am not suggesting the Northern Employment Strategy will be a panacea. Our needs are great and funding is still scarce. But it is a critical first step on the path to greater economic growth and self-sufficiency for northern communities.

I want to thank my colleagues, the Honourable Charles Dent, Honourable Stephen Kakfwi and Honourable Manitok Thompson for the productive partnerships which have made this important new initiative possible. I would also like to recognize the role of the Standing Committee on Government Operations in identifying the need to develop a comprehensive northern employment strategy and their advice in the development of this strategy.

Mr. Speaker, every Member of this Legislature can take pride in this accomplishment. Our collective commitment to fiscal responsibility to making difficult, but ultimately the right choices, has allowed us to make this progress. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

-- Applause

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

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

Thank you. The motion is in order. Question has been called. All those in favour of the motion, signify. Down please, thank you. Opposed? The motion is carried. Minister's statement 77-13(4) will be moved into the committee of the whole for today. Thank you.

I would like to take this opportunity to recognize one of our young men, Mr. Jay Bran, who is our deputy Sergeant-at-Arms. Jay is a student who is attending Langara College in Vancouver and is taking environmental studies. I would also like to recognize Jay's parents, Mrs. Eleanor and Mr. Barry Bran, who are sitting in the Gallery today. Welcome.

-- Applause

Thank you. Welcome to the Assembly. On behalf of Mr. Picco and our colleagues, Members of this Legislature I would like to wish a happy birthday to one of the Pages from Iqaluit, Alex Stubbing. Happy birthday.

-- Applause

Item 3, Members' statements. Mr. Miltenberger.

Thank you, Mr. Miltenberger. I would like to remind all Members again, in recognition of the dignity of the House, a Member of the House cannot use another Member's first name. You should use the last name, in respect of other Members. Thank you. Madam Groenewegen, Member for Hay River.

Thank you, Madam Groenewegen. Members' statements. I have the honourable Member for Mackenzie Delta, Mr. Krutko.

Thank you, Mr. Krutko. Members' statements. The honourable Member for Yellowknife Centre, Mr. Ootes.

Mr. Ootes, your allotted time has elapsed. Mr. Ootes.

The honourable Member for Yellowknife South, Mr. Henry. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, when I came to this legislative building approximately 18 months ago, there were many issues my constituents wanted me to address. One of these issues was preparation for division. There was a feeling that Nunavut was well on its way with a clear vision and lots of support from the federal and the territorial governments. People did not think the west was getting equal treatment. They told me they were worried that the west would not be properly represented when it came time to divide the pie. The hot topic was assets and liabilities. Over the past year, I have looked at the assets and liabilities and reviewed the papers prepared by the government. Like most MLAs, I do not see major concerns in this area. Most of the assets and liabilities are quite straightforward as to how they should be divided. It is very clear how they should be divided, with the exception of a couple or three items.

People then told me they were worried about material changes between the two territories. Again, I have looked at this and it is not going to be a big deal, Mr. Speaker. The Members of the Legislative Assembly have spent the last week reviewing the initial division costings of the two new governments. We were prepared for some significant differences in opinion between eastern and western Members, but it never happened. There are not many trouble spots, just more technical details. I am convinced that there are not very many areas where east and west will have major differences. There is not a big fight coming, Mr. Speaker. What we do have is a lot of work to do to get people and programs in place in both territories by April 1, 1999.

I am aware of the fears of some western residents about division and what it will mean. One of the things that I have done with the support of my colleagues in the Western Caucus of the Assembly is to become involved with the Western Coalition. This group is working hard, yes very hard, Mr. Speaker, and it is focused with working with other parties to make division happen as smoothly as possible. Mr. Speaker, there is lots being done to prepare for division both east and west. If we can stay focused and not get sidetracked by unnecessary tangents, we will be ready. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

-- Applause

Thank you, Mr. Henry. The honourable Member for Inuvik, Mr. Roland.

Thank you, Mr. Roland. Members' statements. The honourable Member for High Arctic, Mr. Barnabas.

Qujannamiik. (Translation) Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I would like to make a Member's statement in regards to the residents of Grise Fiord. They have had problems with their municipal services such as water delivery. I would like to state that even though the community is relatively small, it is growing every year because of high birth rates. At the appropriate time, I would like to ask the Minister of MACA questions regarding my statement. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. (Translation ends)

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