Oral questions. Supplementary, Mr. Erasmus.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I know that we do have sole sourced contracts for northerners as well. However, I think that we should be trying to keep these dollars in the north. Are there any specific programs that we have in place so that we can get northerners to provide those same products and services that southerners are now providing through sole sourced contracts? Thank you.

Mr. Morin.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. There is no specific program in place for any specific sole sourced contract. But we have done many things in the Northwest Territories as the Northwest Territories Government to ensure that we stop leakage to southern Canada. For example, all tanks are now manufactured in the Northwest Territories, and all the sewer tanks are manufactured, water tanks are manufactured in the north. Windows are manufactured in the north. Doors, cabinets are manufactured in the north. Trusses are manufactured in the north. So there are many things that have traditionally come from the south, say five years ago that are now being manufactured in the Northwest Territories. So if there are any sole sourced contracts with southern companies that can be done in the Northwest Territories, I would be pleased to do that and do that as soon as possible because there is no interest to this government to sole source contracts with southern companies if it does not benefit the Northwest Territories and the northern people. Thank you.

Supplementary, Mr. Erasmus.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Is the Premier then committing to identifying those areas where those southern companies are having sole-sourced contracts and to assist northerners to move into those areas so they can provide those goods and services? Thank you.

Mr. Morin.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. We in the past have always said that we are committed to working with northerners for northern control of northern resources as well as northerners benefiting from the dollars that this government spends. So if there are northerners out there who can come forward and replace the purchasing that we are doing in southern Canada, I would be pleased to work with them to

facilitate that because the dollars that we are spending in the Northwest Territories should be spent in the north and we, as a government, are totally committed to that. Thank you.

Oral questions. Final supplementary, Mr. Erasmus.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Would the Premier be willing to initiate something rather than waiting for northern people to come to the government in this matter?

Mr. Morin.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. What I will commit to doing is reviewing the contracts that are let, the document the Member is referring to, working with the Member to identify those sole source contracts which he says adds up to $20 million. I was quite surprised by that number because I did not realize it was that high. I am not too sure if it is. I am committed to working with Members of this Legislative Assembly and the general public, the business people, to make sure the dollars we do spend in the Northwest Territories stay in the Northwest Territories. Thank you.

Thank you. Oral questions is over. Item 7, written questions. Item 8, returns to written questions. Mr. Clerk.

Mr. Speaker, return to written question 16-13(4) asked by Mr. Erasmus to the Chairman of the Financial Management Board concerning staff training participation levels.

I have provided to all Members today copies of the following documents pertaining to Government of the Northwest Territories staff training participation levels:

1. A breakdown of the total number of aboriginal employees in the GNWT as of December 31, 1996;

2. A summary of the GNWT staff training course enrolments at Aurora College for the academic years (July 1 to June 30) 1991-92 through 1995-96;

3. A summary of the GNWT staff training course enrolments at Nunavut Arctic College for the academic years (July 1 to June 30) 1991-92 through 1995-96.

The Aurora College does not maintain records by ethnicity. The information for Nunavut Arctic College indicates how many of the participants were aboriginal.

The information provided refers only to staff training taken through the Aurora and Nunavut Arctic Colleges. In addition to staff training provided by the Colleges, Government of the Northwest Territories staff frequently take advantage of a variety of private sector training opportunities. Thus, the actual number of GNWT staff who have participated in training opportunities is significantly greater than indicated on the material distributed. I am unable to provide exact numbers as there is no formal government-wide tracking system for such training.

There is no information available to show a breakdown between management aboriginal staff and management non-aboriginal staff who have participated in staff training courses in 1996.

Thank you. Item 8, returns to written questions. Item 9, replies to opening address. Item 10, petitions. Mr. Krutko.

Petitions. Mr. Steen.

Thank you. Petitions, Mr. Ng.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I have a petition from 144 residents of Kugluktuk to preserve our language, Petition 25-13(4). "We the undersigned are concerned with the preservation of our language. We wish to voice our concerns about the changes that are being implemented against our wishes as parents of the children being taught with these changes and wishes of the elders. Presently the Kitikmeot Board of Education is using the letters q, r and s in our written autography when they are not part of our local dialect for much of the Kitikmeot region. We want this implementation stopped immediately. We want our language preserved the way our elders know it and we want our dialect respected in its' distinctness." Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

-- Applause

Thank you. Petitions. Item 11, reports of standing and special committees. Item 12, reports of committees on the review of bills. Item 13, tabling of documents. Mr. Todd.

Tabling of documents. Mrs. Groenewegen.