Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I wish to table a letter, Tabled Document 87-13(4): Letter from Ada Cockney Re: Water Delivery Cutbacks, from Ada Cockney of Tuktoyaktuk and signed by her in regards to water delivery cutbacks.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to table the following document, Tabled Document: 92-13(4): May 1997 edition of "Delta Voices", which is a paper that has been published through the Mackenzie Delta Regional Council and also the Inuvik region.

-- Applause

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to request unanimous consent to waive rule 44 to proceed with Motion 18-13(4) on Extended Adjournment, which I gave notice of yesterday.

I MOVE, seconded by the honourable Member for Keewatin Central, that notwithstanding rule 4, that when this House adjourns on June 5, 1997 it shall be adjourned until Wednesday, October 1, 1997.

AND FURTHER, that any time prior to October 1, 1997 if the Speaker is satisfied, after consultation with the Executive Council and Members of the Legislative Assembly, that the public interest requires that the House should meet at an earlier time during the adjournment, the Speaker may give notice and thereupon the House shall meet at the time stated in such notice and shall transact its business as it has been duly adjourned at this time.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to request unanimous consent to waive Rule 44 to proceed with Motion 19-13(4) on relocation of federal civil servants, which I gave notice of yesterday.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

WHEREAS, this government supports the devolution of federal program authorities and responsibilities and their concomitant resources to the Government of the Northwest Territories;

AND WHEREAS, federal public servants developing policies and delivering programs for Northwest Territories residents continue to reside in Canadian jurisdictions outside the Northwest Territories;

AND WHEREAS, the development of federal policy and the delivery of federal programs on behalf of Northwest Territories residents is best facilitated by federal public servants residing in the policy and program target area, namely the Northwest Territories, in order to better realize the economic potential of the north and maximize the benefits to northerners;

AND WHEREAS, the effective and efficient delivery of federal programs and services to Northwest Territories residents will be enhanced by bringing delivery resources closer to the intended recipients;

AND WHEREAS, the location of federal public servants developing policies and deliveries programs to residents of the Northwest Territories is a federal responsibility;

NOW THEREFORE, I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Iqaluit, that the Legislative Assembly request that the Premier immediately communicate with the Prime Minister to request that a comprehensive listing of all federal civil service positions dedicated to policy development and programming in the Northwest Territories which are currently located in the southern jurisdictions be provided by September 30, 1997;

AND FURTHER, that the Premier, in communicating this request, suggest to the Prime Minister that this exercise commence with the mineral, oil and gas functions currently residing within the Department of Indian Affairs and Northern Development;

AND FURTHERMORE, upon receipt of the comprehensive listing, request that the Premier initiate discussions with the appropriate federal Ministers to facilitate the relocation of identified federal positions to the Northwest Territories as an interim step towards the eventual devolution of authority and programs from the federal government to the Government of the Northwest Territories.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to say a few words in support of this motion. This is, to me, a very constructive proposal for all of us to improve our program delivery here in the north and to replenish job losses. The federal government has a responsibility to us and a golden opportunity here to meet that need. This can be good news for all of us and assist our ailing economies. I understand there are about 50 people up to the ADM level working at the Northern Affairs section in Ottawa. This staff includes the Devolution Secretariat and the Nunavut Secretariat which, I understand, has about four people in Ottawa in addition to those in Iqaluit. Other areas where transfers from Northern Affairs may be feasible include the Natural Resources and Environment branch, Mineral Resources Directorate, Northern Oil and Gas, and Sector Policy and Program Development. Understand in land claims there are anomalies. Claims people working in BC and the Yukon are located in those regions, but in the NWT the people for the self-government section are located in Ottawa and there is no clear distinction or reason for this. There are areas outside DIAND where transfers might be feasible. The aboriginal branch in Justice, northern pipelines, the national energy boards monitoring compliance functions, human resource development, on and on it goes.

Some general points. I think the federal civil service will do a better job of understanding northern issues and delivering programs if the people they serve are in the north, not located in southern Canada.

Communications - if that is a concern to those civil servants, the NWT is making a large investment in digital communication networks and federal civil servants will be able to take advantage of this resource for advanced, low cost communications with their headquarters. Mr. Speaker, the idea of job transfers is not new. It has been around for years, but we have to focus it. I feel my motion today will focus attention on this to get this accomplished. We have a new Minister of Indian and Northern Affairs coming on stream fairly shortly. It is a good initiative for us to take forward to he or she when that person takes office. I am seeking support for my motion with those arguments, Mr. Speaker. Thank you.