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. Ootes.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker, and good afternoon colleagues. In a short time, this Assembly will take its recess for the summer. I would like to take this opportunity to thank all my colleagues, and especially the government employees in this building. I would also like to thank the residents of Pangnirtung, Clyde River, Broughton Island, and my wife and my kids. Have a good summer.

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

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my statement is geared towards the Northwest Territories Power Corporation. Over the last weekend during the heavy rains that we had in Rae-Edzo, the Edzo residents woke up Saturday morning to find that a power outage was taking place. This outage lasted from approximately 4:30 a.m. to 12 noon. As you can see, this is an extremely long period and although it is not winter, it was very cool and did create an uncomfortable situation.

Mr. Speaker, this is not the first time this type of thing has happened this year. However, most are not as long as this particular outage, but they do happen. This spring, we had a number of power outages.

Mr. Speaker, it almost seems like these lines are not waterproof or something, as most outages do happen when it is raining out. I realize the Power Corporation does have accidents from time to time on the lines, but there must be something that can prevent or reduce this from occurring often.

Mr. Speaker, at the appropriate time I will be asking the responsible Minister a question. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I will be using my first language so I think you need to wear your earpiece here. Thank you.

(Translation) Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the people in the Northwest Territories get government employment and employment from private sectors in each community. But we all know, Mr. Speaker, that all of our people cannot obtain government jobs and jobs from the private sectors because there is a high unemployment rate in the communities. Whenever there is a job coming to smaller communities, the people that obtain these jobs try to keep them as long as they can, which is understandable. Madam Groenewegen mentioned people who commercial fish that can obtain some money when they have a short term employment and some people do trapping and carving to make money to live.

We all know, today, that the government, during their fiscal restraint do not have any money to provide for the people. We have to try to look for other ways of getting some money. As well, there are hunters and trappers and fishermen that are trying to get income by doing their traditional way of life. We have to try to help those people.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to encourage my fellow Members that we should try to help out people who are trying to make money by their traditional way of life, because they have a need as well. We have to help them out because the government does not provide for them and they are trying to provide for themselves. We have to support them. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. (Translation ends)

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to speak about HMCS Yellowknife, which will be officially launched tomorrow on June 5, 1997.

Mr. Speaker, in the late 1980s, Canada's navy recognized the need for an effective coastal defence platform that would complement Canada's combat capable, general purpose maritime forces. The navy decided to build 12 maritime coastal defence vessels, MCDVs, to meet this requirement. The first of the new kingston class, HMCS Kingston, was launched in August 1995. Kingston class vessels are now joining the fleet about every four months, but the project is scheduled for completion in 1999.

The primary role of the kingston class MCDVs is coastal surveillance and patrol. This involves a wide variety of missions, including general naval operations and exercises, search and rescue, and support to other government departments for various activities such as law enforcement, resource protection and pollution control.

Mr. Speaker, a few days ago, in preparing for the launch, a ship slipped into the water on her own. Fortunately, no damage was done and HMCS Yellowknife is now ready for her official launch. I believe this is a good sign. HMCS Yellowknife is already acting like a true northerner, getting on with things and not waiting to stand on ceremony. I am sure this House joins me in wishing good luck to HMCS Yellowknife and that she has a long and distinguished career in the Canadian navy. Thank you.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, today I would like to speak a little about the accomplishments of residents from Iqaluit. Too many times we raise issues of concerns, complaints, et cetera. Today, I would like to end this sitting on a most positive note.

Last week one of the Pages here in the Assembly from Iqaluit was Sean Doherty. Sean is a grade seven student at Inuksuk High School and was one of three students who represented the NWT at the Great Canadian Geography Quiz in Ottawa. Sean did very well.

Three Iqaluit high school students were selected to participate in the architecture, engineering, and computer program. Erin Levy, Jean Simpson, and Denis Plaza will travel here to Yellowknife in July for orientation. Congratulations.

Donna Kenneally, Jimmy Arlooktoo, Ineak Ipeelie, Edward Flowers, and Jason Carpenter, all students of Nunavut Arctic College in Iqaluit, flew to Latvia to learn about the history, culture and language of the country and then to New York where they represented the country Latvia at the model United Nations conference. They were excellent ambassadors of the north and thanks go out to David Willman, Lin Moss, Derek Cutler, and Ramon Deluca, who were the staff accompanying the students.

The first all women's expedition to the north pole was completed successfully. Members of the women's polar relay expedition were led by Iqaluit's own Matty McNair. Congratulations, Matty.

Moosa and Pitsula Akavak of Iqaluit completed a walk with their children from Lake Harbour to Iqaluit. Mr. Speaker, Moosa and Pitsula were walking to raise awareness of family issues. They are excellent role models for all northerners.

Nunatsiaq news, based in Iqaluit, recently won two awards for best editorial and second best for colour on a tabloid page. Over 145 community newspapers competed in that competition. Congratulations.

Finally, I know that all Members of this House know long time northerner, and my good friend, Mr. Gordon Rennie. Gordon celebrated his 50th year of employment with the Northwest Company, formerly the Hudson Bay Company, last month.

Mr. Speaker, Gordon is still working every day at the northern convenience store in Iqaluit and I know Members of this House will join me in congratulating Gordon and wishing him and his family good health and hopefully soon, a happy and quiet retirement.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Picco. Members' statements. Mr. Henry.

Thank you. Members' statements. Item 4, oral questions. Mr. Dent.

Thank you. Returns to oral questions. Ms. Thompson.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I have two returns. One was asked by Mr. Krutko on May 30, 1997 on land development policy. The western land claims that were settled allowed for the land claim groups, Inuvialuit, Gwich'in, Sahtu, to select lands within municipal boundaries for their ownership and use. These were called municipal lands in the claims. These are not lands owned by the municipalities. Lands within municipalities that were not selected by the claimants have remained under the administration and control of the commissioner or the federal crown.

In Nunavut, TFN was allowed to select land within municipal boundaries as part of settling the land claim. The Nunavut Claim was unique in that it designated the municipality as the owner and administrator of titled land within its boundary. As a result of this, each Nunavut community has had to develop a bylaw regulating how land is to be administered and developed. The fact that most Nunavut hamlets now have land administration bylaws in place has made the GNWT Land Development Capital Program redundant. It is expected that communities administering their own land will also access their own resources through collected lease revenues or borrowing funds to do land development.

In the Inuvik region, the GNWT still administers land on behalf of the communities and the Land Development Capital Program is still in place. There is, however, interest from communities to acquire and administer their own land particularly in Aklavik and Tuktoyaktuk. Should this interest remain, it will be possible for these hamlets to obtain ownership and control over lands and draft and implement land administration bylaws. This would also make the Land Development Capital Program obsolete in these communities just as in Nunavut, and the western communities would then access funds either from collected fees or through long term borrowing to maintain a supply of land in their community.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I have another return, asked by Mr. Steen on June 2, 1997 regarding land development and pricing policies. When the hamlet owns the land within its community boundaries, it can charge whatever it wants for lease fees on existing lots. The less it charges, the less revenue it has. However, in Tuktoyaktuk, the hamlet does not yet own the land. It is Commissioner's land and MACA administers it on behalf of the hamlet. The Land Pricing Policy applies and the minimum lease rental is generally $600 per year. There are some exceptions, such as for seniors and non profit organizations, where the rental is reduced.

Each community that wishes to take over ownership and control over the land must develop its own pricing rules, which are set out in a land administration bylaw. This process is currently underway in Tuktoyaktuk. Until ownership is transferred however, the land will remain under the administration of the GNWT and the $600 minimum lease rental will apply. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I have a return to an oral question asked by Mr. Enuaraq on May 28th regarding the Clyde River Adult Education Centre. A Clyde River contractor known as Qanait Construction Ltd., requested a negotiated contract for the construction of the Adult Education Centre in Clyde River. In January, 1997, after following a normal practice for negotiated contracts, Cabinet directed Public Works and Services to negotiate the contract subject to Article 24 of the Nunavut Final Agreement.

The intent to negotiate was advertised and two other firms expressed an interest in the construction of the building. As for our deadlines on negotiated contracts in Nunavut, the negotiations were then stopped and the three firms were then invited to submit bids. The tender closed on May 16, 1997, and the bids are still being analyzed, so the contract has not yet been awarded. Thank you.