Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I rise today in regard to the whole question about pay equity and the delivery of services between the small communities and the large centres. There seems to be a real misconception in regard to the service that we deliver in our small communities versus the larger centres. I talk, Mr. Speaker, in regard to the income support and the staff who presently deliver these programs in small communities. Presently as it exists that a full-time staff position is $50,000 and encompasses 2,000 applicants in a community. In the case of Aklavik with a case load of 694 people, the individual is paid $36,000 which is a part-time position.

In regard to income support in the smaller centres especially where you do not have an economic base, there seems to be a real demand on the individual and the program in those communities where you do not have the job opportunities and potential that a lot of the larger centres have. In regard to that we hear the debate regarding the pay equity question with the unions, but I think we are also finding ourselves that there has got to be equity in delivering programs in the communities on a similar basis to those in larger centres.

Mr. Speaker, at the appropriate time, I will be asking the Minister in regard to the Income Support Program exactly why is this injustice being done. Thank you.

Thank you Mr. Speaker. Today I would like to rise to speak about a situation relating to the Arctic Winter Games and specifically the selection of the minor hockey team that occurred. In my constituency and in the South Slave I believe there are a lot of very unhappy parents and disillusioned and wounded young hockey players. Apparently trials were held and a tournament was held in Yellowknife. A team from the South Slave came up and won the tournament yet for some reason ended up with only one player on the Arctic Winter Games team. I understand that the team was picked by the coaches from Yellowknife which for some reasons ended up with eight or so players on the team. Needless to say, I have received letters and calls and a lot of issues were raised about this unfortunate incident. I have passed those on to the Minister. I can only hope that the matter can be resolved; that, in fact, the concerns are addressed and that the players involved are not going to be totally disillusioned about the process where they played their hearts out, gave their best, won the tournament and for some reason - being politics or what ever the situation was - did not get recognized for their victory.

I think we owe the people involved a clear answer. I know the families are very distressed. This is a situation that is not going to go away and unfortunately adds a bad flavour or sense to the Arctic Winter Games which are going to be starting here in a month or so. So I will be asking the Minister for an update on this important issue so that the young hockey players in the South Slave and their families can get some satisfaction and some justice. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, yesterday in my Member's statement I spoke about issues that concern families and children. I followed up with questions to the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment on the Healthy Children Initiative which I referred to earlier as the Early Intervention Program. Mr. Speaker, as I said yesterday, I believe that if we are going to focus on families and improving the future we need to work on the whole family not just pieces of the family. I think that although we are moving in the right direction of trying to focus on earlier problems that occur in homes and the ability of children to learn in the school environment, I hope that we will be able to take some of the concerns being raised and input them into any changes that would be coming, as the Minister said, out of a review. Hopefully that review will happen sooner than later. We know, Mr. Speaker, at times once programs are established they are very difficult to change. I am hoping that any of the reviews that are done are done as soon as possible and that changes to the program can be made quickly so that we can definitely have a positive impact on families across the north. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my question will be directed to the Minister responsible for Education, Culture and Employment. Yesterday I asked him a question regarding the Healthy Children Initiative and he answered me by saying that it is aimed at children. I would like to know if the Minister is aware of the concerns out there where families are the focus not just children and maybe he can give me more of an answer than I received yesterday. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker and good morning. Mr. Speaker, I reviewed my response to the Member in Hansard I have to admit that the response does make it appear as if the programs can only serve children. I appreciate the opportunity to clarify. In fact, the focus of the programs that are approved must be children from ages zero to six, but there is a clear recognition that families also play a role. Therefore there are a number of programs which have been approved that do serve parents as well as the children. I would say that there is a clear recognition that the whole family plays a part in dealing with children at risk. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to thank the Minister for the clarification on that. As I said yesterday, there was a proposal put forward within the community of Inuvik that focused on family situations. Could the Minister make me aware and Members of this Assembly aware that if a proposal is put in, what are the procedures when being accepted or refused? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, funds have been allocated on a regional basis or a community by community basis so that we have targets for each community to make sure that one area does not eat up all of the funding leaving none for others. Community groups submit their applications which are reviewed by an interdepartmental committee at the regional level. The

applications do not come back to headquarters, they are reviewed in the regions. This interdepartmental committee will then weigh the merits of each application, consider the amount of funding that is available by community and decide on which of the projects proposed will receive funding. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Can the Minister inform us the timing of proposals. For example, the upcoming year 1998, can proposals can be submitted as of April, 1st?

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, in the current fiscal year, packages were sent out to communities in June advising community groups how they could apply. We have had updated packages put together so that there will be a better understanding of what constitutes a good program. As well, we have embarked on some training programs and put regional staff in place to help communities develop their proposals. Communities can approach regional staff, as in our regional offices, for the Department of Education, Culture and Employment for assistance in preparing applications. Applications can be submitted almost any time because the funding will be in place, assuming approval of the budget, as of April 1st for new programs. Since some may be continuing programs we would expect that there will have to be some process whereby applications can be reviewed prior to April, 1st. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My questions are addressed to the Minister of Municipal and Community Affairs and it is in regard to the situation I referenced in my Member's statement about the midget hockey selection process which appears to have been badly manipulated and young hockey players' hopes and dreams trampled callously underfoot. I was wondering if the Minister could give us an update on this issue as I passed on to her some concerns clearly identified in letters from my constituents. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. One of the issues of big concern to me coming out of this particular incident is that, in fact, now that this one has come to light there are comments and feedback that this is not an isolated case and that, in fact, when you start picking all-star teams, the system we have in place seems to be one that is manipulated. Would the Minister assure this House that she will take steps to ensure that this issue is addressed in its broader context so that it does not occur in other areas as well as I have been told that it does? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. One of the other final issues I would like to bring up today in regard to this particular matter is the fact that prior to this tournament it was apparently agreed to that the winning team from this tournament would go to another Canada Cup game down south, but for some reason once the South Slave won the tournament the rules changed and the Arctic Winter Games team was, in fact, chosen to go on this tournament that was formerly agreed to have the winner go, which was, as I indicated, the South Slave. Could the Minister also ensure that she makes a special effort to get to the bottom of that

particular issue as well? There has to be some reward for winning. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My question is to the Minister of Education regarding income support. The question I referenced to in my opening statement is the injustice in the way programs are delivered in small communities especially when we talk about community empowerment where we allow communities to take on certain initiatives such as staffing the income support workers. In regard to the program itself and the access to the people it represents, these are only part-time positions where, in other cases, we have social workers, human resource officers, nurses and what not as full-time positions in these communities. The demand for these individuals is high because of the number of individuals who, in most cases, in small communities are applying for income support and the demand is high. Yet the funds are not equally distributed based on a formula that has been worked out. I would like to ask the Minister, has he taken into account these demands on individuals and communities in order to deliver the service more reasonably, has he reviewed it with a possibility of making changes to the program?

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the Income Support Program is delivered in many communities across the north now on a contract basis, wherein the department contracts with someone within the community to deliver the program. The funding for the position is one full-time equivalent for 2,000 cases per year. We have found in almost every community this is an acceptable ratio and seems to be successful. I know I have talked to the mayor of Aklavik and to the Member and there is some concern about the formula working in their community. Part of the problem seems to be that the regional offices increased in that community. Funding in excess of the formula, approximately $14,000 a year, is in order to provide some counselling and additional client support. I would say to the Member, if there is a problem with that part of the program, I would encourage the community to talk to the regional office and outline the problem to see whether or not there is some way to deal with it. We are finding that the one full-time equivalent for every 2,000 cases is working across the rest of the territories. Therefore, it is difficult for me to justify a change for one community. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Regarding the whole question of only doing for one community, I do not believe I am speaking only for one community. We have the same problem in Fort MacPherson and also in Arctic Red. I believe, this problem arises in other small communities, not only the ones I represent. So, I would like to ask the Minister, who determines what is reasonable in regard to the context of who makes that final decision?

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the department came up with the formula in consultation with communities which had run the projects. The Members of the House will probably remember, we ran 11 pilot projects where we used community agencies to deliver the project before we offered the contracting out, or local empowerment option, to all other communities across the territories. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Can the Minister tell me what will to take to do another review. In context of the program being basically in its first year, could we somehow see exactly where the problem areas are in doing another indepth review of how the programs are running today?

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. That sort of review is an ongoing part of the process. We are quite prepared to work with communities and discuss whether or not changes need to be made to programs, to make sure that they are delivered adequately. I do think that in the case the Member is referring to, it is essential that if there is a problem right now, the community needs to discuss that with the regional office. The additional functions that seem to be causing the problems were ones that were negotiated with the regional office. They are not part of the Income Support Program per se. They are not part of the one FTE for 2,000

cases per year. The additional funding that has been received is for counselling and other support, which appears to be the problem. Any problems need to be discussed between the community and the regional office. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. In regard to the Minister's last comments of recognizing there is a problem and how the regional offices are delivering this program, could the Minister file a report in this House regarding the review and how exactly the program is running once the review takes place and file a report in this House on the review of the Income Support Program?

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would be happy to provide the House with a report on how the program is working. I want to make it clear that no group has been hired to do a formal report on this program. The review is an ongoing process that is done in concert with communities as the program is administered. Yes, I would be happy to file something in this House.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I do know that in conversations with the president of the NWTTA, there has been mention of the concern of the cost of housing and how the association believes this concern in some communities is leading to problems with morale among teachers. I am not aware of any problems where teachers are unable to find housing in a community. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, on an individual case by case basis as the department becomes aware of a problem in a community, we will work with the FMBS to try and address that problem. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I believe I have already answered the question. We are looking at it on an individual basis. The Department of Education has no mandate to initiate a policy to provide housing. It would be a staff housing issue that the government would take a look at. As the Member is aware, it is our policy to get out of staff housing. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The Member has asked me a relatively difficult question as power rates are set in a general rate application process which takes years. Stacks of paper perhaps ten feet high are brought before the Public Utilities Board. I assume the Member means in fact, are the rates set so the costs are recovered on a community by community basis? The answer to that is, yes, following the last general rate application and approximately five years of work with the Public Utilities Board, communities and intervenors from across the North. The rates that the Power Corporation charges its customers are set so that each community pays its own way. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, no, the Power Corporation had recommended to the Public Utilities Board that the rates be set in zones so there would be some sharing of capital investment across a range of communities. However, the Public Utilities Board decided that was not appropriate and has directed that the rates be set so each community pays its own way. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I believe I stated in my previous answer, there are no zones. The Public Utilities Board did not approve a zone type of rate. In other words, each community has its own rate and it is intended that each community shall pay its own cost of service. The two areas left in the corporation are an eastern division, and a western division, which have been set up to track costs east and west. I can clearly say there is no subsidization, for instance, of power rates in Nunavut by the rates in the Western Territory.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I have noticed today's editorial in the Yellowknifer, which does indicate that Yellowknifers subsidize almost all other northerners. I must say that I am deeply disappointed that a northern media outlet would publish such blatant balderdash.

It is terribly disappointing that they did not bother to pick up the phone and ask me the question.

I would like to make it very clear, the people of Yellowknife do not subsidize the rates of power for any other community in the Northwest Territories.

--Applause

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My question is for the Minister of Education, Mr. Dent. It is on the subject of violence-free schools. I have been informed that on a daily basis, teachers are reporting incidents of unacceptable behaviour in the classrooms. Teachers are leaving the north because of violence. To date, there have been eight teachers that have terminated their employment with the Government of the Northwest Territories. I wonder if the Minister could tell us

if this is posing a problem with recruitment of teachers to the north.

Thank you Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I have talked to the president of the NWTTA about the issue and have agreed to work with the association to find ways to address it. I am not aware that, to date, violence in northern schools has led to a problem with recruitment. It would appear that our problems with violence, on average across the Northwest Territories, are probably less than what you find in southern schools. In terms of what teachers would have to deal with in the north as compared to the south, it tends not to be quite as bad.

That does not mean that any violence is acceptable, Mr. Speaker. The thrust of our program working with the association and divisional education councils as our partners will be to try and find some way to ensure that the school environment is safe and conducive to learning. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Does the department have an anti-violence policy or a policy to deal with violence in the class room?

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, every divisional educational council must develop its own policy. We, at the department level, are willing to work with them, hopefully, in concert with the association to develop these policies. Thank you Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. From what the Minister indicated just now, I do not believe there is a violence policy in place. But the Minister said he would be willing to have his officials work with boards and the teachers' association.

However, my question is, if there is no strict and hard policy, then can the teachers use the zero tolerance policy for verbal abuse and violence, to be applied? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I did not say that there is no policy. I said, each and every divisional education council is required to have a policy on violence in the schools which must be followed. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The Minister did not answer my question on the zero tolerance policy, whether it would apply in the classroom. I wonder if he could answer that and if I may have my final question, Mr. Speaker?

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I will repeat my answer. The teachers must follow the policy set by each divisional educational council. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.