Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like start with what has become a tradition, sending greetings back to my wife and children.

--Applause

Mr. Speaker, we have heard a lot of the concerns that our employees face. Mr. Speaker, a concern that has been raised to me has been in the area of support on the job. We all know that to receive a job with this government for example as a mechanic or an electrician, you need to have the qualifications. You go through your apprenticeship program, receive the necessary training and you are ticketed. Once you have that, you are able to work and receive jobs anywhere in the country and in the Northwest Territories. Mr. Speaker, the concern comes from once you are employed and have a ticket in your specific trade, there is no further need, or it seems that there is no further need to move forward and continue with training even though technology changes within those trades.

Mr. Speaker, my past is in the trades as a mechanic. Things changed on a yearly basis between different manufactures of vehicles and so forth, and I had to learn a lot of it on my own, buying my own special tools that were required. It is not cheap and it is not effective or efficient to have to do these things hands-on without knowing a little bit of information about what is put before you. It seems, Mr. Speaker, that we continue to do this and when it comes to a job that needs specific types of training in any area, then we go out and hire from the south, contract people to come up and do the work for the GNWT in whatever department that is needed. We need to refocus and change the way we approach these things. We have talked about effective and efficient government, well, this is a way we can make use of our own employees by providing the necessary training or upkeep in their trade to keep them on top of the trade that they may do the work on behalf of the government and we would not have to go back and hire south for contractors that have the specific training that is required to repair equipment. An example is airports or anything like that, Mr. Speaker. I would urge this government to refocus and re-look at its initiatives. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

--Applause

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Today I would like to briefly speak to the issue of the unresolved collective bargaining talks that are still underway. A couple of

weeks ago, I met with the combined union locals in Fort Smith that represent GNWT employees in that community. There were about 30 people that came to the meeting. They made it very clear to me that they are not happy. The main reason they are not happy is that they want a chance to vote on a package. They want to be able to provide direction to the executive, who they seem to think are out of touch in this case, with their members and seems to be more tuned into what is happening to the PSAC in Ottawa. Later today, Mr. Speaker, I will be tabling a petition from people in Fort Smith, Hay River, Yellowknife and Norman Wells making this request to the union that they be allowed to vote on a package.

--Applause

Mr. Speaker, this issue has gone on far too long. I believe that some of the concerns raised by my colleague from Iqaluit, for instance, would be addressed if, in fact, the money that is on the table was taken off the table and put into the pockets of employees. I am convinced, Mr. Speaker, that if that option was given to the people, the employees, they would accept the package. Mr. Speaker, I will table this today and encourage the union to put into practice some of the democratic principles they so loudly espouse and let their members vote on this package so we can get on with business. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

--Applause

Thank you, Mr. Speaker, welcome back. Welcome back to my honourable colleagues. Mr. Speaker, on behalf of the residents of Tuktoyaktuk, I wish to thank Members of the Standing Committee on Infrastructure for taking the time to visit the community of Tuktoyaktuk on September 25 to September 27 of this year.

--Applause

Mr. Speaker, the purpose of this community visit was to assist Members of the committee to comprehend and familiarize themselves with capital project funding requests related to infrastructure development in this particular community. The committee Members, Mr. Picco, Mr. Barnabas, Mr. Henry, Mr. Ootes and myself, met with the Hamlet Council and had the opportunity to tour the development sites related to the shoreline erosion protection project which is considered very important to this community's future existence.

Mr. Speaker, at a community gathering, committee Members had an opportunity to meet many of the residents of Tuktoyaktuk on a more informal basis. I also wish to thank the Minister of MACA, Ms. Thompson for taking the time during the week of October 7, 1998 to meet with the Hamlet Council of Tuktoyaktuk and discuss future funding for municipal capital projects.

--Applause

I hope she found her visit very beneficial to her and her department and will again have the opportunity in the near future to tour other communities in my riding of Nunakput such as Paulatuk and Sachs Harbour. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

--Applause

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I am making a statement today with somewhat of a difference. It is a statement that has not been prepared by me. It is prepared by one of my constituents, a young lady by the name of Shannon Graf. She is a grade nine student at St. Patrick's High School and she is here with us today in the Legislative Assembly as part of a national program called Bring Your Kids to Work Today. She is also here along with Stephanie Johnson who is also doing a similar project here at the Legislative Assembly. Shannon is job shadowing her mother Laurell Graf who works here as a researcher. Over the past several weeks she has been researching and writing a statement that I could present in the House. It is entitled: "Why Live in Yellowknife?" She researched the Territorial Government Archives and Library, the city websites, reviewed newspapers, visited City Hall and collected information and statistics. As a researcher, her mother showed her how to organize and write information for a Member's statement. While this statement I am about to make is much longer than the two and a half minute statement we are allowed, Mr. Speaker, I hope you will understand when I ask for unanimous consent to conclude my statement. I am sure you and the other Members will appreciate how well prepared and interesting this statement is. As I said, Mr. Speaker, it is entitled: "Why Live in Yellowknife?"

In recent years, the Northwest Territories has faced difficult economic times. Residents have had to deal with government cutbacks in spending and jobs. Some of our northern communities have experienced the downsizing and closure of local industries, the economics of which were fundamental to the community.

However, with a balanced budget, the signing of the new funding agreement for the new western Northwest Territories, and the realization of the diamond industry, the economic future in the north appears to be anything but dark.

Mr. Speaker, the City of Yellowknife faced the economic storm alongside other communities in the Northwest Territories.

I am proud of how the residents and the city weathered these adverse times and do believe the future for our community to be improving.

In 1996, the census indicated that the City of Yellowknife had a population of 17,275. All indications are that the city is on the verge of another period of growth.

Mr. Speaker, I seek unanimous consent to conclude my statement.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Thank you for your indulgence. In the last year, a total of 2,500 business licenses were issued; basically one license for every seven people in the city. This shows that Yellowknife has a diverse economy which gives the city something to fall back on if one part should fail.

The discovery of diamonds and the industries associated with them has added another "facet" to Yellowknife's economy.

The first Canadian diamond mine, Ekati, officially opened October 14th and work has started on the construction of a diamond cutting and polishing plant and a valuation facility. Mr. Speaker, it has to be said that the residents of Yellowknife are involved in the community, its events, and the development of facilities. The community relies heavily on its volunteer organizations to supply services and raise money for different projects and events within the city. Through the efforts of private businesses, community fund raising projects, city revenues and other grants, many first class facilities have been developed. Volunteers are an important part of our city.

A few of these facilities include: the Ruth Inch Memorial Pool, the Stanton Regional Hospital, fitness clubs, the Yellowknife Community Arena, a curling club, a movie theatre and the Northwest Territories' only indoor equestrian facility, Northland Stables. Local festivities and other events are the result of the efforts of many volunteers. Some of these events are known territorially, nationally and internationally.

Within the last year alone, a few of the events that were the result of Yellowknife volunteers included: Caribou Carnival, Raven Mad Daze, Folk on the Rocks, and, of course, the Arctic Winter Games. Recently, the Yellowknife Air Show counted approximately 6,000 people in attendance, making it the largest single event ever in Yellowknife. When it comes to conferences and conventions, Yellowknife has become one of the places to come to. Over the past year, the City hosted 13 different conferences and conventions.

Across the north, Yellowknife is known for the quality of its education. Within the city, our children have a choice of two school districts to attend. Our schools receive money through funding from both the territorial government and city taxes. To finance a quality educational system, a school tax is paid by ratepayers. This tax is the highest in the NWT and accounts for 25-30 percent of the budget of both school districts. Further to this, School District No. 2 has borrowed money to build a new school with financial guarantees from the territorial government through the P3 process.

Earlier this fall, there was a "sod turning ceremony" at Sir John Franklin High School to celebrate the beginning of retrofitting and upgrading that facility of $1.25 million towards the cost of improving Sir John which is expected to be raised through fundraising activities within the district. Within our city, there are ten different schools.

To conclude, Mr. Speaker, Yellowknife is a great city. We have lived through good times and bad. We have much to be thankful for and much to look forward to.

Mr. Speaker, it has been a great pleasure for me to be able to present this paper that was prepared for me to read in Session today, and certainly I must compliment Shannon Graf for the excellent work she has done in the tremendous fashion in which she has researched and put this together. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.