Mr. Speaker, I rise today to invite you, all Members and the public to view the Arctic Canada Trading display and meet the Arctic Canada Trading staff featured today in the Great Hall. Arctic Canada Trading is the marketing group established by the Northwest Territories Development Corporation.

The display is used as part of a major marketing tool to showcase our products from the Northwest Territories to buyers both nationally and internationally. The products are created as a result of the efforts of people working in subsidiary companies operated under the guidance of the Northwest Territories Development Corporation. In addition, Members will see products created by those involved in the cottage industry programs. These individuals make their products in their own homes and sell them to Arctic Canada Trading.

Mr. Speaker, I would ask that the Members take time to note and appreciate the high quality and detail of the work purchased from the people throughout their constituencies. Arctic Canada Trading has played a major role in strengthening the outside marketing infrastructure, thereby helping to create continual sales for northern products made by northern people in southern and international markets.

As a result, this wholly owned marketing group is creating employment throughout the Northwest Territories. In fact, Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to tell you today that in the last fiscal year, the Northwest Territories Development Corporation issued over 1300 T4s to workers across the Northwest Territories.

Mr. Speaker, good marketing requires investment and patience. It also requires support from all people in the territories. I would like to thank all Members of this Legislative Assembly who continually, throughout their travels, have taken the time to request products or brochures to pass on to those they meet. This kind of commitment strengthens and broadens the marketing of northern projects. Mahsi cho.

--Applause

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, good afternoon. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to announce today that the Department of Education, Culture and Employment will implement a framework to train more health and social services workers. This training will be done in conjunction with the Department of Health and Social Services through Nunavut and Aurora Arctic colleges. In all, over $2 million in additional training funds will be spent in the next two years.

This funding will be used to offer more nursing access programs, increased support for students in diploma programs, and begin delivery of nursing degree courses. Other health-related occupation programs will also be expanded. These include Community Health Representative, Community Home Support Worker, Long-term Care Aid and Alcohol and Drug Addictions Counsellor programs.

On the social services side, a social work access year will be added to the social work diploma program and degree courses will be enhanced. This January, the nursing access year will be offered at two locations in the western NWT and one in Nunavut. A social work access program will also begin in the west. The rest of the programs will begin next fall.

Last week, my colleague, the Minister of Health and Social Services, announced actions to help attract and keep more health and social service professionals in our northern communities. These actions, together with more opportunities for training, will go a long way to ensure a good supply of well-trained professionals to fill health and social services jobs now and in the future.

I am pleased that we have been able to respond in such a positive way to a clear and important need. This training strategy will build the capacity of northerners to meet our own needs in the health and social services professions and improve services for all residents. Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.

--Applause

Mr. Speaker, fur harvesting is an integral part of northern culture, history and the economy. Because fur is so important to our residents, this government has shown unparalleled leadership in our efforts to ensure that harvesting, as a way of life, remains a viable option for future generations. In 1994, we implemented the NWT Fur Strategy and achieved the following objectives:

- Our biologists have worked closely with local harvesters to monitor populations of fur-bearers and their prey so fur-bearers can be managed sustainably;

- We participated in negotiating an Agreement on International Trapping Standards with the European Union to keep our fur markets open;

- We have implemented an extensive trap exchange program to ensure that our fur harvesters comply with the standards outlined in the agreement;

- We have invested in harvester training in the use of new traps and techniques to ensure harvesting is humane;

- We promoted Nunavut-produced sealskins; and worked to develop a larger market for this product;

- We have developed a new Fur Harvesters Training Manual that has been sent to each of our regions to assist in harvester training.

We have also supported our harvesters through the Fur Pricing Program which guarantees harvesters a minimum price for prime-quality furs. We believe it is now time to turn our attention towards marketing. Wild fur from the NWT is the best in the world. Unfortunately, auction houses often mix our fur with lower-grade products. If it is collected and marketed properly, we believe we can take advantage of the exclusive quality of NWT fur and ensure our harvesters are rewarded with top prices. A change in our marketing approach will also encourage more participation by NWT harvesters, provide opportunities for NWT residents in other sectors of the fur economy, and put pride back in a proud industry.

To help market our furs more effectively, we have engaged the services of a company with many years of experience in international wild fur marketing. We are encouraging all trappers to use this agency which will sell NWT furs as a unique product. Other aspects of our fur marketing strategy will focus on increasing awareness among the world's fur and fashion leaders of the high quality of fur harvested in the Northwest Territories. Mr. Speaker, we are confident that this strategy will increase the value and return to our fur harvesters. The northern trapping industry has already seen many positive changes and I believe we can continue to build on that momentum and rejuvenate a sense of pride and ownership in fur harvesting and fur products. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I would like to speak today about a problem that affects all of us, especially ones in the smaller communities. It is the problem with fetal alcohol syndrome and fetal alcohol effect. We know that FAS and also FAE can cause birth defects in children and also affect their ability to learn. Children and adults who suffer from these symptoms have difficulty understanding and learning, ranging to severe mental disabilities. We know that FAS/FAE is not an isolated incidence, but is a problem. It is preventable and it affects everyone across the Northwest Territories.

In Fort McPherson and Aklavik, there is a dire need to address the problems of FAS/FAE within the education system. Some students with FAS/FAE are seriously disabled and find they need intensive supervision and others need to be cared for in a manner which may take a little longer than healthy students. We need to support public education in regard to preventative measures, as well as support for the victims, our children. Mr. Speaker, at the appropriate time, I will be asking the Minister questions on the matter of FAS/FAE students in our schools. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Fort Smith, the community I represent, is a multicultural community where there are three main political organizations, the town, the band and the Metis. Over the years, as we have worked on fine-tuning a relationship among those three key organizations, agreements have been reached on how local services and programs should be run and governed. For example, a number of years ago it was agreed that the hospital, the health board, would go to an appointed structure with three representatives from the band, three from the town and three from the Metis. A similar process was agreed to with the local housing authority where they were appointed seats and within the last year, the community turned its attention to the local district education authority.

Over the years, like many communities, it had been almost impossible to get a full slate of elected representatives. Steps have been taken in the last year, working with the Minister and the department through the new Education Act, to look at changing the structure in which appointments and people are put on the board. The request from the community was, in fact, that we move to an appointed board, similar to those used in the health board and the local housing board. It is my understanding that the process is almost complete and that after slightly over a year, the Minister and the department are almost ready to sign off that request and that direction from the people in the community that I represent. This was done over the course of the year where there was consultation, public meetings, meetings with the community leaders on this particular issue. I am very pleased at this juncture to have us almost ready to bring to conclusion this next step with the community of Fort Smith as we once again continue to improve and fine-tune how we do business as a community. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, earlier this year, the Transportation department launched a $2.2 million new roads initiative for the Northwest Territories and there are four roads that are being studied that will have a great impact and economic benefit for all northerners. It is a good initiative for this government to undertake. We need road development to access non-renewable resources and, in turn, create jobs with the resultant spinoff of more stability for our government. There is a need for the government to address the issue of economic development.

Population levels in the west are stagnant or perhaps declining. Any population decrease will impact negatively on the amount of money that is transferred to this government from the federal government, through the formula financing system. Any decease in population could cost us millions of dollars, transfer dollars, plus losses in income taxes. It should also be remembered that our government continues to be hampered by the force growth in such areas as health and social services and education to the tune of possibly $15 million a year. While we may have a balanced budget today, in several years the forced-growth situation and decline in population may put this government in a deficit position once again.

The solution, of course, is for us to create jobs. Therefore roads to access the resources in the territories is critical. Our resource potential has been termed as massive with huge oil and gas fields, as well as rich deposits of diamonds and gold and other precious metals and minerals. These are the industries that can provide large-scale jobs for our northerners. Industry and businesses have for many years indicated that the lack of jobs is directly related to a lack of public investment in the transportation infrastructure. A highway into the barren lands, north of Yellowknife and Great Slave Lake, would give increased access not only for mineral exploration, but also for tourism. Such an undertaking can dramatically alter the economic well-being of the western Arctic and any road construction that leads to increased development of resources can have a positive rippling effect for all communities of the north, be they near or far. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

--Applause.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I will just use this opportunity to make a statement about the recent international culinary competitions which were held in Quebec City that were attended by an NWT culinary team. Chef Pierre LaPage, Chef John MacDonald, and Chef Patrick Kane who are all in the gallery today, attended and represented the people of the Northwest Territories at that competition and, in fact, came away with some top marks and received some gold awards as a result of their efforts. I just wanted to make note of it as a Member of the Legislature for their excellent representation and their work that they performed in the competitions. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. This is in response to a question asked by Mr. Krutko on September 25, 1998. It is regarding transfers of federal authorities to the north.

The Government of the Northwest Territories (GNWT) has been seeking the transfer of province-like responsibilities for land, water and non-renewable resources from the federal government since the mid-1980s. However, agreement on such a transfer through various framework agreements, negotiated accords and memoranda of understanding has not been successful.

In the absence of any final agreement, Cabinet directed in October 1997 that a number of actions be undertaken to further the GNWT's broader objective of increasing northern control over northern resources. Specific actions included:

- A common position with aboriginal organizations on the full devolution of federal responsibilities;

- Discussions with the Department of Indian Affairs and Northern Development (DIAND) on the decentralization of the Northern Affairs Program to the north;

- Discussions with DIAND regarding a proposal to include pre-bid qualifications in the process of issuance of petroleum rights in the Northwest Territories (NWT); and,

- Discussions with the federal government on resource revenue sharing arrangements.

This is a return to oral question asked by Mr. Steen on September 18, 1998 regarding an additional wildlife officer for Tuktoyaktuk.

The Department of Resources, Wildlife and Economic Development has reviewed the possibility of placing an additional renewable resource officer in the community of Tuktoyaktuk. Unfortunately, due to financial constraints, an additional position is not an option. Consideration was given to establishing a trainee position with the Department of Education, Culture and Employment. However, trainee positions require that a full-time, indeterminate position be available upon completion.

Given this and the fact that other communities in the area do not have renewable resource officers, we cannot justify the establishment of an additional renewable resource officer position in Tuktoyaktuk. It may be possible, however, to allocate additional funds for increased patrols during the caribou harvest. This may be an area to consider during the budget review process.

Mr. Speaker, this is a return to oral question asked by Mr. Rabesca on September 21, 1998, regarding NWT campgrounds.

Mr. Speaker, we are currently drafting terms of reference for a study into the needs of local residents regarding the development of a new park in the Rae-Edzo area. We see this as providing employment and economic benefits to the community while allowing consideration of other tourism-related developments.

Although we do not expect the study to begin until the 1999/2000 fiscal year, we hope to have the support of the band and local agencies regarding the terms of reference before March 31, 1999. It is clear that with land claims negotiations not yet concluded, the acquisition of land for this development purpose will be a major consideration.

We anticipate that part of this study would include revisiting some of the planning work previously done, but the study must also recognize other new developments such as the golf course that the community is currently developing.

Finally, Mr. Speaker, this is a return to oral question asked by Mr. Barnabas on September 22, 1998 regarding an issue about northern carver copyright.

The federal government has a Copyright Act that protects artists from others copying their work without the artist's permission. This law applies to carvers and a variety of other creative art forms.

The Universal Copyright Convention provides for marking with a small "c" in a circle, the name of the copyright owner, who is the artist in this case, and the year the artwork was produced. This marking serves as a reminder to others of a copyright, as well as providing the name of the artist. This convention has been in use for many years. Any artist is protected under this act, whether they register their work or not.

The Department of Resources, Wildlife and Economic Development is working with Aboriginal Business Canada and the Dene Cultural Institute on a "Business of Art" conference in Yellowknife this March. Part of this conference will deal with copyright law for artists and should provide a forum to discuss the extent of the problem and propose means to address it. A similar conference is planned for Nunavut in the near future, sponsored by the newly formed Nunavut Arts and Crafts Association in conjunction with Aboriginal Business Canada. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to recognize representatives of the NWT Development Corporation and Arctic Canada Trading. The president and chief executive officer, Glen Soloy; the vice-president and general manager, Clyde Sigurdsen; the executive assistant, Anne Corbett; the sales representative, Jack Meckling; sales representative, Shirley Shafer; marketing assistant, Anamika Mulders; business advisor, Roy Erasmus, Jr., all sitting in the gallery today. Again, Mr. Speaker, the members of the culinary team, Chef Lepage, John MacDonald and Patrick Kane, also sitting in the gallery. Thank you.

--Applause

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to welcome the individuals who have not been recognized in the gallery. I would like to thank them for coming today. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Minister of Education in regard to my Member's statement about FAS/FAE students and the problem we see increasing in our schools. Mr. Speaker, in regard to Fort McPherson and Aklavik, they are in dire need of finding more teachers and specialists to deal with the problem of FAS/FAE within the education systems. Mr. Speaker, some students with FAS and FAE are seriously disabled and in need of intensive supervision. Mr. Speaker, in regard to the enrolments that we have seen in Fort McPherson and Aklavik which are almost in the area of eight percent. I would like to ask the Minister, with these increases and the demand on teachers, what has been done to ensure that there is adequate assistance to help the schools and teachers deal with this problem in our education system?

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, in response to the Member's question about support for teachers to deal with students who may exhibit the symptoms of FAS or FAE in the classroom. The department continues to work with both teachers and divisional education councils to ensure that teachers are prepared to deal with the diverse needs of all learners in the classroom; whether that is through providing resource guides or support manuals for teachers, or assisting divisional education councils to provide special needs assistants to support students with special needs. In terms of the Member's second question, about the

increase in the enrollment numbers in schools in his constituency, there are in fact two schools that have seen increases of just over seven percent. In one case, just over seven percent and just under eight percent. The policy of the department is that, where schools have growth in excess of six percent and the divisional educational council has growth in excess of three percent, we will provide extra funding to help the divisional educational council deal with the unexpected growth. In cases where the growth is less than that, the divisional education council is expected to fund the growth from within. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Can the Minister tell me exactly what type of training the teachers have to deal with FAS/FAE students? Are they trained to deal with that element of the education system? Do they have to take that as part of their curriculum to become a teacher?

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. No. To become a teacher, one does not have to be trained in specific strategies for dealing fetal alcohol syndrome or fetal alcohol effects in a classroom. However, it is worth noting that as part of our community counsellor training, our community counsellors are, in fact, given training in this area and are expected to work with the schools in each community. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Can the Minister tell me exactly what he has done as the Minister of Education to find funds to deal with this problem in our schools, the problem with increased enrolments and also the increased numbers of students that are being identified with FAS/FAE? Has he been able to acquire any more funds to deal with this problem in our education system?

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, throughout my tenure as Minister, the one area of the formula that provides funding to all divisional educational councils that has not been cut and has, in fact, been increased as a proportion of the funding is in the area of special needs. I have impressed upon my colleagues at the Cabinet table the need to deal with the special needs issue and the fact that we do need more funding in this area. I am confident that, as we find funds, my colleagues will agree that we should put more into that area.

We have, over the past few years, provided support to divisional education councils and teachers. When it comes to areas like the resource guides and support manuals, we have provided funding to the Association for Community Living to develop a video related to FAS/FAE and we are working with other jurisdictions in the western consortium to ensure that we set up effective strategies to deal with the problem, as well as to increase awareness throughout all of our jurisdictions. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Can the Minister tell me exactly how the communities of Aklavik and Fort McPherson, with their high enrolment numbers, will be able to access another teacher, either through his office or through the department, to ensure that there are adequate funds in those communities to be able to acquire additional staff to help offset the high workload that presently exists with the teachers that are there?

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, those communities will have to work with the divisional education council. The education program is provided in the regions by the divisional education councils and all of the funding for teachers is delivered by the department to the councils. The proper mechanism to deal with an increase in student numbers, in a community, is to talk to their divisional education council. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My question is addressed to the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment and it is in regard to the re-structuring of the DEA in Fort Smith. The Minister commented in Inuvik at the Beaufort Delta Leaders meeting as an example, that he was very close to signing off this agreement. Can the Minister give a time-frame as to when he anticipates that agreement will be signed off? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As the Member indicated in his statement this morning there has been a fair amount of time spent on this issue, and a good deal of consultation. I have been pretty well satisfied that the request put forward by the community is one that I can concur with. It is my intention to sign the order as soon as I am satisfied that we have a clear understanding of the transition from the currently elected board and the board that would be appointed to replace it. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Could the Minister indicate in the general sense whether there is a legal necessity to run out the terms of the current board or is there another arrangement that can be made?

I am sorry, Mr. Speaker, I am going to have to take that question as notice.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My question is for Mr. Kakfwi, the Minister of Resources, Wildlife and Economic Development. It concerns the statement I made last week on tourism for the Northwest Territories, and I pointed out at that time that the association has made tremendous progress in their development as an association. Their funding was cut to $540,000, yet they have shown tourism visitation has not come down in the territories and that to me shows efficiency and that they are on track. Their request is to have funding increased to $1.2 million in the first year and then $2.2 million in the next year. Tourism is the third highest GDP producer in the territories with some $40 million in the western Arctic. I wonder if the Minister would consider their request to increase their funding in the coming years? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. We have been trying to be supportive of this new association over the last couple of years. We have indicated to the association that they should finalize their plans to hire a new executive director as soon as possible because they presently have the services of an employee of this government. There is uncertainty as to how long, if at all, that this arrangement would continue.

We have also indicated to the association that we would like to receive from them a strategic marketing plan that would tell us what it is that they want to do in order to promote the western Northwest Territories as a destination for tourists both nationally and internationally. They have indicated that they will be working on that over the next few months and prepare that for presentation to me some time this fall. We have also indicated to them that they should seek to have input into the economic development strategy that is being currently developed by the Minister of Finance. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It was my understanding that the organization did prepare a business plan and strategic plan for the coming years. One of the areas of concern to the association was the areas that they need to come to agreement on with specific roles. For example, where RWED would maintain strategic planning, research, licensing functions and so forth, the association would take control of media relations and travel shows, etc. Will the Minister also address that particular issue with the association, of clarifying who will be responsible for what areas? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. We are intending to clarify the roles that the association has in relation to the officials within the department responsible for tourism. It is an item of business that we will be working on with the association. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Going back to the question of funding, the Minister did not answer my question as to whether he would consider additional funding for the association. We are coming close to business plans, I wonder if he will consider increasing their funding. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. We have indicated that we require a comprehensive marketing plan, marketing strategy, between the association and our department, and that all the resources that are available would be looked at once we determine how viable and realistic the strategy would be. We are trying to take a positive outlook on something that has not yet been formulated. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The Minister indicated that it will take several months for this, I believe it was a marketing plan to be completed, and that means for next year the funding in the business plans will not be allocated. I wonder if the Minister will consider providing more funding next year for the tourism association? Thank you.

Mr. Speaker, we try to plan our work in accordance with the budget planning process as much as we can. There is some flexibility in the amounts of money that could be allocated as plans develop, but generally speaking, let us say that the earlier we get some indication of what type of resources would be required by this plan and marketing strategy, the more lead time I have, the easier it would be to identify any resources that might be available for such a plan. Thank you.