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.

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?