Thank you, Mr. Barnabas. Good afternoon. Orders of the day. Item 2, Ministers' statements. Mr. Arlooktoo.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As Minister responsible for Nunavut Transition Planning, I will be tabling the Fourth Annual Report on Implementation of the Nunavut Land Claim Agreement today. The land claim requires that the Nunavut implementation Panel report annually on all implementation activities related to the Nunavut Final Agreement. This report covers the period between April, 1996 and March, 1997 and is a summary of activities undertaken by government, NTI and the various organizations created under the land claim. The implementation panel is made up of representatives of the GNWT, the federal government and two representatives of NTI. In addition to being tabled in this Legislative Assembly, the Minister of Indian and Northern Affairs will also table a copy in the House of Commons. As well, the president of NTI will present it to the board of Nunavut Tunngavik Incorporated. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Arlooktoo. Ministers' statements. Item 3, Members' statements. Mr. Enuaraq.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Good afternoon. Mr. Speaker, education is important to the success of all young people. For most people, education is the only route to success. With the high rate of unemployment, especially in remote communities, education is even more important. I would like to bring to the attention of the House, the shortage of qualified teaching staff in Pangnirtung. The community is especially short of classroom support assistants who address the needs of special students. The education council in Pangnirtung needs more funding to properly staff the growing number of students and to provide adequate programming. Fortunately, this fall, the Attagoyuk School that was destroyed by fire, will reopen. Currently students from Attagoyuk School are sharing facilities with the remaining school, and using other available facilities within the community. However, the student population has grown since the new school was first planned, and as a result, more facilities are needed.

The community also uses the school facilities for meetings, courses and sports. With the final phase of construction this summer, the government has a rare opportunity to add more needed space, staff and programs to the new school. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to speak about the Inuit employment plans. We have a strategy funded with our partners, the federal government, called NUHRDS. This had enabled Inuit employees to train here in Yellowknife so that they can begin working after April 1, 1999 with the Nunavut goverment. Mr. Speaker, that is a good thing. The majority of these people being trained in the bureaucracy or working in offices. What are we doing for the trades and other occupations? Earlier the Member for Iqaluit and I asked about the trades programs for carpenters and other construction workers, for example. Later today, I will ask the Minister of Education for an update on provisions of Article 23. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

--Applause

Thank you. Members' statements. Mr. Miltenberger.

Thank you. Members' statements. Mr. Picco.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the Qikiqtaaluk Corporation is the regional birthright corporation owned by the Qikiqtani Inuit Association. QC is mandated to pursue and develop economic and employment opportunities on behalf of the shareholders, the Inuit of the region. QC, along with 16 other licence holders, has been actively involved in the northern shrimp fishery since being issued a northern shrimp licence in 1987. One of the principle benefits derived from the licence is training, hiring and advancing Inuit crew aboard the offshore trawlers. Each fishing year, over 50 Inuit are hired to work on the vessels, returning roughly $1.5 million in crew share alone to the northern economy.

Royalties received by QC are reinvested, not only in the fisheries, but to other projects, such as real estate development and numerous other economic development initiatives. In 1997, six northern licence holders representing Nunavut, Nunavik and Labrador decided that a representative organization is needed and formed the Northern Coalition. Members of this organization are the Labrador Fishermen's Union Northern Shrimp Company, Labrador Inuit Development Corporation, Torngat Fish Producers Cooperative, Makavik Corporation and the Qikiqtaaluk Corporation.

The federal Minister of Fisheries and Oceans is expected to make an announcement within a month to increase in the overall total allowable catch, a substantial increase in the shrimp fishing areas (SFA) 4, 5 and 6 quotas. The Northern Coalition has been lobbying the Minister that adjacent organizations should have priority access to this resource. Later today, Mr. Speaker, I will ask the Minister for RWED or appropriate Ministers, questions on this matter. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you. Members' statements. Mr. Todd.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I rise today as the MLA for Keewatin Central to speak on the matter of health care services in the Keewatin. Mr. Speaker, I recognize the difficulties that have been experienced over the last several months and understand the concerns of my constituents. Adequate health care facilities are fundamental to the well being of all northerners. I am pleased that Percy Kabloona, former mayor of Whale Cove, has been appointed as acting chair of the Keewatin Regional Health and Social Services Board. I am also pleased that the board has moved quickly to appoint Mr. Chris Keeley as the interim executive director. Chris is a former resident of Rankin Inlet, who has worked in senior positions with the GNWT. Chris' wife Martha, was the head nurse at the Rankin Inlet Health Centre for several years. I am confident that Chris has the background and knowledge needed to move swiftly to ensure the needs of Keewatin people for adequate health care facilities are met.

I also commend the Keewatin Regional Health and Social Services Board, working together with the Sakku Development Corporation for their efforts to put a major, multi-purpose health care facility in the Keewatin. As MLA, it is my intention to provide whatever support I can to make this facility a reality for the people of the Keewatin. I would also like to take this opportunity, Mr. Speaker, to congratulate the hamlet of Arviat, for taking the initiative to look at the construction of their health facility through a Public/Private Partnership.

Finally, Mr. Speaker, I would like to publicly acknowledge and thank my good and loyal friend, Mrs. Bette Palfrey for her commitment and dedication to the provision of health care for the people of Keewatin. Bette has the distinction of being the longest serving chairperson of the Keewatin Health Board. During a six and one half year tenure, Bette was instrumental in moving the board forward on a number of important issues. Recent health care problems notwithstanding, Keewatin residents owe Bette a debt of gratitude for all her effort and personal sacrifice over the years.

--Applause

Mr. Speaker, there is still much work to be done to bring the quality of health care services back to the level the people of the Keewatin deserve and expect. I have full confidence in Minister Ng in achieving exactly that. I believe that the right steps are being taken now to ensure that happens as soon as possible. Thank you.

--Applause

Thank you. Members' statements. Mr. Ootes.

Thank you. Members' statements. Mr. Krutko.

Thank you. Members' statements. Mr. Rabesca.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, today I rise to address a concern one of my constituents brought to my attention. It is my understanding that our government is always complimenting itself, what a great job it has done in job creation and business development, however, at the same time, refusing some of these new or expanding businesses from doing the business that this government may have given dollars to start up its operations. The reason I say this is because of a thing called, tobacco tax. It is now a policy, I understand, to demand from a retailer who wants to sell cigarettes a letter of credit for an amount that the Department of Finance estimates.

A constituent of mine just applied for a permit to sell cigarettes in his new store. This is a business that has been in operation for at least the past ten years and has decided the time was right for an expansion. When he received his reply, it informed him that he would have to come up with a $5,000 letter of credit. He called and was told to reapply, which he did, and then he received a notice saying that he now needed a $12,000 letter of credit. Mr. Speaker, all this company, like most small businesses of this type, wants to do is sell cigarettes to make a profit, not to go broke to the government for trying to do their business.

How much do special events have to pay this government for selling cigarettes at their events? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

--Applause

Members' statements. Mrs. Groenewegen.

Thank you. Members' statements. Mr. Antoine.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. (Translation) Mr. Speaker, yesterday, after the Assembly was over, myself and Stephen Kakfwi, the Minister for RWED, flew to Fort Simpson. There is a meeting in Fort Simpson, Tuesday to Thursday, on Western Arctic Aboriginal Tourism which is the basis of the meeting. There are a lot of people there who work for tourism that all gathered for the meeting. The meeting is based on tourism in the western Arctic. I was quite thankful for all the participants at that meeting. There are a lot of people from all over the world who come to our country, like the western Arctic. They really want to come here to see the western Arctic. (Translation ends)

The goal is to build a user-friendly and profitable aboriginal tourism industry which is a very commendable approach. I think this is the first conference of its kind and I am very glad that it is in my home community of Fort Simpson. The objective is reaching a better understanding of the aboriginal tourism market, as well as examining ways that our aboriginal tourism products can and should be presented to the workplace. With that, Mr. Speaker, I look forward to the results of this conference and certainly the direction on how we in the Legislative Assembly can be of assistance to those people who are involved in this developing business sector of our economy. Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.

--Applause

Mahsi. Members' statements. Item 4, returns to oral questions. Mr. Morin.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I have a return to an oral question asked by Mr. O'Brien on January 30th, regarding the authority for lease approvals. I wish to inform my colleagues that, under sections 13 and 43 of the Financial Administration Act, a Minister may delegate to a deputy minister or public officer of his department the expenditure or contract authority (signing authority) with monetary limits and conditions to meet the business needs of the position. Copies of the Financial Administration Act are available to the Members and the public.

Further guidelines are given in Financial Administration Manual Directive 802-1 which outlines numerous provisions for the designation of officers and the delegation and application of signing authority. The financial administration guidelines state the financial signing authority limits of a position should not exceed business needs. Therefore it would be normal duty of a public officer to initiate and approve long-term property leases. Later today I will table Financial Administration Manual Directive 802-1. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you. Returns to oral questions. Mr. Antoine.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I have a return asked by Mr. Krutko on February 6, 1998 regarding the GNWT office lease renewals. The four Yellowknife office leases renewed in the past two years are for the following periods:

- Centre Square floors 6, 7, 8 5 years

- Lahm Ridge Tower 8 years

- Northern United Place 10 years

- Professional Building 5 years

Thank you. Returns to oral questions. Item 5, recognition of visitors in the gallery. Mr. Krutko.

Welcome to the Assembly, mom. Recognition of visitors in the gallery. Item 6, oral questions. Mr. Picco.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, in reference to my earlier Member's statement on the shrimp quotas to be allocated by the federal government, has the RWED department been involved or in contact with the federal Department of Fisheries on the shrimp allocation for waters adjacent to Nunavut? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The Minister of Resources, Wildlife and Economic Development, Mr. Kakfwi.

Thank you. The question is taken as notice. Oral questions. Mr. Miltenberger.

The Minister of Education, Culture and Employment, Mr. Dent.

Thank you. Oral questions. Supplementary, Mr. Miltenberger.

Mr. Dent.

Oral questions. Supplementary, Mr. Miltenberger.

Mr. Dent.

Thank you. Oral questions. Mr. Enuaraq.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As I indicated in my Member's statement there is an extreme shortage of teaching staff in Pangnirtung. Could the Minister of Education update this House as to what his department is planning to do about it? Thank you.

The Minister of Education, Culture and Employment, Mr. Dent.

Thank you. Oral questions. Mr. Krutko.

The Minister of Resources, Wildlife and Economic Development, Mr. Kakfwi.

Thank you. Oral questions. Supplementary, Mr. Krutko.

Mr. Kakfwi.

Thank you. Oral questions. Supplementary, Mr. Krutko.

Mr. Kakfwi.

Thank you. Oral questions. Mr. Barnabas.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As per my Member's statement earlier this afternoon, I would like to ask the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment if he can update this House on the some of the areas covered under Article 23 implemented by the Government of the Northwest Territories. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Minister of Education, Culture and Employment, Mr. Dent.

Oral questions. Supplementary, Mr. Barnabas.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Are trades programs like ones offered in Fort Smith, covered under Article 23? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Dent.

Oral questions. Mr. Ootes.

Thank you. Mr. Premier. Two questions.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The standing committee does have the information already. We could send another copy to the Member if he has not received it on negotiated contracts. Request for proposals, we are doing that work. We are working with the NWT construction industry to work on request for proposals, and like I said yesterday, or the day before in this House, I am not too sure, just recently anyhow, we will get that done fairly quickly. Thank you.

Thank you. Oral questions. Supplementary,

Mr. Ootes.

Mr. Morin.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The NWT Construction Association is one part of the industry. We also talked to other people in industry. Thank you.

Thank you. Oral questions. Final supplementary, Mr. Ootes.

Mr. Morin. Did you hear the question?

I think so. He asked what are we asking them for? It is for input into redrafting the request for proposals. They have some concerns as Members have raised. Some people who apply for a request for proposals do not know why they lost and there are some other issues that have been raised there as well. We are trying to address that. Thanks.

Oral questions. Mr. Roland.

The Minister of Health and Social Services, Mr. Ng.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, late last week I might have signed off for a custom adoption commissioner for his community. I will make sure that is the case and if not, exactly what the status is of the Inuvik representation. Thank you.

Oral questions. Mr. O'Brien.

Thank you. The Minister responsible for Division Secretariat, Mr. Todd.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. In discussing the matter with my honourable colleague, Mr. Arlooktoo, he advises there are discussions underway right now between all parties, both Interim Commissioner's office, ourselves and NTI. We are fairly confident the Interim Commissioner will provide us with his implementation plan at the end of March. When we get this plan, we will be only too happy to share it with all the Members and the public at large. I would hope that in that plan he would show, as we did in the fall of 1997, where the jobs are going to go, when they are going to go and who is going to go there.

Thank you. Oral questions. Supplementary, Mr. O'Brien.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, can the Minister provide any assurance that the original plans that were laid under Footprints 2 indicating where jobs were going, if we are going to stay the course with this or will there be a change in focus or scheduling? A lot of the communities are waiting and they anticipate these jobs that they have been waiting for, for many, many years will be in place, sometime after 1999 or the year 2000. Thank you.

Mr. Todd.

The position of this government has been consistent, Mr. Speaker. We have supported the NIC, the Nunavut Implementation Commissioner's report from the very beginning, Footprints 2, and supported decentralized government. We have always qualified it by saying assuming that there is adequate dollars, et cetera, there for that to happen. We are just one party at the table. There is a desire and a will to do a decentralized government. I have not heard anything to the contrary in discussions that have been undertaken over the last three or four months. I believe, there are going to be some announcements soon about some senior management team that the Interim Commissioner is going to recruit. It is a positive step and we will, perhaps, get moving much more quickly in the implementation plans which I am assuming will include some form of decentralization.

This government's position has been consistent that we support it. So many dollars are there. I am confident as the Minister of Finance and the Minister responsible for the overall coordination of division they will be there. It really is, as I said to an earlier question, we are but one party at the table. My understanding is Mr. Anawak has agreed to provide his implementation plan by the end of March. I am sure in that, hopefully, all the questions that my honourable colleague legitimately asks, either will be in there or will be answered. Thank you.

Thank you. Oral questions. Supplementary, Mr. O'Brien.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It is not my intention to get into a debate over this. I am just trying to get some clarification for the residents I represent. Just one further question, Mr. Speaker, in reference to Arviat. We know as far as the schedule goes, the office complex is supposed to start this spring and be finished the following year. Would it be fair to assume this community could then expect the positions to be transferred into Arviat so that various individuals could take up employment? For example, in Baker Lake where the office complex is not to start until the following year, would we assume these positions will not be transferred until after the office space or the complex is completed? Thank you.

Mr. Todd.

Well, as I said, Mr. Speaker, in an ideal world, I am optimistic the Interim Commissioner's implementation plan, which he is developing in conjunction with all the parties, and input from all the parties, will be complete by the end of March. I hope, and I am confident that in that plan it will outline as I said, the pre-implementation to 1999. I hope it will have some scheduling and some time lines as to when the decentralized model will take place.

I imagine, it will be tied in somewhere, to the infrastructure deadlines, with offices or houses, et cetera. I would like to be able to unequivocally answer my colleague's question today. As I said, we are just one party at the table. I do not have the answers at this time, but I think we are close to getting an answer by the end of March. I believe we will be able to work with the parties to be able to move on, if you want, moving the bodies, as I said the other day, or moving the positions, some of the positions into the communities, so we can get some of the essential needs of the new government up and running.

Whether that will reflect in a decentralized model, I am not sure, because discussion is underway. The ultimate responsibility lies with the Interim Commissioner. I certainly hope so, and I would only be too happy as soon as I get any of this information, to share it with my colleague and the others in this House. Thank you.

Thank you. Oral questions. Final supplementary, Mr. O'Brien.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, yesterday the Minister indicated he had some informal discussions regarding the possible use of existing housing and new housing being built as we speak to be used as temporary office space until the new office complexes are completed. Would the Minister commit to engage in some formal discussions with the various parties to see if this is a possibility? Thank you.

Mr. Todd.

Yes, Mr. Speaker. Thank you.

Oral questions. Mr. Barnabas.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I would like to follow up on my colleague's, Mr. O'Brien's questions to the same Minister. The question I have is, I find out that only the bigger communities are benefitting from the decentralized model that we have been talking about up to date. When they started to build these facilities, the smaller communities are not benefitting compared to these bigger communities.

How will this government ensure the smaller communities will benefit from that model? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The Minister responsible for the Division Secretariat, Mr. Todd.

Well, Mr. Speaker, the federal government in discussions with the territorial government and NTI appointed a commission two, three years ago, to determine an appropriate model for new government in Nunavut. That model was the NIC, Footprints 2 model, which all parties signed on and concurred with. I do not see any other further decentralization into the smaller communities whatsoever at this time.

Mr. Speaker, from a GNWT perspective, there are no discussions underway with respect to any further decentralization of the new Nunavut government. There is a clear and concise agreement that the Footprints 2 model is the one that is enacted at this time. Thank you.

Thank you. Oral questions. Supplementary. Mr. Barnabas.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, when we were talking about Footprints 2, they were talking about sophisticated technical equipment. Can the smaller communities be involved with the decentralized government when the communications system will be up to date? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Todd.

Well, Mr. Speaker, I think it really would be inappropriate for me to make any comment beyond April 1, 1999. That is up to the new Legislature and the new elected people that will be there. But I would suggest to my honourable colleague that whoever the successful 19 candidates are for the new Nunavut government in February or March, 1999, they will have an opportunity because they will be the legitimate elected body of Nunavut to re-evaluate what is going on at that time. They may wish to, I am not suggesting, but they may wish to make appropriate adjustments. What I am saying at the present time, is this government and all parties support the Footprints 2 model. Thank you.

Thank you. Oral questions. Mr. Henry.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My question, Mr. Speaker, is to the Minister of Justice, Mr. Arlooktoo. Some time ago in this House I had questioned the then Minister of Justice, Mr. Ng, regarding needed changes to the Labour Standards Act. My question to the Minster today is, at what stage are amendments to that act? What stage are they at within his department? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The Minister of Justice, Mr. Arlooktoo.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Recently the Member came to me with the question on what the Department of Justice was doing with regard to changes that are needed in the Labour Standards Act. There is a consensus out there that the Labour Standards Act is in need of some changes and overhaul. The Department of Justice had, indeed, looked into the issue and what needs to be changed and how long it would take, et cetera. I am told, unfortunately, in the next year because the legislative agenda is very full, we have to prioritize legislation we can deal with in the coming year.

The Labour Standards Act amendments that would be required would not be able to be done within the next year. Thank you.

Thank you. Oral questions. Supplementary, Mr. Henry.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I think everyone has recognized we are dealing with an act that is archaic. It is an extremely difficult act for staff to administer and difficult for the business community to deal with. Mr. Speaker, my question to the Minister is, is he making any start on preparing legislative changes to that act? Is nothing going to happen until a year from now? Does the world stop because we are looking at division? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.