Thank you. Members' statements. Mr. Arlooktoo.

(Translation) Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I rise in the House today to talk about an issue that is very important to members of my constituency, the carving industry. As I have said before, the carving industry is the most important sector of local economies of Baffin South. In constituency meetings and radio phone-in shows that I conducted in Kimmirut, Cape Dorset and Sanikiluaq, the issue

of carving sales has been one of the most discussed topics. Why is this one of such great interest to my constituents, Mr. Speaker? Carving sales put food on the table, pay the bills and are worth $3 million to the three communities of Baffin South with a total population of approximately 2300. This income is a significant and critical source of income by any standard. Mr. Speaker, this is an industry in need of support and guidance. We need to band together to ensure that the carving industry stays viable. I have brought this issue up in meetings and in writing to government agencies and have spoken to individuals who buy and market the carvings. There are two main issues that we need to deal with:

1) increase marketing to deal with decreasing sales and prices;

2) an information campaign to deal with quality and diversity of products. (Translation ends)

I have discussed my concerns with the Minister of Renewable Resources, Wildlife and Economic Development, Mr. Kakfwi, and requested timely discussions on the expansion of the market for Inuit carvings. I am pleased to say that all parties have been working cooperatively to develop solutions to this problem.

Although, we are still far from solving this problem, I believe we have made some progress. I was pleased to hear Minister Kakfwi speak about the importance of marketing NWT arts and crafts in the House this week. I have also discussed my concerns with the regional RWED superintendent for the Baffin region, Mr. Clay Buchanan. He has met with me as well as representatives of the Qikiqtani Inuit Association and the Qikiqtaaluk Corporation.

It was agreed that representatives of these organizations would work together. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I request unanimous consent to conclude my statement.

The Member for Baffin South is seeking unanimous consent to concluded his statement. Are there any nays? Mr. Arlooktoo, you have unanimous consent.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It was agreed that representatives of these organizations would work together and form a steering committee with the overall objective of developing an action plan for the carving industry in the Baffin region. The steering committee met and decided to contract the services of Blandina Tulugarjuk to act as project manager.

The committee is currently developing a workplan that will guide the development of a strategy, and will hire the expertise required to produce the action plan. It is anticipated that the action plan will be presented at a meeting between the carver representatives from the communities, purchasers of Inuit carvings and government officials early in April/May in Iqaluit.

Mr. Speaker, I would to like thank everyone for the hard work and effort. I would also like to specifically acknowledge the efforts of the co-ops for highlighting this important issue. With this kind of cooperation, I believe we will not only solve the current problem but we will also have a stronger economic base for the future of Nunavut. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

--Applause

Thank you. Members' statements. Mr. O'Brien.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I would like to acknowledge the efforts of the hamlet of Arviat for the work in trying to move ahead the construction of the much needed Arviat Health Centre. Mr. Speaker, with all parties working together it is possible this much needed facility will start construction sooner than expected. Mr. Speaker, I would also like to acknowledge the efforts of the community in regard to a proposed caribou harvest which would see approximately 75 to 80 caribou harvested to provide meat for the elders and the less fortunate. In advance, I would like to thank Mr. Kakfwi for any efforts he may be able to lend towards this request. Thank you.

Thank you. Members' statements. Mr. Morin.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Today I would like to talk about my home community of Fort Resolution. As many of you know, Fort Resolution is the oldest settlement in the Northwest Territories. It is over 200 years old. Church records describe those early days, but our history is mostly an oral one. Our elders continue to tell us what life was like back then.

Mr. Speaker, because my community is situated on the shore of Great Slave Lake at the mouth of the Slave River, Fort Resolution was the main trading centre for the Northwest Territories. It was an ideal place to do business. Resupply barges or scows, as they were called back then, had to pass through Fort Resolution to connect to communities along the Mackenzie River. Five general stores competed for business at the time.

Mr. Speaker, not only was Fort Resolution a major trading centre at the turn of the century, it is where the church built its first educational centre, known as a convent and it built a huge hospital as a health care centre. Fort Resolution is also along the migration route of ducks and geese as they came north in the spring. Harvesting waterfowl, fish and wildlife has sustained the people of my area for many years. There are families who continue to depend on country foods to eat. It is not a luxury, Mr. Speaker, it is a way of life. Trapping furs is also a way of supporting our families. Mr. Speaker, logging has also been around the community since the turn of the century. Logging supported the first mines here in the north with the supply of timber and firewood to those mines. For the last 25 years logging has been the major employer in Fort Resolution.

In 1961, we first got power. In 1968, was the first time we saw television in the Northwest Territories. There used to be a winter road into the community but in the early 1970's the highway was put in. Fort Resolution continues to grow and grow in more ways than one. They grow together as a community. Mr. Speaker, this is a community that I am very proud to be part of. I am proud to call my home. Proud of the roots my family have there and proud to say that I was chosen by the people to represent them. I seek unanimous consent to continue, Mr. Speaker.

The Member for Tu Nedhe is seeking unanimous consent to conclude his statement. Are there any nays? Mr. Morin, you have unanimous consent.

I would like to thank my colleagues very much for that unanimous consent, Mr. Speaker. Thank you.

The people of Fort Resolution know how to work together. They know how to get things done. They support each other in their time of need. There are many examples of this. Just recently an elder was sent to the hospital in Edmonton for an operation. He was not doing well and it was felt he needed to have his family near him. It was the community, Mr. Speaker, that went door to door and put on a bingo to raise money to send one of his adult children to be with him.

When we have a death in our community, it hits the whole community. The whole community feels the loss. At the same time the whole community will pull together to make sure the family is able to give their loved one a decent burial and be there for morale support. I have seen examples of this time and time again, Mr. Speaker. This is a community that has a mixed population of Dene, Metis and non-aboriginal peoples and they all work together. Fort Resolution has had a stable population for a long time. This is where major families have lived for many years.

Fort Resolution now manages their own health care, their own education system and they believe in managing their own lives for the betterment of all the residents of this small community. The leadership in Fort Resolution is strong. They support each other. They work together to get things done. The community can boast of joint venture agreements where they have come together. Where if there are any differences, they can be put aside because they are doing something for the whole community.

Mr. Speaker, as I said before, I am proud to represent the people of Fort Resolution and I am sure that we can all learn something from the people of this community on how to get things done in a positive way. Tomorrow, Mr. Speaker, my Member's statement will be about Lutselk'e, the other community I represent. Thank you.

--Applause

Thank you, Mr. Morin. Members' statements. Mr. Roland.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in the House to support young high school students regarding employment for the summer break. Mr. Speaker, I have heard from the smaller communities that there are no jobs available, like in the mining area. There is not enough support for high school students to employ them. Mr. Speaker, this government has been providing funds for the youth to be employed. The funds are not going to the small communities. For instance, in the community I represent, Arctic Bay, is only 20 miles away from a mine. The only time I have seen these students hired, is to do community clean up which does not give the support to the students to motivate them to work in places like these. They should be trained to do a job. They are high school students and they need money. For this reason, I rise today in support of these high school students. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

--Applause

Thank you. Members' statements. Mr. Picco.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, last March, Cabinet launched the regulatory reform initiative, which streamlined the regulatory programs and eliminated unnecessary red tape that were creating impediments to economic development and business operations in the Northwest Territories. Mr. Speaker, I support this regulatory initiative. A small specialized secretariat has now been established reporting jointly to the Minister of Finance and the Minister for RWED. A number of proposals for changing legislation, regulations and procedures are under active consideration based on input from chambers of commerce, industry and professional associations, individual businesses and service delivery personnel and GNWT departments. Emphasis is being placed on grassroots communication with stakeholders through surveys, presentations and direct contact and are finding practical strategies that are available within the remaining term of this, the 13th Legislative Assembly.

Mr. Speaker, in addition the secretariat has been working to secure a better northern representation into standard setting and the development of regulatory codes at the national level. A frequent concern of NWT business people has been that the code requirements developed on a nationwide basis sometimes do not give adequate consideration to the needs and special circumstances of our northern lifestyle.

Mr. Speaker, over the past year, however, the Northwest Territories has been able to take an increasing role on advisory committees to the Standards Council of Canada and other national bodies. Mr. Speaker, the regulatory reform is a proactive and constructive initiative of this government. Later today I will be asking the Minister of RWED, if the honourable Member from Thebacha will allow me, some questions on this matter. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you. Members' statements. Mr. Dent.

Thank you. Members' statements. Mr. Enuaraq.

(Translation) Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Good afternoon. An elder requires a proper living environment in order to maintain their dignity. Most importantly, an elder's home would provide the extended care not readily available in a family setting if the elder were living by themselves. (Translation ends)

Mr. Speaker, the community of Broughton Island needs an elders' home. Family homes are often overcrowded; single homes do not offer the support an elder would require, and in an emergency, it is difficult for the elder to get help. An elders' home would give the respect and support services an elder deserves and should expect. Our elders took care of us when we were young, and now we have an opportunity to take care of them. In conclusion, Mr. Speaker, I recommend the government seriously consider building and operating an elders' home in Broughton Island. Thank you.

--Applause

Thank you. Members' statements. Mr. Antoine.

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, as a Dene from Nahendeh, moose is also a very important commodity among the Dene of the land where I come from. Mr. Speaker, when I was raised out on the land, many times during my childhood there were great expectations and excitement and appreciation when someone from your camp was able to get a moose. The moose provided many things, mainly food, fresh meat and dry meat. Even today when I travel to my constituency and I am lucky to get some dry moose meat, it is consumed immediately by everyone who finds out about it. Every part of the moose is very important. The head is consumed, the tongue, nose, some parts of the guts and the stomach is also a delicacy among the Dene. The marrow from the bone from the hoof is also a delicacy with dry meat. It is also made into a pounded dry moose meat and marrow mix.

The moosehide is used for clothing. Moccasins, work shoes, moosehide vests and jackets we see here in the Legislative Assembly are also being made today. The raw hide is also used for rope and string to use out on the land.

Today, the people of Nahendeh, in my riding, still continue to hunt moose and still consume this meat to supplement their food on the table. Today, the hides are also being produced traditionally in all of the communities of my constituency, however, there is a need to encourage and support the continuation of the art of moosehide making. I agree with my two honourable colleagues in this House who spoke earlier about this very important area.

Mr. Speaker, if our responsibilities of running this Legislative Assembly did not have us here today, I certainly would be out on the land hunting moose with those who are lucky enough to be able to get away to enjoy our land, especially this time of the year. It is a very good time of the year, when it is not too cold and it is great to be out on the land. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

--Applause

Thank you. Members' statements. Mr. Henry.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Two weeks ago I faxed out a survey to GNWT employees requesting their input on how they felt regarding the five mandatory days of leave without pay. This leave was initiated by the government for the past two years as part of our deficit elimination plan, Mr. Speaker.

I was interested in finding the quantity of Christmas purchases done within Yellowknife and also, if these five days provided the option for employees to travel during this time. I also incorporated questions to get the employees' perspective on these mandatory leave days because, Mr. Speaker, we are the elected body, we have the responsibility of finding out how satisfied our employees are with their employer.

Mr. Speaker, I received 157 responses. I would like to sincerely thank all the employees who responded. I hope that every Member will find the results beneficial. Sixty-two percent of the respondents indicated they left Yellowknife over the Christmas season. Seventy-one percent of the government employees purchased locally. Having these days off at Christmas time was not a deciding factor for 88 percent in planning their holidays. It was reassuring to find that 71 percent of respondents did not feel these mandatory days off were detrimental to their workload.

Mr. Speaker, one of the most surprising findings for me, was the result of the question that asked if employees would support continuing the mandatory leave days without pay in future years. Fifty-five percent supported continuing the mandatory leave days, 41 percent did not support it and four percent were unsure. Following up on this, I asked whether employees preferred keeping these days off at Christmas, 30 percent wanted the time off at another time of the year and 65 percent wanted to keep these days off during the Christmas holidays. Seventy-three percent of respondents, Mr. Speaker, were UNW members, 10 percent were Hay Plan employees, and 10 percent were excluded employees and seven percent of them did not indicate their status.

Mr. Speaker, when these results were made available to Members of this House, you will also see the constructive comments and ideas our government employees have to send to their elected representatives. We can all read into these statements what we wish, Mr. Speaker. I hope this government will take heed of what the employees are saying in this response. I would sincerely hope that our employees being the most important asset this government has, will have their views recognized and considered. I encourage our Minister for the Financial Management Board to take a good look at what our employees are saying and feeling. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

--Applause