Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I was checking through the document I will be tabling later on today. I will take the Member's question as notice and maybe his answer is in this document I will be tabling later on today. Thank you.

Thank you. The question is taken as notice. Question period is over. Item 7, written questions. Item 8, returns to written questions. Mr. Clerk.

Mr. Speaker return to Written Question 2-13(5) asked by Mr. Picco to the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment concerning the concerns of the lack of education funding.

The department has been developing curricula for schools for many years. Currently, the primary focus of this work is through participation in the Western Canadian Protocol (WCP) for common curriculum and learning resources. This consortium involves the provinces of British Columbia, Alberta, Manitoba and Saskatchewan, as well as the Yukon and NWT in developing curricula and resource documents in a variety of subject areas. The WCP mathematics curriculum (K-9) is being implemented in schools across the NWT this year and the English language arts (K-9) was introduced to the education jurisdictions across the NWT in January. Jurisdictions may choose to implement this curriculum in either 1998-99 or the 1990-00 school years. The grade ten mathematics will also be introduced to schools this fall. Nunavut representatives have been involved in the development and resource selection for these curricula. Many excellent texts and resources are available to support these curricula.

The Department of Education, Culture and Employment provided incremental funding of $26.18 per student for the 1997-98 fiscal year to enable divisional education councils and district education authorities to purchase texts and resources to support the implementation of the mathematics curriculum framework. As well, funding has already been identified to support the implementation of the English language arts framework. Textbooks form part of the support materials identified for each curriculum. Our curriculum coordinators at the department are available to support educational councils and schools with curriculum implementation, resource selection and the careful use of their funding to ensure that the appropriate resources are purchased to support teaching and learning in NWT classrooms.

There is no doubt that the department would like to provide additional funding to our schools to enable them to purchase more resources, texts and materials. Unfortunately, our resources are limited. Nevertheless, we have adjusted our funding allocations to ensure that NWT schools are following curricula that provide a high standard of education to students across Western Canada.

The language arts curriculum in Inuktitut is presently under development for the grade 7, 8, and 9 level. However, the Inuuqatigiit curriculum document provides educators with a foundation for their teaching at this level. Education, Culture and Employment develops curriculum documents and teacher resource manuals, but does not produce the program materials for use in the classroom. We provide each jurisdiction funding to establish Teaching and Learning Centres (TLC's) where materials in aboriginal languages can be developed and distributed to schools. The Baffin TLC is one of the most successful in the NWT and has produced a variety of excellent learning materials for programs at all levels. This being said, we recognize that as funding to the TLC's is necessarily limited, the production of materials is unlikely to meet the urgent needs for materials in the schools.

Return to Written Question 3-13(5) asked by Mr. Picco to the Minister of Finance on payroll tax information.

1. How is the payroll tax collection facilitated through the Department of Finance?

Payroll tax collection is facilitated in the following manner:

a. Individualized remittance forms are sent to each registered employer about 30 days prior to the scheduled remittance due date.

b. Remittances are required monthly, quarterly, semi-annually or annually depending on the reporting frequency assigned to the employer. Reporting frequencies are based on the estimated gross renumeration of the employer, thus reducing the administrative burden of employers with fewer employees.

c. Payments are normally mailed to the Department of Finance at the address provided on the remittance form, but in communities with banking services, payments may be made at the bank.

2. How are new businesses starting up notified of the payroll tax collection?

It is the responsibility of new businesses to register for the payroll tax. A publication entitled How to Establish a Business in the Northwest Territories has been published by the Department of Resources, Wildlife and Economic Development and is circulated through all regional centres. Page 43 of this publication provides information on how to register for the payroll tax. The information contained in this booklet is also available on the Internet on the Canada/NWT Business Service Centre Web Site (www.cbsc.org). Information can also be obtained by contracting the Department of Finance.

3. Where are the necessary forms kept?

All forms necessary for the registration and collection of the payroll tax are kept with the Taxation Division at the Department of Finance in Yellowknife. The division may be reached at (867) 920-3470 or its toll free number 1-800-661-0820, or by mail to Taxation Division, Department of Finance, Government of the Northwest Territories, P.O. Box 1320, Yellowknife, NT X1A 3G5.

Return to Written Question 4-13(5) asked by Mr. Henry to the Minister of Resources, Wildlife and Economic Development concerning federal mining subsidies.

1. In 1983, the federal government provided a contribution of $8 million, followed by an additional $9.5 million in 1984, to assist the Cyprus Anvil Mine. These contributions were repaid in 1985 by Curragh Resources, when they purchased the mine. In 1991, the federal government provided a loan guarantee in the amount of $17 million to the new owners. The company was not, however, able to draw on this line of credit prior to its shutdown in 1992. The then federal Department of Human Resources initiated an Employee Salary Cost Sharing Program to assist an overburden stripping project.

2. With the closure of the Cyprus Anvil Mine in 1985, the Yukon government assumed financial responsibility for the town of Faro. The Yukon government provided a loan guaranteed in the amount of $15 million for working capital. This line of credit was not used. In 1991, the Yukon government provided an additional $5 million to Curragh Resources to meet outstanding obligations to the Yukon Energy Corporation.

In June 1997, the Yukon government and Anvil Range Mining negotiated an agreement aimed at reducing costs. Among other things, this agreement provided for:

-a Yukon government contribution of up to $200,000 per year, over five years, to a training trust fund. This was in addition to the $150,000 that they had already committed for 1997;

-assistance to identify new ore deposits and increase mine life; and

-assistance through existing programs to help Anvil Range Mining upgrade outdated equipment.

The provision of this assistance was dependent upon Anvil Range Mining meeting its outstanding financial obligations to the Yukon Energy Corporation.

3. In addition to the above, the federal government has been asked to provide details of other mining ventures where support has been provided. Departmental officials expect this information during March of this year.

As can be seen, the federal government has provided very limited assistance to this mine. With the exception of the employee salary cost sharing program, all federal contributions and loan guarantees were either repaid or left unused.

Thank you. Returns to written questions. Item 9, replies to opening address. Item 10, petitions. Item 11, reports of standing and special committees. Item 12, reports of committees on the review of bills. Item 13, tabling of documents. Mr. Morin.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I wish to table the following document entitled Financial Administration Manual Directive 802-1. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you. Tabling of documents. Ms. Thompson.

Thank you. Tabling of documents. Mr. Todd.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I would like to table two documents based on the question raised yesterday by Mr. Ootes, which he implied no discussions were underway between myself and the Construction Association. One is a letter dated January 30th to Mr. Aho, president of the NWT Construction Association asking his input with respect to request to proposals.

The second one, Mr. Speaker, is the response from Mr. Aho on February 9th, agreeing to participate in our discussions in respect to the request for proposals and P3. Thank you.

Tabling of documents. Item 14, notices of motion. Item 15, notices of motions for first reading of bills. Item 16, motions. Item 17, first reading of bills. Item 18, second reading of bills. Item 19, consideration in committee of the whole of bills and other matters. Bill 6, An Act to Amend the Income Tax Act; Bill 8, Appropriation Act, 1998-99, Committee Report 02-13(5), Committee Report 03-13(5), Committee Report 04-13(5), Committee Report 05-13(5), Tabled Document 15-13(5) and Tabled Document 19-13(5). With Mr. Steen in the Chair.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. The committee wishes to consider Bill 8, Appropriation Act, 1998-99, Committee Report 02-13(5), Committee Report 03-13(5) and continue with MACA and Public Works and Services. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

Agreed.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Yes, I would.