Thank you, Mr. Enuaraq. Good morning. Before we proceed with Ministers' statements, I would like to advise the Legislative Assembly that I have received the following message from the Commissioner of the Northwest Territories.

Dear Mr. Speaker, I wish to advise that I recommend to the Legislative Assembly of the Northwest Territories the passage of the Supplementary Appropriation Act No. 3 1997-98 during the Fifth Session of the 13th Legislative Assembly. Yours truly, Helen Maksagak, Commissioner.

Orders of the day. Mr. Roland, your point of order.

Thank you, Mr. Roland. I will allow for debate on this so that I am satisfied what I hear from the Members would then allow me to base my decision on. Mr. Morin.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, it is my understanding that the Minister quoted from a directive of Cabinet that was sent. It is in the files of all the Sahtu leadership offices. It was a letter sent by the Minister of the day to the Sahtu leadership. My understanding is that is the document he was quoting from. Thank you.

Thank you. Are there any further comments? Mr. Roland.

Thank you. Mr. Roland your point of order is well noted and I reserve my decision until we review Hansard. Thank you. Orders of the day. Item 2, Ministers' statements. Mr. Antoine.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I have an emergency statement. Mr. Speaker, it is my sad duty today to rise and inform Members that a 15-year employee of the Department of Transportation in the Baffin region was killed in a tragic accident yesterday while working on the job near Nanisivik. While we do not have all of the details at this time,

Mr. Aiyow Qavavauq was killed yesterday evening while he and another worker were working to open the highway between Nanisivik and Arctic Bay.

The accident is under investigation, and we are doing all we can to assist the family in this tragic time. On behalf of the government and the Members of this House, I extend my deepest condolences to the family, friends and co-workers. Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Antoine. Ministers' statements. Mr. Morin

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I wish to advise Members that the Honourable Kelvin Ng will be absent from the House for today and tomorrow to attend the Ministers of Health Conference in Toronto, Ontario. As well, the Honourable John Todd will be absent from the House for today and tomorrow to attend the Manitoba Trade Mission in Rankin Inlet. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you. Ministers' statements. Mr. Dent.

Thank you. Ministers' statements. Mr. Kakfwi.

Thank you, Mr. Kakfwi. Ministers' statements. Mr. Arlooktoo.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, when I took the position of Minister of Justice, one of my first areas of interest and concern was alternatives to jail. I believe that it is important that our justice system attempt to provide a more culturally appropriate alternative to incarceration, an approach that focuses on healing the offender and leaves them with a foundation to improve their lives. Keeping in mind, Mr. Speaker, the need to strike a balance between ensuring public safety and maximizing opportunities for offenders to return to being productive members of society.

I am pleased to report that progress has been made in developing alternatives to incarceration for offenders in the north. For a number of years, camps have been a viable option for the placement of some young offenders. To this end, the department has extended this model to adults. Over the past year, community members have established eight camps for adult male offenders across the NWT, in cooperation with Correctional Services. Camps are located near Rae Lakes, Pellet Lake, near Lupin Mine, Hay River, Fort Smith, Pond Inlet, Aklavik, Fort McPherson and most recently, Fort Providence. The department is following up on these positive developments and we are now in discussions with community leaders in Pangnirtung and Arviat. It is hoped that the program will expand to these communities soon. Currently, there are 27 adult offenders in camps.

These camps allow lower risk offenders, who would otherwise have to serve their sentence in a correctional institution, to be kept out of the institution and closer to their home communities for at least part of their sentence. In addition, some camps provide opportunities for offenders to develop traditional land-based skills such as hunting, fishing and trapping. I look forward to working with interested parties and to continue to move forward on this important initiative. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

--Applause

Thank you. Ministers' statements. Item 3, Members' statements. Mr. Barnabas.

(Translation) Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I will be speaking in Inuktitut. Good morning. Today, I would like to send my sincere condolences to the family and friends of the late Aiyow Qavavauq, who unfortunately passed away this weekend in Nanasivik. He will be sadly missed by the communities of Arctic Bay and Nanisivik. Aiyow was very well known by many in Arctic Bay and Nanisivik. He was born in another community in Nunavut in 1943 on December 25th. (Translation ends)

Thank you. We will continue with Mr. Barnabas at a later time. Members' statements. Mr. Enuaraq.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Good Morning. Mr. Speaker, today I would like to talk about Cape Christian. Cape Christian is a former American coast guard station located 12 miles northeast of Clyde River. The Americans established the station in 1952. It is currently abandoned. In 1975, ownership of the station was transferred to the Canadian government. The federal government in turn sold the entire infrastructure to the Government of the NWT. The Government of the NWT is the current owner of the site. PCB cleanup of the site is almost completed but, Mr. Speaker, there are still garbage and abandoned buildings on the site. More cleanup is needed to get rid of the garbage and abandoned buildings. The site is a threat to the safety and environment of Clyde River. Mr. Speaker, the community of Clyde River would like the site cleared of abandoned buildings and the garbage cleaned up. Thank you.

Thank you. Members' statements. Mr. Rabesca.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, today I rise with a concern that all of my colleagues have commented on at one time or another, that being the lack of challenges for our young people. The younger generations are always bored They never have enough to do. Mr. Speaker, when you and I grew up, we were always doing something. Our parents had us do chores around the camp or house. It was a family working together to conquer the elements. Our traditional ways to a degree have been lost. Today our children do not have to work as hard as we did. Children today do not have to cut wood, go hunting and fishing for their food and clothing and many of the other daily events that we did.

When we grew up, not only did we have to work hard but it also challenged us. We had to go out in 40 or 50 below weather to get wood, food and everything else that we needed to ensure our survival. Today our children are not challenged. They do not have the physical challenges or the mental challenges it takes to create a good life for themselves. Young children today are getting involved in alcohol and drugs because they think it is cool and mainly because they do not have anything else to do.

There are many things we, as parents, want for our children. We want them to grow up with all the things we did not have. We want them to live a full and rewarding life but if we, as parents and as a community, cannot provide guidance and challenges for our youth, they will walk down a dead-end path to oblivion. In my community, the parish council recognizes these problems with our youth and tonight is having a meeting to form a committee to address many of the concerns these children have. I hope the committee does address these concerns and wish them all the best in their efforts. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you. Members' statements. Mr. Miltenberger.