Mr. Morin.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. No, we do not expect the mining industry to subsidize the start of a new diamond polishing industry in the Northwest Territories. We just expect the mining industry, especially BHP, to live up to the public statements they have made and we will help them achieve that. It may cost them a bit of money, but it is not a subsidy. Thank you.

Oral questions. Mr. Henry.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I will also be asking the Premier some questions on his statement in the House yesterday on northern diamonds. I would like to congratulate the Premier and his government for the position they are taking. I believe that is the bottom line anyway. I listened to a CBC report where the Premier had responded to questions from the reporter. The Premier had said his Ministers would work with the industry and government and report back to Cabinet. My question to the Minister is, when the Ministers do report back to Cabinet, will the Premier have a meeting of the full Caucus and advise them of the advancements they have made before a public statement is forthcoming? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The Premier, Mr. Morin.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As this process evolves and as the Ministers meet with the diamond industry people and the federal government as well, I will be very happy to keep Members informed, of what evolves from that. If the House is not sitting, then I would do that by letter so Members are fully knowledgeable of what is happening. Thank you.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker and thank you, Premier, for that. The point I am trying to get here, Mr. Speaker is, this government will be splitting before December 31st, 1998. We will be back in this House in May. What I would like for the Premier to do is to bring this information back to the committee. The reason for asking this, there was criticism of the government during the process, a socio-economic agreement, and I think it is better if, in this particular situation, everyone had some input into it. We can make a collective decision, everybody buys into it and supports it. That is my reason for asking it. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Morin.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I will write to the Caucus Chairman and ask him to add that item to the Caucus agenda so when we come back in May we can have an update then. Thank you.

Oral questions. Supplementary, Mr. Henry.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I like the Premier's positive attitude and that he is sending two of his top Ministers to negotiate with BHP and with the federal government. Hopefully, that will result in something which will benefit all northerners. My question to the Premier is, I have not heard the comment that was made by the Finance Minister anywhere in the statement here. Is that still on the table, the potential of taxes that would choke a mule in the event that northerners do not get the resources and benefits they deserve out of this industry? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Morin.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The most important issue here is to make sure that northerners benefit from our resources. The diamonds belong to the Northwest Territories people. That is our resource and future. We will do everything possible to ensure that northerners benefit from this diamond mine. Northerners have to benefit from this diamond mine and we, as a government, will ensure that happens. Thank you.

Thank you. Oral questions. Mr. Picco.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I would like to follow up on some questions on Mr. Todd's statement yesterday on pay equity. Has the UNW or any outside agencies agreed that the proposed GNWT's Hay Job Evaluation System is, indeed, gender neutral? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The Minister of Finance, Mr. Todd.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, yes, Hay and Associates are in fact an outside organization with a significant Canadian-wide, both in government and industry-wide experience. This is probably the most detailed job evaluation analysis that has been done in this government

since its start. I am confident the Hay Associates job evaluation system is well-founded and is defendable, if and when we end up at the Human Rights Commission. Thank you.

Oral questions. Supplementary, Mr. Picco.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, rates of pay must be based on a bias-free job evaluation system as set out under the Canadian Human Rights guidelines. Do the rates of pay under this new proposed system meet those guidelines? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Todd.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. We believe they do. Thank you.

Oral questions. Supplementary, Mr. Picco.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, is it true then that government cannot knowingly ignore the legal obligations set out in the Canadian Human Rights Act and thus, has to negotiate a settlement because a new collective agreement with rates of pay which discriminate, would now not be legal because, indeed, of the recent ruling?