Thank you, Mr. O'Brien. Good morning. Orders of the day. Item 2, Ministers' statements. Mr. Arlooktoo.

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

(Translation) Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to speak about my concern regarding an issue I have brought up on two occasions. In March, 1997, I questioned the Minister of MACA about the four men who moved 30 graves in Hall Beach. I brought up the issue again on the February 2nd of this year, but in my understanding is this is not a responsibility of MACA. Hall Beach workers did this work in the summer of 1968 but they did not get paid for that tedious task.

The excavation of bodies is not a duty that should go unpaid and there were 30 of these bodies moved. This task is not something that the average person would want to do. These men helped out the community when they were needed and yet they still were unpaid for their hard work.

Mr. Speaker, I will be directing my questions to the Premier at the appropriate time. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. (Translation ends)

Thank you. Members' statements. Mr. Barnabas.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to rise today to talk about the continuing role the Nunavut Caucus will play in the creation of Nunavut. As Members know, we are only a short time away from April 1, 1999 and much remains to be done. Mr. Speaker, as Members of this Assembly, we must do all that we can to make the transition process as smooth as possible. As the Honourable Goo Arlooktoo, Minister responsible for Nunavut transition has said, it is very important that the Nunavut Caucus continues to work in close cooperation with the western Caucus, maintaining an open dialogue on matters dealing with the creation of two new territories. Not only will this help the process of division, but it will also ensure future relations between the two territories are strong and harmonious.

Mr. Speaker, the Nunavut Caucus Action Plan Creating Nunavut, which I will table later today, outlines many issues related to the implementation of a new Nunavut government and that Nunavut Caucus feels is very important in ensuring the smooth transition to the two new territories. Members of the Nunavut Caucus are focused on implementing the new Nunavut government. The Nunavut Caucus will continue to work in a cooperative way in addressing the issues. We want to play a supportive and productive role with all the parties involved in the process.

As elected Members of this Assembly, the Nunavut Caucus will work very hard to ensure that creation of two territories does not affect the level of government programs and services for Nunavut residents. We remain committed to maintaining and improving the quality of life for the people of Nunavut.

Mr. Speaker, the Nunavut Caucus will continue to support the efforts of the Minister responsible for the Nunavut Transition in promoting the creation of a new Nunavut government. I am confident that in working with our partners, the western Caucus, the office of the Interim Commissioner, Nunavut Tunngavik Incorporated, the federal government and the Nunavut Implementation Commission, a Nunavut government will be created that the people of Nunavut can be proud of. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

--Applause.

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

Thank you. Members' statements. Mr. Ootes.

Thank you. Members' statements. Mr. Rabesca.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, today, as the entire country knows it, is budget day for the liberals in Ottawa. There has been speculation that our federal government will have a balanced budget, with a possible surplus. This is, indeed, good news for us all. I would like to congratulate the Honourable Paul Martin for his guidance in achieving this. Over the past number of years, Canadians have suffered from budget cuts and belt tightening that most jurisdictions across our country have experienced and hopefully, this budget will give us all the rewards we expected.

During Sunday's brunch where Mrs. Blondin-Andrew and Andrew Mitchell spoke, both stressed that the north would get its fair share. I hope this will happen. We have heard over and over the need for more housing, better housing and lower rents for staff in remote communities and many other issues, hopefully, this budget will address.

I hope this budget addresses the recommendations put forward in the Royal Commission on Aboriginal Peoples Report as suggested. The federal government has recognized the needs and the despair that our native people across the country live under.

Previous budgets have taken their toll on our people. Many areas of Canada have unsuitable housing, higher than average unemployment, lower than average education levels and very high incidents of social problems. In most cases, these are our native aboriginal Canadians. Our people need many things to live a normal life as the rest of Canada and I hope that Mr. Martin will address these very important issues. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

--Applause.

Members' statements. Mr. Roland.

Thank you. Members' statements. Mr. Picco.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, as elected representatives of this House, we are elected to represent the people of the Northwest Territories. At times, specific constituency issues are raised and other times, transterritorial issues, although sometimes constituency specific issues have territorial implications. An example was the Keewatin health issues. Mr. Speaker, the assets of this government were paid for and financed by all residents of the Northwest Territories. How does the government decide what is surplus and what is redundant?

Mr. Speaker, specifically, I speak about the government's consideration to transfer the NWT liquor warehouse to the city of Yellowknife for a dollar. Mr. Speaker, the liquor warehouse, information provided to me shows, has a value of $2.39 million. I have never heard about any situation in the past where a $2.39 million asset would be transferred for a nominal sum of a dollar and then be torn down just to make available a building lot.

Mr. Speaker, the transfer of an asset to a community or an organization in the past has been facilitated to help a community or that organization, not to be destroyed to make way for another project. How was this decision reached? Mr. Speaker, later today, I will ask questions to the Minister responsible for this matter. Thank you.

--Applause.

Members' statements. Item 4, returns to oral questions. Item 5, recognition of visitors in the gallery. Item 6, oral questions. Mr. Miltenberger.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I do find it disturbing. The honourable Member and the Reverend Bauchman did provide me yesterday with a copy of a letter outlining his complaints and concern on this issue. I plan on addressing it directly with chair of the Stanton Regional Health Board. I am sure it is a one-time occurrence that regretfully happened. We will do all we can to make sure it does not happen again, Mr. Speaker. Thank you.

Oral questions. Supplementary, Mr. Miltenberger.

Mr. Ng.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I will have my deputy minister contact Mr. Cleaver today to make sure that this issue is straightened out before I have a chance to speak to the chair on the matter. Thank you.

Thank you. Oral questions. Mr. Picco.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my question is concerning the Government of the Northwest Territories liquor warehouse in Yellowknife. Mr. Speaker, my question is, why would the government transfer an asset valued at $2.39 million to the city of Yellowknife to be destroyed or torn down to make way for another building? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Premier.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. This is normal, good government to do things like this in partnership with our communities. We have done it in many other communities. For the Member's information, we are transferring this parcel of land to the city of Yellowknife and the building will be sold. Thank you.

--Applause.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, is there something wrong with the present building? It was built in 1976, it contains 33,000 square feet, 7,000 square feet is the mezzanine. So it has 40,000 square feet and it is only a little over 20 years old. What is wrong with the building? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Morin.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It is a perfectly good building. Thank you.

Oral questions. Supplementary, Mr. Picco.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I am not trying to ask the question in a facetious manner. I am not trying to debate the issue. I would like to ask some questions on this area. You are talking about an asset of $2.39 million, paid for by the people of the Northwest Territories. I think we have a right to know what is happening with this building. If the building is perfectly fine, why are you trying to get rid of this lot to make way for another building on the lot? I understand the building would be taken down, if it is $2.39 million. Could the Premier tell me what is happening with the 33,000 square feet, the space for the liquor warehouse and the Public Works and Services warehouse and the Public Works and Services records that are kept in the warehouse? Have they been transferred somewhere else?

Thank you. Mr. Morin. You have used up all your supplementaries, Mr. Picco.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The liquor warehouse portion of it that is privatized and there is another one being built from the private sector to supply that to the government. We have other places to put the records and the building itself. The city of Yellowknife requested us to give them that land to put two arenas on there, I believe they are going to build a double arena. The taxpayers in Yellowknife are going to pay for those arenas and the intention of the government is to sell the warehouse and we will get paid for that portion of it. Thank you.

Thank you. Could we have some order in the House, please? Oral questions. Mr. Evaloarjuk.

(Translation) Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My question is directed to the Premier. Mr. Speaker, four Hall Beach workers have not yet been paid for the removal and replacement of 30 graves in 1968. Back then, they were to be paid approximately $4,000 for the work. I understand this would be the responsibility of the federal government. I would like to ask the Premier if he would be willing to contact the federal government to request that these workers in Hall Beach be paid for the work they did in 1968? Thank you, Mr. Speaker. (Translation ends)

Mr. Premier.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I will be pleased to work with the Member to try and solve this issue on behalf of his constituents and to contact the federal government. Possibly if he and I could have a meeting to find out, I believe we have on record the names of the gentlemen who did the work. I would like to know exactly when it was done so we can somehow track who was the federal government's contact person in the community at that time. We then can help his constituents build a case that we could take to our MP for the Nunavut area as well as to the federal government. Thank you.

Oral questions. Supplementary, Mr. Evaloarjuk.

(Translation) Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Can the Premier tell me when he will contact the federal government? (Translation ends)

Thank you. Mr. Premier.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As soon as myself and the Member have the opportunity to meet to get all the information. Immediately after that, I will write a letter to the federal government.

Thank you.

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

(Translation) Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Is the Premier indicating that he will be able to communicate with me first before he can get the federal government's response? Thank you. (Translation ends)

Thank you. Mr. Premier.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Hopefully, this week while we are in session, we can take a few minutes of the Member's time, sit down and discuss the issue so I have background on the issue and then we will contact the federal government and write to them shortly after that, seven days. Thank you.

Oral questions. Mr. Henry.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My question, is to the Minister responsible for the Financial Management Board, Mr. Todd. It is in regard to the new job evaluation system. Mr. Speaker, this new job evaluation system still is of great concern to many employees of the Government of the Northwest Territories. At this stage, the last couple of days in the House the Minister alleviated some concerns about the present employees and indicated that their positions will be frozen as regard to pay and renumeration. The concern that is raised now is, Mr. Speaker, how the positions were evaluated and where they finish up on the scale. I note that the evaluation was performed by Hay and Associates. In the documentation that was presented to all government employees, it lays out some of the conditions how that was arrived at. My question to the Minister is, in what other jurisdictions other than Manitoba does the Hay and Associates perform these services for other governments? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The Minister of Finance, Mr. Todd.

If my memory serves me correct, I understand they have done work in Manitoba, Ontario, some of the maritime provinces and I believe British Columbia. They have also done a variety of work for the private sector, not just governments. I know for sure Ontario, Manitoba and I believe some of the maritime provinces. I could get a full description of their government work, for my colleague, if he so wishes. They certainly have significant national/international experience. Thank you.

Oral questions. Supplementary, Mr. Henry.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. If the Minister could also at that time provide information as to job evaluation systems that they have done in other governments as to how they have worked out and how long they have been in place. I also note on this particular document, Mr. Speaker, it talks about the government explaining the new job evaluation system to employees. What provisions does the Financial Management Board have in place to respond to employees who have concerns about this new job evaluation system? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Todd.

I do not think there is any doubt that some employees whose pay level is going to be reduced would be concerned. Of course, the employees whose pay level is going to be increased will be pleased with that in terms of the job evaluation. I have talked to Mr. Voytilla and indicated to him that we have to deal with this on a one-to-one basis. We will. We are trying to communicate to the best of our ability as to why some things have happened. I did have a discussion early this morning, with my colleague from Inuvik, Mr. Roland who has a number of concerns. We will try to address them on an individual basis. I hope we are going to be able to demonstrate to our employees that we treat people in a fair and reasonable way. I believe there are more employees who will be getting a more pay level increases, if you want rather than those who are being reduced. Thank you.

Oral questions. Supplementary, Mr. Henry.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker and thank you, Mr. Todd for that. You will agree the more information people have the better informed they can be and the easier it is for them to accept some conditions especially if they are well informed. Would the Minister consider setting up a position, for at least a two-week period, where employees can call in and dedicate an employee who is well informed about how this evaluation system was done? Would the Minister consider setting up and dedicating an individual employee or a member of the Hay Plan to answer questions that the government employees have with regard to how the evaluation system is done? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Todd.

These are extremely important questions my colleague asks and I concur there is clearly a need to communicate with our staff and explain both positive and negative ramifications of the job evaluation system. I will be meeting with my deputy minister at noon, during the break. I will see what would be an appropriate process to give the employees access to either somebody or a group of people to try an answer their questions and will be in touch with my colleague and advise him what we are going to do. I will try to do it as quickly as possible. Thank you.

Oral questions. Mr. Roland.

Mr. Premier.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I do not know the exact number of dollars we do have in support of marketing in the Northwest Territories. I do know that we market the Northwest Territories and we do have programs to assist tourism and people to market the Northwest Territories. Thank you.

Oral questions. Supplementary, Mr. Roland.

Mr. Morin.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I will be pleased to work with the Member as well as the Minister responsible for marketing of tourism in the Northwest Territories, to look at how we are doing and whether we can do a better job or not and sometimes we can do a better job possibly, without spending more dollars. Maybe it is just the way we are doing our marketing. We are doing a fairly good job on marketing. My understanding is tourism numbers are increasing by the year. I see there a lot of down-filled red jackets in Yellowknife throughout the winter months. By talking to those tourist operators and marketing of northern lights, tourism has grown from where it started off at approximately 400 tourists and then it jumped to 1,200. Last year it was 1,800. This year it is 4,000 with a good potential of growing to at least 10,000 tourists a year. Thank you.

Oral questions. Supplementary, Mr. Roland.

Mr. Morin.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The people who are involved in the tourism business as well as aboriginal groups who are involved in the marketing of tourism are talking and dealing with the Minister on creating a new marketing plan for tourism for the western Arctic. The eastern Arctic and Nunavut area have already embarked on marketing Nunavut and tourism over there. With marketing in the west, it is a matter of all the partners coming together to develop a marketing plan. Those marketing plans should also include all the regions. Thank you.

Oral questions. Final supplementary, Mr. Roland.

Thank you, Mr. Roland. Oral questions. Mr. Barnabas.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my question will be directed to the Minister of MACA. Mr. Speaker, I learned that the Arctic Bay sewage disposal lagoon dump improvement was reduced by $210 in order to purchase a bulldozer for the hamlet. Mr. Speaker, my question is why the project was reduced when there is a local contractor with full equipment in the community? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The Minister of Municipal and Community Affairs, Ms. Thompson.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My

regional staff is very good at speaking to the communities and finding out what the priorities are. I do not know why he said $210. I think that is probably $210,000. I do not know what happened with the bulldozer and the sewage lagoon as to why it was reduced. I will get back to the Members. I will take it as notice. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The question is taken as notice. Oral questions. Mr. Ootes.

Mr. Premier.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I do not think I can tell the Member what we discuss in Cabinet. Thank you.

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

Mr. Morin.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Tourism is very important for the economy of the Northwest Territories. We have a lot to offer the world in places to come and see, fish, hunt and to look at northern lights. We do not want to see our tourism industry floundering. I would be pleased to take it up with the Minister. I am sure that the Minister is working with the other people in the Northwest Territories who are involved in tourism to try to make sure that we market it properly. I will discuss it with the Minister. Thank you.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my question is to the Minister responsible for FMBS. Mr. Speaker, it is my understanding that approximately $400,000 was donated or transferred to the City of Yellowknife. The apparent purpose was to help offset the downturn to the economy due to the loss of jobs, so on and so forth. Can the Minister confirm whether this amount of money was transferred, indeed, to the City of Yellowknife? Thank you.

The Minister responsible for the Financial Management Board, Mr. Todd.

Yes, Mr. Speaker. In an effort to assist the city in its fiscal crisis and the fact that we are in a huge downturn, as it relates to division and as the majority of cuts in the budget strategy are coming out of Yellowknife; Yellowknife requested some assistance and we provided it. Thank you.

Oral questions. Supplementary, Mr. O'Brien

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Can the Minister confirm to this House where this money came from, how it was facilitated?

Mr. Todd.

Yes, Mr. Speaker. It could have come through the community infrastructure funding, but I would have to double check. Certainly, at the request of three MLAs from Yellowknife and with my and the city's support, we moved on this important initiative to stabilizing the Yellowknife economy, et cetera.

--Applause

Thank you. Oral questions. Could I have some order in this House please? Supplementary, Mr. O'Brien.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I realize that Yellowknife has had some difficult times over the last year or so. This is not to say that the smaller communities in the eastern Arctic that are suffering from 72 to 75 percent unemployment also have had difficult times over the last many,

many years. My question to the Minister, I am not concerned or upset about the fact that Yellowknife has received $400,000. All the power to them. My question, Mr. Speaker, is how can communities like my two communities, Arviat and Baker, access this type of funding and get on this gravy train, so they can have the same benefits as the city of Yellowknife? Thank you.

Mr. Todd.

I would not define the request from city hall with the support of four MLAs for Yellowknife as a gravy train, Mr. Speaker. If my honourable colleague wishes to make a reasonable question, I am prepared to answer with a reasonable answer. What I will say to him is, there are a variety of programs out there in which his community has accessed. I know his community very well has accessed the Community Infrastructure Fund for the Kivalliq partners, et cetera. City hall and Yellowknife have historically not accessed that. This was and is a unique situation. It is a city that has taken some of our biggest hits in terms of layoffs. It is a city that is under siege with respect to the mining industry. This is a city that needs some assistance. My colleagues, I and others chose to give it to them. This is a one-time assistance to see if they can get out there to market the city and bring some new life to it. I would hope that all of my colleagues in this House would see the value of that. Historically and certainly presently, communities like my home community of Rankin Inlet, Mr. O'Brien's communities like Baker Lake and Arviat have been able to access a whole bunch of programs as level two and level three communities that level one communities have not been able to access. It is no different from the assistance that we want to give in Inuvik which is currently assigned as a level one community but, in fact, has a level two, level three economy. This was the reason why we did this. Thank you.

--Applause

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker and Mr. Todd for those comments. Mr. Speaker, can the Minister tell this House who authorized this transfer of funds to the City of Yellowknife and which department was involved? Thank you.

Mr. Todd.

I am not sure who authorized it. RWED was the department that was used as a means to provide the city with the funding. I was involved as the Finance Minister at the request of the three MLAs and the city. I would have to check into exactly which department. I believe it was RWED that gave the funding. I was actively involved as the Finance Minister in ensuring that the funding was there. Thank you.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The Minister indicated that RWED was involved. Would the Minister confirm that the Minister of RWED approved this transfer of funding to the City of Yellowknife?

Mr. Todd.

I cannot confirm whether the Minister of RWED approved or not. I am saying to you as the Finance Minister, I was active in the process of trying to find the additional dollars required on a one-time basis to help the city that is currently under economic siege and has taken these large hits as it relates to the Deficit Elimination Strategy, as it relates to the division of 150 people of which Mr. O'Brien and others, will reap the rewards from in the decentralized government. I was involved in providing assistance to the city and RWED was the mechanism in which we transferred the money through. Thank you.

Oral questions. Mr. Erasmus.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Recently, Dr. Alphonso Martinez, special rapporteur for the United Nations, visited the Hay River Reserve at which time there were several representations made to him. I would like to ask a question to the Minister responsible for Aboriginal Affairs. There were several representations made to the special rapporteur by the aboriginal governments in the Northwest Territories which clearly voiced their dissatisfaction with what they perceive as Canada's violations against the treaties. They indicated that Canada is in breech of their obligations. Also, they expressed concern that the passing of legislation by the territorial and federal governments further erodes their treaty rights. What I would like to know is, did this government make a presentation to the special rapporteur from the United Nations? Thank you.

The Minister of Aboriginal Affairs. Mr. Antoine.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the UN rapporteur on treaty rights who attended the meeting was invited there by the Deh Cho First Nations and other First Nations. Treaty 8 and other First Nations attended this meeting. The purpose of the meeting was to meet this gentleman. Initial contact was made by the Grand Chief of Deh

Cho when he went to the UN in Geneva last year. From there, I find out that this gentleman was doing a study on treaty issues. The purpose of the meeting was for the First Nations to explain to the UN rapporteur their concerns in regard to their treaty rights. The Northwest Territories government was not involved in this process and, therefore, would not make any presentation to this person. Thank you.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Considering the implications of the report that the rapporteur makes, I would think that it is incumbent that this government bring some sort of a written report or presentation and have it sent to Mr. Martinez. Does this government intend to make a written submission to the UN representative?

Mr. Antoine.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, no, this government does not intend to make any statement at all to this UN rapporteur. He was here on the invitation of the First Nations and the First Nations wanted to make a presentation to him. The UN rapporteur will be making a major statement, not only for the Northwest Territories, Canada and the United States, but a statement throughout the whole world on treaty issues for indigenous people that they see there are injustices to them. As a result of that, we are part of the government and I think some of the concerns that were raised were aimed toward us. It would have been good to meet this gentleman but unfortunately because of this House sitting we were not able to attend the meeting. Thank you.