Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Good Morning. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to inform the Assembly that later this afternoon, I will sign the Canada/Northwest Territories Labour Market Development Agreement with the Honourable Ethel Blondin-Andrew, Member of Parliament for Western Arctic, Secretary of State for Children and Youth on behalf of the Honourable Pierre Pettigrew, Minister of Human Resources and Development Canada.

I would like to take this opportunity to invite my honourable colleagues from this House to attend the signing ceremony at 2:30 this afternoon in the Great Hall.

This agreement will enable the territorial government to take on a bigger role in the design, management and delivery of labour market programs for unemployed northerners. Under this agreement, $18.8 million will be transferred to the NWT over the next four years to provide programs and services. These funds will support retraining subsidies for employers, employment counselling, and job placement services.

Northerners will be able to access these programs and services through a network of Canada NWT Service Centres in Yellowknife, Fort Simpson, Inuvik, Iqaluit, Rankin Inlet and Hay River. As well, this agreement provides the opportunity for the NWT to expand labour market services to the Kitikmeot region. Human Resources Development Canada will continue to pay financial support direct to unemployed Canadians through its Employment Insurance Program.

Accountability and measurable results are important aspects of the Labour Market Agreement. During 1998-99, we expect to see more than 400 employment insurance clients return to employment or become self-employed after referral to territorial programs and services. This will result in a saving of about $3.6 million to the employment insurance account.

The transfer will take place on April 1st of this year, although the actual implementation will take longer. The two governments will form a transition committee to review the way services are currently provided and create a plan to transfer staff, funding and other resources.

Helping people develop the skills they need to find and keep jobs continues to be a priority for the Government of the NWT and Government of Canada. This agreement clarifies roles and strengthens the collaborative relationship between our two governments. I look forward to this continuing partnership as our governments work together to improve labour market services to northerners.

This collaborative approach should go a long way toward improving opportunities for unemployed northerners to find their way back into the job market. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

--Applause