Thank you, Mrs. Groenewegen. Good afternoon. Orders of the day. Item 2, Ministers' statements. Mr. Morin.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I rise today to tell you that I am fed up with the speculation and innuendo which is being repeated in this building, in the press and on the street about the Lahm Ridge Tower lease.

This is damaging the reputation of not only myself as your Premier but the Cabinet and the Legislature as a whole. It is also damaging and disrespectful to senior managers in the Government of the Northwest Territories and private citizens and it is untrue.

First, Mr. Speaker, I categorically deny any wrong doing or interference in the Lahm Ridge Tower lease by myself, my Cabinet colleagues and by my deputy ministers.

--Applause

Second the lease extension was and is a good deal for this government. But you know this, all the information has been put on the table. The Minister of Public Works and Services has tabled a chronology of events regarding the Lahm Ridge Tower office lease in this Assembly. The Minister and deputy minister of Public Works and Services have been candid and forthright in responding to questions on this issue. Despite this, rumours and innuendo continue to flow.

Finally, Mr. Speaker, we do have a process to deal with citizen's concerns about conflict of interest. I challenge the Member from Hay River or anyone else who may believe there is wrong doing to file a complaint against me with the Conflict of Interest Commissioner, that is if they have the guts and political backbone. If not, let us get on with the business of good government. Thank you.

--Applause

Thank you, Mr. Morin. I would like to remind the Ministers to stick to their statements that they have filed and not stray away from what you have actually filed. Thank you. Ministers' statements. Mr. Dent.

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

(Translation) Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Last week during my Member's statement, I recognized and congratulated my constituents' achievements. I would now like to make a statement about something new that has been happening and is very serious and can have serious criminal implications attached to it. This may be something new, however, there have been a number of occasions where people have been putting sugar into gas tanks of skidoos and vehicles and this destroys motors. It is very expensive when this happens and can be very dangerous for operators of boats. If that happens while boaters are out hunting in the ocean, it can become very dangerous out in the open sea. I would prefer to call this action serious under the Criminal Code, but I also realize there is no law to deal with people who do this, just like there is no law to deal with people who sniff substances.

Mr. Speaker, I am not sure which Minister I should question regarding this issue. I would like to work with my honourable colleagues as to how we can make laws to deal with people who commit acts of this sort instead of waiting for something serious to happen. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. (Translation ends)

--Applause

Thank you. Members' statements. Mr. O'Brien.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, with the division of the territories approximately 13 months away or 421 days, I believe it is time to put personal differences aside and concentrate all our collective energies on what is best for the people who we are elected to represent. Mr. Speaker, I have some serious reservations about the decentralized model of government for Nunavut that has been agreed to by all the signatories including the GNWT, NTI and the federal government. I clearly understand that the concept of a decentralized model has been approved and accepted. I strongly support it. My concern, Mr. Speaker, is what is the timing or schedule for these jobs and positions to be relocated or transferred to the smaller communities such as Arviat and Baker Lake? Mr. Speaker, I am very certain that the majority of the people, the residents of Nunavut, believe that the long awaited jobs that have been promised with the coming of Nunavut will arrive in the next year or so.

Mr. Speaker, the timing of these jobs is further complicated by the delay in construction for example, of housing units in my home community of Arviat. Mr. Speaker, this can only slow down the process for these transfers and decentralization. Mr. Speaker, most of the residents of Nunavut, especially the elders have waited a lifetime for Nunavut and the associated benefits such as these much needed jobs. Mr. Speaker, I will close by saying we must make every hour count leading up to April 1, 1999 and ensure that all residents know what to expect and most importantly, when to expect it. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

--Applause

Thank you. Members' statements. Mr. Krutko.

Thank you, Mr. Krutko. Members' statements. Mr. Roland

Thank you, Mr. Roland. Members' statements. Mr. Rabesca.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, today I rise in this House asking myself what does it take? What does it take to get the Department of MACA to realize there is a serious problem with funding in the community of Rae-Edzo. As my colleagues may recall, last week I gave an example of the funding problems Rae-Edzo is having. Also myself and my colleague, Mr. Ootes, asked the Minister responsible for MACA regarding this and were told the department staff were coming up with a solution. Today, Mr. Speaker, I was told that the solution is that there is no problem. To that I would like to give two more examples.

Firstly, I would like to compare the community of Fort Providence in regard to the culverts funded under the hamlet funding formula. Fort Providence, a very nice community only a two and a half hour drive from my home, with a population of 674 receives $56,364 per year for culverts and streetlights. While in Rae-Edzo, a population of 1,615 receives from the same department $30,084. This seems a little strange.

The reason for this difference is because Rae-Edzo has very few culverts. The reason Rae-Edzo has so few culverts is because Rae-Edzo does not have proper roads and streets, with the number of culverts that we have, being 4 inch to 8 inch pipe, not real culverts. Our roads are not roads, we have something close to being called trails.

Every spring the hamlet staff of four works very hard to ensure spring run off drains properly. However, because we do not have the proper drainage, the staff works two or three weeks pumping water across the trails and digging drainage ditches in these very trails we drive on to ensure some form of drainage occurs. This is not a new problem, it has been this way since the hamlet was incorporated back in 1971.

My second example is the dump trucks the hamlet has. The only funded dump truck is the standard government issue with a box that holds approximately two to three yards. The hamlet also has a 1980 vintage surplus US Army DEW Line dump truck. This truck was purchased by the hamlet with the blessing and encouragement of MACA and is not a funded vehicle. This same truck has now cost the hamlet $25,000 in repairs to date and is still not in proper running order.

Mr. Speaker, I ask that I have unanimous consent to complete my Member's statement, please.

The Member for North Slave is seeking unanimous consent to conclude his statement. Do we have any nays? There are no nays. Mr. Rabesca, you have unanimous consent.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I ask you, does this seem fair and equitable? It is my hope that this will finally show the Minister there is a serious problem in Rae-Edzo and that she will come up with a fair and equitable solution in the future. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

--Applause

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

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker and good afternoon. Mr. Speaker, the breakwater is important to the economy of Broughton Island. Mr. Speaker, the breakwater was set up to reduce the force of the waves and to provide a sheltered place for the community to dock their boats, but there is not enough space to safely dock all the boats at the existing breakwater. An extension of the current breakwater is needed.

The extension is part of a long-term plan to improve the fishing industry in Broughton Island. Fishing is an important part of the local economy. As in other remote northern communities, employment opportunities are hard to find. The local fishing industry in Broughton Island provides seasonal income to many people. Many people in the community may not have a source of earned income otherwise.

The first phase was to build the existing breakwater and this has been done. The extension is the second and final part of the breakwater project. It is time for the Department of Transportation to finish what they started, Mr. Speaker. The people of Broughton Island and I look forward to the prompt completion of the breakwater. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

--Applause

Thank you. Members' statements. Mr. Ootes.

Thank you. Members' statements. Mr. Steen.

Thank you. Members' statements. Mrs. Groenewegen.

Thank you, Mrs. Groenewegen. Members' statements. Mr. Picco.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, last night, like Mr. Ootes said, I attended the briefing presented by the NWT Medical Association. Mr. Speaker, the president of the association, Dr. David Butcher, Dr. Jim Corkal, Dr. Angela Carruthers and Dr. John Shillington presented on behalf of the medical association.

The wide-ranging, free-wheeling discussion was, I believe, informative and opportune for the Members. The recurring theme throughout the meeting was what is happening with health care, recruitment, retention of staff and the medical services direction of the government. Mr. Speaker, we are politicians. We are not medical professionals. I think everyone in this House realizes there are concerns in the area of health. As noted by the NWTMA, the advantages to the regionalization of services are increased responsiveness to local needs, local input into program development and local responsibility for the use of health care resources. The disadvantages of the regionalization process are the fragmentation of existing physical and human resources and disparities and access to health care. Currently the regionalization process has created a fear of loss of the quality of health care and a loss of public confidence in the health care system in general. Mr. Speaker, later today, I will be questioning the Minister on some of these areas. Thank you.

--Applause

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

(Translation) Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I will be speaking in Inuktitut. Mr. Speaker, as an aboriginal person I stand today in this House to state that I have been asking questions about NTI to find out what is happening with the process that they are doing. They have responded to me that those questions I have been asking are directed to the people who are aboriginal people and just for those that are entitled under Nunavut. However, I would like to state that I am an aboriginal person who is entitled to their land claims. I know my name is English, Barnabas, but I am an Inuk. I would like to state to NTI that I am a beneficiary. There should be an inquiry into them telling me that I am not a beneficiary. I would like to say to Josie Kusugak that I am also a beneficiary and for him to look in the list of beneficiaries. He will find my name there. Thank you. (Translation ends)

--Applause

Thank you. Members' statements. Mr. Erasmus.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I too, rise today to speak about the health care system in the NWT. Mr. Speaker, I have been watching the Keewatin health issue for awhile now, listening and reading things. I had thought that it was a regional issue, but I now realize this could affect other areas as well, specifically this could happen in the west. I have read most of a report from the Nurses Association on attracting personnel to the NWT. I also attended a meeting with the NWT Medical Association last night. Mr. Speaker, these meetings confirmed my suspicions that perhaps things like this could happen in the west. The last thing we need or want is a general loss of confidence in the health system. Mr. Speaker, looking at that report from the nurses, it asked how can you attract people to the north and what is making people want to leave. What they had mentioned is exactly what we have taken away from them, lack of housing, lack of VTAs to travel back home, low wages because southern wages are comparable in some places, also lack of community support.

Mr. Speaker, the medical association indicated, as has been mentioned before, that our facilities and staff need to be certified so people know they have consistent medical services wherever they go. They also feel there should be core programs that are prioritized centrally, as well as some territorial-wide programs and standards that are set by a central agency which, of course, the boards could help set up and agree to. Perhaps their biggest message, Mr. Speaker, was that changes to the medical services that we provide should be to improve quality of programs and not to save money. Mr. Speaker, I urge this government to use the Keewatin situation as a wake up call and make changes now that are needed. Mr. Speaker, I reiterate, we cannot afford for the general public to lose confidence in our health system. Thank you.

--Applause

Thank you. Members' statements. Mr. Henry.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, over the last couple of years I have witnessed Members in this House stand and talk about some of the elders or statesmen in their communities, and they have had one thing in common. They had all passed away. I find that a little disappointing when the bouquets that are meant to go to people are not around to receive them.

I would like to change that. I would like to speak about someone who is very much alive in our community. That individual is the chief administrator for the City of Yellowknife, Doug Lagore, who came to Yellowknife in 1987 and has been the administrator ever since. I know Mr. Todd would probably take note when I mention that Mr. Lagore initiated pay equity in the City of Yellowknife in the early 1990s. He built a strong team through a difficult time. There was a strike when he arrived, and so he built a very strong team of management and an excellent working relationship with the union. Organizations that this individual is involved with; he is director of the Canadian Association of Municipal Administrators; he is on various committees of international city managers; he is the founding member of the Association of Municipal Administrators of the NWT; he is chairman of the Employee Benefits Program; he is also the secretary treasurer of the Arctic Winter Games Association and is vice-president of the Arctic Winter Games.

--Applause

Thank you, Mr. Henry. Members' statements. Item 4, returns to oral questions. Item 5, recognition of visitors in the gallery. Mr. Henry.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It gives me great pleasure to introduce the mayor of Yellowknife, Mr. Lovell and with him, the gentleman who I just spoke about, Mr. Doug Lagore, the city administrator.

--Applause

Welcome to the Assembly. Thank you. Recognition of visitors in the gallery. Ms. Thompson.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. On behalf of the three MLAs in the Keewatin region, I would like to recognize the mayors from the Keewatin, Steve Mapsalak, mayor of Repulse Bay; Louis Pilakapsi, deputy mayor of Rankin Inlet; Peter Kritaqliluk, mayor of Arviat and vice-president of NWT Eastern Caucus; and Anthyme Kadjuk from my riding, mayor of Chesterfield Inlet.

--Applause

Welcome to the Assembly. Recognition of visitors in the gallery. Mr. Arlooktoo.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I am pleased to introduce three important members of my staff from the Housing Corporation, Hunter Tootoo, Peter Scott, our managers from the Baffin region district office of the Housing Corporation. Sarah Flynn is the district director of the Keewatin. They are here today.

--Applause

Welcome to the Assembly. Recognition of visitors in the gallery. Mrs. Groenewegen.

Welcome to the Assembly. Continue.

Thank you. Recognition of visitors in the gallery. Mr. O'Brien.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Although the honourable Member for Aivilik stole my thunder, I also would like to recognize and introduce my good friend and the fine mayor of Arviat, mayor Peter Kritaqliluk. Thank you.

--Applause

Thank you. Recognition of visitors in the gallery. Mr. Kakfwi.

Thank you. The Member for Sahtu is seeking unanimous consent to go back to Ministers' statements. Do we have any nays? Mr. Kakfwi, you have unanimous consent.

Thank you, Mr. Kakfwi. Ministers' statements. Item 6, oral questions. Mr. Krutko.

Thank you. The Minister of Public Works and Services, Mr. Antoine.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the Yellowknife office space realization is a plan on how to deal with that has been approved by Cabinet recently in the last couple of weeks. We are in the process of developing a plan of action and how to proceed with it. Part of the plan is to look at the existing assets this government has. The decision has been to see if the possibility of selling off the Laing

Building is there. The Stuart Hodgson Building is not for sale, plus a couple of other properties. The Tapwe Building and some renewable resources property are going to be considered for sale. In regard to discussions with the Denendeh Development Corporation, apparently there have been some preliminary discussions in the past. There have been no decisions by this government until the last couple of weeks to go ahead with the office plan decision. Only a couple of weeks ago the decision was made that we are going to be selling some of these assets off and we are formulating a plan on how to do it. I think there is an aboriginal content in that as well. Specifically, the Denendeh Development Corporation proposal, I feel, is in the preliminary discussion stages in the last year or so. Thank you.

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

Ask your supplementary question, please.

Mr. Antoine.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I had a meeting with the representative of the Denendeh Development Corporation two days ago. We explained to them the decision of the Cabinet to go ahead and sell the Laing Building. I think that is the building they are interested in, as well as the Stuart Hodgson Building. Again, the decision in Cabinet is that we are not going to sell the Stuart Hodgson Building and only the Laing Building. They told me they have been working on it for a number of years. They have met with members of Public Works and Services just looking at preliminary discussions. At that time, there was no decision made to sell these assets. The decision to sell the assets was finally realized about two weeks ago, and we are working on a process now to go through a public process. Thank you.

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

Mr. Antoine.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The honourable Member is asking me questions about aboriginal corporations and development corporations acquiring assets from this government. He is also equating it to the Lahm Ridge Tower deal. The Lahm Ridge Tower is a privately owned company that sold to another privately owned company. It has never been a government asset. It is a deal between two private businesses. In that case, it is a question that is difficult to answer. In that regard, it has never been the government's property. Thank you.

Thank you. Oral questions. Final supplementary, Mr. Krutko.

Mr. Antoine.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the properties this government had decided to sell is going to favour an aboriginal component to it. If that is done through a public process, then the opportunity will be there in the market. It will be dealt with like every other company that owns buildings in this capital to lease space to this government. Thank you.

Oral questions. Mr. Picco.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, on the Lahm Ridge Tower deal, we have been hearing a lot of

questions on it. I guess it started the beginning of October. I would like to try to end it right now. I would like to ask the Minister for DPW would he table in this House a copy of the Lahm Ridge Tower lease with the pertinent financial information that is not needed by the Members of this House, black that out, give it to us, table it in the House? We can compare it to the lease that was tabled last week and then end all speculation there and then. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Hear! Hear!

The Minister of Public Works and Services, Mr. Antoine.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the deputy minister is seeking a legal opinion and seeking permission from the owners to say if that is possible. We will let this House know once that is done. Thank you.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, it comes as a bit of a surprise that Justice is looking at doing this. I am very pleased that they are. I wonder if the Minister could give us any idea when Justice would know and when that could be done? I would like to have a commitment so we could end it now, as soon as possible. Thank you.

Mr. Antoine.

The deputy minister is looking into it now and as soon as it is possible we will get it done. Thank you.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, can the Minister then commit to having that tabled in the House before the end of this session, before the end of February? Thank you.

Mr. Antoine.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, subject to approval and the right approval, we will do that. Thank you.

Oral questions. Mr. Roland.

The Minister of Education, Culture and Employment, Mr. Dent.

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

Hear! Hear!

--Applause

Mr. Dent.

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

Mr. Dent.

Thank you. Oral questions. Final supplementary, Mr. Roland.

Thank you. Mr. Dent.

Thank you. Oral questions. Mr. Rabesca.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I would like to address my question to the honourable Minister of Resources, Wildlife and Economic Development, Mr. Kakfwi. It is my understanding on January of this year your department was informed that Canada Post would not be shipping our trappers' fur to the market. Would the Minister please tells us if this in fact is true? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The Minister of Resources, Wildlife and Economic Development, Mr. Kakfwi.

Thank you. Oral questions. Mr. Rabesca.

A further question. I would like to get more information as to what has been done to ensure that this kind of thing which affects our trappers in the future or this government?

Mr. Kakfwi.

Thank you. Oral questions. Mr. Enuaraq.

(Translation) Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I will be speaking Inuktitut. As I stated earlier during my Member's statement regarding the wharf in Broughton Island, I would

like to ask the Minister responsible for Transportation as to when this wharf will be completed. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The Minister of Transportation, Mr. Antoine.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the honourable Member is asking me about the breakwater system in the constituency of Broughton Island. Mr. Speaker, from 1991-1992 and ending in 1995-96, the Department of Transportation worked along with the municipality of Broughton Island and completed a breakwater system. We spent about $650,000 on that whole project. We also provided a floating dock for the community. At that time there were a lot of questions raised by the municipality if perhaps we should develop this breakwater into a much bigger project which would accommodate larger ships. The price on that is undetermined but it is quite a substantial amount. We have not really put into our plans at this time to expand the work that we have completed recently. However, the regional superintendent of transportation, Methusalah Kunuk from Iqaluit is responsible for that area through our department. We do have some operation and maintenance funding to maintain the existing structure from any slumping or damage, just to do some overall recapping on this community. This is the extent of the work we have done in the community. Thank you.

Thank you. Oral questions. Mr. Ootes.

Thank you. The Minister of Public Works and Services, Mr. Antoine.