Thank you, Ms. Thompson. Good morning. Orders of the day. Item 2, Ministers' statements. Mr. Dent.

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

Your time is up.

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

Thank you. Members' statements. Mr. Krutko.

Thank you. Members' statements. Mrs. Groenewegen.

Thank you. Members' statements. Mr. Picco.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, we are doing right now the review of the main estimates for the budget. It is very disappointing, Mr. Speaker, when you are trying to do a review of the budget and have information coming to you the day before or the actual day that a department is up for review. In case of point is, Mr. Speaker, the Department of MACA provided to the Minister of Finance's department, FMBS, a copy of information requested by my committee on the 8th of January. Mr. Speaker, that information I received yesterday. That information pertains to the MACA budget and is information that should have been brought forward in my opening remarks yesterday and in some of the questions yesterday on the main estimates. Mr. Speaker, my concern here today, indeed, is what is causing this delay at the Department of Finance and the Financial Board? It is not acceptable for me, as an Ordinary Member or chairman of a committee. There is also the situation regarding other committees in this House who have had the same problem happening and later today I will be questioning the Minister of Finance who has ultimate responsibility for the budget, to find out if this is actually a mistake or a logistic problem or, indeed, an attempt to sandbag questions. Thank you.

Thank you. Members' statements. Mr. Ootes.

Thank you. Members' statements. Mr. Rabesca.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, today I received a letter from one of my constituents who is concerned over the recent firing of the NWT ski division's head coach. My constituent is raising concerns of what will become of the ski program. It is my understanding that this coach has assisted the community of Rae Lakes by providing low cost ski equipment and has helped to establish a ski club and promote the sport to the youth and other members of the community. The community of Rae Lakes would like to know why they were not informed or have any input into the decision to release the coach. If this is an association, I would think that each Member should have a say. This decision seems to have taken place at a bad time considering we have the Arctic Winter Games and Territorial Ski Championships fast approaching. I only hope that this decision will not have any detrimental affect on this great sport that over the years has produced many world-calibre athletes in the north. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

--Applause

Thank you. Members' statements. Mr. Evaloarjuk.

(Translation) Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to briefly speak about the incident in the area between Igloolik and Hall Beach. There was an emergency. People from Hall Beach and Igloolik were searching for a person. I would like to state that I am very glad that the person was found and I am very grateful for the accomplishment. Thank you. (Translation ends)

Thank you. Members' statements. Mr. Enuaraq.

(Translation) Thank you, Mr. Speaker, and good morning. Firstly I would like to say hi to the people in Pangnirtung, Clyde River and the other communities. (Translation ends) An agreement between the hamlet and the NWT was made a few years ago that the hamlet would receive priority for the use of the parking garage at the airport. Now the hamlet has need of the whole garage, Mr. Speaker. I would like to see a new parking garage or an extension to the present one to accommodate both GNWT and hamlet. The hamlet now keeps its equipment stored at the airport parking garage. There is no room for GNWT equipment. Alternative storage needs to be found for the GNWT. The proper storage of equipment will prolong their use. A newer or bigger garage is needed for GNWT equipment. This was made known to the Department of Transportation a while ago. Again the community of Broughton Island needs a new or larger parking garage at its airport. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Enuaraq. Members' statement. Item 4, returns to oral questions. Mr. Antoine.

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I have a return to oral question asked by Mrs. Jane Groenewegen, the honourable Member for Hay River on February 4th in regard to the time of the Lahm Ridge lease signing.

Prior to the actual signing of the lease extension, a letter of understanding outlining the terms of the extension was signed by both parties on August 6th. The deputy minister of Public Works and Services signed the actual lease extension document on September 25, 1997. The owner signed the same document on September 29, 1997. The time of signing in not known. As the Member will be aware, the times referred to in her question represent the times that the documents were clocked in at the Land Titles office upon delivery from the lawyer's office. It is not possible to be that exact about the time of day that the parties actually signed the documents.

Negotiations on the lease extension took place exclusively between Vince Dixon and Al Marceau, in the superintendent's office, supplemented by a few phone calls between the two. either Mr. Mrdjenovich nor Mr. Bailey were involved in the negotiations.

--Applause

Returns to oral questions. Mr. Antoine.

Four office leases have been renewed in Yellowknife in the past two years. These are:

- Centre Square, floors six, seven and eight for Health and Social Services

- Lahm Ridge Tower for Education, Culture and Employment and Transportation

- Northern United Place for Aurora College

- Professional Building - lease dollars were transferred to Health and Social Services for their Yellowknife service delivery staff.

Thank you. Returns to oral questions. Item 5, recognition of visitors in the gallery. Mr. Morin.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to recognize a former MLA of this Legislative Assembly as well as a former Cabinet Minister, Mr. Peter Ernerk.

--Applause

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I also would like to recognize someone I grew up with in Repulse Bay and I went to school in Chesterfield Inlet with Mr. Peter Ernerk. Thank you.

--Applause

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

Yes, Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would never hear the end of it if I did not recognize Mr. Glen McLean, the President of the Keewatin Chamber of Commerce and resident of Baker Lake and Yellowknife. Thank you.

--Applause

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

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

Thank you. Recognition of visitors in the gallery. Item 6, oral questions. Mr. Evaloarjuk.

(Translation) Mr. Speaker, I would like to go back to recognition of visitors in the gallery. I was late. (Translation ends)

The Member for Amittuq is seeking unanimous consent to go back to item 5. Are there any nays? Mr. Evaloarjuk, you have unanimous consent.

Thank you. Oral questions. Mr. Enuaraq.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As I indicated in my Member's statement, the parking garage in Broughton Island Airport is getting a bit over aged. There is hardly any space in there for the hamlet and the GNWT. Mr. Speaker, my question will be directed to the Honourable Manitok Thompson, Minister of MACA. When can the community of Broughton Island expect to have an expansion or a new garage at the airport in Broughton Island. Thank you.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I will take that as notice.

Thank you, the question is taken as notice. Oral questions. Mr. Picco.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. In my Member's statement I spoke about the main estimate response not coming in on time. I wonder if the Minister of Finance could let us know right now what the delay is in receiving departmental responses?

The Minister of Finance, Mr. Todd.

Yes, Mr. Speaker. I wonder if my honourable colleague could be more clear as to exactly what we have not responded to and I will endeavour to answer the question.

Thank you. Mr. Picco.

Thank you. Mr. Speaker, in November during the main estimates review there were several questions asked by my committee in the committee concerning issues surrounding MACA and other issues. I understand that, indeed, on January 8th, MACA responded to FMBS with a copy of all that requested information. That information never came to me for the committee's information until yesterday. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I did not hear the question. Mr. Picco.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. He asked me to clarify the dates. I just clarified the dates and my question was why the month delay.

Minister of Finance, Mr. Todd.

Well certainly, Mr. Speaker, we do endeavour to move as quickly as we can in responses to committees and questions that they raise and if we delayed them in this particular instance, I apologize to my colleague. It was probably because we were involved in a whole variety of other things, pay equity, negotiations, et cetera. He got the information yesterday and if it has been delayed, I apologize and I will try to make sure in the future that we get it to him more quickly. Thank you.

Thank you. Oral questions. Mr. Miltenberger.

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

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

Thank you. Mr. Dent.

Oral questions. Final supplementary, Mr. Miltenberger.

Mr. Dent.

Thank you. Oral questions. Mr. Ningark.

Mr. Speaker, yesterday Mr. Barnabas asked the Minister of Justice regarding the one court system in Nunavut and I believe the response from the honourable Minister was that a single/double trial court is seen as a solution to the problem of trials in the Nunavut area. Mr. Speaker, I would like to take it from there and my question is for the Minister of Justice. When we talk about Nunavut, our vision was that we would have closer access to many of the services and programs that are currently serviced by this government once Nunavut becomes a reality. I understand that a court system is tribunal and, Mr. Speaker, I believe there is a need for appeal in the court system. I am wondering, how would the honourable Minister of Justice proceed if in fact there is need for an appeal in the court system? Thank you.

The Minister of Justice, Mr. Arlooktoo.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As I have indicated yesterday, the proposal is now set up for a single level trial approach system for Nunavut. This is one issue that has agreement with all parties whole-heartedly. However, there are a lot of details and logistics that need to be worked out in the next 12 months or so including details such as how would an appeal process work, et cetera. I do know that those are the types of issues that have had some research done on them. I do not have those in front of me. However, I can tell the Member that the three parties, the federal government, the territorial government, and the NTI are working very closely together to help set up the justice system. In the end, the responsibility will be with the Department of Justice for the federal government with the assistance of our territorial Justice Department. I can inform the Member, I do plan to meet with Honourable Anne McLellan, Minister of Justice for Canada on the 23rd in Ottawa to discuss this issue. Thank you.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My supplementary to the same honourable Minister, Mr. Speaker, my understanding is that once we have one level of court system, that would be the Nunavut court system, and then perhaps, a Supreme Court would be shared by two territories? Thank you.

Mr. Arlooktoo.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The driving force behind trying to amalgamate the different levels of the court system, the Supreme Court level, the territorial court level and in some degree the JP court level, is the problem of when a court party comes into a community, there are a number of offences that need to be heard. You have many cases where the judge because they are in a different level of the court will say they cannot hear it and the court appearance is delayed for many months. This is one improvement that the communities have asked for and that the government recognizes as a need to be worked on. It is, indeed, the driving force that you get a single level trial process that can hear most of the cases which should go to court. Thank you.

Thank you. Oral questions. Mr. Evaloarjuk.

(Translation) Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My question is directed to the Minister of Municipal and Community Affairs. I think the Minister is aware that the community hall in Igloolik is too small for the population. I have not seen any capital funding for Igloolik for the extension of the community hall. Is she aware the community hall is very small for the people of Igloolik? Are there any plans in the future for the extension of the community hall in Igloolik? Thank you. (Translation ends)

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

(Translation) Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, if the hamlet has done prioritizing of their capital planning, that is the way you can request for capital funding for the extension of the Igloolik community hall. If the Igloolik hamlet council has a wish to get that done as a priority they can push for the planning of it to be first. I had heard some time ago that the community hall is very small. I am not really sure whether there is anything written to find out the size of the community hall. I will get back to the Member after I find out from my staff. Thank you. (Translation ends)

Thank you. Oral questions. Mr. Krutko.

Mr. Premier.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. This government does not let any contracts out that are against the policy, ethics, guidelines or anything else of this government. All the government contracts we let are according to policy. Thank you.

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

Thank you. Mr. Morin.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It would depend on what contract it is. Most of the contracts are policed by the Department of Public Works, Justice, they will have a Justice opinion or else anything to do with Financial Management Act and the FMB. Thank you.

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

Mr. Morin.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Once you go to tender on a contract or you go to a proposal call, you do have a law to protect those who tender and those are used continually throughout government. One thing I learned previously when I was the Minister of DPW and the Housing Corporation, if you have 20 people bidding on a contract, you are going to have 19 of them mad because only one of them is going to get the contract. You always have appeals. It is a constant revolving door of people complaining. You explain the case and it is done. That is it. That is government. Thank you.

Thank you. Oral questions. Mr. Erasmus.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My question is for the Minister of Justice on the coroner's office. Mr. Speaker, as a Member of the Social Programs Committee and as a matter of my own interest in the justice area, I have made statements on this area before and asked questions. We know there has been a lot of concern about the coroner's office, particularly since the coroner resigned some time ago. I would like to know if the Minister could give us an update on what has been done about the chief coroner's position?

The Minister of Justice, Mr. Arlooktoo.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The former chief coroner resigned about eight months ago. Since then, the government has reviewed the situation of how a chief coroner works in the office and how they are hired, et cetera. Through a consultant, we actually did a review asking for recommendations on how to proceed. I am pleased to inform Members that as of February 1st, we have hired Mr. Percy Kinney of Yellowknife as the chief coroner for the NWT.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I am curious as to whether this particular situation with no coroner for a while has affected the community coroners, whether there have been any resignations or anything like that? Could the Minister indicate please?

Mr. Arlooktoo.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would have to check on whether there were resignations. I do know that the period between April, 1997 and February 1st has been a time when government and the coroner's office has had a chance to look at procedures and the way it deals with the work at hand and have had a chance to improve on the way it does business. I must say that the acting coroner, Cathy Menard, has done an excellent job over the past year or so in dealing with the running of the office and acting as chief coroner during that time. Thank you.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Last year I made a statement about the poor conditions of facilities for dressing and holding bodies in the communities. As well, there was an article in the papers on this subject. Has this government done anything in the last year to improve the holding facilities and areas they use for dressing bodies in the communities? Thank you.

Mr. Arlooktoo.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would have to check with the Department of Justice to see what the status is on that request. I do remember the Member raising the issue last year. I will put together the information and pass that on to the Member.

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

Thank you. Mr. Speaker, could the Minister include what the department intends to do this year to improve those conditions as well? Thank you.

Thank you. Mr. Arlooktoo

Thank you. Mr. Speaker, I will commit to becoming familiar with the issue over the next few days leading up to perhaps when the Justice Department's budget is discussed in the House. Hopefully by that time, I will be able to discuss the issue more intelligently and talk about options with Members of the House.

Thank you. Oral questions. Mrs. Groenewegen.

Mr. Premier.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. When Ministers meet with people, it is up to the Minister completely if they choose to have a person in the room to take notes and in this case, when I met with Mrs. Groenewegen, I chose to have someone in the room to take notes. Thank you.

Thank you. Oral questions. Supplementary, Mrs. Groenewegen.

Mr. Morin.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. We do not have a policy that addresses this specific issue. In this case, for this meeting, I chose to have an ADM of Justice to sit in the meeting, and that is completely up to me to make that choice. Thank you.