Thank you, Mr. Miltenberger. Good morning. Orders of the day. Item 2, Ministers' statements. Mr. Morin.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, as this sitting draws to a close, I would like to express my appreciation for the work of the members of the public service of this government. In the last few years, we have faced unprecedented change and challenge. With cuts to federal transfers, we have had no choice but to downsize, consolidate departments and reduce wages and benefits. We have decentralized and privatized some functions and transferred others to communities and boards. At the same time we have piled more work on fewer staff. With the creation of two new territories, and the implementation of new structures of government in the west, there are even more challenges on the road ahead. Yet through all of the change and uncertainly, we are surrounded by loyal, dedicated and hard-working staff. People who have and will continue to implement these tough policies and to make the changes work.

I had the opportunity to speak with a few of our managers last week, and I can tell you I was very impressed with their energy and commitment. Energy and commitment that I believe can be found throughout all levels of the public service. I would like to take this opportunity to express my appreciation for the work of all of our employees, to everyone working for community governments and for our boards and corporations. Mr. Speaker, the time has come to stop the erosion of our staff resources. We need our workforce, both in the east and the west, more than ever as we face the challenges ahead. As Minister Todd stated in his Budget Address at the beginning of this sitting, our staff is our most valuable resource. It is time to provide some stability and certainty to these people.

To that end, I am pleased today to announce that for the remainder of its term, this government plans no more layoffs, either due to division or to department consolidations.

--Applause

Beyond that, we will also continue to try to find alternatives for those who have already been given notice.

We know the future western government will have to be smaller. With the creation of Nunavut, we may need to look at rationalizing some organizational structures. But as much as possible, we plan to do this through ongoing staff turnover, reassignment and voluntary separation.

Again, Mr. Speaker, let me repeat, there will be no more layoffs during the term of this government.

Our staff really is our most valuable resource and this government is committed to taking care of that resource, both for today and for the future. Thank you.

--Applause

Thank you. Ministers' statements. Ms. Thompson.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate my regional superintendent, Mr. Mike Ferris, on his recent appointment to the position of deputy minister, Community Government, Housing and Transportation for the Government of Nunavut.

Mr. Ferris has worked for MACA for 19 years, all in the Baffin Region. He is well known for his commitment, hard work and dedication. He has been a key member of the senior management team of MACA and is highly regarded by his colleagues at headquarters and in the region.

Mr. Speaker, I am particularly pleased with Mr. Ferris' appointment because he knows the Inuit and our communities well. He loves the land as we do. He enjoys hunting and fishing, as we do. In his home community of Iqaluit, he is a dedicated volunteer and plays a key role in his church and his community. Mr. Ferris is well known throughout Baffin for his commitment to emergency services. As a person who respects the power of nature and the land, he has always been very responsive to community emergencies whether they are search and rescue, fire response or emergency preparedness planning. He always does his very best to give all the assistance that he can provide.

Mr. Ferris has a well-deserved reputation as a person who works very hard. In a recent News North article, Mr. Ferris was identified for being in his office well into the evening, having put in another 13-hour day. This is typical of his dedication and commitment to getting the job done. I know that Mr. Ferris would be the first to say that any achievements he has made, have been made with the support of his team of excellent staff. I also know that his staff would be the first to acknowledge Mr. Ferris' excellent leadership and management skills.

Mr. Speaker, in closing I would like to say again how proud I am that Mr. Ferris has been chosen to be the deputy minister of the Department of Community Government, Housing and Transportation. I know his colleagues in MACA wish him all the very best in his new position. I invite Members of this House to join me in extending our thanks to Mr. Ferris for a job well done for MACA over the past 19 years, and our warmest congratulations and best wishes for every success in his new position in Nunavut. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

--Applause

Thank you. Ministers' statements. Mr. Dent.

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

Thank you. Members' statements. Mr. Miltenberger.

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

Thank you. Members' statements. Ms. Thompson.

(Translation) Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I will be talking in Inuktitut. I would like to make the statement about the concern that my constituents have voiced about NTI's delivery and monitoring of programs that are leading to inadequate management of Nunavut Land Claim Beneficiary Funds.

Mr. Speaker, the hamlet of Coral Harbour has recently protested the effectiveness of the Hunter Support Program and refused to participate on the selection committee. The constituents of Coral Harbour feel that its $70,000 allocation can be better managed by the community. They believe that these funds can have a broader impact if used to develop hunting related businesses such as snowmobile, ATV rentals, a meat plant for the caribou harvest or a slaughterhouse for butchering meat and drying skins. Business ventures such as these are initiatives from which everyone can benefit as well as create more needed long-term employment. (Translation ends)

The goal of the Hunter Support Program is to assist hunters in maintaining a traditional hunting lifestyle. However, I have a deep concern about the program fully achieving this.

Mr. Speaker, in its current form, the Hunter Support Program is expensive to initiate and deliver and it benefits only a handful of people.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to seek unanimous consent to conclude my statement.

The Member for Aivilik is seeking unanimous consent to conclude her statement. Do we have any nays? Ms. Thompson, you have unanimous consent.

There has also been little or no followup on the past recipients by NTI to evaluate if the equipment purchased under this program is still being used to assist hunters in maintaining a traditional hunting lifestyle. My constituents have reported that the cost of upkeep for snowmobiles and ATVs is beyond what most of the unemployed recipients of the Hunter Support Program can afford. In many cases, if parts cannot be found or purchased, then these new machines will sit unused, be sold or gambled off. Furthermore, some equipment is not even used for hunting purposes. Mr. Speaker, the current guidelines and implementation methods of the Hunter Support Programs leave NTI with little position to regulate this. This is a wasteful use of valuable resource, which should be managed better.

Mr. Speaker, there does not appear to be any set guidelines that effectively combine the flexibility required to meet the individual needs of each community as well as ensure the integrity of the program to maintain and free of being manipulated and abused.

Mr. Speaker, an effective communication and monitoring process must be established between NTI and the communities. NTI is not actively involved in ensuring the goals of the program are being achieved and that the community allocations are being dispersed fairly, economically and to greatest benefit of each community. As a result, the implementation of this program widely varies from community to community. Mr. Speaker, is it not in the mission statement of NTI, and I quote, "to ensure the greatest possible long-term benefit to Inuit from the agreement in a way which reflects Inuit goals, social, cultural needs and tradition within Canadian society."

Mr. Speaker, I do not believe the Hunter Support Program meets this objective. It has not been developed and implemented to its fullest potential to meet our cultural and traditional needs. The promise of greatest long-term benefits to Inuit will be demonstrated when the funding for this program is managed and spent in a prudent and effective manner.

(Translation) Mr. Speaker, I commend the hamlet of Coral Harbour for voicing its concern about NTI's management of this program. Nunavut is not far away, and now is the time for the beneficiaries to begin questioning the effectiveness of NTI's program and financial management.

Mr. Speaker, I am relieved to hear that the Hunter Support Program is under review. I also urge NTI to re-evaluate all programs to ensure they fully meet the expectations of and the accountability to the Nunavut land claim beneficiaries. (Translation ends)

That Inuit have an opportunity to take part in this evaluation, because these are the programs that are meant to provide for and serve the interests of all Nunavut beneficiaries. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

--Applause

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, most of the Members in this House would agree that as a group we have implemented many important policies and established a new direction.

In the case of Nunavut, we have followed a model, the model Footprints 2, which will erect a solid foundation and a platform for the future new government.

Mr. Speaker, we have listened to reports of special committees, asked questions, passed bills, ensured the i's are dotted and the t's are crossed. In the meantime, however, I believe it has been far too easy to lose sight of those who should have been upmost in our thoughts, those being the elders in our communities.

As a government, we have to ask ourselves if we have failed our elders. Speaking for myself, Mr. Speaker, I am of the opinion that as long as elder abuse continues to exist in any northern community, we have failed our elders as a government.

When our elders have no choice but to live in over-crowded dwellings, I think we have to ask ourselves as a government, is this fair?

Have we taken the time, have we explored the problems or have we studied the kind of programs that would allow this government to ensure the comfort and welfare of our elders?

Unfortunately, it seems the elders in our society often slip into the shadows of our awareness, when more urgent and better publicized matters seize our attention. It is easy to forget, Mr. Speaker, the hardships our elders endured, the amazing skills they demonstrated just to survive this harsh climate that we now leave outside our homes and workplace.

Mr. Speaker, those very same elders dreamed of some day having their own government, of being able to grow old in comfort, having the right to live in safe surroundings and being treated with dignity and respect.

I would like to applaud the decision cited in Footprints 2, whereby the Government of Nunavut has chosen to observe the rights and privileges of elders by pledging a department for that purpose.

Mr. Speaker, the Department of Culture, Language, Elders and Youth has been designated as one way the Nunavut government will be dedicated to bringing this dream into a reality in making sure that our elders are properly remembered and treated with respect, the respect that they rightfully deserve.

Thank you.

--Applause

Members' statements. Mr. Rabesca.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to thank the Premier and his constituents of Lutselk'e for their generosity and hospitality given to members of my home community. Over the past couple of weeks members from Rae-Edzo travelled by snowmobile to hunt for traditional food, the caribou.

During their stay in Lutselk'e, they had a very successful hunt and also played hand games until the wee hours of the mornings.

It is always good to see our groups visiting each other. Friendships were made and re-established. Common goals were discussed, ideas exchanged and most importantly, communication was strengthened. We all have common goals and ideas to exchange. It is always important to visit and discuss matters with our neighbours.

In closing today, our last day of sitting, I would like to wish everybody in the Northwest Territories and Members of this House an early happy Easter holidays and pleasant journeys.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, yesterday, when we completed the last budget of this government before division, many of the Members reflected on the time spent here debating, passing motions and making statements since November, 1995.

In a little more than a year, division will occur. Many challenges lay ahead over the next 12 months. We have to work hard to ensure a smooth transition for the two new governments. Over the next few months, the Nunavut Act Amendments will be introduced in the House of Commons in Ottawa.

The gross expenditure base for the budget allocated by the federal government for both Nunavut and the new Western Territory will be made known. In Nunavut, the new deputy ministers will implement the departmental government infrastructure as outlined in Footprints 2, will be set up for a new Nunavut government.

Division will be the major focus over the next 12 months. Areas like the Power Corporation, the Workers' Compensation Board and division of assets and liabilities will need to be addressed.

Mr. Speaker, I look forward to the challenges over the next 12 months. I also look forward to going home to Iqaluit tomorrow, to see my wife and my three children, meeting with my friends and constituents. I also look forward to Friday, when I have the opportunity to entertain our friend, Mr. John Todd, the Finance Minister for this government in Iqaluit.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

--Applause

Members' statements. Mr. Erasmus.