Thank you. Members' statements. Mr. Miltenberger.

Thank you. Members' statements. Mr. Ootes.

Members' statements. Ms. Thompson.

Mr. Speaker, it gives me great pleasure to congratulate my nephew, Alan Mikkituk who recently graduated from the University of Saskatchewan. His parents, Ron and Leonie Duffy and grandparents, Mikitok and Tweenaq are very proud of him. Also, the former Mrs. Duffy would have been very proud of her grandchild.

Alan's convocation was held on Tuesday, May 19th, where he received a Bachelor of Science Degree with honours in physics, as well as an honours certificate for highest marks in mathematical physics.

Alan is currently enrolled in a Graduate Studies Program at the University of Saskatchewan, and the focus of his research is on plasma physics. Mr. Speaker, Alan Duffy is not only a hard working student. He is also a dedicated husband to his wife Laura and proud father of their three children, Natuk three, Nanook five, and Tweenak seven months.

Mr. Speaker, I am very proud of my nephew and commend him for his dedication, discipline and the long hours of hard work which were required for his achievement.

(Translation) If you are listening, Alan, I celebrate your convocation. I am rejoicing with the people of Coral Harbour, as well as your parents, and I love you. (Translation ends)

Join me in congratulating Alan Duffy on his success. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

--Applause

Thank you. On behalf of the Member for North Slave, I would like to recognize the grade five class from Elizabeth Mackenzie Elementary School in Rae-Edzo. They are here today with their teacher. Welcome to the Assembly.

--Applause

I would also like to recognize the following who are in the gallery involved with the support of the cadet movement in the Northwest Territories. From the Northwest Territories/Yukon Zone of the Air Cadet League of Canada, there is Paul Craig, who is the President, and Jeff Gilmour. Welcome to the Assembly.

--Applause

From the Northwest Territories branch of the Army Cadet League, there is David Colpitts, President and Doug Sherburne.

--Applause

Welcome to the Assembly. From the Canadian Forces Headquarters, Northern Area, there is Lieutenant Colonel Jack Backstrom and Warrant Officer Floyd Powder.

--Applause

Welcome to the Assembly. Uniformed leaders of cadet units, there is Lieutenant Al McConnell and Lieutenant Steve Daniel. --Applause

Welcome all to the Assembly. Members' statements. Mr. Ningark.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the past two years during the exercise of reduction and cutback of government services programs, many essential programs and services were eliminated. I have received a request to have one such program which was eliminated to be reinstated within this government. Mr. Speaker, this is a request for compassionate travel. I am sure every Member of this House has received such requests from their constituents. Mr. Speaker, given the extremely high cost of transportation in the NWT, recognizing that fact, I think there is a significant demand to have the program back in the budget. At the appropriate time, Mr. Speaker, I will be asking the Premier if, in fact, the compassionate travel benefits could be reinstated by this government. Thank you.

--Applause

Thank you, Mr. Ningark. Members' statements. Mr. Henry.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Today is May 21st and it is a special day. May 21st is World Catholic Education Day. The day is recognized annually as the day in which Catholic schools around the world engage in some activities which recognize their international associations. Catholic schools

contribute a great deal to the scholastic, spiritual and social aspects of life wherever they exist. In Canada, there are over one million students enroled in Catholic schools. In Yellowknife, Mr. Speaker, we have three Catholic schools which today will be involved in various activities, recognizing their international association. Mr. Speaker, I ask that my fellow Members join me in recognizing the contribution to education that Catholic School District No. 2 in Yellowknife has provided. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

--Applause

Thank you. Members' statements. Mrs. Groenewegen.

Members' statements. Mr. Morin.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As MLA from Tu Nedhe, Mr. Speaker, a constituent is concerned about the pay equity issue. Mr. Speaker, there has been a great deal of discussion and debate over the pay equity issue. Both the Government of the Northwest Territories and the Union of Northern Workers have made their positions clear on the matter.

This morning, I received a telephone call from one of my constituents. This lady is a government employee. She was calling to let me know that she and other female workers in my riding want to see this issue settled. They are not interested in a lengthy debate over pay equity. They would like to receive their share of the settlement and get on with their work, the sooner the better.

Mr. Speaker, my constituents raise a very important issue, one that some people may have lost sight of. While we argue over pay equity, female employees of the territorial government are left waiting for a settlement. They continue to work under a pay system that has been found to be unfair. As an MLA, I do not think that my constituents or anyone else in the NWT should be kept waiting for fair treatment. Mr. Speaker, this is not the first time I have heard people say they want pay equity settled. I encourage the UNW to listen to what its members are saying. We cannot change the past, but we can do better in the future. Let us not keep our employees waiting any longer. UNW, let your members vote. Thank you.

Thank you. Members' statements. Mr. Erasmus.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I rise today to speak about education in the Northwest Territories as I have been doing for some time. Mr. Speaker, as we heard earlier today and in the past, putting money into education is investing in the future. I read in one of the reports that the Department of Education has put out that investing one dollar today will save four to five dollars in the future. We also know that the education rates in the Northwest Territories are virtually bordering on the same rates as third world countries, excluding large centres such as Yellowknife, Hay River and Fort Smith. Mr. Speaker, studies have been done all over the world showing that poorly educated people tax the resources of governments because they have no jobs or the worst paying jobs. They are also less healthy than better educated people. They do not live as long as better educated people. They are more likely to abuse alcohol and drugs and they are more likely to end up in jail, at some point in their life.

Mr. Speaker, I think we all want healthier people who are more likely to not abuse alcohol and drugs and more likely to stay out of jail. I feel the answer is simple. We simply need to put more money into education even if it means going into a deficit. Thank you.

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

Thank you. Welcome to the Assembly. Recognition of visitors in the gallery, Mr. Rabesca.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. This week we have a number of cadets acting as Pages here in the Chamber and we also have a number of cadets who are here with different displays they have set up. I would like to recognize Crystal Richardson, who is one of the Pages as well; Shawn Camsell, Dustin Chocolate, Henry Fish, Jackson Mantla. These young people are from Rae-Edzo and are active members of the Rae-Edzo Cadet Corps. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

--Applause

Thank you. Welcome to the Assembly. Recognition of visitors in the gallery, Mr. Erasmus.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I, too, would like to recognize several people. First of all, I would like to acknowledge the presence of one of many summer students who will be working for the government this year. Shelly Kovalench will be working for the NWT Housing Corporation and she is observing today's session with a senior policy analyst, Doug Johnson of the Housing Corporation. Also, Mr. Speaker, I would like to acknowledge one of the air cadets who lives on Latham Island on Morrison Drive, Corporal Selen Gouthier from Ecole St. Joseph's School. She is sitting over there to your right.

-Applause

Thank you. Welcome to the Assembly. Recognition of visitors in the gallery. Before we proceed to oral questions, I just want to remind the Members we will be taking a break at 3:00 p.m. The whole purpose is to meet the cadets and also to test how physically strong you are. I think the cadets would like to challenge you to a tug of war, as well as shooting. I would appreciate all of the Members being involved. It would do everyone a lot of good. Item 6, oral questions. Mr. Evaloarjuk.

(Translation) Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My question is directed to the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment. On February 12, 1998, I asked the Minister about Hall Beach residents not being able to receive broadcasting from CBC since December, 1997. At the time the Minister responded by saying that on February 28th, they would send someone to fix the service. Today is May 21st, they still have not been provided with CBC broadcasts and their local radio station is still not in service. Can the Minister provide me with an accurate response as to what they are doing and what they are going to do to rectify the problem? (Translation ends) Thank you, Mr. Speaker.