The Minister of Finance, Mr. Todd.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker and thank you, colleague. The memorandum of understanding, I have provided a copy to all of my colleagues today. It is probably on your desk right now. It was a memorandum of understanding that we would examine the job evaluation system and the point ratings to satisfy that they are bias-free. It was a genuine, collaborative effort to try to reach a resolve to the issue. They signed that on March 8, 1998. For a variety of reasons, of which I am not aware, and I certainly impute any other motives, for whatever reason, they chose not to attend. That was unfortunate and I think we need to get on with it. I already indicated in answers to earlier questions, earlier last week, that we are prepared to work with our partners, the UNW, on their concerns when they clearly identify what they are. We will deal with them in a pragmatic, constructive way. We will try to work in a spirit of compromise, to answer some of the questions they have and to make the adjustments where we can make them. A common sense approach to this thing. In the meantime, what we have on the table I think, is fair. Thank you.

Oral questions. Supplementary, Mr. Erasmus.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. In conversations with union officials, I have been informed that actually the meeting that had been scheduled was, in fact, an information session on how the GNWT was going to implement the new pay equity scheme. Could the Minister indicate if this is true or not?

Mr. Todd.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Our intention was to work with the UNW to work through some of the minor problems with it they have, they have identified or are trying to identify in the Hay Plan evaluation system. In the memorandum it says the UNW has not yet had the opportunity to examine the job evaluation system on point ratings to satisfy itself they are bias-free. Priorities agreed that a series of joint briefing sessions on the Hay Plan, the evaluation system, commence immediately. The intention there was to work through, with them, where the problems were, so we could reach the appropriate compromises and make the appropriate changes, that we deemed necessary, together. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Oral questions. Supplementary, Mr. Erasmus.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The Minister had indicated he had provided this document to the Members. I have not had an opportunity to see this, but I know union members are also interested and I am not aware what the confidentiality is, of this document, but is the Minister willing to table this document? Thank you.

Mr. Todd.

Mr. Speaker. I want to be clear here, because I do not want to be seen as an antagonist on this issue. I think we have avoided that, certainly have tried to over the last three or four months, and certainly, in my response to questions in this House. I am providing this to my colleagues in a spirit of information and a spirit of openness to show and illustrate that what we have done, what I believe is everything possible, to try to bring the UNW into the issue of the Hay Plan evaluation system and what we believe is a reasonable evaluation system. It is used across Canada in both provincial jurisdictions, as well as in the private sector. At the end of the day, people should be aware of that. It is not just propaganda. It is factual information that we are providing.

I will check with my staff and I am sure I could probably table it, but he does have it on his desk, right now. I believe it just got to you today. I will go check and if I can table all this information, I would be prepared to do that tomorrow. Thank you.

Oral questions. Final supplementary, Mr. Erasmus.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I wanted to thank the Minister for checking it out to see if he can table this document as the general public, as well as, union members are undecided as they are getting different stories, and this is clearly exemplified in a letter that was in the News of the North today, calling for a vote on the issue, because people do not know what to believe. I would like to thank the Minister for attempting to table this. Thank you.

Oral questions, Mr. Henry.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my question is to Minister responsible for Public Works and Services, Mr. Antoine. It is to do with the liquor warehouse in Yellowknife.

As Members are probably aware, Mr. Speaker, the Government of the Northwest Territories had offered the site that the liquor warehouse is presently located on in Yellowknife. There was a plebiscite between the residents of Yellowknife as to whether they wished to borrow additional funds to build a twin pad arena. That plebiscite was turned down. My question to the Minister is, can he advise us today, what the status of that offer of that land and building is to the city of Yellowknife? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you. The Minister responsible for Public Works and Services, Mr. Antoine. Question period is over.

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the Yellowknife warehouse that was made as an offer to the city of Yellowknife, trying to deal with their twin pad arena, and the condition was that they would use it if they so decide to go for the twin pad arena. Since their vote was not favourable, what we have done is, we have re-evaluated the situation as a government and with this department and we are going to retain the building. We know there is a lot of interest since the decision by the city not to go ahead with the original plan. However, upon reviewing what they are required in terms of warehouse spaces, this department recommended and the government accepted the recommendation that we retain the building for the use of storage and so forth. Thank you.

Thank you. I have seven written questions. Item 7, written questions, Mr. Henry.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My written question is to the Minister of Resources, Wildlife and Economic Development. It is to do with the Mackenzie Valley Land and Working Group. Mackenzie Valley Resource Management Act was reintroduced as Bill C-6, and was subsequently passed. The act will establish public boards such as the proposed Mackenzie Valley Land and Water Board to regulate the use of land and water, within their jurisdiction.

1. Can the Minister provide me with a draft of the board's land use plans that will guide the development of land, water and other resources within the board's jurisdiction?

2. Can the Minister provide detailed information, describing the board's environmental assessment and review process?

3. Can the Minister provide a draft of the board's proposed regulations that will govern land and water use?

4. Can the Minister provide assurances that all northerners will have an equal and effective opportunity to participate and affect the regulation of land and water use?

5. The bill provides for additional regional boards to be established in the Deh Cho, North Slave and South Slave areas. Has the Minister considered organizational issues such as the duplication of effort and economies of scale?

6. The Mackenzie Valley Environmental Impact Review Board's process of environmental assessment and review will replace the Canadian Environmental Assessment Act process, which will no longer apply, except in limited circumstances. Can the Minister describe under what circumstances will the Canadian Environmental Assessment Act apply and the Mackenzie Valley Resource Management Act not apply?

7. Can the Minister provide the criteria and selection process for members of the Mackenzie Valley and the Water Board and how will this process be formed? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you. Written questions. Item 8, returns to written questions, Mr. Clerk.

Mr. Speaker, Return to Written Question 15-13(5), asked by Mr. Picco, to the Chairman of the Financial Management Board, concerning discussions regarding Nunavut civil servants.

There have been ongoing discussions between the Office of the Interim Commissioner (OIC), the Government of the Northwest Territories and the Union of Northern Workers regarding a Labour Relations protocol that would deal with employee issues leading up to and following the creation of two new territories on April 1, 1999.

This matter was most recently raised during collective bargaining with the Union of Northern Workers in early May. The parties concluded that the issue needed to be dealt within a different forum where the OIC representatives could be directly involved. Further discussions are required involving all three parties in order to finalize any agreement.

Return to Written Question 16-13(5), asked by Mr. Picco, to the Minister of Transportation, concerning the Baffin driver examiner.

On Wednesday, May 27, 1998, the Member for Iqaluit asked the Minister of Transportation when the department would replace its Baffin driver examiner.

Staffing action has been initiated to replace the Baffin driver examiner. If all goes well, the Department could have a new driver examiner as early as July, 1998.

In the meantime, the Department of Transportation is arranging for visits by the Chief Driver Examiner to perform testing in Iqaluit as necessary.

Item 9, replies to opening address. Item 10, petitions. Item 11, reports of standing and special committees. Item 12, reports of committees on the review of bills. Mr. Enuaraq.

BILL 19, An Act to Amend the Dental Profession Act

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I was to report to the Legislative Assembly that the Standing Committee on Social Programs has reviewed Bill 19, An Act to Amend the Dental Profession Act, and wishes to report that Bill 19 is ready for consideration in Committee of the Whole. Mr. Speaker, I seek unanimous consent to waive rule 17(5), and have Bill 19 moved into Committee of the Whole for today. Thank you.