Thank you, Mr. Ningark. Good afternoon. Item 2, Ministers' statements. Mr. Morin.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I wish to advise Members that the Honourable Stephen Kakfwi will be a little late for the House on Tuesday, June 2nd, because he will be returning from the Western Arctic Hydrocarbon Conference in Hay River.

Mr. Speaker, I also wish to advise Members that the Honourable Charles Dent will be absent from the House on Wednesday, June 3rd to attend the official opening of the Baker Lake Heritage Centre in Baker Lake. Thank you.

Ministers' statements. Mr. Morin.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to clarify my position on the May 28th decision of the Conflict of Interest Commissioner. The Commissioner has indicated in her report that there is a shortage of individual statements, sworn or otherwise, in support of Mrs. Groenewegen's intentions. The Commissioner has, therefore, determined it will be necessary to hear from third parties before she is able to determine if there is any merit to the complaint. I look forward to the inquiry, as I am confident that it will reveal that there is no substance to any of these allegations.

--Hear! Hear!

I respect the traditions and conventions of Parliament and have, therefore, sought counsel as to whether it would be appropriate to step aside as Premier during the public inquiry. I have been advised that it would not be prudent for me to do so. To step aside would set a dangerous precedent for this government and for all Premiers in Canada because it would encourage individuals to make such broadly worded complaints without any specifics and without supporting statements in the expectation that the Premier would step aside. I will, therefore, not step down as Premier of the Northwest Territories.

--Applause

I, Mr. Speaker, look forward to the public inquiry proceeding as quickly as possible and I invite the Member from Hay River to make herself available as a witness at the inquiry and to submit herself to cross examination, under oath, from my solicitors. I am confident that the truth will be revealed to all those who wait. In the meantime I, as Premier, and all of us who serve in this House, must get on with the business of government, I intend to do just that. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

--Applause

Ministers' statements. Mr. Antoine.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I was absent from the House from May 19th to the 21st to attend a meeting of the federal/provincial/territorial Ministers responsible for Aboriginal Affairs and the leaders of the five national aboriginal organizations. I am pleased, today, to report the results of this meeting held in the historic capital of Quebec. Later today I will table a copy of the joint communique released at the end of our meeting. The communique outlines an approach for setting a new course in federal/provincial/territorial aboriginal relations.

Attached to the communique is a joint statement that the aboriginal leaders tabled at the meeting. It outlines their principles for working with government at the national level. The Ministers will consider this statement in future discussions. The statement also demands that Canada respond to the call for a First Ministers Conference with aboriginal leaders to deal with the final report of the Royal Commission on Aboriginal Peoples. The Premiers and leaders called for this conference after meeting in Winnipeg during November of 1997, but the Prime Minister has so far rejected the idea.

Mr. Speaker, the result of our meeting in Quebec City was a consensus to take a new course in our relations. This was the product of difficult but frank discussions. A fundamental and long-standing issue lies at the heart of aboriginal relations in Canada. It is the nature of the federal government's responsibility for aboriginal people throughout this nation. This is a crucial constitutional and jurisdictional matter that fundamentally affects everyday funding and delivery issues for the governments and aboriginal people.

Canada maintains that it has primary, but not exclusive, responsibility for First Nations on reserves and aboriginal people north of the 60th, and that the provinces have primarily, but not exclusive, responsibility for off-reserve aboriginal peoples. The extent of these responsibilities is the question. This question has long distracted and complicated relations between the governments and aboriginal people. During recent years of funding reductions and service cutbacks to federal programs and services for aboriginal people, the provinces, territories and aboriginal communities have filled the void in responding to people's needs. We have come to know this situation as off-loading.

Unfortunately, Canada is not yet ready to resolve this issue to the satisfaction of the provinces, territories and aboriginal leadership, but I am very pleased to tell you, I believe, we made progress last week. We have made sure that this issue will be addressed in our ongoing dialogue. We have also ensured the issue of appropriate resources for aboriginal people will remain a subject to be considered in all future federal/provincial/territorial agreements. At the same time, we have agreed this issue will not block us from moving forward on other important matters, particularly, the practical needs of aboriginal people and ensuring a strong aboriginal voice in national processes for social policy renewal.

The Ministers and leaders wish to work together for practical results. They will undertake a comprehensive approach based on the following premises:

- First, the governments, without prejudice to their positions on federal responsibility for aboriginal people, need to work together with aboriginal leaders to address the circumstances of aboriginal people.

- Second, accelerated measures are important for social and economic development and efforts to enhance aboriginal self-reliance.

- Third, demographics demand the urgent challenge facing aboriginal youth be addressed through development of a National Aboriginal Youth Strategy.

- Lastly, the final report of the Royal Commission on Aboriginal Peoples provides a solid foundation to address the needs of aboriginal people. Canada's response, Gathering Strength, Canada's Aboriginal Action Plan, provides a first step for the federal government to respond. The provinces and territories agree that cooperative approaches are required.

Mr. Speaker, to make sure this new course for relations between the Ministers and aboriginal leaders keeps its momentum, they agreed that officials would jointly develop recommendations on how to proceed within the next three months. The Ministers and leaders will meet within one year to review progress. As well, it was agreed that this cooperative approach identifies strategic ways of improving conditions for aboriginal people.

Finally, Mr. Speaker, I wish to assure this House that the territorial government will continue to participate actively in these discussions. Our participation is an ideal way to promote territorial and aboriginal interests and objectives at the national level, particularly in relation to social policy renewal, the federal response to the final Royal Commission report and bettering the lives of aboriginal people generally. Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.

--Applause

Ministers' statements. Mr. Ng.

Mr. Speaker, in February I tabled the Recruitment and Retention Plan for Health and Social Services. I would now like to share with you some of the initiatives flowing from that plan. The plan addresses the three areas with the most immediate needs; social work, nursing and physician services.

The most pressing need is to fill vacancies. There has been some success already. Vacancy rates have decreased from levels of a few months ago. However, Mr. Speaker, the pressure on recruitment is not yet over. Some health and social services boards are having great difficulty recruiting to specific professions. The department will help these boards deal with their recruitment needs.

However, for many areas, we are now able to build on the recruitment efforts of the boards and focus on retaining the people who are hired. Now that vacancies have been filled, we need to keep people in those jobs. The Department of Health and Social Services has committed significant resources to move ahead with the Recruitment and Retention Initiative. A website for recruitment of both permanent and relief staff is being created. We expect to have it up and running by early summer. Through the website, health and social service professionals will be able to learn not only about specific job opportunities, but also about northern communities and the different health boards. They will also be able to submit their employment applications on-line.

Mr. Speaker, the department has hired a recruitment and retention specialist. This individual has more than ten years experience with northern health and social services as a frontline worker. This individual will be responsible for coordination and organization of professional recruitment throughout the territories. I believe her experience and network of contacts will be very helpful to the boards. She is currently developing a list of individuals interested in locum and relief work. Boards should be able to use the list by September.

The specialist is also working with others to promote the north as a place to live. For example, she is currently working with the NWT Registered Nurses Association to develop promotional material for the Canadian Nurses' Convention this month.

Mr. Speaker, the Recruitment and Retention Plan emphasizes professional development. This includes creating a professional development fund. Board CEOs will review guidelines for the professional development fund for nurses and social workers this month. This fund will help nurses and social workers learn from their peers, in both the north and south.

The plan also stresses the need for support of nurses. This support must come from the boards, from management and from community members. Board CEOs will also review a policy designed to address health and social service personnel's concerns about the physical and verbal abuse that they face on the job. Efforts continue to develop a broader human resource plan that will address the whole health and social service system. This will include where we are now, what we will need in the future and how we can get there.

This work will involve components for both new territories and is being developed by a working group with representatives from all territorial health and social services boards, the NWT Registered Nurses Association, the NWT Medical Association, the NWT Health Care Association and the department.

Mr. Speaker, the Health and Social Services Human Resource Plan will address major issues such as: scope of practice, and the role of the nurse practitioner. I expect to have the final plan ready before the end of the year. Mr. Speaker, we are committed to working together with the boards and the professional associations toward creating a stronger, sustainable workforce. Together, we expect to protect and strengthen northern health and social services so that all northerners have access to quality care close to home. I look forward to the continuing support of this House and the public in these efforts. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

--Applause

Thank you. Ministers' statements. Mr. Arlooktoo.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, across the country, special events are being organized to celebrate the 125th year anniversary of the RCMP. I was privileged to attend a Regimental Ball in Iqaluit last month. I had the honour to convey the congratulations and appreciation of 125 years of service from the Government of the Northwest Territories. It is a history that all members, past and present, can be proud of. The RCMP has come a long way from their beginnings in 1873. It is now a highly sophisticated police force with an international reputation. This proud history and reputation are based on a strong commitment to preserving the peace and upholding the law, as well as a spirit of community service. This holds particularly true in the north.

--Applause

Thank you. Ministers' statements. Ms. Thompson.

Mr. Speaker, since 1996, the Department of Municipal and Community Affairs and the Department of Justice have been working in partnership with the RCMP to advance new methods of policing in our northern communities. I am pleased to report that the Community Constable Program has trained more than 30 northern constables to work in close partnership with the RCMP. This program has made it possible for local people to take on increasing responsibility for the safety and security of their community. The community constables represent new public safety resources to support community development. Due to the success of the Community Constable Program, MACA and the Department of Justice have secured $390,000 in funding from the federal government's Solicitor General's Office. Mr. Speaker, this funding is being used over two years to help community constables get further training, to buy much needed equipment and to coordinate public safety education and crime prevention programs.

Mr. Speaker, my staff and our partners are working on other initiatives that will expand community policing across the territories. One such initiative is the Public Safety Officer Program. This program helps unincorporated communities and those communities without an RCMP detachment to become involved in community policing. Mr. Speaker, I am very excited about the community development work that is being accomplished through our public safety efforts. Safety and security are essential for community development. I am proud to say that we are making good progress in this area. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

--Applause

Thank you. Ministers' statements. Mr. Arlooktoo.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Due to the fact that we have just expired the 20-minute time limit for Ministers' statements, I seek unanimous consent to waive rule 34(6), so that all Ministers' statements be translated and filed with the Clerk, so that they can be delivered today.

Thank you. The Member for Baffin South is seeking unanimous consent to waive rule 34(6). Do we have any nays? There are no nays. You have unanimous consent. Mr. Arlooktoo.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker, and thank you colleagues. Mr. Speaker, later today I will be tabling an information package for Members concerning the federal proposal for new legislation governing young offenders. Last month, the Federal Minister of Justice released a document entitled, A Strategy for the Renewal of Youth Justice, in May. This outlines the intentions of the federal government with regard to young offenders. The policy document provides direction for a new Youth Criminal Justice Act that will replace the current Young Offender Act. Justice Minister, Anne McLellan has indicated that she plans to introduce draft legislation this September. The policy document traces only the broad outline of her approach to young offenders. Much work remains over the coming months to translate the policy document into legislation. The information package that I will table later today is based on the information received so far from the Department of Justice Canada. The document has two priorities. On the one hand, it encourages community-based sanctions and effective alternative measures for non-violent offenders. On the other hand, it promotes harsher treatment for violent and repeat offenders. The document also emphasizes the importance of meaningful consequences for youth crime.

--Applause

Thank you. Ministers' statements. Ms. Thompson.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, today I rise to announce the recipient of the NWT Outstanding Volunteer Service Award for 1998. Mr. Pat Bobinski of Hay River is being recognized for the contributions he has made to improving the lives of so many people in his community. Mr. Bobinski's commitment to supporting Hay River over the past 25 years spans a wide range of interests. They include:

- founding and building the Hay River Ski Club;

- leading outdoor trips for youth;

- being a member of the Hay River Flood Watch Committee; and

- coaching, officiating and organizing locally through to national biathlon competitions.

The Hay River Volunteer Fire and Ambulance Brigade and the Hay River Gun Club have also benefited from Pat's dedication and quiet leadership. Mr. Bobinski was nominated by the Recreation Board of Hay River for his outstanding dedication to developing and maintaining the Hay River Ski Club and Biathlon facilities. The presentation ceremony recognizing Mr. Bobinski as the 1998 Outstanding Volunteer will be held later this summer. In recognizing his accomplishments, Mr. Bobinski's name has been inscribed on the Department's Outstanding Volunteer Service Award recognition plaque. He will also receive a personal plaque and a carving from Fort Smith artist, Sonny MacDonald. I would like to extend a special thank you to Mr. MacDonald, who, for the past eight years has generously donated a carving to each winner of the Outstanding Volunteer Service Award.

Mr. Speaker, I encourage all Members to join me in congratulating Pat Bobinski for his many years of dedicated service to his community and to the Northwest Territories. The Nominating Committee for this award also wishes to extend honorary mention to nominees John Argue of Yellowknife, Stephen Rowan of Fort Simpson and Qamaniq Sangoya of Pond Inlet, for their dedicated community involvement. Finally Mr. Speaker, I wish to recognize the communities of Arctic Bay and Broughton Island who submitted numerous names for consideration for this award. These candidates are being recognized in their own community as caring and generous people who are willing to provide for others less fortunate in their communities. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

--Applause

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

Thank you. I ask the Members to stand in a moment of silence. Thank you. Members' statements. Mr. Miltenberger.

Members' statements. Mr. Barnabas.

(Translation) Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I would like to make a brief statement today as to why some people who go to the hospital will have to be escorted by their family. I found this out in 1991 when I was escorting one of my family members. I would like to talk about this because of the reasons that some people have to leave their family behind when they are ill. When they go down south, they can neither speak the language nor understand it. It makes them sicker. The reason they have to be escorted out by someone who can speak English is because the person who is on medical travel has to be assisted by the person who escorts them. The person who is in need of medical attention is having a hard time physically and emotionally. They have no choice but to go down for this medical attention and to leave their families behind. Sometimes they do not have anyone to take care of them, except for their immediate family. I feel the people who do go on medical leave should be escorted. Mr. Speaker, later today during question period, I will be asking the Minister of Health and Social Services this question. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. (Translation ends)

--Applause

Members' statements. Mr. Picco.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, last week we had as an Assembly an opportunity to debate several areas around education. Mr. Speaker, I would like to speak today about a very good story on education. Ms. Elizabeth Tumblin, from Iqaluit, who is a teacher at Joamie School, in Iqaluit has been selected as a 1997 recipient of the Prime Minister's Award for Teaching Excellence. The program honours the contribution of outstanding educators who have set their students on a path of life-long learning and have equipped them with the knowledge, attitudes and abilities they will need to succeed in tomorrow's society and economy. Mr. Speaker, through Ms. Tumblin's dedication and skill, she has opened the doors for these young people to exciting studies and careers. Ms. Tumblin was chosen from among almost 300 nominees across Canada. Elizabeth was recognized for her work over the past four years using a csile/knowledge forum for computers. This area of innovative instructions supports the learning environment as the basis for creating culturally relevant classrooms which encourage students to become part of a community of learners. Mr. Speaker, I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate Elizabeth on her recognition by the Prime Minister and to extend our warmest regards from the people of Iqaluit and this House, for another example of the quality and dedication of our educators in the Northwest Territories. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

--Applause

Members' statements. Mr. Krutko.

Thank you. Members' statements. Mr. Roland.

Members' statements. Mr. Ootes.

Thank you. Members' statements. Mr. Erasmus.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to speak about an organization that continually amazes me with its ability to provide services to the women in Yellowknife. I am speaking about the Yellowknife Women's Centre. Mr. Speaker, over the past eight years, the Yellowknife Women's Centre has established itself as an outreach crisis service centre for women and their families. The services provided by the Women's Centre addresses the most basic needs of marginalized women and their families. I am talking about food, clothing and shelter in addition to supportive programming and counselling, parenting, pre-natal and post-natal outreach and family support. Women access the centre for programming that simply does not exist elsewhere in the community, including from the government. The centre is faced with responding to needs and demands of services and referrals from government and non-government agencies in Yellowknife and the NWT.

Mr. Speaker, in 1997-98, the Yellowknife Women's Centre served 375 client families. Those are families, not individual people, at its emergency and crisis location on 47th Street which represented an 87 percent increase over 1996. In other words, the people that they provided services to increased almost double and the majority of those clients are aboriginal people and approximately one-third to one-half of them are from other communities in the Northwest Territories. In this way, the centre is unique because it offers services to people from outside of Yellowknife. It often finds women on its doorstep who have moved to Yellowknife because there are more services here in Yellowknife for their children, they want to get away from an abusive situation or the woman simply has had a baby here and refuses to go home. Unfortunately, while the centre is responding to territorial needs, it only receives funding as a local centre. Mr. Speaker, territorial women's groups receive funding in the hundreds of thousands of dollars, while the centre only receives $30,000 in core funding. Clearly, such limited funding hardly covers even a partial salary for the executive director, not to mention operating expenses. Mr. Speaker, I seek unanimous consent to conclude my statement.

The Member for Yellowknife North is seeking unanimous consent to conclude his statement. Do we have any nays? Mr. Erasmus, you have unanimous consent.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As I indicated, having the government refer clients to the Women's Centre for assistance is a double standard in the fact that they are not providing them with sufficient core funding while other women's groups are doing a territorial service and they receive funding several times more than the Women's Centre. The relationship between a government referral and the capacity of non-government organizations to provide services needs to be examined and appropriately funded. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

--Applause

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, recently on May 12, 1998, our community lost a well-respected and loved role model and a good friend. Mary Adele Bishop was the wife of Charlie Bishop and the mother of six children as well as grandchildren. Mary Adele was born in Wha Ti on April 10, 1945 to Jonas and Bella Jeremick'a and was married to Charlie on December 26, 1966. At the age of 18 her mother passed away and her father was in Charles Camsell. Mary Adele took the responsibility for and raised her brothers and sisters. Marie Adele was a special person, always full of life and laughter. On the wall in her house her children gave her a plaque for all to see, saying the Greatest Mom Award. Mary Adele was a loving and kind woman. She was like a mother to those who needed comfort and advice. She was always there when she was needed. She always encouraged people to work well together, not to gossip, but to forgive each other.

Since the mid-1970s, Mary Adele has worked as a community health representative for Rae-Edzo. The staff depended on her like an elder. She always knew the right thing to say to people whether they were young or old. With her experience as a mother, she was well able to give good advice to the young women. Her humour, sensitivity toward people and her language and cultural skills helped to ease the pain of many people. She was also interested in the youth and their education. She was elected to a local education society. It gave her another avenue to voice her concerns about culture, language and education for the youth. One of her last messages was not to judge or criticize, but to keep an open mind and an open door to love one another. Marie Adele will be sorrowfully missed. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to recognize the Mayor of Arviat, Peter Kritaqliluk and also the SAO, Darren Flynn, who are here in the gallery.

--Applause

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I would like to welcome in the gallery today Eliza Kingdon, one of my Iqaluit constituency assistants, who is here with the Iqaluit Pages. With Eliza, sitting next to her, is her husband, Allan, who is an award winning NTCP lineman. Allan is on his way to Hay River to defend his title at the Second Annual Pole-Top Lineman Rescue Competition. Allan is the oldest man competing. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

--Applause

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to recognize my wife, Elisapee and also my daughter, Janet. Thank you.

--Applause

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to recognize Grand Chief of Treaty 8, Felix Lockhart, also the Chief of Dettah, Jonas Sangris.

--Applause

Recognition of visitors in the gallery. Mr. Barnabas.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I would like to recognize my wife, Susanna Barnabas, and Moses Oyukuluk, Mayor of Arctic Bay. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

--Applause

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to recognize Sam Gallant, working with the UNW here in Yellowknife. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

--Applause

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

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I would like to recognize Nunavut Clerk designate, Mr. John Quirke. Thank you.

--Applause

Thank you. Welcome to the Assembly. Recognition of visitors in the gallery. Item 6, oral questions. Mr. Picco.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I read with interest the statement made by the Honourable Kelvin Ng, Minister of Health and Social Services, on recruitment and retention for health care professionals. I am wondering, Mr. Speaker, can the boards step outside the current available pay package to hire new nurses and medical professionals because that is one of the biggest problems we have with recruitment and retention? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you. The Minister of Health and Social Services, Mr. Ng.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. No, from what I understand, Mr. Speaker, they still have to follow the collective agreement that the GNWT has with our workers. Thank you.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, about two weeks ago, there was a protest march by nurses about their pay package, wages, benefits and professional development. I am wondering if the Minister could tell me outside of the scope of the Retention and Recruitment Plan, what is the Minister's department intending to do about those issues which have come up and which are part of the recruitment and retention as addressed in his statement today? Thank you.

Mr. Ng.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the monetary issues are not dealt with specifically in the Recruitment and Retention Plan. That is under the auspices of the Financial Management Services Board and the collective agreement process that we enter into with our employees, Mr. Speaker. Thank you.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the Minister in his statement and I will quote, "the most pressing need is to fill vacancies". I am wondering how the Minister intends to fill these vacancies if you cannot offer a better salary package and benefits? Thank you.

Mr. Ng.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I believe in the statement, it indicates some of the methods that are being used right now. The fact that we have somebody specific in the department who is specifically dealing with recruitment and retention and is trying to develop some of the supports that the nursing profession has indicated to us that they would like to see, a professional development fund so that they could have more opportunities to meet with their peers; the development of a website so that there is more accessibility to some of the possible employment opportunities; a higher awareness of the types of situations; the communities where potential individuals may be going. Those are some of the things that are being pursued in the Recruitment and Retention Plan that is to date, Mr. Speaker. Thank you.

Oral questions. Final supplementary, Mr. Picco.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, when I had an opportunity to speak to the nurses that staged a walk-out two weeks ago in Iqaluit, Mr. Barnabas was also present, I believe. The Deputy Premier spoke to them. One of the complaints that they had was about the contract nurses and that is where we do not have nurses working for the government, but we bring them in on a contract. There are occasions where these nurses receive a higher salary base than the nurses actually in place who have made a commitment to the north. I am wondering is that something that the Minister's department is reviewing? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Ng.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, that is not something that we are looking at. Obviously, that is not something that we would like to see on a long-term solution, but it is an issue that is out there that the boards are certainly aware of. We have to deal right now with trying to fill some of those vacancies. We think that by developing some of the longer term strategies that it will obviously bring down the need to have shorter contract type of employees, Mr. Speaker. Thank you.

Thank you. Oral questions. Mr. Barnabas.

As per my Member's statement earlier today, I would like to ask the Minister of Health why the Quebec Government had to pay for a person who took his family down to see their mother who just recently passed away in Quebec? Why did the Quebec Government have to pay for their travel down to support their family? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you. The Minister of Health and Social Services, Mr. Ng.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I am not aware of the specific case that the honourable Member is speaking of. I would be glad to speak to him about the details and find out more on the particular circumstances that he is trying to raise.

Oral questions. Mrs. Groenewegen.

Thank you. The Minister of Justice, Mr. Arlooktoo.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. No, I do not know that. I will find out. I will take that questions as notice.

The question is taken as notice. Oral questions. Mr. Roland.

The Minister responsible for the Financial Management Board, Mr. Todd.

Salary

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My understanding is that it will be 2 percent and...

--Laughter

It will be there for the next round.

Oral questions. Supplementary, Mr. Roland.

Mr. Todd.

I certainly would be encouraged if the UNW would provide our employees with an opportunity to vote on the contract. Should they do that, which I think they have the moral obligation to do, and should the employees vote favourably, as I am confident they will; then I would be only too happy at that time to advise our employees what I mean by the 2 percent increase to the red-circled employees.

Oral questions. Supplementary, Mr. Roland.

Mr. Todd.

I am not playing games. First of all, I have been pretty darn clear from the very beginning on this issue. I have made it clear to my honourable colleague, who has asked me this question umpteen times, there is no pay decrease to employees who are red-circled, and the 2 percent increase will be an increase to their base within the red-circle. That is what I have said. That is what I have consistently said and that is what I am saying again today. I do not understand the confusion. Maybe it is in his mind.

Thank you. Final supplementary, Mr. Roland.

Mr. Todd.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It takes one to know one, so Mr. Speaker, I will say to my honourable colleague that I am not so sure I can put it out in the payroll stuffer. I have to be careful with the collective agreement that I am not viewed as trying to influence, if you want, the employees on how they should vote. If there is a method for me to communicate what I thought I had communicated clearly and succinctly in this House on a number of occasions with respect to the 2 percent increase, I will do so. I am not trying to avoid it. I just want to make sure I do it correctly. Thank you.

Thank you. Oral questions. Mr. Erasmus.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My questions are for the Minister of Health and Social Services. It is in relation to nursing. Mr. Speaker, I have talked to several nurses including some who were here at the demonstration a week or so ago. At that time, they had indicated that there was a great concern with the lack of professional development that was available for the nurses. I am pleased to see there is a professional development fund being contemplated in the Recruitment and Retention Plan. I was wondering if the Minister would be kind enough to elaborate on how the development fund would be used. Thank you.

The Minister of Health and Social Services, Mr. Ng.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I do not have the details on how the fund will be used. The concept of having a professional development fund is one that is widely supported and it is a matter of finding the funds in consultation with our partners, the boards, in putting it together and having obviously the professionals themselves take part in the

guidelines for establishing how those funds could be accessed. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Would it be safe to say that some of the things that are being contemplated are the ability to go to conferences or workshops and short courses down south to update skills and knowledge that the nurses have? Thank you.

Mr. Ng.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I could say that would certainly be one of the higher priorities for funding with this fund, Mr. Speaker. Thank you.

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

Mr. Speaker, another concern which was raised, of course, is the inability to recruit and retain nursing staff in the smaller communities. I am aware the Minster had indicated that the plan will attempt to address this. The Stanton Board has talked about the possibility of establishing a recruitment nursing pool from which nurses could be provided to the regions for certain periods of time and then come back to work in Yellowknife for a certain period of time and back to the community. Is the Minister aware of such a proposal and could he indicate what he thinks of it?

Mr. Ng.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, we are fully aware of that proposal. In fact, I believe it was a departmental initiative at the start. They have it based here in Yellowknife. To have that take place, the involvement of the Stanton Board is critical, as well, as they provide a lot of the services not only for Yellowknife but for some of the surrounding areas. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I know that the Minister has been working with several partners on this plan. Could the Minister indicate how this particular aspect, the nursing pool based in Yellowknife is being received by the rest of the partners? Thank you.

Mr. Ng.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, this Recruitment and Retention Plan was done very broadly with as much input from the professional associations, health care associations and the boards, as possible. In that respect there is very broad support for it and, hopefully, with that greater opportunities for success as well. Thank you.

Thank you. Oral questions. Mr. Henry.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My question today is to Mr. Arlooktoo, the Minister responsible for Justice. During the last sitting of this Legislature, I had introduced and a motion was passed in this House for the Minister to relook at sections of the Labour Standards Act as it deals with contract employees. This affects many workers in the Northwest Territories, Mr. Speaker. I believe, we had demonstrated to the Minister the need for changes to this legislation. My question to the Minister is, can he update the House on how his department has acted on this motion? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The Minister of Justice, Mr. Arlooktoo.