Mr. Speaker, while we wait to see who blinks, I would like to make a statement on the proposed road to resources and diamond mines, which currently uses the Ingraham Trail. Mr. Speaker, this road was originally used to supply Echo Bay Mines, but recently with the addition of diamond mine exploration, there has been a substantial increase in the amount of usage, with trucks constantly going back and forth on the Ingraham Trail. I have many constituents who live on the Ingraham Trail. I also have constituents who use the Ingraham Trail to get to their traditional hunting areas. These constituents are concerned with first of all, the road being narrow. There are a lot of curves and it is dangerous when you meet a large truck. This has already caused accidents and there have been some fuel spills, possibly damage to the environment. There is also concern that the road is being damaged. Last year, Mr. Speaker, I asked the Premier about the road to resources, if we would be pursuing that. He indicated that he was looking at it. I also asked about the possibility of having the mines to actually pay for using the roads. Perhaps, a toll per truck. I know that we are currently doing an environmental study into the issue as well, as other transportation routes. However, that is looking toward the future. My constituents need to know what is happening now if there is legitimacy to their concerns. At the appropriate time, Mr. Speaker, I will ask the Minister questions in this area. Thank you.

Thank you. Members' statements. Mr. Ningark.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, from time to time I have received complaints from clients or others who have applied for income support and were turned down. Mr. Speaker, I am not encouraging anyone to depend on the Income Support Program for assistance unless other options are exhausted. I am merely and respectfully endeavouring to find out what the criteria are with respect to the Income Support Program. I am sure some of my honourable colleagues have received such complaints from Members of the communities as I have reported. Mr. Speaker, I am never comfortable in telling bureaucracy what to do. I have never done that and I am not about to begin to do so. In order for the complainants to have the answer, instead of going through MLAs, I am suggesting that the Department of Health and Social Services endeavour to create a handbook outlining what the criteria are for those people who are legible or ineligible to receive income support assistance. Mr. Speaker, such a handbook should be translated into other languages to make it easier for people to understand. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you. Members' statements. Mr. Enuaraq.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to bring to the attention of the House and in particular, the Minister of Health and Social Services and the Baffin Regional Health Board the very severe shortage of nurses in Clyde River. There are not enough nurses in my home community, Mr. Speaker. We have a year round population of 780 and there are only two nurses in town. During certain times of the year the population may increase substantially. Throughout various times of the year, we have visitors, tourists and transient construction workers. Just based on the year round population alone, we have only one nurse for every 400 people. This ratio is unacceptable and unsafe, Mr. Speaker. The shortage of nursing staff compromises the health and safety of the residents of Clyde River. It also puts undue stress on the nursing staff. Mr. Speaker, imagine trying to take care of a community of 800 with only one other qualified person to help you. Importantly, I cannot imagine what may happen if one or both of the nurses are sick or on leave. We need more nurses in Clyde River, Mr. Speaker. This is clear. It should not be a matter of funding. The only issue here is the health of my community. The nursing staff is strained and they need help now. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

--Applause

Thank you. Members' statements. Mr. Barnabas.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I rise today to recognize heroic events that happened in the community of Resolute. I will read a brief synopsis of events regarding the rescue of Emily Ulayuruluk and Connie Pudluk who are the grandchildren of my predecessor Ludy Pudluk and Lallie Pudluk. On September 19, 1997, between 7:30 p.m. and 8:00 p.m., two girls, Connie Pudluk and Emily Ulayuruluk, were snowmobiling on the ice near Resolute Bay. The ice was thin and the snowmobile went through the ice. This left the two girls in the water between 10 and 30 minutes. The water was extremely cold and the air temperature was below zero degrees.

Matthew Nungaq, resident of Resolute Bay, was driving by the area and his daughter noted the two girls in the water. They drove to get help and located Nathaniel Kalluk. Nathaniel took his boat to the scene and then went out across the ice in the boat to get the girls. He pulled both girls into the boat then came back to shore. Nathaniel was alone in the boat when he went to get the girls. The boat had to be pushed across the ice and then into the water to break through the ice. The girls were taken to the nursing station after they came off the boat. They had to be supported because of the numbness. They were all right, to date. I would recommend that the people who rescued these two girls be awarded with an Award of Bravery. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

--Applause

Thank you. Members' statements. Mr. Arlooktoo.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, in my Member's statement today, I would like to make some comments on the issue of long distance competition as it relates to services in smaller communities. Across Canada, there has been a reduction in long distance costs where competition has been allowed to take place. No one can argue against cost reductions. We would all like to see a reduction in our phone bills. However, we have a unique situation in the north. Long distance service is profitable in some areas but is not in others, depending on population and remoteness.

NorthwesTel has made the point that in a competitive environment, if revenues are significantly reduced in larger centres, services to small communities will be jeopardized. This causes me great concern. To give you a real example of what the implications may be if a multinational corporation like Sprint or others were to introduce very low cost long distance service to one of our larger communities such as Hay River, phone services could either be cut off and non-profit making communities or prices could go through the roof and become unreachable for residents in these small communities. This is because revenue from larger communities subsidize the cost of providing service in smaller communities.

Mr. Speaker, the other day it caused me concern to hear the Member for Hay River call for immediate and open competition in this area, without regard to the implications this may have for smaller communities. We need to recognize; however, that one of the reasons these larger centres are able to make long distance services profitable is because they are regional or territorial centres that service the small communities. To be more specific in this example, in Hay River, the Power Corporation, NTCL, territorial correctional facilities and the liquor board are based in Hay River and it serves smaller communities. Mr. Speaker, I ask what is the message then if unmanaged competition may well mean the loss of phone services for smaller communities like Pelly Bay, Hall Beach, Grise Fiord, Clyde river, Kimmirut, Chesterfield Inlet, Paulatuk and other communities in both the east and west? I believe that we must be careful in sending the message that we do not want savings at any cost. Mr. Speaker, I seek unanimous consent to conclude my statement.

The Member for Baffin South is seeking unanimous consent to conclude his statement. Do we have any nays? Mr. Arlooktoo, you have unanimous consent.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker and thank you, colleagues. Due to our geographical situation, cross-subsidies are a part of life in the north, we have it in fuel subsidies, power subsidies, housing subsidies and many other programs. It is part of our reality in living in the north. If we live in a large community, we are sometimes frustrated that we do not benefit from the cost-savings our population should provide, but then we have to remind ourselves that we also benefit from serving smaller communities because government and industry institutions are based in larger communities. Finally, Mr. Speaker, the proposal to have a national fund for high-cost regions will benefit greatly all of the communities of the north because we, more than any other jurisdiction in Canada, understand how our geography and population can benefit both large and small communities. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

--Applause

Thank you. Members' statements. Mr. Ootes.

Members' statements. Mr. Picco.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the 795 Squadron of the Royal Canadian Air Cadets in Iqaluit, held their annual inspection recently. The 27 out of 28 cadets that participated are sponsored by the Royal Canadian Legion in Iqaluit. Mr. Speaker, the principal aim of the cadets is to teach leadership, citizenship, physical fitness and interests in aeronautics. Two weeks ago we were honoured by having members of the Army Air and Navy Cadets Service Air as Pages in this Assembly. One of those cadets was Sergeant Edward Arreak from Iqaluit. Mr. Speaker, I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate the 795 Squadron of Iqaluit, its Captain John Graine, and the Royal Canadian Legion, who have continued their sponsorship and long affiliation with this, and other community-minded causes at home in Iqaluit. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

--Applause

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I would like to recognize the mayor of Broughton Island, Lootie Toomasie, and beside him is his deputy mayor, Kooveeyok Natsiapik. Thank you.

--Applause

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

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I would also like to recognize the mayor of Broughton Island, Lootie Toomasie and deputy mayor, Kooveeyok Natsiapik, and also John Quirke, future Clerk for Nunavut. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

--Applause

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

Thank you. The question is more appropriate to the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment, Mr. Dent. Mr. Dent.