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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would also like to pledge today, with my colleagues that I will do whatever it takes, to ensure that this is resolved. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

--Applause

Members' statements. Mrs. Groenewegen.

Thank you. Members' statements. Mr. Erasmus.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to speak about NAV Canada and the new fee schedule they have released. Mr. Speaker, on August 7, 1998 I had sent a letter to federal Minister David Collenette indicating that it was unacceptable that NAV Canada proposes to reduce southern costs by up to $110 million a year while the cost in the NWT will increase by up to $10 million a year. I had indicated to him that he could evoke section 35(2) the Civil Air and Navigation Services Commercial Act. This act states that the charging methodology may recognize that the value of the services differs among users. I also indicated that the value of the services they provide to us is much less than in the south. The area of lower radar coverage and lack of provision of radio navigation services for approach and landing and also using maximum certified takeoff weight as the bases of charges when in the north planes cannot land with maximum certified takeoff weight.

On September 8th, I also wrote him another letter indicating that NAV Canada is raising millions of dollars on our route charges, flights that are flying over the Northwest Territories, from western United States to Europe as well as from Alaska to the eastern United States, and that they stood to gain about $140 million from our route fees and from the four new polar routes that will be open over the Northwest Territories.

Mr. Speaker, these charges, the money they are raising from the over flights have not been reflected in our fees. I believe that the Minister should evoke section 35(2) of the Civil Air and Navigation Commercial Services Act to lower our rates. I guess you could say that NAV Canada should have taken this upon themselves to see that if they are going to make over $140 million off of us, this should be reflected in their rates. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

--Applause

Thank you. Members' statements. Mr. Roland

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to welcome you and the rest of my colleagues back to our capital city, it is still our capital city for six months for everyone in this House yet. Mr. Speaker, it is not always popular to speak out against initiatives such as the work of the new constitution, but none the less I feel it is my responsibility to raise in a public forum, the serious reservations I have about the state of the constitution development in the western Northwest Territories.

Mr. Speaker, I cannot fault the work to date of the Constitutional Working Group, they are working within their mandate and are trying to raise a sense of a very divisive issue. However, I believe strongly that now is not the time to be dealing with constitutional issues in the western Northwest Territories. How can the constitutional working group hope to develop a workable constitution when major players such as the Deh Cho and the Sahtu, refuse to be involved or have withdrawn from the process. Mr. Speaker, how can we realistically expect the federal government to agree to a new constitution when major players are not involved in the process? A new constitution for the Western Territory is not possible until land claims and self-government agreements are settled. It is that simple, Mr. Speaker.

We, as a territory, cannot move ahead economically and constitutionally until these issues are resolved. It is easy to understand the hesitation on the part of aboriginal leaders to agree to any process that may impact their inherent right to govern themselves. Mr. Speaker, I do not believe that a constitutional conference proposed for this fall, would accomplish any measurable result. Consensus is not there.

Ultimately, Mr. Speaker, it is highly unlikely that a workable constitution, acceptable to the majority of residents of the western Northwest Territories would come out of a constitutional conference. Mr. Speaker, even if consensus on a constitution was reached, it would be at best, an interim measure, that would have to be changed each time a new land claim or self-government agreement was reached. The current NWT Act, which is basically the constitution, may be flawed and outdated, but at least all of the players in the western NWT understand it. It will continue to serve as the constitution of the residents of the NWT with minor changes for the time being.

Mr. Speaker, until the inter-relationship between the Territorial Government, aboriginal claimant groups and self-government agreements are defined at the negotiating table there will be no possibility of a constitution. It may take some time for negotiations, but at least then it would be possible to forge a constitution. Mr. Speaker, I seek unanimous consent to conclude my statement.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker and thank you, colleagues. I urge the Constitutional Working Group to consider the validity of holding a constitutional conference and the possibility of any measurable outcomes. I do not think there will be any measurable results and a conference at this time, is not the best use of taxpayers money. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you. Members' statements. Mr. Steen.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, first of all I would like to take this opportunity to thank the people of Taloyoak. When Northern Transportation Company Limited (NTCL) was purchased equally by the Inuit of Nunavut and the Inuvialuit of the western Arctic, the board of directors began a program of renaming its fleet of ships to better reflect its northern aboriginal ownership. On September 12, 1998, NTCL held an official ceremony in Taloyoak to rename the former MV Kelly Hall to MV Pisurayak Kootook. Pisurayak Kootook or David was a courageous member of the Taloyoak community who was on a medevac emergency flight that crashed on route from Cambridge Bay to Yellowknife. Pisurayak David Kootook, although seriously injured himself, worked heroically to keep his fellow passengers alive until he finally succumbed to his own injuries. Pisurayak Kootook is a true northern hero and it is only fitting that he be recognized with this honour in his own community.

David's mother and family were on hand to christen the vessel and honoured guests included were: John Ningark, MLA for Natilikmiot; Mayor Dennis Lyall of Taloyoak; NTCL Chairman of the career development committee, Wilf Wilcox; President Cameron Clement and Pat Lyall and also Norterra executive vice-president Murrie Hurrley. I would like to thank Mr. Clement for providing this information to me. I would like my colleagues to join me in congratulating the community and the family of Kootook. Thank you.

--Applause

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

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

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to recognize David Legros. He is a constituent of Yellowknife South and has a great interest in the pay equity issue.

--Applause

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