Thank you, Madam Groenewegen. Before we get into orders of the day. Due to an illness in his family, the Speaker will be out of the Legislative Assembly for an indefinite period of time. As Deputy Speaker, I have been asked to assume the Speaker's duties in his absence. It is hoped that the Speaker will be able to return to the Chair before this sitting of the session ends.

Also, I ask Members to join me in wishing the Member from Iqaluit, Mr. Picco, a very happy birthday. He is 47...I mean, 37 years old today.

--Applause

Thank you. Orders of the day. Item 2, Minister's statements. Mr. Ng.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to take this opportunity to talk about the prevention of child abuse. On August 27, 1998, Sheldon Kennedy, the former NHL hockey player who was abused by his junior coach, visited Yellowknife as part of his cross Canada campaign to stop child abuse. Yellowknife Mayor Dave Lovell proclaimed August 27th Child Abuse Awareness Day in honour of Mr. Kennedy during a luncheon barbecue at City Hall.

During his one-day stay in Yellowknife, Sheldon spoke at St. Patrick's High School and visited Ndilo and the Territorial Treatment Centre. In addition, he was able through a teleconference set up by NorthwesTel to speak with people in Iqaluit, Rankin Inlet, Cambridge Bay, Inuvik and Whitehorse. Mr. Speaker, I believe that Sheldon's campaign had an impact here in the Northwest Territories as I am sure it has in the rest of Canada. Speaking out and standing up against child abuse takes courage and conviction of purpose. Sheldon's visit is to facilitate change in attitudes toward abuse, and to change in the way that we respond to abuse. He has started the Sheldon Kennedy Foundation. Its objective is to make a major contribution to the prevention and treatment of child abuse, through awareness, education and action. I believe that one of the most powerful tools we have in the fight against child abuse is awareness. By making people aware of the horrors of abuse and by supporting people in their healing, we can reduce the suffering that results from child abuse. Mr. Speaker, the prevention of child abuse can only be achieved if we work in partnership with individuals, families and communities. We all have a duty and a responsibility to protect our children from abuse by teaching and educating them. Children need to know when they are being treated inappropriately. They need to know that they do not have to put up with inappropriate behaviour. They need to know that there is somewhere they can get help. Further and just as important, we need to provide, by example, an abuse free life style.

Children can also be protected by creating an atmosphere in our communities where they feel safe enough to come forward if they are being mistreated or abused. When children do come forward we need to take action. We need to provide support and protection services, as well as legal and counselling services for those who have been victims of abuse. Mr. Speaker, the Department of Health and Social Services, in partnership with the Status of Women, has produced a brochure called Help Stop Child Sexual Abuse. We distributed this brochure at the sessions held with Sheldon Kennedy. This brochure states what child sexual abuse is, where to report abuse and provides the names of agencies that can provide assistance to those who have been abused. Additional copies of the brochure are being distributed across the NWT to boards, local offices, counselling agencies and shelters. I have distributed copies to all Members of this House.

Mr. Speaker, child abuse is a serious problem and we hope to raise awareness of this issue and the resources available to those in need. Children are our most important resource and we need to ensure that they grow up in a safe environment so that they have the opportunity to become contributing members of our society. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

--Applause

Thank you, Mr. Ng. Ministers' statements. Mr. Arlooktoo.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr.

Speaker, I rise today to provide the House with a status report on the success of the Northwest Territories Housing Corporation's initiatives to promote homeownership. In the early 1990's the corporation was spending over 70 percent of its budget on public housing, most of that money came from Ottawa. However, starting in 1992 the federal government began reducing and two years later eliminated funding for the construction of new public housing units.

Mr. Speaker, this meant the corporation had to shift its focus from building public housing to programs that helped northerners build their own homes. The corporation realized that many families living in public housing could afford the cost of running their own homes, but needed some help financing the construction. By assisting these families to move out of public housing, Mr. Speaker, public housing units could then be reallocated to those families who were in greater need.

Mr. Speaker, while the corporation has been successful in providing more NWT residents with new homes, these homes come with high price tags for the clients and cannot be afforded by everyone. The population of the NWT is young and growing, the need for lower cost single family homes is also growing. The corporation has identified this problem and is already working on innovative solutions to solve it. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

--Applause

Thank you, Mr. Arlooktoo. Ministers' statements. Mr. Dent.

Thank you, Mr. Dent. Ministers' statements. Mr. Arlooktoo.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. On August 20th the Supreme Court of Canada delivered its opinion in the Quebec Secession Reference. I will make a few comments on the legal issue and Mr. Kakfwi will speak about the national unity dimensions of this decision.

Three questions were put to the court which essentially asked:

- Under the Constitution of Canada can Quebec unilaterally separate from Canada?

- Under international law does Quebec have a right to unilaterally separate from Canada? - If the Constitution of Canada and international law conflict, which one is paramount?

The decision is about 80 pages long. But there are some points of particular interest to the people of the Northwest Territories and Nunavut which I would like to mention.

The Minister of Justice of the NWT intervened in the reference in November, 1996. Yukon, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Makivik, the Cree of Quebec, the Chiefs of Ontario and a number of other parties also intervened. The Government of Quebec refused to participate in the reference, so in July 1997, the court appointed a Quebec lawyer called an amicus curiae or friend of the court, to put forward any legal arguments that Quebec would probably have used if they had participated.

For the past 30 years there have been indications that the Parti Quebecois and other Quebec governments have wanted to expand into the marine areas and islands in Hudson Bay, James Bay, Ungava Bay and Hudson Strait. In December 1994, and again in September 1995, the Government of Quebec tabled sovereignty bills in their legislature which appeared to indicate that Quebec intended to unilaterally extend their jurisdiction into parts of the NWT and Nunavut. This was one of the reasons the GNWT intervened in this reference case. We do not believe Quebec has a valid claim to these areas, nor do we think that it was legal for Quebec to annex lands and waters in the NWT and Nunavut.

Intervenor aboriginal organizations argued that the Constitution, treaties/land claims agreements, aboriginal rights and international law required aboriginal consent before aboriginal peoples and their territories could be taken out of Canada. The federal government was evasive on the issue of protecting aboriginal rights in the event of separation. The federal government's legal arguments contended that aboriginal issues were important, but outside the scope of the three questions posed in the reference. The decision made by the Supreme Court confirms that Quebec does not have a right under the Constitution of Canada to separate unilaterally. The court said that Quebec must obey the law, which includes the amending formula in the Constitution of Canada.

Typically in complex court decisions, everyone can find some support for their own position. In this decision, the court said that if a clear majority voted yes to a clear referendum question, Canada would be obliged to negotiate with Quebec. In these negotiations, virtually everything would be on the table. For example, boundaries would be on the table. The rights of aboriginal peoples and minorities would have to be taken into account. There would be no presumption that Quebec could keep all of its present territory, and certainly there would be no presumption that Quebec could annex areas in Nunavut or Labrador. So Quebec might be diminished or expanded depending on the outcome of the negotiations. Mr. Speaker, we are continuing our assessment of the legal implications of this important decision, particularly of its relevance to aboriginal peoples and to the new territory of Nunavut. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

--Applause

Thank you. The Minister for National and Constitutional Affairs, Mr. Kakfwi.

Thank you, Mr. Kakfwi. Ministers' statements. Item 3, members' statements. Mr. Evaloarjuk.

(Translation) Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I rise today to make a statement regarding heavy workload experienced by the two nurses in Igloolik. There are only two nurses in Igloolik, and within the past 21 days, they have seen 435 patients. There was one particular person who has had a major surgery and had to be visited by the nurses while he is at home recovering. This patient just had heart surgery. During question period, I will be asking the Minister of Health regarding this situation. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. (Translation ends).

Thank you, Mr. Evaloarjuk. The honourable Member for Iqaluit, Mr. Picco.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, because of the anticipated growth associated with the creation of Nunavut, the federal government allocated monies under the Nunavut incremental infrastructure envelope. These monies were targeted to the decentralized communities and Iqaluit, as outlined in Footprints 1 and 2. As part of that program, Iqaluit was scheduled for a new seven-classroom school. After reviewing the enrolment numbers and the unprecedented growth in the Tundra Valley and Happy Valley area of Iqaluit, it was quickly realized that the seven classroom facility as planned would be redundant at completion next fall. With support of the Iqaluit education authority and our departments of Public Works and Services, and Education, we began lobbying the federal government to come up with the extra money to expand the original seven classroom school to 11 classrooms. Needless to say, Mr. Speaker, that most officials and departmental staff were not very hopeful that new monies could be found, although the demonstrated need was there.

Mr. Speaker, I met with the Honourable Jane Stewart earlier this summer about the situation and the redundancy issue of the new proposed seven classroom school. Ms. Stewart also had an opportunity in early July to travel to Iqaluit to see the increased development and growth first hand. At the end of July, DIAND announced that they would increase the proposed new Iqaluit middle school from seven to 11 classrooms. I would like to take this opportunity, Mr. Speaker, to thank the Honourable Jane Stewart and the Nunavut Secretariat, our departments of Education and Public Works and Services and the Iqaluit education authority for their support and encouragement over these past several months of hard work on behalf of the people of Iqaluit. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

--Applause.

Thank you, Mr. Picco. The honourable Member for Mackenzie Delta, Mr. Krutko.

Thank you, Mr. Krutko. The honourable Member for North Slave, Mr. Rabesca.

Thank you, Mr. Rabesca. The Member for Thebacha, Mr. Miltenberger.

Thank you, Mr. Miltenberger. Member for Yellowknife South, Mr. Henry.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, over the past few years we have heard of many worthwhile initiatives this government has implemented with some aim to assist northern businesses. Clearly this government is attempting to provide many avenues geared to the business community and to encourage investment and establishment of new businesses in the north. Recently, a local business person shared their concerns regarding a system of payment established by this government, and the problems associated with it. Amongst them were the regular glitches with computer systems, Christmas shutdowns and, of course, the occasional human error. Delays in receiving payments are frequent. This creates certain cash flow problems for businesses, especially when they rely solely on GNWT for revenue. This problem has a more dramatic effect on businesses in the smaller, isolated communities. Once a department receives an invoice, it is forwarded to the Department of Finance for processing. They in turn, will process a payment and issue a cheque via the mail system. We are lucky here in Yellowknife that the mail system is originating in Yellowknife, and we receive these payments in a few days. Other communities have to wait much longer. Mr. Speaker, the problem does not end there.

In some communities, there are no bank services and the businesses in turn must send their cheques to a larger community for eventual deposit. These delays all add up to a lengthy process. Mr. Speaker, I understand there is a policy in place for issuing payments and I appreciate the fact that this government has attempted to streamline their system. I am aware that the policy to issue payments to northern businesses provides for a three-week turnaround and, yes, this is a far better cry than the precomputer days. However, I believe we could do a great service to our northern business community by establishing a system of direct deposit or electronic payments where businesses can receive payments directly into their bank accounts. It is my understanding that the finance department does not have the current ability to provide this service because of a lack of software and manpower to establish such a system. We must look at the issue and give consideration to implementing a system whereby we can deposit the payments directly to businesses' bank accounts who provide services to this government. Mr. Speaker, I seek unanimous consent to conclude my statement.

Thank you. The honourable Member for Yellowknife South is seeking unanimous consent to conclude his statement. Are there any nays? There are no nays. Mr. Henry, you have unanimous consent.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker, and colleagues. We have the ability to use direct deposits with government payroll and some departments are using direct deposit now for issuing payments; the Department of Public Works and Services, and the Executive are two such departments. Mr. Speaker, let us support our business community across the territory. Who knows, maybe the money spent on software and implementation will be a cost-saving measure compared to what this government does spend on stamps, envelopes and labour? Later today, I will be asking the Minister of Finance for some further clarification on this matter. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

--Applause.

Thank you. Members' statements. The honourable Member for Kitikmeot, Mr. Ng.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, as Members are aware, on August 3rd the Killinik High School in Cambridge Bay was accidentally set on fire by three children playing with a camping stove under the deck of the school. The fire started at approximately 4:00 p.m. and lasted until the early morning hours of the following day. The loss of the high school building was a tragedy for all residents. Not only was the building the base for high school programming, it also contained the May Maghagak community library, the community gymnasium and the offices of the Kitikmeot Heritage Society. Mr. Speaker, this building had undergone complete renovations and expansion over the past several years. It was originally the primary school built in the early 1970's. In 1994, it was turned into the high school, upon completion of the new Kullik Elementary School. Needless to say, as the only school in Cambridge Bay for over two decades, all residents have been impacted by this loss.

The Killinik High School loss has also impacted the Kullik Elementary School, which shared its mechanical, electrical and municipal service systems with the high school. I am pleased to report that temporary systems were put in place within a couple of weeks to ensure that the Kullik Elementary School could open. Mr. Speaker, I wish to recognize and extend thanks to all individuals who helped out during the fire, in particular, the volunteer firefighters and water truck operators who spent the evening, night and early morning fighting and containing the blaze. Mr. Speaker, on behalf of the residents of Cambridge Bay, I also wish to recognize and thank the many organizations, agencies and individuals throughout the NWT and Canada who have offered to assist the community after the fire. This tragic loss to the residents of Cambridge Bay has once again drawn the community closer together.

A number of community and government groups have come together to ensure that high school programs would be ready for the start of the school year, which began more or less on time in late August for high school students, and early September for elementary school students. These groups include the local education authority, the hamlet council, the management and staff of Killinik High, the divisional board, Nunavut Arctic College, and the GNWT through Education, Culture and Employment, and Public Works and Services staff. These groups got together to plan and put into place the necessary temporary classrooms and support facilities and supplies needed to get the high school programs up and running. Work is also fully underway for planning the new replacement facilities with a 1999 construction schedule to coincide with a 2000 school year opening. Mr. Speaker, I seek unanimous consent to conclude my statement.

Thank you. The honourable Member for Kitikmeot is seeking unanimous consent to conclude his statement. Are there any nays? There are no nays. Mr. Ng, you have unanimous consent.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, in closing, I am sure this government and the incoming Nunavut government will ensure that the current and future needs of Cambridge Bay and its students will be adequately addressed as we move forward in replacing the loss of the Killinik High School and the services supported by that facility. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Ng. Members' Statements. The honourable Member for Yellowknife Centre, Mr. Ootes.

Thank you. Members' statements. Mr. Steen.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to recognize two of my constituents, Dave and Rachquel McNabb. Dave was the first president of Metis Nations of the Northwest Territories. He presently sits on the Deninoo Community Council in Fort Resolution and spearheaded the drive of zero tolerance for the Deninoo Community Council. I would like to request all Members to welcome my constituents to the Assembly. Thank you.

--Applause

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

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It gives me great pleasure today to welcome in the gallery, Yeta Yensen, who is the deputy chief statistician of Greenland in town to explore cooperation with the GNWT and Nunavut government. Sitting next to Yeta, is a very good friend of mine, Bob and Mr. Miltenberger, Jack Hicks of RWED in Iqaluit. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

--Applause

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

(Translation) Thank you, Mr. Speaker. In 1975 and 1979, I used to live in the Keewatin area in Coral Harbour. I would like to recognize the mayor of Coral Harbour visiting our Legislative Assembly. Thank you. (Translation ends)

Thank you. Welcome to the Assembly. Recognition of visitors in the gallery. Ms. Thompson.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would also like to recognize Johnny Ningeongan, who is the mayor of Coral Harbour from my riding. It is a pleasure to have him here. He is meeting with the Ministers. I would also like to thank the Ministers for giving him time to meet with them. Thank you.

--Applause

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to recognize a resident of Yellowknife South, Elaine Whitford. Elaine is the spouse of our Sergeant-at-Arms, Tony. Elaine has just returned from a volunteering assignment in Nepal. I believe she took a little rest and relaxation in Australia on the way back. If I may, Mr. Speaker, I would also like to recognize Mr. and Mrs. Dave Legros, in the gallery, residents of Yellowknife South and also to point out to my fellow Members in the Legislature that the Pages today are from Ecole St. Joseph's School in Yellowknife South. They are Shawn Breman, Christine Do, Kayla Fisher, Elaine Hanaschuk, Crystal Legros, Chantelle McCarthy, Elise Babyn and Kyla Wright. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

--Applause

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I am not too sure if my constituent members are in the gallery, but they were, former chief of Dogrib Nation, Alexis Arrowmaker, along with Ted Blondin and Eddy Erasmus. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

--Applause

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

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, we are fully aware of the seriousness of the situation. It is not just Tuktoyaktuk or the Beaufort Delta in these types of circumstances. We found over the course of the past couple of years, and certainly over the past few months, that there has been more than a considerable strain on the nursing profession, and nurse practitioners throughout the Northwest Territories as a result of the increasing recruitment from other jurisdictions, other countries, particularly the United States.

As the honourable Member noted, I just came from a federal/provincial/territorial Health Minister's meeting. It is an issue that is not just within our jurisdiction, but certainly, a national problem as well, particularly in the rural areas and the remote locations of the northern provinces that operate very similar to the Northwest Territories. What we have done, Mr. Speaker, is quite frankly, we think there has to be a long-term solution in having Northerners recruited and placed in positions where they can hopefully, will stay and provide service to their own constituents, whether it is in their home community or certainly in the Northwest Territories. That is on a longer scale.

On the short-term, right now we are doing some work with our partners, the boards in trying to identify where we can fill in on a short-term basis, some of the immediate needs. We certainly have a concern in this area, Mr. Speaker. Thank you.

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

Mr. Ng.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, as I had indicated, the department is working with boards throughout the territories to try to identify where the short-falls are, both on a short-term basis and on a medium-term basis as we know. When people give notice of their intent to leave and also knowing where some of the short-term replacement personnel may be for some of those boards and yes, we plan on putting in place after identifying those factors putting in place a plan to try to address the issues of services for constituents throughout the territories. Thank you.

Thank you. Supplementary, Mr. Steen.

Mr. Ng.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, with respect to the honourable Member's immediate concerns about Tuktoyaktuk, I can certainly provide that information to him as soon as it is available, but as I indicated, it is a territorial issue that has to be addressed on a territorial nature. Thank you.

Thank you. Oral questions. Mr. Evaloarjuk.

(Translation) Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My question is a follow-up to Mr. Steen's questions. My question is directed to the Minister of Health. It is concerning the two communities I represent, Igloolik and Pond Inlet. These two communities have the same concerns and their population is about the same with over 1000 people. They usually have two nurses on staff and have a very heavy workload. They work the majority of the time where there is usually only one or two nurses on staff. I wonder if the Minister can tell me when these communities can expect to get more nurses? Thank you. (Translation ends)

(Translation) Thank you, Mr. Evaloarjuk. The Minister of Health and Social Services, Mr. Ng. (Translation ends)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I cannot speak on those communities as to when they may expect to have any additional nursing resources available to them because that responsibility lies with the board. Right now, our main focus as I indicated in my reply to the honourable Member for Nunakput, is trying to fill the vacancies with an existing nursing staff positions that are vacant. Before we can even look at expanding that, we have to deal with the existing shortfalls Mr. Speaker, with our partners, the boards. Thank you.

(Translation) Thank you. Supplementary, Mr. Evaloarjuk. (Translation ends)

(Translation) Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Is there a policy in place indicating how many nurses there should be in a community according to their population as this is very important to me and what the policy is? For instance, if there are 500 people in a community, how many nurses can they have? Thank you. (Translation ends)

(Translation) Thank you. Mr. Ng. (Translation ends)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, no, there is no policy to my knowledge. Staffing has historically been set at the time of the 1988 federal transfer. The territorial government, at that time, the resources which were in place in the communities were transferred. Subsequent to that as a territorial government passed on some of the responsibilities to the boards, they made some adjustments within their service area in recognizing some communities growing faster than others and the needs of their communities in their service area. Thank you.

(Translation) Thank you. Oral questions. Supplementary, Mr. Evaloarjuk. (Translation ends)

(Translation) Mr. Speaker, Mr. Ng responded that for Nunakput there is a territorial-wide issue. Would the Minister of Health be able to tell us whether there is going to be more training for nurses in the north from the communities? If there is no training of northerners, what happens? (Translation ends)

(Translation) Thank you. Mr. Ng. (Translation ends)

Mr. Speaker, I have been in discussions with my honourable colleague, the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment particularly about nursing programs and it is one of the areas that is in our Recruitment and Retention Plan that we plan on moving forward on. Thank you.

(Translation) Thank you. (Translation ends) Oral questions. Mr. Picco.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Good afternoon. Mr. Speaker, last year the Baffin leaders meeting in Pangnirtung, and again this year they are meeting in Iqaluit, passed a motion supporting the Iqaluit homeless shelter. This past summer, the building was condemned by the Department of Health and was closed. The shelter was running at approximately 120 percent occupancy, Mr. Speaker. In conjunction with several agencies in Iqaluit and our local Northwest Territories Housing Corporation office, we were able to fund a new building and I would like to take this opportunity to thank the Minister for the Housing Corporation for his pro-active work on this. I am wondering at this time, if the Minister could update us on that project, the homeless shelter in Iqaluit? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you. The honourable Minister for the Housing Corporation, Mr. Arlooktoo.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I do recall the two important sessions I attended with the honourable Member, along with other Baffin MLAs, where they showed the homeless shelter. It was discussed in an attempt to come to grips with the growing numbers of homeless people, not only in Iqaluit, but in other parts of Nunavut, notably in Rankin Inlet and Cambridge Bay.

The homeless shelter in Iqaluit was indeed, closed after inspection by the environmental health officer and since then there have been attempts, the Member noted by several agencies and as of today, there is a plan to convert a one-bedroom public housing duplex into a new shelter. We have budgeted $57,000 to this project and we see our role as one of a support role, rather than lead role in getting this homeless shelter open again. Thank you.

Thank you. Supplementary, Mr. Picco.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, indeed, this is a very serious situation that has developed over this past summer and with the cold weather coming we have approximately 20 to 30 people in Iqaluit who have been using that shelter and the facility was not able to sustain that number because of overcrowding. I am wondering, in the new facility does the Minister have any idea if indeed we would be enlarging that facility to allow for more people to take advantage of the homeless shelter because of the need in Iqaluit? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you. Mr. Arlooktoo.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I do not have actual numbers and estimates of how many this facility will be able to hold, but what I can say is, because of the growth in Iqaluit and the natural migration of people from other parts of Nunavut into that community that the number of homeless is sure to increase, and are increasing as of today. Our hope is that the new facility will be opened in October and there are these societies and groups that are working together to try to make it suitable and adequate for the numbers that will require this shelter. I believe that once the facility is opened we will likely find that there will be more homeless than can be housed, but that is my personal projection. Thank you.

Thank you. Supplementary, Mr. Picco.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, this is a very serious concern and the Minister is right, that quite a few of the people actually using the shelter are coming from outside of Iqaluit. I am wondering, with the dramatic increase

in the homeless that we are seeing in Iqaluit, is there any way that the Minister could commit at this time with help from his department, and hopefully Health and Social Services, we could put some kind of contingency plan in place from other agencies of this government to help us alleviate this problem? Right now, the resources in Iqaluit from Town Social Services are being stretched to the limit. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you. Mr. Arlooktoo.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the Government of the Northwest Territories is involved through the Housing Corporation's contribution of monies for the operations and maintenance and the conversion of this building to a homeless shelter. The Department of Health and Social Services is also involved with some funding. We also have ensured that there is a staff home put into this group. The Emergency Shelter Society, the Town Social Services, the Regional Social Services and the Inuit Society are all working together and combining what resources are there, along with the government, to ensure that the homeless shelter is as suitable as possible given the resources. As I said, we are dealing with a growing problem. We are dealing with homeless, generally jobless people who are going to Iqaluit, in this case, to look for work and in many cases not finding any. In many cases dealing with the housing authority. The Department of Social Services is working to its maximum capacity. Thank you.

Thank you. Final supplementary, Mr. Picco.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, over the past 18 months, as the Minister knows, and I appreciate the support that his department has been giving me and the people of Iqaluit who are working on this issue, but like I said, we passed a motion last year with the Baffin leaders and we did it again this year. The reality is, Mr. Speaker, that indeed, the facility that is planned, will not be big enough to handle the capacity that was in the shelter before it closed down. I am wondering if the Minister and maybe some other Ministers in the House, could help coordinate a working group to help me and the people of Iqaluit deal with this very serious and pressing issue over the next couple of days so I can get back to my constituency that something proactively is being done. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you. Mr. Arlooktoo.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I think I can safely say that the resources we have in the Housing Corporation and the department are ones where they are at the level that we can commit to at this point in time. That is to say that all other resources are spoken for at this time, but we are working very closely with other agencies. You have to remember that there are other communities, Rankin Inlet, Cambridge Bay, in Nunavut who are dealing with this, in addition to the very severe shortage of general public housing across Nunavut and we are also facing a similar situation in the western Arctic.

The only thing I could add is that we have approached Nunavut Tunngavik Incorporated and asked them at the Baffin Leaders Summit to allocate their projected surplus into the homeless in Nunavut and, as I recall from the meeting that we had with them, they said they would take it to their board. Also, the mayor of Iqaluit recently sent a strong message to all mayors in the Baffin to ensure that their councils and the housing authorities in the communities were aware of this problem, and that the town of Iqaluit was having a very difficult time dealing with the housing needs of people, in general from outside the Iqaluit area and from other communities. Thank you.

Thank you. Oral questions. Mr. O'Brien.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my question is directed to the Minster responsible for Health and Social Services, it relates to the high cost of rent for elders staying in elder centres in my particular riding. Mr. Speaker, it is my understanding that upon retirement at 60 years of age that elders are not required to pay rent. That being the case, why are other elders at the elders' centre required to pay approximately $720 a month for rent? Thank you.

Thank you. To allow for translation, we will pause momentarily between the question and the responses. The Minister of Health and Social Services, Mr. Ng.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, it is my understanding that the honourable Member is speaking about elders' facilities where there are additional supports that are provided besides just basic rent. I believe there are meals and some homemaker services. I do not know exactly for his particular question, on which facility, which community he refers to, but I can certainly get that information for him and advise him on that. Thank you.

Thank you. Supplementary, Mr. O'Brien.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I realize there are some extra duties in this arrangement such as meals and I believe that a person stays through the night to oversee

the elders, but at the same token, if we were to take this elder and put them in a residence, pay for the residence, pay for the heat, the power, the upkeep, certainly there would not be that much of a difference between that and housing them in the so-called elder centres. My question to the Minister is, would he consider reviewing the rent, the fee that these elders pay, with a special look at elders or hardship cases? Thank you.

Thank you. Mr. Ng.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I certainly would be willing to take a look at it. I did want to make the point again that we are talking about extended level care facilities and not just basic accommodation. There is a difference in that respect, where an individual is or does have 24-hour care available to them. Certainly I do not think there are any financial hardships on the individuals who may be in those types of situations because our support system allows for individuals to not be penalized and not have to endure financial hardships in accessing services from this government. Thank you.

Thank you. Supplementary, Mr. O'Brien.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I beg to differ with the Minister because I have spent many visits to the elders' centre in my community and I know, from seeing first-hand that there are hardships. For example, if the fee is $720 a month and the elder gets $900 a month through his Old Age Pension, that does not leave a lot of money. My question would be, the Minister indicated that they have a service where they off-set to ensure that there are not any hardships. What formula do they use to make sure that elders do not find themselves in a situation where they have no money to buy, whether it be tobacco or personal supplies and so on? Thank you.

Thank you. Mr. Ng.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I can vaguely recall this issue because it came forward in this House. It was one of the major reforms under long-term care and standardization of the rates that we had in our extended care facilities and we are talking about three years ago. At that time, there was an accommodation made, where I believe, raised the level of disposable income for all residents to approximately $200 a month, $150 to $200 a month range for individuals because all their other expenses, if they were in these extended care facilities, would be looked after by the government. Thank you.

Thank you. Final supplementary. Mr. O'Brien.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, that did not quite answer my question. I am asking what has been put in place to make sure that the elders are not put in a difficult situation by not having enough funds to buy personal supplies and tobacco, et cetera. What is the formula?

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, there is no formula. I said that it was either $150 or $200 a month of disposable income that they are allowed, if their income is over and above that of the rental rates. I will confirm the actual number and get back to the Member on that. Thank you.

Thank you. Oral question. Mr. Krutko.

Thank you. The honourable Premier, Mr. Morin.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I will take that question as notice so I can get the Member a complete and detailed answer.

Thank you. The question is being taken

as notice. Oral questions. Mr. Rabesca.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, referring to my Member's statement regarding the campsites along the Mackenzie Highway between Yellowknife and Rae-Edzo, I wonder if the Minister responsible for Tourism has any studies or anything planned for the future construction of the campsite between here and Rae-Edzo and along the Mackenzie Highway between Yellowknife and Fort Providence? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you. The honourable Member for North Slave. The Premier.

Mr. Speaker, I will take that question as notice so I can give the Member a complete detailed answer. Thank you.

Thank you. The question has been taken as notice. Oral questions. Mr. Miltenberger.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, our officials are currently under discussion with Public Works and staff and with the Fire Marshall's office on what types of renovations are required for the Trailcross building. As the honourable Member noted, it is a facility that is well over 20 years old and we think it has out used its life cycle which is coming to an end. It is matter of the cost efficiency necessary whether to renovate or build a new facility that has to be considered. Thank you.