Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, in February I announced to this Assembly that the Northwest Territories had assumed its term as Chair of the Canadian Council of Ministers of the Environment (CCME). The Council is the main intergovernmental forum in Canada under which federal, provincial and territorial environment departments work together to address national and international environmental issues.

Earlier this month in Inuvik, I had the privilege of chairing a meeting of this Council. The meeting was significant for two reasons. For the first time, the Council of Environment Ministers met with leaders of national and regional aboriginal groups. The purpose of this session was to open dialogue and explore better ways for the council to work cooperatively with aboriginal people for a more effective environmental management system in Canada.

Aboriginal leaders from the Assembly of First Nations, the Inuit Tapirisat of Canada, the Metis National Council, the Inuvialuit Regional Corporation and the Gwich'in Tribal Council all participated in the discussions. As a result, a ministerial committee has been struck to work with these aboriginal leaders in order to prepare principles that will guide greater aboriginal involvement. This meeting represents the first time the Environment Ministers have met as a Council in the Northwest Territories. As chair of the meeting, it was my privilege to be able to introduce my federal and provincial colleagues to the cultural and ecological uniqueness of the Mackenzie Delta region, as well as our distinct northern perspective and approach to environmental management. As host, I was proud of community members for the open and warm welcome Ministers and delegates received. I am confident that they have gone home with a new perspective of the north. Many people are responsible for the success of this meeting and I would like to thank all those who assisted in organizing this event. Mahsi cho.

--Applause

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to take this opportunity to bring to the attention of the Members of this Assembly recent developments in the carving industry of the NWT. On several occasions recently, the Honourable Goo Arlooktoo has raised concerns about economic conditions for the many people, particularly in the eastern Arctic, who depend on the carving industry for their income.

I have assured the honourable Member, as I assure all Members now, that this government recognizes the carving industry as an important and productive activity in our communities, and as one of the most important sectors in the territorial economy. In the 50 years since the contemporary industry was established in the Arctic, many dedicated and hard-working people have contributed to making Inuit stone carving one of the best-recognized and most successful indigenous art forms in the world today.

Most important are the individual carvers themselves, who make the considerable personal investment that is needed to produce high quality art. It is their effort and commitment to the art form, which sustains the industry in even the most difficult economic circumstance. This government has responded to the needs of the carving industry in the past through grants to small business, marketing assistance, and through the efforts of the Northwest Territories Development Corporation. But we know we need to do more. As we approach 1999, the creation of Nunavut and, in 2000, the celebration of the millennium, there are new opportunities to support our artists, and help to make the carving industry sustainable.

The Department of Resources, Wildlife and Economic Development is supporting a number of new initiatives. This summer the Nunavut Arts and Crafts Association was established to act as an advocate for the industry and to provide organizational support for carvers across the new territory. Founding members include three well-known carvers from the Baffin region, Pootoogook Jaw, Matt Nuiqingaq and Sam Pitsiulak. Representation from across the eastern Arctic will be added in the coming weeks. Resources, Wildlife and Economic Development in the Baffin region recently published a comprehensive review of the carving industry to help set a strategic direction for the economic sector.

Most recently, in response to the deputy Premier's request, the department has organized a conference on the carving industry in the Nunavut area. It will be held in Iqaluit, October 19 - 21, 1998. This important event will bring together carvers from each of the three eastern Arctic regions, and provide an opportunity for them to express their concerns and recommendations. The conference also will also include representatives from the distribution and marketing side of the industry, and public officials responsible for economic development and arts and culture, to respond to the carvers and make recommendations for the support of the industry in the future. I am urging my staff to use this conference as an opportunity to work with carvers to help set a strategic direction for the industry - one that will be created and endorsed by the carvers themselves. This direction will be, I hope, of assistance to the new government in Nunavut, and its new Department of Sustainable Development. I look forward to the results of the conference in Iqaluit, and to reporting back to this Assembly on our progress.

--Applause

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Education is one of the most critical tasks our society faces. In the Northwest Territories we are fortunate to have many excellent and dedicated people who make outstanding contributions to educating northerners. It is time to formally recognize some of these individuals and acknowledge their energy, effort and commitment. Therefore, I am pleased to say that effective immediately, I am re-establishing awards to recognize exceptional contributions to education across the Northwest Territories. These awards were last given out in 1993.

I will be re-establishing two awards: the Minister's Award for Excellence in Teaching and the Partners in Education Award. This year, the Award for Excellence in Teaching will recognize three educators who show outstanding characteristics in their work and provide that extra something to students in the classroom. Two teachers will be recognized: one from Nunavut and one from the Western Territory. The third award will go to an instructor from the college systems. The Partners in Education Award will recognize three individuals outside the teaching profession who make outstanding contributions to the education of students. They could be custodians, secretaries, teacher aides, elders, bus drivers or other community members who make a significant difference.

Guidelines and program criteria are being prepared now and will be sent out in the near future. Nominations will be accepted until the end of January. A committee will then review the material and make its recommendations. I plan to announce and recognize the award winners during the March session of the Legislative Assembly. Young people are the future of the north. It is important to acknowledge outstanding teachers and others in the education system who work hard to help prepare our young people for the future. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Yesterday in this House I expressed my concerns as to the shortage of nurses in the community of Tuktoyaktuk and consequently the cut back of health services at the nursing station in Tuktoyaktuk. Mr. Speaker, today I would like to expand on the issue of health services available to the residents of Nunakput. Mr. Speaker, over the summer I had the opportunity to discuss the growing problem in recruiting health staff for nursing stations in my riding with the nurses in Paulatuk.

Apparently the problem goes beyond the recruiting of nurses and doctors. I was informed that in an effort to cut medical travel costs, the regional health board had imposed a policy whereby a nurse in the settlement could no longer approve medical travel for patients. The approval for medical travel has to come from the doctor in Inuvik. This has resulted in many patients having to wait for the doctor's monthly visit to the community in order to see a doctor. Needless to say, this has put a further responsibility on the nurses to diagnose patients illness and the required treatment. Mr. Speaker, I am told that as a result of the shortage of qualified nursing staff in Tuktoyaktuk, a policy has been implemented whereby anyone wishing to see the nurse now must be referred by the receptionist.

The receptionist is not a qualified nurse and no doubt, her job description did not require her to be a qualified nurse in order to fill the receptionist position. This person is being required to make decisions effecting a person's health which places responsibilities over and above her normal responsibilities. As an example, Mr. Speaker, under normal conditions, the receptionist upon being approached by a member of the general public would simply pull the persons file and have that person wait in the waiting room until a nurse is available to see them. Not anymore. The person wishing to see the nurse now must first convince the receptionist he/she is in need of medical attention.

Mr. Speaker, Tuktoyaktuk is down to two nurses from a normal staff of four. I understand there is a possibility one of the two nurses left will be leaving shortly. Will this result in a member of the general public having to be referred to a nurse by the health centre janitor in order to receive medical treatment? Mr. Speaker, at the appropriate time today, I will be asking the honourable Mr. Ng, Minister responsible for Health and Social Services questions in this regard. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Last night Mr. Henry, Mr. Erasmus and myself held a constituency meeting. Unfortunately, Mr. Dent had scheduled some other meetings and had other priorities. I understand he is holding his constituency meeting this evening. It was very helpful for us to hold this meeting and get some feedback on the boundaries commission that is underway now. One of the issues discussed was the need for an expanded Legislature. One of the persons from the public expressed concerns and questions as to why we need to expand the present Legislature. Practical considerations have to be given to the difficulty of us functioning with the 14 seat Legislature considering our Cabinet, Caucus and committee set up and structure. Just because we are splitting the territories in half does not mean the workload of this particular western Assembly will be cut in half. Responsible government requires also the accountability of Cabinet. We need to maintain an excess number of Ordinary Members on this side in order to keep Cabinet accountable.

Effective representation calls for parity of voting power between districts, so that each person's vote has similar power. There may be arguments to justify deviations from voter parity, such as geography and minority representation, but that should not legitimize the under-representation of people in more populated areas. I am not suggesting that Yellowknife should hold 50 percent of the seats in the House. I know there needs to be balance between rural and urban representation and room for cultural and community variances. Mr. Speaker, I seek unanimous consent to conclude my statement.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. However, given the disparity and the number of electors in the current system, Yellowknife should have more representatives so that Yellowknife has at least a minimum of 35 percent to 45 percent representation in this Legislature. For comparison, in reference to my previous comments, Nunavut with a population of 24,730 people will have 19 ridings. Iqaluit, the capital, will have three ridings, representing a population of 4,220 people.

I want to remind people of the Electoral Boundaries Commission public hearings in Yellowknife this Wednesday and Thursday. Wednesday night is Yellowknife Centre and Yellowknife North. Thursday evening is Yellowknife South and Frame Lake. The meetings start at 7:00 p.m. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

--Applause