Thank you, Ms. Thompson. Good afternoon. Before we proceed with the orders of the day, I would like to make a special announcement. If the Members would allow me I would like to make it as informal as possible so that we can allow some pictures to be taken.

Members of the Legislative Assembly, clerks, Pages and members of the public in the Speaker's gallery; I would like to break with tradition today and ask the Sergeant-at-Arms to lower the Mace. Please stand.

Please be seated. I have asked the Mace to be lowered so that we may recognize this special moment. There is a tradition, that when we are in the House we concentrate only on House business. But today is different. Because today is the last day we will all be sitting in this House. Tomorrow, the Members from Nunavut will be leaving. They are going to prepare for the Nunavut celebrations in Iqaluit and some will take their place in the new Legislative Assembly of Nunavut.

And I think that it is fitting to take a moment today to recognize that this is the end of a very long journey. I would also like to mark this moment with the recognition in this House of some people who have made all of our jobs easier.

When I first became a Member of this Assembly on October 16, 1983, I was new and young,

--Laughter

bright-eyed and bushy-tailed. The Clerk at that time had started his job on March 3, 1983, only seven months before I got elected. He quickly became respected for his advice and personality. As the Clerk of this Assembly, Mr. David Hamilton has been the guardian of all of our affairs. He has been an advisor, coach, counsellor, referee, mother, father, aunt, uncle, grandmother and grandfather to all of us.

I have worked with Mr. Hamilton now for 16 years and naturally, as the Speaker, I rely on his continued good judgment for all activities. With division one week away, it would be a shame if we did not honour our own because there are a lot of deserving staff, but the recognition must first go to Mr. Hamilton for his years of service to this Chamber.

So, Mr. Hamilton, on behalf of all of the Members of both Territories, I would like to express our gratitude and thanks for all of your work and present to you a gift, which reflects our appreciation. Mr. Hamilton.

--Applause

Mr. Arlooktoo.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I am very honoured in joining you in recognising our Clerk and our friend, Mr. David Hamilton, who has served us so well for so many years. One thought that did occur to me when you were talking about Mr. Hamilton being our father and mother and grandfather and uncle, et cetera, was that it is not a well-known fact that my father's father was a Scotsman. He was a Hudson Bay trader who now rests peacefully behind the beautiful church in Fort Good Hope, but he was born very near where Mr. Hamilton was born. So we could be cousins.

--Laughter

I have been here for three and a half years as a Member, but before that I worked as one of the clerk's and Members' assistants for a number of years in the old Assembly and I have much to thank Mr. Hamilton for, for his guidance and for his honesty. I also wish to pay tribute to his lovely wife, Kate, who has been a nurse in the north for many, many years, and who has also recently been taking care of my children in the health area where she works, and we are very fond of her also. So with that, Mr. Speaker, I have many stories to tell about our little adventures, but many of them are not suitable for this House. I would like to join you, Mr. Speaker, in thanking Mr. Hamilton as well. Thank you.

--Applause

Mr. Ootes.

As most Members know, Mr. Hamilton has worked tremendously hard for division and also on the work that was necessary for the elections to happen in Nunavut. The amount of time he spent away from home doing that and trying to also keep up with his duties here in Yellowknife. So there was a tremendous demand on Mr. Hamilton for the last one and a half years. It is very much appreciated. I forgot to give Mr. Hamilton his name tag. Mr. Hamilton.

--Applause

Now, Mr. Hamilton and I have grown old in this Assembly. But I have grown old with another person here as well. Ms. Sheila MacPherson has always been an inspiration. As our law clerk she has been direct and truthful in her advice to all of us. Her laughter and easy smile have been the bright spot on many a dark day. She is very much respected by the Members of this House and we know that she has a great love for her home of Iqaluit but we are grateful that she is going to remain with us here for the near future.

On behalf of all Members I would like to present Ms. MacPherson, my dear friend, with a gift for her work over the years.

--Applause

The present itself, there is also a book that I bought for Ms. MacPherson, out of my own pocket,

--Laughter

and it is called the Pleasure of the Crown. It is one of the best books that I have read on courtroom performance by governments in the litigation of aboriginal title. I think that it is fitting that it is presented to you. As well, Ms. MacPherson, you will notice that we have also included a pair of moccasins, if you would open it. I would like to let the Members know that in order to keep this as much a secret as possible I had to tell Mr. Hamilton I wanted Ms. MacPherson inside the chamber so I can present it to her and I told Ms. MacPherson I wanted her here because I had a present for Mr. Hamilton. It was sort of like trying to disguise everything. Anyway, there is a pair of moccasins in there. There is an old saying about walking in the shoes of another person. With this pair of moccasins we recognize your commitment to the Assembly, and we appreciate the fact that you have listened to all of us and have walked in all of our shoes over the years. Mahsi Cho.

--Applause

There are also two people sitting on either side of the chair, the clerk's sealskin chair, who deserve our recognition. As Clerk of the Committees, Mr. David Inch, has served this House well. He started in the Assembly on April 4, 1994. He was born and raised here in the North. His interests, work ethics and his helpful hints have been both welcome and appreciated in his time here. Mr. Inch has kept the committees running smoothly and the information and arrangements for all matters have always been in place. For that we thank you. Mr. Inch.

--Applause

The other individual is Mr. Doug Schauerte, our Deputy Clerk. I have known him since he first started and I have seen him adopt an aboriginal process of education in his role, which is learning by doing. As an aboriginal Member I have been impressed by his progress and I would like to say that I still maintain that hands-on learning achieves more than academics. On behalf of the Legislative Assembly, I would like to present you both with these gifts in appreciation for the work which you have done to help us reach this point.

--Applause

And now to our Members from Nunavut.

In 1965, the first aboriginal Member, Abe Okpik of Iqaluit, was appointed to the Council of the Northwest Territories. In September 19, 1966, the first elected aboriginal Member from the Northwest Territories took his seat in the Government of the Northwest Territories. His name was Simonee Michael and he was elected from the constituency of the eastern Arctic. All Members in this Legislative Assembly, aboriginal and non-aboriginal, from the east or from the west, from the High Arctic or from the South Slave, have followed in Mr. Simonee Michael's footsteps.

I would like to recognize these Members from Nunavut now and have them come up and accept these special gifts from the Legislative Assembly. The Honourable Goo Arlooktoo, MLA for Baffin South ,and Mr. Levi Barnabas, MLA for High Arctic.

--Applause

Mark Evaloarjuk, MLA for Ammituq; Honourable Kelvin NG, MLA for Kitikmeot; Mr. Kevin O'Brien, MLA for Kivallivik; Honourable Manitok Thompson, MLA from Aivilik; Honourable John Todd, MLA for Keewatin Central.

Recognizing those Members who are not here: Mr. Ed Picco, MLA for Iqaluit; Tommy Enuaraq, MLA for Baffin Central. A special thank you goes to my friend and the Deputy Speaker of this House, John Ningark, MLA for Natilikmiot.

On behalf of the Legislative Assembly of the Northwest Territories, I wish all of you well and I thank you for your many years of service in this Assembly. It has been a long journey with a happy ending and we look forward to many successes under your continued leadership in Nunavut.

I now ask the Sergeant-at-Arms to raise the Mace and declare this House in Order.

Please stand. Thank you. Orders of the day. Item 2, Ministers' statements. Mr. Arlooktoo.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Yesterday, Members of this House passed a motion recommending that the government appeal the recent court decision on electoral boundaries. My Cabinet colleagues and I feel it is only right that we respond to the views expressed here yesterday. Mr. Speaker, when he presented his motion, Mr. Morin stated that it was imperative that this issue be resolved by a political decision, not by a court order. And Cabinet agrees that a political solution is necessary.

It is clear, from the statements in this House and from the various comments that have been made publicly, that no one likes the short time period we have been given by the court to resolve this issue, because we believe it will preclude a political solution.

I think we can all agree that everyone wants more time to deal with this. Mr. Speaker, our opinions differ only when it comes to finding a way to get more time. Some of the Members of this House, and some of the people outside the government, believe an appeal of the court decision is the right way to go.

Mr. Speaker, Cabinet has thought very carefully about this option. We have reviewed legal advice and we have come to the conclusion that the government does not have grounds to appeal the decision. Others may think differently, but that is the advice we have received and we trust in that advice. Therefore, we do not see any point in appealing the case only to be turned down by the Court of Appeal. That would be a waste of precious time and resources. In addition, Mr. Speaker, appealing the ruling puts us in the position of accepting a court order rather than working out a political solution.

That is not to say that other groups involved with this case should not appeal, if they think they have grounds to do so. The Aboriginal Summit, for example, may have a good legal argument that should be heard by the Court of Appeal. If the Summit wishes to take that argument to an appeal court, then the government will support their application to be heard and will assist them with legal costs. The government will do the same for the other intervenors.

Some people may ask why the government does not appeal on behalf of the Aboriginal Summit. Mr. Speaker, part of the Summit's argument to the court was that the territorial government is illegitimate. As the government that represents the interests of all Northwest Territories residents, how could we agree with that?

Mr. Speaker, after careful consideration of all our options, Cabinet concluded that the best course of action was to introduce legislation to amend the electoral boundaries, and then to apply to the court for more time.

We have introduced Bill 15 and it has been referred to committee for consideration. Mr. Speaker, Cabinet has absolutely no desire to ram legislation through this House just to meet a court-ordered deadline. The extension we are requesting would allow Bill 15 to be reviewed in the same way as any other piece of legislation. We think it is only fair that the politicians and the residents of the Northwest Territories be given the normal amount of time to review and comment on this extremely important bill.

Our application for an extension will be heard on Monday morning at approximately 11:00 a.m. in open court. Everyone is welcome to come listen to the case. I would also like to advise this House that, if application on Monday is not successful, we will immediately go to the Court of Appeal to ask it to grant an extension.

In closing, Mr. Speaker, it seems clear that there is a desire for more time to deal with the electoral boundaries issue. There are differences of opinion in how to get more time and the Cabinet respects those different opinions. We are proceeding, based on sound legal advice and serious reflection, in the way we believe is best. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you. At this time I would like to recognize in the gallery some students. I do not know who are the students and who are not, but everyone looks so young up there, I am not too sure, but one of the classes is Mr. Bunin's, class of grade 5, and the other is Mrs. Tricoteux's, class of grade 6 and they are from Range Lake North School. Welcome to the Assembly.

--Applause

Ministers' statements. Ms. Thompson.

Mr. Speaker, on two other occasions I advised this House that there is a real need for change in the area of community fire protection. Consistently high rates of fire loss, including the loss of life and the loss of major public buildings in communities across the north continue to illustrate this point. Mr. Speaker, our fire loss statistics are still well above the national average. These high rates jeopardize the availability of reasonable insurance coverage, not to mention the risk to human life. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to report that the Department of Municipal and Community Affairs has developed a Territorial Strategy for Community Fire Protection. This protection strategy is the best approach to introducing changes to the current fire protection system. Areas requiring immediate attention are included in the department's business plan for the fiscal year 1999-2000. For future years, MACA will work with its stakeholders to determine the fire prevention needs of communities.

Mr. Speaker, the department is focused on improving current conditions. Changes include additional firefighter training, financial support to communities, fire inspections and fire prevention. Communities will be supported as they develop proper control systems to make sure construction projects meet fire safety requirements. MACA works with the Northwest Territories Fire Chiefs Association to provide fire- fighter training programs for community volunteers and professional firefighters. It must be pointed out that this government is only one of the partners involved in improving the overall condition of the Northwest Territories fire protection system. Communities and local fire departments also play a critical role in maintaining adequate fire protection. Elected officials and community fire chiefs can also provide the leadership to guide the development and maintenance of effective fire departments.

Mr. Speaker, the department needs the support of key stakeholders in finding solutions to improve fire protection at the local level. Since most fires can be prevented, an important part of the strategy includes the continuation of public education campaigns. When lives and property are at risk, it is everyone's responsibility to help find solutions. Fire prevention must be a priority for communities, parents and families as well as government.

Mr. Speaker, MACA will continue to work with its partners in fire prevention to improve the overall fire protection system. I am confident that the Territorial Strategy for Community Fire Protection is the step in the right direction. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you. Ministers' statements. Mr. Roland.

Thank you. Ministers' statements. Mr. Dent.

Thank you. Ministers' statements. Mr. Arlooktoo.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I wish to advise Members that the Honourable Jim Antoine and the Honourable John Todd will be absent from the House today to attend a meeting with the Honourable Jane Stewart, Minister of DIAND, and the Honourable Paul Martin, Minister of Finance in Ottawa, Ontario. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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

Qujannamiik, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, honourable Members, I rise today to wish my colleagues, Ministers and you, Mr. Speaker, a farewell as we approach division for the west and Nunavut territory. I would like to thank Mr. Hamilton for all his help and advice that he has provided for me over the years. As well I would like to thank all the staff here at the Legislative Assembly. During my three and a half years as MLA for High Arctic in the Northwest Territories, and serving in the beautiful Legislative Assembly, I have acquired knowledge that I will apply to our new Nunavut government. I also acquired friendships that I will always remember across the Northwest Territories.

Mr. Speaker, it has been a pleasure to serve my people in this Assembly. I would like to wish each of my colleagues the best of luck. Thank you, Mr. Speaker, for the opportunity as the Member for the High Arctic. We have worked together making hard decision as we dealt with issues in this 13th Assembly. A lot of issues we have concluded. I also wish the western Arctic the best of luck in their land claims negotiations, as we have met many hard-working aboriginal leaders across the Northwest Territories. Finally, Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank my family and my constituents who have supported me for the past three years. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

--Applause

Thank you, Mr. Barnabas, and good luck in your new position as Speaker. Members' statements. Mr. O'Brien.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, this will also be my last time in this Assembly to have the opportunity to speak to all the Members. I would like to thank yourself, Mr. Hamilton, his trusty staff, Mr. Inch, Mr. Schauerte, our law clerk, and all the staff that made things somewhat easier for us over the last three and a half years. A lot of the time we forget about the people that really make this building work. One group that comes to mind with me is the research staff. They are the people that day after day, night after night, put documents together, reports and research for all of us. Right down to the secretaries, all the clerical staff and, of course, the people that we never seem to notice, our cleaning staff that keep this building so bright and clean. Mr. Speaker, when I came here three and a half years ago, I came here as a rookie and I guess I still am, and I think of it more as baptism by fire. It has been a real learning curve. I would like to thank everybody for all their help, all the hard work of the Members from this side of the floor. The drive and dedication of Mr. Miltenberger, Mr. Henry, my seat mate, Mr. Krutko, better known as Davie Crocket, Mr. Rabesca, Mr. Ootes, Mr. Erasmus, all the Members it has been more than interesting sitting on this side of the House.

As you may have noticed last week we indicated that in Nunavut we are not going to call ourselves Ordinary Members, because after the last three and a half years there is nothing ordinary about an Ordinary Member. We are calling ourselves regular Members.

--Applause

Mr. Speaker, I wanted to pay special tribute to my good friend, Mr. Jake Ootes, and Mr. Stephen Kakfwi; the word integrity comes to mind when I speak of these two individuals. Mr. Speaker, there was a sign that I remember seeing in an old cabin, on Cape Breton Island, when I was a young boy and it read something like this; all those people that enter please us, some by coming, some by going. Mr. Speaker, I only hope that in some small way I please some people by coming, because I know I am pleasing some by going.

--Laughter

In all seriousness, Mr. Speaker, it has been a real pleasure and an honour to be part of history with everybody here. Thank you very much.

--Applause

Just again to remind the Members that I know this is going to be the last day but the rules still apply. Please stay within your two and a half minutes and also when mentioning Members by name that you say Mr. or the honourable so-and-so, not first names. Thank you. Members' statements. Mr. Krutko.

Thank you. Members' statements. Mr. Miltenberger.

Thank you. Members' statement. Mr. Ootes.

The Member for Yellowknife Centre is seeking

unanimous consent to conclude his statement. Are there any nays? Mr. Ootes, you have unanimous consent.

Members' statements. Mr. Henry.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I have great difficulty with the word goodbye so I deliberately do not use the word goodbye. I intend to say, I will see you later. I sincerely intend that for each and every Member from Nunavut, that I will see you later. I will not say goodbye. I have had a lot of pleasure, a lot of growth, and I have sincerely enjoyed the time I have had with each and every Member. I certainly would have to say, as probably most Members can, I have had difficult times, but they have certainly been out weighed by the fun and enjoyment we have had and the understandings that we have come to during my time in the Legislature. Mr. Speaker, I think this is extremely great for the young people who are in our gallery today, that they can participate in this historic occasion. Again, to each and every one of the Members for Nunavut, I will see you later. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

--Applause

Members' Statement. Mr. Erasmus.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I too rise today to thank the Members from Nunavut as well as Mr. Hamilton, who has been a guiding hand for all of us. I would like to take this opportunity to thank him for the many times he has given us guidance when we really needed it and a lot of times when some hotheads were going at it.

Mr. Speaker, as people have said, this is a historic occasion. Our Members from Nunavut are going to their own Legislature. To those who have been elected as Ministers, or back to the Legislature, I congratulate you and I wish you all the best. The last time we were together I had made a much more extensive statement and at this time I just wanted to wish everybody all the best over there. We did go through a lot of trying times together. For those of you who were new Members we learned together. Like some people like to say, we cried together and we laughed together. I will certainly remember those times and the friendship that we have enjoyed, and I hope that we continue to enjoy in the future. Thank you.

--Applause

Thank you. Members' statement. Mrs. Groenewegen.

The Member for Hay River is seeking unanimous consent to conclude her statement. Are there any nays? Mrs. Groenewegen, you have unanimous consent.

Thank you. Members' statements. Mr. Ningark.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I want to begin by thanking the people of Pelly Bay, Gjoa Haven, Taloyoak, and most of all my wife and my family for supporting me for over nine years. Mr. Speaker, a number of Members here always address me by calling me Brother John. Mr. Speaker, having said Brother John, I think it was almost like spending nine and a half years in a seminary. So thereby, I think I would call Mr. Hamilton, Father Superior.

--Laughter

Mr. Speaker, I really enjoyed having to work for the people of Natilikmiot. Having to learn from senior Members of the Legislature and having to associate with people from the western Arctic, especially my Dene friends from this area. Although I have nayed some of my Dene friends, but you know there are times when one has to say no, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I also would like to thank Mr. Kakfwi, who the people of Natilikmiot called a cool guy. When he stands up, people tell me back home, he will pass for about ten minutes before he replies and another 20 minutes to respond to questions.

--Laughter

Mr. Speaker, I also would like to thank Mr. Morin, one of my very best friends from the area. Mr. Morin is a man that will keep his word. When I first became a Member, Mr. Morin and other Members from the western Arctic wanted to meet with me and discuss some of the issues of the day, Mr. Speaker. I was a new Member, I decided not to support that group. When I walked out of the room I thought I lost their friendship. Within ten minutes he came over to me, he said, Mr. Ningark, you are one of my very close friends. Ever since we have been very close friends. I also would like to thank my best friend, Mr. Steen from Nunakput. He has bought me many dinners in the past.

--Laughter

I think I owe him a couple of dinners. When he comes to Nunavut, I will endeavour to pay for his dinner even though I will be unemployed. Mr. Speaker, again I would like to thank the people. I seek unanimous consent to conclude my statement.

The Member for Natilikmiot is seeking unanimous consent to conclude his statement. Do we have any nays? There are no nays. Mr. Ningark, you have unanimous consent.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Thank you, Members. Mr. Speaker, I also would like to thank the staff of the Legislature, Mr. Hamilton, Mr. Inch and Mr. Schauerte. My constituency assistant, Patricia Attungala, and I think we have to remember one very special staff member and that is Betty Low, I think we should acknowledge her. Thank you.

--Applause

Thank you. Members' statements. Mr. Arlooktoo.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I too, would like to join this little group hug on the last day of some of our Nunavut colleagues. I hate to disappoint some of you, but Mr. Todd and I are remaining here until Monday when we are replaced. I know it is my intention and it could be Mr. Todd's intention too, to speak more at length on Monday during reply. I did want to say that I have enjoyed, when all is said and done, the time I have spent here. I have learned more than I ever thought I could during this, what is now a very brief time it appears. I would like to thank you, Mr. Speaker, and everyone in this House.

On Monday I will say more appropriate things on all of my colleagues, but at this point I want to, like Mr. Ningark, thank my spouse, Dorothy Zoe, and our three children and in my office, Nicole Camphaug and Kelley Merilees who have worked very, very hard for me. Finally, Mr. Speaker, I want to acknowledge and congratulate Mr. Olayuk Akeshuk, who will be taking over as MLA for the constituency of Baffin South. I wish him the best of luck and offer him my full support and to let him know that I will be there if ever he needs some advice. With that, Mr. Speaker, I thank you and I wish my Nunavut colleagues who are leaving tomorrow morning a safe trip to Nunavut. Thank you.

--Applause

Thank you. Members' statements. Mr. Rabesca.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Today, Mr. Speaker, is one of the last days that my colleagues from the east will be sitting in the House. I thought it would be fitting to reflect on the past three years. When we first arrived here back in November of 1995, many of us had very little experience dealing with this level of government. Our constituents elected us for many reasons, but the bottom line was that they trusted us to represent them in the chamber. We have come a long way from when we started. We had a huge deficit and many issues to deal with regarding division. I would like to say when we have taken on all of these issues we have succeeded. Now April 1st is looming in the next few days and we will no longer have our eastern friends with us. They will now have fun and lots of hard work ahead of them to create their new territory. I wish them well in all their endeavours in the near future.

As for us in the west, we still have many very important issues to deal with and I feel that if we work in a cooperative manner, we can achieve a unified government that represents all of our constituents for the betterment of the entire Western Territory. We must now look ahead and see how we can create our own territory and ensure everyone equally has a voice. In closing, I again would like to thank my eastern colleagues for the experiences of working with you and again congratulations for finally seeing your goal become a reality. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

--Applause

Members' statements. Mr. Dent.

The Member for Yellowknife Frame Lake is seeking unanimous consent to conclude his statement. Are there any nays? There are no nays. You have unanimous consent, Mr. Dent.

Thank you. Members' statements. Mr. Steen.

The Member for Nunakput is seeking unanimous consent to conclude his statement. Are there nays? There are no nays. Mr. Steen, you have unanimous consent.

Thank you. Members' statements. Ms. Thompson.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I was just going to say thank you very much and goodbye, I am going home tomorrow. I would just like to mention a few people who have helped me here while I have been here. The first person I would like to say thank you to and I do respect this man very much, as I have a lot of respect for David Hamilton. When I became a Minister, I was given the portfolio of Municipal and Community Affairs and I wanted to do my best for my Premier, Mr. Don Morin. I do appreciate all the advice and support he gave me. He just treated me like a human being, I was not treated like the only female on Cabinet. I am still not the only female in Nunavut so there is a lot more of us out there, we just cannot get to the seat very fast.

I would like to thank everyone that I have worked with, the staff, Mr. Hamilton, who I have a lot of respect for and all the research staff, the staff in my office, my past secretaries, and my executive assistants.

It seems to be graduation day for me today. I thought I was going to last for two or three months on Cabinet, but I have lasted this long and I do appreciate all the support I have received from my western colleagues and my Nunavut colleagues, more from my western colleagues because I did not really get along with some of my Nunavut colleagues. I hope we do get along better in the future government.

Anyway, I would also like to say thank you to Mark Evaloarjuk, I really appreciated his friendship, his understanding, his wisdom during Nunavut Caucus meetings, in and outside of the meetings. I guess, at this time, I also would like to thank my husband whom I really appreciate a lot and I have a lot of respect for. I think he is the only husband I know of who would play the guitar for his wife because she is too tired from travelling and needs a good sleep.

Just recently, my 15-year-old son Trevor, last year I guess he had learned to play the guitar and because of my travelling, I have not kept up with what has been happening at my home. Tom was away from town, I went to bed, and I heard somebody playing music and I did not realize, I thought it was a CD playing and I went out and it was my son playing the guitar for me so that I could have a good sleep. For that, I appreciate my boys and my husband. Without their support, I think I would have surely failed. We need a support system as women and I appreciate their support.

I really do get tired of being told that I am the only aboriginal woman and also the only woman in Nunavut. I seek unanimous consent to conclude my statement.

The Member for Aivilik is seeking unanimous consent to conclude her statement. Are there any nays? There are no nays. Ms. Thompson, you have unanimous consent.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As I was saying, I felt like a foreign object so many times when I am being told that I am the only woman in the Nunavut government, but the decision was made by the people of Nunavut. This is a decision that was made by the people and it has already been discussed and it should no longer be open for discussion.

I would like to thank every one of my staff who have been very supportive and loyal to me, I respect them highly. I have gotten to know a lot of them, which I have tried to do. I appreciate them for the last supper that they had for me, where I just started crying because I appreciated the time they had for me and the organizing that went into that supper. I would like to thank each and every one of the Nunavut Members who will be going to Nunavut with me and also to the western Members who voted me to be on Cabinet. Thank you for your confidence. I hope I have done you well and I hope I have served your communities well. I hope that I have served the aboriginal leaders here in the west well, I hope I have listened to them and understand their determination and aspirations.

I think we are lucky in a way that in Nunavut we have 80 percent aboriginal. I am very happy that we will be speaking our language in our Nunavut government. It is my language, I dream in it, I think in it, it is part of me and I will be so glad to speak without thinking. When you have to speak English, it is a little bit more difficult because you have to think before you speak so that you are not using the wrong words. When you are speaking your own language, it is like you are in paradise or something, it is a completely different world. I do not know what paradise is like, but it certainly feels like that to go home to Nunavut to speak in my own language, to live in my own culture, to govern the people with the language they understand, the majority of them. I do know it is going to be a public government, it is going to be the people's government. I do know that and everybody should feel welcome to our government.

There will be non-aboriginals in our government and they will be as welcomed as anybody else. We are partnerships, they are family to us, but when you speak your own language, it is a different experience.

Thank you so much, all the staff upstairs, all the staff downstairs. You have made my life a lot easier. I would like to say goodbye to all my friends that I have made here in Yellowknife, in the western Arctic. I would like to say thank you to my Mom and Dad, they believed in me, and the Ministers that I sat with, they believed in me also and I appreciate them. Whoever takes my seat here, all the luck. Thank you.

--Applause

Members' statements. Mr. Morin.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It gives me pleasure today to thank Mr. David Hamilton, the Clerk of the Legislative Assembly, for all his help in the past 12 years. Mr. Hamilton, some may say that the most powerful person in this House is Premier Antoine, some may say Mr. Speaker, some may say it is the Minister of Finance. But we all know, it is Mr. David Hamilton. Mr. Hamilton has been a counsellor to us and has helped us in many ways, over the past 12 years for myself.

I can remember in the fall of 1987 when I first came to the Legislative Assembly, we were meeting in the Yellowknife Inn in those days and they had a Caucus meeting. It was the first Caucus meeting I had to go to. I had to buy a buy a suit too, before that, I remember that because I did not have any. There were 24 Members sitting around that Caucus and I did not know very many of them. It was the first time I had ever seen them. I walked in there and I saw all these guys in their suits and all these people dressed up and we had to sit there and introduce ourselves. I was so nervous and I said, what did you get yourself into, Donny? What are you doing here with all these smart people. I found out very quickly that MLAs are human beings, Ministers are human beings, and they are normal people. They all have families, relatives, homes, and they have to work hard because they are public people. They have to work hard on behalf of their people and they are in the public eye all the time, but they are human beings.

So, Mr. Hamilton, you helped us many times. Twelve years in politics, you have good days and you have bad and with the Nunavut Members and all Members in this House, let me assure you, I have had more good days than bad days in politics.

Kelvin Ng. Mr. Ng is moving to Iqaluit. I remember when I first met Mr. Ng, he struck me as kind of a cheeky little guy, he kind of knew everything. This 13th Assembly, I was fortunate enough to serve as Premier and one of the jobs as Premier is to hand out portfolios. I would like to seek unanimous consent to conclude my statement.

The Member for Tu Nedhe is seeking unanimous consent to conclude his statement. Are there any nays? There are no nays. Mr. Morin, you have unanimous consent.

Thank you, Members and thank you, Mr. Speaker. One of your jobs as the Premier is to appoint the Ministers to their portfolios and you do that by meeting with them and finding out what their interest is. Mr. Ng came in and I knew Mr. Ng fairly well by now, and he says, I would like to have Health and Social Services. I said, well, good thing he is asking for it because nobody else wants it. It is too tough. Maybe we should check it out and see if he needs a psychiatrist first. Mr. Ng has served the people well in the Western Territory, the Nunavut territory, and all the people in the Northwest Territories. He is a hard-working Minister, very straightforward, very honest and he never says no to a challenge. Mr. Ng, it is an honour to have served in this House with you and even though you are moving to Iqaluit, in Nunavut, you will always be good friends with myself and my family.

Manitok Thompson. I remember when Ms. Thompson first came to the House in a by-election. We taught her everything about bird dogs, she said, myself and Jeannie Marie Jewell.

--Laughter

I remember when Ms. Thompson first got elected as Minister. She came in and her attitude was basically, well I am not quite sure of how to be a Minister. I am not quite sure how to do the job, so do not give me anything hard. There is no easy jobs as Ministers in the government. Ms. Thompson, you took on a responsibility of community governments in the whole Northwest Territories. You did an excellent job. You always brought sanity to the issues. You are a very strong- willed person and you have always worked hard for your people. Keep up the good work. It was a pleasure working with you.

I first met Mr. Arlooktoo when he was a Member's assistant in the Legislative Assembly. I used to sit next to his father in the 11th Assembly, I believe it was. I got to know Mr. Arlooktoo very well over the years. He has always had my respect and Mr. Arlooktoo as well, when he first got elected. I knew what it meant coming in green because I had been there. I was very nervous. Mr. Arlooktoo served in different capacities of Ministers in the government representing the whole Northwest Territories. Mr. Arlooktoo, you did an excellent job, you have grown so much in the past few years and I am proud to say you are my friend.

Mr. Ningark and his wife Celine are very special people. Mr. Ningark always brought a calmness and sanity to this House. You always knew that Mr. Ningark will be fair with everyone. Mr. Ningark, I thank you for working with you for the past many years. I wish you the best in your retirement. I know you have done a good job to represent your people and I thank you for your friendship.

I met Mr. Evaloarjuk and Mr. Barnabas in this Assembly. Mr. Evaloarjuk, I have not had the opportunity to get to know you very well, but I am impressed from what I have seen. The same as yourself, Mr. Barnabas, I know you will do a good job as the Speaker of the new Nunavut government. Keep up the good work. You are both very honourable people and it was a pleasure to have served with you.

What can you say about Mr. Picco. Mr. Picco is a great guy. Some may think, the public perception may have been that he was hammering at people or doing things, but we always got a kick out of him, he was so much fun. He is a good guy and his heart is in the right place. He is always thinking of the social issues and I hope him the best of luck as Minister of Health and Social Services in the Nunavut government. Good job for Mr. Picco and it was a pleasure serving him here with Mr. Picco.

I hope Mr. Enuaraq the best. Once again, a new Member, I never had an opportunity to know him well, but I did enjoy working with him.

I met Mr. O'Brien when he worked with the Housing Corporation. I never got to know Mr. O'Brien that well, because we have only worked for three short years together, but it has been a pleasure working with you and I hope you the best in the Nunavut government.

Mr. Todd is going to be hanging around for awhile. It has been a pleasure. I am going to say something about Mr. Todd at a later date. I am going to save him for last. I have worked very close with Mr. Todd over the years. Next week in the Legislative Assembly I will say goodbye to Mr. Todd.

Mr. Speaker, I hope I never missed anyone, but it has been a pleasure working with the Nunavut Caucus in this Legislative Assembly. Mr. Dent mentioned that the level of debate, the attitude in debate, just the atmosphere in this House will probably change when you guys go to Nunavut. I agree with him, it will probably change. I have appreciated, over the past 12 years, working with all the Nunavut Members. I know Mr. Pudluk, is not a Member here today, he is retired. He was my seatmate for four years in the Legislative Assembly. Mr. Pudluk, if you are listening, you taught me lots, thank you for your guidance and support. I would like to thank you all. I hope everyone the best of luck with the Nunavut government and I hope that we will see each other again. With that, mahsi cho.

--Applause

Members' statements. Mr. Kakfwi.

The Member for Sahtu seeks unanimous consent to conclude the statement. Do we have any nays? There are no nays. Mr. Kakfwi, you have unanimous consent.

Members' statements. Mr. Roland.

The Member for Inuvik is seeking unanimous consent to conclude his statement. Are there any nays? There are no nays. Mr. Roland, you have unanimous consent to conclude your statement.

Members' statements. Mr. Evaloarjuk.

(Translation) Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I do not have much to say but I would like to say farewell to my colleagues as well as to thank them for having been their colleague. Even though I might forget the names of some of the people, it is not that I do not wish them the best whether you are aboriginal, Inuk, Indian, woman or a man, all of you, I would like to thank all of you and I will say farewell to you. Also, our clerk, Mr. Hamilton, I called Davidee. We owe Mr. Hamilton, I have read his letters as well as the songs that he wrote and he was a very capable leader. He was even able to hit Goliath, a giant, that is the story we have heard many times and he is just as capable as that David and I would like to thank him very much.

Also our colleagues too, I would like to thank them as well, their wives, husbands and children. Their support is the only reason we are capable of doing our jobs and also our constituents as well as my children and my wife have supported me. That is the reason why I am capable of holding this position so I would like to thank them, as well, if I can remember correctly, I would like to thank all the people that we have worked with, Joe Arlooktook, Ipeelie Kilabuk, former MLAs James Arreak, as well as Moses Appaqaq and all those other MLAs that were from the western Arctic. I remember especially John Steen, Vince Steen's older brother, I remember him well. Also I would like to say farewell to him. Any time we will be able to meet one another in the future, although it is difficult to predict the future, I can say, I am pleased at times and I am sort of sad at times that we have to deal with some difficult issues for our constituencies.

Also our relatives who have died during the years we have been meeting here in the Legislative Assembly in our absence. Also their relatives, there are many things that we are capable of handling, with the help of God, as I have read in the Bible, I would like to thank the people who were capable of dealing with their situation and being able to deal with their grieving and been able to survive through the hardships.

I would like to also thank everyone from the western Arctic who has welcomed us with open hands. I would also like to say that it is very difficult to work on the division procedures, we had to travel through our communities to get their support for the division of the Northwest Territories. Now it is going to be a reality soon. I would like to thank everyone from the Northwest Territories as well. Thank you.

Just before Mr. Evaloarjuk came into the House, we did a presentation and we have a name tag for Mr. Evaloarjuk. On behalf of all the Members from the west and from Nunavut, I want to present Mr. Evaloarjuk with this name tag and I wish him all the best too.

--Applause

Continuing with the orders of the day. Item 4, returns to oral questions. Mr. Kakfwi.

Thank you. Returns to oral questions. Item 5, recognition of visitors in the gallery. Mr. Ningark.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I would like to recognize my replacement. I am being replaced not because I am worn out or broken,

--Laughter

--Laughter

Mr. Uriash Puqiqnak.

--Applause

Recognition of visitors in the gallery. Mr. O'Brien.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I would like to recognize my partner who has put up with me for the last three years while I was sitting in this House as a Member. Thank you.

--Applause

Recognition of visitors in the gallery. Mr. Barnabas.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. (Translation) Mr. Speaker, I also would like to recognize Mr. Uriash Puqiqnak, the new Member in replacement of Mr. John Ningark who I would like to recognize as the new Deputy Speaker for Nunavut.

Recognition of visitors in the gallery. Mrs. Groenewegen.

Recognition of visitors in the gallery. For those that have not been recognized in the gallery, welcome to the Assembly. Before we move on to oral questions, I will take a short break.

--Break

The House will come back to order. We are on item 6, oral questions. Item 7, written questions. Item 8, returns to written questions. Item 9, replies to opening address. Mr. Barnabas.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. In seven days the map of Canada will be changed for the last time this century. I would like to speak on how we got where we are today. The creation of Nunavut is the latest step in political growth for Canadian citizens. The Northwest Territories has gone from being known as Rupert's Land and being the so-called property of Hudson's Bay Company to the evolving political entity it is today.

At one time after the sale of Rupert's Land to the Government of Canada in 1870, the Northwest Territories also included the Yukon, Alberta, Saskatchewan, most of Manitoba, northern Ontario and northern Quebec. The last Arctic islands were added in 1880.

In 1898 the Yukon became a separate territory. In 1905 the boundaries were changed again as the provinces of Alberta and Saskatchewan were created. In 1912, in a spectacular land grab, the borders of Manitoba, Ontario and Quebec were extended northward to their present boundaries.

The last change of the map of Canada occurred in 1949 when the province of Newfoundland joined Confederation. After the creation of the provinces of Alberta and Saskatchewan, it would be many years before northerners would have a say in the running of the Northwest Territories. Members of the territorial council were appointed southern bureaucrats until 1941 when Jock McNiven from Yellowknife was appointed to the council. In 1951 the Northwest Territories Act was amended to allow three elected Members from the Mackenzie district to sit on the council. Gradually the Northwest Territories Council came more representative of the people it served. In 1967 the Ottawa bureaucracy moved north to Yellowknife. Many people will remember the benevolent dictatorship administered by the late Stewart Hodgson. Discussions were made on the spot with little or no regard for the legislative process.

This gradually changed until 1975 when the first fully elected territorial council since 1905 took office. The Commissioner, however, was still in charge of handling arenas and schools when the mood took over him. This gradually changed with elected Members starting to take over the responsibilities for the departments and sit on the Executive Council which was the equivalent of today's Cabinet.

The Commissioner, however, was still in charge in handling arenas and schools when the mood took over him. By 1979, five elected Members were on the Executive Council which constituted a majority. In 1984, the Commissioner, John Parker, announced that he would no longer sit in the House and participate in debate in order to promote a responsible elected government. In 1986, Mr. Parker gave up the chairmanship of the Executive Council.

In the meantime, forces were gathering in the east. Since the mid-1960s, there were Inuit and even some government bureaucrats that believed in a separate territory for the eastern part of the Northwest Territories. By 1970, many more Inuit had become to believe that the Yellowknife-based government was not responding to their needs. We Inuit have achieved our goal. Nunavut will be a reality. We will miss dealing with our western colleagues on a regular basis. We wish you and all the residents peace and prosperity in the years to come. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

--Applause

Thank you, Mr. Barnabas. Replies to opening address. Item 10, petitions. Item 11, reports of standing and special committees. Item 12, reports of committees on the review of bills. Item 13, tabling of documents. Mr. Roland.

Tabling of documents. Mr. Ootes.

Tabling of documents. Item 14, notices of motion. Item 15, notices of motion for first reading of bills. Item 16, motions. Item 17, first reading of bills. Item 18, second reading of bills. Mr. Dent.

Thank you. The motion is in order. To the principle of the bill. Question has been called. All those in favour? All those opposed? The motion is carried. Bill 16 has had second reading. Mr. Dent.

Thank you. The Member for Yellowknife Frame Lake is seeking unanimous consent to waive rule 69(2). Do we have any nays? You do not have unanimous consent, Mr. Dent. Bill 16 has had second reading and accordingly the bill is referred to a committee. Second reading of bills. Item 19, consideration in committee of the whole of bills and other matters. Item 20, report of committee of the whole. Item 21, third reading of bills. Mr. Arlooktoo.

The motion is in order. To the motion. Question has been called. All those in favour? All those opposed? The motion is carried. Bill 13 has had third reading. Third reading of bills. Mr. Arlooktoo.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Yellowknife Frame Lake that Bill 14, An Act to Amend the Risk Capital Investment Tax Credits Act and the Income Tax Act be read for the third time. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The motion is in order. To the motion. Mr. Henry.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I wish to declare a conflict of interest in the Risk Capital Investment and will remove myself from discussion and voting on the matter.

Thank you. It is so noted, Mr. Henry. Question has been called. All those in favour? All those opposed? The motion is carried. Bill 14 has had third reading. Third reading of bills. Item 22, orders of the day. Mr. Clerk.

Mr. Speaker, there is a meeting of the Western Caucus at 4:30 p.m. today. Orders of the day for Friday, March 26, 1999:

1. Prayer

2. Ministers' Statements

3. Members' Statements

4. Returns to Oral Questions

5. Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery

6. Oral Questions

7. Written Questions

8. Returns to Written Questions

9. Replies to Opening Address

10. Petitions

11. Reports of Standing and Special Committees

12. Reports of Committees on the Review of Bills

13. Tabling of Documents

14. Notices of Motion

15. Notices of Motion for First Reading of Bills

16. Motions

- Motion 6-13(7), Amendments to the Rules of the Legislative Assembly

17. First Reading of Bills

18. Second Reading of Bills

19. Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

20. Report of Committee of the Whole

21. Third Reading of Bills

22. Orders of the Day

Thank you. This House stands adjourned to Friday, March 26, at 10:00 a.m.

--ADJOURNMENT