Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, when we spend money on education, the goal is to ensure children and adults are better educated, more self-reliant, and ready to take advantage of employment opportunities. We need good information to evaluate the result of our actions. The Department of Education, Culture and Employment is increasing the amount of blue chip information available on its programs and services. This information is used for assessing program results, making programming decisions and to account to the public for activities. Given our limited resources, we need to measure the true value to northerners of the services we provide or support.

Later today, Mr. Speaker, I will be tabling Towards Excellence: A Report on Education in the NWT. This handy little document provides a profile of education from kindergarten to grade 12. The report covers a broad range of topics from school achievement indicators to educator information, from high school statistics to enrollment numbers. Information recently requested by Members of this House, such as the increase in student completion rates, can be found in the report.

While this is the second report of its kind, it is the first that provides information from a western NWT perspective. Work is currently underway on gathering the numbers of 1998-99. The department plans to update this information every two years. Mr. Speaker, reliable information is critical to good decision making and to public accountability for dollars spent. Towards Excellence provides the Department of Education, Culture and Employment with baseline information that we will use in our strategic and business planning. Over the next few years, we will revise and refine our information needs to develop a set of indicators which will effectively capture the results of efforts by the department, DECs, DEAs, schools and culture and heritage communities. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

--Applause

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, today my statement is regarding an individual, a young man, who is an entrepreneur who is trying to start up his own plumbing service in Aklavik, KLR Plumbing Services of Aklavik. This young individual has worked his way up to receiving his tickets in plumbing and gas fittings and just lately he wrote his exams to become an oil-burner mechanic, that will be recognized interprovincially. Mr. Speaker, this individual has made an attempt to establish a career path for himself and also to supply a service to the community of Aklavik. Mr. Storr has made every attempt to establish a business in Aklavik. The last business in Aklavik that sold plumbing supplies and also the service to help people with their furnaces and their stoves and their plumbing fixtures was Mr. Dennis Pascal who has moved to Tuktoyaktuk and no longer offers that service.

Mr. Speaker, Mr. Storr, who has taken on himself to establish his business and has registered through the BIP process, is still having problems selling his business and his services to this government. Mr. Speaker, the service that is presently being provided, is provided out of Inuvik. This is an extra cost, because the individuals have to fly to Aklavik to do these services on behalf of this government on an as and when needed contract by this government, yet the individual that lives in that community cannot get work with this government. Mr. Speaker, at the appropriate time I will be asking the Minister a question on the BIP process and why is it that individuals who live in the small communities who establish their businesses are not getting work with this government. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

--Applause

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to speak today about government contracting once again and make reference to a letter I received from the Premier on March 16th, in which he stated that the FMBS had assembled a committee of senior management from several departments. This committee was tasked to develop a government-wide directive on negotiated contracts. That task force was to come forward with a report by March 31. In the House I asked the Premier if he would expand the task force, or the committee's mandate, to include requests for proposals and to make the report available to stakeholders for input. Mr. Speaker, I would like to make some reference to a number of areas here. Invitations to tender were used by the government for many decades and other governments as well. In recent years we have made more use of requests for proposals. In 1997-98, the report that I have, indicates that RFPs totalled $20 million and in 1998-99, through half the year, the total was $55 million.

Invitations to tender, Mr. Speaker, is an easy system. It is awarded on price only and it is opened in public and everybody knows the rules. But that is not so with RFPs. One of the difficulties that may be perceived in this is when small to medium companies bid and they bid unsuccessfully on RFPs after a while they become discouraged, because they do not have the resources to go after this like the larger companies. They may drop out from submitting RFPs. The feedback to proposers is also an issue, Mr. Speaker, the companies receive no feedback and the whole RFP process is based on a criteria sheet, called a rating schedule and it has six criteria, but the cost of the RFP, when awarding it is only 25 percent of the amount. Proposers are not given access to the rating sheets. Price by successful proposals are not revealed. This begs the question, are we turning contractors off because of our system and how do we know we are getting value for our dollars? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

--Applause

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, today I would like to direct my Member's statement to an issue of a constituent that has been raised to me in Hay River and I have received a copy of a letter. What I would like to do is just read some excerpts of it. I do not want to identify the person that I will be pursuing this on behalf of, but I would just like to read some excerpts of a letter because I was very moved by what I read. This is how it goes.

Because I am native, I was born native. I was raised by elders in the bush. I am a bush man. I can hunt, trap and fish. These skills among others I have been chosen to carry on and pass on to others, but I need a licence to sell fur and hunt. I choose to make my living in the bush of which there is still plenty. I have been trying to attain this licence for the past eight years now. I do not take UI or social assistance. I was taught not to impose on others. I have my own back and I make my own living. I have learned to have a great respect for the land and for all peoples, but I also respect myself and do not allow others to use me as a floor mat. I am old enough and prepared to give it a go. I was taught never to lie or steal. If you people only help me attain my general hunting license I would not feel like such an outlaw of which I am not. I do lots of charity work with children and elders and people in town and in the bush. I have no education to brag about, but I have my Ph.D in the bush. I make my living travelling around now doing odd jobs and playing fiddle music for people, but I am planning on trapping next winter on my own. I have a very low income and I have my income tax receipts to prove it. I am ready for a career and I want to pursue trapping. I know I have the right to live in the bush. I am a native of Cree descent. My grandparents were bush people, Treaties who made their living hunting and trapping. I am a bush man, I am free and I will fight for my rights and the rights of my native brothers whatever the cost may be.

Mr. Speaker, this letter is signed by a young man, a constituent of mine in Hay River. I have not read all of it, but I was very moved by it because this is a young person who has lived in the north for many years and has a dream and a desire to live on the land and he is right, of which there is plenty. We look at some of the difficulties that young people are running into and I think it would behoove this government to seriously consider when we can help young people pursue an ambition and an aspiration such as this without being caught up in rules and red tape. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

--Applause.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. This is in response to a question asked by Mr. Morin on April 22, 1999, with regard to closure of southern outlets of Arctic Canada Trading Company Ltd. The official name of the company is Arctic Canada Trading Company Ltd. It is 100 percent wholly owned by the Northwest Territories Development Corporation. The general manager is Clyde Sigurdson who reports to the president of the Northwest Territories Development Corporation.

At one time Arctic Canada Trading Company Ltd. had five retail outlets in southern Canada. They owned and operated retail outlets in Victoria, B.C.; Calgary, Alberta; White Rock, B.C.; and two in Toronto - one at the Pearson Airport and one at Queens Quay in downtown Toronto. In December, 1998, the management of Arctic Canada Trading Company Ltd. decided to close the retail outlet in Victoria effective March 31, 1999. Official notice to cancel the lease arrangement was given to the landlord at that time. A closing sale was held in January and February, and the balance of the unsold inventory was shipped back to the Yellowknife warehouse in March, 1999.

On January 31, 1999, the management of Arctic Canada Trading Company Ltd. decided to close the retail outlet in Calgary and cancel the lease arrangements effective April 30, 1999. Currently, we have a contract with IMI Marketing to manage the wholesale and corporate sales until April 30, 1999. The unsold inventory will be shipped to Yellowknife once the operation closes. On March 26, 1999, Mr. Joseph Handley, the acting president of the Northwest Territories Development Corporation, and Mr. Clyde Sigurdson, the general manager of Arctic Canada Trading Company Ltd., made a decision to close the retail outlet in White Rock, B.C. An arrangement has been made with a private individual to take over this store and sell our northern products on a consignment basis. All remaining inventory has been consigned to the new owner/manager.

Effective April 1, 1999, the two retail outlets in Toronto are owned by the Nunavut Development Corporation. Arrangements are being negotiated for this transfer. Nunavut Development Corporation has agreed to retail western products through these outlets on a consignment basis. In the interim, Arctic Canada Trading Ltd. is still managing and operating these two retail outlets. Arctic Canada Trading Company Ltd. is still a subsidiary of the Northwest Territories Development Corporation, however, with a reduced operation. Their mandate is to coordinate, develop, and promote and market Northwest Territories art, souvenirs, garments, crafts, fashion accessories and food products. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Minister responsible for the Business Incentive Policy. Mr. Speaker, in regard to my Member's statement, I made reference to an entrepreneur in Aklavik, KLR Plumbing Services of Aklavik, which is owned and operated by Richard Storr. Mr. Speaker, this individual has gone out, received his journeyman ticket for plumbing and gas fitting and he has made an attempt to establish a business in Aklavik to supply plumbing and heating supplies and also a business to serve the people of Aklavik. Mr. Speaker, my question to the Minister is why is it that this individual is having such a tough time getting contracts with this government yet, he should have an advantage through the Business Incentive Policy. I would like to ask the Minister in regard to the Business Incentive Policy, what does it take for an individual like Mr. Storr to be recognized through the Business Incentive Policy?

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, one of the requirements to benefit from the Business Incentive Policy is to register your business with the government so that you would be recognized as a company which should benefit from the Business Incentive Policy. That is probably the first step. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, Mr. Storr has been registered since the fall of 1996. That is over three years ago. I would like to ask the Minister, if this individual is registered, why is it that he is getting such a tough time to get a job in this government, especially to serve government in Aklavik regarding goods and services?

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I have no information about this individual and his business and I am not certain that it is proper to discuss it so openly, but I would be prepared to sit down with the Member and look at the information that the Member may have and see what could be done to address whatever difficulties this person is having with regard to getting contracts or employment or conducting business with this government. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, this is probably not the only individual who is having this problem. I believe there have been a lot of questions asked about the Business Incentive Policy in this government. Could the Minister ensure that there is a review done to see about the number of complaints that are received in regard to this policy? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would be prepared to ask the department to brief me on how many complaints there have been regarding the Business Incentive Policy and its application with the government to see if there are some areas that need to be addressed or, whether we are in fact, applying it as consistently and as fairly as we should be. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I think the problem lies within the smaller communities. In regard to Mr. Storr, I would like the Minister to see why is it that Mr. Storr, who is based in Aklavik, is having such a hard time getting jobs with this government, yet businesses in the regional centres such as Inuvik seem to be getting all the work in a lot of these smaller communities, yet the local entrepreneur is not able to receive any work from this government. Can the Minister check into that allegation also? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. We will have a look at the situation of this individual. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Earlier I spoke about the committee that has been assembled by FMBS of senior managers to look at the negotiated contract system the government uses and my question will be, I believe, for the Premier, but it may have to be the Minister of FMBS. The question I have is, we were told that the committee would present its findings and report on March 31st; I wonder if the committee has done so?

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I had asked if we could also include the request for proposal system that we use. Could the Premier tell us if that may have been considered or will be included?

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Could the Premier tell me what will happen to the report that the senior managers are preparing, what will be the process of that report and what action will be taken?

Mr. Speaker, I would have to take the question as notice. I am not familiar with the day-to-day detailed operations of the subsidiaries. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Yes, I can confirm that.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My information is back to 1994, I believe, is when the initial counsel was retained.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I cannot give the Member a definitive answer. I do know that examination for discoveries continue as we speak. I would suggest some time, but I cannot give the Member a definitive answer. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I am aware that it is an issue with the Member for Yellowknife South and I am listening closely to his concerns. I am doing another briefing with the President of WCB tomorrow on a

number of issues arising out of changes to legislation and a result of legislation. This is on the agenda as well. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Again, as with the previous question, I am not privy to the details of who IMI is, but I would be happy to find out for the Member. So I will take the question as notice. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Minister of Health and Social Services. Mr. Speaker, recently a request for proposals appeared in the newspaper and it was for travel agency services. It would appear that travel agency services are now provided out of Stanton Regional Hospital for the former Mackenzie region including Yellowknife and Hay River. Mr. Speaker, I have written to the Minister and I have registered my concern about this. In the past, the way the system was worked out, we have two travel agents in Hay River, two travel agencies, and we also have a medical travel position. In the past what would happen is the doctor would make a referral, the patient would get their medical travel authorization from that person, take it down to the local travel agent, get their tickets and get an itinerary, and so on.

Now this is all being done out of Yellowknife, so I have a number of concerns about this. For one thing, it takes much needed business away from the travel agents in Hay River, also for people like senior citizens it is very inconvenient. They are not provided with an itinerary and they do not have the contact with the local travel agent as a convenience associated with this service, so my question is to the Minister. I would like to know what the purpose is behind amalgamating these travel agency services in Yellowknife? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I was informed by the department that indeed, there was a grouping, an amalgamation in a sense, of the travel agency services. The reason this was done is we are trying to conserve our resources and use them a little more wisely in the area of some of the programs we deliver. Medical travel is one of the larger cost drivers that affect this department, and trying to pool our resources and deliver the services out of one area is a decision the health boards were involved with. I believe there is still an individual in the community that would work with those who are seeking medical travel. It would work through this individual who would contact Yellowknife office. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, could the Minister please provide the House with some kind of an estimate of cost savings that would be realized by paying this fee to a Yellowknife travel agency verses a Hay River travel agency? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I will get back to my department to get more information on this. As I stated earlier, I just received information on this, I do not believe I have seen the letter from the Member she mentioned she sent to me, but once I receive that I will also forward that on to the department to get further responses for the Member. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. If indeed the provision of these services out of Stanton Hospital is a cost saving to the government, besides wanting to know how much it is saving, I also want to know a comparison of the service provided, from this regional service as opposed to what they would get if they were being served by a travel agency in Hay River. I do not think it is fair to compare price alone because I

do believe they were getting services as well, like I said, the convenience of picking up their ticket as opposed to a virtual ticket, and also a hard copy of an itinerary, so they could refer to it and refresh their memory of what time they have to be certain places. Could the Minister confirm that there was actually a reduction in service to the travelling patient with this new method of delivering the service?

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I do not believe the intent of the changes is to reduce the quality of service to the clients. I will look into, as I stated earlier, the impacts of the changes and the possible savings that we would see and also request that information to see what services are provided to see what level they are at or if there are any changes to the services that are provided at this time. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, as the Minister knows, Hay River is a much smaller community than Yellowknife and we endeavour to support two travel agencies within the community. If the Minister finds out there is no substantial cost savings to it being delivered through Stanton Regional, would he consider reinstating the service being provided on a local level by businesses in Hay River? This business forms a core part of the business that they have in Hay River. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I will look at, as I stated earlier, the factors involved in making this decision to see what was done. We will look at what possible avenues are out there once I have more information. I am not sure what level of savings there is hopefully to be achieved in this, but as I stated earlier I will get that information and upon reviewing it will look at what avenues are open to us. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Minister of Education. It is concerning the problems we seem to have in our schools, large enrolment numbers, shortages of teachers and also the problem we have in our communities which is having enough supplies of books and whatnot for the higher grades. Mr. Speaker, I would like to ask the Minister, do they have a breakdown at this time of what the increases are in regard to enrolment in our classes?

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the anticipated enrolments across the territory are estimated for the coming year to be less than 1 percent. I do not have the specific breakdown by region available, but I can get that information for the Member.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I really have a concern, especially in regard to the education that is presently being provided by this government in a lot of the smaller communities. Mr. Speaker, the concern I have is that there was supposed to be increases in my riding for teachers in Aklavik and I believe Fort McPherson. Yet those numbers were as of October, I believe, 1998, and which would not be implemented until the following year. Can the Minister assure me those positions will be implemented this fall?

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I will commit to get that information for the Member and report back, hopefully by tomorrow. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, can the Minister tell me how seriously is his department taking this problem in our classrooms, especially with the shortages of teachers and now we are finding an increase in enrolment. Exactly how serious is this problem and what is the department doing to clear it up?

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, we are not anticipating a shortage of teachers per se based on our pupil/teacher ratio, but we are very concerned about the state of education as I have indicated in this House over the last week or so in regard to trying to respond to the Minister's forum's recommendations. We have a strategic planning process in place to put forward a document by June that will lay out the longer-term plans. I am meeting with the board chairs of the DEAs and the DECs here next month to discuss this issue. The ministerial forum members, as well, have been brought back into the loop to see how we can move ahead on the short-term recommendations, so we are very

concerned. We are listening very closely to the feedback we are getting, and we are doing everything in our power within existing budgets to try and address the needs that have been identified. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. In regard to the education forum and the recommendations that were made, they also identified the increase in our classrooms as a major problem. The statement from the education forum, concerns from the different ridings and from this House, can the Minister ensure there will be more money considered to ensure we do have the teachers in our classrooms next fall and not have these shortages that we have had in the past?

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As the Member is well aware, we are currently in the budget process. The money in the budget for education is approximately $168 million with $2 million being proposed by way of motion when our department comes up to add to that. That is the money I can commit to at this point, unfortunately I cannot commit to any further sums. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. There were a number of decisions that were made going back to the time when Mr. Soloy was still president of the Development Corporation. It would not be possible for me to say categorically that I was not involved in any discussions. I may have been informed by Mr. Soloy, I may have been informed by Mr. Handley that they intended, as acting managers or as the principle executives in charge of these operations, to carry out these actions. Unless I know what the Member means by being involved it is not possible to say categorically, but I will check with my staff to see if, in fact, we were informed, if there were any meetings that we had where these decisions were brought to my attention, and if I actually had anything to say about them. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, it is true that as a Minister I am responsible for the Department of Resources, Wildlife and Economic Development, and also the NWT Development Corporation. I have always taken these responsibilities very seriously, but it is not possible to micro-manage the operation of the department at every level. As a Minister, I have a deputy minister and the president of the Development Corporation, that are in charge and responsible and well paid to manage the day-to-day operations and the staff in the departments and the Development Corporation. That is the way the government works and the Member, as a former Minister and Premier knows that better than anybody else. The details that he wants are not available to me. I will take the question as notice and again, I will be prepared to give him a full written response. Thank you.