Thank you, Mr. Roland. Déclarations des députés. The honourable Member for Tu Nedhe, Mr. Nitah.

Mahsi, Mr. Nitah. Item 3, Members' statements. The honourable Member for Yellowknife South, Mr. Bell.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As we are coming to the end of session, I thought that it was important to re-raise the issue of the literacy strategy that this government is working on. I hope indeed that the next time we get together to meet, we will be discussing how to implement the new strategy, because I think that it is one of the most critical issues we face today, Mr. Speaker.

Indeed, I met a gentlemen the other day at a function who asked me what I thought the most important challenge was for us to rise up and meet in the Northwest Territories. I thought about it for a few minutes and decided that I thought training was going to be very important for us, Mr. Speaker. We are faced with the potential of immense economic opportunity but these opportunities will pass us by, Mr. Speaker, if we do not have, folks who are trained. He said to me that yes, indeed, training will be critical and we will have to work with industry to ensure that Northerners are trained.

However, he suggested to me that it was important to realize the industry would find a way to hire southerners if we were concerned only with training our people who did not have a basic level of education and did not have literacy skills, Mr. Speaker. I think that it is important for us to realize that we put a lot of money and a lot of effort into education, into adult basic education and into literacy.

BHP, Mr. Speaker, has recognized this and they are embarking on their own literacy strategy and spending considerable dollars in this area. We cannot continue to be focused on protectionist strategies. Socio-economic agreements are fine, Mr. Speaker, and they are a good idea to get us started, but eventually we are going to have to be competitive with the south if we hope to employ Northerners and hope to ensure that these benefits do not pass us by.

I would suggest that we have been employing somewhat of a push strategy for getting our people hired. I think we want to concentrate, Mr. Speaker, on the pull. Let us educate our people. Let us concentrate on literacy, so that when we train them, we are training the best people possible.

Mr. Nitah spoke earlier about the need to wage the war on poverty. Mr. Speaker, I believe that he is right. I believe the war on poverty starts with education. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

-- Applause

Thank you, Mr. Bell. Déclarations de députés. Madam Lee.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, on the eve of the last day or the last day, I do not know for sure, I would like to take this time to congratulate you and your office for the positive accomplishments you have achieved over the last year, Mr. Speaker.

Changes, especially positive changes, come very slowly in institutions like this. I believe we must recognize them when they come. For example, I commend you for the ease with which you introduced the traditional Dene outfits for our staff here. It was done so smoothly that we take it for granted, and it seems as though it has always been here. I think the significance of that is recognized by everyone, everyday when they turn the TV on.

Mr. Speaker, for one who is limited from speaking out by virtue of your office, I must say your actions speak very loud and clear. To give more examples, I congratulate you on the appointment of the first woman Sergeant-at-Arms, Nicole Latour-Theede, and the three very prominent positions of Conflict of Interest Commissioner, Carol Roberts; Official Languages Commissioner, Phoebe Tatti; Access to Information and Privacy Commissioner, Elaine Keenan-Bengts, who are all women, Mr. Speaker. I congratulate you and the Board of Management for recognizing that it is not hard to find excellent women who just happen to be the best man or person for the job if you look for them.

There are other changes we noticed, Mr. Speaker, that we take for granted which has become a reality without a lot of fuss. I congratulate you for enlarging our parking lot without damaging too much of the environment surrounding us. I have noticed that you have introduced name tags for staff and visitors. I am not sure if there have been any complaints, but from where I sit I see that as a change.

So you have done a lot, Mr. Speaker. You did it very quietly. I would just like to encourage the government to move as swiftly and positively and without much fuss in improving lots of great things. So, I congratulate you and thank you.

-- Applause

In situations like this, two-and-a-half minutes is not enough.

-- Laughter

Thank you, Ms. Lee. Item 3, Members' statements. The honourable Member for Nunakput, Mr. Steen.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, in a very little while, next month, our communities will be going to the polls for municipal elections. They will also be taking part in the federal election shortly.

In regard to the municipal elections, I would like to take this opportunity to encourage people to run for leadership positions and be active in the voting process, both federal and municipal. There are also community corporation elections in some of my communities as well.

The point I wish to make here, Mr. Speaker, is that I am not sure whether I would like them to follow our examples in this House. I have been told from back home, that we seem to spend a lot of time squabbling over what salaries are for our EAs, what the roles and responsibilities are of our staff, rather than major issues that are bothering this Territory, such as economic development opportunities, our social problems and our health problems. The people I speak to at home would like me to urge people, the Members here, to concentrate on more serious issues in this government. Thank you.

-- Applause

Thank you, Mr. Steen. Déclarations de députés. Item 3, Members' statements. The honourable Member for Hay River North, Mr. Delorey.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, today I had hoped to make a statement on the plight of our disabled residents in the Northwest Territories and especially Hay River. I feel a little disabled myself today because I have not had the time to put into this Member's statement what I had wanted to because of the length of our sessions and the number of meetings we have been having. I think it is important that I do mention the plight of these disabled people.

Mr. Speaker, there has been a committee formed in Hay River comprised of residents with disabilities. They felt this was necessary in order to have their needs addressed. Mr. Speaker, they do have many needs that we as a government have to be aware of and prepared to deal with.

In Hay River, Mr. Speaker, there are many buildings that are not handicapped or wheelchair accessible. In some cases, people with disabilities have a hard time accessing the medical services that they require and, Mr. Speaker, some of them need very special treatment.

Mr. Speaker, Hay River is the only tax-based municipality in the Northwest Territories that does not offer people with disabilities any property tax relief. The Town of Hay River, Mr. Speaker, and this government cannot seem to come to an understanding or an agreement as to who and how the subsidies should be administered.

Also, Mr. Speaker, the fuel subsidy program for seniors that is administered by the Department of Education, Culture and Employment is not offered to people with disabilities who own their own homes. Mr. Speaker, I believe it is high time, in view of the skyrocketing fuel prices, that we offer persons with disabilities some badly needed assistance. In this way, we could help them help themselves and, in a lot of cases, feel a lot better about themselves.

Mr. Speaker, this is not acceptable, given that approximately 80 percent of our people in the Northwest Territories with disabilities have a personal income of less than $20,000. Of this group, 48 percent have a personal income of less than $10,000. I would think surely that we as a government would not be adverse to helping this segment of our society. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

-- Applause

Thank you, Mr. Delorey. Item 3, Members' statements. The honourable Member for Inuvik Twin Lakes, Mr. Allen.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Today I stand and want to recognize the hunters and trappers and also the harvesters in the Mackenzie Delta and specifically my riding of Inuvik Twin Lakes, recognizing that they are going through difficult times trying to sustain a livelihood that we are so accustomed to. I just want to stand here and wish them well for this trapping season. Hopefully they will have a prosperous season as well as a safe one. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Allen. Item 3, Members' statements. Item 4, returns to oral questions. The honourable Member for Weledeh, Mr. Handley.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I have a return to an oral question asked by Mr. Braden on November 1, 2000 regarding public sector salaries.

The tentative agreement reached with the Union of Northern Workers, and that is currently in the ratification process, will provide for an increment to the pay line of 3.8 percent in the first year and 2.5 percent in the second year. These increases maintain the competitive position the GNWT holds in comparison to other public sector employees in Canada.

Thank you, Mr. Handley. Item 4, returns to oral questions. The honourable Member for Weledeh, Mr. Handley.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I have a return to an oral question asked by Mr. McLeod on November 1, 2000 regarding the liability of the Department of Resources, Wildlife and Economic Development should the bison in Fort Providence injure or kill someone.

Liability depends upon the facts and circumstances of the incident from which a claim for damages arises. Generally, the Government of the Northwest Territories is not liable for damages caused by the actions of wild animals and would not be held liable for the actions of wild bison in Fort Providence.

The bison in question were introduced into the Fort Providence area by the federal government in 1963. RWED sets the quota for the number of bison that may be harvested, in consultation with the community of Fort Providence and undertakes some research to understand the impact of those harvests on the herd. However, the department does not manage individual bison within the herd nor does it control their activities or movements.

The department has expressed its willingness to work with the Hamlet of Fort Providence and the Fort Providence Resource Management Board (FPRMB) to develop a plan to deter bison from occupying Fort Providence. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Handley. Item 4, returns to oral questions. The honourable Premier, Mr. Kakfwi.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I have a return to an oral question asked by Mr. Dent on November 1, 2000. The question was, will this government deliver on promises made by employees to members of the public or to aboriginal governments.

The question is very broad and the Member did not provide information on any particular circumstance that may have given rise to the question.

However, it is clear that when an employee takes a position that is consistent with the law of the GNWT and Canada, is reflective of current GNWT policies, Cabinet and the Legislative Assembly's direction, and is within the GNWT's financial capabilities and the employee's authority and mandate, then that position will be acted upon by this government.

I would be happy to provide more specific information to a more specific question. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Kakfwi. Item 4, returns to oral questions. The honourable Member for Weledeh, Mr. Handley.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker. I have a return to an oral question asked by Mr. Bell on November 3, 2000 regarding payroll tax remittance.

All of the $8.8 million collected in payroll tax in 1999-2000 consisted of tax remittances. Over 90 percent of payroll tax registrants remit the tax on or before the due date, with the bulk of the remainder remitting shortly thereafter.

Recognizing the administrative burden faced by small businesses, the Department of Finance attempts to be flexible in ensuring compliance. However, the department, in following up, does remind late filers of the interest and penalty provisions in the Payroll Tax Act.

Thank you, Minister Handley. Item 4, returns to oral questions. The honourable Premier, Mr. Kakfwi.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I have a return to an oral question asked by Mr. Bell on November 15th regarding whether the recommendations from the report of the Student Working Group on Student Graduate Employment would be enacted by Christmas break.

As mentioned in an earlier response, the Department of the Executive is working with NorthWin to quickly implement an online student employment Web site. This Web site will allow students to apply online for summer employment. The contract for the Web site is being awarded this week. While there will be an attempt to get the site up and running by late December, corporate human resource services will also be advising students of how they can submit applications either in person or online during the Christmas break for possible summer employment in 2001.

In terms of the other recommendations in the report, they will be reviewed by a committee of human resource practitioners over the coming months with the objective of revising and improving the student summer employment program for summer 2001.

Mr. Bell also asked about possible employment over the Christmas period for students. While some students may be home early enough to obtain a short period of casual employment, the mandatory leave days mean there is limited casual work over the Christmas break within government. Thank you.

Thank you, Premier Kakfwi. Item 4, returns to oral questions. The honourable Member for Weledeh, Mr. Handley.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I have a return to an oral question asked by Ms. Lee on November 7, 2000 regarding the hotel room tax survey. The contract is for the amount of $20,000. Thank you.