Good afternoon. Orders of the day. Item 2, Ministers' statements. The honourable Minister responsible for Transportation, Mr. Steen.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, this afternoon I would like to call attention to the award of a Fire Services Exemplary Service Medal to an employee of the Department of Transportation, Mr. David Hessdorfer. David Hessdorfer is a veteran firefighter at the Yellowknife airport. On behalf of the Office of the Governor General of Canada, I had the honour recently of presenting Mr. Hessdorfer with his award.

Following a lengthy nomination process, the Office of the Governor General approved the award this summer. To receive the award, the nominee must have completed 20 years as a member of a fire service of such high standard to merit the award. In addition to his 20 years with the airport fire service, David has also served more than two years with the City of Yellowknife's fire department as a volunteer firefighter.

Whether performing the general fire and paramedic duties of a professional firefighter, fire hall administration or training new recruits, David has proved a reliable worker who can be counted on at all times. His professional attitude and keen abilities make him a pleasure to work with and a well-respected member of the department.

Mr. Speaker, I believe this award from the Governor General's office is well deserved and that Mr. Hessdorfer stands as an example of the dedication and excellence typical of employees of the Department of Transportation and the territorial public service in general. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

-- Applause

Thank you, Mr. Steen. Item 2, Ministers' statements. The honourable Minister responsible for Justice, Mr. Antoine.

Mahsi, Mr. Antoine. Item 2, Ministers' statements. Item 3, Members' statements. The honourable Member for Weledeh, Mr. Handley.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It gives me a great deal of pleasure today in that this is a significant day in the history of our government. It is the 50th birthday of our Premier.

-- Applause

I am sure we all benefit from that 50 years of experience and learning that is packed in his head. Mr. Kakfwi, we all wish you a very happy birthday.

As well, Mr. Speaker, it is very interesting that tomorrow is the birthday of the Deputy Premier.

Mr. Speaker, she is 40 -- and I cannot deceive this House...

-- Laughter

...and we also wish her a very happy birthday. I am sure there is some significance on the Chinese calendar or some other document to the fact that our Premier has his birthday today and the Deputy Premier's is tomorrow. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

-- Applause

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Indeed, happy birthday, Mr. Premier, and happy birthday to come, Madam Groenewegen. Item 3, Members' statements. The honourable Member for Range Lake, Ms. Lee.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Today at noon, I was fortunate to be able to visit my riding at the Range Lake North School where a group of students there have come up with an idea to help raise money for the Northwest Territories Council for Disabled Persons. What they have decided to do is challenge all the kids in our city to donate a cheesecake or a pie to the council auction, which will be held later this month on November 25th, I believe. Those pies that will be brought will be auctioned off.

Mr. Speaker, as you are aware, this is one of the most important events that the group has to raise money. I would like to acknowledge the work of the president of the student council, Kathleen Stroeder, and the vice-president, Kim Theil, who thought of this idea and launched it today. I would also like to challenge the Members and staff of the Legislative Assembly to make a contribution towards a pie or a cheesecake so that we can donate them at the event. Mr. Speaker, I would like to emphasize the fact that this is a group that serves people from all over the Territories, not just our city, and provide services for those in need due to various disabilities. It is an important cause.

At the same time, Mr. Speaker, I would like to acknowledge and congratulate the Ministers of the Department of Health and Social Services and Education, as well as the sponsoring groups of Northwest Territories Council for Disabled Persons, Association for Community Living and YWCA for releasing a very important report yesterday, "Living with Disabilities and Living with Dignity." I am aware of this report from having been briefed on it in Hay River in the summertime and I was looking forward to having this report released. I look forward to reading the report and to working with the government to see what we can do to meet some of the needs of the people in our Territory who are in most need. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

-- Applause

Thank you, Ms. Lee. Item 3, Members' statements. The honourable Member for Deh Cho, Mr. McLeod.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Our government is in the business of providing programs and services to the people we represent. There are many programs that are designed to help the old, the young and the infirm. These programs and services must be reviewed on a regular basis to ensure that they remain relevant and meet the needs of the people they are supposed to serve.

One such program, Mr. Speaker, is the Seniors' Fuel Subsidy Program administered by the Department of Education, Culture and Employment. Since its inception, this program has been a valuable aid to the seniors in the Northwest Territories in helping them maintain their independence in their own homes. However, Mr. Speaker, there is a need to review this program to ensure that the needs of the seniors and their families continue to be met. The program has not been improved since 1997. The maximum income that each senior's household is allowed needs to be adjusted higher to take into account inflation and a huge increase in fuel and oil prices in this year alone.

Mr. Speaker, in the communities I represent, any household who earns more than $30,744 per year is not entitled to any assistance under this program. I challenge the Members present to consider whether they would be able to pay taxes, buy food, pay bills and keep a roof over their heads on this amount.

Mr. Speaker, government programs should be designed to ensure that they serve everyone in a fair and equitable manner. I ask you, Mr. Speaker, what guidelines does this government have in place to ensure that all our seniors will be able to meet their heat and fuel demands this year?

It has been four years since this subsidy was introduced. I believe it is time to review this issue in light of the rise in fuel costs. We have to measure whether or not the subsidy is still enough. We shall also be revisiting the ceiling set to see if they are still adequate. Is this $30,744 still a realistic family income to use as a cut-off or should we look at raising it to an amount more in tune with what is required by the seniors to maintain their independence?

Mr. Speaker, I will be following up with the Minister responsible for Education, Culture and Employment during question period to determine whether he believes that the Seniors' Fuel Subsidy Program is being delivered in a fair and equitable manner. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. McLeod. Item 3, Members' statements. The honourable Member for Tu Nedhe, Mr. Nitah.

Mahsi, Mr. Nitah. Item 3, Members' statements. The honourable Member for Hay River South, Mr. Delorey.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to speak about a matter that is critical to the citizens of Hay River. Mr. Speaker, we have a population of approximately 3,800 people, with a regional hospital but not one permanent doctor. We have had over the last eight months or so a number of doctors providing service to Hay River on a locum basis. Mr. Speaker, I feel I am on the campaign trail again saying we need to do something about our health care system.

Here we are a year later, and we are actually in worse shape than we were back then. Mr. Speaker, the fact that doctors are coming from the South to provide locum service is a band-aid solution, a quick fix to a desperate situation. This may be all right for someone coming to see a doctor for a minor complaint, but I submit to you, Mr. Speaker, that locum services are not all right for our seniors, our disabled, or persons with chronic diseases that need to be monitored closely. It is critical that a treating physician be acutely aware of their medical history. This cannot be done with doctors who come to town on a three-week stint.

Mr. Speaker, I know how frustrating it can be as I have experienced first-hand how hard it is to even get a medical appointment. It is pretty bad to live in a place like Hay River and be told that you have to go to Yellowknife or High Level to get a medical. Mr. Speaker, I find this situation deplorable. Women in Hay River who are pregnant have to go to Yellowknife in order to give birth to their children, as Hay River is not able to provide this very necessary service to its residents.

Mr. Speaker, for the months of August, September and October 2000, there were 17 Hay River mothers who had to give birth to their children in Yellowknife. Mr. Speaker, it is very important for the residents of Hay River, many of whom were born and raised there, that the birth certificate of their children read Hay River and not Yellowknife. This, Mr. Speaker, has very negative ramifications. Not only is it very expensive for families involved, it creates many hardships. Mr. Speaker, women have to leave home, many times leaving other children and their husbands behind for periods of up to three weeks or more. This, Mr. Speaker, is unacceptable and I will have questions for the Minister later. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Delorey. Item 3, Members' statements. The honourable Member for Great Slave, Mr. Braden.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The other day I spoke on the topic of housing and how the growing economy in a number of communities in the Northwest Territories was opening up new windows of opportunity, but it is also making things tough for the disadvantaged, the poor and the sick. Housing is just one of the areas of concern, Mr. Speaker. I work with a number of constituents on various social services issues and there are a couple of common threads that link all of them. We have seen some advances in the last few years in program and service delivery, such as the blending of territorial and federal income support and employment services at the Canada and Northwest Territories Service Centre.

We have seen NGOs and government working as the Minister for Health and Social Services announced a holistic healing program for women. We have seen the YWCA, the Salvation Army and the Women's Centre taking steps to join forces to work on housing solutions. They need our government's backing to be successful. We should be fostering the spirit of partnership, Mr. Speaker, to give better support to the disadvantaged.

These people often have complex problems. The need for housing support, for instance, is often linked with needs for education, for health problems or justice issues related to family violence and abuse.

In working with constituents, I learned that people in these situations go from office to office. They have to explain their situation over and over again to get help. We would do a lot better if we looked at service delivery from the client's point of view, from the point of view of the single mother with two youngsters traipsing around office to office, from voice mail to voice mail to get answers. A single window approach with one explanation, one face-to-face relationship with a skilled worker who has the time and the resources to do a good job would be a big step.

Yesterday, my colleague for Range Lake referenced the burden of social workers. They are not alone. Income support workers have caseloads that I understand are as much as triple their counterparts in other parts of Canada. Right now they are giving us a signal that their network is at the breaking point. Are we listening?

This Assembly's vision statement promises to foster self-reliant, independent citizens, Mr. Speaker. I believe if we put more emphasis on life skill support, we can help people maintain stability and help them get off that cycle of dependence. I look forward to the Ministers and the social services programs working together to benefit the help that we have for the disadvantaged. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Braden. Item 3, Members' statements. The honourable Member for Inuvik Boot Lake, Mr. Roland.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, on November 3rd, a motion was passed by Members of this Assembly in support of zero tolerance. In that motion, we challenged other governments, municipal governments and aboriginal governments to adopt this motion.

Mr. Speaker, this motion has caused me to reflect back to previous governments and their attempts to deal with zero tolerance, whether it be at this level or with the staff. It brings to mind a particular issue that I recall being rather heated in my community quite a number of years ago. A policy or directive was established that drug and alcohol workers, those who worked in crisis centres, had to live by the zero tolerance standard as well. If you were going to be dealing with addicts, you had to as well be an abstainer.

That raised an issue where we used to have a program in Inuvik with the facility that dealt with drugs and alcohol. Mr. Speaker, that has caused me to find out if in fact this government continues to hold that practice. Do we request board members of drug and alcohol societies to be following the zero tolerance guidelines? In fact, are they still in place? At the appropriate time, I will be asking the Minister responsible to find out if in fact we still hold this policy in place. Thank you.

-- Applause

Thank you, Mr. Roland. Item 3, Members' statements. The honourable Member for Thebacha, Mr. Miltenberger.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, today I would like to touch briefly on the issues of student financial assistance. This is an issue that constantly comes before this House. I am now in my fifth year and since I have come here, I know that it has been raised by myself and many of my colleagues, the concerns about the problems, the complaints that we get from constituents.

The department continues to try to shore-up the system they have in headquarters. They put in advanced, impersonal voice mails. They have put out more forms. They have put out more information. The complaints do not go away, Mr. Speaker, simply because, in my opinion, that is not a program that should be delivered out of headquarters. This is a program that has to be moved as close to the students as possible, to the regional centres, to the large communities where there are career development officers.

It is interesting to note, Mr. Speaker, we do not receive, and I do not receive as an MLA, anywhere near the complaints about income support which is delivered at the community level by social workers where there are appeal committees as I do about student financial assistance because it is a headquarters program. It comes into the Minister's office. It comes into our office and into this House.

So there are fundamental concerns about the receptiveness in all the communities by aboriginal governments and regional centres to have this devolved. The students have asked for it. They have begged for it. This government continues to keep a stranglehold on this program. I have no reason why. It makes no sense. I cannot figure it out after five years. It is shored-up with more sand bags, more machine guns to man the towers and keep this program from the people.

It does not make good government sense, Mr. Speaker, so I would hope that this government would finally take a look at seriously devolving this program. We have made changes that have left some of our students adrift without adequate funding. We have changed the terms of the student financial assistance contract for some of them. Others that should have been entitled to twelve only get eight semesters, leaving some of them incomplete in their studies, having to scramble for money.

If this was located at the community level, at the regional level, Mr. Speaker, I am convinced that we would not be standing up in this House day after day, year after year, talking to the Minister trying to get his attention to move this program where it belongs, closer to the students. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

-- Applause

Merci, Mr. Miltenberger. Item 3, Members' statements. The honourable Member for Frame Lake, Mr. Dent.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, residents of the Northwest Territories should be able to trust their government to deliver what it promises. When government makes a commitment about a program, the public should know it is a pledge. For example, when we promised to support harvesters, that support should be delivered. At self-government tables, aboriginal governments should be able to count on the Government of the Northwest Territories' word.

Mr. Speaker, I was pleased to hear the Premier agree with this when I questioned him last Wednesday. I note his response on page 1483 of unedited Hansard.

Not that, Mr. Speaker, the change cannot or will not happen, but when change takes place, promises still need to be respected. Typically, this government does. When the salary for a position is reduced through collective bargaining, the incumbent is protected. Their salary may be red circled, but they are still protected. In the past, when the Business Incentive Policy was changed, firms were grandfathered.

Mr. Speaker, our students deserve the same. I have a constituent who, prior to embarking on a new journey to learn a profession, went to student financial assistance to find out what she would qualify for. She was told that if successful academically, she would qualify for remissible loans through to the end of her program. After one semester in her program, the rules were changed. She no longer qualifies for remissible loans. Mr. Speaker, they must now be repaid.

Mr. Speaker, my constituent is a mature student with a family. Before making a major commitment to change her life and go back to school, she thought long and hard about the benefits available from student financial assistance and her personal financial situation. Mr. Speaker, she was told what to expect, a promise was made. After more than 20 years away from school, she went back. A change part way through a program like that is unfair.

Mr. Speaker, the Government of the Northwest Territories now has a responsibility to follow up its commitment to her and students like her by grandfathering their benefits to the same level that they were promised. As we moved into the new program, students who were receiving student financial assistance should not have received less than they would have under the old rules. Anything less is neither fair nor equitable, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my constituent and others in the same situation deserve to have this government stand by its promises.

-- Applause

Thank you, Mr. Dent. Item 3, Members' statements. The honourable Member for Mackenzie Delta, Mr. Krutko.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, yesterday I raised a concern in regard to the water system and the costs that have increased in the community of Fort McPherson. Mr. Speaker, the thing that alarmed me in walking through the Great Hall was taking a look at the visitors' book, where visitors who come to this gallery put their name in the book and also a comment or two.

Mr. Speaker, I was surprised to read the comments from the mayor of Fort McPherson, "The meeting never went well", and the comment from John Smith, the same comment but adding "a lack of government support" in that important phrase.

We are here to serve the people, not to serve ourselves, but yet Mr. Speaker, from the meeting that was held yesterday and the comments that I read in the visitors book in the Great Hall, it clearly states that there was no outcome to the satisfaction of the mayor of Fort McPherson, the SAO, and myself as the MLA for the riding. Mr. Speaker, there are a lot of questions to be answered. Why was it that information was withheld from the community of Fort McPherson and the residents of Fort McPherson on the building practice of the Department of Public Works and Services?

The information was only revealed after I made a personal sit-down with the Minister to ask for a list of items and information for the communities. When the community met with the Department of Municipal and Community Affairs, they were told, after asking for detailed cost breakdowns on a monthly basis, that the information could not be provided.

Yet every month they receive in the mail an invoice for maintenance of the Fort McPherson water plant for $67,000. No questions asked. Pay the bill and be quiet. Mr. Speaker, this problem has been apparent for over two years and this government has made it their priority. Saying it is not a priority of government or saying that it does not stand the test to require emergency funding is not called for. Mr. Speaker, I will be asking the Minister responsible questions on this matter later.

Thank you, Mr. Krutko. Item 3, Members' statements. The honourable Member for North Slave, Mr. Lafferty.

Thank you, Mr. Lafferty. Item 3, Members' statements. The honourable Member for Yellowknife South, Mr. Bell.

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. Today I rise to talk about the Auditor General's report to the Northwest Territories Legislative Assembly that we will be getting to in committee of the whole. Every year, Mr. Speaker, the Auditor General provides a report to help ensure accountability to the spending of public funds. In effect, they follow the cash right to the program and service delivery level. Typically, the Auditor General makes observations or recommendations to government. It is then up to this House and up to the public to ensure these issues are addressed and corrected.

Mr. Speaker, this goes for traditional line departments as well as crown corporations of this government. After all, Mr. Speaker, it is all public money. To quote the Auditor General Report year ended March 31, 1995, Mr. Speaker:

"Territorial corporations have a different accountability relationship to the Legislative Assembly from that of government departments. Many have boards of directors and other interested stakeholders. Governments have an obligation to make sure that public spending through public agencies meets the same standards for achieving results as departmental spending."

Mr. Speaker, the Auditor General, in this year's report, makes some revealing observations in the area of the Northwest Territories Development Corporation. This year's report, Mr. Speaker, taken in isolation, I am sure the public will wonder:

1. How the Development Corporation can over-expend public money without approval;
2. How the Development Corporation can provide no information as to whether or not they are achieving their mandate; and
3. How they can operate on the basis of a confidential record-of-decision issued by FMB in 1989, Mr. Speaker.

However, taken together with the Auditor General's recommendations from the past five years, the public is likely to wonder how the Development Corporation ever survived this long, given an obvious lack of accountability for public funds.

So, Mr. Speaker, when the government responds to the Auditor General's observations and our committee's recommendations this year, before we take them at their word, let us keep in mind their track record. Mr. Speaker, we say that the auditors are the ones who come around after the battle's been lost, stabbed and wounded. I say, Mr. Speaker, this government continues to defy all odds and drag itself back to the field of battle year after year undaunted. It is truly amazing, Mr. Speaker.

-- Applause

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Today I am pleased to ask my colleagues to share with me as I extend my congratulations to Mr. Fred Carmichael on his election last evening as the new president of the Gwich'in Tribal Council. Also, to Mr. Wilbert Firth who has been elected vice-president. As you know, Mr. Carmichael is a well respected, well-known aviator and an individual throughout the Mackenzie Delta and across the Northwest Territories. I am confident both will provide strong leadership and be able to represent the Gwich'in people of the Mackenzie Delta very well. I look forward to working with both Fred and Wilbert in their new leadership roles with the Gwich'in Nation.

I also wish to recognize the efforts of Mr. Richard Nerysoo, the outgoing president, for his years of hard work and dedication he provided to the Gwich'in people of the Mackenzie Delta. I wish him well and all the best in his future endeavours. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

-- Applause

Thank you, Mr. Allen. Item 3, Members' statements. Item 4, returns to oral questions. Item 5, recognition of visitors in the gallery. The honourable Member for Frame Lake, Mr. Dent.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, today I would like to recognize a group of young people in the gallery who are studying about government. It is Madam Le Doze's grade 5 French immersion class from J.H. Sissons.

-- Applause

Thank you. Bienvenue. Item 5, recognition of visitors in the gallery. The honourable Member for Nunakput, Mr. Steen.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I would like to recognize in the gallery David Hessdorfer, the recipient of the Governor General of Canada Fire Service Exemplary Service Medal.

-- Applause

Thank you. Members, I would like to take this opportunity to recognize in the gallery a former Member of the Legislative Assembly and a Minister of the government, now a senator for the Northwest Territories, our good friend, Senator Nick Sibbeston.

-- Applause

I thought he was going to make a speech there for awhile. Item 5, recognition of visitors in the gallery. The honourable Member for Nahendeh, Mr. Antoine.

Thank you, Mr. Antoine. Item 5, recognition of visitors in the gallery. Oral...I am sorry, Mr. Braden. I will return to Item 5, recognition of visitors in the gallery. Speaker's prerogative. Mr. Braden.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It is always a pleasure to see families here in the Assembly and along with my colleague, the Minster for Transportation, I would like to recognize from the riding of Great Slave, Mr. Hessdorfer, his wife Joyce, son Craig and daughter Sheila.

-- Applause

Thank you. Item 5, recognition of visitors in the gallery. I would like to welcome everyone who has taken the time to come and visit us. Welcome to the Assembly. I hope you stay for question period, which is next. Item 6, oral questions. The honourable Member for Frame Lake, Mr. Dent.

Thank you, Mr. Dent. The honourable Minister responsible for Education, Culture and Employment, Mr. Ootes.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, one of the issues I have to refer back to is the Minister's Forum on Student Financial Assistance. Out of that came some recommendations that the focus should be on northern schooled and aboriginal students and that the amount of money to be given to students was to be raised and that the redesign be provided within the financial framework. Mr. Speaker, we have done that. We have provided more money for students. We have focused on more than schooled students and aboriginal students and we have done that within the financial framework. As a matter of fact, we added $500,000 to the framework, Mr. Speaker. So to live within that, we had to recognize what we could do within the program. Thank you.

Thank you, Minister Ootes. Supplementary, Mr. Dent.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It sounded to me like the Minister was saying no, he will not stand behind the promises made. Mr. Speaker, the Minister says that he had to make these changes to live within the financial constraints of the program. Last year, his department lapsed over $800,000 in student financial assistance.

Mr. Speaker, how can this Minister say that we could not deal with these very few students who would be affected by this and still stand behind the promises this government made? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Dent. The honourable Minister responsible for the Department of Education, Culture and Employment, Mr. Ootes.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Yes, last year, as Mr. Dent says, and that particular department was under another Minister at that time for a ten-month period. The enrolments are done in the fall and close to winter, Mr. Speaker. So the lapsing of the funding obviously was a case of inappropriate allocations. Now, Mr. Speaker, I would like to point out that we have modeled this system and our model is coming in on target. We do not expect to lapse a lot of money this year, Mr. Speaker. Thank you.

-- Applause

Thank you, Minister Ootes. I must caution Members about references to former positions in government, former Ministers and portfolios. Item 6, oral questions. The honourable Member for Frame Lake, Mr. Dent, supplementary.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the amount of money that is in the program this year is about the same as it was last year and the reductions to some students, the increases to others, should all balance out. I would argue that there cannot be very many students that would be affected by this.

So can the Minister tell us, using the exact same rules that used to apply to student financial assistance, how many students have been cut off from support who would have qualified for support under the old rules?

Thank you, Mr. Dent. The honourable Minister responsible for the Department of Education, Culture and Employment, Mr. Ootes.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It has to be remembered that the amount of money students receive has been increased. We have increased the amount of assistance for tuition and for books and for living allowance. So there is a lot more money going to students. Our model is proving that we are going to be fairly accurate with our estimates this year and we have put in $500,000 extra, Mr. Speaker. The number of students who could be affected by this depends on the fashion in which you look at transition and grandfathering.

Thank you, Mr. Ootes. Final supplementary, Mr. Dent.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I know that there are different ways of looking at this. I asked the Minister if he could give me the numbers in terms of the number of students who have been affected. If we used the old rules, how many people would have received assistance this year who are no longer receiving assistance? Can he give us an actual number?

Thank you, Mr. Dent. The honourable Minister responsible for the Department of Education, Culture and Employment, Mr. Ootes.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I think the confusion that lies in there is, is he talking about transition? Is he talking about grandfathering? What is the definition of grandfathering? Thank you.

Thank you, Minister Ootes. Item 6, oral questions. The honourable Member for Mackenzie Delta, Mr. Krutko.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my question is for the honourable Minister responsible for the Department of Municipal and Community Affairs. It is in regard to the water system cost breakdown in the community of Fort McPherson.

My concern is more around the accessibility of information for the municipalities to have access to actual cost breakdowns in regard to the expenditures of those invoices and itemizing those invoices so you know exactly what those invoices refer to and what those amounts are being paid for.

In regard to the breakdown that I mentioned in my statement, the question was asked at a meeting in Fort McPherson to the Department of Municipal and Community Affairs to provide this information. They were basically told that they would not provide that information or they could not share that information with them.

I would like to ask the honourable Minister responsible for the Department of Municipal and Community Affairs why that practice is being practiced within the Department of Municipal and Community Affairs in withholding information from the municipalities within our communities?

Thank you, Mr. Krutko. The honourable Minister responsible for the Department of Municipal and Community Affairs, Mr. Allen.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I do not believe that the information was withheld from the community. We have gone out and worked very diligently to keep them informed. We understand the problems the community is having with their billing. We tried to mediate a solution yesterday. Unfortunately, it was not acceptable and I have no answer as to how we are going to achieve some favourable results. Thank you.

Thank you, Minister Allen. Supplementary, Mr. Krutko.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, when an MLA gets involved and has to request information, either through this House or directed to a Minister, to have that information revealed to his municipality where I received a letter from my municipality stating that they requested that information and they also requested an investigation on what is happening. That request was to myself as a Member of this House who represents the residents of my riding.

I had to write a letter to the Minister responsible for Public Works requesting that information. Also, I called people within your department requesting that information. So I ask again, why is it that this information was withheld from the municipality of Fort McPherson?

Thank you, Mr. Krutko. The honourable Minister responsible for the Department of Municipal and Community Affairs, Mr. Allen.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I am not aware that any information was withheld. I shall take that question as notice and respond back to the Member. Thank you.

Thank you, Minister Allen. The question has been taken as notice. Item 6, oral questions. The honourable Member for Deh Cho, Mr. McLeod.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As I mentioned in my Member's statement, there is a serious need to revisit the seniors' fuel subsidy in light of the rising cost of living and rate of inflation. Can the Minister responsible for Education, Culture and Employment inform this Assembly whether there has been any systematic review of this program? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. McLeod. The honourable Minister responsible for the Department of Education, Culture and Employment, Mr. Ootes.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I believe the program has been in effect since 1995. I do not believe it has had a review. Thank you.

Thank you, Minister Ootes. Supplementary, Mr. McLeod.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. In light that there has not been a review in some time, and the current maximum family income for fuel subsidy is $30,744, and that does not seem to be adequate given that the fuel prices have increased and the cost of living has increased, would the Minister consider raising that ceiling to a higher amount as a result of the higher cost of living? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. McLeod. The honourable Minister responsible for the Department of Education, Culture and Employment, Mr. Ootes.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The amount, of course, is done by zone. It is different in different zones. We have three zones. One includes the communities of Dettah, Enterprise, Fort Providence, Hay River, and that area. Then we have the zone that is halfway to the Arctic coast, and then the zone north of there. We have different amounts for those zones. We can certainly have a look at seeing how applicable this amount is today, Mr. Speaker. Thank you.

Thank you, Minister Ootes. Supplementary, Mr. McLeod.

Mr. Speaker, if that answer results into a review, I would also like to ask if the Minister would consider calculation of a cost that would entail supplying a subsidy to all the seniors in the North? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. McLeod. The honourable Minister responsible for the Department of Education, Culture and Employment, Mr. Ootes.

I am not sure of the question, Mr. Speaker. I wonder if I could seek clarification from the Member?

Mr. McLeod, would you be able to clarify that question?

Mr. Speaker, my question to the Minister was asking if he would consider reviewing the program and costing out what it would take to include all the seniors in the Northwest Territories under this program.

Thank you, Mr. McLeod. Minister Ootes.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. We would have to take into consideration other programs that we have in place. We can certainly have a look at it, Mr. Speaker, but I do not know what kind of time frame could be supplied. Thank you.

Thank you, Minister Ootes. Final supplementary, Mr. McLeod.

Thank you. I take that as a commitment, and I would like to ask if there would be any kind of time frame that we would be looking at for a review. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. McLeod. This is a bit of a confusing question because I think that is what the Minister wondered about as well. Mr. Minister, you may answer if you choose.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, we would have to see what kind of workload this entails. I cannot make a commitment on the time frame. Thank you.

Thank you. Item 6, oral questions. The honourable Member for Tu Nedhe, Mr. Nitah.

Thank you, Mr. Nitah. The honourable Minister responsible for the Department of Education, Culture and Employment, Mr. Ootes.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. There are a number of programs that the department runs that contain aboriginal language content and aboriginal culture matters. For example, we have Dene Kede, which is taught up to grade 6 and will be expanded to include grades 7, 8, and 9. As well, we have Inuuqatigiit, which is a similar program.

The teaching and learning centres are continually working on material and resources that could be used for aboriginal languages, could be used for aboriginal content. There are a variety of these. In addition, the Western Canadian Protocol, the aboriginal language area is being headed by the territorial government to include aboriginal culture in the social studies framework. Thank you.

Thank you, Minister Ootes. Supplementary, Mr. Nitah.

Thank you, Mr. Nitah. The honourable Minister responsible for the Department of Education, Culture and Employment, Mr. Ootes.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. There are a variety of programs that communities and schools and districts can choose from in the curriculum. Northern studies program is one, for example, and Dene Kede, as I mentioned. These are available. Also, schools can choose to provide first language in the aboriginal language if they so choose. So it is partially up to the community in consultation, of course, with the district education councils. A lot of authority is passed on at the community level in that respect. We do feel that the programs are consistent across the board. The curriculum is standard. Thank you.

Thank you, Minister Ootes. Supplementary, Mr. Nitah.

Thank you, Mr. Nitah. The honourable Minister responsible for the Department of Education, Culture and Employment, Mr. Ootes.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The Member has a very good point. What is taught in terms of North American aboriginal history within our system? That is one that I have already spoken to the department about to ensure that they start addressing these issues and bring it forward to the teaching and learning centres, as well as to the district education councils. I meet on a semi-annual basis with the chairs, so this could be a subject of discussion again in that respect. I appreciate the Member's concern. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Minister. Final supplementary, Mr. Nitah.

Thank you, Mr. Nitah. The honourable Minister responsible for the Department of Education, Culture and Employment, Mr. Ootes.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would have to take that as notice because I do not have the answer on that, but I will get the answer for the Member. Thank you.

The supplementary has been taken as notice. Item 6, oral questions. The honourable Member for Hay River North, Mr. Delorey.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, as I stated in my Member's statement, the fact that women have to leave Hay River and come to Yellowknife to give birth has many negative impacts. For most families, the birth of a child is a family event. There are many things that make this next to impossible when women have to come to Yellowknife. For example, husbands are working and they may have other children who are in school at the present time. I would like to ask the Minister responsible for Health and Social Services what we can do to help these families that have to leave Hay River and come to Yellowknife to give birth? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Delorey. The honourable Minister responsible for the Department of Health and Social Services, Mrs. Groenewegen.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, obviously the best solution to this problem would be if we could recruit some resident positions for Hay River. However, in the immediate future, it does not seem as if that is going to happen, although the health board and the department have been very active in attempting to recruit physicians for Hay River. Now when patients, mothers need to come here to have babies, they are asked to come three weeks in advance of the delivery date. That does cause issues of separation from family, care for the other children that may be in the family, accommodation and travel. It raises a lot of not only financial, but also practical issues for families.

Recognizing that, Mr. Speaker, I have asked the department to look at what kind of support we might be able to offer to women from Hay River and other communities, for that matter, who find themselves having to come into the community ahead of time. I think it is a very important issue the Member raises, and certainly we hear about it in Hay River as a very high priority. Thank you.

Thank you, Madam Minister. Supplementary, Mr. Delorey.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Yes, the Minister raises a point of cost factor and when you look at having to come to Yellowknife for three weeks and being responsible for travel, accommodations and meals, for a lot of the women, they do not have...they are not covered by any plan, and that gets to be very expensive. Could the Minister inform us as to whether there are dollars in place to be able to help these families that are finding themselves in that situation? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Delorey. The honourable Minister responsible for the Department of Health and Social Services, Mrs. Groenewegen.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, for the patient or the mother themselves, there is accommodation available through the boarding home here, but that does not take into account that husbands may wish to accompany women to be with them and they would not be able to access that service. I have asked the department to look at what we might be able to do in terms of temporary accommodation for them to offset the costs of this.

As far as travel goes, it is like any other medical travel. Only those people who do not qualify for full coverage and are involved in the co-payment would be expected to pay. However, those people are a fairly significant portion of the population in Hay River. Thank you.

Thank you, Madam Minister. Supplementary, Mr. Delorey.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I was wondering what other professionals is Hay River in need of, apart from a full-time doctor, to enable women to give birth in their home community? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Delorey. The honourable Minister responsible for the Department of Health and Social Services, Mrs. Groenewegen.