Thank you, Mr. Lafferty. Members' statements. The Member for Frame Lake, Mr. Dent.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, every day Northerners see ads on television offering long distance rates as low as 10 or 15 cents a minute, some offering programs for $20 a month as the maximum amount people pay for phone calls.

As technology advances, Northerners expect comparable service at comparable rates. Many of my constituents, particularly those who run businesses, tell me they want to see competition for long distance service because they believe that will bring down the price they pay.

Mr. Speaker, NorthwesTel has proposed that competition be introduced in the North in January of 2001. They have also proposed that because the North is a high cost serving area, that they must have access to an operating subsidy to survive in the face of competition. The CRTC has scheduled a regional consultation on this matter for June 12 in Whitehorse, with ties by video conference to other centres like Fort Nelson, Yellowknife, and Iqaluit. Public hearings on the proposal are scheduled to start on June 13 in Whitehorse.

Mr. Speaker, it is unacceptable that the regulator, the CRTC, is only travelling to one centre for these important hearings. Residents of this Territory should also have an opportunity to express their views to the commission face to face.

Mr. Speaker, in previous public hearings, the Government of the Northwest Territories has generally been supportive of NorthwesTel applications. I hope that our government is planning to file an intervention with the CRTC on this important issue, as well.

But, Mr. Speaker, I would hope that the government will also be meeting with NorthwesTel before they file this application to ensure they discuss with NorthwesTel the numbers of positions in the Northwest Territories. Given our fiscal situation and the importance of per capita funding in this Territory when it comes to our grant from Canada, I think it is essential we also demand NorthwesTel have an equitable distribution of positions in the Northwest Territories.

Mr. Speaker, our government must also contact the CRTC to insist that at least some of the hearings be held in the Northwest Territories and not just in the Yukon Territory. Mr. Speaker, later today, I will be addressing questions to the Minister responsible on this issue. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Dent. Item 4, Members' statements. Item 5, recognition of visitors in the gallery. Mr. Krutko.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, it gives me great honour to recognize a former Member of this Legislature, Mr. Pete Fraser, accompanied by his wife. Mr. Fraser was a very outspoken Member on dealing with seniors' issues.

--Applause

Recognition of visitors in the gallery. Mr. Allen.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to recognize the presence of my executive assistant, Tom Williams' mother, Agnes and sister, Susan, who are here to watch the afternoon's proceedings. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

--Applause

Thank you, Mr. Allen. Recognition of visitors in the gallery. Mr. Braden.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It is my deep pleasure to recognize one of the great headline grabbers of the North, my mother, Mrs. Esther Braden. I would also like to recognize Ms. Barb Hood, Executive Director of the Northwest Territories Seniors' Society.

--Applause

Welcome to the gallery, Mrs. Braden. Recognition of visitors in the gallery. Mr. Ootes.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. There are a number of people I would like to recognize. The first I would like to recognize is my wonderful supporter, Marg Baile, who is in the gallery with us today. I would also like to recognize a number of business people from Yellowknife, Mr. Jim Petersen, Mr. Tom Hoefer, Gord Stewart and David Connelly. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

-- Applause

Thank you, Mr. Ootes. Recognition of visitors in the gallery. The Chair would like to recognize a long-term resident and school teacher from the Northwest Territories, Mr. Ed Jeske. And, of course, all the visitors in the gallery, you do not go unrecognized and welcome to the Legislative Assembly.

-- Applause

Item 6, oral questions. The Member for Mackenzie Delta, Mr. Krutko.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Minister responsible for Transportation. In my Member's statement, I spoke of the possibility of the construction of a road down the Mackenzie River to connect with the Dempster Highway, also suggesting we also look at communities such as Aklavik and connecting them to the Dempster Highway. Ensuring that this government realizes that in order for us to meet our economic potential, we have to develop the infrastructure of the North which includes the Mackenzie Highway to the Beaufort Sea and our ability to connect our smaller communities to access to southern Canada.

Can the Minister tell me what stage is the discussion in regarding the highway strategy? Has he met with his counterparts with the federal government or had talks with the aboriginal groups? Also, has he looked at the possibility of combining the possibility of a pipeline with the highway construction in the Mackenzie Highway? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Krutko. The honourable Minister responsible for Transportation, Mr. Steen.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the NWT Highways Strategy is at the stage right now where we are just completing the studies. At this time, we have been sending out summaries of the studies to stakeholders, including the federal government. We are putting together a plan as to where we would go with this, based on the Northwest Territories economic development strategy, as well. So, we are kind of combining both studies together and having both strategies working in cooperation with each other, Mr. Speaker. At this point in time, we have not really put together any firm plan as to which section of the highway we would proceed with. All this is going to be included, to some degree, in the business plan. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Steen. Supplementary, Mr. Krutko.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I know there have been preliminary surveys done, especially in the extension of the highway from the Dempster to Tuktoyaktuk, but can the Minister tell me if there has been any similar work done to look at the possibility of connecting the community of Aklavik to the Dempster Highway?

Thank you, Mr. Krutko. The honourable Minister responsible for Transportation, Mr. Steen.

Mr. Speaker, there was some consultations with the community of Aklavik and there was some consideration given to an extension or an access road from Aklavik to the Dempster Highway. However, the department did not undertake any intensive studies on the project. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Steen. Mr. Krutko.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Can the Minister tell me if there is any possibility of meeting with the community of Aklavik, along with the Department of Transportation to see how that community can develop their needs in regarding the possibility of the highway and build that into the highway strategy?

Thank you, Mr. Krutko. Minister responsible for Transportation, Mr. Steen.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I could pass that on to the department, who will consider whether we can include some kind of a program with Aklavik to undertake further studies on that particular project.

Thank you, Mr. Steen. Final supplementary, Mr. Krutko.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As we all know, time usually flies in this Legislature. In four years, it comes and goes pretty quick. So, I would like to ask the Minister, can he commit to meeting with the community of Aklavik within the next couple of months?