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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I would like to announce that as of Wednesday, March 1, 2000, the maximum speed limit for trucks on the unreconstructed portion of Highway No. 3 between the Stagg River and Yellowknife will be reduced from its present 90 kilometres per hour to 70 kilometres per hour.

I believe that, in view of the condition of this section of highway and the increased volume of traffic travelling on it, a lower speed limit for trucks will reduce the wear and tear on the road and give motorists a greater sense of confidence that they can travel the highway safely. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Steen. Item 2, Ministers' statements. The honourable Minister responsible for Health and Social Services, Mrs. Jane Groenewegen.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the Minister's Forum on Health and Social Services was appointed last summer by the previous Minister responsible for Health and Social Services, Mr. Floyd Roland. Its mandate was to examine the health and social services system through a public consultation process and make recommendations to improve the system.

During their public consultations, the forum heard from over 800 groups, agencies and individuals. Forum members listened to Northwest Territories residents express concerns and possible ways to address these concerns. Then the forum members had the challenging task of summarizing what they heard into a report.

Mr. Speaker, I believe the forum's report has a very good title - Let's Get On With It!. The consultations and final report provide this government with yet another opportunity to evaluate our priorities and current actions. We know that the health and social services system in the Northwest Territories is facing increased challenges in delivering quality and timely care to the people of the Northwest Territories.

The challenges come from a growing and aging population, our vast geography, and higher-than-national rates in some key health concern areas, as highlighted in our Health Status Report. These issues place increasing demands on the system. Workable solutions are needed if we are to continue to meet the needs of our people.

As the forum consultations demonstrate, our strategic plan is focused in the right direction. We are working towards a people-focused system that places the needs of the family first and seeks to find community-based solutions to our health and social issues.

Mr. Speaker, we have been working on strategies and initiatives to improve our system. They include:

• • implementing a recruitment and retention strategy to bring stability to our northern workforce and increase its capacity;
• • implementing a health promotion strategy, placing more focus on preventing health and social conditions;
• • developing a mental health and wellness strategy to address issues like family violence, substance abuse and addictions and to determine the network of services that should be in place; and
• • implementing changes to improve institutional and community-based programs for people requiring continuing care.

As their first priority, the forum has suggested we develop criteria for establishing or continuing with health and social services boards. Concerns regarding the administration and the number of these boards have been raised in the past by MLAs, professional associations and members of the public. The number and variety of board structures can be costly and make it difficult to coordinate effective delivery across the system. Mr. Speaker, I have already directed my department to begin work in this area, and I hope to have options to review this spring.

There are many other examples of our progress. The forum's report has added momentum to the work underway. Later today, I will be tabling the final report of the Minister's forum. I have already instructed my department to begin examining the recommendations contained in the report. I will be inviting stakeholders to comment on the implications these recommendations have for our system. Based on this review, I will table a formal response to the forum's report this spring.

I would like to take this opportunity to recognize the hard work and dedication of the forum members, including:

• • Duncan McNeill, Hay River;
• • Glenna Hansen, Inuvik;
• • Don Blaquiere, Fort Simpson;
• • Gina Dolphus, Fort Smith;
• • Hazel Nerysoo, Fort McPherson;
• • Dee McCallum, RN, Yellowknife;
• • Blair Dunbar, Social Worker, Yellowknife; and
• • Ross Wheeler, Yellowknife.

These individuals have demonstrated their passion and commitment to making a difference in the lives of Northerners, and for this we are grateful. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mrs. Groenewegen. Item 2, Ministers' statements. The honourable Premier, Mr. Stephen Kakfwi.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the Business Development Fund is one of many incentive programs offered by the Department of Resources, Wildlife and Economic Development. Later today, I will be tabling the fund's Recipients' Report for 1998-99, as well as the Annual Report.

Members will note that both of these reports cover the time period prior to division. The Recipients' Report identifies the contributions made through the fund while the Annual Report provides analysis of the program.

Mr. Speaker, the Business Development Fund provides assistance to northern businesses to help cover start-up costs, to secure additional investment and to develop business skills, new markets and products. The fund paid out $3.6 million to 274 approved businesses during 1998-99. Funding was provided for a variety of business ventures. For example, a $6,000 contribution to Noda Enterprises Ltd. In Kakisa for marketing and advertising services in support of the community's general store and a $45,000 contribution to Deh Cho Air Ltd., in Fort Liard for the purchase of an aircraft.

Through the community initiatives program of the Business Development Fund, financial assistance is provided to community-based organizations for economic development projects that benefit entire communities. This program is designed to work in partnership with other community development programs. During 1998-99, $5.7 million was distributed among 259 community initiatives. Contributions ranged from $1,000 to Deninu K'ue Development Corporation in Fort Resolution for participation in an economic development conference to $110,000 to the Community Gardening Society in Inuvik to help cover costs involved in converting the arena into an operating greenhouse.

The majority of funding provided through the Business Development Fund went to aboriginal-owned business and communities.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to take this opportunity to commend the spirit and enthusiasm of the business community in the Northwest Territories and extend our commitment for on-going service and assistance. The efforts of the business community continue to play a vital role in the growth of our northern economy. Mahsi cho.

Thank you, Mr. Kakfwi. Item 2, Ministers' statements. Item 3, Members' statements. The Member for Mackenzie Delta, Mr. Krutko.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I would like to bring the attention of this House to a young individual, Ms. Candace Smith of Fort McPherson. This young lady is very deserving of recognition for her initiative to look for ways to improve herself.

Candace, on her own initiative, applied for a program, EF Foundations High School Years Abroad, and was accepted to attend school down under in New Zealand. Candace has taken this initiative on her own, realizing it is not only going to be a new adventure but a challenge.

It takes people such as Candace and other young individuals to show if you have a dream, then reach for it and move on. She will be attending high school along with 350 other kids and living with a newlywed couple on their dairy farm in New Zealand.

Candace has received great support from the communities in the Mackenzie Delta. She has been supported by organizations such as Brighter Futures, the Gwich'in Tribal Council, and the Inuvik Lion's Club. This type of support and confidence in our young people is very encouraging.

Mr. Speaker, it is important that these types of support mechanisms help not only the individuals, but build up the confidence of the people in the communities, so they can believe that where there is a will, there is a way to take on these initiatives.

Candace's parents, Dean and Annie Smith of Fort McPherson, deserve recognition. They have obviously given Candace the love and support she needed to take on such a venture.

It is this type of parental and community support that is needed to raise children to have a good feeling about themselves, children who are ready to take on the role of representing not only themselves, but also their community.

Candace is a great role model to all young people. It is a wonderful experience to say that it takes a whole community to raise a child. With that, Mr. Speaker, I wish Candace all the best. To Dean and Annie Smith, I would like to acknowledge their efforts in raising Candace. Thank you.

-- Applause

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, today I would like to briefly address the issue of the long outstanding need for a comprehensive energy strategy for the Northwest Territories. This is an issue I raised repeatedly during the life of the 13th Assembly, and I want to raise it again today. It is a critical issue. There have been some efforts made, but in my opinion nothing substantive has been done.

On Tuesday I posed a written question asking for the costs for the provision of fuel and energy throughout the Northwest Territories for all government services. In my opinion, Mr. Speaker, when those numbers are in, all associated and related costs will show that we spend well over $100 million a year in this particular area.

We have to look at how we use energy, how we get it there, and are we doing it the right way? We have to look at the role of NTPC, our major asset, but also one of the biggest liabilities that we have in terms of the debt that we now run. The rising fuel prices make it incumbent upon us to look at this.

We also have to look at the environmental issues, the Kyoto Agreement. We all have to look at the issue of regulatory reform with the Public Utilities Board as to how we monitor and police the services we provide. Some communities are taking very aggressive, positive steps. Fort Simpson is looking at ways of lowering their energy costs. They believe the steps they have taken can save them 20 percent on the cost of the services.

Mr. Speaker, this also ties in to the resource development that we have, because it is related to energy, oil and gas development. I believe there are significant savings to be realized here. The steps taken in the past with the Energy Alliance, while a baby step forward, have to go beyond ten kilowatts, from changing your light bulbs, which is important, to looking at the broader fundamental structural issues related to the provision of energy.

I would hope this government will pursue this vigorously. I will be raising this issue with the committees and through the business planning process. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I would like to take this opportunity today to congratulate all of the boys and girls and men and women who will be representing the Northwest Territories at the Arctic Winter Games this March in Whitehorse. I think we can see that Team NWT has a lot of experience and is made up of communities across the North - 15 different communities are represented, Mr. Speaker, for a total of 339 delegates.

This includes athletes, officials, chaperones, and coaches. I think we have 24 different sporting events ranging from things like hockey and volleyball to Arctic sports and Dene games. I would like to congratulate all of the athletes who were successful, as I know this is a very important and valuable experience. I look back at the two Arctic Winter Games I was fortunate enough to participate in and I realize that these are some of my fondest memories growing up in the North. I made a lot of friends that I still know today.

I think you will also find your experience will help you learn valuable life lessons. Lessons like teamwork, how to win graciously, and, at times, how to lose with dignity and sportsmanship. I think these are very important lessons that will serve you well. Good luck, and everyone in the room here today hopes you will bring us back some new, shiny hardware. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

-- Applause

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. At the risk of turning this into a sportscast, Mr. Speaker, I would like to recognize that this week in Thunder Bay, Ontario, about 260 top junior athletes from across Canada are participating in the Canadian Junior National Cross Country Ski Championships at the Lappe Nordic Ski Club.

The ski team representing the Northwest Territories is composed of Sarah Daitch from Fort Smith and Yellowknifers Starr Stinson and Mike Argue, Seth Lippert, Ella Stinson, and Sheena Trembly. I am pleased to note that Mike, Seth and Sheena are constituents of Great Slave.

The results, after two days of competition, are Mike Argue with a gold medal in the pursuit race and a silver medal in the 15K classic race. Sarah Daitch of Fort Smith has earned a silver medal in the women's 10K classic race. In the overall standings, Mr. Argue is just one point out of first place in the junior men's division.

Mr. Speaker, in the 1970's the majority of the skiers on the Canadian National Team, led by Sharon and Shirley Firth of Inuvik, were from the Northwest Territories. Our colleague for Inuvik Twin Lakes, who represented Canada in international competitions from 1968 to 1972, was also a part of this tradition.

Cross country skiing promotes healthy lifestyles and is enjoyed by many for both pleasure and competition. I am pleased the Northwest Territories is represented by such a strong team. I know the Members here, and in particular the Member for Thebacha, want to join me in wishing our Northwest Territories team well in the remaining races. Mr. Speaker, we should also acknowledge the efforts of the coaches, the officials and the other volunteers who made these results possible for their contribution to a healthy lifestyle for everyone in the North. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

-- Applause

Thank you, Mr. Braden. Item 3, Members' statements. The Member for Range Lake, Ms. Lee.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to take this opportunity today to celebrate something very positive going on in the city of Yellowknife, that being the increasing number of Japanese tourists who travel a very long distance to make Yellowknife and the Northwest Territories one of their tour destinations in Canada. This month alone, Mr. Speaker, upwards of 2500 Japanese visitors are expected to visit our city. There are up to 300 of them in the city on any given day, looking up at our sky at night, visiting our shops and eating country food at our local restaurants.

Just last night I was at the Explorer Hotel at 9:00 p.m. and watched two school buses full of the tourists in their familiar red gear heading out into the night to see the northern lights. The sight of them warms my heart. I have also had the occasion last week to talk to the local restaurant operators, who are very happy to have these visitors fill their premises every night in what is otherwise a very slow tourist season.

Last year there were approximately 7000 Japanese visitors, but we are expected to surpass that by a large margin this year, as we have already exceeded that number with two more months left to go in the season.

Mr. Speaker, what we should recognize is that this is not simply an overnight success that happened by accident. A number of local operators have been working very hard for over a decade to perfect this very specialized product. The visiting tourists are catered to take advantage of everything our city and the North have to offer, above and beyond the northern lights, including dog sled rides, snowmobile tours, caribou viewing, snow shoeing and ice-fishing demonstrations.

It should also be recognized that this has been achieved without a lot of assistance from the government, and perhaps even in spite of it. All of the local operators and service businesses should be commended for making this possible.

Unfortunately, Mr. Speaker, not everything about this is positive. If the number of visitors continues to grow at this rate, we will not have enough accommodation space in the city to accommodate them all. And the solution to this is not as simple as building an extra hotel to accommodate them. The demand for accommodation in the city during the summer is not nearly as high as that in the winter. In fact, the number of visitors to the North has experienced a steady decline over the last number of years.

The tourism industry needs the government's action to help develop our summer tourist product.

Ms. Lee, your time has expired.

The Member is seeking unanimous consent to conclude her statement. Do we have any nays? There are no nays. You may continue, Ms. Lee.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker, and colleagues. The tourism industry needs the government's action to help develop our summer tourist product to match our winter product. We need a comprehensive action plan in partnership with all stakeholders.

I appreciate that this government, along with all the Members on this side of the House, will continue to work hard for the next little while to set our priorities on how to get the governance right and how to achieve a healthy economy and healthy people.

As a Member for Yellowknife, I intend to work hard to push for a coordinated and common sense tourism strategy that will benefit the economy of our city and our Territory so that this success story can be shared across many sectors in our economy. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

-- Applause

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

Thank you, Mr. Lafferty. Item 3, Members' statements. The Member for Nunakput, Mr. Steen.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, last weekend the opening ceremonies of the Trans Canada Trail Relay 2000 took place in Tuktoyaktuk. Many people took part including elders, RCMP, Armed Forces, Canadian Rangers, Arctic College students, instructors, and volunteers.

Two elders in their 80's, Laura Raymond and Edgar Kotokak, were designated as official water carriers as well as the mayor of Dawson City, His Worship Glen Everett, Member of Parliament, the Honourable Ethel Blondin-Andrew, I.R.C. Chief Nellie Cournoyea, the mayor of Tuktoyaktuk, His Worship Ernest Pokiak, and myself, representing the Minister responsible for Municipal and Community Affairs, the Honourable Jim Antoine. Water was carried from the Arctic Ocean water source to the Canada Trail Monument, a distance of more than one kilometre. Mr. Speaker, one wonders what was going through the minds of these elders as they carried these water jars in weather of minus 56 with the wind chill factor.

I take this opportunity to recognize and thank those volunteers who gave so freely of their time to make this event the success it was. There are too many to mention them all by name, Mr. Speaker, but there were rangers of Tuktoyaktuk like David Nasagaluk, Jesse Panaktalok, Luga Nasagaluak and the people who chiseled the hole through five feet of ice to reach Arctic Ocean water. As well, Jean Gruben took part in the blessing of the water at the Canada Trail Monument site.

I would like to recognize the Tuktoyaktuk Drummers and the fiddlers and guitar players who played for the square dance into the early morning hours. The master of ceremonies for this event, Steve Cockney, who helped organize this, definitely deserves mentioning. People who contributed to the feast and helped serve the elders also deserve mentioning like Jean Gruben, Tina Steen, Lloyd Gruben, Nellie Cournoyea, Ethel Blondin-Andrew and many more.

Mr. Speaker, this was a very happy event even though it was cold and I would like to thank all those who helped and took part. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Steen. We wish them well and look forward to a report on the conclusion of their run. Item 3, Members' statements. The Member for Frame Lake, Mr. Dent.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, a couple of days ago I listened with interest as Mr. Bell questioned the Minister responsible for Education, Culture and Employment about whether the Working Together Program would continue in the next fiscal year.

This program has been a tremendous success, creating hundreds of jobs for young people over the years. Not just creating jobs for students, but also for those who are making the difficult transition from school to employment.

Mr. Speaker, as we have heard over and over, youth have a much higher rate of unemployment than others in the North. Working Together has helped by making it easier for employers to hire inexperienced people, allowing young people to escape the vicious circle that results from not having enough experience to get a job, and no way to get a job without having some experience.

Minister Ootes advised the House that funding for this important and effective program will end on March 31, 2000, scant weeks before students arrive home, hoping to make some money to help them return to school next fall, or recent graduates looking for their first job.

Mr. Speaker, I hope the Minister will remember how important he thought this program was when it was discussed in this House last year. Looking at Hansard for May 10th, 1999, Mr. Ootes, as the Member for Yellowknife Centre, said, and I quote:

"We have been talking about ensuring employment for students for a number of years now. It seems strange to me that we have a special program called Working Together, and only if the budget is passed, do we have that summer student employment program."

He went on to say, and I quote:

"It seems to me that this kind of program should have been planned out well ahead of time. We were well aware that we were going to have an interim budget and I would have thought it would have been in that interim budget."

Mr. Speaker, on reviewing Hansard for February 22, 2000 Mr. Ootes told us that this program will only continue if it is included in the budget. We know, from Mr. Handley's statement, that the budget will not be introduced in the House until June.

Mr. Speaker, that is far too late to help summer students this year. A program this important must be supported. I hope Mr. Ootes will remember the position he took on this program when he was on this side of the House. We must quickly assure young people and employers that the Working Together Program will continue. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

-- Applause

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, our fiscal situation impacts how we look at our economic potential. Mr. Speaker, the role of government in this area plays a large role of how the economic potential will be developed.

I know many organizations outside of this government would rather have us play a lesser role. They want to see us move forward, and not tie it up with red tape. There is a need to be proactive in this area, Mr. Speaker. We have to take positive action that results in accomplishments.

It has been said time and time again how government has so much red tape. Have we done anything to clear it up? We have billions of dollars ready to be spent in the Northwest Territories if we can become proactive and move forward on the potential we have sitting in the ground. How are we going to do that?

It takes dollars to be involved. The longer we hold back and not develop on these processes, we will find ourselves in a more difficult position when it comes to developing our own potential.

We know there is talk of an intergovernmental forum, which I think is the right avenue to take. But we need to get on with the process. We need to get to the table and talk out the discussions. I note what Premier Kakfwi has stated on a number of occasions, in the previous Assembly as well as early on in this one; maybe it is time to lock ourselves behind closed doors for two or three days and hammer out a deal.

We know the aboriginal groups are being proactive. They have come out and made motions in the area of sustainable development. We are starting down that process. We need to get a move on it so we can truly find new dollars to put towards effective programs in the Northwest Territories, not just try to move around our ever-shrinking dollar. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

-- Applause

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

Thank you, Mr. Nitah. Item 3, Members' statements. The Member for Hay River North, Mr. Delorey.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I would like to bring the conversation back into the sports arena for a minute, on the topic of the Arctic Winter Games. I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate all of the athletes from Hay River who have been successful in obtaining a spot on Team NWT for the Arctic Winter Games.

I would also like to thank all of the coaches from Hay River who have put in a lot of time with the athletes to get the teams ready. And I would like to thank all of the volunteers who have participated in organizing the regional and territorial trials, which enabled us to have the best of our athletes represent us at the Arctic Winter Games.

I would like to commend the staff at Sport North. Having been involved in the Arctic Winter Games for a number of years as a coach and participant, I have worked closely with the staff at Sport North. They perform all of the organizing for the sports. This year, they seem to have done an exceptional job. I do not know if it is because of the split with Nunavut that they have fewer athletes, but they are doing a wonderful job. I have enjoyed working with them this year.

I feel privileged to have the opportunity to participate in the Arctic Winter Games again this year. I am going to be coaching the Hay River Junior Girls Curling Team. I am privileged to have that opportunity. I would like to issue a challenge to Members on both sides of the House; it is incumbent upon us to have good representation at the Arctic Winter Games. We sit in the House and talk about how good this is for our kids and how important it is to have them involved in the games. I think it is also important for us to be very visible to our athletes at the games, to show we support them and encourage their participation in the sport. Thank you, very much, Mr. Speaker.

-- Applause

Thank you, Mr. Delorey. Item 3, Members' statements. Item 4, returns to oral questions. The honourable Minister responsible for Finance, the Honourable Joe Handley.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I would like to address questions raised by Mr. Roland in the House concerning the business planning and main estimates process. First, I would like to clarify my previous statement regarding the call letters for the 2000 to 2003 business plan. Deputy ministers were briefed on the schedule and process on February 18, 2000. The actual call letters will be sent to all departments on February 24, 2000.

In response to Mr. Roland's question concerning the final direction for the main estimate process, call letters will be sent by mid-March. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. This is a response to a question asked by Ms. Sandy Lee on February 23, 2000, regarding a fuel spill on Highway No. 3.

You asked for the status of the cleanup and the extent of environmental damage related to the RTL tanker truck accident on Highway No. 3 on February 20, 2000. Some of the details in media reports concerning the volume of the spill and the status of cleanup have not been entirely accurate.

Although the quantity of diesel spilled has not been determined, RTL estimates half of the 43,000 litre load was lost. The resulting contamination has been limited to the immediate area of the spill. A small nearby slough is not expected to be impacted. The immediate cleanup activities should be completed by RTL over the next two days. There is a possibility that contamination may have seeped into the ground and, therefore, the company will have to readdress this issue during spring run-off. RWED will continue to monitor the immediate cleanup activities and follow up with site inspections in the spring and summer to determine if further cleanup is required by the company. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Kakfwi. Item 4, returns to oral questions. Item 5, recognition of visitors in the gallery.

At this time, I would like to recognize the 11 Russian aboriginal leaders in the gallery today, who are here as part of their tour of Canada, sponsored by the Inuit Circumpolar Conference, Canada office, to learn from the Canadian aboriginal experience.

During their three weeks in Canada, they have attended a ten-day seminar in Ottawa, met with national aboriginal leaders, federal parliamentarians and senators, visited the Blood Tribe in southern Alberta, the Inuvialuit and Gwich'in of Inuvik and Aklavik, the Metis Nation, and officials of DIAND and the Department of Aboriginal Affairs here in Yellowknife, and are now here to visit our gallery. This is the final step of their three-week journey across Canada. I would like to ask you to welcome them to our gallery. Enjoy your visit.

-- Applause

Item 5, recognition of visitors in the gallery. The Member for Mackenzie Delta, Mr. Krutko.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It gives me great pleasure to recognize the president of the Metis Nation of the Northwest Territories, Mr. George Morin.

-- Applause

Item 5, recognition of visitors in the gallery. I would like to take this opportunity to recognize Mr. Arthur Inch, a long time resident of the Northwest Territories, and the father of our committee clerk, Mr. Dave Inch.

-- Applause

Welcome, Mr. Inch. Item 5, recognition of visitors in the gallery. The Member for Hay River North, Mr. Delorey.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to recognize an ex-resident of Hay River, and a friend of mine, Pat Thomas.

-- Applause

Welcome, Ms. Thomas. Item 5, recognition of visitors in the gallery. I would like to recognize the president of the Metis Nation, Mr. George Morin. Item 5, recognition of visitors in the gallery. Item 6, oral questions. The Member for Mackenzie Delta, Mr. Krutko.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my question is to the Minister responsible for Education, Culture and Employment regarding my Member's statement about this young individual who took it upon herself to see what other educational institutions are out there, where she feels she can probably get a better education and some cultural experience by going overseas.

I am speaking of the program that Ms. Candace Smith was able to enter, which is the E.F.S.F. High School Year Abroad Program, which is a program that is delivered worldwide. In this program, students have opportunities to go to school in the United Kingdom, Germany, Australia, France, the United States, and New Zealand, which Ms. Smith chose.

One of the problems I have seen working with the family was that there are no territorial programs in place to assist people who find themselves accepted into these national programs. I would like to ask the Minister if the department has looked at the Education Act to find a way in which they can consolidate not only federal programs but initiatives such as this, where students from the Northwest Territories go overseas? Has the department looked at the possibility of providing financial assistance on behalf of this government?

Thank you, Mr. Krutko. The Minister responsible for Education, Culture and Employment, the Honourable Mr. Ootes.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. First of all, I think Mr. Krutko has a point that it is commendable that students look for opportunities in other jurisdictions that perhaps offer very beneficial programs. In this case, it has shown a great deal of initiative by the individual.

The ability of the territorial government to assist in this has been limited by the regulations we have in place, where we provide funding to the nearest destination.

I am not sure if all of the possibilities have been explored, in terms of providing funding for people to go to other jurisdictions outside of the country. I will certainly check that for the Member and get back to him on that.

Thank you, Mr. Ootes. Supplementary, Mr. Krutko.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Regarding other groups and agencies, such as the Brighter Futures Program, and funding from the Gwich'in Tribal Council, and charitable organizations such as the Lions Club...I feel it is initiatives like these where we can see some positive outcomes. The experience alone as a government is worth it to see what other institutions are doing around the world in improving the education of the people in the North.

I would like to ask the Minister if he could also look at the possibility of working with organizations to find some charitable society or institution where we can work in partnership to assist people in these types of programs?

Thank you, Mr. Krutko. The Minister for Education, Culture and Employment, Mr. Ootes.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Yes, I think it is important we identify all of the possibilities where funding can potentially come from for students to study in other jurisdictions. This may have already been done, Mr. Speaker. It is a case for me to sit down with the department to see what has been done. If nothing has been done, I will commit to looking into the possibility of finding possible sources for funding. There are other programs in the federal government that are operated in the Territories. We are trying to coordinate that whole area and get more information on it. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Ootes. Supplementary, Mr. Krutko.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. In the question of coordination, there are times that we find there is a lot of federal programs developed around educational opportunities. This government has to have a mechanism in place so we can consolidate what we are doing in the North so we can assist people who access these federal programs, so we can offset some of the associated costs. I would like to ask the Minister if he would look at a mechanism so that when federal programs are developed in the areas of education, we have the ability in the North to be able to consolidate what we give to our education system so they work hand in hand, not only nationally but territorially, so we can take full advantage of the opportunities these programs provide. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Krutko. Mr. Ootes.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It would take a bit of time to talk in terms of consolidation. What we can certainly do is start to identify the types of programs that are accessible to students. Then, we can possibly provide a mechanism to make students aware of them, if we are requested to provide information on other sources of funding. Thank you.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Regarding the idea of streamlining the programs and services, eliminating the red tape..., I think that is what students want. They want more ability to access these programs. I would like to ask the Minister about the possibility of looking at the Education Act to ensure we can streamline our programs so they are more operational? So students do not have the problems they find themselves in when trying to access federal programs and territorial programs at the same time.

Thank you, Mr. Krutko. Mr. Ootes.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I will certainly take Mr. Krutko's concerns and suggestions under advisement. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Ootes. Item 6, oral questions. The Member for Yellowknife South, Mr. Bell.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My question is for the Premier, who is the Minister responsible for Resources, Wildlife and Economic Development.

Many of my constituents, and indeed all Northerners, are very concerned about the arsenic that is stockpiled right beneath our feet. I wonder if the Premier can tell us which level of government is currently spearheading the cleanup effort? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Bell. The Minister responsible for Resources, Wildlife and Economic Development, the Honourable Stephen Kakfwi.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The cleanup of the Giant Mine site was started a few weeks ago. It is spearheaded by DIAND. It is done with the assistance of a number of organizations.

The surface cleanup is the part of the cleanup that has been initiated at this point. We are still waiting for some indication from the federal government as to what they may be prepared to do regarding the cleanup of the arsenic. How that will be addressed is unclear at this time, as we are waiting for word from the federal government on that part of the cleanup. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Kakfwi. Supplementary, Mr. Bell.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I am wondering if the Premier can tell us whether DIAND has given us any indication at this early stage of the timeline for the cleanup process? And also the cost of the process and whether or not that will cost the taxpayers of the Northwest Territories? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Bell. Minister Kakfwi.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The surface cleanup is being covered by DIAND at this time. It is estimated to cost roughly a half million dollars. To deal with the arsenic cleanup underground, the cost is estimated in the neighbourhood of $60 million. That is the responsibility of the federal government.

There was some indication the Minister of Environment, David Anderson, may be taking the initiative to address contaminated sites across this country. We have not heard any word, so we are awaiting some indication from the federal government as to the scope of responsibility they will be accepting and to the extent to which they will put resources to address the issue. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Kakfwi. Item 6, oral questions. The Member for Frame Lake, Mr. Dent.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Minister responsible for Education, Culture and Employment. As I noted in my Member's statement, Working Together is a very important youth employment program. As the Member for Yellowknife Centre noted on May 10th, 1999:

"the amount the program requires, $1 million, is very small, and surely the department can juggle funds within to ensure it continues."

Mr. Speaker, will the Minister ensure that happens this year?

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to go back to some of the background on this. This particular program dates back to 1997. It was part of the Government of the Northwest Territories Northern Employment Strategy. It was a two-year program, and was continued for an additional year due to its success. The money for that came from the Financial Management Board, and was above the departmental budget. The program offers subsidies for employers to hire and train young students. Some 1500 students have been helped.

I certainly share the concerns Mr. Dent and other Members have expressed. I am very well aware that young people will be returning home for the summer, looking for work.

I would like to see the program continued but, as I said earlier, funding for this program had come from outside of the department. It had been provided by the Financial Management Board.

I have just come into this department and must state that while we have the opportunity for the interim appropriation, at this point I have not been able to address this issue from a financial point of view. Considering the money came from outside of the department before, I would have to take into consideration where to find the funding. Thank you.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I am happy to hear the Minister agrees this is an extremely important program. I would ask the Minister, rather than waiting for an interim supplementary bill, will he commit to, now that he is in the position to make the difference, juggle funds from within and ensure the program continues? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Dent. Mr. Ootes.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As I said, the funding for this came from the Financial Management Board, not from within the department. I would have to take that into consideration before I could make any commitment as to addressing the funding issue. Until I have an opportunity to address it and to see where funding can be found, I cannot answer that question. Thank you.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I am disappointed to hear the Minister cannot commit to that, but will the Minister ensure funds to continue the Working Together Program are put in the interim supplementary bill as part of the department's appropriations, as he said the previous government should when he was an Ordinary Member?

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I am getting repetitive here, but as I said, the money actually was found and provided by the Financial Management Board, not from within the department, and therefore, consideration has to be made and discussions have to take place to see where the money could be found if it was to be considered. Thank you.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I think we are all well aware of the process, Mr. Speaker. What I am hoping to find is a commitment from this Minister that he will do his utmost to ensure that this program can be announced as proceeding when we come back in this House in March. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Dent. Mr. Ootes.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I will do my utmost to work on this particular issue. As I said, I am well aware of the importance of this issue, with the students coming back to the Northwest Territories. Employment is needed. I think it is very important.

I should also make mention of the fact that the government's Summer Student Employment Program, where the government itself hires students, is meeting in early March. We hope to have a database of students set up by early April so we can position students within the government for casual placements where possible. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Ootes. Oral questions. The honourable Member for Thebacha, Mr. Miltenberger.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My question is directed to the Minister responsible for Education, Culture and Employment regarding student employment within the government of the Northwest Territories.

The Minister said yesterday or the day before this is a centralized service out of the Executive for all of the Northwest Territories. Does that mean that every summer, those students who want a job, be it in Fort Smith or Sachs Harbour or Colville Lake, has to send their resume to someone here in Yellowknife, who will then make a decision or coordinate this? Thank you.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I am not sure of the answer, but I will undertake to ensure this can be applied through their communities or central regions, and then it comes into the database in Yellowknife. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Ootes. Supplementary, Mr. Miltenberger.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I will have to ask the Minister to clarify that. What is he saying, that they can apply, and then look for jobs in the government? They can apply in the regions and the region can make decisions to hire? Or do they have to apply in their region or community and the resume then goes to Yellowknife for final determination? Thank you.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As I said earlier, I do not have the complete answer to this question. What I will commit to do is ensure that students can at least submit their applications on a regional basis so there is more access for students.

Thank you, Mr. Ootes. Oral questions. Supplementary, Mr. Miltenberger.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to know more clearly, since meetings have already been held and April is upon us, are students going to have to apply to some centralized body, some small window where there is a civil servant in Yellowknife that is going decide who gets jobs in the communities? Are they going to have to do that? Are we going to have that centralized control back in Yellowknife? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Miltenberger. The Honourable Premier, Mr. Stephen Kakfwi.

Mr. Speaker, the Summer Student Employment Program is going to continue this year as it has in the past when Mr. Miltenberger was part of the Executive. There is going to be no change from when he was a Minister of this government. It is centralized. All the students that apply will be submitting their resumes to a central location, which will be here in Yellowknife. The resumes and the names of the students will be made available to departments, boards and agencies that require them, and they will be able to hire these students. It is going to be coordinated from Yellowknife. It is no different from the way it was done in the past, except that this year we hope that we can upgrade the potential to have internet access to the database for people. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Kakfwi. Final supplementary, Mr. Miltenberger.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I will address my supplementary then, to the Premier, Mr. Kakfwi. I am still not clear. I do not recollect the decisions for hiring summer students are not made in the regions by the superintendents, by the departments that need the people, but rather by some person sitting in the Executive office in Yellowknife as opposed to a coordinating function that disseminates the resumes?

Thank you, Mr. Miltenberger. The Honourable Stephen Kakfwi.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Students that are eligible send their resumes into the Government of the Northwest Territories, and these are put together here in Yellowknife. Their resumes are made available to all the regions, communities, boards, and agencies that are within the government, and these people do the hiring. Their resumes are just made available through this central database. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Kakfwi. Item 6, oral questions. The Member for Range Lake, Miss Lee.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My question is to the Premier. It is in regards to the situation of the laid off Giant Mine workers. Mr. Speaker, there are a huge number of laid off Giant Mine workers that live in my riding. Throughout my campaign, I have had many occasions to talk to them about their predicament. It seems they had to suffer through a major problem with their severance pay, and now the latest thing is that their pension will be cut by 25 percent. My question to the Premier is to ask him what this government has done, thus far, in terms of addressing these problems with the pension and severance for these workers?

Thank you, Ms. Lee. The Honourable Stephen Kakfwi, Premier.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. We are concerned about the situation for the workers of Giant Mine and the difficulties they are having with their pensions. We have raised that with the Member of Parliament, Ethel Blondin Andrew, and she has informed us recently that she is checking out possible ways in which the federal government may consider addressing this difficulty. At this time, we know that she has raised it with the Secretary of State for Financial Institutions. There is no indication, at this time, whether the federal government will be able to do anything to help, but this is the extent of the work that has been done on this particular issue. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Premier. Supplementary, Ms. Lee.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I appreciate the Premier's answer with respect to the pension side of this predicament of the workers, but there is also the question of severance pay, which was a lot less than most workers had expected. I appreciate, Mr. Speaker, that with respect to the severance package, it was a deal made between two private companies. But what I would like the Minister to know is that it is not just about two companies dealing with this. It involves the working of all governments. My question to the Minister is, will the Premier make a commitment to really put pressure on the federal government to address the concerns of these workers? I really think that the government has to pressure this. This is not just about the deals between two companies. It is about the rights of workers. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Ms. Lee. The Honourable Stephen Kakfwi, Premier.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. We know the federal government shares the concerns raised by the Member, and we believe the federal government is taking the matter seriously to the extent that the Member of Parliament has raised it with the federal ministers, with a resolve to try to address and alleviate the difficulties that this issue raises with the Giant Mine employees. That is the extent to which we can comment on it. We know the federal government is taking it seriously and they are looking for ways to help, if they can. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Kakfwi. Supplementary, Ms. Lee.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I will make this question very short. Will the Premier make the commitment to make these items, this pension and severance for the workers, a priority of his workload? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Ms. Lee. The Honourable Stephen Kakfwi, Premier.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I will commit to following up with the Member of Parliament to see that we keep whatever pressure we can on getting the federal government to provide some positive response at the earliest possible date. Thank you.