Mr. Lafferty, your time has expired.

Thank you, Mr. Lafferty. The Member for North Slave is seeking unanimous consent to conclude his statement. Do we have any nays? There are no nays. You may conclude your statement, Mr. Lafferty.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my statement today is about youth.

In a society and world that often seems to be too big, and too uncaring for any chance of making a change, there are young people striving to do just that.

These individuals help us realize that no matter what the odds, nothing will happen until someone with the will and the commitment takes a first step, and others join in.

Today, Mr. Speaker, I want to recognize two young people who are endeavouring to make a difference and who can serve as an inspiration to us all.

Janet Wong, a 17-year old student at Sir John Franklin High School in Yellowknife, joined in the national "Stop Racism Youth Challenge" last year. Along with some schoolmates, she helped create the anti-racism mural at the YWCA here in Yellowknife, a project in support of tolerance and understanding of all races around the world. Janet is also a busy volunteer in causes that include Students Against Drunk Driving, and the Terry Fox and Run for the Cure cancer runs.

Her younger sister, Helen, has been the top fundraiser for the past three years in her school class effort to raise money for UNICEF, the United Nations Education, Scientific and Cultural Organization. Helen's hope for the new millennium, Mr. Speaker, is simple and powerful; that all children have a chance to go to school.

These two young people have been honoured as Millennium Dreamers for their outstanding contribution. They will be joining 80 other youth from across Canada as ambassadors for their country in May.

Along with their parents, they will be guests of UNESCO, McDonald's Restaurants, and Walt Disney World in Florida, where more than 2,000 young people from 100 countries will participate in a three-day symposium called, "Kids Inspiring Kids for a Better Tomorrow".

Mr. Speaker, for me, this is all about how kids can make a difference. I invite this Assembly to join me in acknowledging their work, and the efforts made by many other young people across the Northwest Territories who believe they too can make a difference. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

-- Applause

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

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to take this opportunity to recognize the pages that are here from the Deh Cho. We have four pages from my home community of Fort Providence. They are all students from the Deh Gah School in Fort Providence. I would like to thank them for coming and sacrificing one week of school to be here with us. The pages that are here from Fort Providence are Ashley Arychuk, Julie Elleze, Robyn McLeod and Victoria Constant.

On behalf of the 14th Legislative Assembly, I would like to say welcome, and I hope they enjoy their stay here in Yellowknife. Thank you.

-- Applause

Thank you, Mr. McLeod. Welcome, pages. We had the pleasure of meeting the pages not that long ago while we were in Fort Providence. Item 3, Members' statements. Item 4, returns to oral questions. The Minister responsible for Education, Culture and Employment, and for the NWT Power Corporation, Mr. Ootes.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I have a return to a question asked by Mr. Nitah and Mr. Delorey on February 25, 2000 on aboriginal education rights and designation of financial assistance funding.

The Government of the Northwest Territories does not receive funding from the Government of Canada specifically earmarked for aboriginal post-secondary students. The Government of the NWT devotes an allocation for programs, but does not specify how much goes to aboriginal post-secondary students. Specifically, the money devoted for the Student Financial Assistance Program does not specify allocations for Dene students, Métis students, Inuit students or non-aboriginal students.

The only education support program administered by the Government of the Northwest Territories in which money is specified for certain aboriginal groups is the University College Entrance Preparation Program, which is actually a federal program. We administer the federal guidelines for the program that allocates grants to status Indian and Inuit students, who require one year or less of academic preparation prior to post-secondary studies. I have several other returns. Would you like me to carry on?

Thank you, Mr. Ootes. Yes, you may continue with your next return.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I have two more returns. The next one was asked by Ms. Lee on February 25th on the Student Financial Assistance Program. What is the total number and proportion of students accessing the NWT SFA Program by student category?

There are 1,244 students who are accessing student financial assistance during the current academic year. This includes 362 Dene students, 114 Inuit students, 154 Metis students and 614 non-aboriginal students. This means that Dene students make up 29 percent of the students, Inuit students make up 9.2 percent of the students, Metis students, 12.4 percent, and non-aboriginal, 49.4 percent of the student population.

My next return was asked by Mr. Miltenberger on February 29th. It was on the effect of division on the NWT Power Corporation Headquarters. The impact of the division of the NWT Power Corporation on the Hay River headquarters is not yet known.

The decision to divide the corporation was made in November, 1999. Before the final impact on headquarters can be determined, the corporation must know what the Government of Nunavut's intentions are with respect to a systems manager contract to provide services to the new Nunavut Power Corporation. This request for proposals was issued in October, 1999, but no decision has been taken yet. Should the corporation win the system manager's contract, or a contract to provide services, this will have a great impact on its post-division staffing levels in Hay River.

In response to the decisions to divide the corporation, a review has been initiated of its organizational structure, in both the head office and in the field, to determine the optimal post-division structure. Until this review has been completed, no final determination can be made as to the impact of division on the headquarters. The corporation is also exploring new business opportunities, and the success of these ventures and the timing will impact on headquarters.

It is likely that there will be some job losses as the result of dividing the corporation, although the extent cannot be determined at this time. This subject has been discussed with the employees through their union, and the corporation is taking steps to mitigate any potential impact in its normal staffing activities. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I have a comment on returns to oral questions. Return to Oral Questions 37-14(2) and 41-14(2) should be made separately. While I recognize the questions are closely related, I also recognize they were asked by two different Members, both of whom deserve a response. It will also ensure that the public record on Hansard is maintained accurately and without unnecessary confusion. Item 5, recognition of visitors in the gallery. The Member for Great Slave, Mr. Braden.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It gives me great pleasure to acknowledge two outstanding young people and their parents from my riding, Helen Wong, Janet Wong and their parents, James Wong and Christine Siu.

-- Applause

Thank you, Mr. Braden. Item 5, recognition of visitors in the gallery, The Member for Hay River North, Mr. Delorey.

Thank you, Mr. Delorey. Item 5, recognition of visitors in the gallery. Item 6, oral questions. The Member for Mackenzie Delta, Mr. Krutko.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Time and time again in the last Assembly, I raised concerns my constituents had about the medical escort travel policy. I feel this policy is unfair, particularly for aboriginal people who find themselves travelling south to Yellowknife or Edmonton and who have a hard time speaking English.

Those patients are frightened. In most cases, they are unfamiliar with the city. Also, they feel a need to have someone help them through one of the most drastic, if not horrible, times of their life: experiencing the effects of having to be diagnosed with cancer and other diseases.

Mr. Speaker, my question is to the Minister responsible for Health and Social Services. Is there a central policy or government directive that covers the use of medical escorts? Thank you.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, there is a policy with respect to medical travel benefits. I believe the Member refers to something that is called non-medical escort. Patients and families often wish to see family members travel with patients to give them the kind of emotional and language support Mr. Krutko speaks of.

Mr. Speaker, this is a very emotional issue, as the need for a non-medical escort is often not deemed to be a requirement by the medical staff making the referral. In fact, there have been many inconsistencies in the interpretation of this policy in the past. I believe the rule is that it is determined by the physician if patients require a non-medical escort to accompany them. Thank you.

Thank you, Mrs. Groenewegen. Supplementary, Mr. Krutko.