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

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I also want to be part of a team that builds a strong, new Northwest Territories. Although we have had some trying times over the interim appropriation, early in our life, I think those are growing pains.

I want to be able to contribute to the development of the Northwest Territories in a positive way. That is why, Mr. Speaker, when I review interim appropriations, the main estimates, bills that come forward, I request a fair bit of information to ensure I am accurately reading what is put before me.

Having a bit of experience from the 13th Assembly, I like to use that experience to help me continue to do a good job, or at least try to. Mr. Speaker, we know it has been a short time to get up and running and put an interim appropriation in place. We saw it pass. We heard a lot of questions, and there was some debate.

We have put the first piece of the puzzle in place. Mr. Speaker, I believe yesterday the Minister responsible for Finance showed a bit of commitment by tabling the capital plan comparisons to put that information out there. I know it is a short time and the departments were probably working long hours to make sure this information was available.

It is that information that I require to do my job properly. As I reviewed the information in the comparison to the interim appropriation, I think I will still need a bit of clarification. Some of the numbers that are in this document are different from what I have viewed in the interim appropriation.

Mr. Speaker, I talked about doing a good job. The government has talked about accountability and transparency. Working together, we can show the people of the Northwest Territories that we are all working for the best cause, and that is the people, not the government.

With that, Mr. Speaker, I will seek further clarification from the Minister responsible for Finance later today. Thank you.

-- Applause

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

Thank you, Mr. Dent. I have it on good authority that it is a very fast trail this year. Item 3, Members' statements. The honourable Member for Deh Cho, Mr. McLeod.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Today is the fifth and final day for the pages that are here from Fort Providence. I want to thank them for coming here and working for us. They have all worked very hard, been polite, patient and able to maintain their sense of humour.

We were off to a difficult start, this being the first time since I have been elected that we have brought pages from Fort Providence. We had problems with accommodations, our food arrangements, and yesterday our chaperone had food poisoning. It has been quite an ordeal. I am scared to check how much homework was done. But overall, the pages have been very patient, and I want to thank them for that. They have been very good company for me.

I want to say thank you to Robyn, Ashley, Victoria and Julie, and also to the chaperone, Tamara. Most of all, I want to say thank you to the staff of the Legislative Assembly who made this all possible. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. McLeod. Indeed, our appreciation goes out to the pages for the excellent job they have done in this House. Item 3, Members' statements. The honourable Member for Yellowknife South, Mr. Bell.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, as we come to the end of the fiscal year, I think we have a very bright future. I think there are a lot of positive things ahead. I would like to take a minute to mention one of the things I consider not so positive. It is the end of the fiscal year, and at midnight tonight, funding for the Community Skills for Work program in Education, Culture and Employment will sunset.

Mr. Speaker, this will mean that adult basic education will take a million dollar a year hit. I certainly think ABE should be one of this government's priorities and a priority for all Northerners. I do not think it is fair to suggest to people who were not able to receive their education in their younger years, that we are simply going to write them off. I am hoping this government will come forward in its business plans with money for adult basic education.

Looking down the list of groups that will be affected by the funding cuts, we have a thick list here, Mr. Speaker. From Yellowknife, I notice the Yellowknife Association for Community Living will take a hit. I notice that the Native Women's Association will take a hit. I notice the Vocational Trade Centre will also take a hit, as will the YWCA of Yellowknife. I am disappointed. I think these are all very important programs. These are very dedicated and committed groups who deliver the service. I think it is a sad day.

As this sunsets tonight at midnight, I am saddened. I hope this government will look to find money in the mains when we come back in June for these programs. I think the amount of money, being that it is one million dollars, does not seem like a lot of money. When one of my colleagues suggests that $160,000, which we cut from the budget yesterday, is inconsequential and trivial, I find that hard to accept. I do not feel I was part of something trivial or inconsequential. I think it is important that this government focuses resources on adult basic education and other worthwhile programs. I will have some questions for the Minister responsible for Education, Culture and Employment later today, Mr. Speaker. Thank you.

-- Applause

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Last evening, I had the opportunity to play with a number of minor hockey players from Yellowknife. We played against the Edmonton Oilers Alumni hockey team.

I mentioned to the young, aspiring teammates of mine that I would make a Member's statement congratulating them on their fine effort. Mr. Speaker, I recollect my youthful days as an athlete, looking up to idols of the past.

I sensed a similar emotion in the dressing room last night, as the young aspiring hockey players prepared to go on the ice. These young players displayed a good sense of sportsmanship, and I could see the hard work they put into trying to defeat the alumni team.

I apologize to the Members for losing my line-up card, but I am sure they know who I am talking about.

I especially want to say thanks to my defence partner, master Zeb Fournier, for bailing me out on a few occasions, as I lost more than a step or two. I would also like to thank Grand Chief Billy Erasmus for arranging my participation in this game. I should also mention that Mr. Harold Cook also played on the same team. Mr. Cook and I were teammates on the National Junior Cross-Country Ski team in 1968-69. That tells you how old I am.

Mr. Speaker, I am sure that as future fundraising activities for smaller communities, we can introduce such events at that level. As the Minister responsible for Youth, I am looking forward to working with other Members to find ways of bringing teams such as the Edmonton Oilers Alumni to their communities to broaden this interest level. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

-- Applause

Thank you, Mr. Allen. Item 3, Members' statements. The honourable Member for Hay River South, Mrs. Groenewegen.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, all of us who serve in this Legislature acquired our interest in public service from some experience in our lives or ideals that were instilled in us by role models. For many of us, this may have occurred many years ago in our youth.

One small way by which we can reach out to young people in our constituencies is through offering to sponsor them for first-hand experience in the Legislature through our paging program.

Today, I am pleased to recognize two fine young women from my riding of Hay River South who have served as pages during this past week. Christine Morgan and Holly Schauerte, the niece of our esteemed deputy clerk, have had a chance to observe the process in this House. I hope it has been a positive experience, which might lead them to consider putting their names forward for elected public office at some point in their future.

Hearing Ms. Lee's Member's statement today has reminded me again of how important it is to have strong women in positions of leadership. Holly and Christine have represented themselves and Hay River well, and I thank them for their service to this House this week. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

-- Applause

Thank you, Mrs. Groenewegen. Item 3, Members' statements. Item 4, returns to oral questions. The honourable Minister responsible for the Northwest Territories Housing Corporation, Mr. Allen.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I was asked a question by Mr. Krutko on March 30, 2000, regarding the amount spent by the Government of the Northwest Territories for the Alaskan Seniors Pilot Project.

Mr. Speaker, there will be no cost to the Government of the Northwest Territories for the pilot project to construct a five-unit seniors' complex in the community of Stebbins, Alaska. All costs for the pilot project are being borne by the Government of the United States of America through the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. The Northwest Territories Housing Corporation expects to make money from this sale, which will also benefit Northwest Territories manufacturers, suppliers, and a Northwest Territories construction company, which will be sub-contracted to build the complex. What the Northwest Territories Housing Corporation brings to the table is its expertise in Arctic construction and logistics.

This deal has been termed a pilot project because it is the first time the Northwest Territories Housing Corporation has worked in conjunction with the Alaska Housing Finance Corporation and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. If this project is successful, there is the potential for increased business with these two American organizations. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Allen. Item 4, returns to oral questions. Premier Kakfwi.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I have three returns to oral questions.

The first return is to a question asked by Ms. Lee on March 28, 2000. I am responding as the Minister responsible for Resources, Wildlife and Economic Development, regarding arsenic transport within the City of Yellowknife.

In response to the Member's question, the Department of Resources, Wildlife and Economic Development has developed the following information on the transportation of mine ore between the Giant and Miramar mines:

As part of the process being used by Miramar Mining Ltd. to operate the Giant Mine, approximately 300 tons of gold-containing rock is transported daily by truck between the mines. Other than the normal traffic risks associated with such large vehicles using the road system in Yellowknife, no additional risks are thought to exist because of the nature of the rock being transported.

I will be providing additional written information to the Member regarding the monitoring of this activity that she can make available to her constituents.

My next return is to a question asked by Mr. Dent on March 21, 2000. I am responding as the Premier, regarding NWT labour legislation.

A preliminary review has been done of steps required for the Government of the Northwest Territories to enact territorial labour legislation and pension standards legislation. The first step would be for the federal government to agree to devolve this responsibility. Currently, the priorities on the devolution agenda we are developing with aboriginal governments are northern control over northern resources and resource revenue sharing.

In the interim, our government will continue to urge the federal government to be vigilant when regulating private pension plans and amend its pension and labour legislation, which would address the concerns raised to date.

The third response, Mr. Speaker, is to a question asked by Mr. Miltenberger on March 24, 2000, concerning a listing of summer student employment opportunities. I am again responding as the Premier.

On March 24, 2000, Mr. Miltenberger, MLA for Thebacha, asked for information on the formal process that is in place within the Government of the Northwest Territories to identify student employment opportunities.

In late January-early February each year, corporate human resources services in the Department of the Executive begins to notify students about the central referral service. This notification includes advertisements and information in the GNWT's Student Financial Assistance students' newsletter. Resumes from students generally start to arrive in late February. Departments are also reminded about the referral service.

At the same time, departments begin to identify potential opportunities for students. This includes reviewing specific project work as well as summer replacement needs. By early April, all departments have an initial list of possible summer jobs.

Between May and August, departments may also identify needs for additional casual staff and will provide those opportunities to students as well.

To date, our government has identified 221 possible casual positions for student summer employment. Details on these positions by department and community-region, have been provided to Members. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Kakfwi. Item 4, returns to oral questions. Item 5, recognition of visitors in the gallery. The Member for Mackenzie Delta, Mr. Krutko.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I would like to recognize Ms. Pat Thomas, possibly for the last time. She is going to be retiring. I would like to thank Pat for her commitment to the teachers of the Northwest Territories and also her commitment to overseeing procedures in this House day in and day out. I wish you all the best, Pat. Take care.

-- Applause

Thank you, Mr. Krutko. Welcome to the visitors' gallery, Ms. Thomas. Item 5, recognition of visitors in the gallery. The honourable Member for the Sahtu, Mr. Kakfwi.