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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, we expend a lot of words in this Legislature talking about how much we value our public service, those people behind the scenes carrying on the work of this government. They do not get their picture on the front page of the newspaper when the government undertakes a successful initiative. They do not take the credit in any public way when programs and services that Northerners are counting on are consistently delivered in our communities day in and day out, year after year.

When there are statistics indicating success in meeting the needs of our constituents, how often are we quick to recognize the talent and dedication of the people on the ground who make it happen?

Tonight, I hope to go to Hay River to help honour dedicated GNWT employees who will be receiving long service awards. These events and functions are great but they are not a substitute for a philosophy of fair practice, stability and access to opportunity in their workplaces.

Earlier in the life of the 14th Assembly, Regular Members brought forward a proposal for a Public Service Commission. There are pros and cons of the establishment of such an institution. It is reasonable to believe that given the size of our government, it should be possible to keep our eye on the ball, so to speak, in ensuring a high standard of fairness and equity as the norm in our departments and workplaces.

Unfortunately, Mr. Speaker, the rules of engagement are not very clear. This uncertainty creates a lack of confidence and morale amongst our public service. Some may argue that this lack of clarity allows for flexibility in achieving our goals for things such as a representative workforce. I suggest that in fact, flexibility equals misunderstanding and it creates more problems than it solves.

Because our jurisdiction is so small, it does not take too many unexplained interventions to have people feeling insecure or looking over their shoulder. This in turn causes tension between employees, tension between management and staff and tension between management and their political masters. It is possible for situations to deteriorate to a political milieu, potentially losing all sight of the goal, which is serving the public and the public interest.

Unionized employees have the avenue of grieving issues through their unions. Although this is not a perfect science, it is an opportunity. What about excluded employees? What about people trying to enter the public service? What about employees on probation? What avenues do they have at their disposal if they are on the receiving end of what they consider to be unfair treatment?

This is a government that started off with a stated commitment to fairness, openness and accountability. This has to extend to our public service. Mr. Speaker, we do not have a Department of Personnel any more. We have an Affirmative Action Policy that seems rather subject to individual interpretation.

Maybe we do not need a full Public Service Commission, but judging from the number of personnel issues around hiring and firing that have been raised just lately, I would like to hear a response from this government.

Mr. Speaker, I seek unanimous consent to conclude my statement.

Thank you. The honourable Member is seeking unanimous consent to conclude her statement. Are there any nays? There are no nays. You may conclude your statement, Mrs. Groenewegen.

Thank you, colleagues, and thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to hear a clear response from this government as to their intentions on how they plan to stabilize uncertainty that arises in our public service. I would like to hear a clear and public response to the recommendations that were contained in the review of the Affirmative Action Policy undertaken in the 13th Assembly.

If a Public Service Commission is not the answer, what is the answer? Our public servants have a right to that answer. Let us set our goals. Let us make sure the rules are in place to reflect those goals, and let us make sure those rules are followed. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

-- Applause

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

Mahsi, Mr. Nitah. Item 3, Members' statements. The honourable Member for Yellowknife Centre, Mr. Ootes.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Today, I would like to publicly honour Mel Brown, who passed away at Stanton Hospital on January 26 at the age of 84. Mel, a highly respected long-time Northerner and a proud Canadian, made significant contributions to northern life since his arrival here in 1963. Mel was born to farming parents in Hughton, Saskatchewan, in 1917. After finishing high school, he worked on the farm and did some travelling, looking for work until he was conscripted into the army in 1942. He was a pacifist and not at all interested in going to war, but he had no choice and went on to serve in battle with distinction. Mel served with the Royal Edmonton Regiment in both Italy and Holland, participating in many battles and experiencing the horrors of war until he was seriously wounded and released from his duty.

For the rest of his life, he refused to talk much about his experience of war, and although he received several medals, he never wore them. His youngest daughter, Joanne, with whom he lived for the past several years, says that they were never on display and that he explained that war medals were not something to be proud of. He was far prouder of the pins he received from the Dutch people at the reunions held in Holland for Canadian servicemen in 1995 and the 2000 50th D-Day Celebrations. It was these pins that he wore on Remembrance Day.

After his war service, Mel took advantage of the education available to veterans and went to the University of Saskatchewan, where he received a degree in mining engineering. Mel then worked in mining, including managing mines in Elliot Lake and Renabie, Ontario, before he came to the Northwest Territories in 1963 to be the regional mining inspector. He brought with him his wife. Florence, and their five children. Their youngest daughter, Joanne, was born here in Yellowknife.

Mel travelled widely and worked throughout the North in the following years, playing an important role in the development and inspection of mining in the Northwest Territories. In the early 1970s, he was one of the founding members of the Association of Professional Engineers, Geologists and Geophysicists of the Northwest Territories. He was very involved with this professional association and proudly served as its executive director until 1990. Mel was a spiritual man, a staunch supporter of the United Church. He was also involved with the planning and building of Northern United Place and the Aven Court for seniors. Mr. Speaker, I seek unanimous consent to conclude my statement.

Thank you. The honourable Member is seeking unanimous consent to conclude his statement. Are there any nays? You may conclude.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Thank you, colleagues. He was also involved with the planning and building of Northern United Place and the Aven Court for seniors. He was very dedicated to the Seniors' Society, advocating for conditions that would allow for seniors to live and die with dignity.

Among his many other interests were the Yellowknife branch of the Canadian Legion, curling, bird watching and reading, especially poetry. His daughter Joanne says that right until the end of his life, her father was able to recite poetry he had memorized as a young child.

Mel Brown was a fine human being and we were privileged to have him in our midst, Mr. Speaker. I ask this House to join me in sending our condolences to his family, many friends and colleagues. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Ootes. Indeed, Mel was a true friend to the North. Item 3, Members' statements. Item 4, returns to oral questions. Item 5, recognition of visitors in the gallery.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I asked a question to the Minister last week regarding the clawback of impact benefit agreements and income support payments. In Hansard, the Minister made a comment. I will read page 143 of unedited Hansard, where it states: "Mr. Speaker, it is highly unusual. It is unprecedented to release legal opinions."

I would like to ask the Minister, in my statement, I mentioned three legal opinions, along with Mr. Lafferty's, that were tabled in this House. I would like to ask the Minister, is it still his view that it is unprecedented to release legal opinions in this House?

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the documents that the honourable Member is referring to were provided to them as individuals. They made the decision to release those particular documents, Mr. Speaker, in the case of those released on behalf of two employees and in the case of the Premier. They were sought personally, Mr. Speaker.

The document that I have was provided by the Department of Justice and it does have a restriction on it, Mr. Speaker. These documents where they provide legal advice usually do have restrictions. Thank you.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, in questions last week to the Minister, he stated that he was going to get a summary report to the Members. I would like to ask the Minister where that summary report is and how soon can we receive it?

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Yes, we will be providing that, Mr. Speaker. We will be providing that as soon as possible, certainly well before the end of this session. Thank you.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, regarding the Minister not releasing the legal opinion, can the Minister state exactly what is the concern from Cabinet? What will happen if you release this report? Will it bring down the government? What exactly is the threat to the government?

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I believe that question may be hypothetical. The fact that there is a restriction on this, I am not in a position to release this particular document by instruction on the document. Thank you.

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