Charles Dent Frame Lake

Mr. Clerk, I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Weledeh, that the Member for Hay River North, Mr. Paul Delorey, be appointed Acting Speaker. Thank you.

The Acting Speaker Paul Delorey

I am honoured to take the chair as your Speaker today, but unfortunately it is under very sad circumstances. I only hope that I am able to be as impartial as our honourable Speaker. At this time, I would like to say that our thoughts and prayers are with Elaine, Tony and their boys. We will now move to the orders of the day. Item 2, Ministers' statements. The Honourable Jim Antoine.

The Acting Speaker Paul Delorey

Thank you. Item 2, Ministers' statements. Item 3, Members' statements. The honourable Member for Boot Lake, Mr. Roland.

Floyd Roland Inuvik Boot Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, today I would like to rise to speak on the issue of treatment of the government employees. Mr. Speaker, some time ago, a decision was made by the 13th Legislative Assembly that there would be mandatory days off during the Christmas period. Mr. Speaker, the employees were told they would have to do with five days less pay. It would happen between Christmas and New Year's and many Members of the Assembly felt it wasn't fair for our employees to go without a pay cheque or half a pay cheque during that critical time of year when expenses are high, especially around Christmas. So we urged the government to make the change necessary and felt that they had come to a reasonable compromise. Mr. Speaker, the government began taking off 1.92 percent from employees' payroll to cover off that one week, so throughout the year they would have an equal amount every two weeks of the year, so that five days of mandatory leave would not be harshly felt.

Mr. Speaker, it has just recently come to my attention that our government has dealt with the employees in a way that seems quite arbitrary and unfair. We know the 1.92 percent is taken off from salary they have earned throughout the year, but what I have heard is if an employee is to resign or step out of this government before they receive that pay cheque in December, that they forfeit that money, that one week's pay, if they have been employed all year.

Floyd Roland Inuvik Boot Lake

Now I understand the union has agreed and signed this, but still, Mr. Speaker, it seems arbitrary that as an employee the government would take some of my own money and rebalance my pay cheque so that every two weeks I would have an equal pay cheque. Then if I leave the government, whether I go south or move to another job in my community, I am told, thank you for your money, you can go on and we are going to keep it and use it for something else. It's arbitrary and absolutely unfair. It's the employees' money, it's taken from their pay cheque and it should go to those employees that pay. I will be asking questions of the appropriate Minister during question period. Thank you.

---Applause

The Acting Speaker Paul Delorey

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

Michael McLeod Deh Cho

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the NWT Association of Municipalities, now called the NWT Association of Communities, was formed in 1967 and has stayed the course by adapting to the changing political landscape by providing a forum in which member communities can discuss and exchange information on common issues.

Mr. Speaker, over the last several decades, communities in the NWT have had to focus on land claims and what impact it would have, not only on individuals, but also on the communities as a whole. As aboriginal claims are settled, and aboriginal self-government becomes a topic, the same communities must now become informed on the impact that will have on communities. It is stated in the document, Securing Our Future, that the Government of the Northwest Territories must work with the aboriginal and community governments to clarify new roles brought on by aboriginal self-government.

Mr. Speaker, the association wishes to put action to that statement by taking up the challenge to assist each of its member communities in understanding aboriginal self-government and self-government implementation processes at the community level. With encouragement from the Premier, the association submitted a proposal to MACA requesting funds for the purpose of employing a self-government liaison officer whose duties will include providing communities with the information and support required to better understand the impact of self-government and self-government implementation may have at the community level.

This government now has the opportunity to live up to its commitment by supporting the proposal submitted to the Minister of MACA by the NWT Association of Communities. It's an excellent and timely opportunity for this government to develop a partnership with the communities for the delivery and communication of information on self-government. Who better to have as a partner than an organization with member community governments that interact with local residents on a daily basis.

Mr. Speaker, self-government may lead to a change in the way community government is structured and delivered. Therefore, it is important that we provide every resource to the communities in order that they better understand aboriginal self-government. Mr. Speaker, I stand in support of this request from the NWT Association of Communities and I recommend this government show its support by considering this initiative, an initiative that will result in informed communities and individuals. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

---Applause