Saturday 8, 2003, is International Women's Day. Yesterday in the Great Hall, the Status of Women Council of the NWT recognized and honoured women in the Northwest Territories who are dedicated and work hard to improve the lives of women and families in their community. These women are, by their actions, positive role models for all of us and especially for our youth. The five winners of the 2003 Wise Women Awards are: Lena Anikina of Tuktoyaktuk; Edith Squirrel of Fort Providence; Florencia Dacanay of Yellowknife; Janet Grandjambe of Fort Good Hope; and, Lesley Paulette of Fort Smith.

Congratulations from the Members of the Legislative Assembly. Congratulations.

---Applause

Thank you. Item 2, Ministers' statements.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, later this afternoon I will introduce a bill entitled the Deh Cho Bridge Act.

As I know the Members of this Legislature appreciate that the partnership proposal to build a bridge over the Mackenzie River at Fort Providence is a new departure for the Government of the Northwest Territories. A private party, the Deh Cho Bridge Corporation, has offered to raise the capital, design, build, operate and maintain a substantial piece of highway infrastructure. In return, the government will pay the corporation for the bridge over a 35-year period, largely from toll revenues collected from the traffic crossing the bridge and savings from discontinued ferry operations and the winter ice crossing.

Under the proposed arrangement, Mr. Speaker, the private partner will perform many of the functions normally performed by the Department of Transportation under the authority of the Public Highways Act. The Deh Cho Bridge Act is a piece of enabling legislation that will authorize the Minister of Transportation, on behalf of the government, to enter into the proposed agreement with a private party who will act as a full and equal partner with government for the term of the agreement. Without the provisions described in the act, the Minister does not have the authority to commit the government to the contemplated partnership agreement.

Mr. Speaker, in anticipation of the present negotiations coming to a successful conclusion, I am introducing this bill to put the necessary authority in place so that when negotiations are concluded our government can enter into a binding agreement with the Deh Cho Bridge Corporation.

This bill authorizes the Minister of Transportation to collect tolls from vehicles crossing the bridge. Toll revenue is an essential element of the corporation's proposal and will determine the financial viability of the project. Importantly, it is the Minister on behalf of government, not the private partner, who will set and collect the tolls. In the public interest, it is the Minister and the government, accountable to this elected Legislative Assembly, that retain control over the toll charges and their collection.

As I said in the beginning, Mr. Speaker, the Deh Cho Bridge partnership is something entirely new to the NWT. I think private/public partnerships have significant potential as a vehicle for advancing other important public projects. Building a bridge over the Mackenzie River will be one outstanding achievement by itself. Achieving it through a successful partnership with the Fort Providence Combined Alliance will be a second accomplishment.

I hope the Deh Cho Bridge Act, as the enabling instrument for a private/public partnership, may prove the template for many more similarly successful ventures in the future. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

---Applause

Item 2, Ministers' statements. Item 3, Members' statements. Mr. Dent.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Tomorrow, as you have noted, March 8th, is International Women's Day, a day to recognize the accomplishments of women and to reflect on the challenges that still lie ahead for them. For over 90 years, International Women's Day has been a symbol of women's efforts to shape a better world, Mr. Speaker. In 1977, the United Nations passed a resolution to officially recognize International Women's Day. Unfortunately, there are still far too many challenges ahead for women, with family violence and violence against women among the biggest. I commend Minister Allen for announcing last week his department's commitment to bring forward legislation I have long called for, that of the Family Violence Prevention Act for the June sitting of this Assembly.

In circumstances of family violence, this sort of legislation will more often allow women to stay in their homes, in their home communities, where they have support networks. It will give the police another tool to combat family violence that is long overdue.

In my constituency, Mr. Speaker, there's a women's shelter called Alison McAteer House. In spite of our public declarations in support of zero tolerance for violence, shelters like Alison McAteer House are too busy all the time. They, like the other shelters in the NWT, still turn women and children away because they are full. I would like to give my heartfelt thanks to those frontline workers who deal with victims of violence and who work to support them at shelters like Alison McAteer House.

Mr. Speaker, we have a number of great organizations in the North that work to improve women's lives including the Native Women's Association, the Status of Women Council of the NWT, the Centre for Northern Families, the YWCA, and, as I mentioned, Alison McAteer House and the shelters in outlying communities. They can all be recognized.

Mr. Speaker, I, too, would like to extend my congratulations to the Status of Women Council and the Wise Women Awards program. It is important that we celebrate and recognize those women who have been leaders in their communities and in the North. I would especially like to congratulate the recipients of the Wise Women Awards. It's unfortunate that a former constituent Florencia "Flory" Dacanay passed away this past December before being awarded that recognition. Flory's husband, Angel, was in the Great Hall to accept the award on her behalf. Mr. Speaker, she was a woman devoted and dedicated to improving the lives of those who came into contact with her and she will be missed. Thank you, Mr. Speaker

---Applause

Item 3, Members' statements. Mr. Roland.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, this being Friday, I would like to take a light hearted approach to my Member's statement today and speak about the IRC or the Inuvialuit Regional Corporation Native Hockey Tournament that was held in Inuvik in the previous weekend. Mr. Speaker, there were a number of teams from communities from the Western Arctic region: Holman, Paulatuk, Sachs, Inuvik, Tuktoyaktuk, Fort McPherson and Aklavik. In the A division, the victors were Northwind, out of Inuvik and BeauDel Posse also out of Inuvik. and third place was EGT, that's Eddie Gruben's Transport out of Tuktoyaktuk. In B division the winners were Tuktoyaktuk, Fort McPherson came in second and Wietzel Solar Bears out of Inuvik came in third. Sadly, Mr. Speaker, I would like to say that the Inuvik Old Dogs of this year weren't able to defend their championship, Mr. Speaker. The old legs and lungs were not quite able to hold back the tide of the youthful, energetic opposition.

I must say, Mr. Speaker, we didn't go down with out a fight. Mind you we didn't fight, we were unable to, but we were able to put up a good rush and in our first game we tied 2-2 against Holman; in the second game, we tied 3-3 and, unfortunately, in our third game, the youthful crew from Fort McPherson beat us 4-3 in a very close game that went back and forth. So I must hand it to the Old Dogs, we went out, we tried and, unfortunately, our legs and lungs weren't there this year. Our team leader said that in training camp this summer, we are going to get back to work and lose some pounds and try to pick up some speed. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

--Applause

Item 3, Members' Statements. Mr. Delorey.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I ask today to bring recognition to International Women's Week being held this week, and, in particular, International Women's Day being celebrated throughout the world, March 8th. Mr. Speaker, the Canadian theme for this year's International Women's Day is worldwide women surfing the digital revolution. With the advent of the World Wide Web, Mr. Speaker, It has opened up a whole new world of digital communication for people throughout the world.

While the Internet has brought important social and economic benefits with it, we must be very careful of the risk it poses to women. Mr. Speaker, I have spoken in the House of the need for stricter regulations against the use of pornography on the Internet. Currently, Mr. Speaker, there are over 300,000 pornographic Web sites on the Internet. Mr. Speaker, I believe very strongly that sexual exploitation of women must end. Our society has made some strides towards this goal but far more has to be done. Mr. Speaker, our society appears to have become desensitized to graphic images and that is very disturbing, Mr. Speaker. We need to stand up, Mr. Speaker, and make the point known that sexual exploitation of women cannot be tolerated.

Mr. Speaker, in recognition of International Women's Week, I would like to publicly thank all the people who are diligently working to eradicate sexual exploitation of women in our society. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

---Applause

Item 3, Members' Statements. Ms. Lee.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I would like to take this opportunity to speak about the student financial assistance policy that currently makes students attending the RCMP training academy ineligible for grants or loans. I have discussed the matter with the Minister and the rationale he has given me is that it is because this program is not recognized as a post-secondary institution. I wish to advise him that I have information that suggests otherwise and I would urge the Minister to reconsider this unfair and irrational treatment.

Mr. Speaker, on the Web site of the RCMP, I find the following and I quote, "The training academy is a designated post-secondary institution in the province of Saskatchewan. The training academy has been certified as an educational institution for the purpose of the Income Tax Act since January 1997." Therefore, incoming cadets are eligible to receive student loans and/or have their loan payments suspended while attending the cadet training program.

Mr. Speaker, another reason for ineligibility given by the Minister is that the RCMP pays for the full training cost. Once again, this is not entirely correct and I would like the Minister to reconsider this position as well. I find other information on the RCMP Web site, Mr. Speaker, and I quote, "Cadets coming to the training academy are responsible for their own expenditures. It is recommended that cadets budget a sufficient amount for the purchase of academic supplies, uniform items, foot wear, equipment, maintenance supplies and spending money during their stay." A recent survey of the cadets indicated that they spend an average of $4,600, which includes a trip home while at the training academy.

Mr. Speaker, the important point is that the student financial assistance is designed to help students obtain post-secondary education and the program should make an effort to include legitimate pursuits in that way and not to find ways to exclude post-secondary education.

Mr. Speaker, I have pursued this a lot in this session and the Minister has stated over and over and over for ineligibility because the rest of Canada does not recognize it. However, on this one, Mr. Speaker, it is clear that we have information that suggests that this is a post-secondary education and I urge the Minister to revisit it and change the policy. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

---Applause

Item 3, Members' statements. Mr. Nitah.

Item 3, Members' statements. Mr. Handley.

Mr. Speaker, this morning is one of the coldest we've seen this winter in Yellowknife. It is a very appropriate day to acknowledge the spirit and enthusiasm for winter shown by one of my constituents and his cheerful band of volunteers. I'm speaking of none other than Anthony Foliot, the widely proclaimed Snow King of the North. Needless to say, I am very proud to be the MLA for the only constituency in the Northwest Territories with a reigning monarch. The people of Yellowknife wholeheartedly welcomed back the Snow King after he took off a couple of years from his construction of the only snow castle in the Northwest Territories. This year the castle is bigger and more impressive than ever, with real castle-like turrets and clear ice windows. Last Friday evening, I had the pleasure, in spite of minus 37 degree temperatures, to attend the official opening of the 2003 series snow castle along with a huge crowd of visitors including our mayor from Yellowknife and our Premier.

The Snow King's festival will run every weekend in March with a new activity planned for each week. Admission to the castle and festivities is free, and the entertainment is sure to be great. Mr. Foliot and his volunteers and the corporate sponsors deserve a big thank you from all of us. The king and his volunteers put in hundreds of hours so they could challenge and enjoy winter. While many of us hunker down by the wood stove, wishing winter would end and the sun would come back, they are out there working and enjoying themselves and dreaming of the enjoyment they bring to many visitors, and they do this with generosity straight from the heart. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

--Applause

Item 3, Members' statements. Mr. Steen.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my statement will follow along the lines of my honourable colleague from Inuvik Boot Lake. Mr. Speaker, last weekend was a great weekend for hockey fans in the Beaufort-Delta area. A number of hockey teams in my riding of Nunakput took part in the annual IRC hockey tournament, including a team from Holman. Mr. Speaker, after a number of annual attempts, I am told Inuvik hockey teams finally managed to limit the Gruben's Transport's team to only third place in the event. However, in the B event, it was Tuktoyaktuk in first place, as usual, by a score of 7-5.

Mr. Speaker, speaking to the individual awards in the A division, top score went to Kelly Ovayuak of E. Gruben's Transport of Tuktoyaktuk. In the B event, top score went to Daniel Nogasak of Tuktoyaktuk. Most valuable player was Sandy Adams of Tuktoyaktuk and top defence, Albert Banksland of Holman.

Mr. Speaker, I wish to congratulate all the players for their efforts in sportsmanship and I wish to acknowledge time and effort the organizers put into making this a successful event year after year. Of course, we must not forget the kindly sponsors. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

---Applause

Item 3, Members' statements. Mrs. Groenewegen.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, today I stand to recognize a number of government employees who have reached a milestone in their careers. On February 19th in Hay River, the government paid tribute to 27 employees for their record of long service with the GNWT.

Mr. Speaker, we often take for granted the work of these people. Their professionalism contributes to the building and makeup of our communities. They teach our children in the schools; they run our offices; they maintain our highways; work with adults, youth and victims of the justice system. They keep government facilities and infrastructure in order. These are the people who work for the residents of the Northwest Territories, both day and night, all year long and some of these employees have been performing these duties for many, many years.

Today, I would like to recognize several Hay River South constituents who have achieved long service status with the Government of the Northwest Territories.

In the Department of Justice with five years: Joel Bowker, Darren Dragon, Brenda McAllister, Glen Pangborne, Orrell Sheets; with 10 years of service: Jacqueline Haley; with 15 years of service, Larry Dragon, Robert Haley, Robert Seeley, Raymond Simon; and 25 years of service, Bertha Calvin.

In Education, Culture and Employment with 30 years of service, Alison Kilgour.

With the South Slave Divisional Education Council with five years of service, Sandra Wilkie; with 15 years of service, Darrel Budgell, Doris Camsell, Gerrard Carrol, Linda Gallagher, Brent Kaulback, Dorothy Lirette; with 25 years in our education service in Hay River, Carol Grimm.

In the Department of Resources, Wildlife and Economic Development with 30 years of service, Al Helmer.

Mr. Speaker, I salute these people and thank them for all of their dedicated support and service to the Government of the Northwest Territories for contribution to a strong, dependable workforce, which goes towards what makes our communities and territories what they are today and particularly, in Hay River, in my opinion, a very wonderful place to work and live. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

---Applause

Item 3, Members' statements. Mr. Lafferty.

Item 3, Members' statements. Mr. Braden.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like today to take a minute to look at what is happening in our backyards and the remote part of this country in the mining industry. Mr. Speaker, we continue to see through the Con and Giant gold properties, production in the neighbourhood of 120 ounces of gold a year and diamonds that are now valued at about half a billion dollars a year. Mr. Speaker, these are significant developments. They are driving our economy causing the NWT to be a leader in Canada and economic growth. We've also seen a number of significant things in and around the diamond industry as we look at this fast maturing industry in the Canadian mineral field. We saw in the last few months, the approval by 52 countries of the Kimberly Process, which will help secure the confidence in the market through an international certification process. We've seen training programs, many of them fostered by and supported by this government. We've got used to some new corporate names in our communities, Mr. Speaker, names like Sirius and Arslanian. We are just getting used to those and new names are coming in. We are going to be getting used to names like Beny -Sofer and Sons, Rosy Blue, E. Schreiber Inc., Backes and Strauss, Laurelton and one that is rather familiar to us, Tiffany's.

Mr. Speaker, we are seeing what was a promising part of our economy with dozens of people employed in the sorting, cutting and polishing field. This will mean hundreds of people in the very near future. Mr. Speaker, I wanted to just take a minute to acknowledge what is going on here. This weekend and next week in Toronto takes place Canada's major national mining program, the Prospectors' and Developers' Association of Canada. This is where the risk-takers, the diggers and the people who put their fortunes at risk looking for minerals gather to see what is going on, and I wish them all the best in the future here in the NWT. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

---Applause

Item 3, Members' statements. Mr. Bell.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to take this opportunity today to again raise the issue of the Government of the Northwest Territories' procurement policies and its tendering. Again, I guess this is coming up as it usually does because we've seen more sole-sourcing with southern firms on several occasions, Mr. Speaker. I mentioned before in this House, the need, as I saw it, for a statutory officer of this House that would report on procurement and would let us know which departments were adhering to our procurement policies and which ones weren't, that would provide an annual report that would give us a scorecard for departments, help them improve and help Members scrutinize the activities of this government.

I think it would do another thing, Mr. Speaker. I think it would allow for an investigation of contract awards. Oftentimes when contractors are unsuccessful and try to get some information on the awarding of a bid or an RFP, one of the problems they run up against is the government insists that much of the information as to why the award was given to somebody else is something they can't discuss and is private and would somehow negatively impact the other firm that was successful. In many cases, this is a legitimate point and a legitimate concern, but an independent statutory officer of the House could certainly be provided with this information, make an objective decision and report back. I think that would alleviate much of our concern.

We know why we don't want to see southern firms get sole-sources and bypass the tendering process, cutting out northern firms. I think we've all talked many times about the loss of our tax revenues, the loss of transfer payments if jobs are not here in the North and don't stay in the North. But another reason for doing this, Mr. Speaker, is the transfer of technology and a lack of it if we sole-source. We used the Cuff example, Mr. Speaker. We are all very well aware of the Cuff report, a review of our health care system. We relied on a southern expert to come up here. The department made the case that there really was no one in the North who was qualified to take on a work of this magnitude, probably a legitimate case, a legitimate point, but, Mr. Speaker, I think we all realize now there never will be if we don't force southern firms to partner up with northern firms to develop capacity and to, in fact, transfer some of this technology to the North. We talked a lot about capacity building, but this is one concrete way to address this. Mr. Speaker, I would like to see unanimous consent to conclude my statement.

The Member is seeking unanimous consent to conclude his statement. Are there any nays? You have unanimous consent, Mr. Bell.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Thank you, colleagues. When we talk about transfer of technology, it's something that we are most familiar with in a global context and we look at countries who have been very successful at achieving this and others who haven't. We use the example of Korea and the auto industry. Much of the technology that they have perfected and developed was through agreements and partnerships with the big three auto makers in the States. They, in fact, insisted that there be something left behind in their country and there be a real transfer of technology. Other countries like Mexico have been less successful. Countries have been able to operate factories and get access to cheap Mexican labour, but not really leave anything behind. If you look at the difference, Mr. Speaker -- and many economists have studied this -- the difference is in government policy and a commitment to this transfer of technology. I think that's something that is lacking in this government. It's something I would like to see improved and a good step towards that would be the creation of a statutory office that would look at procurement for this government. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

---Applause

Item 3, Members' statements. Mr. McLeod.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, once again I want to stand up in the House and voice my concerns about the harmonization initiative. This issue has...

...motion on the harmonization which you are bringing forth later today, so it may be inappropriate for you to speak to that issue since you do have a motion on the orders for today. You can speak around it, but don't speak about it.

I will cancel my Member's statement.

Item 3, Members' statements. Colleagues, I would like to direct your attention to the presence in the visitors' gallery of Warrant Officer Yancy Savard, who has with him Junior Rangers from Nunavut who are here competing in the air rifle competition among the three territories. I would like to welcome you to the Legislative Assembly.

---Applause

Item 4, returns to oral questions. Item 5, recognition of visitors in the gallery. Mrs. Groenewegen.

Mr. Speaker, this week I had the opportunity to see us as legislators through the eyes of Pages and I would just like to thank two Hay River residents for paging in the Assembly this week, Claire MacDonald and Jullian Groenewegen. Thank you.

---Applause

Item 5, recognition of visitors in the gallery. Item 6, oral questions. Mr. Delorey.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, today my questions are for the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment. Mr. Speaker, it is often spoken in this House about the need for maximizing northern employment and how we, as a government, must continue to encourage our northern educated youth to return to the North to seek gainful employment. Mr. Speaker, I would like to ask the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment to explain to this House exactly what the process is for northern post-secondary students applying to the Government of the Northwest Territories for summer employment. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Minister of Education, Culture and Employment, Mr. Ootes.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I will do my best. The responsibility for summer employment is really the responsibility of the Executive, Mr. Speaker, under the Premier. However, I will do my best to answer the question if I can. The process would be to submit applications to the specific departments. Thank you.

Supplementary, Mr. Delorey.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, it's recently come to my attention that a new directive was issued to government departments that if our northern post-secondary students are not registered on the government's Northwise Web site, they will not be eligible for summer employment with the Government of the Northwest Territories. Would the Minister confirm for this House that indeed is the new government's policy on summer student employment with the GNWT. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Minister of Education, Culture and Employment, Mr. Ootes.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I am not familiar because I am not the Minister, as I said, responsible for summer employment and that question would have to be answered by the Minister responsible. Thank you.

Supplementary, Mr. Delorey.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I was under the impression that the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment is in charge of maximizing northern employment and summer employment programs. If he is not the Minister, I would ask that he direct the question to whoever is in charge of that.

Minister of Education, Culture and Employment, Mr. Ootes.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. That question definitely has to be answered by the Minister of the Executive. If that policy was issued, that policy would have to come from that particular department. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Final supplementary, Mr. Delorey.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I will have to try to get on the list again and ask the appropriate Minister. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Item 6, oral questions. Mr. Roland.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, in my Member's statement I talked about the IRC tournament. Important events in many communities are related to sports events and things of that nature. So I have a question for the Minister responsible for sport and recreation under MACA, Minister Steen. Before I do that, I would also like to recognize the efforts of individuals who have to do a lot of fundraising to put these events on, especially in the case of the IRC tournament, Mr. Donnie Hendrick and his wife, and Forrest Day and Shauna Kaglik who really put on a great event. There were so many others as well, Mr. Speaker. My question to the Minister is what type of funding is available for these types of events through our government? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Minister of Municipal and Community Affairs, Mr. Steen.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, under our sports and recreation program funding, MACA has $825,000 for events such as the recent event in Inuvik. This is divided up into communities. As well, there is some funding for regional recreation associations or organizations. As an example, Mr. Speaker, Inuvik would receive, under this program, $43,000. Should there be a non-government organization that would request funding, the request would be deferred to the community that the organization is presently resident in. As another example, Mr. Speaker, Sachs Harbour would receive $28,000 and Fort McPherson would receive $32,000. Some of this is based on population numbers and that's why there is a difference in the amount allocated to each community.

Supplementary, Mr. Roland.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. So the Minister is giving some numbers out there. That funding is transferred to municipalities and if non-government organizations wanted to get some of that money, they would make a request to their municipal council or hamlet council. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Minister of MACA, Mr. Steen.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. That's correct, Mr. Speaker. In most communities, the sports events are organized by the municipalities anyway, but in the larger communities it's obvious that some of those sporting events are organized and, to some degree, sponsored by the business sector. So they would then have to apply to the local community for some of the funding that the community receives. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Supplementary, Mr. Roland.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, can the Minister, for the record, just state if there is any other funding that non-government organizations can apply for in that area, sport and recreation? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Minister of MACA, Mr. Steen.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I think the only other government funding that may be available would be if they approach the regional sports organizations. For instance, if there is a regional hockey organization, they may be able to approach them for some of the funding if that is the type of activity they are having. Other than that, we don't have a program specific for non-government organizations.

Item 6, oral questions. Ms. Lee.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My question today is to the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment. It's following up on the Member's statement that I made. Mr. Speaker, I could add to my statement that I am speaking on behalf of a constituent who was schooled here and who has lived and worked here all of his life, or almost all of his life, and he was very disappointed when he was accepted to the RCMP academy only to be told that he couldn't get any student assistance because this program was not recognized. Mr. Speaker, in my statement, I gave the Minister evidence to suggest that there are other jurisdictions in Canada which recognize this institution as post-secondary education. So is the Minister willing to reconsider this position as soon as possible? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Minister of Education, Culture and Employment, Mr. Ootes.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The NWT follows the Canada student loan guidelines and those guidelines don't recognize the RCMP cadet training institute as a post-secondary institute for the purposes of student financial assistance. For that reason, we do not recognize the academy, Mr. Speaker. That has been the case all along, where we have gone by the guidelines provided by the Canada student loans list that are provided. That is the reason for it. Ms. Lee has presented some information that we can certainly take a look at, however, the traditional way we have gone is to ensure that it follows Canada's student loan guidelines. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Supplementary, Ms. Lee.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I have to ask the Minister to try to get out from under the albatross of the Canada student loan guidelines that he seems to be blinded by. Mr. Speaker, the Minister should be concerned about fair treatment and equality for students. God knows, the government has been talking for years about the need to train Northerners and we need RCMP officers. We would like to have them coming from the Territories. We have a student who was accepted, who meets all the criteria and he's just going to say no because it doesn't qualify.

It's pretty hard to hear the Member's question and if you allow her time, you might have a chance to get the question without...Order!

---Interjection

Could you ask the question, Ms. Lee?

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. May I ask the Minister to, for once, do his job, open his eyes, read the stuff?

---Interjection

Minister of Education, Culture and Employment, Mr. Ootes.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I do wear glasses and if I take them off, I have a hard time seeing out of my right eye. I am also deaf in my left ear.

---Laughter

Mr. Speaker, I take this job very seriously, I really do. To suggest that I am not doing my job is insulting to me. That's the Member's opinion and that's fine with me, but, Mr. Speaker, I mentioned to the Member that she brought some information to the Table and I would be most prepared to look at that. However, we need guidelines to go by, Mr. Speaker, because there are always certain areas we can say this should be considered, that should be considered. We will consider that, but we do have to adhere to certain guidelines. Thank you.

Supplementary, Ms. Lee.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, maybe I should qualify that, Mr. Speaker. He may be doing a great job in other areas, but when it comes to student financial assistance, he has really been blinded. He's had a board decision that should consider his policy. Anyway, Mr. Speaker, in seriousness, this is talking about people's lives. Would the Minister consider...

Excuse me, Ms. Lee. I don't think it's fair to the Member that people are trying to pressure the Member into making a question. It's not fair. Could we get some order in this House? It's getting a little hard to hear the question and also we should allow her to make her question. Ms. Lee, your question, please.

Mr. Speaker, would the Minister give full due and fair consideration to this latest information that suggests that this institution should be included for post-secondary education?

Minister of Education, Culture and Employment, Mr. Ootes.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, we have made a lot of improvements for students over the last three years. I think I should state that. It's important to put that before the public. The honourable Member is raising a very good point in this specific situation that naturally we want to do what we can for all students in the Territories that attend certain institutions. There are cases where it falls outside of the guidelines, but we certainly will look at the possibility of what circumstances would lead us to say, yes, we can recognize that institution. We will always do that, Mr. Speaker. So I will take the information that the Member has and we will look at the institution. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Final supplementary, Ms. Lee.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, one of the other things that the Minister has suggested is because there is no cost involved in going into an RCMP training academy, there should be no need for loans and grants. But I have provided the Minister with information that suggests that there are lots of other expenses and this particular person has to take a leave of absence to go to the school which would be a loss of wages. So would the Minister consider looking at the expenses and see what the government can do to help with that? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Minister of Education, Culture and Employment, Mr. Ootes.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. We are always interested in improving our student financial assistance programs, Mr. Speaker. The information the Member has referred to, we will certainly take that into consideration and any other information that the Member can provide to us would be very helpful. Thank you.

Item 6, oral questions. Mr. Nitah.

Mr. Ootes.

Point of order, Mr. Speaker. The Member just referred to me having money for bingo cops. I find that insulting, Mr. Speaker, to refer to people who do good jobs in our communities and on a point of order under Rule 23(i) that states the Member will be called to order if the Member speaks disrespectfully in the Assembly of a Member, as well as under 23(k), where he uses abusive or insulting language of a nature that likely creates disorder, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Ootes, I don't believe the Member was referring directly to you in the statement. He was talking about policing in general with regards to training. I think you may be offended, but I do not see your point of order. Mr. Ootes.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I believe the Member, by the entrance he's making, is speaking about employees of this government and I don't accept that as an appropriate way to speak about our employees. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

You do not have a point of order. I did not hear any Members or individuals. The words I heard was training for bingo police. There was no reference. I would caution the Member with regard to his oral question and there is no point of order. Mr. Nitah.

There is no question there, Mr. Nitah. Mr. Nitah.

Minister of Education, Culture and Employment, Mr. Ootes.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I don't have the mission statement here, Mr. Speaker. Thank you.

Supplementary, Mr. Nitah.

Minister of Education, Culture and Employment, Mr. Ootes.

Mr. Speaker, the question is somewhat hypothetical in my mind. The income support program, if that is what the Member is referring to, is a very good program. It provides support to a lot of people in this territory. It's one of the best in the country and we have very good people doing work in this area, Mr. Speaker, that really do their best to provide a service to people, provide income to people, so they can ensure that they have some livelihood. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Supplementary, Mr. Nitah.

Minister of Education, Culture and Employment, Mr. Ootes.

Mr. Speaker, if the Member can bring me a specific case, then maybe I can deal with that, but he's being very hypothetical about his illustrations. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Final supplementary, Mr. Nitah.

Minister of Education, Culture and Employment, Mr. Ootes.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The process for applying for income support, Mr. Speaker, is for the client to come into the office to apply for income support and there's usually a procedure that's followed to ask what income was received the previous month and that determines the amount of income for the individual. Thank you.

Item 6, oral questions. Mr. McLeod.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Minister responsible for the Housing Corporation, Mr. Roger Allen. Mr. Speaker, earlier this week, the Minister indicated that all housing clients are treated the same by himself and the department. I would like to ask the Minister if he could expand on that. Could he clarify what he meant by that? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Minister responsible for the Housing Corporation, Mr. Allen.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Currently, public housing tenants who are in public housing through the NWT Housing Corporation have their income based on rent geared to income. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Supplementary, Mr. McLeod.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to ask the Minister if he could tell me if there is any commitment by the Housing Corporation to aboriginal people for aboriginal housing? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Minister responsible for the Housing Corporation, Mr. Allen.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. We are committed to a fair process. We are committed to Aboriginals. We are committed to non-aboriginals. Mr. Speaker, I may verify that by stating in this House that each year it costs this government $35 million to support public housing while, on a pro forma basis, we only collect between $2.7 million and $2.9 million on rent recoveries. So that indicates to this House very clearly that we are committed to providing adequate housing to all residents of the NWT and we will continue to do so. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

---Applause