Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My question is for the Minister of Finance. Mr. Speaker, on many previous occasions in this House, the Minister of Finance has referred to what have been called fiscal irritants in our relationship with Ottawa and, particularly, with the Minister of Indian Affairs. I would like to ask the Minister of Finance whether he's had a chance to work on some of these fiscal irritants and whether he's been able to make any progress in resolving certain of these fiscal irritants with the Minister of Indian Affairs, as we draw near to the end of the term of this government. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to recognize a man who really probably doesn't need an introduction, since he is a known, familiar and I would even say, a beloved figure, in this Assembly. I could go on, but I

understand I only have 30 seconds. So without further adieu and without exceeding the time allotted to me, I would like to recognize a man who isn't here only in his official capacity representing the UNW, but also, I know, as a citizen who cherishes the democratic process. I refer to Mr. Ben MacDonald. Thank you.

---Applause

Thank you, Mr. Speaker and Members. As I was saying, Mr. Speaker, I fear that a change of the chairperson at this crucial time -- the chair who had listened to us and many other persons with serious concerns about this bill -- is a setback for those persons who placed their faith in the committee and especially in its chairperson. It will, I fear, cause further instability in a process which has already been criticized for not allowing enough time for thoughtful discussion and serious consideration of how the bill might be amended and might be made workable.

Secondly, Mr. Speaker, there is increasing concern about the costs of the administration of the new compulsory registration regime. It's well known we do not have the computer and satellite technology available in many of our communities to allow the Northwest Territories to become part of a national firearms registration network electronically, as contemplated by the bill. Installing the necessary computer and satellite facilities would represent a staggering cost in the north. Who will pay for these increased costs?

While communities like Chesterfield Inlet, addressed by my new colleague in the Legislature, a neighbour, are without local policemen due to funding shortfalls for policing in the NWT, will additional precious financial resources have to be spent on hardware and software for an electronic registration system no one wants or needs in the Northwest Territories?

There is also great concern over whether general hunting licence holders will have to pay for registration of their firearms. The policy now on whether GHL holders will have to pay for firearms acquisition certificates required by the present law, seems to vary widely in the Northwest Territories. Some local policemen are saying to people who apply for FACs that they will be exempted from paying a fee only if they can establish that they are on welfare; only then. Other people have found out and have been told that they will only be exempted from paying a fee for the FAC if they can prove that they are full-time hunters with incomes under $30,000. Our MP is providing assurances that gun registration will not cost anything. But the federal Minister of Justice is saying that beyond the $85 million that his government has committed to paying for the national registration system, users will pay the additional costs of registration.

Mr. Speaker, if aboriginal people and GHL holders in the NWT end up being exempted from fees for registration -- and I hope they will -- then who will pay the costs of implementing the system in the Northwest Territories? Will it have to come from our government?

Mr. Speaker, at every turn, this new legislation looks more and more like the most invasive piece of legislation ever proposed by the Government of Canada to apply to the north. I fear that it will be widely ignored or challenged by our constituents, and that the overall respect for law and order which has improved over the years in the north will suffer enormously in the process.

Mr. Speaker, in closing, someone somewhere in Ottawa must understand that this new regime is not only unacceptable, but also unworkable in the north. Thank you.

---Applause

I don't think I've quite used up my time, Mr. Speaker, but I would like unanimous consent to continue whether I've used up my time or not. Thank you.

Is it up?

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I know that I said I might speak for the last time on the gun control bill, the other day, but I continue to receive, daily, expressions of grave concern from my constituents about Bill C-68, the new federal gun control bill, and new problems emerge by the day. The latest has to do with the Honourable Warren Allmand.

Mr. Speaker, we had some sense of confidence in talking to Mr. Allmand who is known to many of us personally. The former Indian Affairs Minister knows the north and listened very carefully to the presentations our Caucus subcommittee made before his Standing Committee on Justice and Legal Affairs on Bill C-68. Now, just when his committee is about to report the results of its deliberations on this very important bill, it seems that Mr. Allmand is to be dismissed as chair of the committee for having voted against a budget bill.

Mr. Speaker, a change of chairperson at this crucial time -- the chair who had listened to us and many other persons with serious concerns about this bill -- is a setback for those persons who placed their faith in the committee and its chair.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I think the legal counsel, as usual, has given wise advice and hopefully it will be of assistance, should this motion pass, to the drafters of the now bill in enacting provisions that will further the worthwhile objectives of the mover of the motion. I think that explanation is helpful and I'm glad that it's on the record. I'll support the motion in light of that. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I will just repeat the question. I think the essence of it is, I agree with the intent of the motion, but I would like to ask -- perhaps through our legal advisor -- aren't licensees already liable, civilly, if they act irresponsibility in the way that they sell or supply liquor? If that's the case, then I would like to ask our legal advisor, would provisions in the Liquor Act restating that civil responsibility strengthen or possibly weaken the remedies that are already available, as I understand, under civil law? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I agree with the intent of the motion, Mr. Chairman, but I would like to ask -and perhaps our legal advisor could assist us -- a question about damages resulting from irresponsible sale or supply of liquor. Isn't it true, Mr. Chairman, that licensees are already liable for their actions in selling or supplying liquor under the ... Sorry, I understand there may be a translation problem, Mr. Chairman.