Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the privatization of the Language Bureau, the way I understand it is that, indeed, when we had interpreters and translators available to this government on salary, indeed, it was cheaper for the government. Now it is costing them more money to go to the private sector and, indeed, some monies have had to come forward from different departments to pay for these funds. My follow-up supplementary question is, has any money been made available or given to the Inuktitut language group in Nunavut? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Minister of Education. The aboriginal language translation and interpretation services provided by the Language Bureau was privatized in 1997. In June, 1997, the Cabinet authorized a reallocation of the budget formerly used for these services or about $1.437 million to be allocated to the language groups. I understand, Mr. Speaker, that there is only $350,000 from the original $1.437 million available to the aboriginal language groups in the Northwest Territories. Given that the Minister has stated that the closure of the Language Bureau was not a cost-cutting exercise, I am wondering why only $350,000 is available for the several different language organizations and groups in the Northwest Territories? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker and good morning. Mr. Speaker, yesterday afternoon the Hawker-Siddley 748 airplane, departing from Iqaluit to Igloolik, was unable, as I understand, to sustain power and ran off the Iqaluit runway. Some minor injuries were reported but the four crew and three passengers are all safe. Mr. Speaker, emergency services in Iqaluit reacted very quickly to the scene of the incident and by all reports, the professionalism shown was second to none.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank EMO from Iqaluit, the Iqaluit RCMP, the hospital staff, fire and ambulance workers for a job well done. Mr. Speaker, we are now awaiting for investigators to arrive in Iqaluit from the proper investigating authorities and organizations in the south to find out the cause of the crash. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

--Applause

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, industry officials in the mining sector have said that the decision creates uncertainty for billions of dollars in developments from coast to coast to coast. Ottawa and the provinces have said it threatens the hard won intergovernment agreements already in place. I am wondering when the Minister, or his department, would actually have a response to the Sun Pine decision that was made on November 23, 1998, and make that information available to the House and the Members? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the federal government has recently lost a request to stay a ruling on the

environmental reviews that could affect developments of mines in the north and Nunavut, including the diamond mines. I guess, the federal Court of Appeal ruled on November 23rd that the Sun Pine decision, which environmentalists call one of their biggest legal victories, will stand until it is appealed next year. I am wondering, has the Minister for RWED or his department reviewed this serious development? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, over the past several days, issues surrounding governments and the basic foundation of public government in the Northwest Territories has caused much debate here and, indeed, in the national press. Mr. Speaker, the paramount focus of public government is that public government has to be ultimately accountable to the public. This includes the operations of government, contracts, policies and, indeed, the hiring of staff and the protection, Mr. Speaker, of the public purse. Mr. Speaker, perceptions of nepotism and cronyism have permeated this Assembly.

Seemingly, policies of this government are either followed haphazardly or by a system known only to a collective similar to the board. Mr. Speaker, the government needs to tighten up the enforcement of its hiring, contracting and other policies to demonstrate fairness to the ultimate power here, and that is our constituents, the people of the Northwest Territories and Nunavut. They deserve nothing less. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

--Applause

Thank you, Madam Chairperson. The Special Committee on Nunavut Legislation reviewed Bill 14, Nunavut Judicial System Implementation Act, at its meetings on November 24 and 26, 1998, here in Yellowknife.

The committee would like to thank the Honourable Goo Arlooktoo and his officials for presenting the bill and responding to issues raised by the committee.

Bill 14 establishes a single-level trial court system for Nunavut. It replaces the Judicature Act and Territorial Court Act with a new Nunavut Judicature Act, and replaces the Justices of the Peace Act with a new Nunavut Justices of the Peace Act. It also makes consequential amendments to several other Nunavut statutes.

The current court system in the Northwest Territories, and indeed in the rest of Canada, has two levels of trial courts, Madam Chairperson. In the Northwest Territories these are the Territorial Court and the Supreme Court. The other components of the NWT justice system are the Justice of the Peace Program and, Madam Chairperson, the Court of Appeal.

This bill, Madam Chairperson, will combine the functions of the Territorial Court and the Supreme Court into one court - the Nunavut Court of Justice. Nunavut will also have justices of the peace and we will also have a Court of Appeal.

Related amendments are also being made by the federal government in Ottawa to federal statutes. The federal statutes, the Nunavut Act, the Criminal Code, the Judges Act and the Young Offenders Act specifically for Canada are also being amended to change.

Key of the single-level trial court are:

* All of the judges would be superior court judges appointed by the federal government;

*A judge of the Nunavut Court of Justice would have the jurisdiction to hear all matters currently heard by the Territorial Court and the Supreme Court;

*The Nunavut Court of Justice would hear minor and major criminal offences, all civil matters and all aspects of family law cases.

Madam Chairperson, it is hoped and expected that a single-level trial court will reduce delay in the administration of justice in Nunavut, as well as reducing administrative and travel costs.

Committee members recognize that another consequence of this bill may be that justices of the peace will deal with more matters at the community level. That should be a good thing, Madam Chairperson.

Madam Chairperson, this bill implements a system that will be new to Nunavut, and also new and unique to Canada. Committee members realize that much hard work and preparation has gone into the development of this bill. At the same time, there is much yet to be done to ensure that the new court system is implemented smoothly and works well for the people of Nunavut.

Madam Chairperson, Committee members support this bill and look forward to seeing a justice system put in place for Nunavut that can deal with matters quickly, comprehensively and expeditiously in a manner that respects the culture and values of the people of Nunavut.

This concludes the special committee's comments on Bill 14, Nunavut Judicial System Implementation Act. Thank you, Madam Chairperson.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, indeed I do take the questioning seriously. As I said before, Mr. Speaker, we are here to be accountable for public spending and the public purse. I would ask, Mr. Speaker, not just deputy ministers that Mr. Todd replied with. I would ask that senior managers, which are covered under the guideline and policy, be covered under the request I made about the contracts over the last 12 months. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, well if nothing has come across his desk, across his floor, window, rug, table, I would wonder, Mr. Speaker, in the last three and a half years as Chairman of the Financial Management Board, if the Minister would look and review the contracts given in the last 12 months to see if former senior managers of this government have indeed received contracts and indeed may have been in violation of that policy? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.