Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my question is directed to Minister Arlooktoo, Minister responsible for Housing. Mr. Speaker, there is a situation in one of my communities that the Minister is aware of. Mr. Speaker, I will not go into detail so as not to disclose the identity of the person in question. Sometimes we get into a situation, not by choice but by circumstances. The point is, can the Minister help this individual? Of course, he can. The question is, will the Minister help the individual to find time in order to find a solution to his problem? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I would like to introduce members of my family in the public gallery, my son George, my granddaughter Georgina, my grandson Jonathan, and my staff member, Patsy. Thank you.

--Applause

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, your committee has been considering the state of education in the Northwest Territories and would like to report progress. Mr. Speaker, I move that the report of the Committee of the Whole be concurred with. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Chairman, like my colleague, Mr. Roland, I believe we have come a long way since 20, 30 years ago, perhaps 40 years ago. I think we have recognized some of the things we have started with and how far

we came. Sometimes a positive attitude in this kind of situation helps a bit. Mr. Chairman, like my colleagues, I have attended many meetings at the community, regional and territorial level. We are talking about education, talking about the kind of product that we are producing in the system. Many things are contributing factors for our failure. Many meetings I have attended, like I said, community, regional, territorial, even international level, talks about many of the problems that we have talked about. In most cases, Mr. Chairman, a very important element or body is not in the attendant, that is the representative of the student. Mr. Chairman, did we ever stop to think and ask a student how he or she feels to be up here from a community in a strange environment? Did we ever stop to think and ask, how does it feel to go to school without having a breakfast, or having lunch, for that matter? Did we ever stop to think and ask when a student for some reason is being picked on time and time again and there is no counsellor? Perhaps there is no money in the program to have a school counsellor. Perhaps a student is too shy to get some help. Did we ever stop to think and ask a student what his parents think about education?

We have in different cultures, different values. In many cases, children are brought up in small native communities to become hunters and so on. Did we ever stop to think and ask students what do your parents think about education? Do you get support from education? What is the environment like at home? Is it overcrowded? Do you have enough space in your home to do your homework? Do you get support from your parents, brothers to do your homework? We have to realize that it is not always up to politicians, parents, educators to make a right choice or decision for the student. In many cases, I think, having the students involved in the process is very important. Very critical.

Mr. Chairman, like my colleague, Mr. Floyd, I think we also have to recognize that there is hope in our system. We have graduating, producing and quality students. In many cases we have talked about special needs. I have not heard anyone at the meeting, or this forum, talking about bright, gifted students. Are we supporting gifted, bright students to go forward? I think we are lacking in that regard.

Mr. Chairman, Mr. Ootes talks about motivation. Did we ever stop to think and ask, again, a student what he or she wishes to be? Where does that person go beyond the education that we are expecting her to be? There are no opportunities in the small communities. The few opportunities that we have in the small communities are taken and the turn over is very low, thereby making graduation lower than we expect it to be. I think we have to recognize that.

How many times does a student want to go home because they are having their education in another centre, another larger community, where that person is exposed to many of the things that he has never seen before or been part of before? I think that we have to be, although we are looking at what our failures are in terms of financing, facilities, et cetera. We have to be sensitive to the person that is very much part of education, which is the student. I think we have to realize that. We have to. If we are not able to do a survey, Mr. Chairman, in order to compile information from the students, if we are not able to go to the community, let us have a survey by way of, we have computers. We have a communication we can use; we can use mail, et cetera. Then we would realize that there is a very important part that is missing. What does the student think? Why are the students not graduating like we anticipate they will graduate? What is the problem? We identify problems many times, but never from the students' point of view. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, hunting and trapping are occupations many people enjoy in the NWT. It was, at one time, the main driving force of the economy in the NWT. Although, it is no lucrative business, it does provide food, clothing and some cash money for people who practice it. Mr. Speaker, it is also recognized by this government and by this country, TFN and the GNWT provides a Hunters Support Program in Nunavut. We have an Outpost Camp Programs, Community Hunt Programs, Fur Incentive Programs, et cetera. Mr. Speaker, like many other occupations, it has some risks. Many hunters and trappers lost their equipment and in some cases, their lives. Mr. Speaker, at the appropriate time, I will be asking the Minister about the compensation coverage to hunters and trappers. Either regular coverage or an alternative. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, it is Friday, and to make a point, my question is directed to the Premier. I want to draw the attention of Members to an article in the Yellowknifer, page A17, Friday, May 22, 1998. The heading is, A Wing and a Prayer and a Premier. Mr. Speaker, I want to make a quotation:

A one-winged raven is heading south to an Alberta bird sanctuary thanks to Premier Don Morin.

My question is, Mr. Speaker, did the raven fall under the compassionate travel budget?

--Applause

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, recently Mr. Ng and I had the opportunity and pleasure of attending the Kitikmeot Leaders forum in Kugluktuk. As usual Mr. Speaker, we were made welcome and were full participants of the forum. Mr. Speaker, many issues were discussed and resolutions passed respecting the social economic well-being of the Kitikmeot residents. One of the many issues, Mr. Speaker, that we discussed was the operation and management of the Kitikmeot boarding home here in Yellowknife. Mr. Speaker, I will not get into details as Mr. Ng is aware of the issues, as well as the residents of the Kitikmeot are aware of the issues. Since most of the issues and concerns came from the eastern part of the Kitikmeot region which I represent, better known as Natilikmiot. Next week, I will be asking questions of the Minister of Social Services on these issues. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

--Applause

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, if I remember correctly during the reduction cutbacks, the Premier of this government and Mr. Todd, the Finance Minister, stated publicly the reduction cutbacks would be fair and compassionate. Will the Minister look at again reinstating the compassionate travel for people who cannot afford to travel to be with a loved one in their time of need? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, as I stated in my Member's statement regarding the demand for the Compassionate Travel Benefit Program, given the high cost of living, travel in the NWT and in many cases the only means of travel is by air between the regions in the Nunavut area. Mr. Speaker, given the demand for the reinstatement of the compassionate travel, subsequently having requests coming from communities for this program, will the Premier of this government seriously consider reinstating the compassionate travel benefit? Thank you.