Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My question is to the Minister of Health. Mr. Speaker, I refer to job posting number 01 1-0060TRW-005, consultant, addictions, East. Mr. Speaker, this competition closes on March 29, 1996. My question is why is this job advertised as a Yellowknife based position when clearly by description, the job should be positioned and physically located in the East. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, there are opportunities to be taken in all the communities if we can position these communities to take advantage of them. For example, all the communities in the Keewatin region have the opportunity to take advantage of the economic benefits from mineral exploration that is taking place in the area. These are the types of opportunities that we have to be prepared f or.

Mr. Speaker, in my view, the mandate of the committee on economic growth and job creation Would be to develop strategies that would place our communities in this position. In my view, it is not enough for the ordinary Members to simply review or criticize the initiatives that are brought forth by this government. It is our responsibility and our elected duty to offer constructive statements on how we can better deal with these problems; the problems that threaten people of the North who need our help the most: the unemployed and the less fortunate.

Mr. Speaker, I will be pursuing this matter with the Members during this Assembly. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my statement today is regarding economic growth and job creation. Mr. Speaker, on Wednesday past, I spoke about the need for this Assembly to develop strategies to deal with the economic; and social challenges facing communities across the Northwest Territories. For many years, Mr. Speaker, the government ties been the main engine of economic growth in the Territories, either through the direct creation of new jobs or the indirect creation of jobs by using policies to ensure that its capital budget benefits northern businesses.

Mr. Speaker, it is clear from the statements of the House, of the government, to date, that if government is the engine of economic growth in the Territories, then we have just slammed on the brakes. Government is restructuring in such a manner that will eliminate jobs, not create them. Spending on capital and government programs is expected to be reduced significantly, affecting a number of jobs in the private sector. Mr. Speaker, while the downsizing of government will be felt in headquarters and in the regional centres, the smaller centres that are even more dependent on government will be especially hard hit.

On Wednesday, I told Members about the RSV outbreak in Arviat and the underlying economic and social problems that I believe contributed to this tragedy. Mr. Speaker, the two communities that I represent face similar challenges to other communities in both the Western Arctic and Nunavut. They are not regional centres and for the most part do not have the economic opportunities available to them, aside from the pursuit of traditional activities. Unemployment rates in these communities are astronomically high. For example, in Arviat and Baker Lake, although the official unemployment rate runs in the area of 25 to 30 per cent, the real unemployment rate is closer to 70 to 75 per cent. Many of the people in these communities have given up looking for work because there is none. As a result, they are not included in the Stats Canada estimates. At the same time, Mr. Speaker, the birthrates in these communities are amongst the highest in North America. The basic fact of the matter is that the problem is simply getting worse.

Mr. Speaker, reductions to government programs are felt more acutely in these communities. The more diverse economies in the larger regional centres make them better able to absorb these cuts. Mr. Speaker, I'm not trying to make light of the challenges facing the larger centres.

Mr. Speaker, I ask for unanimous consent to continue my statement.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I had a statement prepared on the economy, but I realized that one of my colleagues will be speaking on the same issue, so I made a change. I would like to introduce to my honourable colleagues a new toy that was developed in the Eastern Arctic. This toy is capable of speaking for long periods of time on matters from honey buckets in Hard Luck Bay to the transfer of college programs in Iqaluit. Mr. Speaker, I would like to show you this new toy. It is called the "Eddy Picco speaking doll."

--- Laughter

--- Interjection

I would like to recognize the deputy mayor of Baker Lake, Peter Tapatai and the assistance deputy mayor, Frank Tootoo, for joining us again today in the Assembly.

--- Applause

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. It isn't often that I get ... (Microphone turned off).

--- Interjection

Thank you. Just a few brief comments with regard to my feelings on the package. In general, I applaud the committee who reviewed the MLA package, although I do feel that they've gone beyond the call of duty.

Needless to say, I agree that the pension package is too rich and that it should be modified downward but certainly not thrown out.

I am also concerned about the massive changes and negative cuts in general to the MLAs' salaries and benefits packages. I don't believe that we should be treated any more special than the average worker, but by the same token, I don't think we should be treated lesser either.

In general, I think that the package certainly needs a lot more study and will probably require more time than what we have to analyze it.

Those are all the comments I have, Mr. Chairman. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my question is directed to the Minister of Finance and it relates to the Minister's statement regarding lay-offs. Can the Minister advise this House as to the percentage of lay-offs per region by region? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, it gives me a great deal of pleasure to introduce some people from my community. In the past six months, I think on a few occasions I had to recognize all those who hadn't been recognized. After six months, I finally get someone to come and visit and I would like to introduce and welcome the deputy mayor of Baker Lake, Peter Tapatai; hamlet counsellor, Frank Tootoo; and, Baker Lake businessman, Ron Bodner. Thank you.

--- Applause