(Translation) Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I have a question directed to the Minister of Finance. (Translation ends) I was told by the Minister of Finance that his officials have already done an analysis on the effect of take-home pay of the new wage and benefits. I asked the Minister to give us the information on Monday. To date, we are still waiting. When will the Minister give us the information on this analysis? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, it's not often that an MLA receives good news; therefore, I'm very pleased to announce that two communities in my constituency have been awarded funds from the Parks Canada supplement to the Canada/ Northwest Territories languages agreement. The hamlet of Arctic Bay has been awarded $78,805 for activities associated with the construction of the traditional qarmaq. The Resolute Bay Hunters' and Trappers' Association has been awarded $7,500 to hold a workshop on oral history and the traditional knowledge of polar bears.

The Arctic Bay project is a tribute to the elders of Arctic Bay, who are specialists in the Inuktitut language and culture, who have successfully participated in community-based projects in the past by collecting traditional place names and who instruct cultural classes in Inuujaq School at all grade levels in Resolute Bay. The project ensures that Inuit traditional environmental knowledge and practical experience with polar bears and land-based cultural activities will be available for use in the cooperative management of the proposed Bathurst Island National Park. The Resolute Bay Community Lands and Resources Committee and the Resolute Bay Hunters' and Trappers' Association will carry out this work. I would like to congratulate my communities on this achievement and thank the Honourable Charles Dent and his department for their support. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

--- Applause

Thank you, Madam Chairman. I would like to make a motion. I move to report progress.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My written question is also directed to the Minister of MACA regarding regional director and community transfer.

The Baffin regional director has been chairing the senior management committee which meets monthly and includes all superintendents and director-level managers in the region. Does the government believe that the Baffin senior management committee has been active in dealing with issues of current concern in the region in a cooperative manner?

Does the Minister believe that the senior management committee has been effective? Who will chair the Baffin senior management committee if the regional director's position is eliminated? If the chair is to be replaced by a departmental superintendent, how will that person represent the government-wide perspectives? How will the regional superintendent chairing the Baffin senior management committee, as an equal, have the authority to monitor and coordinate lead initiatives within the region?

The Baffin regional director has been chairing the Baffin regional transfer committee, the regional director has been actively involved in community transfer in the Baffin which seems to be welcomed by virtually every Baffin community.

If the Baffin regional director is removed, who will replace the regional director in coordinating the role? If the coordinating/monitoring role is to be assumed by one of the regional superintendents, how will that superintendent have clout with other superintendents when each superintendent has the same status in the government hierarchy?

Since the Baffin community transfer initiative represents a new approach to CTI being tried out on a trial basis, why change the rules before the new approach has been concluded?

Isn't the change of the coordinating role from the regional director being seen to communities and the general public as a change from the Executive and Cabinet program and priority to that of a major departmental program? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Qujannamiik. ...especially those with big families, to afford to take vacations. My constituent believes that the chance to travel beyond our isolated communities helps our children to start thinking about making lifestyle choices such as going on to school or working outside their home community. My constituent tells me that the front line workers see the recent changes as being targeted against workers in isolated communities with big families. On top of that, my constituent says the government wants to go ahead with all kinds of community initiatives. Communities want to do more, but it seems to my constituent that the government has just come along and banged each employee hard on the head and said, we're going to make this hard and hurtful for you, so when we give you something, you can then appreciate how good we are. With no wage increases in the last four years and huge housing increases, the government still seems to blame the government workers for their troubles.

We government workers care about one another. My constituent says that she would not leave because of money issues and most are not working just for the pay and benefits. But they are now feeling that their pride and self esteem has been taken away as well. That, she says, is unforgivable. I hope I make some sense, she told me. This is how my constituents are feeling these days, Mr. Speaker. I believe it is part of my job to convey their fears and confusion and anger to all Members of this House. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

--- Applause

(Translation) Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Good afternoon. (Translation ends) Today I'd like to share some heartfelt advice I received from a long-term professional working as a government employee in my constituency. This person is originally from the South. Her concern about the recent cuts to wages and benefits is not for herself. She said, "we professionals can find work in other places, but many of the supporting staff depend on their jobs for food, shelter and clothing. There is already so much hurt and distress that people are trying to deal with, that the added stress of losing their livelihood of benefits adds to increased mental health problems." My constituent went on to point out that our small Communities are often already underserviced in these areas. She asked , how can the government expect our hard-pressed front-line staff in the community to deal with all the pressures of their jobs when they are overwhelmed with personal concerns or whether they will have jobs or more rent increases?

Many people are supporting large extended families and already have very little left over after recent increasing rents and decreasing wages will force those people to move into overcrowded conditions, she predicts. Mental and physical health is sure to suffer, my constituent says. It isn't the southern professionals who will be hurt, it is the aboriginal people, many of whom see their community jobs as a stepping stone to participate in the Nunavut government. My constituent tells me that they are now getting angry that no one seems to care about them. It also seems that in the midst of these pressures, now it will be almost impossible for these community workers ... Mr. Speaker, I seek unanimous consent to conclude my statement.

Mr. Speaker, thank you. Does the Minister of Finance have the analysis available for various families in the Northwest Territories?

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My question is to the Minister of Finance. On Friday, I asked the Minister of Finance if he could provide information on the effect of his announced reductions to pay and benefits of employees. The Minister of Finance said he wasn't sure if he could provide that information on an individual basis. Could the Minister of Finance provide information on the effect of layoffs for a typical family in the various regions of the Northwest Territories, without naming names?

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I understand that it is not fair to ask for information about the pay of individuals in this House. Mr. Speaker, later today, I will be asking Mr. Todd if he could provide us with examples for typical employees with small, medium and large families and how their gross and net pay would be affected by these changes. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.