(Translation) Thank you, Madam Speaker. As we are all aware, we won't be meeting tomorrow as it will be Saturday. It will be October 15th tomorrow. I remember back in 1975, I was first elected on October 15th. I am very happy today that I am still here.

---Applause

At the same time, I realize there are difficulties we have to work through, whether they are verbal, or difficulties concerning our families and friends. I am very happy that I have been able to face those challenges. I expect to continue working within this House.

Looking back to October 15, 1975, it seems like a short time ago, but it has been a long time now. I want to express my gratitude to the people who have continued to vote for me and I want to thank you for helping me meet my challenges. Thank you, Madam Speaker.

---Applause

Thank you, Madam Speaker. I wish to table Tabled Document 28-12(6), and it is a letter that was addressed to me on March 17, 1994, from the president of the HTA of Resolute Bay concerning disturbing natural seal feeding and gaming areas. Thank you.

(Translation) Thank you, Madam Speaker. In my area, Arctic Bay has the highest population. I would like to ask the Minister of Social Services a question. The social worker had resigned because of the size of the population in Arctic Bay. Does she know when they will get another social worker? Thank you.

(Translation) Thank you, Madam Speaker. I have a concern from my constituency that I would like to express. It concerns the seals being studied in our region. For over a year now, a survey has been conducted around the Resolute area. The seals are being handled manually in the springtime, usually in the months of April and May.

The studies are being conducted very close to the communities. Sometimes they go out to areas further away, but usually they stay within the ice floes close to the communities. Many people, of course, go seal hunting and the scientists are coming too close to the hunting areas. In the hunting areas, the seals are not reproducing any more. Pups are becoming more scarce; this has been noticed by Resolute people. People of Resolute have requested that something be done to keep the scientists from coming too close to the areas where people usually do their sealing. It would improve the pup growth rate. People have noticed a significant change in the numbers of pups.

Further on this morning, or in the afternoon, I will produce a document, a letter from the HTA of Resolute. Thank you, Madam Speaker.

(Translation) Thank you, Madam Speaker. I would like to make a brief comment on the motion. This is not the first time that I've been in this situation. This has come up about three times since I became a Member in 1975, when we tried to remove a Minister from the Cabinet. I appreciate that the motion was put on the floor so that we can comment on the motion, so that our constituents can hear.

I think that in the future, it will be difficult at times when the Premier is able to remove Ministers from the Cabinet on her own. In some cases, it would be fine if she is given that power. We all think differently. I'm sure some of us would be very unhappy if the Premier removed a Minister while Members approved of that particular Minister. A motion would probably be introduced if a Premier is able to remove a Minister and we didn't approve.

We all know today that the Premier can remove a Minister for logical reasons. We all witnessed that when she removed a Minister before. But, if there isn't a legitimate reason, then she can't remove a Minister from the Cabinet. If she removed a Minister we approved of, I'm sure most of the Members would be unhappy about that decision. I don't want to wait until the fall. If we remove Ministers from Cabinet just when they're getting to know their responsibilities, those people who consider running for Cabinet would have those setbacks. I won't be supporting the motion. Thank you, Madam Speaker.

(Translation) Thank you, Madam Speaker. There are growing concerns in this House about social housing in the NWT. We are all aware that it is getting more difficult to get housing and we know about the new rent scale to be implemented in the Nunavut area. The Advisory Committee on Social Housing was given the responsibility for and funding of about $5 million to go to the home ownership program. About 95 per cent of the funding went to the west. At that time, people in Nunavut weren't that serious about going into home ownership.

That was not too long ago, but today there is increasing home ownership in the Nunavut area because they are starting to realize how difficult it is to get housing. More people are interested in being home owners. I want them to be considered before the new rent scale comes into effect because this seems to be so sudden. Thank you, Madam Speaker.

---Applause

Thank you. I would like to ask the Minister of Housing and DPW a question. Last fall, he was planning a trip to my constituency and the trip had to be cancelled because the Honourable Mr. Morin's mother got sick. I wonder if the Minister is still planning to visit? If he is, is my constituency on the top of his list? Thank you.

(Translation) Thank you, Mr. Chairman. With regard to Bill 19, at this time as it is written now, I cannot say that I will be in support of this bill. In the past, this government had to follow the federal government. The federal government translates as power. If they are going to fix the policies, we tend to follow them. Sometimes, we have no choice but to follow the federal government's incentives. We had realized that the federal government had run into some problems with the smuggling of tobacco from one area to another.

I know that we are going to have the same situation happening to us. I know that there are many bills and acts. Some of us are quite confused as to which direction to follow. For that reason, for those teenagers at that time who are eligible to buy cigarettes at the age of 16, under the federal government, they changed that to age 18. Therefore, we had to abide by that. However, the elders are still living today and adults as I am are growing older. For those people who receive old age pension, they will be greatly impacted by this bill.

In some of our constituencies, I know that people are not using tobacco as much as they used to. Some houses are non-smoking houses now, in my constituency. If there is one person who is a smoker amongst all the non-smokers in the house, even in the cold weather, you still have to go outside to smoke if the house is non-smoking. In spite of that, all the houses are not non-smoking yet.

I believe that tobacco is not good for your health. However, for those who are smokers, they cannot quit smoking. It is impossible for them to quit. I know that tobacco is bad for your health and there are some foods that are smoked. You don't tax smoked food. Have you ever considered whether smoked food or smoked goods are bad for your health? I wonder if there has ever been research on that.

Cigarettes have a warning on the packages warning you that you can get cancer from smoking. Some people who are non-smokers die of cancer too. Perhaps it is from the smoked foods that they eat. I just wanted to make that comment on the fines that are going to be imposed. With all that, at this time, I cannot support the bill today. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Today I would like to make a very simple statement. It cost $25 million to build this Legislative Assembly building. Somehow, we were tight for money and the government put in only $10 million. We had to buy chairs, telephones and a lot of equipment for this building. Also, about 200 garbage cans had to be put into this building. Instead of 200 cans, there are only 199. That is all the government can afford. Today we are short one garbage can. Since we've been here, my neighbour here hasn't had a garbage can.

---Laughter

And we have to share one garbage can. Every time he throws paper into my garbage can, he always touches my knee!

---Laughter

A lot of times, he misses the garbage can and there is a pile of papers under my desk. I went to the dump yesterday and I found a bucket.

---Laughter

So, I would like to give it to him.

---Laughter

Thank you, Madam Speaker.

---Applause