Mr. Speaker, I have another return to an oral question asked by Mr. Ningark on June 13th, regarding the number of GNWT layoffs due to the language funding cuts. Mr. Speaker, employment entitlements are not determined by the source of funding for their position. Government staff are hired pursuant to the Public Service Act and their terms and conditions of employment are determined by the act and are applicable to collective agreements and government policies. Whether an employee's position is funded from either vote 1 or vote 4 resources, their entitlements would not be affected. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, I have a return to an oral question asked by Mr. Allooloo on June 13th regarding consultation for development of the official languages handbook. Mr. Allooloo asked if the Premier would be able to provide the Legislative Assembly the list of aboriginal groups who had general discussions with the officials of the department. During the fall and winter, the assistant deputy minister of official languages met or had phone conversations with the following:

- representatives from the Dene Cultural Institute;

- representatives from the Inuit Cultural Institute;

- representatives from the Baffin Regional Inuit Association;

- Languages Commissioner;

- representatives from the Federation Franco-TéNOise;

- representatives from the Nunavut Implementation Committee;

- representatives from the Hay River Treatment Centre;

- representatives from the Hay River Friendship Centre; and,

- representatives from the Fort Smith Friendship Centre

The purpose of those consultations was to ascertain the areas where the GNWT should focus its language resources on. The community representatives consulted stressed that funding should be directed at community-based initiatives for enhancement, maintenance and revitalization of languages. These comments played an important role in the development of official languages guidelines.

Mr. Speaker, later today on behalf of the Honourable Stephen Kakfwi, Minister of Justice, I will table a document which identifies proposed amendments to the Territorial Court Act. This document has been prepared for the purposes of public consultation over the summer.

Members will recall that in 1992 the NWT Court of Appeal, in its judgment in the "Temela" group of cases, urged the government to undertake reforms to the act because of the potential for ministerial interference in the discipline of judges in ways which would violate the right under the Charter of Rights and Freedoms to be tried by an independent and impartial tribunal.

If these proposed changes became law in the NWT, we will be in line with a trend that commenced in Ontario and Manitoba. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, I wish to advise Members that the Honourable Silas Arngna'naaq is ill and will be absent from the House today. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, over the weekend, three Nunavut communities hosted Prime Minister Chretien and German Chancellor Kohl. The people of Cape Dorset, Pangnirtung and Iqaluit are to be commended for their hospitality and the way they provided the Canadian and German delegations with a brief but memorable experience of life in communities and on the land in Nunavut.

However, even before it started, the visit to the Arctic by these two world leaders was seen as an opportunity to present a very important message to both Canada and Europe. Mr. Speaker, Members are aware that in recent months, the federal government has been taking an aggressive role at the international level in defence of the Canadian fur industry. The visit to Nunavut by Germany's Chancellor provided both Canada and the NWT with an excellent forum to reinforce our messages, particularly with respect to the devastating economic effects of the European ban on sealskin imports and further damage which the proposed ban on leghold traps will have on the traditional harvesting economy.

Mr. Speaker, in personal conversations with the Prime Minister and Chancellor Kohl, I was assured that both will continue to take steps to bring some common sense to the way in which their governments deal with decisions on the fur trade. Members should also be aware that the Chancellor gave a number of interviews with the German press in which he expressed concerns about the impact of the animal rights/anti-trapping lobby on the traditional harvesting economy of aboriginal peoples. In addition, the Prime Minister advised that he spoke personally to European leaders about the fur issue at the recent Halifax G-7 summit.

One other important product of the Nunavut visit was the exposure that Baffin Island and the Northwest Territories received on national and international television during the last four days. Moreover, having millions of people around the world hear Chancellor Kohl promote the environment, cultures, people and communities of the Arctic is an unexpected bonus for our tourism industry.

---Applause

Mr. Speaker, Members will recall that the matter of aboriginal leaders from the west appearing before committee of the whole was discussed by Caucus earlier this week.

Following that discussion, Caucus determined the leaders should meet with Members of the Western Caucus to brief them on their common positions. It is my understanding that aboriginal leaders rejected the invitation to meet with Caucus and that is why the matter is now before the House in the form of a motion.

Mr. Speaker, Cabinet is of the opinion that the process outlined earlier this week with respect to representation by western leaders is proper. As a result, Cabinet Members will not be supporting this motion and want to encourage the leaders to meet with the Western Caucus as soon as possible in order to begin addressing the issues identified and to develop an appropriate strategy to address the issues. Mr. Speaker, we feel this is a proper way to go. Cabinet will not be supporting the motion. Thank you.

Mr. Speaker, I am very pleased to advise the honourable Member that we are very near completion of our discussions with Mr. Bohnet, the president of the Metis Nation. Officials are working very diligently so that we come up with the numbers and that we can move ahead as quickly as possible in instituting the Metis benefit package. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, the memorandum of understanding between the health boards and the Department of Health and Social Services is very near completion and I hope that once we are able to conclude our business here, I can put some attention to getting them finalized. I know that the department is very optimistic that everyone has worked very cooperatively together and these MOUs should be finalized very soon. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, in working with the health boards, depending on the different regions, some areas of systems delivery don't accommodate privatization. I believe that the health boards evaluate what could be privatized depending on their catchment area, the numbers they serve and the general cost of doing business. However, in working with the health boards, it is my understanding that they are taking the privatization of services very seriously. Mr. Speaker, it is difficult to answer because the decision to privatize generally goes through an evaluation process and a decision is based on some of the facts, figures and fiscal restraints that all health boards, plus this government, are operating under.

However, I would like to assure the Member that in the areas where there can be privatization, resulting in maximum use of local businesses and people, we expect the health boards to join with the government in leading and taking part in the direction that the government has given. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.