Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I had not planned to make a Member's statement today, other than on Bill C-68. However, as a result of Mr. Lewis's Member's statement, I just couldn't sit here, Mr. Speaker, and listen to some of the words that were directed to the Member for Iqaluit, my colleague from the Baffin. I have no particular problems with the individual who has been mentioned many times in this House.

Mr. Speaker, as Mr. Lewis indicated to this House, this individual has contributed quite a bit in tax dollars to Yellowknife. Mr. Speaker, I would like to inform this House that this individual has a property leased to the government in one of my communities in my riding. It is good that Yellowknife benefits, but what about our regions and communities, Mr. Speaker?

I think the Member for Iqaluit has every right to question this government if we feel, on this side, that things are not being carried out properly. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

---Applause

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. On behalf of Nunavut Caucus, I would like to congratulate and welcome our new Member for Aivilik, Manitok Thompson. We look forward to working with you in the remaining few months of our 12th Assembly. Welcome and thank you, Mr. Speaker.

---Applause

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I just want to make a few comments, for the record, about this particular bill because I have some concerns. As you know, I am a Member of the Standing Committee on Finance, to which I was appointed recently. I wasn't a participant right from the beginning on this particular bill; it was recommended by the Standing Committee on Finance to the government when I was a Cabinet Member.

The problem I have with it concerns the area of the bill where the Cabinet is the only body that will be accountable should we have a deficit by 1997-98. Mr. Chairman, from my understanding of consensus government, which our government is -- a one-party system -- it is important to me that this be recorded. I think it would be fair that all 24 Members should be accountable, should we have a deficit by the year 1997-98. I say this because in our system we have standing committees that fully participate in government operations and make recommendations to the government that might result in incurring additional expenditures of this particular government. With the practice we have been carrying out, all 24 Members have selected the Cabinet. To hold only eight out of 24 accountable is not responsible, in my eyes.

As I stated previously, the standing committees of Finance or Legislation recommendations can result in additional expenditures of the government. For these reasons, I wanted to make this comment on the record, Mr. Chairman. Although I do support the principle of the bill, I have some concerns, especially in the area where only Cabinet Members will be held accountable should we have a deficit situation by the year 1997-98. I think it should be all 24 Members. Rightly so, it should be 24, Mr. Chairman, because here we are, we're still sitting at the end of April. We were supposed to finish by April 13th. We're still incurring additional costs. The longer we sit here the more money we're spending. These are the concerns I have that I wanted to say to this House. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The Members of Nunavut Caucus are pleased to support this motion...

---Applause

...in acknowledgement of the fact that the division of the Northwest Territories in 1999 not only creates Nunavut but a western territory as well. Many of the same issues and concerns that are facing the development of public government in the east are being dealt with in the west. Consultation, cooperation and consensus are key elements in shaping our governments. The Nunavut Caucus is pleased to endorse a process that employs these elements as the foundation for achieving a fair, equitable and representative public government in the west. When the process for division began, there was a commitment that east and west would work together in the spirit of cooperation and support. This spirit has endured and will endure as we move closer to our goals, Nunavut and the western territory. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

---Applause

I have two questions. I would like to know who Karl Victor Gustaw is and who the owner of Guided Arctic Expeditions Ltd. is.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. In her opening remarks to the committee in January 1994, the Speaker noted that there is some confusion and concern regarding the reporting relationship between the Languages Commissioner and the Legislative Assembly. Over the past year, clear reporting relationships have been established for the Official Languages Commissioner. This year, for the first time, the Languages Commissioner appeared before the committee to discuss the office's budget and explain planned expenditures. However, committee Members noted that the Languages Commissioner's presentation dealt less with the function and budget of the office than with more minor technical issues.

Given the relatively small size of the Languages Commissioner's budget, the committee is pleased to see that, rather than using the office's human resources for financial administration, an arrangement with the Legislative Assembly for the provision of financial services is in place. The committee encourages the office of the Languages Commissioner to continue to make the best use of the limited resources available and stay within the allocated funding.

Interpreter/Translator Services

During this review, the committee was informed of the final negotiated amount of federal languages funding which would be available to the government. Committee Members expressed a concern with the impact reduced federal languages funding will have on the ability of the government to provide the level of interpreter/translator services previously available. The Legislative Assembly is a major user of these services and, through them, provides official language coverage of the work of the Assembly and its committees.

The committee encourages the Legislative Assembly to be actively involved in government discussions regarding the provision of interpreter/translator services. At the next O and M review, the committee will be looking for an appropriate balance between the need to inform all residents of the workings of the Assembly and their representatives in the official languages, and the government-wide need to focus dwindling dollars on programs at the community level.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. During our break this past week, I had the opportunity to welcome the Anglican Women's Auxiliary's 60th anniversary in Pangnirtung. There are about 50 members attending this meeting from Baffin regional communities and from Nunavut communities. Their main topic for discussion was, of course, about fund-raising. AWA's role over the years in Anglican communities has been increasing, from producing crafts to providing charity to widows, widowers and elders and others who are in need. AWA will provide catering for conferences and public meetings as well.

Mr. Speaker, at their opening of the meeting, in remembering my grandmother, Mrs. Alookie Kilabuk, who was AWA leader for many years, I was very much delighted to welcome their meeting knowing how appreciative my grandmother would have been to see the AWA's progress and the charity service the members provide in their communities.

I would like to thank Hanna Tautuajuk and Meeka Angnakkaq of Pangnirtung for organizing this important conference and to say to their members that their work in their communities may not be mentioned often, but their work makes life a lot easier for many individuals who are in need in their communities.

Mr. Speaker, during their conference, the weather was excellent in Pangnirtung, with blue skies and melting snow. The women couldn't believe how warm it got in Pangnirtung. Thank you.

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My question was, from 1994-95, it was $190,000 and there is $290,000 in total grants...Oh, I'm sorry, Mr. Chairman, that's the total. Sorry, I thought that was for the Foster Parents' Association and foster homes.

Mr. Chairman, you said youth initiatives. I'm talking about the Foster Parents' Association and foster homes.