Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to thank the Minister for his information. However, he didn't answer my question. The statement he had previously made said that in 1994, territorial air quality guidelines established levels of sulphur dioxide that should not be exceeded, in order to prevent environmental and human health problems. If Giant has to reduce their sulphur dioxide emissions by 90 per cent, I am asking if this means they are presently nine times over the level.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My question is for the Minister of Renewable Resources, concerning his speech on the local sulphur dioxide air pollution reductions. The Minister indicated that the draft gold roaster discharge control regulations will enforce harmful effects caused by emissions of sulphur dioxide. The Minister indicated that within 10 years, sulphur dioxide emissions from the Giant roaster would have to be reduced by 90 per cent. Does this mean that Giant is presently emitting sulphur dioxide nine times over the limit?

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I rise today to speak about the youth inhalant abuse program run by Northern Addictions Services in Yellowknife. The solvent abuse program is currently being funded through Health Canada; however, Health Canada will discontinue funding the program at the end of June.

Mr. Speaker, this program specifically targets Inuit and aboriginal youth between the ages of 12 and 17. The treatment program is an eight-bed facility designed to treat youth who have addiction problems to solvents, alcohol and drugs. Since January of 1994 to today, 30 youth from the West and 30 from the East have received services from this program, and there is currently a waiting list of 10 youth who have been referred from various places in the North.

The NWT presently has the youngest population in Canada and the highest birthrate. Over 40 per cent of our population is under the age of 20. Youth 15 to 24 make up 28 per cent of our working-age population, in comparison to 21 per cent for the rest of Canada.

Mr. Speaker, resources are scarce for the youth of the NWT and, in the past, some youth from the North have been sent to the White Spruce Treatment Centre in Yorkton, Saskatchewan, for alcohol and drug treatment at a cost of $16,000 to $20,000 per youth. This centre will be closed in the very near future. Currently, there are over 100 beds for adults in the NWT for alcohol and drug addiction. There are presently only eight beds for youth. If the youth treatment program is allowed to close on June 30th, there will be no beds available to youth for treatment in alcohol, drug and solvent abuse programs.

Mr. Speaker, the youth are our future. With the Department of Health and Social Services community wellness initiative and move toward early intervention, it is important that this program be supported, even if funding from adult treatment programs must be diverted in order to do this.

--- Applause

Mr. Chairman, I would like to suggest that we deal with Bill 11, and start with the committee reports dealing with the main estimates.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. 1, too, support Nunavut, as I am sure all the MLAs in this House do. However, if there isn't enough money to implement Nunavut coming from the federal government, that probably means that some of the money might have to come from the GNWT's budget. If this happens, how will it affect the territory that is left over here in the West? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Is it the intention of this government to implement Nunavut at all costs, even if this money is not enough?

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Premier and it is in relation to the statement that Mr. Ootes made earlier concerning the money that will be spent in implementing Nunavut. Considering the fact that NTI had felt they needed $300 million to implement Nunavut and are only going to be receiving $150 million, $30 million of which the feds will use for themselves, is that enough to implement Nunavut?

Mr. Speaker, I seek unanimous consent to waive Rule 93(4) and have Committee Report 1-13(3) of the Standing Committee on Government Operations moved into Committee of the Whole today.

The Assembly has released a statement of its priorities. The work of the standing committees will now focus on how we achieve those objectives together.

General Comments

Many of the departments proposed very ambitious reduction strategies in their business plans. These strategies often have short time frames and the actions in one program area have implications for other programs. Departments will have to work hard to meet all of the deadlines proposed as part of the deficit management activities. Given the size of the deficit, the government cannot afford slippage from the budgets proposed by departments. All standing committees intend to review the government's quarterly variance reports to ensure that the targets are being met.

In order to provide thoughtful comment and questioning on a business plan or budget, Members need time to read and review the material provided. The committees recognize the extraordinary circumstances for the budget and business plan review this year contributed to documents often being provided at the last minute. However, in future reviews, the standing committees will expect material to be provided in advance of meetings to allow Members sufficient reading time.

The standing committees also look forward to a standard presentation of information in next year's business plans and budgets. The differences in how departments provided material and in the types of material provided made it difficult for the committees to do their work. These differences also meant there were many requests for information to ensure the committees had consistent background in making decisions.

Although standing committees were reviewing the budgets of the government, they were also very concerned about the implications of division for this government. In future business plans and budgets, the departments will be expected to comment on preparations for division.

A concern which arose in more than one committee was with the systems in place to assist departments and regions in carrying out the personnel/staffing function with the dismantling of the Personnel department. In all cases where the government is privatizing, decentralizing, contracting or changing the way a service is delivered, standing committees will be watching for two key elements in these plans: Will the new method of service delivery cost the same or less? Are the functions covered; is someone actually providing the service that used to be provided?

scholarships set consistent eligibility criteria -- possibly a five year residency -- and establish requirements for scholarship recipients to return to the North once they have finished.

Mr. Speaker, this concludes the general comments of the Standing Committee on Government Operations. Details on the departments and operations reviewed by the committee will be given during the review of the main estimates in Committee of the Whole.

Motion To Receive Committee Report 1-13(3) And Move To Committee Of The Whole, Carried

Mr. Speaker, as this concludes the report of the Standing Committee on Government Operations, I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Thebacha, that the report of the Standing Committee on Government Operations on the review of the 1996-97 main estimates be received by the Assembly and moved into Committee of the Whole.