Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I would like to make a motion to amend the Public Service Act. I move that clause 9 of Bill 2 be amended by striking out "28 days" in proposed subparagraph 42(2)(d)(i) and by substituting "21 days."

This motion amends the proposed bill to allow the bargaining units to strike after 21 days rather than the proposed eight days in the original legislation. This makes the time frame for striking the same as the time frame for the Minister changing terms and conditions of employment and I make this motion for an amendment as a direct result of a request by the union. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. When this bill was introduced, I indicated my concern about excluded positions. I had heard on the radio that perhaps 30 per cent or more of people in the bargaining unit could be excluded the way the bill had been worded. Through the Government Operations committee, we had input from the union bosses. As a result of that, we tightened up the wording of several clauses.

We have also been assured by the Minister of Finance that less than 400 people would be excluded as a result of this new legislation.

During our meetings, which were public for the most part, the union indicated that it was okay with them to take out arbitration. They indicated that that process was too slow and that the arbitrators were reluctant to make hard decisions. They also indicated that they had been trying to get the right to strike for years. They also indicated that they wanted us to change the legislation so they could strike on the same day that the government could change terms and conditions of the previous agreement. We have done that.

I would like to add that several members of my family work for the government. They, too, will be affected by this legislation. However, I would prefer that they and others have their wages and benefits cut rather than laying them off because that's the alternative: massive lay-offs. It's been a very difficult process and very difficult to make a decision upon, however, I will be voting in favour of this bill. Thank you. Reflect what this government has. I do have that as a concern.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. The Standing Committee on Government Operations met on February 19th and 20th to review Bill 2, An Act to Amend the Public Service Act. Witnesses appearing before the committee included the chairman of the Financial Management Board, the Honourable John Todd; the president of the Union of Northern Workers, Mr. Darm Crook; and the president and executive director of the Northwest Territories Teachers' Association, Mr. Jim Gilbert and Mr. Blake Lyons, respectively.

The witnesses representing the UNW and the NWTTA raised some concerns before the committee regarding some provisions of the bill. This bill will fundamentally alter the negotiating framework between the government and its organized employees. As a result, the committee took the concerns raised by the union representatives very seriously. After hearing those concerns and discussing them with the Minister, amendments to the bill were prepared and will be the subject of motions here in the Assembly today.

The standing committee concluded its meetings by moving to refer the bill back to Committee of the Whole for consideration by all Members of the Legislative Assembly. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I wish to table Tabled Document 12-13(2) which is 20 letters from residents of Yellowknife which indicate that they prefer arbitration over striking.

Mr. Speaker, I wish to report to the Assembly that the Standing Committee on Government Operations has reviewed Bill 2 and wishes to report that Bill 2, An Act to Amend the Public Service Act, is now ready for Committee of the Whole.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to present a petition dealing with the matter of An Act to Amend the Public Service Act, signed by the residents of Yellowknife. Mr. Speaker, Petition No. 11-13(2) contains 148 signatures, and, Mr. Speaker, the petitioners request:

"We, the undersigned citizens of the Northwest Territories, do humbly petition the Members of the Legislative Assembly of the Northwest Territories as follows:

"That Bill 2, An Act to Amend the Public Service Act, be rejected outright by the Members of the Assembly as it implements an unfair regime of collective bargaining in the Northwest Territories; and further

"That should Bill 2 not be rejected outright, a minimum commitment to democratic action demands that the public be provided full opportunity to comment on the proposed bill, and further

"That Members of the Legislative Assembly who fail to act to prevent the travesty that the passage of Bill 2 would represent, especially if done without public consultation, be condemned for anti-worker and undemocratic conduct."

Mr. Speaker, I have a second petition dealing with the matter of An Act to Amend the Public Service Act, signed by residents of Yellowknite. Mr. Speaker, Petition No. 12-13(2) contains 19 signatures, and, Mr. Speaker, the petitioners request:

"We, the undersigned citizens of the Northwest Territories, do humbly petition the Members of the Legislative Assembly of the Northwest Territories as follows:

"That Bill 2, An Act to Amend the Public Service Act, be rejected outright by the Members of the Assembly as it implements an unfair regime of collective bargaining in the Northwest Territories; and further

"That should Bill 2 not be rejected outright, a minimum commitment to democratic action demands that the public be provided full opportunity to comment on the proposed bill." Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My question is to the Minister responsible for Aboriginal Affairs. In 1982, when the Canadian Constitution was repatriated to Canada, aboriginal and treaty rights were protected through certain provisions in the Charter. To this date, many of those rights have not been defined properly. Recently, around 1990, there was a case called the Horseman case at the Supreme Court of Canada, which indicated that Treaty 8 Indians had a commercial right to hunt and that they likely had a right to commercial fishing as well. If we can start defining those treaty rights and how they are to be exercised within the Northwest Territories...For instance, in the community of Lutsel K'e, there is a big sign saying it is illegal to sell fish unless you have a commercial fishing licence. The people in the Lutsel K'e area are Treaty 8 people.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I listened with interest as the Minister responsible for the NWT Power Corporation informed us about the wind generating operations in Cambridge Bay, and my question is directed toward him. As I say, I listened with interest that 10 per cent of Cambridge Bay's electrical needs are being generated through wind power. Also, he wanted to know if there would be people willing to form partnerships to install generators in other communities. Before we have all kinds of people from Yellowknife running to become partners, is it possible or is it feasible to have these wind generators in the Yellowknife area?

Third place was Frank Kelly from Yellowknife; fourth place was Grant Beck from Yellowknife; third place was Ernie Campbell from Yellowknife; tenth place was Heather Beck, the only girl and a rookie from Yellowknife; twelfth place was Raymond Beck from Hay River; thirteenth place was Jim Essrey from Hay River; and fourteenth place was Brian Cole from Yellowknife.

I don't know if any of these people are going to the Arctic Winter Games, but I am glad we went to The Pas. Thank you.

---Applause