Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to direct my question to the Minister responsible for Workers' Compensation Board. Would the Minister please provide the House with: a) a copy of the distribution list and dates of circulation used by the Workers' Compensation Board to distribute Policy Directive 20-02-28 and/or the definition of "principal engagement" in traditional hunting, fishing or trapping, to individuals and target groups throughout the NWT; and b) a summary of any comments or written feedback received from the respondent organizations and individuals contacted through the distribution of the policy directive?

Mr. Speaker, I would like to direct my question to the Minister of Renewable Resources. It is with regard to walk-in freezers. There was a policy being developed last year. I understood the policy was going to the Executive for approval. The election was called, and I guess things got lost along the way. Is this policy now in place, or when will it be approved?

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I asked a question about the old church in Fort Providence of the Minister of Culture and Communications on Tuesday, and the response he gave on turning down the $25,000 request was because the Financial Management Board did not approve it. In the second response he did say that it was because of the 90-day freeze. Mr. Speaker, I have here a copy of a letter that was written to the community of Fort Providence from Charles Arnold, with regard to the request for that money, in which they did indicate that they were going to be able to get something like $25,000 but that the community was to understand that the contribution is from the moneys that were lapsed within the department this year. I understand that the freeze is on new moneys, and this is not new money, Mr. Speaker; these are moneys that are identified within the department. I would like to ask the Minister whether or not it also means that even though there are surplus moneys in departments, those moneys are also on freeze.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Just a concern I have with regard to legal aid. In the report, "Strength at Two Levels," on page 55 it refers to legal aid being provided in block fees rather than on the basis of what the lawyer's time is spent on a particular case. In other words, block fees refers to maybe a $2000 fee that is made available for a certain case. Regardless of whether or not the lawyer spends up to that time, if he spends anything beyond that he is not going to be paid for it. So I have a concern that justice will not be done if that recommendation is followed. It does restrict the lawyer from working on cases that require more time. Has the Minister thought about that?

Mr. Speaker, during the election I wrote a bunch of letters that I did not address to any particular Minister until a week ago. I wrote the Minister of Renewable Resources on November 25th with regard to my request to have a walk-in freezer for Kakisa. I have not received any response. But I would hope they do develop a policy between MACA and DPW. At least, if you have a policy in place, you could have some guidelines to follow with regard to the granting of those. Thank you.

Motion 23-12(1), Carried As Amended

Mr. Speaker, I understand the intent of the motion and naturally it is a condition in order to support my motion. If it is not supported, then my motion would not be supported. I understand what the Member is suggesting. The Fort Smith Region it is a large region. It also includes Yellowknife, the Dogrib communities, the Deh Cho communities which is composed of 10 communities, the South Slave region which are also composed of four communities. So we are talking about a large region. But at the same time, all those regions have walk-in freezers. There are only a few little places that do not have that facility.

So I do not know if he is suggesting that in the Fort Smith Region, since we have about 30 communities, that we are designated 30 walk-in freezers. What are we going to do with the extra 29 that is there? Do we still keep it then? That is the suggestion of the amendment.

I am saying I agree with the Finance Minister. It has to be based on need, and I think the need is there in Kakisa. I agree with the honourable Member, but if we start regionalizing, it might mean some regions will have a lot more than they know what to do with.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the former Minister of Renewable Resources is aware of the dialogues that I have had with him. As recently as July, the Minister did indicate that they have been discussing the policy on walk-in freezers with the Department of Municipal and Community Affairs and DPW, and it is going to be a cost- shared thing. However, in communities with a population of over 300, they have received grants for walk-in freezers. Fort Providence has one, and I believe that in a lot of other communities where traditional activities are a very important part of the community life, those kinds of facilities have been established.

I understand that the policy is not in place yet, but in the event that it is put in place, I would like the department to consider Kakisa as one of the communities on their list of priorities to receive one.

I hope Members will understand that Kakisa is a very traditional community. When they go on hunts, they go as a community. In the fall when they go on moose hunts, the whole community does that during the week. In a small community like that it is pretty difficult when you have seven or eight moose and nowhere to store them. So that is one of the reasons.

The other thing is that one of the activities of Kakisa is that they do have a bit of what is known as commercial fishing. They sell fish in Hay River to the Freshwater Fish Marketing Board. What they have right now is a building that they use, and the planes or trucks bring in the ice, and they put it in this building to keep the fish fresh. But the ice does not last more than two days, so this is a continuous problem for them, to keep getting ice from the Freshwater Fish Marketing Board. If there were a walk-in freezer, it would save a bit of money on this delivery of ice from Hay River every other day.

I ask Members to support the community of Kakisa in obtaining a freezer.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker:

WHEREAS the community of Kakisa has held many discussions in recent years with the Department of Renewable Resources about the possibility of receiving a walk-in freezer;

AND WHEREAS the department is in the process of developing a policy regarding freezers for communities;

AND WHEREAS this need for such a community freezer for Kakisa still urgently exists;

NOW THEREFORE, I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Kivallivik, that this Legislative Assembly recommends that the community of Kakisa's need for a walk-in community freezer be considered a priority for inclusion in the Department of Renewable Resources' five-year capital plan;

AND FURTHER, that the long-awaited policy concerning community freezers be formalized by the cabinet.

Thank you.

Mr. Speaker, on December 16, I will be moving the following motion: Now therefore, I move, seconded by the honourable Member for North Slave, that this Legislative Assembly recommends that the Minister of Municipal and Community Affairs consider allocating funds for the construction of a garage in Kakisa as a high priority in the department's capital plan. Thank you.