Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I would like to recognize the presence of a member of the constituency of Yellowknife South and a member of the aldermen of Yellowknife, Mr. Bob Brooks. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

--Applause

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to, on behalf of the constituents of Yellowknife South, welcome all the Members back to the Legislative Assembly for this particular session.

Mr. Speaker, in the April 1999 session, this Legislature, in response to the Construction Association personnel members, I had asked the Premier if he was planning a trade mission to Nunavut. The Premier replied that his office was not planning a trade mission but "I think we should take the initiative and say yes, we want to continue to work in Nunavut and that the businesses that are here have the expertise of working in the North. We should try to promote that." Mr. Speaker, I think a trade mission is an ideal trade initiative, a trade mission comprised of key personnel from the public and private sectors is most likely to provide the necessary catalyst to get trade between the two regions into motion. However, we are still waiting for the trade mission to take place.

We need to get our economy back into the competitive trim. That is why we need an economic plan that reduces our exposure to resource extraction and diversify into secondary and surface-oriented industries. A trade mission to Nunavut would provide that idea platform for northern businesses to establish themselves in an underdeveloped market.

As a result of financial corrections and government cutbacks, northern workers businesses have become more productive than ever. Fewer people are producing more and more goods and services. In an environment such as this, the only way to create more jobs and to raise income levels is to have more customers. That means exports. Exports to Nunavut, exports to southern counterparts. Not just goods but also services, Mr. Speaker. That is why, in this new economy, the Northwest Territories must compete and not retreat.

In closing, Mr. Speaker, I agree that economic renewal must begin at home, but we must have to reach out beyond our borders if we are to prosper and overcome in the long run. Let us remember that Northerners have never cowered from change and competition, we are the master of them. That is the message I want to leave you with today. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

--Applause

Thank you, Madam Chairperson. Just as a note of encouragement to the Minister, his predecessor and staff were able to achieve an 80 percent settlement. I would suggest that with that same staff and yourself, 20 percent should be quite easy to achieve. Thank you, Madam Chairperson.

Thank you, Madam Chairperson. Those numbers are staggering in light of some of the motions that have been made in this House to put extra funding to problems that we have in education and health care. At the worst situation, if this did go for five years, we are potentially looking at least $10 million to handle that if it was $2 million a year. Madam Chairperson, more as a comment, I would encourage the Minister to sit down with the union and look at these costs and maybe there is room, when presented with this information, some goodwill on both parts, to maybe bring this to a culmination for the betterment of the residents of the Northwest Territories. Thank you, Madam Chairperson.

Thank you, Madam Chairperson, and I thank the Minister. Those are interesting numbers. If I understand it correctly, there is an anticipation when the original documentation comes back, that 80 percent of the former and present employees entitled to pay equity would have their cases settled and be paid up. For 20 percent of the employees, my question is, is this $3 million for a one-year term? Also, if the Minister could respond to comments that were made previously that this could last for two to three years. The Minister did not make that, but I am sure I have heard his predecessor, I am sure I have heard the comments, so if the Minister could respond, how long will this take and is this $3 million for this year plus, potentially, if it goes another year, will it be another $3 million? Thank you, Madam Chairperson.

Thank you, Madam Chairperson. It may be hypothetical, but if the employees that have not presently accepted the government offer, if they were to accept the offer, would this case still proceed or would there be no requirement for it then? Thank you, Madam Chairperson.

Thank you, Madam Chairperson. We understand that a large portion of the employees present and past who were eligible for remuneration have been remunerated and are there any continuing costs associated or is this two separate items? Any associated costs with trying to handle the employees that did not accept the government's offer? Thank you, Madam Chairperson.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the Minister has acknowledged, in fact, that parents do play a very large part in assisting their family to deal with these situations and he does acknowledge that to his knowledge there are not any programs that the department has. My question to the Minister is, would he give some consideration to having some discussion with his department officials, as the Minister has recognized the importance that parents play in this, and develop some programs or some information pamphlets that can be distributed to schools and, therefore, to parents to help them deal with the situation of getting their children diagnosed if they are running into some of these problems? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my question is to the Minister of Education, the Honourable Michael Miltenberger. Mr. Speaker, I would like to refer to a letter I had received and a subsequent conversation with some parents here in Yellowknife regarding some of their children. One was recently diagnosed with dyslexia and ADHD. These parents go on to tell me about some of the difficulties that they have had to go through to, first of all, identify the problem, get the

assessment, deal with the assessment, and help their child to deal with the medical problems that they have. This certainly, Mr. Speaker, is not meant to pull on the Minister's heartstrings, because I know he feels very strongly about the need for assistance to children with learning difficulties. It is more to get at the point, Mr. Speaker, about a role the department can play in encouraging parents that they have a role to play, too.

Mr. Speaker, the lady talks very strongly and is very supportive of YK Education District 1, and particularly the school that her son is enrolled in that particular school district, Range Lake North School. She speaks very highly of the work that particular board and school does. My question to the Minister is, can the Minster tell me what programs the department runs to encourage parents that they also have a large role to play in doing their part to ensure their children are assessed and also to give them some tools to help their children along through these difficulties? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.