Whitehorse, Yukon

Speaker:      I will now call the House to order.

At this time, we will proceed with prayers.

Prayers

DAILY ROUTINE

Speaker:      We will proceed with the Order Paper.

Are there any tributes?

Introduction of visitors.

Are there any returns or documents for tabling?

TABLING RETURNS AND DOCUMENTS

Hon. Mr. Eftoda:      Yes, Mr. Speaker, I have for tabling a list of the members of the Yukon Protected Areas Strategy Public Advisory Committee.

Speaker:      Are there any further returns or documents for tabling?

Are there any reports of committees?

Are there any petitions?

Are there any bills to be introduced?

Notices of motion.

NOTICES OF MOTION

Mr. Jenkins:      Mr. Speaker, I give notice of the following motion:

THAT it is the opinion of this House that the Government of Yukon should provide increased financial assistance over and above the $30 per day that is currently provided to cover the cost of room and board and other costs for expectant mothers from rural Yukon who must come to Whitehorse for the birth of their children.

Speaker:      Are there any further notices of motion?

Are there any statements by ministers?

MINISTERIAL STATEMENTS

Hon. Ms. Duncan:      I rise today to inform the Legislature about the participation in the forthcoming business summit of the North Slope oil and gas producers. This portion of the summit will focus on the opportunities for participation for Yukon businesses in an Alaska Highway pipeline project.

North Slope oil and gas producers - BP, Phillips, and Exxon - are conducting a U.S. $75-million joint work program aimed at selection of a pipeline route to transport natural gas from the North Slope of Alaska to market. The goal of the work program is to establish the commercial viability of the project and to select the route by the end of the year.

I have invited the producers group to come to the Yukon to discuss their plans and their timelines with the business community. They have accepted my invitation and will visit Whitehorse on March 29. At this time, Yukon companies that have not already had a chance to make contact with the producers will have an opportunity to do so. I'm very much looking forward to this visit, and I know that producers will be impressed with quality of services that Yukon businesses have to offer.

Very large contractors will conduct a great deal of this work. In January, the producers prepared and then delivered 10 requests for proposals to several companies in the industry. These are huge engineering and construction companies, such as Bechtel, which recently completed a $5.6-billion project in China. These requests for proposals include pipeline routing, gas processing facilities and several others relating to environmental, regulatory, land and legal matters. There are other requests for proposals that subsequently will also be issued by the producers.

The requests for proposals have been returned to the producer group but they have not been awarded. That process is expected to be completed by the end of March, and again there will also be several additional requests for proposals issued by the producers in the coming weeks and months.

The Yukon government has been extremely proactive in marketing the capabilities of Yukon firms to provide services to the companies that may be awarded these requests for proposals. I met with the North Slope producers in Calgary on Friday last about their plans to involve Yukon companies in this work. I know of several that have been contacted to bid as subcontractors. Yukon companies will be working on this project this year.

Our booth at the Arctic Gas Symposium was a very busy place. During the symposium, my officials and I met with representatives from almost all of the companies that received the request for proposal documents to market the capabilities of Yukon companies. Yukon companies that attended the symposium were also able to meet with these people as well.

March 29 will be yet another opportunity for Yukon businesses to speak directly to the producers. I would invite all Yukon businesses to contact either the pipeline unit of our Department of Economic Development or their local chamber of commerce for more information on the upcoming business summit.

Mr. Fentie:      I rise in response to the ministerial statement today, and it's appropriate to point out that this is not a ministerial statement, but an announcement of an up-and-coming symposium and summit here in the Yukon - a tardy announcement at that, Mr. Speaker.

It could also be labelled as an apology to Yukoners for the lateness in which this Premier and this government have moved in this direction. The opposition had been urging for months, upon finding out about the $75million expenditure in feasibility study for pipeline routes, that the government do more in preparing Yukon and making Yukon ready.

We see by this statement, Mr. Speaker, that the request for proposals from some of the major engineering firms, which may very well be general contractors, is due at the end of this month. This summit takes place on March 29.

Yukon businesses, companies and Yukoners in general have two days here at this summit to make an impression. This government should have been doing much more in this area. Where is the training needed for Yukoners to get up to speed and to be ready for eventual pipeline construction, should it come? With all the money that this government has allocated toward the oil and gas branch - and specifically the pipeline - what are we actually getting from that? To date, very little. It's important to note that this type of thing would have much better been served much earlier on. By having the Premier invite the industry and its representatives to the Yukon months ago, it only stands to reason that Yukon businesses and Yukon companies would have had a much better timeline to prepare themselves, to present themselves, to offer to the industry their talents, their capacity and their abilities in this area.

In closing, Mr. Speaker, it is our hope in the official opposition that Yukoners will maximize the benefits from any pipeline project. It is unfortunate, however, that through the actions of the Liberal government, we may very well just be stuck with just the leftovers.

Thank you.

Mr. Jenkins:      Well, Mr. Speaker, this ministerial statement could be called "the better-late-than-never ministerial statement".

The Premier was on the air this morning accusing me and the media of spreading erroneous information about the $75-million U.S. feasibility study of ways to transport Alaskan gas to the Lower 48. The fact of the matter is that the Premier simply missed the boat when the first 10 requests for proposals were issued. She wasn't aware of them being let, and she didn't have an opportunity to let Yukon companies know.

The Premier should have quit while she was ahead, because she stated this morning that only major worldwide companies were invited to submit proposals. That's implying that Yukon companies aren't world-class, Mr. Speaker. I beg to differ.

The Yukon has some of the top construction and engineering companies in the world. Some of them have been on Team Canada missions to various other countries around the world. So the fact of the matter is that we do have world-class companies here in the Yukon in the construction and engineering field. Yukon companies are now having to go to the successful companies in Calgary and the United States to try to subcontract some of this work.

It shouldn't have happened this way, if the Premier were doing her job. I'm happy to see the Premier is now trying to make up for some lost ground by inviting the producer groups to come to the Yukon to discuss their plans and timelines with the business community. Well, that's right at the end of the month. The next set of proposals close at the end of this month.

The invitation should have been issued prior to the first 10 proposals being let, Mr. Speaker, but once again, it's better late than never, however.

I am concerned that the Premier, in her zeal for the Alaska Highway route, may, in fact, have turned off the producers' groups and their interest in Yukon companies. BP, Phillips and Exxon are not spending $75 million for nothing. They want an objective cost analysis and study of all the options, not just the Alaska Highway route. The Premier's constant "my way is the highway" refrain may have negatively influenced the producing groups into believing that Yukon companies would not do an objective study on an over-the-top route, Mr. Speaker.

I note that, at the oil and gas conference in Calgary that the Premier just returned from, she sent out a confusing and mixed message about her position on the respective routes and about land claims. While the Premier was asked to state her environmental concerns about the offshore, over-the-top route, she confused all the delegates by talking about the Alaska Highway route, and she didn't answer the question.

The Premier perhaps thought she was back in the Legislature and didn't have to answer the question - she would just throw another curve at it, Mr. Speaker. Such behaviour just serves to make the Premier and the Yukon government look unprofessional. The delegates to that conference deserve better than just Yukoners watching this Premier answer questions in this Legislature. When a straightforward question is asked, please provide a straightforward answer, without engaging in personal attacks against the questioner.

Do this, Mr. Speaker, and we'd all be better off.

In closing, Mr. Speaker, I wish the Yukon companies well when the producer groups come to the Yukon on March 29. I am confident that the Big Three, BP, Phillips and Exxon, will be suitably impressed with the world-class expertise our Yukon companies and workforce have to offer.

Hon. Ms. Duncan:      Mr. Speaker, it's clear that not everyone is aware of the information surrounding the work plan of the producers in Alaska, and I would just like to go through it briefly, if I might.

The Alaskan producers came together as a group and have only just finalized 60 of the 90 people they intend to hire to have in place in their Anchorage and Calgary offices. They, as a group, have determined that they would issue a start of 10 requests for proposals. They chose the companies to receive those requests for proposals. Those requests for proposals included an interview. It was not required at that time to state who the subcontractors were going to be, and that's where the opportunity for Yukoners lies.

The Member for Klondike is quite correct in that Yukon companies are world-class. We have stated many times in this Legislature how they have rebuilt the Alaska Highway and the Shakwak project, and how Yukon companies have built airports in Antarctica. We're very well aware of that, and we gave the Alaskan producers, as soon as they formed as a group, an invitation to come to Yukon and we have made them aware of Yukon companies and their capabilities. When they attend the business summit on the 29^th of this month - which is the commitment as to when they would be there, although the invitation had been extended for some time - they will be outlining their complete work plan and, hopefully, announcing the first successful 10 request for proposal award winners.

Now, it is quite likely that many of those who submitted proposals will also come to the business summit, as I had invited them to do. They were already making connections with Yukon companies, and there is a great deal of criticism of my performance with regard to delivering the Yukon message and speaking. I note, Mr. Speaker, that there was also an evaluation, and each member in the audience was asked to evaluate the speakers. I have been advised that, while I will not be made aware of the performance of other speakers, I will be made aware of my performance evaluation.

Since the members don't want to take my word for it or the word of anyone who was attending the conference, I will commit to sharing that information with them when I receive it.

I would also just like to remind members that, as I met with the producers in Calgary, I told them about the wealth of expertise we have in the Yukon. The producers know that. The fact is that Yukon business will be working on this project this summer. That is a fact.

A number of Yukon companies have already worked with us, thanks to us forwarding information about them. They have already been in contact with the large contractors who are taking the initial lead. Many of these Yukon businesses were in Calgary last week, speaking directly with these large contractors. They include Colt Engineering and Bechtel, just to name two.

This government played an active role in helping to set up those meetings and working with the businesses. And we worked with the businesses who were not there, in handing out in excess of 300 Yukon business directories. Every one of the individuals who were present at the conference took the opportunity to be at the Yukon booth, promoting Yukon businesses.

Also, I know that a northern business, Northwestel, was also present, in force.

Our Department of Economic Development has been able to provide all those who have asked, and others, with information about possible opportunities.

Again, for the members opposite and for all Yukoners, Yukon companies will be working on this project this summer. We've been doing everything we can to ensure that that happens.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Speaker:      This then brings us to Question Period.

QUESTION PERIOD

Mr. Fentie:      My question today is for the Premier in her capacity as Minister of Economic Development - one of her many portfolios. The Premier has just, in the response to the ministerial statement, made the point that she is more concerned about her speaking performance in Calgary than she is about the mixed message that she left industry. We in the official opposition, and Yukoners in general, find that unacceptable.

Mr. Speaker, when the Premier was asked certain questions in regard to what would develop into a certainty of investment - a climate for certainty in this territory - the Premier left a very mixed message.

Can the Premier clear this up for industry, so that they will be comforted that, should they invest in oil and gas in this territory, their investment definitely has a climate of certainty?

Hon. Ms. Duncan:      There was no mixed message provided by me. I offered the evaluation in response to the member opposite's criticism of my performance. There was no mixed message from this government. Had the member been there, he would be aware of that. And if the member, again, chooses not to believe my answer, I would invite him to ask any of the industry delegates, or anyone else who was there, aside from the one reporter who issued that story.

Mr. Fentie:      I am not accusing the Premier about a bad performance or anything else. What I am stating here is that industry is somewhat confused when it comes to some very critical questions in regard to investment, and that's the problem. I think that it is evidence - testimony again, to the Premier being totally overloaded and unable to properly focus on items of such great importance. Will the Premier now, as Minister of Economic Development, clear the record and at least send the message to industry that, should they choose the Alaska Highway route, their investment is in a certain climate and will certainly produce the results that they seek? Can the minister do that?

Hon. Ms. Duncan:      There is no doubt in the minds of industry, or the minds of any delegates, or anyone who was there, or any Yukoners, where this government stands with respect to the Alaska Highway pipeline project. There is no doubt. I have been crystal clear on behalf of this government as to our support for the Alaska Highway pipeline project. The only place where there is a mixed message is coming from the opposition and the opposition benches. Do they support this or are they going to continue to refer to our efforts as "far-off pipe dreams?"

Mr. Fentie:      Well, I would submit, Mr. Speaker, that when it comes to evaluation, Yukoners will evaluate this government and this Premier on the benefits they derive from the oil and gas industry, not on how the Premier's speaking performance played out in Calgary.

Mr. Speaker, this Premier, who is Minister of Finance and Economic Development, in charge of land claims and devolution and many important areas of government simply does not have the time to focus on economic development. We have asked repeatedly that she pass this portfolio on so that some other member of her caucus can devote the time necessary in such a critical area. Will the Premier now come to her senses and realize that this workload is severely, severely hampering her government's ability to present a clear, concise message to industry and hand that portfolio off?

Hon. Ms. Duncan:      Mr. Speaker, if the member doesn't feel that the message has been clear on the pipeline or on economic development in the territory, I would invite the member to contact any one of these people: SNC Group, Lavalin, Powell, the North American natural gas pipeline route, the International Union of Operating Engineers, Colt Engineering, El Paso Energy International, and a host of others. All of these individuals are optimistic about the Yukon, and they're optimistic about what this government is doing in terms of the economy.

Now, the member might like to choose to stand on his feet and offer personal criticisms. I think that the Yukon's future is bright. I believe that the glass is half full. I believe that what this government is doing is the right thing, that we've been on the right track with producers, that we've been on the right track with the industry, and we will continue to push and promote this project, and we will continue to push and promote for benefits to Yukoners - not just on the Alaska Highway pipeline project, but on the oil and gas industry as a whole, the mining industry, the forest sector, and the tourism industry.

And the member opposite is quite right. There will be an evaluation passed on our performance, and I'm looking forward to that evaluation.

Question re: Pipeline route, environmental concerns

Mr. Fairclough:      I have a question for the Premier. Mr. Speaker, it's not just the oil and gas industry that needs a clear picture from this Premier. The Yukon people need to know where this government stands on important issues such as land claims and the environment.

Will the Premier now do what she refused to do in Calgary, and put Yukon's environmental concerns about the over-the-top route on the record? Will she do that?

Hon. Ms. Duncan:      I was asked why my speaking notes originally referenced the over-the-top route and why I chose to focus on the Alaska Highway route, and I indicated that it was because our government supports the Alaska Highway route, and these are the reasons why. I chose to focus on the positive, as opposed to continually focusing on the negative, like the members opposite.

What that has translated to in the media is that, somehow, there was a mixed message. The Yukon's opposition to an over-the-top route has been absolutely clear and restated at pipeline conferences and at every single one of my speaking engagements in Calgary. And the individual who asked the question was not dissatisfied with the response. The members opposite are the only ones who have the mixed message on the Alaska Highway pipeline project. This side of the House is absolutely clear. We do not support the over-the-top route for, among other reasons, environmental reasons. There are also technological reasons why we do not support it. We do support, and will continue to aggressively promote, the Alaska Highway pipeline project.

Mr. Fairclough:      The Premier didn't answer the question again. Given unclear messages to Yukoners, I asked her what the environmental concerns are with the over-the-top route, and she did not answer the question. I think it's pretty important, if you're fighting for one route, to at least voice your concerns on the environment.

I give the Premier an opportunity to answer that question again. Put it on the record. What are the environmental concerns with the over-the-top pipeline route? Can't she answer that question here? She refused to answer it in Calgary. What are those environmental concerns?

Hon. Ms. Duncan:      Mr. Speaker, again, this government is vigorously opposed to an offshore pipeline route. We are vigorously opposed for a number of reasons, including environmental. The difficulty is that we have no idea where the members opposite stand on the Alaska Highway pipeline project. They have no interest in supporting us. They have no interest in supporting the efforts of this government. They have no interest in supporting the efforts of Yukon businesses, and they have no interest in supporting the Yukon's oil and gas industry overall. That's clear from their line of questioning. I have said we are opposed for environmental and technological reasons.

I don't know what the member opposite doesn't understand about that.

Mr. Fairclough:      People are asking about what the government's environmental concerns are, and this Premier could not answer that question in Calgary. She did not say what the concerns were. Twice I asked the Premier what the Yukon's environmental concerns are about the over-the-top route. We need to know. People need to know.

Sure, you're in favour of the other route, but please state what the environmental concerns are on the over-the-top route - for the third time, Premier, and try to give some clear message.

Hon. Ms. Duncan:      Mr. Speaker, I really don't understand what the member opposite doesn't get about, "We support the Alaska Highway route." A northern offshore pipeline route provides no access to Yukoners. It's an environmentally sensitive habitat. There is not the technology available to deal with ice scour. There is not enough sheer human presence in that particular area offshore, where the potential of a break could go completely undetected. It's buried offshore. That's one proposal. Another proposal is the international boundary dispute between Canada and the United States, which has not been resolved and is highly unlikely to be resolved, among a host of other reasons.

Among the most important reasons is our support for the Alaska Highway route, because the Alaska Highway route is an existing transportation corridor. It provides benefits and access to Yukoners and, most importantly, it's about far more than a construction project to the Yukon. It's about future opportunities. Those are very good reasons - I think "doggone good reasons" is parliamentary - for supporting it.

It's about what we support and the reasons why. I invite the members opposite to come onboard and help us.

Question re:   Maternity care for rural women

Mr. Jenkins:      Let's try a different minister and see if we can extract some answers this time.

I have a question today for the Minister of Health and Social Services. When a woman from rural Yukon is pregnant, she must plan to go to Whitehorse to have her child from two weeks to a month before her due date. This is a rural woman from all areas of Yukon except Watson Lake, which has a hospital. Now, if you're a First Nations woman, non-insured health benefits pays for all your expenses: hotel, food and taxis. But non-First Nations women must pay for all these expenses up front, and are only reimbursed by the Government of Yukon for $30 a day, starting on the fourth day after they get into Whitehorse.

Is the minister aware of this situation? What does he plan to do to level the playing field and treat rural, pregnant women in a consistent, considerate manner when they are forced to go to Whitehorse to give birth to a child.

Hon. Mr. Roberts:      Yes, I am aware of the concern. I am very aware of the fact that all Yukoners who live in rural areas have the same problem. We are currently reviewing the situation. Hopefully, we will have an answer in the near future.

Mr. Jenkins:      So much for universality, Mr. Speaker.

What we have is this minister maintaining a double standard for the delivery of health care here in the Yukon. All the rural Yukon hospitals have been closed, with the exception of Watson Lake. Mr. Speaker, $30 a day doesn't come anywhere near covering the costs for these individuals to come to Whitehorse. Organizations such as the Rotary Club and the health investment fund have turned down requests for assistance because they believe that this funding is the responsibility of the Yukon government.

Does this minister accept his responsibility? If not, why not?

Hon. Mr. Roberts:     Mr. Speaker, we always accept our responsibilities. That is why we are being placed in those positions. I am not sure what that question has to do with the issue of being fair and equal to all Yukoners.

In the last response, I made it very clear that we are looking at the issue. We are looking at all Yukoners. I guess that if you are going to look at the universality of health care, it's as universal as it will be for anybody, wherever you choose to live. We don't have the same health care that Winnipeg or Vancouver has, so I can't make those decisions. People make their own decisions, and we try to be as fair and equal as we can.

Mr. Jenkins:      Well, that's simply not the case, Mr. Speaker. Let's look at an area. The Victoria Faulkner Women's Centre went to the government with a proposal requesting $15,000 to provide a two-bedroom apartment with a full kitchen and basic grocery staples that could be used by pregnant rural women when they are here in Whitehorse. The government turned down that proposal.

Just what is this minister prepared to do? Is he prepared to do anything, or are we going to study it in a 10-year cycle and, 10 years down the road, something might happen? Is the minister prepared to act now and provide a measure of assistance to rural pregnant women that would be acceptable?

Hon. Mr. Roberts:      The recommended options are, I think, obviously, that when we look at representing all Yukoners, we have to make sure that we are responding for all Yukoners. The member opposite mentions the Victoria Faulkner Women's Centre apartment. This would be available to women. It is not available to their partners. It could be, maybe, during the term that the prospective mother is there, but what happens after that?

The problem of subsidization of in-territory hotels would be another way of looking at the coverage. I think it's not a simple issue. I know that the Member for Klondike thinks that everything is simple. It is always very important, when you are on the opposite side not having to make these decisions, that everything appears simple - just do it. That is not the way that we look at it. We are trying to be fair to all Yukoners, and all Yukoners have to be treated fairly and equally.

Throwing comments out, like the member from Dawson is doing at this point, doesn't solve the issue. The member from Dawson should come up with some creative ideas as to how we, as a government, can do a better job of it, not just criticize. Let's find some positives.

Question re:   Hepatitis C, Positive Lives funding

Mr. Keenan:      Mr. Speaker, I have a question today for the Minister of Health, and it's, of course, about Positive Lives. Now, Mr. Speaker, it's not surprising here, but Positive Lives disputes what the minister has said, that he said he did not try to keep them from going to the media. So I'd like to get to the bottom of it, if I could. I'd like to point out that the government has not even been in power one year, and the minister is duking it out with NGOs, with individuals, even the media, for goodness sake.

So, Mr. Speaker, I'd like to ask if the minister will stand on his feet now, clarify the record, and apologize for trying to muzzle this citizens group?

Hon. Mr. Roberts:      No, Mr. Speaker, I did not give any direction to any NGO to not go to the media. The obvious is there. Why would I do that?

Mr. Keenan:      Well, that's not a clarification; that's not an apology. It's just a continuation of pitting Yukoners against Yukoners. Mr. Speaker, they campaigned on a non-confrontational approach in government, and I can understand duking it out with the official opposition or the Member for Klondike, but with the citizens? Again, I ask for an apology to all Yukoners for this slight.

I'd like to also say, Mr. Speaker, that the film industry has been absolutely silent since they've been told not to go into the media discussions. Again, a government about openness - well, I'd like to see the government walk that talk. Will the minister, the representative of the government, give his assurance that the decision by Positive Lives to speak publicly will not be used and held against them when it comes to funding programs for people with this terrible disease?

Hon. Mr. Roberts:      Mr. Speaker, the only people I see creating an issue out of this are the members opposite. The members opposite like to duke it out with everybody and anybody, even if the clarifications are not there. The obvious: ou, no such statement was ever made. Why an issue is being made t of a statement that was never made, I'm not sure; but I'm sure there are some obvious reasons to some people why it is.

Mr. Keenan:      Mr. Speaker, that's just a head shaker, if nothing else. We talk about an open and accountable government, restoring the confidence in government, and it's not just there. Now we're getting into deny, deny, deny. Well, the cartoon in the Friday paper about shooting the messenger, I think, is every explicit, but that's not about NGOs. This is about the service that is provided to NGOs, and that's what the real issue is. The real issue lies right there with the people with HIV and AIDS, and the people with hep C. They need the support, Mr. Speaker; they need it every day.

So, if more than one group applies for this funding, can the minister give his assurance that the needs of one group will not be pitted against the needs of another group for any reason? Will the minister give that assurance, please?

Hon. Mr. Roberts:      Yes, Mr. Speaker, we are open and accountable. We are transparent, and we are honest in our responses.

Some Hon. Member:      (Inaudible)

Hon. Mr. Roberts:      I'll continue, Mr. Speaker, after they finish their little speeches. The idea -

Some Hon. Member:      (Inaudible)

Point of order

Speaker:      Order please. The Member for Ross River-Southern Lakes, on a point of order.

Mr. Keenan:      We have 30 minutes within Question Period to get to the bottom of this and to ask the questions, and the minister is supposed to be supplying answers. The minister is not supposedly standing there with the TV camera on his face, with this blank expression, waiting for an Academy Award.

Mr. Speaker, this isn't about the Academy Award procedures. This is about getting answers for the Yukon people, and I'll be very pleased if the member will provide the answers, not the theatrics.

Speaker:     Member for Whitehorse Centre, on the point of order.

Mr. McLarnon:      On the point of order, I apologize for all members of the House that we've just seen our time wasted like this. There is no point of order here.

Speaker's ruling

Speaker:      I think it's very clear that there is no point of order. I will make it clear that, in Question Period, the normal procedure is that the member asking the question gets one minute to ask his question. The member answering the question gets 1.5 minutes to answer. There is no point of order.

I will ask the minister to continue and complete his answer.

Hon. Mr. Roberts:      Mr. Speaker, what we just observed is what we call intimidation. It is always trying to make an issue out of nothing. I can't even finish my comments and I am rudely interrupted. I have to have at least some attention here, so that I can get my message across.

The purpose of the two groups, again, was to invite them to have some sort of mediation, Mr. Speaker. They chose not to go that route. Obviously, they are each going to be submitting their own proposal. We will assess from those proposals what the final outcome will be.

Intimidating and making all kinds of accusations here about what or what shouldn't be is not up to me, Mr. Speaker. My people are going to be working very hard to ensure that we have the proper service for those people out there who need it.

Question re:  Jack London TV series/film industry promotion

Mr. McRobb:      I would like to welcome back the Minister of Tourism from her latest overseas jaunt. I hope she's not too jet-lagged to answer a question about the Yukon's film industry.

Now, while she was away, the acting minister created a smokescreen around a possible multi-million dollar TV series based on Jack London's Yukon stories. Such a series could create jobs for hundreds of Yukon people - winter jobs and long-term jobs.

What is this government doing, right now, to try to keep this project alive?

Hon. Mrs. Edelman:      Mr. Speaker, I'm glad the member opposite spoke about the trip to Germany. The trip to Germany was to ITB, the largest travel show in the world, and where the Yukon was showcased. This is one of the most exotic destinations in the world. I know that previous ministers of Tourism, from both parties across the way, have gone to that particular travel show. And I'll tell you, it was amazing to me how well the Yukon did in that particular travel show.

Now, as far as being jet-lagged - no, I'm not. That's not a problem, but as for our support of the film industry, it is unequivocal, it is complete. Before I left for Germany to work in our booth at the travel show, I had extended conversations with the proponents of this particular series. I had those conversations at my home on the phone and in person. There have been a number of discussions that have happened over a period of time on this particular series. We continue with those discussions, and I have to state again that we are completely in support of the film industry here in the Yukon Territory.

Some Hon. Member:      (Inaudible)

Hon. Mrs. Edelman:      The members opposite are saying that we turned them down. That's totally untrue. Pardon me, Mr. Speaker. That's factually incorrect. That is actually quite factually incorrect. We did not turn down the Call of the Wild. We're still in constant discussions with them, so I'm not quite clear what the problem is.

Mr. McRobb:      Mr. Speaker, I think part of the problem is that this minister doesn't realize the priorities are right here in the Yukon, and it's impossible to risk such a profitable enterprise for the Yukon by remote control and long-distance telephone.

Now, I don't want to get into all the fine print, especially since the acting minister did such a good job of muddying the waters.

There are two areas he was wrong about. One is about commercial productions and the nature of up-front cash outlay. Will the minister confirm (1) that commercials do not qualify for the film incentive program, and (2) that this is a rebate program, similar to the business incentive program with respect to hiring Yukoners?

Hon. Mrs. Edelman:      The member opposite is asking minute detail about a particular program. The film incentive program is one where you make the expenditures and then you get the money back. Now, expenditures for television productions are vastly different from the expenditures for the film industry. Therefore, when we made the original offer to this particular group, we told them that there has to be some latitude in the way that this production was going to be financed, so there was a little bit more to it because it was different from feature shows.

Now, as for my travel to ITB, Mr. Speaker, the numbers for tourism are already up. I hear it again and again and again from tourism operators, "We're booked. We're booked. The numbers are up. We have had a 100-percent increase in bookings since last year." I will tell you, selling the Yukon anywhere in the world is the best thing that we can do for tourism and this industry. Mr. Speaker, I am not sitting in my office at my desk hoping that people show up; I am out there getting them, and there is nothing wrong with that. That is my job, and it's paying off.

Mr. McRobb:      Well, can you believe that answer? That answer was ridiculous, and it certainly didn't answer the question. I asked her to confirm that the acting minister was wrong on two counts, and she failed to answer the question. Obviously, you can count on this government when it comes to back patting, but when admitting it is wrong and sending confusing signals to the Yukon and businesses, it's another matter altogether. Now, the previous government saw the potential for film production in the Yukon and backed up that vision through active investment, such as the film incentive program itself and the grips and electrics package. This opportunity could be a door breaker for the film industry in the Yukon, bringing millions of dollars to our economy. Will this minister go back to the Cabinet table and fight for effective support for this industry?

Hon. Mrs. Edelman:      Well, Mr. Speaker, anybody on this side will tell you that they're sick to death of hearing this minister fight for the film industry and the Department of Tourism. Anybody on this side and anybody out in the industry will tell you that we're there. The Yukon Liberal government is very much in favour of this industry. Now, as far as the support the previous government gave the film incentive program, that was a good idea. It was a good idea, but what we did is we went one step further. We created a film commission. We have three people working in the film commission, and they're out there working every day, bringing in new productions to the Yukon Territory. There is one being started just three weeks from now here in the Yukon Territory, and that's because of the active work of these three individuals who work out of the film commission that this Liberal government created. We support the film industry.

Question re:  Alaska Highway reconstruction

Mr. McRobb:      Mr. Speaker, I'm just trying to do my job, holding this government accountable. I didn't ask for such an extreme reaction.

On December 6, 2000, and on December 12, 2000, the Minister of Community and Transportation Services made a commitment in this House to complete the section of the Alaska Highway between Whitehorse and Haines Junction within the next three years. The minister admitted it would cost them $30 million to complete that highway. But now we discover that the Liberal budget fails to follow up on the minister's commitment. There's no mention of any project other than the Champagne section, which we have since learned won't even be completed this coming year. Furthermore, it's only part of the bigger project. How is the minister intending to fulfil her commitment?

Hon. Ms. Buckway:      One piece at a time, Mr. Speaker, and I would point out we're doing a lot more than the previous government did to finish the rebuilding of the Alaska Highway between Whitehorse and Haines Junction. Since devolution, 139 kilometres of road has been reconstructed between Whitehorse and Watson Lake, mostly in the Swift River and Rancheria areas. So it's now completely rebuilt between Watson Lake and Whitehorse. We now turn our attention to the section between Whitehorse and Haines Junction, and we are working on that in the capital planning process. We are committed to completing upgrading work between Mendenhall and Haines Junction, and that work is starting this season.

Mr. McRobb:      Well, in terms of a viable answer, that was another cop-out. I didn't ask the minister to stand up and read a briefing note written by someone in the department. I expected a full answer to the question. We did not get it.

Now, this is a $30-million project. The minister herself said so. At the rate this government is proceeding, Mr. Speaker, it will take more than a decade to complete this important section of highway. Time is running out. Three years are up, and there are only two more budgets from this government. The more this government waffles, Mr. Speaker, the longer Yukoners will have to endure that dangerous highway section, and the greater the chance of losing the bids to outside contractors.

Can the minister explain how she intends to complete this whole project within the mandate of this government?

Hon. Ms. Buckway:      I guess the Member for Kluane can read from a briefing note as well as I can. That's good to see.

As the Member for Kluane well knows, his government did absolutely nothing on that section of the highway, in terms of work around Champagne and work in fixing the part that has already been cleared. Yes, it is a $30-million project, and we are going to do it a bit at a time. We do not have the money this year to do all of it. We are going to make a start on it, because it is long overdue, and there are about 60 kilometres of highway still to be reconstructed between Whitehorse and Haines Junction. We are going to get a start on it this year because we are unable to do it all.

I am confident that that work will be done over the next few years.

Mr. McRobb:      Well, Mr. Speaker, that's another non-answer.

What the minister is describing are undertakings done by the previous government with respect to the section south to Watson Lake. That part was done. The remainder is the section north to Haines Junction. If the minister refers to the long-term plan in the previous government's budget, she will see the commitment there to start work on that project.

What I'm doing today is holding her accountable for her commitment made only three months ago. It's $30 million in three years - what a letdown. This government is not doing what it said it would do.

Now, if we're going to wait to do a little bit at a time, it's going to be more than a decade before this important project is complete. Can the minister be clear and provide us with the timelines for this whole project, and when we might we see that spelled out in this government's budget?

Ms. Tucker:      As the member opposite well knows, we are working on our capital planning process now. We are making a start to the construction between Whitehorse and Haines Junction, on a section that is long overdue. The members opposite did nothing about it during their entire term. We are turning that around. We are making a start on it.

The capital budget last year was under $4 million for highways. We are turning that around. It's a slow process to get back up to the $20 million a year we need, but we have to start somewhere. We are doing that, kilometre by kilometre.

Speaker:      The time for Question Period has now elapsed. We will proceed to Orders of the Day.

ORDERS OF THE DAY

Ms. Tucker:      Mr. Speaker, I move that the House, at its rising on Thursday, March 15, 2001, do stand adjourned until 1:00 p.m. on Monday, March 26, 2001.

Speaker:      It has been moved by the government House leader that the House, at its rising on Thursday, March 15, 2001, do stand adjourned until 1:00 p.m. on Monday, March 26, 2001.

Mr. Jenkins:      Mr. Speaker, here we go again. We have been in the House just a few short weeks. Now we're going to adjourn for a week. The issue here in the Yukon is the economy, and the Liberals over there are laughing at the issue before us - laughing at the issue. What we should be doing, rather than taking a week off -

Some Hon. Member:      Point of order, Mr. Speaker.

Point of order

Speaker:      The government House leader, on a point of order.

Ms. Tucker:      On a point of order, it was my understanding that this was a House leaders' agreement to put this motion forward without debate.

Speaker's ruling

Speaker:      There is no point of order. There is a dispute of facts between members. Leader of the third party, please continue.

Mr. Jenkins:      Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The exercise that this government should be engaged in is to put Yukoners back to work, not to take a week's recess at this very important time in the budget debate. Now, there are many, many opportunities in this budget that we have before us to look at ways that we can move some money around, and develop opportunities, develop jobs for Yukoners, and at this juncture, to take a week off - next thing we'll probably be hearing from this Liberal government they'll want to give themselves a raise for a job well done.

But, Mr. Speaker, the issue is how deplorable the economy is. We know how good the economy is in the Northwest Territories. We know how good the economy is in Alaska. We know how good the economy is in Alberta and northern British Columbia. We have the same oil and gas mineral potential and forestry potential here as all those other jurisdictions do. What is wrong with this picture?

Give us an opportunity to move some of the funds around in this budget and move forward. Put people to work and get the economy back up and rolling.

Mr. Speaker, that is the important issue; that is why we should be here. In opposition, it is our responsibility to hold the government accountable, not take another week's recess at this time.

Thank you.

Ms. Tucker:      The practice of this House has been to adjourn during spring break to allow people the opportunity to be with their children at that time. Many plans have been based on that, and this has been known to the opposition for some time. It was my understanding that it was an agreement for the benefit of the people associated with this Legislature and for the community as a whole, to take this time. If the members opposite wish to disagree with that, they have the opportunity.

Speaker:      Are you prepared for the question?

Some Hon. Members:      Division.

Division

Speaker:      Division has been called.

Bells

Speaker:      Mr. Clerk, please poll the House.

Hon. Ms. Duncan:      Agree.

Hon. Mr. Eftoda:      Agree.

Hon. Mr. Jim: Agree.

Hon. Mrs. Edelman:      Agree.

Hon. Mr. Roberts:      Agree.

Hon. Ms. Buckway:      Agree.

Ms. Tucker:      Agree.

Mr. McLarnon:      Agree.

Mr. McLachlan: Agree.

Mr. Fairclough:      Agree.

Mr. Fentie:      Agree.

Mr. Keenan:      Agree.

Mr. McRobb:      Agree.

Ms. Netro:      Agree.

Mr. Jenkins:      Disagree.

Clerk:  Mr. Speaker, the results are 14 yea, one nay.

Speaker:      The yeas have it. I declare the motion carried.

Motion agreed to

Unanimous consent re: Motion No. 87

Ms. Tucker:      Mr. Speaker, I would request the unanimous consent of the House to proceed at this time with Motion No. 87, which is on today's notice paper.

Speaker:      Is there unanimous consent?

All Hon. Members:      Agreed.

Speaker:      There is unanimous consent.

Motion No. 87

Speaker:      It has been moved by the government House leader that the hon. members Dennis Fentie, Peter Jenkins and Gary McRobb be appointed to the Standing Committee on Rules, Elections and Privileges.

Are you prepared for the question?

Mr. Fentie:     On this matter, Mr. Speaker, we in the official opposition in good faith have chosen to rejoin the standing committee in the hopes that the standing committee will do the work that it is charged to do and that we will not have to experience any further political interference by having work that the standing committee is working on brought to the floor of this Legislature. We trust that the government side will also work with the committee in good faith, as we intend to.

Thank you.

Mr. Jenkins:      Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. It's our party's position that we rejoin SCREP. There was an olive branch extended to the opposition. We accepted. Hopefully SCREP can work in the manner in which it was constructed to work and not be subjected to direct political intervention and motions that overrule what this body consists of and what its objects are.

Hopefully, in the future, in a spirit of cooperation, we can work to the enhancement of all in this Legislative Assembly and not just await the big strong hand of government, descending from their - I guess we could refer to it as their bully pulpit.

Speaker:      If the member now speaks, the member will close debate.

Ms. Tucker:      We, in the government, would like to welcome the opposition members back to SCREP. We are looking forward to productive debate and discussions to change the rules, and we are committed to parliamentary reform.

Speaker:      Are you prepared for the question?

Are you agreed?

Some Hon. Members:      Agreed.

Speaker:      I think the ayes have it. I declare the motion carried.

Motion No. 87 agreed to

Ms. Tucker:      Mr. Speaker, I move that the Speaker do now leave the Chair and that the House resolve into Committee of the Whole.

Speaker:      It has been moved by the government House leader that the Speaker do now leave the Chair and that the House resolve into Committee of the Whole.

Motion agreed to

Speaker leaves the Chair

COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE

Chair:  Good afternoon. I now call Committee of the Whole to order.

Do members wish to take a brief recess?

Some Hon. Members:      Agreed. 

Chair:  We will take a 15-minute recess.

Recess

Chair:  I now call Committee of the Whole to order.

We will continue with general debate on Bill No. 4, First Appropriation Act, 2001-02.

Bill No. 4 - First Appropriation Act, 2001-02 - continued

Chair:  Since the minister speaking is now no longer the minister, Ms. Duncan, would you like to continue?

Hon. Ms. Duncan:      No, thank you.

Mr. Fairclough:      I have only a few more questions I would like to follow up on.

I was asking the Acting Premier several questions, and I have not been getting the answers I wanted, but some interesting things have come out.

One of the things the Acting Premier said was that the Liberal government will not be discussing land claims on the floor of this Legislature, which is a top priority of the Liberal government and also a line item in the budget of some $600,000. Later, he changed his mind and said, "We don't negotiate on the floor of this Legislature."

I tried to ask many questions with regard to land claims and I got no answers back. The Acting Premier did say that he would provide to me a list of issues that we can discuss on the floor of this Legislature. I was wondering if the Premier had that list and could share it with me.

Hon. Ms. Duncan:      I don't have the list that the member asked for. I do have an appreciation of his frustration, and perhaps I could elaborate in this way.

With regard to land claim negotiations - the specifics of the negotiations - when the members opposite attempt to negotiate specific questions, either in Question Period or general debate, it wanders into areas that are not respectful of the land claims negotiation process. We want to ensure that the answers that we give members are respectful and are mindful of the process, and we don't want to make light of any of the challenges that we face. We are facing many challenges.

I would like to reassure the member opposite that, yes, this government is fully committed to settling land claims; yes, the negotiators have very clear mandates from this government, and; yes, the government is working diligently to resolve any outstanding issues. We will continue to work on creating realistic work plans with the other parties at the table. I have met with chiefs of First Nations who have outstanding land claims and we're working to settle them.

Beyond those general statements, I cannot provide the member opposite with more specifics and still be respectful of the process, which I am confident the member opposite wishes me to be.

Mr. Fairclough:      Mr. Chair, I'm trying to get updated on the land claims progress. I'm not negotiating on behalf of government, and I'm not negotiating on behalf of First Nations on agreements about which I don't know any details. I don't have those.

All I was trying to do was get some information, so I can carry it back to my constituents, who are asking me about where the stumbling blocks are and so on that government is having in regard to the negotiations. That's what I'm getting at. Can the Premier tell us when this list will come over to our side? I would still like to address the land claims issue.

I have one more question on the land claims issue, too, but when can we get it? The sooner, the better. I just want to clear that issue off our discussions here.

Hon. Ms. Duncan:      Mr. Chair, I'm unclear from the member what he means by a list. And I apologize. I haven't read the Blues on that discussion.

If the member's asking for a specific list of outstanding issues at the land claims table, I can't provide that. The member's shaking his head, no. If the member's asking what specific questions they can ask that I can answer related to land claims, I could try and prepare such a list for the member opposite.

What I can say to the member opposite is that there is progress being made, and that is as much as I can say. As long as parties are still speaking with one another at the table and sitting down and talking, I think we are making progress. I'm confident that we are. Does that help the member opposite?

Mr. Fairclough:      The Acting Premier said that he would provide a list of issues that can be discussed with regard to land claims. That's what I was looking for, and I was looking at hopefully getting it sooner than later so we can finish off the land claims discussion.

Hon. Ms. Duncan:      My official has just elaborated on the type of list that the member is seeking. We aren't scheduled to go into Executive Council Office debate until after Community and Transportation Services. So, as soon as I'm able and officials are able, we'll provide the member opposite with the list he asked for. I will give the member opposite a commitment that we will provide that to him before we begin the Executive Council Office debate, which is where land claims debate is usually held.

Mr. Fairclough:      I asked the Premier in the last sitting about whether or not there were any discussions taking place outside the UFA to get the land claims agreement moving, and the answer, at that time, was no. Can the Premier tell us what is taking place outside the land claims with regard to solving some of the issues the First Nations may have with, for example, land?

Hon. Ms. Duncan:      As that is specifically related to land claims as well, I will provide the member opposite with that answer as well, either during the Executive Council Office debate or in writing prior to the debate, so that he can ask further questions on it in the Executive Council Office debate.

Mr. Fairclough:     I will look forward to the debate on the land claims issue and put that aside. There is another question that I would like to ask with regard to implementation of land claims. But first I would like to ask the Premier, with regard to ministerial travel and the overbudgeting that is taking place right now. You went over in five months. What pot of money are you going to draw from to cover the travel out of Executive Council Office?

Hon. Ms. Duncan:      We have provided the member opposite with more information in writing. I have responded in a letter to the member opposite, which, if he hasn't received, he should receive forthwith.

The funding for the additional expenses is within the Executive Council Office, within existing monies that are allocated there. As to which program, specifically, would be lapsing money - or not having spent all of the money in their particular budget - I will be prepared to answer that in Executive Council Office budget debate, not in general debate.

Mr. Fairclough:      I look forward to that information. We haven't received anything on this side of the House. I did write a letter to the Premier requesting travel, and that's what the Premier said would be part of the letter.

I have a question in regard to the immigrant investor fund. Can the Premier tell me a bit about what's happening with that fund? Is there any new direction given to the fund to be spent on projects? What's left, how much is in the fund, and so on?

Hon. Ms. Duncan:      Mr. Chair, the immigrant investor fund report is contained within the Department of Economic Development and I would be prepared to answer questions in the Department of Economic Development.

I can advise the member opposite that I received an update recently regarding the fund, and there have been no new expenditures set at this point in time. However, I will elaborate upon that in Economic Development.

Mr. Fairclough:      No new expenditures - is there more investment into this investor fund? Is it the same project as was identified by the previous government that this money will be flowing to?

Hon. Ms. Duncan:      Mr. Chair, in the budget there is an outline that this government is fulfilling a number of expensive obligations from previous governments, including Connect Yukon, which is the destination for immigrant investor fund investment, in addition to other resources.

Again, as indicated to the member opposite, I will be prepared to elaborate further on that in the Economic Development debate.

Mr. Fairclough:      Mr. Chair, I don't want to go into too much detail on this, but I would like to know what monies are left, how much money has been spent out of this fund that is targeted toward Connect Yukon. Can the Premier tell us what money is left in there? Has any of this money been spent, or is it still collecting interest?

Hon. Ms. Duncan:      There are very precise rules surrounding the funding, when it can be spent, and at what point, and so on. I will provide the member opposite with an answer in writing, prior to the Economic Development debate. The House will be adjourning for a week. I will provide the member opposite with that information in order that he can prepare subsequent questions for the Economic Development debate - where the immigrant investor fund initiative is responded to.

Mr. Fairclough:      With regard to Connect Yukon, this project is underway. Is that correct? It's on its way, and it's happening. Where's the money coming from to fund Connect Yukon? Is it out of general revenue? Will that be reimbursed by the immigrant investor fund?

Hon. Ms. Duncan:      The immigrant investor fund is a complicated project, as the member opposite, who was in Cabinet, will recognize. Connect Yukon questions will be responded to as a line item during the Community and Transportation Services debate. I will respond to the immigrant investor fund questions in the Economic Development debate, and I will provide the member opposite with additional information prior to that debate so that all his questions can be answered.

Mr. Fairclough:      I was hoping to get some answers from the Premier. We're basically talking about the budget and -

Some Hon. Member:      (Inaudible)

Mr. Fairclough:      That's right. It's general debate, and I'm not going into any details. But the project is going ahead. I'm just wondering where the money is coming from to fund this project. Is it just out of general revenues, to be reimbursed later?

Hon. Ms. Duncan:      Mr. Chair, it is coming out of the immigrant investor fund. I will provide the member opposite with detailed answers, prior to the Economic Development debate, on the immigrant investor fund and its expenditures - how much money, how much interest and the current rules. Questions on the Connect Yukon project and the status of the project itself will be answered in the Community and Transportation Services debate by the minister.

Mr. Fairclough:      I thank the Premier for that answer. It is coming out of the immigrant investor fund. We look forward to seeing what is in there and how much interest it has collected and how it is going to be paying dividends to those who are putting dollars into that fund.

The fireweed fund - is that program cancelled?

Hon. Ms. Duncan:      No, it is not. The fireweed fund was something that was supported by this government in opposition. It is a labour-sponsored venture capital fund that was seeking a $15-million investment. Such an investment is not contained in these budget documents.

Mr. Fairclough:      Did the Premier say that the fund is continuing? It is something you have supported in the past, but is it dead, or has this Liberal government repackaged it?

Hon. Ms. Duncan:      This Legislature did what we should do - pass the legislation to establish the fund. The Yukon Federation of Labour and others are seeking funding to start the fireweed fund. They are seeking that funding from the federal government in the neighbourhood of $15 million. There is no line item in this budget for that fund.

Mr. Fairclough:      Is there something else replacing this fund that the Liberal government sees coming forward - if not in this budget, then in budgets to come - that's similar to the fireweed fund?

Hon. Ms. Duncan:      No, Mr. Chair. The fireweed fund is a good vehicle. We supported it in opposition. We've sponsored the labour-sponsored venture capital fund in seeking the fund. We don't have funding for them in this budget.

Mr. Fairclough:      I'm wondering if I can also get an update in writing on the fireweed fund from the member opposite?

Hon. Ms. Duncan:      Certainly.

Mr. Fairclough:      I have a couple more questions. In regard to implementation of land claims, the development assessment process has been a big program that has devolved out of the land claims agreements, and it basically has remained dormant, even though there have been attempts to make sure that it gets up and going. What's happening with the development assessment process on the Yukon side? Are we looking at moving this along, along with First Nations, or is there a direction not to do anything at this point?

Hon. Ms. Duncan:      Mr. Chair, no one has not been doing anything. Within the Executive Council Office, I'd be pleased to advise the member that the progress of the development assessment process legislation is still in the hands of the federal drafts people. A subsequent draft is expected to be passed to Yukon, and there will be a public release and consultation on the several-times-over draft from the federal legal drafts people. That timing has been somewhat delayed by the federal election last November, and I will obtain for the member opposite the date when we are now expecting the next draft of development assessment process legislation.

However, the member is incorrect. Work on this particular legislation has continued.

Mr. Fairclough:      The native language program - has that moved anywhere, out of where it is now, to any other departments? Is there any movement on this or has it remained within government?

Hon. Ms. Duncan:      I will be happy to respond to the Yukon Native Language Centre or any questions with respect to the transfer of French language services or the DAP legislation in Executive Council Office debate. We are not in Executive Council Office debate; we are in general debate on the budget.

Mr. Fairclough:      I thank the Premier for reminding herself about that. So, the native language program has not moved over to Council of Yukon First Nations?

Hon. Ms. Duncan:      It is still a line item in Executive Council Office.

Mr. Fairclough:      Is there any will on behalf of the Liberal government to move this over to the Council of Yukon First Nations?

Hon. Ms. Duncan:      We are very supportive of the aboriginal language services and, in particular, the Native Language Centre at Yukon College. We are also continuing to work with the Council of Yukon First Nations.

The funding for the aboriginal language services program is contained within Executive Council Office. As far as I am aware, it is staying where it is; however, I will, in preparation for the Executive Council Office debate, determine what our latest discussions are with the Council of Yukon First Nations in this regard.

Mr. Fairclough:      In their budget, the government has increased the exploration tax credit. Was the previous amount used up this year?

Hon. Ms. Duncan:      No, however I caution the member opposite that there's still an opportunity for people to file, and we can provide the member opposite, in writing, with the amount that has been used to date, and caution that the figures are preliminary. As this is tax information, it takes some time to come in.

Mr. Fairclough:      I thank the member opposite for that, and I look forward to that update. So any dollars that are basically given back out to the companies or developers would be in the information provided to us, and we would see any unused amount that's put forward to this program with regard to revotes and that type of thing.

Hon. Ms. Duncan:      Mr. Chair, I would remind the member that this is exploration and is not for developers. This is an exploration tax credit. The figure for 1999 for the Yukon mineral exploration tax credit is $1,276,465.75. This is not subject to a revote or lapsed funding. It is simply the amount.

Mr. Keenan:      I just have a couple of questions that I'd like to ask of the Premier - more of a general sense to get a feeling of where we might be going and what the Premier's vision might be of the future.

The Premier has worked with me now for four years, or something like as such. And I think the Premier has an understanding of my basic aspirations - and "style" might not be the right word. I kind of like to get the big picture of things, and that's where I'm going to go.

I appreciate people who carry a vision that will go on into the future. When I hear your ministry speaking about 10-year plans, et cetera, I can certainly appreciate the quality of work that would have to be done in order to steer and form that over a 10-year period. So, of course, if we're going to be planning that far, it says to me that there has to be a vision for the Yukon.

I was just wondering, in a very general sense, if that would be an appropriate question of the Premier and if the Premier would be able to share a vision based on that 10-year plan for the Yukon?

Hon. Ms. Duncan:      Mr. Chair, I believe my general vision and our government's general vision of the Yukon, in terms of the immediate future, was contained in the budget speech. I won't use an hour and a half of House time to revisit that with the member opposite.

With respect to the vision for longer than the immediate budget year - of the future - again, the long-term capital plan will outline that, although the member can expect that this government is very committed to, among a variety of other things and not necessarily in order of priority, rebuilding Yukon's infrastructure, which requires substantial capital investment.

So, in terms of infrastructure, yes. In terms of overall, the capital budget and the long-term capital plan to be tabled this fall will further enlighten the member. However, as a former Cabinet minister, the member will also be aware that capital investment takes money, and we will be looking to ensure that every dollar spent is spent wisely.

Mr. Keenan:      Mr. Chair, the reason why I asked the question is the language, I guess. I certainly have stepped into the political arena many, many years ago at different levels and have followed through now to this level of politics. I'm not saying that this is a greater level of politics or a lesser level of politics from what I have been in, but certainly every level of politics that I have been in, and there has been quite an assortment, has been based on visionary work, partnering and speaking to developing what the Yukon has to develop.

I guess I take offence when we say "rebuilding the economy", because we have all said - and I think all three parties in the House - that we want the economy to be sustainable, that we don't want it to be a boom and bust, that we don't need it to be fluctuating around mineral prices or timber prices, or the brokers who are in between and making a buck. That was the reason why I asked, because, in my mind, I think we are trying to establish a really good Yukon economy, which, of course, will be part resource extraction, part government oriented, with a lot of different players there. Therein was the reason for the question about vision.

I would like to see it go in that manner because I think the Yukon does have very much to offer. Its core group of people have been around, in a contemporary sense, for over 100 years now. Part of my family was brought to this country because of that, and then other sides of my family were here to greet those people, so it is kind of like having someone on the beach to say hi to the Mayflower when it came in. It is an unusual predicament, but we have come 100 years. And I am quite worried, as I talk to many people out in rural Yukon, because, as the Member for Porter Creek South knows - she has been around the Yukon most of her life, if not all, and she certainly knows a lot of the people I know - that is what is on people's minds. It is that lifestyle, that cottage living, or making a buck off of who you are. They'd like to see that happen.

I remember, when I was working in the Tourism department as the minister, that, believe it or not, people would come up and say, "Good work has been done in tourism, and it is good because there hasn't been much else in the economy and we have to keep doing it, but please don't bring them all over at once."

I think many of us in the Yukon feel that way. I said, "Well, if that is the ultimate test, then we must be going in the right direction." Because certainly, the first principle of the tourism strategy is to protect Yukoners' rights and aspirations.

That's the reason for the question on visioning, and that's why I throw it out.

Now, as I speak, I would like to ask the Premier, in terms of developing this vision - because it's all about the future as if it were a crystal ball. Maybe it wasn't meant to be a crystal ball, but it projected into the future. And we say a lot of different things during the time of the campaign and whatnot. And we speak about health, and we speak about having universality as a principle for health here in the Yukon. It's in the document here - it's all about the Future, the Yukon Liberal promise. Now we're moving away from that a bit. And I was just wondering if the Premier could share her instruction that she had given through her Cabinet to the Minister of Health on that issue?

Hon. Ms. Duncan:      The member opposite will forgive me. I was listening to what he had to say. However, I also heard him speak about the vision and about the lifestyle in the Yukon, and I heard him speak about instructions to the Minister of Health respecting it's all about the Future, the Yukon Liberal Party campaign document.

Perhaps I could share with the member opposite that our vision is a collective vision. It's not about giving one another instructions. It's about working together. That's what we're trying to do.

And the Minister of Health is, if you will, since the member likes this term, "given instruction" by all of our caucus in terms of meeting our commitments, and I, the Minister of Economic Development, am given instruction or direction from our caucus with respect to rebuilding the Yukon economy, although I noted the member's offence at the term, and I will endeavour not to use it in the future.

Mr. Keenan:      Oh, you endeavour to use whatever language you like. I am known in this House for expressing my thoughts, and I will continue to do so in that manner.

So, I find that to be simply not quite a good answer. As a matter of fact, there wasn't even an answer in there. She spoke about the collective direction that we get, and we all come together. I don't know if it is every Friday or every Monday that we have a caucus, and we put everything on the table here. It is not even a year ago that I remember hearing, "The buck stops here. Therefore, I have to have this on my desk."

So, I guess it's not truly the Premier who has spoken about this collective vision; it's the whole darned government caucus that has bought into this collective vision. And that collective vision - or that collective instruction to the Minister of Health - must have been something like this: "I know that we said that we appreciate that we are going to have universality as a principle, because it's reflected here in it's all about the Future. But, holy moly, now that we are sitting here in government, I don't think that universality is really what I wanted to say in this document here. So, how can we go out and undermine it." Now, what the Premier has said to me right now, by saying that collective instruction, is that is the instruction that was given to the Health minister - to go out, not even in a year, break it's all about the Future, come back and show us how we can splinter this and start to pit Yukoners against Yukoners. Is that correct?

Hon. Ms. Duncan:      No, Mr. Chair, it's not.

Mr. Keenan:      Well, I appreciate that we get a little bit of aggressiveness there, I guess, if that's what it takes, because we do have to get to the bottom of this. So, if they didn't collectively go out and say that universality now is going to be splintered, then is this something that the Minister of Health has dreamt up on his own, within his own initiative, with his own department, and has brought the caucus - not brought the caucus, but has gone right out, through the Member for Riverdale South, announcing at a meeting with elders, when the Minister of Health wasn't even there, but spoke about it being all on the table? Was that just a decision that was made by the Health minister and his department?

Hon. Ms. Duncan:      No, Mr. Chair. With respect to the member opposite's interpretation of what the Member for Riverdale South presented, the Member for Riverdale South, as I understand it, was speaking about the pioneer utility grant. While the Minister of Health and Social Services is responsible for it, the pioneer utility grant is not contained in the Canada Health Act, and it is the Canada Health Act that the Liberal campaign document referred to.

Now, if the member opposite would like to continue on with the discussion in the Department of Health and Social Services, I'd be happy to move to the Department of Health and Social Services. I'm sure the Minister of Health and Social Services would be happy to move to the Department of Health and Social Services.

Mr. Keenan:      It would just be nice, Mr. Chair, to be able to stand in this House and get into an intellectual, political debate and expand with one another your ideas and your vision of what the Yukon is. Then, of course, it'll go to the other side of the House and we can talk back and forth and, by golly, we would end up with something that Yukoners want.

I always assumed that, through getting everything thrown back into our face in the official opposition, or to my colleague from Klondike here, that we're just trying to pick fights, that we're trying to confuse the issue. No, that is absolutely not true.

I asked about universality, because it's the Premier's picture on it's all about the Future here. It's not a very good likeness though. It has just been photocopied too many times. It doesn't bring out your picture as well as it should, I guess.

But, certainly, it's not the picture. This isn't a great big package that has a really pretty little ribbon bow on it, tied up really nice, that's done by a professional packager, or marketer, and then we open it up and find it's empty.

So many people are starting to tell me that around the Yukon - "Whew, that was a mighty pretty package but, holy man, it's empty. There's nothing in there."

So, I stand on the floor of the Legislature, not to speak about and with the Health minister. I will get to the Health minister when the times comes, and I look forward to that, as he does, too, and I will be asking very similar questions of him. What is the vision that he has? Where did this vision come from? It has not come from the Premier; it has not come from the collective voice of the Liberal caucus, so it must have come from somewhere. Did it, all of a sudden, on a bright clear day in January, just drop out of the sky and schmuck the Member for Riverdale South on the head and say, "Universality. Universality"? No, I don't think so.

So, I would like to know where it comes from. Does the minister have any idea where the idea came from?

Hon. Ms. Duncan:      Mr. Chair, if the member opposite is asking where the idea of universality in the Canada Health Act came from, then he knows the answer to that. This side, even in opposition as the member will recall, put forward a motion believing in the five principles of the Canada Health Act. We, as a caucus and as a party, fully subscribe to those five principles.

If the member is asking where the Member for Riverdale South went to seek ideas about the pioneer utility grant, the Member for Riverdale South advises me that several representative seniors raised ideas about the pioneer utility grant.

In a free exchange of ideas and in a government where leadership includes seeking the ideas and input from Yukoners and valuing their opinions and advice, that's what we do. And valuing that advice means listening to it and giving the idea some discussion.

Mr. Keenan:      Could I get the Premier to ask whether that would come from meaningful consultation, or would it come from an options paper?

Hon. Ms. Duncan:      Mr. Chair, I'm sure, during the Health debate and the pioneer utility grant line-item debate, the minister responsible will be happy to discuss all the nuances and all of the comments and sources of the options paper, but it's not part of the general debate on the budget.

Mr. Keenan:      Well, thank you very much. I hope my colleague to my left was listening carefully when we did find out that it wasn't really consultation, that it was an option. I appreciate the Premier saying that and bringing out that it was an option. There were two options on the table. This is not consultation. This is the very first time that seniors in the Yukon Territory had heard about it. The ones that I'd spoken to were certainly not happy about it. This wasn't consultation, it was "door 1," and if you go to "door 1," you're going to get a $100 increase for oil. If you go into "door 2" - and this is a choice for elders and seniors of the Yukon Territory - you will get $100 for only certain others. And they said, as seniors in the country and in the Yukon generally will, "Well, give it to my neighbour, because my neighbour's in a bit more need than I." Then down comes the swooping eagle called "consultation" and says, "This is consultation, and this is the direction I have, and this is where I'm going." Would the member say that was categorically correct?

Hon. Ms. Duncan:      No.

Mr. Keenan:      Well, I appreciate that, because I didn't expect that the Premier would. But certainly I would like for the Premier to read in any of the First Nation final agreements within the umbrella final agreement the description of the definition of "consultation." It's a bit different from putting out an options paper, "door 1" or "door 2." It sounds like a game show, and it's really not how we should be tinkering with one of the fundamental principles of Canada's health care - absolutely not.

I appreciate the Premier enlightening me. I had listened earlier to the Premier speaking about the development assessment process and, I guess, land claims initiatives in general, and she said that it's in the federal drafters' hands at this point in time. She said that she doesn't know, but would it be - just a best guess estimate would be very much appreciated - by the end of this calendar year?

Hon. Ms. Duncan:      I didn't say I don't know. What I said was that I would like to provide the interim leader of the official opposition with the most recent information, and I will be happy to do that in the Executive Council Office debate. In fact, I went one step further and indicated that I would provide it to members opposite prior to the Executive Council Office debate, in order that they could be fully aware of the information and ensure that all their questions were answered prior to the debate, or that there was a fullness of information for them.

What I have indicated is that the federal drafts people are working on a subsequent draft of the development assessment process. The date it is to re-arrive in the Yukon - and their efforts are to be examined by our officials in working with interested members of the Yukon public - I do not have at my fingertips. I have a suggested date. I want to be sure it's correct before I provide it to the members opposite. I will do that in advance of the Executive Council Office debate.

Mr. Keenan:      Question Period has flowed right into Committee of the Whole, and we're not going to answer any questions here, not even a best guess. Paranoia should not be running through the Legislature. We should be able to, especially in Committee of the Whole, speak and, you know, try and get - not to the bottom of issues, but provide a little bit of direction back and forth. The reason why I am asking about development assessment process is that - for one thing, the title. It's an assessment on a process of development. That's such a positive title that I want to see that incorporated. I want to see it working here. I want to see it as the motherhood statement of environmental issues screening within the territory.

Many, many people feel that way. Right now, we have hybrids - maybe "hybrids" isn't correct, but certainly different jurisdictions, ways and means of looking at assessment. This has been something that has been agreed upon by the three levels of government reflected here in the Yukon Territory. I can see that it's not happening, and I'm flustered with it not happening because I want to see it happen. I was a part of the goodness - or the intent of the goodness - describing that vision for all Yukoners and sharing the native land with all Yukoners to move forward. And that was one of the tools that we had used. Because we have the biggest project in recent history that will hopefully be coming to the Yukon Territory, and that's the pipeline. I know that the pipeline has not been looked at in every environmental manner. It was looked at 20 years ago. And I want to see the pipeline, as we do on this side of the House. We want the jobs, we want the training, we want the wealth in the Yukon Territory to stay within the Yukon Territory. The development assessment process could be such a meaningful part of that pipeline.

But, now that we don't have that on the table or something, I have heard it said by members of the House that we have done the environmental assessment. Yet I look out there, and it has been said by, I think, members on that side of the House - the Minister of Renewable Resources, as I recall, spoke quite eloquently to it - about graves popping up in the Arctic, and I think it was the snow and then the dirt being blown off, and now we are just getting down to nothing. Then we look at what happened in, I believe, Chetwynd, B.C., which is in northern B.C., which is certainly a little bit like the Yukon Territory, where pipelines were popping out of the ground.

I guess what I want to see is the pipeline here being built on Yukon standards, with Yukon ideas, with a Yukon workforce. And this might be too much here for all to jump up and say, "Yes, by golly, gee, I am going to buy into that idea." But that's what I want to see. I don't want to see the pipeline popping out.

And if we are looking at technology that is 25 years old at this point in time - there must be new technology. Is the Premier going to commit to examining every aspect of that new technology so that we don't have those types of environmental disasters after the fact, so that, when all those pipeline welders from wherever they come from - Alaska, Alberta, the Yukon, wherever, and the Yukoners will be here - are gone, we won't have to live with that liability?

Does the Premier share that concern for the environment?

Hon. Ms. Duncan:      Mr. Chair, I am very concerned about the environment. I hold, very strongly, the view that we have a responsibility to be stewards of the environment.

The member opposite may not be aware that the previous Government Leader's position with respect to the development assessment process is that we, the Yukon government, will hold the pen until we get it right, and that was the reference made to the development assessment process. That's a view I also personally hold, as does our government. I have had a number of former First Nation leaders indicate to me that DAP is not as it was envisioned during the land claims negotiations, and they are quite concerned about it. The point is that the development assessment process legislation is not complete. It is not complete to Yukoners' satisfaction. There is a redraft coming our way. Unfortunately, we aren't writing it. We're trying to work with the other parties at the table, one of whom has the responsibility for drafting. We're working with them. It's not done yet.

I will provide the member opposite - the Chair is clearly not following the argument I'm making, judging by the frown on his face. Let me try this again.

The member opposite understands what I'm saying. I will provide the member opposite with a date when we're expecting the redraft of DAP, prior to the ECO debate. With respect to environmental standards and any projects in the Yukon, Canadian environmental assessment regulations and the act continue to apply. That legislation is, I understand, also under improvement, so to speak. However, that legislation is also not ours and not part of the general debate on the budget.

Mr. Keenan:      Just a couple of points there. On the development assessment process, it's in Ottawa's hands now, and we're assisting them. Is that a joint drafting group that has representatives from the Council of Yukon First Nations and the Kaska leadership and their nation, and of course the territorial government and the federal government? Is that the makeup?

Hon. Ms. Duncan:      Mr. Chair, I've already indicated that I will provide all the details with regard to the second draft - including the date when it might arrive here - to the member opposite prior to the Executive Council Office debate, where development assessment process is paid for and budgeted as a line item.

Mr. Keenan:      Mr. Speaker, I think the Premier's missing the point. I certainly accept that the Premier would do that, but what I'm suggesting to the Premier here is something that has worked in the past. If it's not working now, then we might be able to take that historical consequence, bring it forth, and then we'll make it work in a contemporary context.

Now, I notice that the minister is making faces at me, I guess, quizzical faces over there, saying, "Where the heck is this guy coming from?" The legislation that has been put together on behalf of all the agreements that are contained within First Nation final agreements and the umbrella final agreement were drafted jointly together, and there were representatives of the teams that were there. What I'm suggesting is that we should maybe look at that again, because we're going to have duelling drafts. Gosh, as I understand duelling drafts - back and forth, and "That's not what I said ,"and "That's what I said, but that's not what I meant." And what I'm saying is that I would like to see our very own development assessment process here in the Yukon for the development of whatever it entails, and it entails many things. So I don't want to be asking this question next year and saying, "You've got to bring this back." I don't want to be doing that. I want to say, "Kudos to the Premier and the Liberal government because they brought it home."

And if you do that, you can hold me to that comment, because I will give you many kudos for the successful development of the Yukon, based on Yukon initiatives.

So that's what I mean. Is the Premier understanding now?

Hon. Ms. Duncan:      Yes, what the member opposite is suggesting is that we not have duelling drafts of development assessment process between the various parties, that we work simultaneously on a draft to ensure we get it right. I would advise the member opposite that, in response to the kudos, it's just that the impossible takes a little longer.

Mr. Keenan:      Well, Mr. Chair, I think there has been enough smoke blown up and around here that I don't need to add to that smoke, but I will certainly, at the time, provide the kudos. The impossible - well, we shall see, because it's not impossible. It's just going to take a little bit of finesse and a little bit of work to be able to do that.

So I thank the Premier for that.

I've been participating in planning workshops, and life on the opposition side is a lot different from the Cabinet side and the government side, because we can certainly now have time to really go out and meaningfully listen to people. Having one of the largest ridings in the territory, with communities all over the doggone place, I have a heck of a time getting there, but I'm getting there. I'm very - not surprised, I guess - heartened by the number of comments that come to me about the implementation of land claims. This comes from people from whom I just would not expect it to come.

These are people who fought valiantly 20 years ago against the segregation of the Yukon. Now, these same people are saying, "Wow, things are working." Yes, you would know the person too, but I won't say it in the House.

Now we have a person saying, "We see it working together, we actually have opinions that are listened to and integrated into wildlife planning, per se." Then they say, "But how come we don't have enough planning dollars for this and for that, like if it's land use planning, and whatnot?"

Now, a lot of these issues are recognized within the implementation dollars, and you'd have to talk to your learned colleague to the right to find out how many dollars of those would come into the territory. And I'm very interested to see if we're on par - if there are any land claims dollars that aren't being implemented - because those are certainly the dollars that could and should be put into the planning of the different departments - like the Department of Renewable Resources would go out and do these planning uses workshops with all players who are concerned.

So, I would like to find out if there is an annual flow of money that goes into it? Is there enough? Could the Premier explain that to me, please?

Chair:  Order please. Just a reminder to all members to refer debate through the Chair and not to use the word "you".

Hon. Ms. Duncan:      Mr. Chair, the land claims implementation dollars that flow through from the federal government are contained in Executive Council Office. I'm assured we're spending it all. However, if the member opposite believes we're leaving some money somewhere on the table, we will certainly go looking and make sure we're not.

However, again, that is contained in the land claims implementation secretariat portion of the Executive Council Office.

Mr. Keenan:      No, Mr. Chair, I'm not really into the specifics of it. I guess I'm wondering, as a player who sat at the negotiating table and who talked about the negotiations, who understood the implementation of what you talk about in negotiations - the implementation is even more so in some cases than what you talk about. When these folks come up to me - and it has happened, I think, in every community I have but one - to talk about the planning dollars, I had always assumed that, when we had spoken at the negotiating table about there being dollars there for the implementation of it - I was told there were. And now I have people saying there are not.

So, I guess, in a general sense, that's what I'd just like to hear the Premier speak to and say she could look into that - pardon me, if the Premier could look into that, Mr. Chair.

Hon. Ms. Duncan:      Certainly, Mr. Chair. I'll go through all of the implementation references in the ECO debate.

Mr. Keenan:      I greatly appreciate the opportunity to go for a skate.

Again, Mr. Chair, I'd like to thank the people of Ross River for being, certainly, the drivers behind the consultation process in this last budget. I find it very reactive. I find that, when the Premier said, "We have to react because people are talking about it and we have to go out there and talk to them, but, holy moly, I can't because I'm just too doggone busy and I can't be running around all of the territory, so I'm going to use the whole caucus to go out and do a two-week boogie across the territory here. We'll find out what all the processes are at that time."

I appreciate that the Finance minister wasn't herself at the meeting that I attended and at the others that I did. And so I find it very reactive.

I guess I'll just carry on for a bit before I ask the question.

With the capital budget now coming in the fall, is there going to be a consultation process? And could the Minister share what, when and who will be participating within that consultation process during the summer for the meaningful implementation of the capital budget and the development of the 10-year plan over the next little while? And will there be a consultation process for the O&M budget/capital budget?

Hon. Ms. Duncan:      Mr. Chair, perhaps I could just open by reminding the member opposite that in the first year, the previous Finance minister didn't conduct any pre-budget consultation. So perhaps the member opposite will forgive me for only visiting the communities of Beaver Creek, Burwash, Destruction Bay, Watson Lake, and several Whitehorse meetings. Certainly, the individuals I met with were not only very satisfied with the fact that we had undertaken this exercise but were also satisfied with the fact that, in the time of year when they took place, there was a great deal of focus on the forthcoming budget and that their opportunities and representations would be heard.

With regard to the capital budget in the fall, we're working with a great deal of the information that we have already heard and continue to hear. With respect to next year's 2002 budget presented in the Legislature in the spring, right now our caucus is working toward a consultation process in October, although there were also maybe some additional consultations that take place in January. However, I would remind the member opposite that this is not the only time of year we consult Yukoners. We are continually visiting communities, working with all Yukoners and continuing to take advice from them in all respects.

Mr. Keenan:      Well, certainly, Mr. Chair, I don't think I'm here to talk about forgiving the Premier. It's not about forgiveness. It's about pointing out, in a nice, kind, considerate way. It's about not blaming the former Government Leader who, I might add, was really the guru of budget consultation. There was a gentleman who went out and listened. I can remember that gentleman talking to caucus about his evening meetings in many coffee shops in every part of the Yukon Territory, so that he could get meaningfulness from what the people were saying.

So, for the Premier of the day to stand and say, "I might remind you that your former Government Leader never went out in the first year." Well, Mr. Chair, we were very, very busy, but we established things. We established something - a trend, a trend that Yukoners have grown to expect, and if the Liberal government drops the bucket on that consultation idea, and the Liberal government now has plans to go out to do even more consultation, I'm just wondering where you're going to get the energy from. Where are you going to get the time frames? Where are you going to get the staff, when half the staff is on holidays during the summer?

So, please, I'm not here to ask about forgiveness. This isn't group-hug time. This is Committee of the Whole time, and I would just like to get to the bottom of some issues, and I'd like to point out some issues. I'm pointing out that that might be a weakness, and the Premier should definitely be looking at it. For every great strength, there is a weakness, and if you will choose to look at the weakness, you will make your strength even greater.

I know the member does not want to say that and, pardon me, Mr. Chair, for saying the word "you". I will definitely, absolutely, try not to say it again today. That's my challenge.

Mr. Chair, if the bucket is dropped on the consultation process, and now, you develop more - Well, I guess what I'm saying is that the Premier has to listen to the people and say that they do want to be heard, and not just in a slight time frame but, I guess, all the time. I guess that's not even a question any more - it's a statement, so I'll leave it at that.

I would again ask that the Premier stand on her feet and speak about telephones and the implementation of telephones into rural Yukon, because I was sitting back last week, Mr. Chair - I don't know if it was last Wednesday, or whenever - but I was flipping through the Post - I don't often buy the Post, because I don't like the fellow who owns it, but it was the Post. And up in the top right-hand corner of the Post, it has historic events, and here it was that Alexander Graham Bell, in 1874, filed for a patent on the telephone. I was thinking, holy moly, here it is 126 years later, and we don't have telephones in certain parts of the Yukon Territory.

Now, I'm not saying this in a mean way. I'm not saying this in a snarky way. I'm asking, does the Premier have a vision, or a time frame, or a vehicle, I guess? Is the Premier looking to develop a vehicle, or what is the sole thrust for communication and, I guess, telephones in the territory for the unserved areas? I wonder if the Premier has anything that she could share with me on that?

Hon. Ms. Duncan:      Mr. Chair, I hope the member opposite does not take this in a snarky fashion, or in any other way, other than the way it is intended. I do not talk about telecommunications issues, or telecommunications visions, of this government. The minister responsible for telecommunications services has responsibility for Connect Yukon, and the Minister of Government Services works on communications, generally, in terms of appearances before the CRTC, and so on. I do not delve into those issues for very specific reasons; therefore, I am unable to provide the member opposite with an answer.

Mr. Keenan:      I'd like for the member to share with me that specific reason.

Hon. Ms. Duncan:      It is upon the advice of the conflicts commissioner, Mr. Hughes. I have absolved myself of any responsibilities in that area.

Mr. Keenan:      Thank you very much for that. I certainly understand, and I won't be dogging you about it. But I'll not be standing on my feet and saying to the general public out there that I got an answer out of the Premier on your telephone, and I know you've been waiting for your telephone for a long time, but I can't give it to you because it was a conflict. No, no, no. I'm not going to ask you to resign because of this or that, but I would like to know, from a political standpoint and the diversification, does the Premier believe that a telephone would be an extremely useful tool for the diversification of the Yukon Territory's economy?

Hon. Ms. Duncan:      Mr. Chair, I've already indicated to the member opposite I do not speak about these issues on the floor of this Legislature. I do not speak about them in Cabinet.

Mr. Keenan:      Well, Mr. Chair, I'm a little disappointed - no, I'm deeply disappointed in that, because some of the folks that I talked to out in the communities are struggling to make a living. A lot of them are those old-time Yukoners who have to adapt to, "Well, for these two months, you do this; for these three months you do that, for this month you do this." You have to be able to land on your feet, I guess, like a kitten falling out of a tree. You have to be able to land on your feet, and so many Yukoners are like that. The telephone - just a simple telephone - is such an extremely useful tool. It has been 126 years since its inception into the world, and everybody else in the world, basically - Third World countries have a better communication system than the Yukon Territory. The New Democratic Party, in its wisdom, saw the need for telephones to be brought in for the diversification of the economy.

So, those artisans - those people who are involved in looking for innovative ways of making a buck and passing the buck on to other Yukoners - are not going to be getting any answers.

So I'll just say to the Member for Laberge that, when it does come time, I'm not looking to say, "Yes, this is when it's going to happen; you're getting your telephone at this point in time." Although there are folks in the Teslin and Tagish area who do want that to happen, and there are folks in the territory who want it to happen, and they want to know when. I have chatted with them, and I have given them the implementation program, I believe, that has come from Northwestel. Is that the gospel at this point in time, or is there another idea out there? These are the type of questions that I'm going to be wanting to ask so that I'll be able to go home to my constituents and say, "No, Connect Yukon is dead at this point in time. Its service life was for this. The government, in its wisdom, said that that's it and they have created another vehicle - or the vehicle of Northwestel." That's what I'd like to find out about, and it's very unfortunate that I can't even get the Premier to admit that - well, you know what. I'll make a challenge to the Premier. I won't use my personal phone at home for a month, and I'd like to see the Premier not use her personal phone at home for a month. Then maybe, at that time, there will be a level playing field for the people of the Yukon, and the Premier will get an idea of what it's like not to have that phone at home for health reasons, for a job reason or for a diversification-of-the-economy reason.

I guess I'll just delve into tourism a little here, if I could. I'm just wondering if the Premier has given any instruction to - I guess they don't instruct each other over there so, during one of their collective instruction sessions. Was there a wise little person in the corner who jumped up and said, "Well, what are we going to do about these different programs? If we have killed the tourism marketing fund and we have moved it over to there, is there another program that we should be putting together? And, oh, Fulda was just in town and they dropped $3 million in here. Thank God for the previous government that created these incentive tours." I was wondering if the Premier has any knowledge or anybody on the hook within her portfolios of Economic Development or just in a general sense - do we have any incentive tours on a lure or anything?

Hon. Ms. Duncan:      Mr. Chair, I'm sure the Minister of Tourism will be happy to answer that question during the Tourism general debate.

Mr. Keenan:      So, what I can see here is that we have a Premier who has complete animosity toward people on this side of the House. I want to bring forth some ideas and I have been asking questions, and she says that the minister will speak about it. Well, I'm starting to think that what we have here is ministers in charge of these ministries, but we don't use the caucus time, the Management Board time, the Cabinet time, to come together to say, "This is where we're going to go."

If we were to ask the previous Government Leader if there were something in incentive tours, he would say, "Yes, this is what we have discussed, and this is where we'd like to go, because they are a great boon to it." And I'm thinking that, maybe Fulda ain't going to come no more. Everywhere in the Yukon, basically, has felt the effect of the Fulda incentive tire tours, and it would be nice if I could stand up and say, "IBM from England is coming because we have approached them and we have talked to them." But I can't even do that, because the Premier is going to say, "No, you shall ask that question at the appropriate time, and you shall not ask it before and, if you do have the gall to ask it before, I'm going to say no, and I'll speak to it at the appropriate time."

So, to turn that on the minister, I would say that it shows that the Premier has complete lack of control over her caucus, her Cabinet; she's much too busy, and doesn't even have the time to dream or to think of new initiatives or the consequences of the non-initiatives that are affecting the people of the Yukon Territory who live outside the boundaries of Whitehorse.

I guess, in desperation for announcements, the Liberal government has to reannounce that they're putting funding into Rendezvous. I mean, that announcement was made a year ago by me, because this side of the House, when we were in government, looked at those things, and we saw the diversification aspects of them; we saw the goodness of the cultural and relevant aspects of it.

But I dare not ask that question, because I may raise the ire of the Premier.

In the capacity of Premier - and I guess, in her government's wisdom of shutting down some product development within the tourism area, does the Premier have any ideas for a different vehicle? Maybe the economic development agreement that will be coming from the feds - would a certain portion of that be hived off for, not classic infrastructure development but modern infrastructure development in terms of a community attraction or anything like that and that might be needed for the Yukon Territory so that we might be able to continue to bring people to a world-class destination here?

Hon. Ms. Duncan:      Mr. Chair, I'm pleased to advise the member opposite that our efforts with respect to ensuring the federal government deals with and appropriates effectively an economic development agreement - this is something that we are continuing to work on, and certainly we have a vision of including cultural industries in that. That's part of our platform. However, I don't have any more information than that to share with the member opposite at this point in time. As soon as details are available, I will provide the member opposite with the information.

Mr. Keenan:      Mr. Chair, would the cultural industry capture First Nation aspirations, I guess, or whatever would be needed for First Nation to get up and to be running within the tourism sector? And I ask this, because one of the biggest segments of Tourism bringing people here, of course, is the development of authentic - and the key word here, I think, is "authentic" - product. Would the cultural tourism capture that, in the Premier's mind?

Hon. Ms. Duncan:      Mr. Chair, we started out talking about cultural industries and some form of an economic development agreement. I believe what the member opposite is referring to are the initiatives by some communities to have First Nations cultural centres or First Nations heritage centres. The member is shaking his head. Perhaps he's referring overall to the general participation by First Nations in Yukon's growing tourism industry.

I can advise the member opposite that both the minister and I and our government are fully committed to all Yukoners participating in all of our efforts to rebuild the Yukon economy.

Mr. Keenan:      No, Mr. Chair, close - but it's nice to hear the Premier speak about the different initiatives that are coming up, because they are great, and they are great for Yukon in general, in terms of promoting culture and promoting heritage.

What I was, I guess, more or less thinking of here, is that, within the tourism marketing fund and different programs that we had up, is that, if somebody had an idea, and it fit within what the Tourism minister has in her portfolio - and there are four bullets in there, and I don't know if those four bullets have changed, but that's the strength, the pillars, of the tourism industry. I was wondering if any person who could deliver an authentic product, would they be able to come, as an individual entrepreneur, to a program - not as a government developing a heritage centre, as such, but as an individual entrepreneur. Would there be anything in the Premier's vision of developing that through the EDA, so that those people might opt into it and be able to come up with a living, vibrant product? That's what I'm asking.

Hon. Ms. Duncan:      Mr. Chair, the Minister of Tourism, me, as Economic Development minister, and our Cabinet are always interested in the ideas and visions of individual Yukoners. Most entrepreneurs are not necessarily seeking funding. They may be seeking receptiveness to an idea or information, and the member opposite will be well aware that the Business Service Centre and the Department of Tourism provide excellent research for entrepreneurs seeking information in the tourism market.

As for a specific funding program, which I believe is where the member opposite is heading in this direction, the member opposite is welcome to discuss whether or not such a funding line item exists with the Minister of Tourism in the general debate on Tourism.

Overall, in general debate, we have already advised the member opposite of Project Yukon, which is about people, structures and spaces, and we have advised the member opposite about the arts fund and fire smart.

Mr. Keenan:      The merits of the Department of Tourism are far, far, far, far, far greater than their weaknesses. I can't really think of a weakness. I can think of little hiccoughs at points in time and the ability to go out and look for new partnerships and the ability to lever it with what we have. To project the Yukon right into a world-class travel destination is very meaningful to me, personally, because certainly that's what I wanted to see happen, and it is happening.

But that's not really what I asked. I didn't ask about heritage centres and I didn't ask about our Tourism department. I asked about the EDA and whether it would be applicable, in the Premier's mind. Could there be capitalization of any sort? What type of vehicle would there be? A stroke on the back and a kick in the pants or a kind-hearted letter that would go to the Business Development Bank, or whatever? Because I look at examples of other areas to our east, to our west, and look at their weaknesses within tourism and their strengths.

I know that we need to have authentic product, and that's what the European market wants. That's what, I guess, the world wants. Certainly the Asian people come here, I guess, in ever-increasing numbers to see First Nation product. And I've been stopped in the street and talked to by some, and it's always nice, and they say, "Well, why aren't you in business?" And I say that this is my business, and this is how I feel, and this is where I'm going.

But there are so many people out there who have those skills, and those skills should be - I'm just doing what the Health minister did today. I like that little trick.

So many people out there who have those skills, and with a little seed, with a kind word, I guess, and sometimes a kick in the pants - and a direction, anyway - could move that skill set right into a vibrant business. In the Premier's mind, is there going to be anything in the EDA to catapult those people with those ideas into that type of business?

Hon. Ms. Duncan:      We're working on the format and substance of an economic development agreement or some kind of northern economic strategy with the federal government. We have indicated our desire for cultural industries and a level playing field among businesses to be present, and among entrepreneurs. I don't have any more information than what I have provided the member opposite. Certainly, we are interested in developing Yukoners with Yukoners and in meeting the aspirations of all of us toward a better economy.

Mr. Keenan:      Let's talk about that level-playing-field note that you just received from the Minister of Tourism, if we could down here. Let's talk about authentic programming. Now, authentic programming means the person that does it should do it, not a person that doesn't have the skills but has the knowledge to do something. That is an authentic person that could deliver an authentic product.

Could the Premier take that mindset that I hope I've established now and just incorporate it into that discussion so that when we do get to that world-class designation, when we have to say, "The Yukon is closed to visitors at this time because it's full of visitors," that would be a joyous day? I've been hoping upon hope that that product development that is required would be delivered by Yukoners - by long-time Yukoners, Yukoners who have lived here and know it intimately. That's what I'm asking the Premier to put into her mindset if the Premier would consider that within the mindset.

Hon. Ms. Duncan:      Mr. Chair, I'm always interested in the ideas of the members opposite. Certainly.

Mr. Keenan:      Thank you, Mr. Chair. I guess, Mr. Chair, I'd like to speak about a touchy subject, certainly a subject that I've worked with. The Member for Faro knows I'm going to come up with something here that's going to make his eyes peel a bit.

What we have right now is Yukoners going against Yukoners for jobs. I don't think that this government has done adequate work so that we stop pitting Yukoners against Yukoners for jobs.

I have a community within my riding. That community of Ross River - and I'm not saying that the Premier or her colleagues or the Minister of Community and Transportation Services do not appreciate the dilemma of Ross River, because I heard the minister speak in the House and speak privately to me about the unique position, I guess, and condition of Ross River, and that it's going to take some good energetic work, that it's going to take some good thinking and empowering people at their own level to make decisions for themselves. Yet there isn't a week that goes by when they say, "Well, how come these people got that job, Dave, and I didn't get that job?" I'm of the understanding that there are seven people from Faro working in Ross River, doing a whole bunch of different jobs, and I keep getting asked about them, and I keep saying, "Well, gee, it has to be open for each other." I'm wondering, in terms of local hire - I would really like for the Premier to be able to think about the local hire aspect, not just for a megajob that comes into town - like a new school or a new sewer or a hospital - but the ongoing jobs that are there. There are seven positions in Ross River that have been filled by people from Faro.

The biggest statement that I get when I go to Ross River is, "We're tired of living in Faro's shadow. They say they don't even have a mine there now, yet we're still living in Faro's shadow." And then I say something like, "Well, everybody has a right to work." And look at the goodness that we're trying to create between the communities - the De Cho Trail, which was delivered by the community development fund, and many other joint initiatives. Yet it seems to be slipping, at this point in time, and I would appreciate it if the Premier would look into finding ways so that we can keep local hire as local hire, because the dollars that are made in Ross River are spent in Faro. Now, I'm not saying that's a bad thing; and I'm not saying it's a good thing. I'm saying that there have to be ways - I'm not talking about rocket science jobs either, here. I'm talking about secretarial-type jobs, about truck-driving jobs, grader jobs, the foreman-of-the-grader-station type of jobs. Those are the jobs I'm talking about. Some of the jobs, I understand, have not even been posted, yet there has been a person from Faro taken into and placed in a position there without even a job being posted, and people say, "What is happening here?"

Would the Premier discuss with her colleagues - I know she can't direct her colleagues, but could she please discuss with her colleagues the need for keeping those types of jobs at home for the local people who are there? It's very, very serious in the community. I have sent a letter to the minister asking for background information on this, so I know it's not a surprise to the minister, but I wanted to share this with the Premier. We have put a lot of resources in there at the round-table level and at the social level. We're doing good work. I think the Premier is doing good work politically with the leaders of the community - both on the native side and the non-native side - but we must keep it up and it will be just one of those little issues like these job things that come back to destroy it all for all.

I'd also like to know, in the Premier's knowledge, have the dinosaur tracks been delivered to the community of Ross River?

Hon. Ms. Duncan:      Mr. Chair, I'm advised that, in terms of the dinosaur tracks - I'll deal with the last question first: it's a matter of negotiation. The difficulty is not having parties agree but finding the appropriate space and so on.

I'm certain that my ministers are working very diligently on this issue.

Secondly, with regard to the first issue the member raised, the member indicated he had written to the minister on it and I'm certain that there will be an answer forthcoming very soon, and I will ask that minister to make me aware of that answer.

I thank the member for drawing that to my attention.

Mr. Keenan:      I certainly appreciate the desire of the Premier to work with me on this, because I think the Premier knows what I'm saying. In most cases, we