Richard Gleeson
Northern News Services

Yellowknife (Jun 28/00) - The question of how much liability the territorial government has for the cleanup of Giant mine should be resolved some time this year.

The territorial government will contribute $285,000 and the federal government $755,000 to the cleanup of Giant this year, said Resources, Wildlife and Economic Development Deputy Minister Bob McLeod Monday.

Responding to questions from Frame Lake MLA Charles Dent, RWED Minister Joe Handley said the costs of the cleanup will rise significantly starting next year, "so the expectation is that the liability question will be addressed some time this year." Handley said his "best guess" is that the cleanup will take at least eight years.

Ad campaign criticized

A full-page ad placed in last Friday's Yellowknifer by the Dogrib Treaty 11 Tribal Council was criticized as inaccurate by Aboriginal Affairs Minister Jim Antoine. The advertisement, billed to be the first in a series of three, accused the territorial government of stalling Dogrib self-government negotiations.

"Negotiations at the Dogrib table are not at a standstill," said Antoine Monday. "They are ongoing and on track."

The territorial government has made progress on the issue of taxation, financing of self government and an agreement for provision of health, education and social services to Dogrib communities.

Antoine said the GNWT's chief negotiator, Patrick Scott, resigned for "personal and private reasons." Scott's resignation takes effect in August.

Scott's replacement will be in place in time for a chief negotiators' meeting in August, Antoine said.

Literacy a big problem

MLA David Krutko said the government is talking a good line but not coming up with the cash required to solve the problem of illiteracy in the North.

Krutko noted that in some communities as many as 40 per cent of the population is illiterate.

"Illiteracy has a direct relationship to crime, poverty, unemployment, poor health and low income," said Krutko. He asked why, considering the problem of low literacy levels, the department is cutting adult education budgets.

Education Minister Jake Ootes confirmed that the community skills for work program, which provided adult education for those on income support, had ended.

Ootes said he is working to introduce a refined version of the program that would promote literacy in the family and workplace.

Doctor shortage

Health Minister Jane Groenewegen on Friday pointed out the NWT isn't the only place experiencing a shortage of doctors.

Groenewegen said Alberta is looking for 330 general practitioners. The NWT health care system could use 15 more than it has.

Yellowknife MLA Bill Braden said the shortage is particularly acute in the emergency ward of Stanton Regional Hospital. Braden read a message from a constituent that said the hospital provided excellent care but the doctors "are just plain tired. They work unbelievably long hours ... there are too many patients and not enough doctors." Groenwegen said negotiations between the Yellowknife Health and Social Services Board and local doctors are aimed at developing a compensation package that will attract more doctors.

Until the hospital gets up to a full staff of physicians, the gaps are being filled by doctors contracted from other provinces.