Debates of August 23, 2007 (day 16)

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However, Mr. Speaker, it is important to point out the executive assistants, some past and present that I think have made an exceptional impact on some of the work that I have been able to succeed with. Mr. Speaker, I would like to make special mention to Katherine Robinson who worked for the honourable Mr. Dent for some time.

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Allen Stanzell, with his keen eye for detail in getting back to me.

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Mr. Doug Pon has worked for Minister McLeod for all the way through.

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They are fine, outstanding individuals. They made the work here so much more successful and rewarding with their assistance.

Mr. Speaker, the Legislative Assembly security staff are stalwarts: Ray, Dennis and Ian. They have always been great out front here. They are an important part of this Assembly.

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Mr. Speaker, I can’t forget to mention the valuable support the constituents of Yellowknife Centre have offered. I have always appreciated them bringing forward their concerns to me, from their advice to sometimes even their criticism on how this government should be doing better. Without that support, MLAs would be lost without that guidance. So thank you to them.

Mr. Speaker, Coady Summerfield has been my constituency assistant for the last two and a half years. His steadfast support and attention to detail has always been appreciated. Every smart man…Mr. Speaker, may I seek unanimous consent to conclude my statement?

The Member is seeking unanimous consent to conclude his statement. Are there any nays? There are no nays. You may conclude your statement, Mr. Hawkins.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Thank you, colleagues. Mr. Speaker, as I was trying to say, every smart man always makes special mention of his wife, because she is certainly the backbone of everything. To my two sons, McKinley and Hudson, although I won’t be seeing you much for the next six weeks, I will still be thinking of you every day.

To all the Members here, thank you for your support. To all the constituents of Yellowknife Centre, thank you for your support, and good luck to everyone. It has been an exciting roller coaster working with everyone. I am sure I will see everyone back except for the retirees, that is. I will see everyone back in six weeks. Thank you.

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Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, it is not too often, since becoming a Member of the 15th Legislative Assembly and serving as a Minister in this government, I have had an opportunity to stand up and reflect on the constituents of Inuvik Boot Lake or the work that I have done on their behalf. I felt this morning and my wife reminded me as she is back home and said, other people are doing it. You need to get up and say something as well.

I tend to try to leave things for back home and talk to the folks there, but I want to say to the people of Inuvik Boot Lake I have to most sincerely thank them for their support of sending me back here to be their representative in this government. It is truly an honour and a privilege to serve the people of the Territories because I do believe, as I first came here back three terms ago, that this is the people’s government. The way we operate here in a consensus style is about the people and we represent their interests when we have our debates in this forum. That is something I look forward and have to say thank you for their support. If the good people of Inuvik Boot Lake want to see me back here again, I look forward to their continued support, as I hope to return and serve the people of Inuvik Boot Lake and the people of the territory and returning here possibly for a fourth time.

More importantly, Mr. Speaker, I think along with the people that we represent, whether it is…I remember some grannies, as they say -- but not from Nahanni but from Inuvik Boot Lake -- in the way they talk to you; the elders of our community in giving you advice and telling you that you are doing a good job. Sometimes I have gone back home after being in this setting and feeling that I truly was starting to wear the job. As some people would joke, I entered rooms with a dark cloud over my head, the black hat and the black cape to give the bad news. But, Mr. Speaker, when I go back home and they remind me you are doing a good job; keep working and keep representing us. It is good that I can come back here with a renewed spirit and drive. I hope that continues.

Mr. Speaker, when we are down here, as we have heard around this table, we can’t do the job by ourselves. It takes a lot of commitment by other people in our areas. I have never done this as I can recall in the term of a Member of the Assembly, but I am going to ask for unanimous consent to conclude my statement.

Thank you, Mr. Roland. The Member is seeking unanimous consent to conclude his statement. Are there any nays? There are no nays. For the first time, you may conclude your statement, Mr. Roland.

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Thank you, Mr. Speaker and colleagues. There may be a couple in there, but I always prided myself in sticking to two and a half minutes. I thought I might be able to do that, but I guess I have been a politician for awhile and I have gone on longer as the hair has gone whiter. I just want to say, without the staff that we have to help us do our job, to help us keep us on time, keep us on track and keep us moving, it would be a very long, arduous process. I have to thank them. From the front line staff I have had this term to staff I have had in Inuvik, they definitely help us do our job and help represent the people that we are here to represent as well. Without them, the messages can be long and slow. We need to get back to the people we represent.

Mr. Speaker, as we have heard around here -- Members of the Assembly, many of us with families, some who have just got a hint of families -- as we started, I can recall in my first term as a Member when one of my children was in a bunting bag. The second term, there was another child in a bunting bag. This last term, no more bunting bags. I can say if I come back this time around, for sure no more bunting bags.

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As Minister of Finance, I have done my part to ensure that, for the population statistics of the NWT, we get more money.

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Mr. Speaker, seriously, without our families and the support of our families, we would not be able to do our jobs. I have to say to my wife, Shawna, without her support -- and my going back for forgiveness from time to time of missing times -- and respect, that this definitely wouldn’t be worthwhile doing the job without family support. So I thank her for that.

Mr. Speaker, it is definitely a privilege to serve the Members in this Assembly and the people of the Territories. One thing I used to sign off with, I will sign off with one more time. Greetings back to my wife and children in Inuvik. Thank you.

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Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Well, it’s the last day for oral questions for me in this House. Can you hear the sigh of relief?

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Mr. Speaker, the last day as I work in this House I would like to reflect a bit on the past 16 years and first of all, though, pay tribute to my role models, and I had two; they were my parents. Both were very politically active. My mother was a tremendous organizer and backroom strategist; while my dad was the politician. I learned from them. I learned the importance of applying common sense, listening to constituents and the public, and communicating. They taught me the importance of integrity and a principled approach. Their training has stood me very well in my work here and I think would stand anybody well as they seek to do the job in our Assembly.

Mr. Speaker, I’d also like to very quickly extend some thanks. Again, I’d like to thank my constituents. It’s been an incredible honour that they have chosen me for 16 years to represent them. I’d like to thank particularly my Cabinet colleagues for the last four years. It’s been a very interesting and exciting time to be on Cabinet and be in government in this Assembly.

I’ve enjoyed working with the Members of the Assembly, some for four years, some for eight years, some for 12 years. Yes, Mrs. Groenewegen, some for 12 years. I know you’re hoping to come back as the dean of the Assembly, but we’ll see. I hope they don’t call you the oldest Member as they have been calling me.

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I’d also like to, again, thank the Assembly staff. They have done a tremendous job of making sure that we could do our work here in this House. My ministerial office staff and constituency assistants over the years and, again, particularly my family. I was really surprised to see my wife, Eileen, and son, Tyler, in the gallery today.

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I’m sure they came just to make sure that I didn’t change my mind and announce that I was running again. I also thought I’d better mention it now, Mr. Speaker, because I know that my wife doesn’t like to be recognized and I think she might sneak out before recognition of visitors in the gallery, so I thought I’d better say something now.

I’d like to wish all of my colleagues good luck, whether you’re seeking re-election or retiring to other pursuits as I am. It’s been fun working with everybody here; I really enjoyed it. Mr. Speaker, it’s been an extremely interesting time to be in government, in this Assembly and I’m extremely thankful that I’ve had the opportunity for this public service.

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Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, first of all, I’d like to thank my constituents in the Mackenzie Delta and the people of the Mackenzie Delta for allowing me to serve for the last 12 years. More importantly, my constituency staff which included Liz Wright, Sue Ellen Wilson, Elaine Blake from Tsiigehtchic, and Jean Pascal from Aklavik. Mr. Speaker, in regards to the support that we all get as Members of this House, we can never forget our community leaders, our elders, and, more importantly, our constituents who are the ones that drive us and ensure the reason that we’re here is to serve them.

Mr. Speaker, it has been a real honour over the last 12 years in this House in regards to dealing with issues such as the water rise that we had to battle with from floods in our communities, to the crisis of programs and services being delivered. More importantly, Mr. Speaker, again working with our community leaders and our community municipalities to find solutions by working through communicating with each other and finding solutions to these problems. More importantly, working with Members in this House along with our government.

Mr. Speaker, in the last 12 years of this House, there were the four amigos and I think the four amigos, like I mentioned, Mrs. Groenewegen, Mr. Miltenberger, Mr. Roland and the dean of the House, Mr. Dent. Again, I’d like to wish Charles all the best in regards to his new career in regards to getting out of politics. I think most people think that’s the easy part, but the problem is: don’t get back into it. I would also like to take this opportunity to thank our outgoing colleagues along with Mr. Bell, Baby Bell as he’s better known, and I’d like to thank him for his hard work and his efforts that he has put into a lot of initiatives in this House. Again, I’d like to wish him all the best in his endeavours wherever it takes him. Along with the Premier, Mr. Handley; under your leadership you have made a difference to the Northwest Territories and the people of the Northwest Territories and also for bringing our communities, our regions and our community together. Again, that’s a challenge on its own. So mahsi cho. Bill Braden, I’d like to thank you for the opportunity for serving with you. Again, I’d like to wish you all the best. I can always recall all those many, many questions that you asked. Mr. Speaker, I seek unanimous consent to conclude my statement.

The Member is seeking unanimous consent to conclude his statement. Are there any nays? There are no nays. You may conclude you statement, Mr. Krutko.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Thank you, colleagues. Mr. Braden, again, I’d like to wish you all the best in your endeavours in moving forward. Again, it was an honour serving with you but, more importantly, responding to the many, many questions that you’ve asked over the last while. But I think it’s more importantly your wisdom, your knowledge and the importance of the issues that you took to this table in trying to find solutions for the people of the Northwest Territories.

Mr. Speaker, I’d also like to thank the staff of the Legislative Assembly along with the staff throughout government, because without them we know our jobs would not be completed.

I’d like to take this opportunity to thank the Members of this Legislative Assembly for giving me a chance to serve as the Speaker of the Legislative Assembly for a short term, and I would like to thank Mr. Speaker for taking on that role and leading us to this point.

Mr. Speaker, I would also like to take this opportunity to thank the staff that I had in the different roles that I played along with the Clerks of the Legislative Assembly, with Mr. Hamilton at the reign and now Mr. Mercer, Mr. Inch and Mr. Schauerte. I think it’s you people that make us look good and think a lot of times people have to realize that it’s the people in the back rooms that are doing all the work. All we’re doing is playing to the cameras.

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Again, I’d like to take this opportunity to thank my staff Clarence Emberley, Corrine Kruse, and, more importantly, the many people I worked with in the different departments: Workers’ Compensation Board, the Power Corporation and the Housing Corporation, for all their efforts. So with that, mahsi cho. Thank you.

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Mr. Speaker…(English not provided)

Mr. Speaker, I would just like to say that back in 2003 during the election, I was glad to be elected to the Legislature. At that time I didn’t have good use of my aboriginal language and people always said go to the communities, go visit the elders, and that’s what I’ve done. Now I can visit them, drink and have tea with them and listen to them and to their stories. I receive lots of guidance from them. I am very happy to say that there is an actual granny from Nahanni. I have spoken with her and she is very happy, Mr. Speaker, to see that in some small way, I guess, that her voice has been heard. I pride myself and the community that that’s how our consensus government works. We’re able to go to the communities and listen to the people and sit with them and move their issues and their concerns forward and bring them to this Legislature.

Mr. Speaker, I’d like to say, as well, I had the honour and privilege of being on the Regular Members' side for three years. I’ve gained lots of experience on that side working with the Regular Members and I’d like to tell them now good luck in their terms to come and the things they’re about to do, Mr. Speaker.

As well, I also had the honour and privilege to serve one year in this Legislature as a Minister of our government. Mr. Speaker, I seek unanimous consent to conclude my statement.

Thank you, Mr. Menicoche. The Member is seeking unanimous consent to conclude his statement. Are there any nays? There are no nays. You may conclude your statement, Mr. Menicoche.

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. In my one year as a Minister, I’ve learned quite a bit and that bureaucracy has a lot to play with here too. I would also like to share my funny story. My first act as a Minister in this government was to sign a letter to Mr. Kevin Menicoche, MLA for Nahendeh.

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I said, well, what’s going on and they told me that I have to finish a loop. But I, too, would just like to say goodbye to Mr. Handley, Mr. Dent and Mr. Bell, who I’ve had the honour and pleasure of working with and wish them the best on their endeavours. As well, to Mr. Braden who I’ve had the pleasure of working with too. Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. Mahsi.

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Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I wasn’t planning to make a statement today, but I didn’t want to be the odd man out. So in the last day of our session I wanted to say a couple words. First of all, that it’s been a real pleasure to be here for my two terms and it’s been, I guess, quite surprising that we lasted the whole eight years that I’ve been here, because getting into this job was a real eye opener. I looked at it from the outside for quite awhile before I made the decision, along with my family and my friends. When I got here I realized that there was a lot of people here for the same reasons that I was here: because I wanted to see change, I wanted to see a better community, I wanted to see a better life for my constituents. However, after meeting a lot of different people I started to wonder because one of my colleagues that I met, one of his past times I think was to read the dictionary and find new words to use in the House. I also met some of the more experienced MLAs of day like Mr. Krutko, who taught me how to ask question after question after question…

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…whether the Minister was going to give me an answer or not. Of course, Charles Dent, who was here for some time already. I learned to take the opposite position of everything he said…

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…and we got along quite fine.

Mr. Speaker, I know everybody here is really keen on seeing this day come and also to get out there to start campaigning. Mr. Speaker, I’m quite anxious to get out there and start campaigning. I was planning to start tomorrow, but unfortunately we’ve got a bridge signing ceremony to do.

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So I’ll probably start on Monday or sometime after that.

Mr. Speaker, there’s been a number of people that I have been gifted or very happy to meet along the way and a lot of them are leaving in the next while and not coming back. First of all, the guy that I sat next to for eight years on the Regular Members’ side and on Cabinet, Mr. Brendan Bell, who has been recognized by a lot of our colleagues here as very sharp and very hard working. Mr. Speaker, I’d like to request unanimous consent to conclude my statement.

Thank you, Mr. McLeod. The Member is seeking unanimous consent to conclude his statement. Are there any nays? There are no nays. You may conclude your statement, Mr. McLeod.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker, and thank you, colleagues. Mr. Speaker, I don’t know if everybody recognizes, but Mr. Bell really has a very wild sense of humour. In the last while we’ve been sitting together and we’re just like the two old men from the Muppet Show.

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We’ve watched as people stood up to ask questions and tried to predict what they’re going to say and Brendan usually wins and he won more money off me today.

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We talk about people’s clothes, we talk…

Okay, okay.

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So it’s really been interesting sitting next to him and I wish him all the best.

Mr. Dent is also leaving us and he’s been really a great person to ask for advice on rules and some of the history and I’m sure we’re all going to miss his expert little opinions on a lot of things. Although, I’ve been finding out over the years that some of the rules that he’s been telling me I had to follow were not always correct and were sometimes in his favour. So I wish him all the best.

Mr. Speaker, our Premier is also moving on and I really want to thank him for setting a work ethic that I’ve tried to follow over the years. I’ve never been able to beat him to work, even though I’ve tried to come in earlier and he’s got a half-hour drive and he’s always here, he has the coffee on and he’s provided some very good advice for me that I really appreciate and I want to thank him.

I also want to wish Mr. Braden the best of luck. I didn’t always like his questioning and his line of questioning, but Mr. Braden has always been very sincere and very respectful and I really appreciate that and I want to wish him the best of luck.

Everybody else here, I’d like to also wish you all the best and hope you do well on your campaigns. Thank you.

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Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I wasn’t going to say anything today either because I’m not good at saying goodbye, but I, like Mr. McLeod, didn’t want to be the odd man out and this would be pretty obvious, especially after he said that.

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Mr. Speaker, almost eight years ago I decided to leave my job as a deputy minister after 14 years and run for office to represent Weledeh. I used to joke, I said I did it because I wanted the food, because I heard that these people ate shrimp and all sorts of things in here.

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So I found out that that really wasn’t worthwhile. So I said, well, I did it because I wanted to make a difference in the world and that seemed kind of lofty and pretentious. So I gave that one up.

You know, as people talked to me in Weledeh and said, well, why do you want to run, we think you should run, but why do you want to, and I said, well, because I enjoy working with people. Certainly to me the most satisfying part of this job has been when you’re able to help a person. It’s something as simple as helping somebody to get their son’s employment straightened out and you can tell that they’re very thankful. Those things are more important to me than is building a bridge or something, and I hope to be remembered for those kind of things where we made a difference to I’ll say the little people that we all represent and I hope we can continue to do that in future governments. That’s what government is about.

Mr. Speaker, I think the hardest part for me has been when you’re not able to help people, you just have to say no. That’s hard, especially when it may seem small to us but it’s really important to someone. Again, it may be a very small thing, but that’s the hardest part. The second hardest part, of course, is we all have had tough days and when you have to open a newspaper and you know it’s not good, maybe oh my God, that’s got to be one of the toughest pieces of this job. Certainly the nicest part is when you’re able to anticipate it’s going to be good news and then you get fooled.

I want to thank everybody here. I want to thank all of you, Mr. Braden, Mr. Dent, everybody, the people who are not running again, Mr. Bell, but those who are coming back as well. You’ve been great people to work for and the thing that I’ve appreciated most in here is the honesty and the openness with which people ask questions, make statements and so on. I believe that what you say is what you mean and I’ve certainly tried to operate…

Mr. Handley, your time for Member’s statements has expired.

Can I seek consent to conclude my statement? Thank you.

The Member is seeking unanimous consent to conclude his statement. Are there any nays? There are no nays. You may conclude your statement, Mr. Handley.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I want to thank the leaders across the Territories that I’ve had the pleasure of working with, and that’s everybody from chiefs and mayors and so on, to Nellie, to Fred, to Frank, to all the people up and down the valley and in Yellowknife, Mayor Van Tighem and everyone.

I want to thank the people in Weledeh in particular. I hope I have not disappointed you over the past eight years. I think there’s been great improvements in the very diverse, very dynamic and very vibrant constituency.

My friends; my old friend Michel Paper, I have to mention him. He’s a great man and he’s a man I’ve always enjoyed meeting with and talking to. Particularly Hilda. Hilda has been in this Legislative Assembly longer than any other person and I know she’s going to be staying on because lots of people will want her to work with them because she’s a great person and a great source of advice to Rick, to Lisa, to the others who have worked with me.

And last of all to my wife, Theresa. I don’t know what it is going to be like if I hang around the house too much. I think she will get pretty tired of me pretty fast. She will be wanting me to get out of there and go get a job or something. To her, I look forward to the days that we have to spend together and do stuff around the house and so on, or whatever we are going to be doing. We will see how that works out.

---Laughter

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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Thank you, Mr. Handley. The Chair has noticed that Members on my right have been out of making Members’ statements for quite awhile because they have no idea what two and a half minutes is.

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Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the Standing Committee on Accountability and Oversight is pleased to present its Report on Transitional Matters. As the 15th Assembly draws to a close, this report captures our recommendation for improvements to the committee processes as well as our thoughts on several ongoing and emergency issues we expect or require attention of the next Assembly.

Mr. Speaker, many people think of session as the time when Members of the Legislative Assembly do most of their work. However, much of the detail, discussion and decision-making that results in changes to legislation, policies, programs and spending happens in standing committee meetings. Throughout this Assembly, Members have been concerned that many of our constituents seem unaware of the work that committees do, in particular the opportunities they have to influence their work through written submissions and presentations at public hearings.

One of the major obstacles to public awareness and understanding the work of standing committees is that so many of our meetings are held behind closed doors. There are times when information must remain confidential; the meetings must, therefore, take place in camera. However, there have been many discussions when committees have met with Ministers to receive briefings or updates that could easily have taken place in public.

The committee believes it is time that closed door meetings are made the exception rather than the rule. We respectfully recommend that the 16th Assembly establish at the outset a convention that all meetings of standing committees be open to the public unless the committee is satisfied that there is a compelling reason to hold meetings in camera. The details of the convention should be developed and agreed to by both the Regular Members and Cabinet.

We also believe that more focussed effort is required to promote public awareness and understanding the role of the committees. The soon-to-be launch of the legislative broadcasting system will provide an excellent tool to achieve this as it has the capacity to bring committee meetings as well as formal sessions to the television and people across the Northwest Territories. We respectfully recommend that the 16th Assembly take full advantage of the new broadcast system in order to make committee meetings accessible to all NWT communities.

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Early in the 15th Assembly term, Members agreed to strive for completion of a number of legislative items. Several were achieved. For example, the new Liquor Act, the Tourism Act, the Northwest Territories Hydro Corporation Act, the Workers’ Compensation Act and the Public Health Act, as well as substantial amendments to the Child and Family Services Act. However, the government failed to bring several others forward despite consistent probing from committees. These include: the Species at Risk Act, the Wildlife Act, the Planning Act, the Residential Tenancy Act, and amendments to the Maintenance Enforcement Act. We encourage the next Assembly to keep these initiatives as priorities and introduce these items early in the term.

During the 15th Assembly, a joint Cabinet and AOC Working Group completed a tremendous amount of data, compilation of and policy work towards better coordination of our government’s 112 assorted boards and agencies. Further progress on this initiative stalled because the government chose not to allocate the recommended resources. Given the efficiencies that can be realized through better administration of boards and agencies, we encourage the next Assembly to pursue this issue at the earliest opportunity.

Throughout our term, we have heard repeated concerns from front line agencies that they are near or have reached a crisis point as a result of the inadequacy of government support. While some improvements have been made over the life of this Assembly, particularly in the area of multi-year funding, these improvements are not consistent across all the departments and are not adequate to ensure continued operation of many agencies the government depends on to deliver essential services. We expect that this will continue to be a critical issue for the 16th Assembly.

Mr. Speaker, the committee has had several concerns for the provision and management of loan guarantees by the government, most recently for the diamond manufacturing companies and the Deh Cho Bridge project. Concerns centre on how much risk the government undertakes with taxpayers’ money in granting these guarantees as in the case of the Deh Cho Bridge Corporation and conversely how it goes about protecting its exposures as in the case of Arslanian Cutting Works. Regular Members received advanced notification of loan guarantees but do not have an opportunity to vote on them. We would encourage the Regular Members of the next Assembly to approach proposed loan guarantees with caution and to ensure they hold the government accountable for its handling of them.

Mr. Speaker, the committee has observed a disturbing potentially crippling trend of soaring cost overruns and delays on capital projects. This makes prioritizing and decision-making about infrastructure investment extremely difficult. The budget voted by the Assembly often bears little resemblance to what is actually spent over the course of the fiscal year.

A consequence of this is that projects are often delayed or extended. This results in carry-overs or previously approved projects have to be re-approved by the Assembly; over $70 million in 2007-08. The greater impact, however, is for staff that must handle ever increasing workloads.

We encourage the Regular Members of the next Assembly to press the government to develop a new corporate capital planning process that demands more accurate costs and time estimates to allow the Legislative Assembly to make better informed decisions about infrastructure investments and priorities. A review of the causes and consequences of carry-overs would also insist in more efficient project completion.

At the time of this report, two massive infrastructure projects requiring some level of government investment are being contemplated: the expansion of the Taltson hydroelectric facility and the construction of the Deh Cho Bridge. We would encourage that Regular Members of the next Assembly to press the government to provide a cost-benefit analysis business cases for these projects before endorsing any further investment of public dollars.

Mr. Speaker, at this time, I would like to hand it over to Mr. Braden to continue with the report. Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Lafferty. The honourable Member for Great Slave, Mr. Braden.

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker and Mr. Lafferty. The committee expects that the environment and sustainability will be some of the leading concerns of the 16th Assembly as resource development continues to grow within the NWT, demand for water by upstream industries increases and the impacts of climate change continue. Earlier this year, committee members initiated formal motions to recognize water as a human right, to recommend the government adopt a comprehensive strategy to address climate change and the important work of the Inuvik Caribou Summit. We encourage the Regular Members of the next Assembly to pursue these issues with the government.

The Government of the Northwest Territories has many outstanding obligations under land claims agreements, some dating as far back as the Inuvialuit Final Agreement which was signed over 20 years ago in 1984. We strongly encourage the next Assembly to make it a priority to undertake a comprehensive assessment of the government’s outstanding land claim obligations and to develop a firm plan and timeline for fulfilling these responsibilities.

In early 2006, Mr. Speaker, committee members initiated a request for the Auditor General of Canada to conduct a performance audit of the NWT Housing Corporation. A request was made as a result of several serious concerns with the corporation, many of which were documented in our 2006 Report on Pre-budget Consultations. Unfortunately, the audit was not completed during our term. However, we expect the report will be submitted early in the life of the next Assembly. We have found the reports of the Auditor General to be insightful and extremely useful in pointing to areas requiring action and hope that Regular Members of the next Assembly will find likewise.

At the committee’s urging, the Department of Human Resources has recently issued a public discussion paper to explore the options for implementing whistleblower protection. We encourage the Regular Members of the next Assembly to pursue this matter with the government to ensure the work on this issue progresses and public consultations are undertaken.

Over our term, Mr. Speaker, we have seen both increases in power rates and continuous unsustainable growth in a Territorial Power Subsidy Program. A review of rates and subsidies by the government is underway. We expect that this matter will require the attention of the 16th Assembly early in its mandate.

Mr. Speaker, further to Auditor General investigations, the Auditor General for Canada is also the auditor for all GNWT accounts. The Auditor General’s office is also well versed in audits and investigations of other matters as demonstrated, for example, by its 2006 audit of the Workers’ Compensation Board. However, in any given four-year term of the Assembly, perhaps only two of these in-depth audits can be undertaken. Committees of the 16th Assembly might carefully consider which departments or agencies will benefit from compliance, performance and value-for-money audits by our reviews by the Auditor General.

Further, Mr. Speaker, provinces and the federal government are also trending toward automatic five-year performance and compliance audits, especially of their Crown corporations in addition to the annual fiscal audits. With the exception of the NWT Power Corporation, which is covered under the Public Utilities Act, no NWT Crown corporation is subject to this kind of review. It will be well worth considering.

Every year, Mr. Speaker, the committee meets with the Information and Privacy Commissioner to review her annual reports and has made recommendations to the government as a result of these meetings. The government has yet to move on several of these recommendations, some of which date back to the 14th Assembly. Of particular concern to committee are the gaps in information in privacy legislation for community governments and for the local private sector. The committee encourages Regular Members of the next Assembly to pursue these and other information and privacy issues with the government to ensure they are addressed.

Throughout our mandate, this committee has voiced concerns about the need to direct more resources to the prevention and treatment of addictions. Earlier this year, committee members initiated a motion recommending the government implement a strategy to denormalize alcohol abuse, building on the success of its tobacco action plan. The need for such a strategy was most recently confirmed for us as we undertook public consultations throughout the NWT on the Liquor Act and again heard firsthand about the devastating impact of alcohol abuse on individuals, families and communities. We encourage the Regular Members of the next Assembly to press the government to make the denormalization of alcohol abuse a strategic priority.

Mr. Speaker, to conclude the committee’s report, I will return it to the chair, Mr. Lafferty. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Braden. The honourable Member for Monfwi, Mr. Lafferty.

Thank you, Mr. Lafferty. The motion is on the floor. The motion is in order. All those in favour? All those opposed? The motion is carried.

---Carried

Committee Report 7-15(6) is received and adopted.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I would like to recognize the worker's advisor, Colin Baile. Welcome to the House.

---Applause

Thank you, Mr. Krutko. Recognition of visitors in the gallery. The honourable Member for Hay River South, Mrs. Groenewegen.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It is my pleasure today to recognize the Pages that have come up this week to work for Hay River South. They are right here in the Chamber. They are Hailey Lyon and Trudy Hiebert. I would like to thank them for doing a great job in the service of the Assembly.

---Applause

Thank you, Mrs. Groenewegen. Recognition of visitors in the gallery. The honourable Member for Yellowknife South, Mr. Bell.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Once again, I would like to recognize Yellowknife South constituent Amy Hacala. Thank you.

---Applause

Thank you, Mr. Bell. Recognition of visitors in the gallery. The honourable Member for Inuvik Twin Lakes, Mr. McLeod.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I am honoured to recognize my wife, Judy, who has come down to help us celebrate the last day of the 15th Assembly. Thank you.

---Applause

Thank you, Mr. McLeod. Recognition of visitors in the gallery. The honourable Member for Great Slave, Mr. Braden.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Earlier today, I spoke of volunteers. I would like to recognize two of the community’s most dedicated volunteers, Glen Abernethy and Sue Glowach. I would also like to recognize Lynn White, Mr. Speaker, a former director of the Aven senior facility and a key consultant in the recently passed Liquor Act, the work that we just completed yesterday. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

---Applause

Thank you, Mr. Braden. Recognition of visitors in the gallery. The honourable Member for Nahendeh, Mr. Menicoche.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It has been a strange session. I have been doing things twice about the weddings and now I am doing it again for the Pages. I would like to thank the Pages from Fort Simpson, Hilary Norwegian and Tanis Browning, for helping us here this week. Mahsi cho.

---Applause