Debates of February 10, 2005 (day 33)

Good afternoon, colleagues. Welcome to all our guests in the gallery today. Item 2, budget address. The honourable Minister of Finance, Mr. Roland.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I just have a short budget address.

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Mr. Speaker, Members of the Legislative Assembly, people of the Northwest Territories, as I deliver my second budget address, I am pleased to advise this House that the fiscal circumstances of the GNWT are much more positive than when this Legislature met last year.

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A year ago, as a new government, we faced serious and pressing challenges. We faced significant pressures on government programs and services, resulting partially from the impacts of resource development and economic growth. While this growth provided much needed jobs and investment, it also put significant strains on our infrastructure, on our communities, and on our social fabric in general. At that time, we did not have the fiscal flexibility to make the strategic investments to respond to those challenges.

Our first order of business was to put our fiscal house in order. The second was to consult with northerners so we could set our course for the term of the 15th Assembly. We have done both.

We are now better able to focus on what we want to accomplish as a territory: “self-reliant individuals and families sharing the rewards and responsibilities of healthy communities and a prosperous and unified NWT”.

This vision, Mr. Speaker, was developed last May by this Assembly, working in partnership with aboriginal and community leaders. In turn, the government has responded with a long-term strategic plan that sets out the priorities and actions that support the vision and goals of the Assembly.

The budget passed by this Legislative Assembly last year was an important first step in our plan to restore our fiscal sustainability. We limited our spending growth and increased our tax revenues. We were successful in negotiating additional funding for two years under our formula financing arrangements and these negotiations

are ongoing for the longer term. We have also been able to secure funding for other priority areas such as health care and infrastructure development.

Today’s budget has two objectives. First, we must make strategic investments in the NWT and its people. Second, we must continue the critical work of ensuring our long-term fiscal sustainability. We cannot achieve one without the other.

This budget supports the work of the Members of this Legislative Assembly towards accomplishing our vision. It also sets out the steps we must take to ensure we do not end up back where we started financially. Fiscal responsibility must be more than just words. Our spending must be responsive to the needs of our residents, but we, as a government, must also spend responsibly.

Mr. Speaker, during the course of developing this budget, I have received many comments and suggestions from Members of this Legislative Assembly. We have also received recommendations from the committees of this Assembly, which have significantly strengthened the budget I present today. I want to thank Members for their constructive comments and input, both individually and through the committee process. It is by working together that we can stay focused on our vision of a self-reliant, prosperous and unified NWT.

Economic Review And Outlook

Mr. Speaker, our economic growth continues unabated. Fuelled by non-renewable resource development, the NWT’s real gross domestic product, GDP, is estimated to have grown 79 percent from 1999 to 2004. To put this in perspective, the comparable number for Canada is about 16 percent. We are forecasting that it will grow by a further 10.1 percent in 2005.

This growth is driven mainly by diamond exports, and non-renewable resource development is expected to continue to drive strong economic growth for the foreseeable future. We have come a long way from 1998 when the opening of the Ekati diamond mine started the Canadian diamond mining industry. The NWT is now the world’s third largest supplier of rough diamonds by value. Production from the Ekati and Diavik diamond mines was worth $1.7 billion in 2003 and is estimated to have grown to $2.1 billion in 2004. The Snap Lake project received final approval last May to become the NWT's third diamond mine. Construction will begin this year and full production is scheduled for 2007.

Mr. Speaker, this government continues to support the development of a Mackenzie Valley natural gas pipeline. We continue to work with aboriginal leaders as we proceed into the next phase of the pipeline development process.

Pre-construction work for the Mackenzie gas project is expected to start in 2006 with pipeline construction scheduled over the period 2007 to 2010. If the Mackenzie gas project is approved, and this work schedule holds, natural gas will begin flowing south from the Mackenzie Delta by the end of this decade.

Other sectors of the economy are also growing, spurred by the various non-renewable resource development projects. Retail trade has increased over $150 million, or 41 percent, since 1999. Wholesale trade increased 20 percent from 1999 to 2004. Manufacturing shipments have grown from $22 million in 1999 to an estimated $63 million in 2004.

Mr. Speaker, the tourism industry is an important part of our renewable resource sector. Tourism, and particularly aurora tourism, is rebounding from the setbacks caused by the terrorist attacks on the United States and the SARS outbreak.

Aurora lights tours have completely recovered and are continuing to grow. Tourists and business visitors contribute $90 million in direct spending annually into the NWT economy and the tourism industry has the potential to provide an even larger contribution, especially in smaller communities. We need to continue to support the tourism industry in its efforts to market the NWT as a four-season destination.

Economic growth is benefiting NWT residents. As of December 2004, the territorial employment rate, which is the percentage of people over 15 years of age that are employed, was almost 71 percent, the second highest in Canada.

Despite our booming economy, we continue to observe quality of life indicators that are significantly below national standards. The distribution of economic activity in the NWT is not even. The NWT Bureau of Statistics 2004 community survey shows unemployment rates ranging from five percent in Yellowknife to almost 40 percent in some smaller communities. One of the main priorities of this government is to ensure all northerners have the opportunity to benefit from economic development. Economic growth must not only benefit large corporations, it must also benefit the young men and women who call this land home. The development that we are experiencing must result in improved social conditions and help provide a better quality of life for all NWT residents.

It is important to point out, Mr. Speaker, that while the NWT receives some benefits as a result of our economic boom, the rest of Canada benefits even more from our non-renewable resource development. Until we negotiate new arrangements with the Government of Canada, they will continue to receive more than 90 percent of government revenues from non-renewable resource development. Further, the majority of the direct and indirect employment created by resource development would benefit Canadians living outside the NWT. Clearly, the negotiation of an agreement that ensures that northern governments receive a fair share of resource revenues is a critical requirement for continued development in the NWT.

Turning now to our fiscal situation, Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to report that the negotiated increases in federal transfers and the successful implementation of our fiscal strategy have greatly improved the government’s fiscal outlook over last year.

Our final numbers for the 2003-04 fiscal year showed an operating deficit of $65 million, $13 million less than estimated last March. This was primarily the result of higher-than-expected revenues.

Last March we predicted a $46 million operating deficit for the current fiscal year, 2004-05. I am pleased to advise this House, Mr. Speaker, that we are now projecting a $44 million operating surplus.

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The current 2004-05 revenue forecast is $103 million higher than last year’s budget forecast. Higher formula financing grant and health fund transfers account for $92 million of this increase, but our tax revenues are also estimated to be higher than forecast. Expenditures for the current year are now forecast to be $14 million higher than budgeted last March. This increase is primarily due to expenditures beyond our control, such as costs incurred for additional fire suppression activity due to a severe forest fire season in 2004.

In short, the strategy we adopted a year ago -- a strategy composed of securing additional revenues under our formula financing arrangements and implementing both expenditure reallocations and limited tax measures -- has been successful.

Mr. Speaker, this budget holds the line on spending growth. Our 2005-06 operating expenditures are budgeted to grow less than one percent from the 2004-05 Main Estimates. This, combined with increases to the formula financing grant, will produce a budgeted operating surplus of $49 million for 2005-06.

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As late as last fall, we were forecasting that this government would exceed its authorized borrowing limit of $300 million by fiscal year 2006-07. I am pleased to announce that the negotiated increases in federal transfers and the expenditure restraint that we are continuing to exercise mean that the GNWT will not exceed its borrowing limit in the medium term. However, our fiscal strategy must take into account the requirement set out by the federal government to repay them the $290 million corporate income tax overpayment that we received in 2002-03.

Mr. Speaker, the good news on the revenue side is that we have been able to negotiate increased funding in the short term under formula financing. However, our funding arrangements after 2005-06 are uncertain. The new rules for formula financing after 2005-06 will be established after an Expert Panel on Equalization and Territorial Formula Financing provides recommendations on how funding should be allocated among the three territories. The panel will report in late 2005, which adds uncertainty to our fiscal framework beyond 2005-06.

This uncertainty means we must continue to exercise fiscal discipline. We cannot make expenditure commitments that we cannot finance. Although we have significantly higher revenues than forecast last year, we need to continue with our fiscal plan and meet the expenditure targets we set last year. I say this, Mr. Speaker, because we needed $46 million to balance the 2004-05 budget and we continue to face forced growth of over $40 million annually to cope with growing population and inflation.

Mr. Speaker, in many ways our fiscal strategy can be compared to the operations of a well-managed household. A family would be in dire circumstances if they had to borrow to buy groceries. If they found themselves in this situation and could not earn more income, their only alternative would be to look at how they spend their money. If money is tight, they may need to choose between buying their children toys or new winter coats. Most families make these choices on a daily basis. The GNWT is no different. Our operating expenditures are not fiscally sustainable if we have to borrow to finance them. However, just like a family is prepared to borrow to buy a house if they can afford the monthly mortgage payment, we are prepared to borrow to make necessary capital investments.

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We do not want to find ourselves in the fiscal situation we faced last March. We must take steps to ensure ongoing fiscal sustainability. Our fiscal responsibility policy is a cornerstone of this budget and our new fiscal strategy.

Our government must invest in programs, services and public infrastructure for NWT residents. The new fiscal responsibility policy sets out the guidelines for how much we can borrow, what we should and should not borrow for, and how we will be held accountable for our borrowing decisions. We are prepared to borrow for infrastructure and other investments. We are not prepared to borrow for day-to-day operating requirements. The fiscal responsibility policy will ensure the government has a coordinated strategy for responsible spending, borrowing and debt repayment.

The NWT requires significant investment in infrastructure. The fiscal responsibility policy establishes an ongoing means of financing that investment. The policy requires that, at a minimum, 50 percent of our annual capital infrastructure investment will be financed by the cash generated from operating surpluses. A maximum of 50 percent of annual capital infrastructure investment will be financed by debt. This means we need to plan for, budget and achieve operating surpluses on an ongoing basis that are sufficient to generate the cash to finance 50 percent of capital investments, as well as make the principal and interest payments on what we have borrowed. Ensuring we have cash operating surpluses sufficient to fund critical capital investments is one of the disciplines we must exercise to be truly fiscally responsible and accountable.

Our fiscal responsibility policy means that we must focus on priority areas and be cautious about ongoing program commitments. This budget limits expenditure growth in 2005-06 to critical new initiatives and forced growth. Our priority initiatives are those that support the goals and the needs identified in our strategic plan.

By restraining spending in 2005-06 we can reduce the likelihood of further major spending reductions. Of course we must also be vigilant to ensure we are spending wisely and achieving acceptable results. Responsible management and sound fiscal stewardship means continually monitoring our expenditures on programs and taking actions to further improve efficiency and results. We must be able to make these decisions without the pressure of a fiscal crisis.

Mr. Speaker, as part of our fiscal strategy we requested that Moody’s Investors Service, a respected international rating agency, undertake an independent credit rating for the GNWT. I am pleased to report today that yesterday Moody’s announced that it has issued an AA3 credit rating for our Government. This is an excellent rating.

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This high-grade rating represents an independent assessment of the strength of our economy and recognizes the sound fiscal position and outlook of this government. The rating is built on the commitment to long-term fiscal planning and balanced fiscal outcomes made by the Members of this Legislative Assembly.

Expenditure Measures

Fiscal sustainability not only means living within our resources but also ensuring that the fundamentals and necessities are in place. That means we spend on priority programs first. Total budgeted expenditures in 2005-06 will grow to $974 million, an increase of less than one percent from last year. The budget includes $20 million in forced growth for current programs and services, and $16 million for new initiatives that will help us achieve the goals set out in our strategic plan. But we are offsetting these increases with expenditure reductions of $26 million.

When we took office last year, our fiscal situation required strong action to reduce spending. We set a target of reducing spending by $10 million in 2004-05, $20 million in 2005-06 and a further $20 million in 2006-07. Today I am able to report that we have exceeded our reduction goals for 2004-05 and 2005-06 by $5 million in each year. By making these hard spending decisions early, and with our improved revenue outlook, we have met our short-term expenditure objectives. By remaining aggressive in looking for efficiencies and better ways of doing business we will be able to make strategic investments in areas of priority to the people of the NWT.

Hear! Hear!

In reducing expenditures, we took care to minimize the impact on services to the public. We looked to internal efficiencies and then to areas where the impact would only be felt within the government itself. After that, we looked at where we could reduce service levels or program support that would have minimal impact on the public. However, public impacts will be felt. It is simply not possible to reduce government spending by $40 million over two years and not have some impact on public services.

Mr. Speaker, there are many unmet social needs in each of our communities and sectors of our economy require more investment. Since 1999-2000, the GNWT has increased base spending on social programming by over $200 million, or 40 percent, and yet we seem to have only scratched the surface on improving social conditions. Making real social gains will require much more than just money. Control over our own future starts with the individual. It will take acceptance of greater personal and collective responsibility, improved access to educational and economic opportunity, and the resolution of aboriginal rights issues.

Mr. Speaker, this Assembly has identified “a strong northern voice and identity” as one of our goals. We continue to work hard to ensure that northern issues remain high on the national agenda. Last December, our Premier, the Honourable Joe Handley, along with Prime Minister Martin and the Premiers of Yukon and Nunavut, launched the development of a comprehensive Northern Strategy framework. This work will build on initiatives and goals set out in the strategic plan and will address joint actions in these areas such as economic growth and jobs, health and education, culture, the environment and Arctic sovereignty and security.

Participation by the GNWT in the announcement and development of the Northern Strategy is based on the principle that any effective, sustainable strategic plan for the North will include an agreement on the transfer of responsibility for northern lands and resources from the federal government to northern governments. Equally important, this transfer must be accompanied by an agreement that makes northern governments the primary beneficiaries of the revenues generated by these northern resources. To this end the Prime Minister has agreed that all parties target this spring for the conclusion of an agreement-in-principle, and 2006 for the conclusion of a final agreement on devolution and revenue sharing.

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During the negotiation of the Northern Strategy framework, we were also able to negotiate an additional $40 million in funding for the NWT. It is our view that this funding must be used to address urgent community needs. The timing of this funding is dependent on the passage of the 2005-06 federal budget so we intend to take the next several months to discuss, with Members of this Legislative Assembly, aboriginal governments and other stakeholders, how these funds should be expended.

This budget includes $355,000 to support initiatives such as the development of the Northern Strategy and $1.8 million for the continuation of devolution and resource revenue sharing negotiations. This funding includes a $500,000 contribution to the Aboriginal Summit for their continued participation in this process. The negotiation of a fair deal on devolution and resource revenue sharing remains a critical priority for this government.

Over $695 million of our budgeted operating expenditures are targeted to support social and community programs. This represents more than 70 percent of our expenditures and reaffirms the commitment of this government and Legislative Assembly to the goal of “healthy, educated people living in safe communities, who are able to contribute and take advantage of life’s opportunities.”

Our health care system continues to face increased demand due to demographic pressures and rising costs. Through the Department of Health and Social Services, the GNWT will spend $253 million for health and social services programming in 2005-06.

Mr. Speaker, this budget makes significant new investments in the health and welfare of our residents. An additional $12 million will be invested in existing and expanded health programs and services, including:

$1.8 million for supplemental health benefits programs for seniors and residents with specific health conditions such as heart disease and diabetes;

$1 million for implementation of the third year of the Mental Health and Addictions Strategy, which will permit the addition of three clinical supervisors and nine mental health worker positions;

$907,000 for three new public health units in the Sahtu, Deh Cho and Tlicho regions;

$737,000 to help meet the rising costs associated with placing adult residents in southern facilities to ensure they can receive the care they need when it is not available in the NWT;

$895,000 to fund eight community demonstration projects as part of the Government’s response to the Social Agenda; and

$2.8 million for compensation and benefits increases for health care professionals to ensure we continue to remain competitive with the rest of the country.

At last September’s First Ministers’ meeting, Premier Handley and his provincial and territorial colleagues secured increased funding for health care. This included a health access fund of $150 million over five years for the three territories to help offset medical transportation costs and to fund long-term health reform initiatives. Because the terms and conditions for the health access fund are not finalized, the revenue and associated expenditures are not included in this budget. The Honourable Michael Miltenberger, Minister of Health and Social Services, will be coming forward later this year with a plan to use this new funding.

Mr. Speaker, achieving success in our education system is a priority for the government. Total spending of the Department of Education, Culture and Employment will be $245 million in 2005-06. This budget will provide the Honourable Charles Dent, Minister of Education, Culture and Employment, with over $3 million to implement new initiatives in our education system including:

$742,000 for the services provided by Alberta Learning for the use, scoring, and reporting of Grade 12 diploma exams and Alberta achievement tests taken by our students;

$662,000 to implement the fourth and final year of the Bachelor of Science in Nursing Program at Aurora College; and

$727,000 to support the continued development and implementation of early childhood immersion programs designed to restore the use of aboriginal languages among young children and their families.

Along with these investments, over $2 million has been allocated to NWT schools to help meet expenditure pressures.

Our government, aboriginal governments, Aurora College and industry are working together to help northerners access the training they will need to qualify for careers in our growing economy. Last year two major collaborative efforts were announced. The four year Aboriginal Skills and Employment Partnership, or ASEP, projects in support of the oil and gas and mining sectors will train nearly 800 northerners for jobs in these two important sectors. The federal government contributed nearly $24.8 million to these efforts while the GNWT, aboriginal governments and industry pledged $28.4 million in in-kind contributions and support from existing budgets. During the next year, the Department of Education, Culture and Employment will work closely with its partners to plan and deliver critical training under the ASEP projects.

While the number of NWT apprentices has increased nearly 20 percent over the past four years, we still need more trained northern tradespersons to meet the demand caused by rapid resource development. We are responding to recommendations made by the Standing Committee on Social Programs, by directing $480,000 more of the Department of Education, Culture and Employment’s training budget for apprenticeship subsidies in 2005-06.

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As well, the department will develop new high school courses to prepare students for emerging northern occupations.

Mr. Speaker, this budget supports the Assembly’s goal of making our communities safer.

The Department of Justice will provide over $1.4 million to the Royal Canadian Mounted Police for 10 new RCMP positions.

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Six of these positions will be assigned to detachments in Rae, Yellowknife, Fort Providence and Tuktoyaktuk. A new three-person traffic unit will have two officers based in Hay River and one in Yellowknife. A new dog and handler unit, located in Yellowknife, will serve the entire territory.

To continue the commitment to improve access to legal aid services, $400,000 has been allocated for the ongoing operations of the new Family Law Clinic. In addition, over $200,000 has been allocated for the continued public education and training on the Protection Against Family Violence Act.

As further support of justice activities at the community level, an additional $240,000 will be made available to community justice committees.

Mr. Speaker, well-governed, sustainable communities and regions are a large part of the vision of the 15th Legislative Assembly and we are committed to delivering on this goal.

The government’s Strategic Plan emphasizes the importance of partnerships. Many community governments are looking to partnerships as a creative solution to meeting their infrastructure needs.

Earlier this year, the Honourable Michael McLeod, Minister of Municipal and Community Affairs, announced the new deal for community governments, designed to provide all our communities with the tools and resources they need to operate effectively. Communities have taken on an increasing range of authority and responsibility in recent years and this government recognizes that communities need increased resources and flexibility to exercise these responsibilities.

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Therefore, we intend to see most community governments become municipal taxation authorities, setting mill rates and directly benefiting from the revenues raised locally, effective in the 2007-08 fiscal year. In response to demands from communities, we will transfer full authority for infrastructure planning and development directly to those community governments who currently receive their infrastructure services through the government’s corporate capital planning process. To ensure communities have the support necessary in this endeavour, we will provide formula funding for infrastructure directly to community governments and we will commit that funding levels to community governments will not decrease.

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This new approach will put decision-making about capital projects where it belongs: at the community level.

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It will provide communities with a guaranteed funding base that can be used to leverage partnerships, or used as collateral to borrow for infrastructure development.

Given these proposals represent a major change in the way this government does business, we intend to consult with and work with communities to develop transition plans and build capacity. The Department of Municipal and Community Affairs will receive an additional $1 million in 2005-06 to consult and plan for the use of enhanced funding under the new deal. In addition, this budget contains $125,000 to establish a centre of expertise for infrastructure financing and leveraging, which will work directly with communities who need technical assistance to find external infrastructure funding opportunities.

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to announce a number of important measures representing the first steps in implementation of the new deal for community governments.

As an interim measure, beginning April 1, 2005, we will turn over property tax revenues collected within general taxation area community boundaries to those communities. This means an additional $350,000 in operating revenues for communities in 2005-06.

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The funding will be provided as an unconditional grant for communities to apply to areas of greatest need.

Effective the 2006 tax year, every local government will have the right to ask that the mill rate within community boundaries be raised if they choose to use property taxation as a way to increase revenues. The revenue from a mill rate increase will go directly to the community that asked for the increase.

For many years our smaller communities have asked for stable capital funding so that they can do better planning. Unfortunately, our fiscal situation has made it difficult to keep up with community infrastructure needs or to provide the certainty that municipal governments have been asking for. The steps this Legislative Assembly has taken to stabilize our own fiscal situation means that we are in a position to address this urgent issue in our communities.

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased that this government will address the infrastructure deficit faced by our community governments. We will establish a stable funding base of $25 million per year for infrastructure development in our communities, effective April 1, 2006.

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To meet this target, we intend to increase funding levels for community infrastructure in the current infrastructure acquisition plan by $13 million in 2006-07, $15 million in 2007-08, and $17 million in 2008-09.

The increases to our infrastructure acquisition plan will provide direct benefit to the 27 general taxation area communities who today rely entirely upon the government for infrastructure development.

Mr. Speaker, we also recognize the financial pressures faced by the six larger communities who already operate as municipal taxing authorities. To assist these communities, we intend to provide an additional $3 million on an annual basis to support infrastructure development in these communities. This funding will also be effective on April 1, 2006.

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These initiatives are designed to support the new deal for NWT communities. I should also note that our government is working closely with the Government of Canada to ensure that our initiatives will complement emerging proposals by Canada to provide new funding to community governments for infrastructure development through initiatives such as the municipal rural infrastructure fund and gas tax funding. Last week’s announcement by the Government of Canada of the gas tax-sharing formula will mean an additional $37.5 million will flow to NWT communities to be used for environmentally sustainable infrastructure over the next five years. Once the gas tax fund reaches its full amount in the fifth year, the NWT communities will receive $15 million annually on an ongoing basis. We are working with the NWT Association of Communities to ensure that these funds will flow in a manner that best meets the needs of our communities.

As the Premier has previously committed, there will be no clawback of new federal funding for community governments.

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This increased funding, combined with new federal funding, will mean that community governments are more able to respond to local needs.

Finally, I am pleased to announce that the 2005-06 infrastructure acquisition plan has been amended to include $5.5 million in additional funding that will be provided this year through the Government of Canada’s Municipal and Rural Infrastructure Program.

In addition to new initiatives, we recognize that community governments are struggling to cope with inflationary pressures such as rising fuel costs, salary and wage increases and the cost of providing water and sewage services. This budget includes $2.5 million to help community governments deal with these pressures.

We are also looking at alternative energy sources that will help address the high energy costs faced by all communities and to further our goal to improve the sustainability of our communities. Through the NWT Power Corporation, we are continuing to pursue the development and expansion of our hydro electricity potential. There is reason to be optimistic that one day we will see many benefits from increasing our supply of this cheaper, cleaner power source. The Power Corporation has entered into partnerships with aboriginal businesses to advance these projects.

Mr. Speaker, last week Premier Handley and I met with the Senate Standing Committee on Aboriginal Peoples and it is anticipated that Bill C-14, the legislation ratifying the Tlicho Lands, Resources and Self-Government Agreement, will receive assent in the next few weeks, which will allow its implementation. This agreement is a testament to the evolving relationship between the government and aboriginal governments and will provide a useful guide as we address similar issues in other regions of the NWT.

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The Beaufort-Delta agenda, an initiative identified in our strategic plan, provides an important foundation for our government’s evolving relationship with current and future governments in the Beaufort-Delta region. While work on self-government in the region continues, the agenda provides an immediate opportunity for more local and regional input into decision-making. In the coming year, the government will continue to support and enhance efforts towards realizing the vision and achieving the priorities as laid out in the Beaufort-Delta agenda.

Mr. Speaker, one of the goals of the strategic plan is the development of a diversified economy that provides northerners with opportunities and choices. This means creating an environment that allows individuals to seek economic opportunities in communities that are viable and sustainable over the long term. It also means taking action to provide necessary public infrastructure.

The Honourable Michael McLeod, Minister of Transportation, will continue to implement projects under the Canada strategic infrastructure fund. With the help of the 50/50 federal cost-sharing contributions from this program, $32 million in reconstruction projects on our highway system, including the Mackenzie Valley winter road, are scheduled for 2005-06. This investment includes completion of the reconstruction and paving of the highway between Rae-Edzo and Yellowknife in 2005-06.

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Progress continues on the public-private partnership to build the Mackenzie River bridge at Fort Providence. The project has received approval from the Mackenzie Valley Environmental Impact Review Board and a final concession agreement with the Deh Cho Bridge Corporation is expected soon, subject to completion of design work. The current schedule has bridge construction starting this year.

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This government is excited about the international opportunity we have to market the Northwest Territories as a great tourist destination to hundreds of thousands of Japanese and international tourists at Expo 2005 in Aichi, Japan. This budget includes $500,000 to fund our marketing efforts at Expo 2005.

The Mackenzie gas project is key to the long-term economic development of this territory and we remain firmly committed to ensuring it proceeds in a timely manner. To accomplish this, we have provided additional funding in this budget to support our efforts in this area. These investments include:

$200,000 for additional resources required to review prospecting permits for potential impacts on heritage areas due to increased land use activity;

$110,000 for additional funding to the Aurora Institute for increased licensing of research applications; and

$120,000 for the Bureau of Statistics to provide support in assessing cumulative social and economic impacts of resource development.

In the upcoming year, government departments will continue to work together and with communities to identify and quantify the costs of impacts of pipeline development. This will better position us to address these impacts.

The strategic plan commits the GNWT to increased transparency and accountability in the environmental and economic development portfolios. In January, the Honourable Brendan Bell, Minister of Resources, Wildlife and Economic Development, announced that on April 1st the department will be restructured into two new departments. The new departments are reflected in this budget, with a total operating budget of $52 million for the Department of Environment and Natural Resources and $35 million for the Department of Industry, Tourism and Investment.

The importance of environmental stewardship and the high value our residents place on the NWT natural resources, especially wildlife, is not in doubt. To prepare for development, the new Department of Environment and Natural Resources will continue important research to gather baseline data in every region on the health and status of various wildlife populations. This budget includes $275,000 in new funding for the Bathurst Caribou Monitoring Program to ensure that any impacts of increased human activity on the herd can be identified and mitigated. This program will include working with communities to get direct input from harvesters and elders.

Resource development in the NWT has been fast-paced. We will need to focus our resources in areas where they will have the most impact and will play a key role in the environmental assessment process of major developments. The budget includes $390,000 to address immediate environmental assessment and review requirements. To address regional impacts from development, $250,000 will be invested in two new regional environmental protection officer positions in Yellowknife and Inuvik.

The development of a system of protected areas in advance of the Mackenzie Valley pipeline project is a key commitment of this government. To meet this commitment, $1.5 million will be invested over five years to fund the implementation of the NWT Protected Areas Strategy action plan.

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Mr. Speaker, our new fiscal responsibility policy requires that we run operating surpluses to fund at least 50 percent of our capital investments. Our expenditure reductions and formula financing grant increases have resulted in budgeted operating surpluses over our three-year planning period. We are, therefore, able to make necessary investments in capital. We are committing to invest $116 million in 2005-06, including $8 million not previously planned for in the 2005-06 capital assessment plan.

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There is a substantial and increasing deficiency in our infrastructure investments. In the past we have put necessary projects on hold to fund our operating expenditure needs. As a first step in addressing this deficiency, we will be investing $85 million more over the 2005-06 to 2007-08 planning horizon for projects that are desperately needed but were not included in the original 2005-06 planning process.

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The government’s three-year capital investment plan proposes to invest:

$78 million for school replacement and renovation projects;

$48 million for renovations and upgrades to our hospitals and health centres;

$37.2 million for continued improvements to community water and sewer systems;

$22.7 million for replacement, upgrades and capacity increases for community tank farms; and

$9.4 million for new medical equipment for hospitals and health centres.

Although we are making significant progress in closing the infrastructure gap, much remains to be done. Every community in the NWT identifies housing as a critical infrastructure requirement. Whether it is overcrowding in small communities or high rents in larger communities such as Inuvik and Yellowknife, we know that housing issues top the agenda for most communities. The housing problems we face are many and complex. The shortage and cost of residential lots, high utility and operational costs, lack of private investment and mortgage financing, and low community income levels are some of the challenges we face.

These problems will not be solved overnight and the government cannot solve them alone. We must all work together to address them. Economic growth and job creation must increase employment and income levels. Investment in new energy infrastructure must be made to reduce operating costs. Innovations to construction and development financing are required to get capital costs down. Land management and development practices and policies must be adjusted to increase the availability of affordable residential lots. Individuals must also accept as much personal responsibility and initiative as possible to address their families’ shelter needs.

The Honourable David Krutko, Minister responsible for the NWT Housing Corporation, will be taking the lead on many of these housing issues. The Minister has recognized that building strong federal-territorial relations is essential in addressing our housing challenges. He has engaged his federal counterpart in one-on-one dialogue on several occasions.

As well, Minister Krutko is directing the Housing Corporation in the revision of its mandate. This will refocus the mandate from being mainly involved in social housing to activities tackling the huge task of addressing the need for affordable and suitable housing. This will better position the Housing Corporation to use opportunities provided by large-scale economic projects. Over the next year, the corporation will be working with our partners to develop the strategy to achieve this broader and critical goal.

Revenue Initiatives

Mr. Speaker, as I mentioned earlier, formula financing arrangements after 2005-06 remain uncertain. We intend to work with the federal government and the Expert Panel on Equalization and Territorial Formula Financing to ensure that new arrangements continue to address our needs after 2005-06.

We also intend to aggressively pursue, in partnership with aboriginal governments, a resource revenue sharing agreement that ensures that northern governments are the primary beneficiaries of northern resource development.

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We have heard the commitment of the Prime Minister on this matter and look forward to an early resolution of these negotiations.

I am also pleased to announce that we are reintroducing the Risk Capital Investment Tax Credit program, which expired last year. The tax credit gives NWT taxpayers an incentive to invest risk capital in NWT businesses. Starting in 2005, up to $2 million in tax credits will be available in each of the next three years.

Mr. Speaker, we have worked hard to stay on the fiscal plan set out by the Members of this Legislative Assembly. I am pleased to say that our revenue and restraint efforts mean that this budget includes no new tax increases. Our concerted effort to reallocate expenditures and hold the line on program spending means that tax measures are not necessary.

Conclusion

Mr. Speaker, through prudent long-term planning and a firm commitment to bring expenditures in line with revenues, we have made great strides in putting our fiscal house in order.

Fiscal sustainability, however, is always a work-in-progress and we cannot be complacent in managing our finances. We must continue to exercise fiscal discipline. We must constantly look at how we run our programs and spend our money. We must eliminate inefficiency so we can put our resources where they are needed the most. We must always be vigilant to ensure we are spending wisely. We must put in place policies that ensure we are able to finance the ongoing investments in infrastructure that we need to make. We face many challenges in achieving the goals we have set for ourselves as the 15th Legislative Assembly and we must proceed carefully. However, we are now able to move forward within a framework of fiscal responsibility.

We have a clear vision of where we are going and have mapped out how we will get there. We will move forward by working with federal and other provincial and territorial governments to further the Northwest Territories’ contribution to all of Canada. We will invest in the infrastructure that will further grow our economy in a manner that balances social, economic and environmental needs.

Mr. Speaker, the future holds much promise for the people of the NWT. Turning this promise into reality will take focussed and dedicated people who are willing to work together. It is up to the leaders of the Northwest Territories to light the path and lead the way. Qujannamiik, mahsi, thank you.

---Applause

Thank you, Mr. Roland. That was indeed a long message, but you managed to hold the attention of the complete audience. A job well done. At this time, we are going to call a recess so we can meet with the Finance Minister out in the Great Hall. So I invite everyone down into the Great Hall for a reception. This House stands in recess and we will reconvene at the sound of the bells.

---SHORT RECESS

I call the House back to order. Mrs. Groenewegen.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to seek unanimous consent to move to recognition of visitors in the gallery on the order paper, please. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I would like to recognize a number of people from Hay River who are here today in the gallery. I am going to go through the names of the people who have been recently laid off by the Department of Justice: Bobbi Hamilton, 35 years of service; Faye Johns, 24 years with the Department of Justice; Ruth Lafferty, 18 years in Justice; Margaret Jerome, 16 years with the GNWT; Drew Thompson, eight years in Justice; a husband and wife team, Andy and Alida McKay. Andy with 13 years with GNWT and Alida with two years in Justice; Brenda McAllister, eight years in Justice; Diana Young, one year in Justice; Renie Squirrel, five years in Justice. Also with them today is Sheila Hackey who has been granted a reprieve, 19 years' service with the Department of Justice, and also their union representative, Kelvin Yee, the Hay River regional vice-president for the UNW. Thank you.

---Applause

Thank you, Mrs. Groenewegen. Member for Frame Lake, Mr. Dent.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, there were a number of constituents in the audience earlier, but there are still two who I would like to recognize: Mr. Blake Lyons, who is a councillor and president of the NWTAC; and Barb Wyness with the Union of Northern Workers.

---Applause

Thank you, Mr. Dent. The honourable Member for Nahendeh, Mr. Menicoche.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to recognize His Worship, the honourable Raymond Michaud, mayor of Fort Simpson. Thank you.

---Applause

Thank you, Mr. Menicoche. The Member for Deh Cho, Mr. McLeod.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I don’t often get an opportunity to recognize visitors in the gallery, so I want to take this opportunity to recognize a number of people. First of all, Blake Lyons, president of the NWTAC, is here with us, and also Yvette Gonzales, the executive director of the NWTAC. They are joining us today. We have the mayor of Enterprise, Winnie Cadieux, here along with Don Gray, the acting SAO. I would like to welcome them here.

---Applause

I would also like to welcome Mayor Raymond Michaud here to the gallery today. I believe we also have Maggi Levavasseur here from Fort Providence, the mayor of Fort Providence, along with the SAO, Albert Lafferty. I would also like to recognize a former constituent, Ruth Lafferty who is here from Hay River. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

---Applause

Thank you, Mr. McLeod. The honourable Member for Tu Nedhe, Mr. Villeneuve.

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. I would also like to recognize two of my big supporters again, my Mom and Dad and a couple of my former constituents, Margaret Jerome and Andy and Alida McKay. Welcome.

---Applause

Thank you, Mr. Villeneuve. The honourable Member for Boot Lake, Mr. Roland.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, it is indeed a great pleasure to recognize my family who is here in the gallery and a man that helped guide me as a young fellow to where I am today, my father, David Roland, and the woman that stands behind me and keeps me going, my wife, Shawna, and four of my children. There is Samuel…

---Laughter

…stands beside me. Sorry. She is holding me up is the picture I want to portray. All right. There is Samuel, Mitchell, Quincey, and my daughter Courtney. Thank you.

---Applause

Thank you, Mr. Roland. The honourable Member for Mackenzie Delta, Mr. Krutko.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, it is not too often I get to recognize somebody from my home town, so it gives me great pleasure to recognize Renie Squirrel, who is now living in Hay River. Welcome, Renie.

---Applause

Item 5, recognition of visitors in the gallery. The honourable Member for Sahtu, Mr. Yakeleya.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I would like to recognize a good friend of mine, Ms. Bobbi Hamilton and Ms. Johns from Hay River.

---Applause

Thank you, Mr. Yakeleya. Item 5, recognition of visitors in the gallery. The honourable Premier, Mr. Handley.

Mr. Speaker, I wanted to recognize Todd Parsons, president of the Union of Northern Workers. Thank you.

---Applause

Thank you, Mr. Handley. Item 5, recognition of visitors in the gallery. I would also, at this time, like to recognize…It is not too often that I get a number of my constituents visiting us here in the gallery, so I am going to recognize them once more: Faye Johns, Renie Squirrel, Alida and Andy McKay, Drew Thompson, Diana Young, Bobbi Hamilton, and Sheila Ryan-Hackey. Welcome to the House.

---Applause

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I rise in the House today to speak about this government’s approach to expenditure reductions. Mr. Speaker, the budget presented by the Minister of Finance today is far leaner than we have seen for some time, and it is a result of a strategy to achieve a $20 million reduction. From what I understand about the processes to achieve this target, Mr. Speaker, each department and Minister was initially asked to identify ways to cut their spending in their department by three percent. It was an across-the-board exercise for all departments.

Mr. Speaker, this approach just doesn’t make sense to me. All government departments and programs are not equally critical to meeting the needs of our people. It is wrong to treat them as if they were. Some programs, where and how they are delivered, can have serious ramifications. As elected officials, it is our responsibility to manage public funds with principles of good stewardship with the big picture in mind.

The Finance Minister referred to an analogy between our budget and a household budget. I don’t think the Finance Minister would approach cutting his personal household budget by a percentage across the board. If he needed to save 10 percent, would it be 10 percent of his heating bill, 10 percent of his phone bill, dentist bill, kids’ school supplies, 10 percent off of groceries, 10 percent off of holidays? Of course not. That would be ridiculous. He would prioritize, look at where there were expenditures, where cuts would not negatively erode the wellbeing of the entire household. Likewise, he wouldn’t devote resources to prosper one member of his family to the demise and harm of another. He would want to be fair. We need to bring fairness to all people, communities and regions in the North. You wouldn’t take programs from one region and give them to another and justify it by saying it had the least impact.

My point, Mr. Speaker, is that we need to use common sense and fairness when looking for budget reductions. Otherwise, we are going to recklessly dismantle what has taken us years to build and, in the process, hurt people who depend on us to make decisions on their behalf. I will be speaking at length and in detail about some of these reductions in the days ahead. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

---Applause

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. (English not provided)

Mr. Speaker, there is a song from Sesame Street that goes, “One of these things is not like the others. One of these things just doesn’t belong."

---Laughter

It’s a simple but sensible approach, Mr. Speaker; one I hope the Minister of MACA will take in looking at Fort Simpson’s long-standing request to go back to hamlet status. I think it would become clear to the Minister that the time has come to admit that Fort Simpson just doesn’t belong within the tax-based municipalities.

The value of property in Fort Simpson is about $40 million; the next smallest tax-based community, Fort Smith, has more than twice the tax base, a difference of over $50 million, Mr. Speaker. By comparison, the difference between Fort Simpson’s tax base and the tax base of the Hamlet of Tuktoyaktuk is less than $2 million. Yet Tuktoyaktuk enjoys the benefit of the more generous municipal funding formula from both the GNWT and the federal government.

Because of its tax base status, Fort Simpson receives a lower level of municipal funding from the GNWT than it would as a hamlet through formula financing. As a tax-based community, it is also treated differently under the new federal partnerships. Cities, towns and villages, unlike hamlets, are expected to match federal dollars along with the GNWT under the one-third/one-third/one-third arrangements. If, like Fort Simpson, a tax-based community does not have the reserves to come up with that one-third share of the money, it is left out of these wonderful new programs, Mr. Speaker.

The village has been trying for years to make a go of it as a tax-based community. The numbers just aren’t there. It is time to put Fort Simpson with the Hamlets and Settlements Act where it belongs. Mahsi Cho, Mr. Speaker.

---Applause

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, this afternoon I received some very exciting and welcome news, which is that the Tlicho Land Claims and Self-Government Act has been given third reading by the Senate of Canada.

---Applause

Mr. Speaker, it is hard to express in words how important this day is to the Tlicho people. It is truly an historic moment, not only for the Tlicho but for all the Northwest Territories and Canada. I am sure that years from now, people will be telling their children and their grandchildren where they were when they heard this exciting news.

I am very happy that many Tlicho people -- around 70, I believe -- were there to witness this event. Just a few minutes ago I was speaking to someone in our Treaty 11 office, where everyone is celebrating and have been speaking with people in Ottawa. Right after third reading, Mr. Speaker, there was a tea dance right on Parliament Hill.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to extend my congratulations to all the Tlicho people and especially to our negotiating team who have worked hard on behalf of all of us for many, many years to see this day. To all our people who were able to travel to Ottawa for this historic and happy occasion, I wish you a safe journey back home to your families and I look forward to celebrating with you in the days and weeks to come. Mahsi.

---Applause

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. My congratulations, too, to the Tlicho people for their hard earned victory.

---Applause

Today is also budget day here, of course, Mr. Speaker, and in a quick summary here -- keeping score, if you will -- as Minister Roland was reading us the news, I have more points on the good news side of my ballot than on the bad news side, Mr. Speaker.

Just to give a quick response to a couple of the highlights that I’ve heard, we will take the bad news side, Mr. Speaker. I will keep coming back to the housing agenda. The budget contains some five paragraphs of discussion about problems and issues, but there was nothing in there, Mr. Speaker, there was not one single itemized topic about what is going to be done. How many houses, what kind of an investment are we going to see? About the only concrete thing that we were shown there, was that the Housing Corporation is going to undergo a change in its mandate. But the most pressing social issue has not been addressed in this budget.

Further, Mr. Speaker, while we are on the glad side, seeing a major turnaround in our finances, thank goodness, we are also seeing more uncertainty; continued uncertainty in our ability to govern this Northwest Territories because of our inability to really know what our finances are going to be. Mr. Roland told us that it’s going to be at least the end of this year before we know what the results will be of this panel in Ottawa on how our formula financing is going to work. We are not out of the woods yet.

Mr. Speaker, on the good side we must acknowledge that we have had a $90 million dollar turnaround in our finances, from a $40 million dollar deficit forecast we are now at a $46 million dollar surplus. That is 10 percent of our budget within one year that we could not control. Again it’s an illustration of the instability in our financing situation, but that is a piece of good news, and, as well, that we are holding the line on spending. I am very proud to be a part of that administration. I think that is good news for everybody. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

---Applause

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my statement today will be on the budget address by the honourable Member for Inuvik, Mr. Roland. On the mortgaging of the Northwest Territories, Mr. Speaker, I quote from the Finance Minister in his budget address today, from page 5 under Fiscal Strategy, “However, just like a family is prepared to borrow to buy a house if they can afford the monthly mortgage payment, we are prepared to borrow to make necessary capital investments."

Mr. Speaker, this is a powerful quote from the budget, especially in times like this in the Northwest Territories. We have a tremendous increase on developing our resources in the Northwest Territories. We understand that millions are leaving the North, there is an increase in exploration development and finding the big ticket items such as the Mackenzie Valley pipeline.

Mr. Speaker, we need to get our house in order. Cut the waste, go back to the basics that will ensure that as northerners we can expect a living known to no other place in Canada that we enjoy and can live well in the Northwest Territories.

Mr. Speaker, we are mortgaging our home in the Northwest Territories and like any other families who are in the same situation, a lot of commitments have to be secured, priorities listed, a budget must be developed and followed as closely as possible. Action plans must be developed to be carried out. Long-term planning is part of that vision. Relationships must be built on trust, respect and the ability to deal with the uncertainty.

Finally, Mr. Speaker, we must be willing to mortgage our home on our income, and that, Mr. Speaker, I await this government to bring to this House good news that will happen in the coming months with the federal government. Mahsi.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Last night I had the pleasure of attending a birthday party at Aven Manor. The birthday party was for Mary Louise King, a former resident of Tu Nedhe who has lived at the manor for the past few years. Mary Louise doesn’t know for sure which day her birthday really is, because she was first registered by the treaty party that went to Fort Resolution in July 1900, and that makes her at least 105 years old.

---Applause

Mary Louise even got up last night and did a little jig.

---Laughter

She’s a very alive, spry lady. She spent a lot of her early life in the Reliance area and then later on at Rocher River and Fort Resolution. Eventually she moved to Yellowknife and settled here a few years ago. She was married first to a man by the name of Lafferty and then later on her second marriage was to Francois King Beaulieu. She’s pointed out to people that the Francois King Beaulieu she married is the big Francois King Beaulieu, not the little Francois King Beaulieu, because he was a little skinny guy and she wanted to make that clear.

She’s also a lady who never wore black. In fact, her grand-niece last night was telling me that this is the first time she’s seen her in black. She always considered black to be a colour for old people. I hope the Legislative Assembly will join me in wishing her a very happy 105th birthday. We don’t know exactly the day, but it was celebrated last night. I wish her many more birthdays.

I also want to pay tribute to many of the other residents at the Aven Manor. I talked to Art Dodman, Les Rocher, Catherine Turner and a lot of others. Art Dodman told me he watches every day what goes on in here. I’m sure many of them do. I also want to pay tribute to the staff at Aven Manor. They are a great and dedicated group of people who are very much loved by the residents in that manor and I encourage all the Members here to someday visit. There are people from all over the Territories at the manor. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

---Applause

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I would like to use my statement today to once again draw some attention to an item I feel is often overlooked and underestimated. Seeing as today the Finance Minister delivered his budget address to the Members of this House and the residents of the Northwest Territories, now is as an appropriate a time as ever to discuss the largest expense on our books, and that is the salaries and benefits that we pay to our public servants. I do believe we have a very capable and first-rate public service here in the Northwest Territories, Mr. Speaker. My concern is the size of that public service and the fact that it eats up close to 40 percent of our annual budget.

Hear! Hear!

This is cause for alarm and for some reason the government doesn’t seem to be paying attention to this. We have nearly 4,500 employees in a territory with a population of 42,000 individuals. If you do some math and take out the individuals that are under 20 years of age, you come up with one in every 4.5 people who work for the GNWT. The growth goes from 2,750 employees in 1999 to close to 4,500 today. The total costs are up from $251 million in 1999 to close to $400 million today.

During the next few months certainly we’ll be negotiating with the unions for a new collective agreement. I’m not a fortune teller, Mr. Speaker, but chances are we’ll need to pay some more in any new agreement that we get. Where do we suppose this new money is going to come from, Mr. Speaker? What programs and services are going to be affected? What’s going to happen here is there’s going to be a compounding scenario that’s at play and that, if left alone, could cripple the operation of this government at some point in the not-too-distant future, Mr. Speaker.

I would not wish to send off alarm bells of any kind to the hard working public servants that we do have here in the Northwest Territories, with calls for massive layoffs or anything of that nature. What I feel is needed is a plan, and today there is no plan, Mr. Speaker. We continue to grow our public service every year. In fact, it is almost doubled in size from just six years ago. What I would suggest to this government is to take stock of where we are today and develop a plan for the future.

Mr. Speaker, I’d like to 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. Ramsay.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. While the economy is red hot maybe we should look at things like a hiring freeze, early retirement packages and plain old attrition to help us get a handle and grip on where we’re headed with our public service. It is only common sense that the more we are spending on salaries and benefits to our employees, the less money will get on the ground for the people and the social agenda here in the Northwest Territories, the people who really need some help and the necessities. I’m talking about nurses, teachers and doctors. We have to know that our priorities are, going forward. As a government, we have to get a plan for the future of the public service here in the Northwest Territories to ensure that we’re able to continue to provide the programs, services and support that our citizens will demand of us. I find it hard to fathom how any organization could move ahead, with no plan to address this. Mr. Speaker, I guess today I’m sounding the alarm bells. Thank you.

---Applause

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to talk about some government financial management policies on payment for services from local contractors, especially from small businesses operating in small, remote communities. I’m sure many of the Members of this House have received or heard similar concerns from their constituents with regard to the 90 days it takes for this government to issue payment for services it receives, although the Financial Administration Manual indicates a 20-day payment schedule for these services.

This three-month delay, Mr. Speaker, can cause the downfall of many small businesses. Simply put, small businesses just cannot afford to carry on with this process because many do not have the AA3 credit rating this government enjoys. To my knowledge, every local business has an obligation to pay for the materials or supplies they require to carry on with their company on the very day that they are received, otherwise the suppliers will not allow the supplies to be delivered.

Mr. Speaker, if this government is supportive of the small business sector of our economy and promotes fair competition for all public tenders it advertises here in the NWT, a policy which will require a more supportive approach to sustainable business development has to be implemented and strictly adhered to by government staff so that these smaller, sometimes newer, private businesses can openly compete for some of the more lucrative tendered items along with the larger, more established businesses with bigger credit and deeper pockets.

Time and time again, Mr. Speaker, I’ve heard local small businesses being put on the edge of bankruptcy or insolvency because of the length of time it takes them to receive payment from the Government of the Northwest Territories. Many discontinue submitting bids for future projects related to their small businesses because of this fact.

Mr. Speaker, locally owned businesses are a vital part of our economy, especially in the small communities. These local entrepreneurs are the driving force in their community's growth and development and I will be urging this government to consider endorsing a better policy that shows an accurate picture of this Assembly’s vision for self-reliant people, communities and the NWT. What better way of doing this than by having this government start with policies that support and safeguard the success of all small businesses of the NWT and of individuals and families many of our smaller communities rely on to provide their families with healthy living and a brighter future for their children. Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.

---Applause

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I wish, like my other colleagues, I could quote from Mr. Roland’s finance budget delivery address earlier today, but, unfortunately, I can’t quote what isn’t there. That is, we don’t have a plan to hire our northern teaching graduates.

Mr. Speaker, we are all well aware of former Premier Kakfwi’s grand promise to provide all northern graduates of recognized teaching programs with employment. Well, Mr. Speaker, those were nice words back in those days, which were only a couple years ago, as a priority, but the reality is that those graduates out there are not getting jobs that they were lead to believe they would get when they finished. Mr. Speaker, thank goodness Moody’s hasn’t done a credit rating on our promises or our priorities because we wouldn’t have gotten an AA3 rating for promises.

We’ve been hearing a lot about how difficult it is to recruit teachers to our northern communities, but it’s pretty hard for an average person to understand why our education authorities aren’t jumping at the chance to hire our northern grads. Where is the difficulty, Mr. Speaker? Is it a lack of will on the part of the education authorities? Is it a communication gap where the students aren’t informed about these available jobs? Or is it the education authorities aren’t informed about the available grads? What is the problem, Mr. Speaker?

Mr. Speaker, I can’t imagine how discouraging it must be for recent grads of the education programs to see jobs taken up by southern hires and not their northern friends. While the northern grads are getting by, they are getting casual substituting teaching jobs and taking jobs in other fields, and that must be significantly disappointing.

I realize education authorities are responsible directly for hiring their own teachers and employees, but the government has a responsibility to live up to a promise that they made. Where is the action plan to that promise? We need to get our house in order with this particular problem, Mr. Speaker. Somebody has to be monitoring the numbers. Get out there with the education authorities; find out what is really happening and why we are doing this. Are we burying our heads in the sand, or in the snow, in this particular case? Are we pretending that, for this big successful concept of an initiative, the promises were made, are we ignoring that we have something unique to deliver? I think we’re failing, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, these graduates work hard, very hard to get where they are today. We made a promise to them; they made a promise to want to teach our children here in the North. Is this government letting this promise go by the wayside? Why was this promise never fulfilled? We need to fill our education authorities and implement this promise by using our authority. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

---Applause