Debates of February 9, 2005 (day 32)

Good afternoon, colleagues, and welcome back to the continuation of the Third Session of the 15th Legislative Assembly. Also a warm welcome to our visitors in the gallery. I trust that you all enjoyed the short break during the holiday season, a well-deserved break from the rigors of public life.

I would like to offer my personal best wishes for a happy and healthy New Year for you, your loved ones and all of your constituents. I would also like to extend a very warm welcome, on behalf of all Members of this House, to our newest Member, Mr. Robert McLeod.

---Applause

Welcome, Mr. McLeod. On behalf of this House, I would also like to express my sincere condolences to all those who have lost loved ones since we were last together. As we embark on this budget session, I would like to acknowledge, on behalf of the Legislative Assembly, the tireless efforts of the government employees, officials, Ministers, Assembly staff and standing committee members in contributing to the budget development process. I know the last month-and-a-half or so has been a very busy time for all of you. I look forward to a very busy session over the next few weeks. I hope to hear some very good debates on issues that are important to all the people of the Northwest Territories and discussions that lead to positive, informed decisions. I ask only that you conduct yourselves within the rules that you have set down for this House and continue to respect the dignity of the House and all its Members.

Now it is my duty to advise the House that I have received the following message from the Commissioner of the Northwest Territories. It reads: “Dear, Mr. Speaker, I wish to advise that I recommend to the Legislative Assembly, the passage of the Appropriation Act, 2005-2006 and the Supplementary Appropriation Act, No. 3, 2004-2005 during the Third Session of the 15th Legislative Assembly. Yours truly, Glenna F. Hansen, Commissioner.”

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I give notice that I will deliver the Budget

Address on Thursday, February 10, 2005. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, this week is Apprenticeship Week and on Thursday, apprentices and occupational candidates from all regions of the Northwest Territories will be given awards of excellence. These awards are given to the individuals with the highest marks in each specific working area.

Mr. Speaker, developing trades people and certifying occupations is essential to ensuring that future developments in the Northwest Territories benefit northerners first. For our people to get the most out of the diamond mines, oil and gas development, and other projects, they need to have the training to do the work. The jobs surrounding these projects require highly skilled labour, and we need to have certified northern journeypersons ready to fill them. The Department of Education, Culture and Employment is addressing this need by continuing to strengthen its commitment to the Apprenticeship Program.

Mr. Speaker, there are currently over 300 northerners registered as apprentices in the NWT. Forty percent of these apprentices are aboriginal. During the 2003-04 school year, 54 apprentices completed their apprenticeships and 49 of those were awarded the Interprovincial Red Seal certification. This means that they have qualified to work in any province or territory in Canada. Another 37 northerners have been certified in designated occupations. All those receiving certification will be an important part of our territory’s future.

In the upcoming year, we are introducing a new certified occupation in environmental monitoring. Certified occupations are a formal recognition of training and evaluation in a specific field of work, determined by NWT occupational standards. Planning is also underway to increase the profile of occupational certification. Employers working in the NWT need to be made even more aware of the benefits of workers with proven skills and knowledge.

In addition, Education, Culture and Employment and Aurora College are working together to find ways to increase enrolment in trades programs and improve delivery of these programs.

Mr. Speaker, providing training in the North for as many apprentices and occupations as possible is important to us. Towards this end, we will also work with the Apprenticeship, Trades and Occupational Certification Board to discuss new initiatives to increase trades training. The important role and contribution of employers will continue to be vital for our own ongoing and future success.

Mr. Speaker, I hope all Members will join me in the Great Hall for the annual Apprenticeship and Occupational Certification Awards of Excellence luncheon on Thursday, February 10th, to celebrate successes of apprentices and occupational candidates from across the Northwest Territories. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

---Applause

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. For my inaugural Member’s statement, Mr. Speaker, I would like to speak on being a Member of this Assembly. First of all, I would like to thank my family for their support and encouragement when I have another one of my brilliant ideas.

---Laughter

Me being here would not be possible without the support of my campaign team and the constituents of Inuvik Twin Lakes. For that, I thank them.

It is important to acknowledge the support that I received from the Clerk and his staff. They have helped me to make the transition to being an MLA a little easier.

I would like to thank my colleagues in the Legislative Assembly for their support. They have done their best to reassure me that this would be painless. More importantly, I have to thank the Premier and all the MLAs for making my family feel welcome when they were here for the swearing in.

I would also like to thank Mr. Roland for his advice and sharing his experience with me. It is my intent to become a productive MLA and represent Inuvik Twin Lakes and the NWT with dignity and passion. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. (English not provided) Mr. Speaker, my Member’s statement today concerns a serious issue in my riding, the reinstatement of the 1995 rent scale increase scheduled for April 1, 2005.

Mr. Speaker, I am not opposed to the rent increase; however, I am opposed to the current rent scale increase to the 90 percent mark for this year and the 100 percent mark for next year. I believe this is set too high and does not allow people to adapt to the policy and the new financial obligations.

I propose the rent increase be phased in at the 75 percent mark this year and the 100 percent mark next year. This is more of an appropriate increase.

Mr. Speaker, I am also concerned with available housing programs tied into the rent scale policy. People have been given notice of increased rents and alternatives accessible to them. However, I believe the corporation is trying to push people into their programs and is not providing adequate and thorough information to make effective decisions. Although there is a current counselling campaign in place, it appears ineffective in communicating the necessary information to their clients. Clients are confused and scared and do require effective counselling in order to make an appropriate decision that will affect the rest of their lives.

Mr. Speaker, as it stands now, people who will be paying higher rent and are not used to it may find themselves quickly in arrears. People who have high income and who are no longer entitled to subsidized housing will have to find alternative housing. However, if they owe any arrears, they are not entitled to any Housing Corporation programs.

Mr. Speaker, I hope the Minister can understand the implications of this situation to my constituents and will consider a more phased-in approach to the rental scale increases and deliver a more effective counselling campaign. It seems ludicrous to implement a policy on such short notice expecting people to pay higher rents, purchase their homes, or pay up all of their arrears within a few months without any serious impacts to social housing clients. Mahsi cho, Mr. Speaker.

---Applause

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I would like to begin today also by extending a very special welcome to Mr. Robert McLeod. I must say, Mr. Speaker, I have really enjoyed watching him watch us over the last few months. He certainly has given me a new perspective to have a fresh set of eyes and many ideas he has brought to us already. Also, Mr. Speaker, I don’t know if everybody knows, but today is New Year’s Day under the lunar calendar. I know you have wished us a Happy New Year from the regular calendar, but I would like to extend a Happy New Year to everyone here and around the communities in this Year of the Rooster.

Speaking of roosters, Mr. Speaker, I believe one of the most important jobs we have as MLAs is to crow out loud like roosters about all the issues that are important to our constituents, especially on behalf of those who are most vulnerable and voiceless. At this point, I think we would be hard pressed to find too many who are as voiceless and powerless as our canine friends. Over the last few months, Mr. Speaker, we have really been subject to stories filled with harrowing and inhumane treatment of four-legged residents in our community. In January, Mr. Speaker, we read in The Hub about a puppy being rescued lying on top of his dead sister puppy after they were both thrown into the dumpster and left to freeze to death in sub-arctic temperatures. Most recently, we have been hearing about the six sled dogs shot in the mouth and face; not shot in a way to euthanize them quickly and humanely, but left to die by bleeding to death or by choking in their own blood inside their broken jaws.

Mr. Speaker, I feel compelled to state this in a very descriptive and dramatic way because I believe this government has an obligation to say something about how this is not acceptable and stand by and give some teeth to the NWT Dog Act that is already in place as well as enforcing the criminal court provisions that speaks to inhumane and cruel treatment of animals. Mr. Speaker, many studies have shown that those who exercise violence against their family, spouses, and children, also show tendencies to be violent towards animals or treat them in an inhumane way. I believe it all speaks to the behaviour of those who are not able to empathize with the pain and suffering of others. In the days and weeks ahead, I will be pursuing these issues. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

---Applause

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I rise in the House today to speak about an important issue of internal audits and to assure that our system is accountable, ethical and efficient in a public service. The unit responsible for internal audits for the GNWT is the Audit Bureau. It is my understanding, Mr. Speaker, that a significant number of important positions in the Audit Bureau are currently vacant. This has been the situation for quite some time. This is a real problem, Mr. Speaker, and something should be done about this concern because it affects all NWT residents.

Mr. Speaker, this issue should be an outrage to all residents when I further explain what is going on. Audits, Mr. Speaker, are more than simply a review of financial statements. Audits are a critical tool for objective reviews of internal government operations. The Audit Bureau is responsible for undertaking critical audits to ensure the government is spending public money in the most efficient way possible. It is about spending tax money as well or better than we would spend our own hard-earned cash. Mr. Speaker, it is no secret that this government has gone through a process of financial belt tightening. It is a painful process that all of us would much rather avoid. But, Mr. Speaker, the more we increase our internal efficiencies by putting good practices and procedures in place, the less likely it will be where we will have to find ourselves in a position to avoid ugly cuts such as layoffs and whatnot.

Mr. Speaker, the job of an auditor is to ensure the proper checks and balances are in place and to keep things running efficiently. There are standards that need to be looked at. An auditor is responsible for recommendations on how to increase efficiencies with our government money. This is all great in theory, but what is happening is for the last fiscal year, Mr. Speaker, approximately 25 percent of the Audit Bureau has not been staffed. Through some tracking records, the last five years are even worse; it is more abominable. Mr. Speaker, the capacity has been falling around 50 percent of staff in that area of government.

Mr. Speaker, it is absolutely shameful that this would be happening and nothing is being done. As elected officials, we are accountable for public money. The Minister responsible for the Financial Management Board is responsible to make sure the GNWT has the capacity to conduct audits of this type to make sure nothing is going wrong. They are critical to putting a stop to unacceptable drains on public resources. In my view, Mr. Speaker, this should be a priority of this government. Mr. Speaker, at this time, may I ask for unanimous consent to finish 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. Hawkins.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Thank you, colleagues. Mr. Speaker, I am not ringing the bell to say something is wrong. I am not ringing the bell to suggest something horrible is going on in our public service that we need to catch up to. What I am saying is that we need to do something before something goes wrong, before it is way too late.

We have all heard about the sponsorship scandal and the types of things that are going on at present. Mr. Speaker, last month, we learned about a case in Saskatchewan where over a million dollars of government funding intended for those most in need had been taken out of the provincial treasury and taken by a provincial employee. This has been going on for 10 years. Closer to home, there have been a number of court cases reported in the news as of late about residents embezzling school funds. This is absolutely wrong and shameful, Mr. Speaker, and we need a system that addresses this.

My point, Mr. Speaker, is that auditors do a very important function. They play a role in our government. It is important that they do this. For one, Mr. Speaker, I cannot, in good conscience, sit here as an elected, accountable official for public funds knowing that we could be doing more. The Audit Bureau in the government is a unit that is responsible for the checks and balances. It is my opinion that these balances are not being done. I am going to have questions for the Minister responsible later today, but my concern is, is the Minister asleep at the wheel? I don’t want to hear about process. I don’t want to hear about effort. I want to hear that he is rolling up his sleeves and finding solutions to this grave problem. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

---Applause

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I am going to take a note from my colleague Ms. Lee’s book here, and hopefully do some loud crowing and roostering about the housing situation here in the Northwest Territories.

---Laughter

You know, since we last met here a few weeks ago, Mr. Speaker, there have been a number of signals that show that it is getting and it is going to get even more expensive to keep a roof over your head and that of your family. Mr. Speaker, thinking of buying a house, the average here in the Northwest Territories, we learned last week, for a three-bedroom unit is now $246,000, the second highest in Canada. Mr. Speaker, a house that listed for $200,000 four years ago now costs $315,000 dollars. That is a 58 percent increase, Mr. Speaker, in four years.

Do you want to rent an apartment? How about a two-bedroom here in Yellowknife? That is $1,282 dollars and that may not include utilities, Mr. Speaker. Compare this with Calgary and Edmonton where there is apparently lots of money, too. In Calgary a two-bedroom unit costs you $806; in Edmonton, $730. If you are working in Edmonton and you want to come north to Yellowknife to work or perhaps you are a northern student who wants to come back home, you are going to pay 70 percent more to move to Yellowknife, Mr. Speaker.

In March of 2003, I tabled a petition here with about 500 signatures from Yellowknife renters and landlords, seeking better ways of resolving disputes about rent increases and ways to better manage our landlord-tenant situation. We now learn that in Inuvik, even more residents are going to take this even further and I anticipate that their petition actually seeking rent control will be tabled here in the next few days. I look forward to that debate, Mr. Speaker.

I have been ringing the bell here continuously for our government to become more aggressive and innovative and show leadership in ways to deliver more affordable housing. We could be doing things with land development and tax breaks and cash incentives, but we continuously fail to do so. What are we going to do to reverse this trend, Mr. Speaker? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, Mr. Braden is ringing a bell and Ms. Lee is crowing and…

---Laughter

…I just want to stand up and sing a good song. Mr. Speaker, I want to take the first available opportunity today at the reconvening of session to thank a number of people.

Leading up to the Christmas break, we had the Minister of Justice, the Honourable Charles Dent, come to Hay River to meet with community leaders with respect to plans for changes in justice services in Hay River.

Subsequent to that, Premier Joe Handley also came to Hay River to meet about numerous items; the most pressing ones being the impact of justice changes in Hay River.

From those meetings, a plan emerged and presentations were developed with respect to proposed changes. The work that went into these presentations was the culmination of many hours behind the scenes by the Hay River MLAs, a group of stakeholders, and affected parties in Hay River. I want to thank them for the immense amount of time that these people dedicated to pull questions and information together that ultimately affected a positive outcome. I want to thank the very capable research staff of the Legislative Assembly and the people in the Department of Justice who responded to our many questions. I want to thank the tireless efforts of my constituency assistant, Wendy Morgan, for pulling all that information together in an easily accessible format. I want to thank my colleague, Mr. Villeneuve from Tu Nedhe, for his initial visit to staff and facilities in Hay River and his subsequent attendance with our colleague, Mr. Menicoche from Nahendeh, during the week of the Dene leaders' meeting.

After what seemed like a long wait over the holidays, I had the opportunity to meet with all the Regular Members of the Assembly, as well. I would also like to thank the UNW for their support, and for the many letters that came in from other communities and regions from across the Territories.

The results of these deliberations are now publicly known through the announcement of Minister Dent, that the planned court registries closure in Hay River has been withdrawn. These valuable services and jobs will remain south of the lake at the Hay River courthouse. For this I would like to thank all my colleagues for their support -- Premier Handley, Minister Dent and the Cabinet -- for listening and responding to our arguments.

However, Mr. Speaker, I would like to characterize this good news as round one, and I look forward to the forum this session will provide for dialogue that will reveal and probe the good news and allow for debate on other issues which will remain outstanding in our community for now. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

---Applause

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Today I would like to bring up the topic that Members of this House will hear me speak a great deal about over the next few weeks. That topic, Mr. Speaker, is diamonds, and today specifically how they relate to our secondary industry here in the Northwest Territories.

Mr. Speaker, in 1997, as a city councillor, I was honoured to be a member of the City of Yellowknife’s Diamond Task Force on the development of a secondary industry here in the Northwest Territories. That committee, with the help of the GNWT, made it possible that we could move forward with a cut and polish industry here in the Northwest Territories.

As time went on, many people became sceptical of what the GNWT was doing with loan guarantees and support to this industry, and even whether or not the industry itself was viable here in the Northwest Territories. I must add that I, too, was becoming sceptical of the GNWT’s involvement. In July of last year I had the opportunity to stand in for the Minister of RWED at an International Diamond Conference in Tel Aviv, Israel. While I was at this conference I was amazed at the reception and respect the Northwest Territories received. I suppose when you are from an area of the world that produces 14 percent of the world’s total production of diamonds by value, you get that respect.

The NWT and Yellowknife are on the radar of the world diamond community. Make no mistake about that. The City of Yellowknife’s motto as diamond capital of North America has taken firm hold. In Israel, where they do not mine any diamonds, they have established an entire section of the city of Tel Aviv devoted to diamonds: cut/polish, jewellery, an exchange and even a museum, Mr. Speaker.

I left there with a rejuvenated spirit of what we can do in the Northwest Territories. While I was in Israel, I met with Mr. Lev Leviev who, as many know, is one of the world leaders in the cut and polish industry. He was very interested in coming to Canada to set up a factory, and, shortly after the conference, submitted a proposal to take over the Sirius factory here in Yellowknife. I was very excited at the possibility of having a company like Leviev’s here in the Northwest Territories to help grow and secure our secondary industry. It is public knowledge that negotiations with the receiver and the Leviev Group broke off two weeks ago. I would like to know why. I would like to know what happened to the understandings and the agreements that this government had in place with the producers. What did we do or not do as a government to ensure successful completion of these negotiations? As a government…

Mr. Ramsay, your time for your Member's statement is expired.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I seek unanimous consent to conclude my statement.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As a government we have an obligation to our residents and I believe the government has an obligation on this side of the House to explain what happened, to explain what went wrong. It is, of course, costing the government a tremendous amount of money, Mr. Speaker. At the appropriate time on today’s order paper I will have questions for both the Minister of Resources, Wildlife and Economic Development and the Minister responsible for the Financial Management Board Secretariat. Thank you.

---Applause

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I would like to use my Member's statement today to wish all my Tu Nedhe constituents, my family, my colleagues, old and new here in the House, and the people of the Northwest Territories a safe, happy and prosperous new year.

It has been just over a year since I have been working for the residents of Tu Nedhe. I am confident in saying that the seeds of social and economic development initiatives within the Tu Nedhe constituency have been planted. I am looking forward to some of these initiatives growing and flourishing. I am confident that my constituents will realize marked improvements in their daily lives over the next three years.

That said, Mr. Speaker, there have been many events that have taken place in the world over the past year, be it territorial, national and international alike. All our lives have been touched by these life-altering events and developments, some good and some not so good, in some sort of shape and form.

One important event, Mr. Speaker, which has humbled us all was the tsunami disaster that took place a half-a-world away on December 26, 2004. This natural disaster took the lives of more than 160,000 people and directly impacted lives of millions more worldwide. This unfortunate occurrence made us more grateful for the things that we sometimes take for granted, and helps us see how lucky we are to live in this great, vast land called Canada and, more specifically, the NWT.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to use the remainder of my Member's statement to pay respect to everyone who lost family members, friends, relatives and acquaintances in this historical natural disaster, by requesting that we all stand in this House to share a moment of silence for all these victims and their families. Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.

---Applause

The Member is requesting that all Members stand for a moment of silence.

---Moment of Silence

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My Member’s statement today will cover a number of congratulatory greetings and condolences. Mr. Speaker, I would like to welcome and congratulate Mr. Robert McLeod, MLA for Inuvik Twin Lakes, for his recent by-election victory held in Inuvik. I am confident that Mr. McLeod will represent his constituents well and I look forward to working with him during the 15th Legislative Assembly.

The Members may recall in the fall of 2004 there were four individuals considered lost during a hunting trip. An extensive search was conducted, but to no avail. The families recently held memorial services for their loved ones in November and January. I would like to express my appreciation to many companies, businesses and search and rescue teams in their efforts in locating these four individuals. Our thoughts and prayers are with the families.

Mr. Speaker, the residents of Tuktoyaktuk recently lost a well-respected elder, Mr. Noah Felix, who passed away peacefully in December. I was fortunate to visit with Mr. Felix at the Stanton Territorial Hospital before I returned to Tuktoyaktuk. Again, our thoughts and prayers are with Agnes Felix and family.

Finally, Mr. Speaker, on a brighter note, I would like to take this time to congratulate two individuals in my riding of Nunakput. First, I would like to congratulate Mr. Randy Omingmak of Holman who has completed his second year apprentice in housing maintenance and to Mr. Desmond Gruben who has completed his second and third year in housing maintenance and has received his journeyman housing certificate. I was fortunate to be in Tuktoyaktuk to present the certificate to Mr. Gruben. Mr. Gruben is presently working with the Tuktoyaktuk Housing Association. Mr. Speaker, I understand the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment will be recognizing these two individuals, as well as many other individuals in the Great Hall of the Legislature on Thursday, February 10, 2005. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

---Applause

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I feel like I’m the rooster now.

---Laughter

We did have a call into the Minister of RWED and he, along with Joint Cabinet/AOC Planning Committee, came to the Sahtu. It was a wakeup call. Last week, Mr. Speaker, many people braved the minus 40 temperatures to come to a meeting of the Joint Cabinet/AOC Pipeline Committee meeting in Norman Wells. It was very appropriate that the committee met in the oil capital of the Northwest Territories, one of the communities that the pipeline will go right through their backyard. There were many good questions and discussions between the public and committee members that ran well past 9:00 p.m. In the afternoon, the committee also had a very productive meeting with town council to discuss the important pipeline planning issues.

Mr. Speaker, it is crucial for Ministers and also Regular MLAs to take time to meet face to face with community members in regions outside of Yellowknife. It provides a crucial opportunity for residents to get to meet Ministers and MLAs from other constituencies. It’s also a good reality check for us to hear directly from the residents and to spend time in parts of the Territories we may not know very well, so that we can better appreciate the issues and make better decisions for the people of the Northwest Territories.

I would like to thank Minister Bell, the committee chair and also Minister Dent and Minister McLeod and MLAs Menicoche and Villeneuve for accepting the invitation to meet in the Sahtu. The Ministers did an excellent job in answering the questions from the public and committed to follow up on some of the matters. People did appreciate the chance to air their concerns directly to them. It was a pleasure to host the committee members in the Sahtu region. I look forward to traveling to other communities that will be directly impacted by the Mackenzie gas project. Mahsi cho.

---Applause

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I’d like to welcome Mr. Robert McLeod to this side of the House. He’s the newest Member here. Welcome, Mr. McLeod, and to my colleagues.

As you are aware, Mr. Speaker, there are a number of issues that have been raised in my constituency of North Slave, but the highest priority that they have on their agenda is our Tlicho legislation that is currently being discussed in Ottawa.

Mr. Speaker, a number of my constituents have been traveling to Ottawa to observe and monitor the progress of this legislation that’s going through the Senate. Mr. Speaker, everybody is aware that the first priority of the Dogrib Nation is our land claims and self-government legislation. I just want to let my constituents know that the issues that are raised in my region are going to be discussed here in the House and there’s a lot of good news and there are also a lot of concerns that are being raised. A number of Ministers are aware of those concerns and I will be raising them through my Member’s statement and during question period. Mahsi.

---Applause

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I rise to recognize a few people in the gallery. We have Mr. Jeske and we have Mrs. Braden up in the gallery. I’d like to recognize them. My new constituency assistant, Coady Summerfield, will be in the gallery as well. I’d also like to take time to recognize the Year of the Rooster as Ms. Lee did, I’m saving it for this time. My wife is of Chinese background and I’d like to wish everyone Happy New Year in Cantonese, which would be…(English not provided)…which basically means Happy New Year everyone. Lastly, although he’s not in the gallery, he’s sitting next to us, I’d like to use this time to recognize Mr. McLeod, as well. I met him and his family earlier on and I think Mr. McLeod is a wonderful addition to our Assembly. It’s nice to have this seat filled. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

---Applause

Thank you, Mr. Hawkins. Item 5, recognition of visitors in the gallery. The honourable Member for Great Slave, Mr. Braden.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’m very fortunate to have living in Yellowknife many members of my immediate family, my mother being one of them. My dearest, Esther Braden, welcome to the Assembly.

---Applause

Thank you, Mr. Braden. Item 5, recognition of visitors in the gallery. The honourable Member for Kam Lake, Mr. Ramsay.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I’d like to extend a welcome to Chief Peter Liske who is with us today. As well, I’ve got constituent Garth Wallbridge and constituent Ms. Julie McNiece and it’s always good, Mr. Speaker, to see Mr. Villeneuve’s parents here again. Thank you.

---Applause

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’m also very pleased to recognize Chief Peter Liske, a constituent and chief of the Yellowknives Dene First Nation. Thank you.

---Applause

Thank you, Mr. Handley. Item 5, recognition of visitors in the gallery. The honourable Member for Tu Nedhe, Mr. Villeneuve.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’d also like to recognize two of my strongest supporters from Tu Nedhe, Mom and Dad, nice to see you here. Thank you.

---Applause

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I’d like to recognize a former colleague, the chief from Detah, Mr. Peter Liske, and also Garth Wallbridge. Thank you.

---Applause

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, it’s good to be back here and I think we’re experiencing a flying start as a pack of roosters on this side and I really, really look forward to crowing really loudly about the issues that are important to our constituents over the coming months.

---Laughter

Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Minister of Justice and it’s with regard to parts of my Member’s statement about what’s been happening to our canine residents in the Territories. Mr. Speaker, I had the occasion to attend the Power-Up Young Women’s Conference last Monday and I had the occasion to talk to lots of young people and they all could not understand what was being reported in the media at the time about this story, and that was that the RCMP chose not to investigate what was happening with these six dogs. Lots of people were surprised that we don’t actually have very strong legislation that protects these animals in the way that they are treated. We understand that animals are an important part of our livelihood. We hunt, we support all that, but I don’t think anybody supports cruelty and inhumane treatment of animals. So I’m glad to hear, Mr. Speaker, that the RCMP has restarted the investigation and I would like to know from the Minister of Justice what he can report to the House about what the RCMP has found so far. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Ms. Lee. The honourable Minister of Justice, Mr. Dent.

Return To Question 345-15(3): Cruel Treatment Of NWT Dogs

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I am sensitive to the public concern around this issue. I have a dog as a pet and was troubled when I saw the pictures and heard the story as well, but at this point I can’t add much to what’s been happening with the investigation. I know that the RCMP have appealed to the public for anybody to come forward who has information on the case and they would welcome anybody providing that. The investigation is continuing, but I believe that the RCMP would welcome some assistance if anybody has any information on the case. Thank you.