Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. [Statement delivered in aboriginal language and then in English]
We have been celebrating aboriginal languages and cultures during the month on an annual basis. There will be a variety of things happening in different communities around the North such as radio contests, luncheons at community teaching and learning centres. There will also be aboriginal language materials on display and the luncheon here at the Great Hall on Thursday.
We recognize that languages play a crucial and essential role in the lives of the aboriginal communities in the Northwest Territories. It reflects various aspects of their culture such as traditions, customs, beliefs, values, history and achievements. Language is important to our aboriginal people because it gives them the ability to express themselves in their own way and that in itself strengthens their identity as a distinct people.
Mr. Speaker, we also want to recognize with gratitude the many dedicated individuals and volunteers who work at revitalizing and maintaining their aboriginal languages. I encourage you to continue your language work and to take pride in your contribution to keep your language alive.
I want to give some assurance to the language communities that the GNWT has committed to continue support of language and cultural activities.
With support and commitment from all language communities, I am sure that our coordinated efforts will show some positive results.
Mr. Speaker, I urge all language groups to actively participate in the celebration of language and culture in their communities during the month of March. Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Mr. Lafferty. Before we go on, colleagues, I would just like to remind Members, for your information, the translators we have this week in the House, we have Dogrib on channel two and North Slavey on channel three. The honourable Minister of Health and Social Services, Ms. Lee.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, healthy communities and families are based on the basics: healthy food and good nutrition. Promoting healthy eating is the focus each year in March, National Nutrition Month, an annual campaign that runs all month from coast to coast to coast.
Mr. Speaker, although in the NWT healthy lifestyles are promoted all year long, we place special emphasis on tradition in March and this year our emphasis is on family nutrition. We know that if our people stop smoking, drink less, eat healthier and exercise more, much of our health care and social services needs will decrease. We are encouraging families to eat healthy meals together, a simple way to keep good health that gets overlooked because of the day-to-day rush of our lives.
Mr. Speaker, when we were growing up, for those older among us, it was common place to eat with our family and enjoy a healthy meal. We know not only from common sense but from research, that families that eat together eat healthier, whether it be traditional foods, store foods or a combination of both.
In the NWT, we encourage traditional foods such as moose, caribou or bannock for family meals for families that enjoy their mealtimes together. There are many positive benefits. For example, children are more likely to eat foods as recommended by the food guide and studies show this helps reduce obesity as well as unhealthy choices such as eating junk food.
Eating together as a family promotes family cohesion and this cohesion has many positive spinoff benefits. Mr. Speaker, I would ask the public to watch for Nutrition Month activities being organized at the territorial, regional or community level by our NWT dieticians and nutritionists. These activities will include healthy food promotions at the schools, on the radio and in local grocery stores and practical tips for families on healthy eating on the government or regional health authority websites.
Mr. Speaker, the government has kicked off healthy eating in February with the beginning of our third annual school-based Drop the Pop campaign challenge. With the theme of Drop the Pop – Get Real, we are promoting more healthy food and less junk. Our campaigns helped to reinforce this message. Mr. Speaker, this campaign is a joint partnership with northern Stores, the Yellowknife Direct Charge Co-op, Food First Foundation of the NWT and the Department of Education, Culture and Employment.
Last year 35 schools joined in the effort and this year we hope even more will skip pop for healthier drinks and snacks. Schools can also apply for an award for their innovative projects again this year. I encourage all Northerners to go to the Health and Social Services website for more information about Nutrition Month and Drop the Pop campaign and to make healthy choices. Remember, when you eat together, you eat better. Take the time to enjoy your family by sitting down at mealtime. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, as indicated in the Minister of Education’s Minister’s statement, aboriginal language…March is Aboriginal Language Month. I am going to…I can’t read the language, Chipewyan language. I am trying to learn. Hopefully that will be a goal of mine, to try to be able to read the aboriginal language next March.
---Applause
So right now what I am doing is a difficult task that we ask the translators to do. I have a Member’s statement written in English and I am going to try to translate it into Chipewyan. [English translation not provided]
Mr. Speaker, I seek unanimous consent to conclude my statement.
You’ve got an extra five seconds.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. [English translation not provided.]
Mahsi cho, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Mr. Beaulieu. The honourable Member for Nahendeh, Mr. Menicoche.
[English translation not provided.]
I would like to express my respect and appreciation for these language workers. I would also like to support all my constituents who speak South Slavey every day in the community in their home. I would like to encourage everybody to pass South Slavey on to their children and grandchildren. We can only secure a future for our First Nation languages if our children continue to speak South Slavey. [English translation not provided.]
Last week I was glad to hear the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment was advancing the implementation of the Dene Kede curriculum in our schools. I fully support education and training initiatives for teachers in aboriginal languages, and cultural instructors. Early childhood workers, teachers, and instructors that are fluent in Slavey and knowledgeable about the aboriginal curriculum are the foundation for the success of these programs.
Mr. Speaker...[English translation not provided.]
We all have the opportunities to promote the use of our languages. Let’s do it and celebrate our languages as a wealth of traditions and human creativity.
Thank you, Mr. Menicoche. The honourable Member for Sahtu, Mr. Yakeleya.
Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. [English translation not provided.]
In my own language I honour these few words from my grandfather’s and grandmother’s language. You see, I was brought up with the English and Dene language. In our house we spoke in the two languages. It was not until I started living in Tulita that I began to see and hear the Dene language expressed to its fullest by my grandparents and by my people in Tulita.
Growing up with little knowledge as to the importance of my mother’s language, early in our education at the federal day school we were strongly encouraged to read, write, and speak only in English. This was the trend throughout my educational learning. Never in my life did I think the aboriginal language would be taught in our schools. I had mixed feelings about this at first. However, after hearing the children speak the language in the schools and the hard efforts by some very dedicated people like Phoebe Tatti, who wanted to include language in our school and the Dene Kede school curriculum.
I wish to applaud the Government of the Northwest Territories for honouring the first language in the Northwest Territories. I once asked an elder about the language because I was struggling with my language. The elder asked me, where did you learn? How did you learn? I said to the elder, most of my life I spent in residential school. The elder said, it is not your fault. The Creator only understands the language that is spoken from your heart. The Creator will understand that language.
I, too, want to share my appreciation for all the hardworking teachers in the schools and the people who are using the first language to teach the children and to teach us. I have to work hard on my own language. Hopefully one day I will be able to speak very fluently in Dene.
Thank you, Mr. Yakeleya. The honourable Member for Mackenzie Delta, Mr. Krutko.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I had an opportunity to travel back to my constituency this week and do a whirlwind tour. One of the highlights of the trip was to go into Aklavik and have an official signing ceremony with the community. Aklavik is in the process of developing a community economic sustainable development plan along with a university on Vancouver Island and using graduate students to work with the community to develop this plan.
The whole initiative is going to be an historical project that will involve all members of the community through a process of developing, producing, and implementing a plan. The general goal and objective of the plan is to take account of everything in the community, which involves the community’s resources to identified key areas of economic development, a social interest, and the development of a comprehensive community plan that will assist the community in planning for the current and future community economic development needs and deal with the social challenges of that community.
The highlight of this study is the inclusion of the university and a community to work jointly on such an effort. It is a pilot project, but for communities in the Northwest Territories hopefully this pilot project can be handed on to other communities with the findings of this work.
I’d like to thank the chief, Mildred Edwards, the mayor, Billy Storr, and also other members of the community who took part in the signing of this agreement and look forward to working with the whole community and the university from Vancouver Island, and to move forward on such an occasion. I’d like to mention the Minister of ITI, the Premier, and people who were involved in moving this project forward.
Thank you, Mr. Krutko. The honourable Member for Nunakput, Mr. Jacobson.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Today my Member’s statement is about the social workers and counsellors in Nunakput. Social workers and counsellors provide services to the community that are immeasurable and invaluable, devoting their careers to helping people through difficult times, living healthier, coping with addictions and the healing process. Unfortunately, most communities in Nunakput do not have either. Shame on this government.
I ask this government why, after so much commitment from the federal government, the territorial government and organizations such as The Healing Foundation, do the communities such as Sachs Harbour, Paulatuk and Ulukhaktok, still lack social workers and counsellors?
During recent discussions with the mayor from Ulukhaktok and the principal, they have both identified the lack of professional social support and development as one of the most serious issues in their community. People with real problems have very complicated problems and have nowhere to go, no one to talk to, and that’s a shame. Furthermore, it contradicts the commitments made by this and previous governments. Students with problems at home that affect their educational performance should have counsellors to talk to if they need help with the problems.
I’ve recently been made aware of social workers’ and counsellors’ work in Inuvik and they’re supposed to service the communities. But when talking to the front-line workers in the communities, they’ve never heard or had a visit of that nature. Capacity building progress, serious social supports, it’s very crucial that this government commits and delivers support required and not just pay lip service.
I will have questions for the Minister of Health and Social Services at the appropriate time.
Thank you, Mr. Jacobson. The honourable Member for Hay River South, Mrs. Groenewegen.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Today I’d like to speak about some of the reviews that are taking place, which I’m sure people in the public have heard about and are probably becoming thoroughly confused about. I’m having trouble keeping track of them all myself and in the order in which they’re being undertaken.
We know there is an announced review of the ATCO proposal, the unsolicited proposal that came to the Premier’s desk, and it’s being undertaken by the GNWT with a team of senior managers and with the assistance of a former employee of the Auditor General’s office. No terms of reference have been circulated about this review, no date has been given, and we’re not sure if anyone, apart from the Financial Management Board, will ever actually see this report. We haven’t had any of those things confirmed.
Also, now we know that there’s going to be a review of the Northwest Territories Power Corporation and this will look at the value for money and a performance audit of NTPC. Those terms have not been identified, no dates and no schedule. We do know that this will be an expensive undertaking and neither do we hear exactly where the money will be coming from for that review. Hay River obviously has a very understandable interest in the terms of reference of a review of NTPC and would like opportunity for input.
Also, Mr. Speaker, at the same time we are doing an electricity review. This discussion paper was released in December. Members have seen that. It was widely circulated. A panel was established to visit communities, attend community meetings and hear community feedback. That is to talk to people about the power rates. That panel includes some former bureaucrats and also a gentleman from Manitoba. This is the group, Mr. Speaker, who might recommend a change in our rate zones, if that is the determination, and we are expecting a report back from that in June.
Mr. Speaker, the Premier indicated in his ministerial statement that all of these activities are clearly linked. Mr. Speaker, I will have questions today for the Premier about a review of a corporation which we might be selling to a corporation who has said they will freeze the rates for five years. If you look at all of what is going on, it is like having a car perhaps and saying there is something wrong with it, but before we determine what is wrong with it, we are going to try and sell it to somebody and we are also going to look forward to the future and look at establishing the rates that this new corporation would be charging. It’s all very confusing and I will have questions for the Premier. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Mrs. Groenewegen. The honourable Member for Frame Lake, Ms. Bisaro.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I want to use my Member’s statement today to address the issue of long-term financial stability for the NWT. I believe we can partially achieve this goal through equity investments in our resources and resource development.
Currently, as Members are well aware, our revenues come from two main sources: about 75 percent from the federal government through the territorial funding formula and the bulk of the remaining 25 percent from taxes.
Well, these sources fluctuate sometimes quite a bit from one year to the next, making it difficult to budget for our yearly expenditures. Those expenditures, mostly service delivery costs, rise at about 7 percent per year, no downward fluctuation there, unfortunately.
To provide a stable funding source, the GNWT can establish an equity position in large resource projects or developments. Right now we have an opportunity in the Mackenzie Valley Gas Project, but to date the government seems to have shown no interest in investing in this project. That is not to say we haven’t spent money on the project. The 2009-10 budget includes new funding in the amount of $250,000 for the Mackenzie Gas Project; a contribution to the Aboriginal Pipeline Group. And this amount must be added to funds already given to the Aboriginal Pipeline Group for at least the past three years. So far the GNWT has spent on the Mackenzie Gas Project, through the Aboriginal Pipeline Group, to the tune of some $2.3 million or so. I believe that instead of giving that money away, we could be investing those same dollars to the benefit of all NWT residents.
Mr. Speaker, we have missed other opportunities to invest in projects which would return dividends for many years to come. Equity opportunities with the four diamond mines in the past have missed us by. I believe we must not let equity opportunity in the Mackenzie Gas Project pass us by as well.
Returns on investments in large infrastructure projects can be used to provide a nest egg for our children, our children’s children and future generations to come or these returns can provide the government with a consistent stable revenue source of which, at the moment, we have none. We all know too well that this government does not receive royalties from resource development in the NWT right now and for the foreseeable future; something that must change if we are to become more independent of the federal government.
Taking an equity stake in resource development is simply another financial option open to this government. I am definitely not advocating irresponsible or risky investment, but I am advocating that we consider a policy on equity. I am asking Cabinet to look into such a policy and will have questions for the Finance Minister later on. Thank you.
Thank you, Ms. Bisaro. The honourable Member for Weledeh, Mr. Bromley.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Our government has recognized the problem of our changing climate and we are making some moves to mitigate the situation. Today I would like to highlight the opportunity we have to address a particular part of the problem. That is the lack of fuel efficiency standards for cars and trucks.
In the NWT Greenhouse Gas Strategy, we learned that up to 30 percent of our greenhouse gas pollution comes from the transportation sector. Despite this recognition, very few of the initiatives in the strategy actually address transportation issues. While the challenges are great, I am convinced that we can significantly reduce our greenhouse gas emissions in the transportation sector if we try.
According to Hydro Quebec, with relatively few changes to its distribution and generation system, it could accommodate one million plug-in electric cars. There is a similar opportunity with many utilities across North America. Fortunately, we have many fewer vehicles but I suspect we have the potential to be affected here.
In the United States, the corporate average fuel economy, or CAFE for short, sets fuel standards for cars and trucks. It sets out the minimum average fuel efficiency that each automaker’s cars and trucks must achieve. First introduced in the ‘70s in response to the oil crisis, the fuel economy standard reached its peak in the mid-‘80s and this peak coincided with very low oil prices at $10 a barrel. Increased fuel efficiency in the U.S. in the ‘80s had a lot to do with those low oil prices. Unfortunately, corporate lobbying caused standards to decline. Ironically, if CAFE was strengthened rather than diluted, North American carmakers would be in much better shape than they are today.
In 2006, in response to concerns about global warming, California passed new regulations requiring a 30 percent reduction in automobile greenhouse gas emissions. Their law requires the average fuel economy to rise to 35 miles per gallon by 2016. Since then, 12 U.S. states and three Canadian provinces have committed to adopting California fuel standards. All indications are that the Obama administration will allow states to adopt those fuel efficiency standards. If so, North America will soon adopt similar goals.
Mr. Speaker, I urge this government, our Minister of Transportation, to be consistent in their progressive work in mitigation and adaptation to changing climate. Let’s have the NWT be a leader and join the early adopting jurisdictions that are recognizing the seriousness of this issue by adopting the California fuel standards and encouraging the Government of Canada to do so as well. Mahsi.
Thank you, Mr. Bromley. The honourable Member for Yellowknife Centre, Mr. Hawkins.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I, too, wish to speak to the issue of concerns regarding the multi reviews of the NWT Power Corporation, as my colleague Mrs. Groenewegen has. Mr. Speaker, it has been my experience when a company as big as ATCO comes forward knocking on our door in the spirit of partnership, it is either in the context to share the risk or they want to share in the profit. We would be fooling ourselves to really think that ATCO needs us, so let’s stop kidding ourselves. They are eyeing our long-term projects. With the Taltson Expansion Project just about to go, with Bear River hydro project on our long-term horizon and if anyone would finally put two and two together, someone would realize that we have a long-term hostile takeover with roses and chocolates in the name of the joint partnership, Mr. Speaker.
Now, let’s not get this wrong. I don’t think of this company as evil, but they have shareholders who need a profit and certainly they are about taking market control. Mr. Speaker, the obvious is this: They are trying to lock up control of power generation in western and northern Canada, period. Let’s face it. When it comes to a utility, I assure you they like the northern environment when it comes to the operations of power utilities.
We have the power utility that is sometimes viewed as untouchable and often described as arm’s length for the benefit and the instruction to Members of this House. The utility looks more autocratic, Mr. Speaker, than a public entity and it has more secrets than an illuminati; and I certainly would not be surprised if they have secret passwords and special handshakes. They, in the end, are answerable to no one; not to me, not to this Legislature, not to the people. So I can see why ATCO would like to join this group. It must be a lot of fun. Mr. Speaker.
Now we have multi reviews going on with no mandate or terms of reference. We have all heard about the ATCO proposal. It has no terms of reference. This is an essential service, Mr. Speaker. If this government is going to give away our power, what is next, our water? We have ATCO representatives watching this proposal closely. We have governments, Executive Council members watching this, but where are the representatives for the people on this deal? There are none.
Mr. Speaker, NWT Power Corporation is looking at doing a value for money performance audit that was forced by this Legislature, but there is still no term of reference or schedule for that. What now? Again, the public interest seems to be overlooked.
Mr. Speaker, may I seek unanimous consent to conclude my statement? Thank you.
---Unanimous consent granted
Thank you, colleagues. Mr. Speaker, there is an electrical review that is supposed to go on, but again no terms of reference, no mandate. There is none. They will travel all through the North and meet a lot of great people. The press release reads, engage NWT residents of a territorial-wide discussion. That is exactly what they will get, a discussion on everything. Mr. Speaker, it is going to take the direction of the JRP hearings. It is going to run for as long as people can talk.
Mr. Speaker, I challenge the Premier to table terms of reference and show us how the mandates of all of these reviews are going to work together. Mr. Speaker, I say that if we really want to give away our power utilities, Mr. Speaker, I would challenge the Premier to talk to our northern development groups to work together and make sure this essential asset is northern based and northern owned. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Mr. Hawkins. The honourable Member for Great Slave, Mr. Abernethy.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Since 1976, the Sport North Federation has been actively promoting the development of amateur sport in the Northwest Territories. Their vision is to become the recognized leader in sport development and ensure that opportunities in sports are accessible to all residents in the Northwest Territories. Today’s Sport North is a federation of 27 territorial sports organizations. Its three partner organizations, the Aboriginal Sport Circle of the Western Arctic, NWT Recreation and Parks and Special Olympics NWT are recognized leaders in the promotion of sports and active living.
Sport North administers the NWT branch of KidSport, a national organization designed to assist youth under 18 reach their athletic potential by supplementing registration and equipment fees when their participation in sport would otherwise be limited by financial barriers. KidSport helps ensure that all children have equal opportunity to enjoy sports and develop skills in their chosen activity.
Sport North Federation is directed by its members, but its policies and programs such as KidSport are administered by volunteers. Mr. Speaker, I’d like to take this opportunity to applaud the large number of volunteers in the NWT athletic community for their dedication and hard work. Their hard work and commitment is what makes the difference in many Northerners’ lives. Through grants and scholarships, Sport North supports northern athletes who demonstrate potential at national and international levels. Its Rising Star program provides funding for youth 14 and under to attend training camps and programs to enhance their regular training. The careers of athletes such as Fort Smith’s Sara Daitch and Mike Argue from the Great Slave riding benefit from Sport North grant programs for elite and high-performance athletes. Sport North is committed to the success of our athletes at Canada Games, providing special assistance to athletes and coaches through its Excel Northwest Territories program. The federation also provides opportunities for coach development.
Sport North is a strong supporter of school athletics including the ever popular Super Soccer Tournament in Yellowknife. Participation in this event has increased to the point that this year it will be held over two weekends instead of one.
Mr. Speaker, the Sport North Federation is realizing its vision as we see the NWT athletes on the national sports scene and as sports programs across the Northwest Territories foster healthy lifestyles among our people. Sport North’s wide range of programs benefit not only the elite few but offers opportunities for everyone to play. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Mr. Speaker, I have a return to written question asked by Mr. Abernethy on February 20, 2009, regarding a meeting to discuss the NGO funding policy. The Department of Municipal and Communities Affairs and the Financial Management Board Secretariat have developed a resource booklet titled Program Guide for Managers: Funding for Non-Government Organizations. The need for this booklet was driven by the valuable work done by Volunteer NWT’s Finance Action Group. Their report both highlighted the need to ensure NGOs had clear and thorough information about current GNWT funding policies and flagged some areas where NGOs would like to see changes.
As a next step, as part of the upcoming Volunteer Summit, the FMBS will be hosting a focus group on March 7, 2009, to consult with NGO representatives on the booklet and other issues with GNWT funding policies prior to finalizing it for public release. The list of potential participants and selection criteria has been distributed to Members for their review and suggestions. For the focus group we are expecting approximately 25 participants which represent a good cross-section of the NGO sector from each region of the NWT. I will distribute the final list of NGOs participating in the focus group by March 5, 2009. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As I said in my Member’s statement, I think the public might be getting a little bit confused about all the reviews and studies and analyses we’re undertaking as a government in respect to energy. We all know we have a problem. The problem is that people are finding it difficult to cope with the amount that they have to pay for energy in our communities. That, in a nutshell, is the problem. How are we as a government going to respond to that? Well, I think that all of these reviews, particularly the review of NTPC, might go some ways to figuring out if there’s some way that we can deliver energy in a more cost-efficient manner.
Mr. Speaker, the production, distribution and sale of energy is a very complicated business, but we have to take a very coordinated and cost-effective approach to reviewing this. I’m finding that we at least need these studies to happen in a certain order otherwise it just gets redundant and a little bit ridiculous. I’d like to ask the Premier, does he agree that there should be some order to these reviews taking place or does he think they should just all happen concurrently? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Mrs. Groenewegen. The honourable Premier, Mr. Roland.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As I met with committee and informed them of the process that we’re undergoing with the ATCO proposal the fact that we have these reviews that are out there, one through the Ministerial Energy Coordinating Committee that was launched, as the Member pointed out, in December through Minister Bob McLeod. The one that reacts to the emotion of this Assembly and that is the NTPC review and the review of the ATCO proposal, they will all take...They’ll be in step in the sense we’re going to do the initial review on the rates regulation subsidy and structure. It is due to report back in June. Following that, the report back on the NTPC review will come through the summer. Following that, we’re anticipating to have results back from our first phase review on the ATCO proposal by the fall. Thank you.
Mr. Speaker, if the review of NTPC were to indicate that there is a more cost-effective and a better, more efficient way of having the Power Corporation operate which would have a positive impact on the rates that people pay in the communities, would that not necessarily impact whether or not we would actually want to entertain the ATCO proposal? I don’t really know all the reasons for entertaining the ATCO proposal, but it seems that the information from one review will have an effect on the necessity of the next one, so I would think it would be wise not to have all of these running concurrently. They cost a lot of money. What is the cost? What’s the price tag on these three undertakings? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Mr. Speaker, we’re doing the work internally on all the pieces that need to be done. Minister Bob McLeod could reference the energy rates regulation subsidy review that’s going on, the estimates there. The Power Corporation review is something we’re doing internally. The ATCO proposal right now is at phase one. Until we decide to get to the next step, we will have to look at how much more in depth that will be. Right now we’re using funding from within existing resources. I think, Mr. Speaker, we have to look at, yes, these pieces all will fit a puzzle but we have to ask ourselves when we talk about the constituents and what they’re feeling, as the Member pointed out, their wanting to deal with the cost of living today. We have to look at what we can do in the future that will impact the cost of living in the Territories. We not only have to look at the brutal facts, or the facts that we have today, but we have to look at the possibilities of what can be, Mr. Speaker. And some of this work is putting that together, the possibilities that we can provide cheaper, cleaner energy to the constituents of the North. Thank you.
