Debates of May 16, 2007 (day 8)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Good afternoon. Mr. Speaker, the Government of the Northwest Territories is committed to supporting parents and caregivers in their efforts to nurture children’s development from birth. A better start in learning leads to greater success in life. With that in mind, I would like to share with you some recent changes to the Early Childhood Program.

Our Early Childhood Program provides contribution funding for both the start-up and operation of licensed day homes and childcare facilities. As of April 1, 2007, our government has increased the amount of those contributions by 30 percent. What does that mean for caregivers? As an example, in Gameti, the daily contribution for preschool space was $11.20. As of April 1st, that contribution is now $14.60. The daily contribution for an infant has increased from $16.80 to $21.80. Contribution amounts vary from community to community and are based on the cost of living.

In addition to this increase, the Department of Education, Culture and Employment recently provided one-time funding, under the program enhancement grant, that makes it possible for licensed caregivers to upgrade equipment and play space.

Mr. Speaker, I am also pleased to announce that $125,000 will be available to assist licensed non-profit childcare facilities that are experiencing high rental costs. The funding will be made available on an application basis, taking into account the circumstances of those childcare facilities that are faced with comparatively higher costs than others. Details are being finalized and full information will be provided to each childcare facility in early June.

In addition to direct contributions to caregivers, ECE supports early childhood development in a variety of ways. For instance, we continue to invest in early and family literacy through the work of the NWT Literacy Council. The council has trained approximately 200

community people in the development and delivery of family literacy workshops.

The Language Nest initiative helps to support 20 community-based licensed early childhood programs that deliver aboriginal language and cultural immersion programs and thus contribute to the revitalization and retention of aboriginal languages and culture.

ECE also partners with Aurora College to deliver the Early Childhood Education Certificate Program that combines distance and on-site delivery of courses. The program delivers early childhood development training for those working in early learning and childcare programs. Aurora College is also researching the development of an aboriginal early childhood education course.

Finally, Mr. Speaker, the Healthy Children initiative, a partnership between the departments of Health and Social Services and Education, Culture and Employment, continues to support existing programs for preschool children. Funding is provided to community-based organizations to assist in the development of early childhood programs at the local level.

Mr. Speaker, early childhood education is an essential first step in the process of lifelong learning; one that we will continue to support, Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

---Applause

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased today to give you a status report on the energy conservation initiatives undertaken by the Department of Public Works and Services. This work was initiated last year through the GNWT's energy conservation action plan and supports this government’s action on climate change, as described in the NWT Greenhouse Gas Strategy, while upholding the principle of the NWT energy plan.

Earlier this year, I reported that PWS had been working with the Department of Justice to install a biomass heating system -- wood pellet boilers -- at North Slave Correctional facility. This has been in operation since December 1, 2006, and, to date, has realized heat savings of $18,000 with greenhouse gas emissions reduced by 760 tonnes and a heating oil displacement of approximately 260,000 litres.

Since February 2007, the efficiency in the combined wood pellet and oil-fired heating system was improved and we expect more savings than originally forecasted.

Mr. Speaker, later today, at the appropriate time, I will table a report on the biomass heating system.

Public Works and Services also approached energy conservation initiatives through construction projects using federal government incentive standards in designing schools in Ndilo, Gameti and Tulita to optimize fuel and power consumption over the life of the buildings. It is estimated the resulting energy savings will save the GNWT about $100,000 in operating costs and reduce greenhouse gas emissions by about 200 tonnes per year.

Public Works and Services completed infrared thermal scanning on 177 GNWT and community buildings to highlight areas with excessive heat loss including buildings in Fort Smith, Hay River, Hay River Reserve, Enterprise and Norman Wells. During this time, the department inspected mechanical and electrical systems in 145 GNWT buildings to identify opportunities for energy conservation with the results being analyzed for potential future energy reductions. This program is expected to continue into the fall of 2007.

PWS continues to work on the Fort Smith electrical heating project. The plan is to use excess hydroelectric power from the Taltson hydro dam to heat GNWT buildings currently heated by oil or propane. The most cost-effective option is to convert three buildings, which are the GNWT records storage warehouse, Breynat Hall, and JBT Elementary School in Fort Smith. The project is expected to be completed by the fall 2007. We expect greenhouse gas emission reductions of 805 tonnes per year as well as annual operations savings of about $214,000 subject to fuel oil prices.

PWS has worked with people in Yellowknife to provide upgrades to the mechanical and electrical systems in three GNWT leased buildings. In addition to saving lease money in the future, these upgrades are expected to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 270 tonnes every year. The department will be looking for similar opportunities for other leased spaces.

The PWS facility design standard, called Good Building Practice for Northern Facilities, is being updated to reflect recent technology advances and newly adopted energy saving strategies. The comprehensive new version of guidelines will be published this fiscal year and will include the requirement to apply the Commercial Building Incentive Program design protocol when designing new facilities.

Mr. Speaker, to date, the energy initiatives of PWS are expected to result in about $500,000 savings to the government each year, with annual greenhouse gas emission reduction of about 2,700 tonnes.

Public Works and Services will continue to work on existing and new conservation initiatives and on identifying new technologies to help reduce energy costs and greenhouse gas emissions. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

---Applause

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Disability Awareness Week takes place from May 27th to June 2nd. The purpose of this week is to recognize people with disabilities and to highlight their abilities and contributions to our communities across the Northwest Territories. The month of May is also Speech and Hearing Awareness Month.

This year’s theme for Disability Awareness Week is Building Access One Block at a Time, focusing on education, technology, employment, recreation, transportation and housing. This theme fits in well with the disability framework and action plan for persons with disabilities. That framework established five priority areas: education, culture, income, disability supports and housing.

The social programs departments and their regional authorities work with many non-governmental organizations and together we strive to improve services for persons with disabilities.

The NWT Council of Persons with Disabilities has expanded its community outreach programs into the Sahtu region this past year. This program is now operating in Wekweeti, Gameti, Fort Simpson, Whati, Inuvik, Hay River, Behchoko and Fort Smith. Mr. Speaker, every indication points to success for these programs throughout the Northwest Territories. Because of this expansion, more people with disabilities are accessing assistance and services.

The Canadian National Institute for the Blind, the Yellowknife Association for Community Living, the YWCA, the Autism Society and the Learning Disability Association are also vital organizations dedicated to serving the needs of disabled persons. This government has also partnered with the Rick Hansen Foundation. The government will provide the foundation $20,000 annually for the next five years. This funding will be used to assist people living in the NWT with spinal cord injuries and other disabilities.

I encourage everyone to watch for activities that highlight Disability Awareness Week in their communities. I would also like to acknowledge the work of our NWT speech language pathologists, audiologists and the Canadian Hard of Hearing Association Yellowknife Branch during this week and applaud the help they provide throughout the year for those with speech and hearing challenges.

We honour and thank persons with disabilities throughout the NWT for their contributions and the strength they provide to our friends, families and communities. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

---Applause

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I wish to advise the House that the Honourable Joe Handley and the Honourable Michael McLeod will be absent from the House today to attend the annual general meeting of the NWT Association of Communities in Norman Wells. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, today I want to take this opportunity, with Mr. Bob White in our visitor’s gallery, to pay tribute to Bob and his wife, Susan, for their many years of teaching in the North with just three years experience teaching in Ontario and has added 30 years to that record in the North. His wife, Susan, has also taught in the North for 30 years.

The Whites are a part of the numerous outstanding teaching husband/wife teams that we have had in Hay River. Bob has taught all three of my children, and Jillian had him one year and then when Bob changed grades to the next grade up, Jillian begged to have him as her teacher again the next year. I am not sure if her begging helped, but she did get her wish and she still talks about that.

The Whites are two of the most positive and encouraging people I have ever met. They are like that with everyone, student or neighbour, aspiring athlete at the track and field meet, at the cross-country ski trails or just with anyone they come in contact with.

If there is one thing our young people need today, it is teachers and role models who instil confidence, positive encouragement and positive thinking.

Regardless of social conditions or economic realities in the home, every child should have a dream, and I have watched with amazement as the Whites have tirelessly taken interest in their students and have followed their lives, with interest, through the good times and the challenging times.

Every child goes through stages of self-doubt and sometimes a lack of confidence. Who can really measure the impact of a caring teacher who motivates and celebrates their largest and smallest achievements? We need an education system with people like Bob and Susan White who choose to see the good and best in their students and who bring that out in them. When the Whites retire this year, the students of Hay River and the teaching community will greatly miss them.

There are those who have a job and those who have a gift and a calling to a career that reveals that gift to the fullest. They are the ones who enrich and change lives, and the Whites have gone above and beyond the call, as demonstrated by Bob’s presence here today with 52 Grade 6 students. I don’t know what new and exciting plans lay ahead for the Whites, but might I suggest that the Department of Education take a serious look at finding a way of engaging their extensive knowledge of teaching in the North.

Teaching is not easy. I have said many times that I could not do it. In the small and often remote communities of the North, our mostly young teachers might stay a little longer if they had a visit from a couple like Bob and Susan White.

For the record, Mr. Speaker, in these proceedings of the Legislature today, on behalf of my children and the many northern students who the Whites have taught over the years, I would like to…

Mrs. Groenewegen, your time for your Member’s statement has expired.

Thank you. I seek unanimous consent to conclude my statement. Thank you.

The Member is seeking unanimous consent to conclude her statement. Are there any nays? You may conclude your statement, Mrs. Groenewegen.

Thank you. I didn’t time that very well. I had one sentence left to say. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Thank you, colleagues.

I would like to tell the Whites today, on behalf of the many children who they have taught in the North, that they have earned our respect, our affection and our very, very heartfelt thanks. Thank you to them. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

---Applause

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I want to speak today about how the Government of the Northwest Territories is dragging its heels on legislation that directly impacts the lives and the livelihood of northerners. Mr. Speaker, I would equate the government’s history on developing legislation is as slow as molasses going uphill. Examples are the Wildlife Act, the Species at Risk Act and the long-awaited Liquor Act. With large pieces of legislation taking as long as they do, I am left wondering where, oh where, on the government’s radar is legislation on locksmithing and massage therapy.

Most other jurisdictions in this country have legislation on locksmithing and massage therapy. With the recent passage of the Pharmacy Act, could we not look at using that as a guide or template to help other professions seeking legislation to govern their operations? Numerous meetings, letters, e-mails and conversations have taken place regarding new legislation for locksmithing, Mr. Speaker. It has been 20-plus years since this issue was first brought up to the then-Justice Minister and it’s been brought up with every Justice Minister since then, including the former Justice Minister, the current Justice Minister and here we are, Mr. Speaker, four months from the next government being formed, and still there is nothing; no movement towards legislation governing locksmithing. Mr. Speaker,

Mr. Speaker, section 353 of the Criminal Code requires all persons in possession of lock picking equipment to be licensed by the Solicitor General of the province in which they live. Currently, as I know it, there are not licensing requirements that have been set out in the Northwest Territories. That means, Mr. Speaker, that anyone can order and possess lock picking equipment in the Northwest Territories to do whatever they wish with it and it’s just not practical, Mr. Speaker. Is it just not good common sense that we should move forward and license and legislate the locksmithing profession?

The government needs to address these deficiencies in legislation and judging by the inability of many governments to act, the people out there in our communities, Mr. Speaker, are asking why. Why does it take so long for this government to move what would appear common sense, practical legislative solutions forward? Mr. Speaker, I will have questions for the Minister of Justice at the appropriate time. Mahsi.

---Applause

Thank you, Mr. Ramsay. Members’ statements. The honourable Member for Nunakput, Mr. Pokiak.

Member’s Statement On Driver’s Licensing Services In Small Communities

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to speak on the issuance of driver’s licences in smaller communities outside of larger regional centres. I raise this issue today because on a constituency tour on March 24, 2007, in Paulatuk, the hamlet foreman raised an issue with me regarding local residents having a difficult and hard time to take a written exam or take a road test or just upgrade their driver’s licences. This makes it difficult for the hamlet to hire local people to operate the hamlet and municipal services vehicles.

We know that to operate a water or sewage truck would require at least a class 1, or to drive a bus would require a class 4 licence.

Mr. Speaker, in the smaller communities, except in the larger regional centres such as Inuvik, there are no driver examiners available to take written or road tests in Paulatuk and in the Nunakput communities. As an example, Mr. Speaker, for someone in Paulatuk to travel to Inuvik is very costly, especially if they want to write and take the road test to get their driver's licence. The cost associated to travel to Inuvik includes airfare, accommodation and meals. The local airline only travels to Paulatuk on certain scheduled days, and this means staying for a minimum of three days. The costs add up for the individuals and this is out-of-pocket expenses if they want to get their driver's licence. Mr. Speaker, will these people be able to be reimbursed for their expenses for having to travel to Inuvik to take the driver's examination?

Mr. Speaker, the smaller communities will need some kind of assurance that the driver's examiner can travel to these small communities so they can take both the written and road test. In closing, I will have questions for the Minister responsible for Transportation. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

---Applause

Thank you, Mr. Pokiak. Members' statements. The honourable Member for Tu Nedhe, Mr. Villeneuve.

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, today I will use my Member's statement to talk about the proposed hydro development expansion project at the existing Taltson hydro facility.

Mr. Speaker, many people, myself included, are fully supportive of this project moving ahead as planned, not only because of the economic benefits and the impact benefits that will be realized by the people in my region but, more importantly, because they are…

Excuse me, Mr. Villeneuve. There's a piece on the Order Paper concerning this item. We should not be talking about it in the House right now. I rule your Member's statement out of order.

---Ruled Out of Order

Members' statements. The honourable Member for Monfwi, Mr. Lafferty.

Member's Statement On Maintenance Of Highway No. 3 Access Roads

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. (English not provided)

Mr. Speaker, for many years, Tlicho families have lived, and hunted, and trapped along the shores of Great Slave Lake. Many of these traditional camps were built near Highway No. 3 because it allowed families to maintain their traditional lifestyle while living in the town of Behchoko for part of the year. Still others maintained their traditional culture year round. When the Department of Transportation changed the structure of Highway No. 3, many traditional camps and homes were affected, Mr. Speaker. In the past, last fall, I raised that issue with the DOT servicing Highway No. 3 traditional cabin owners' access roads. Specifically I spoke about Charlo’s camp, a camp that has been in a location for generations. Traditionally, families live at this site. Unfortunately, Mr. Speaker, this family is not able to access their camp because the road is deteriorating dramatically. The access road is literally collapsing, Mr. Speaker. In the past, the road was maintained by the DOT.

Mr. Speaker, the department has the responsibility to clear these highway access roads. These families were there long before the highway was even built, the new highway. By preventing them access to their traditional camps, Mr. Speaker, we are preventing them from maintaining their traditional way of life on the land.

I will have questions for the Minister responsible for the Department of Transportation at the appropriate time. Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.

---Applause

Thank you, Mr. Lafferty. Members' statements. The honourable Member for Tu Nedhe, Mr. Villeneuve.

Member's Statement On Taltson River Water Levels

Mahsi again, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, again I'll use my Member's statement to talk about the proposed hydro development expansion project at the existing Taltson hydro facility.

Mr. Speaker, many people, myself included, are fully supportive of this project moving ahead as planned, and just not only because of the economic benefits and the impact benefits that people will realize in the region but, more importantly, because of the environmental benefits with the large reduction in greenhouse gasses that are currently being spewed into our sensitive northern environment by the mining companies operating in the Akaitcho territory.

Mr. Speaker, the future of economic development in this region only seems to be growing, and the damage to the tundra and to the wildlife will also grow and we can minimize this damage through projects of this nature. But there are grave concerns about the damage that has already been done by the old Taltson dam when it was first constructed in 1963, and these are concerns that are still around today, 24 years later, Mr. Speaker. I cannot see the people of Lutselk'e or Deninu Kue or the Salt River First Nations being fully supportive of any new developments until these old lingering concerns are put to rest and the people can see that the NWT Power Corp is exercising their due diligence and showing more respect for the hunters and trappers by doing more regular community visits on the current operations of this dam.

Mr. Speaker, the operations of this dam are still affecting the people who use the land downriver as a primary source for their livelihood by hunting and trapping, and they're still being flooded out and I have pictures here to prove it, Mr. Speaker. This was given to me from a trapper from Deninu Kue and it shows his doghouses and his cabins. They're all flooded out in the middle of winter and this cannot continue. If the Power Corp and this government wants these people to approve and expand on the existing facility, I want the Minister of the Power Corp to assure the people of the NWT that the NWT Power Corp will fulfill its legal obligations under their water licence to inform all communities and members of any changes in water levels at any time, that they will be consulted when these changes will occur. Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.

---Applause

Thank you, Mr. Villeneuve. Members' statements. The honourable for Thebacha, Mr. Miltenberger.

Member's Statement On All-Weather Road System In The Tlicho Region

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the mines doing business north of Yellowknife continue to have a very legitimate concern about the winter road season and the ability to get all the supplies they need up to their mines impacted by an ever-unpredictable winter road season. The issue is now, once again, in the paper. There's talk of the Bathurst Port and the road down, about $300 million worth; another option out of Gordon Lake. I'd also like to raise, once again, the issue, if we're looking at options for opening up the North Slave, that there should be a road that goes up through the Tlicho that will help hook into the communities that are there and across up to the mines. This would be an opportunity to do at least double or triple duty. It could truly be a P3 project where you have the Tlicho Government, the territorial government and industry working together to put in an all-weather road that would suit and meet all the needs of all the people in that region and allow us to open up a part of the territory where there's only going to be increased activity. Because of climate change and global warming, we know that the winter road season is only going to get shorter and more unpredictable, and more difficult for miners, the mines and other businesses to plan to get the ever-increasing amount of logistics that they have to get up that road through in such a short window of time.

So, Mr. Speaker, I'm going to be asking the Minister of Transportation later to see that they include this option in any business planning process and work that's underway for the '08-09 budget so that the incoming 16th Assembly will have that option to look at as well as others. Thank you.

---Applause

Thank you, Mr. Miltenberger. Members' statements. The honourable Member for Range Lake, Ms. Lee.

Member's Statement On Contract Negotiations For Aven Manor Employees

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I wish to speak today about the ongoing contract negotiations between the YACCS board and the employees at Aven Manor. Mr. Speaker, it is unfortunate that we were not advised about the visits by the employees of YACCS and that they were here when the Members of this side had agreed to do a theme day on alcohol abuse, because I believe it deprived the chance for the employees to hear from all Yellowknife MLAs on this very important issue.

Mr. Speaker, I want to take this opportunity to let the employees know, and the clients of the Aven Manor know, that we, as Yellowknife MLAs, stand with them in asking for the government to step in and facilitate a fair and equitable wage and benefits settlement for the employees.

Mr. Speaker, it is not fair nor acceptable that these workers are being asked to accept anything less than their counterparts doing the same work in senior long-term care facilities in Fort Smith, Hay River, Fort Simpson, Inuvik and Behchoko.

Mr. Speaker, how could this be left to continue? They are not asking for more; they are just asking for equal treatment. Quite frankly, they are entitled to that, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I know the Cabinet is trying to find comfort by saying that they are not government employees and, therefore, this government has no direct role to play. That position didn’t get them anywhere in the case of Nats’ejee Ke'h just this past spring or during the labour dispute with ferry workers in Simpson early last year. In the latter part, the employees of the ferry were in the private sector, but still because of the importance of ferry services, the government had to step in and take over that service. In the end, they got a better wage settlement.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to add very strongly that the services that these workers provide at the Aven seniors complex is an essential service. For years, they have been providing exemplary service with commitment and dedication because they are good at what they do and because they believe in what they do. It is time for the government to step up to the plate and do what is required to enable them a failsafe settlement. Mr. Speaker, I believe the outcome we demand is clear.

Mr. Speaker, may I seek unanimous consent to finish? Thank you.

The Member is seeking unanimous consent to conclude her statement. Are there any nays? There are no nays. You may conclude your statement, Ms. Lee.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the outcome that we all expect is very clear. We would settle for nothing less than wage parity and fair and equitable benefits for these valuable employees. The only way to do this is for the government to put more funding to settle the package. Unless the government does this as soon as possible, we can expect a very long and hot summer. These employees can be expected to see all of us YK MLAs right by the workers. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

---Applause

Thank you, Ms. Lee. Members’ statements. The honourable Member for Great Slave, Mr. Braden.

Member’s Statement On Contract For GNWT Employee Assistance Plan

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. I rise today to speak on behalf of constituents who are connected with Northstar Counselling and Psychological Services, a local northern Yellowknife business, Mr. Speaker, which, until the first of April of this year, were the providers of the GNWT Employee and Family Assistance Program. They successfully provided this essential service to us for the past seven years with very high employee satisfaction. However, they were unsuccessful when the contract was re-bid earlier this year and lost out to a large multi-national southern contractor Shepell-fgi. I became aware of this weeks ago, Mr. Speaker, with calls from several constituents and friends in the city expressing concern about the impact of the loss of this business on local service, on the reduction of skills and talents available because of the relocation of this service to an outside company. I have even heard that one of these professionals was going to be leaving Yellowknife because it was no longer possible for her to continue living here.

Mr. Speaker, there were several irregularities on the way this RFP was administered, assessed and awarded. For example, the use of assessment formulas that put local higher cost bidders at a substantial disadvantage to bigger outside lower cost bidders. The use of criteria for the size and the scope of this contract, Mr. Speaker, was based on numbers that were developed seven years ago in 2000. The size of the public service, of course, has grown since then substantially. The volume request for this service has skyrocketed 42 percent just in the past year alone, yet the value of the contract was capped at its original seven-year level. Mr. Speaker, there was also the suspect inclusion of local health care professionals as associates on the winning contractor’s bid. How this was handled should be cause for concern, not only in this contract, Mr. Speaker, but from the perspective of overall government operations. We should not support a process which is prejudicial to northern business. Based on these allegations, Mr. Speaker…

I would 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. Braden.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Based on these circumstances, Northstar has requested in writing to the Minister responsible for Human Resources that the matter be independently reviewed and the RFP be reissued. I agree with the owners of Northstar, and my constituents who have been adversely impacted, that this RFP should be reopened and re-bid. The Minister needs to ensure the process is fair and transparent and that this highly valued and effective service will continue for our employees, Mr. Speaker. Thank you.

---Applause

Thank you, Mr. Braden. Members’ statements. The honourable Member for Inuvik Twin Lakes, Mr. McLeod.

Member’s Statement On Replacement Of Inuvik Softball Field

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, in a little while, the construction of a new school is going to be starting up in Inuvik. On the proposed site where this new school is going to be built, there is a ball field, Mr. Speaker. That is what I would like to speak to today.

The Slow-pitch Association put a lot of money into this new ball field. My understanding is they raised close to $150,000 and put it into this field. That is not including the in-kind donations they had for equipment and manpower. They have been told that, when they start building the school, they will build them a new field. Their problem is, Mr. Speaker, that they don’t want to have another situation that happened over in Aklavik when they were building a health centre. They put it on the ball field and they said we will build you a new field. Well, when it came time to build a new field, Health didn’t come up with the money. That was strike one. ECE didn’t come up with the money. That was strike two. MACA finally stepped up to the plate and now I understand they have a base for a field. This has been six years in the making. Part of the problem was they didn’t have a signed agreement in place. So when it came time to dish out the money, the players may have changed in the meantime and nobody had a record of any agreement that might have been made. This is the concern that the Slow-pitch Association has. The Department of Public Works and Services is going to have to work with these stakeholders in regards to a new school and make sure that they are all taken care of, the town is consulted on anything that is going on with the new school.

Mr. Speaker, in the overall picture of a project of this size, a ball field may seem like small change, but important enough, Mr. Speaker, for the people that built this field to have me speak about it. If it is that important an issue to them, Mr. Speaker, I find it is important enough for me to stand up here and speak to the issue and try and have some kind of a signed agreement in place so we don’t have another situation that happened in Aklavik. That cost them six years of time on the field, Mr. Speaker. Thank you.

---Applause

Colleagues, I would like to draw your attention to a very large contingent of Hay Riverites in the gallery today, students and chaperones. They are Grade 6 students and chaperones from Princess Alexandra School in Hay River. I would like to welcome them here. They are on a bit of an educational journey. It has been a pretty busy two days for them. I want to welcome them to the Legislative Assembly and wish them a safe journey home. I would like to take this opportunity for myself and my colleague in Hay River to acknowledge all of them. I will start by acknowledging the Grade 6 students: Mercedie Beaulieu, Victoria Boyce, Brandon Cotchilly, Brandan Couillonneur, Christine Gagnier, Chelsey Giraldi, Connor Goudreau, Daniel Hache, Michael Hunkin, Andre Leblanc, Angeline Magtibay, Erin Martel, Jessica Martel, Amanda Moizis, Shirley Roloson, Dalton Atwell, Savannah Bryshun, Sydney Campbell, Danny Chambers, Shauna Cooper, Jonathan Gareau, Colton Glaicar, Lee Jones, Cole Loutit, Mary Ann Minoza, Chris Monson, Kristen Morin, Emerson Ondris, Weston Pinto, Logan Price, Marilyn Beaulieu, Blake Boutlier, Deanna Buckley, Lynn Buckley, and Rhona Cruzpe. I'll turn the floor over to my colleague Mrs. Groenewegen, Hay River South.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It is, indeed, a pleasure to have Grade 6 students, their chaperones and teachers with us today. Very quickly I will go through the names on my list: Cole Dupuis, Wade Fabian, Krista Gardiner, Olivia Gibbons, Kelsey Hiebert, Skylar Horton, Aaron Hunt, Keiran Kipling, Christopher Lirette, Christian Longe, Dillan Maurice, Jesse McNeillie, Ian Morrison, James Morrison, Brandon Powder, Joel Skolny, and their chaperones: Roger Morrison, Susan Gagnier, Alex Pinto, Donna Dean, Sharon Ruttle, Mario Giraldi, Jeff Boyce, Kirsty Dupuis, Gertie Thompson, Barb Atwell, John Gareau, Heather Hirst, Jean Ruben, and their teachers: Elliot Johnson and Bob White. Also, Frontier Freightliners bus drivers Michael Gagnier and his daughter Paige Gagnier, and Ron Ruttle. Also, last but not last least, my constituency assistant, Wendy Morgan, for all her help with this trip. Thank you.

---Applause

Thank you, Mrs. Groenewegen. Recognition of visitors in the gallery. Honourable Member for Mackenzie Delta, Mr. Krutko.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, it gives me great pleasure to recognize Anne Clark, the new president and chief executive officer of the Workers' Compensation Board of the Northwest Territories.

---Applause

Along with Anne is her husband, Ryerson Clark, who is also accompanying his wife. Also I'd like to welcome them to the Northwest Territories. They have relocated from Nova Scotia. I wish them all the best and success in their time here and, more importantly, working with the Members of the Legislative Assembly in regards to workers' compensation issues. Along with them is Clarence Emberley, my executive assistant, also in the gallery. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

---Applause

Thank you, Mr. Krutko. Recognition of visitors in the gallery. The honourable Member for Kam Lake, Mr. Ramsay.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I'd like to recognize a local businessman, Jim Beckwith. With Jim are his father, John Beckwith, and Kristin Holt. Welcome to the Assembly.

---Applause

I'd also like to welcome all the children who have travelled up here and their chaperones from Hay River. Welcome to the House.

---Applause

Thank you, Mr. Ramsay. Recognition of visitors in the gallery. I'd like to also acknowledge my constituency assistant, Deb Mageean, in the gallery as well.

---Applause

If we've missed anyone in the gallery today, welcome to the Assembly. It's certainly nice to see an audience and I hope you're enjoying the proceedings.

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. (English not provided)

Mr. Speaker, as I outlined in my Member's statement, the importance of having those cabins on Highway No. 3, with the new road being in place just a few years now, that those cabin owners have been left out in the cold, unable to access their traditional road to their cabins. So I'd like to ask the Minister responsible for the Department of Transportation, can the Minister direct his department to repair this access road that I specifically embarked on -- Mr. Charlo’s camp -- and dump some gravel in the open ditch that has been created through the lack of maintenance and is deteriorating every day, Mr. Speaker?

Thank you, Mr. Lafferty. Honourable Minister responsible for Transportation, Mr. Menicoche.

Return To Question 90-15(6): Maintenance Of Highway No. 3 Access Roads

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Just with respect to the issue the Member brings forward, the access roads that run off our highway systems, including the one he's talking about on Highway No. 3, are considered now private access roads and the department does not specifically maintain access roads off the highway system. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Menicoche. Supplementary, Mr. Lafferty.

Supplementary To Question 90-15(6): Maintenance Of Highway No. 3 Access Roads

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, before the new highway was built, it was a public highway and we accessed those cabins by the old highway. Now we're saying no to these traditional trappers and hunters. We, as GNWT, have always stressed to retain and maintain our way of life. By importance of highlighting that in this House, on numerous occasions I have raised that issue. With that, Mr. Speaker, when I asked the Minister last fall, I do believe it was, that he was referring to opening up to other camp owners. At the same time, we're not talking about just plain old squatters. We're talking about those people.