Debates of May 26, 2004 (day 13)

Thank you, Mr. Bell. I would like to welcome the Members back to the House. I hope you had a nice spring break and visit with your constituents. I would like to welcome Ethel Blondin-Andrew.

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Mr. Terry Foster.

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Before we get going, I would like to read a statement. I would like to advise the House that I have received the following message from the Commissioner of the Northwest Territories: “Dear Mr. Speaker, I wish to recommend to the Legislative Assembly of the Northwest Territories passage of Supplementary Appropriation Act, No. 1, 2004-05, during the Third Session of the 15th Legislative Assembly. Glenna F. Hansen, Commissioner.” Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, we are now six months into the term of the 15th Legislative Assembly and much has been accomplished. In January, I told this House that I looked to the future of the Northwest Territories with enthusiasm. Since then, I have travelled to many communities and talked with many leaders and residents of the Northwest Territories. My optimism for the future has increased even more.

Today, I want to discuss how we have approached our work in the first six months of our mandate. I would also like to provide an overview of the strategic plan of the Government of the Northwest Territories, which I intend to table later today, and provide an update on a number of the specific actions that we are taking in response to what we have heard to date from Members and northern leaders.

Mr. Speaker, some have argued the first step in the life of this government should have been to develop an agenda for the next four years. I disagree.

When the 15th Legislative Assembly took office in December, Members signalled that we were looking for new ways of doing business. We agreed to work together to make consensus government stronger, to ensure

transparency and openness and be more responsive to the people of the Northwest Territories. We agreed to work in partnership with other governments to build an agenda that has a broad base of support throughout the territory.

In six short, busy months, significant progress has been made towards these objectives.

Mr. Speaker, we are deeply committed to running government in a more open, transparent and cooperative manner. I believe the Members of this House share the desire to demonstrate to the rest of Canada consensus government at its best in spirit and in its actions.

Does this mean we will always agree? Of course not, nor should we. To be successful, consensus government needs a vigorous and full debate on the issues, one that ensures all viewpoints are on the table. We have already seen some differences of opinion in this legislature, on issues of policy and direction. We should, and will, see many more over the life of this assembly.

Members have met often during the past six months to discuss how to move forward. These discussions have been very productive and we thank the other Members of Caucus for their input, for their support and for their constructive criticism. We have looked for ways to ensure input from all Members of the 15th Assembly into the decision-making process.

In March, Cabinet and AOC agreed to establish a joint planning committee to oversee pipeline planning for this government, chaired by the Minister of Resources, Wildlife and Economic Development, the Honourable Brendan Bell. I am pleased to note this committee is up and running with the initial meeting of the joint committee held yesterday. This project, perhaps the most important we will deal with during our term of office, is of integral importance to all people in the Northwest Territories and requires input from all regions.

We are also looking for other ways to bring regular Members into the decision-making process. The Minister of Health and Social Services, the Honourable Michael Miltenberger, has been tasked with the long overdue job of reviewing boards and agencies.

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Over the coming days, we will be discussing with the Chair and Members of AOC ways to ensure regular Members are involved. This review will look at the role and mandate of the many boards and agencies we have in the NWT and make recommendations on how to make them more effective.

Mr. Speaker, these are small but important steps. Will we always get it right? No. Will we always agree? Of course not. What we must do is ensure a full debate of the issues and see that all viewpoints are taken into account during the decision-making process.

Mr. Speaker, one of the guiding principles all Members of Cabinet and I believe all Members of Caucus felt strongly about when we took office was the need to ensure our decisions are made based on the public interest and in a forthright and open manner.

The people of the Northwest Territories, through this Legislative Assembly, have placed their trust in us to lead the government through the next four years. As a Cabinet, we strongly believe it is critical we act with honesty, integrity and impartiality and we uphold the highest ethical standards in carrying out the responsibilities entrusted to us.

We have made an important commitment to be inclusive, transparent and accountable in our decision-making. To ensure inclusiveness, we will continue to work hard as a Cabinet to earn the support and respect of our Caucus colleagues, our partner aboriginal and municipal governments and all residents of the Northwest Territories. To ensure transparent and accountable government, our decisions will be made, and be seen to be made, on the merits of the issue and in the public interest.

We have taken steps to ensure this openness, inclusiveness and transparency. One example of this is our commitment to ensure information about travel by Ministers is made public on a regular basis. I will be tabling the first ministerial travel report later this session and this information will also be available on the government Web site.

Trust is the foundation upon which good relationships are built, both at home and in the workplace. It takes time to build trust. It has to be earned; with consistent actions, respect for input received, and a demonstrated commitment to live up to promises made.

At the outset of our term, the Members of the 15th Assembly agreed a new approach was needed to develop an agenda for this assembly. Caucus rejected the old method of developing an agenda based solely on the views of the 19 Members of the Legislative Assembly and in isolation of other governments in the Northwest Territories. Members felt it was important we embark on a new way of doing business that emphasized partnership and collaboration.

Partnership requires meaningful dialogue and consultation. Members of this Assembly have spent a great deal of time meeting with leaders, organizations and residents across our territory. These discussions have confirmed there is a great deal of support for the direction taken by Caucus to build an agenda based on the priorities of all people in the Northwest Territories. As a Caucus, we are determined to open up the lines of communication with all northern residents.

We agreed we must start by finding new ways to talk with other northern leaders, discussion that allows for a frank exchange of views and creates a foundation for understanding and working together.

Mr. Speaker, this foundation has begun to be established with the Circle of Northern Leaders meeting, held on the Hay River Reserve from April 6th to 8th. This historic meeting, which brought together over 50 leaders from all regions of the Northwest Territories, was an important first step in redefining how northern governments will communicate with each other. Northern leaders agreed northern governments must work together to establish an overall agenda for the NWT.

At that meeting, the Aboriginal Summit tabled a proposal to establish an intergovernmental assembly that would provide an ongoing forum for such discussions. We strongly support such a forum and will be working with our partner government to make it a reality.

Partnership also means working with other governments in the Northwest Territories on matters of priority to them. In January I spoke about this government’s commitment to the negotiation and implementation of aboriginal rights agreements in the Northwest Territories, agreements that will bring further clarity and certainty to governance in our territory.

Mr. Speaker, we are working hard with the Tlicho to finalize the drafting of the Tlicho Community Services Agency Act for introduction in this Legislative Assembly. This legislation represents another important step in the implementation of aboriginal rights in the Northwest Territories. It is the third and final piece of legislation required of this Legislative Assembly to ratify the Tlicho Land Claim and Self-Government Agreement, the first combined land claims and self-government agreement in our history.

Mr. Speaker, this government also recognizes the importance of building a foundation for strong, self-reliant community governments. In collaboration with community governments, we will move to provide the tools for community governments to achieve greater autonomy with the legislative and financial ability to govern effectively, manage their priorities and be accountable to their constituents.

We have been working towards this goal for many years, the goal of providing community governments, in a supportive and collaborative manner, with the full authority and responsibility they have been asking for. The Honourable Henry Zoe, Minister of Municipal and Community Affairs, will be outlining our plans in this regard to municipal leaders at the annual general meeting of the Northwest Territories Association of Communities next month in Hay River.

Mr. Speaker, strong political partnerships must be complemented by equally strong economic partnerships with other governments and the private sector. These partnerships are required to build desperately needed infrastructure to further economic projects or to fund critically needed training programs. We have seen many examples of such partnerships unfold over the past few months. The Deh Cho Bridge project and hydro development in the Akaitcho and Sahtu regions are examples of the government and aboriginal groups working together in a productive manner on key projects.

We have worked with other levels of government to match funding on critical infrastructure programming. The Minister of Transportation, the Honourable Michael McLeod, has worked with his federal colleagues to obtain funding from the strategic infrastructure program to fund important infrastructure projects. Last week, Minister McLeod joined with the Honourable Ethel Blondin-Andrew, the Member of Parliament for the Western Arctic, to mark the beginning of work to reconstruct and pave the final 30 kilometres between Yellowknife and Rae.

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Earlier this month, the GNWT joined the federal government, aboriginal governments and industry in announcing a new mine training partnership funded by the GNWT, Canada and industry. Such programs will help train more of our people to take advantage of the opportunities created through the development of northern resources.

Mr. Speaker, by negotiating aboriginal rights agreements, by taking partnership approaches to economic and infrastructure projects and by ensuring a greater role for all governments in the NWT, we are building on our work during the first six months to create strong and lasting partnerships that are, in the long-term, a benefit to all residents of the Northwest Territories.

Mr. Speaker, over the past six months we have listened to leaders and residents of the Northwest Territories about the issues and priorities they believe are important.

We have been guided by input from Members of the Standing Committee on Accountability and Oversight. I would like to thank the chairman of AOC, Mr. Kevin Menicoche, and all Members of the Legislative Assembly for providing timely and important advice. This has contributed significantly to the development of the Government of the Northwest Territories’ strategic plan, which I am pleased to table today.

Mr. Speaker, this government is fully committed to sound fiscal management. The first budget presented by the Minister of Finance, the Honourable Floyd Roland, signalled our intent to balance both the expenditure and revenue side of our budget. We will continue to move forward in a manner that ensures the long-term fiscal sustainability of this government. This will require us to make difficult choices in the short term in order to protect those programs and services essential to all people and communities in the Northwest Territories.

It also means we must continue to press the federal government on concluding a fair agreement on formula financing negotiations. It means that we must continue to work with our partner aboriginal governments on reaching a devolution and resource revenue sharing agreement that ensures a fair sharing of resource revenues with northern governments.

While we intend to run a tight ship, we will also make strategic investments that make sense in light of the priorities we collectively establish, as a government, as a Caucus and as northern leaders.

In December, I said that I saw my role as Premier to “…lead a government with a vision developed and supported by all MLAs, a vision that we need to be prepared to modify as time progresses and as we are advised by our partners.” I believe this government and this legislature are on course to realize this objective.

The strategic plan of the Government of the Northwest Territories represents a starting point in our ongoing discussions with the people of the Northwest Territories. We have looked at the opportunities and challenges that define where we are today and have built on the vision and goals of the 15th Legislative Assembly to identify actions that get us where we want to be in the future.

The strategic plan is a 10-year plan. However, this does not mean it is carved in stone. It is important that this strategic plan is seen as a living document. It is a planning tool to help us identify our course of action. These actions will be reviewed and modified over time as we receive guidance from Members of Caucus and northern leaders.

The strategic plan sets our broad direction to the Government of the Northwest Territories by listing priorities and actions supporting the vision and goals of the Legislative Assembly. These priorities and actions represent a snapshot in time, not an exhaustive listing of all areas we will concentrate on over the next four years. They will be changed, modified and added to as we continue to work with our partners. The broad direction established in the strategic plan will provide direction to departments on the development of detailed departmental business plans for review by the Legislative Assembly.

The spirit of the strategic plan is captured in the title “Self-Reliant People, Communities and Northwest Territories -- A Shared Responsibility.” It emphasizes that we must each do our part, individually and collectively, to better our own lives and those of the people around us. Working together towards shared objectives, we can all reap the benefits and rewards of a vibrant Northwest Territories.

Mr. Speaker, while the strategic plan is a 10-year plan, we have already begun to take concrete actions based on priority issues identified by Members and northern leaders. I would like to briefly speak about a number of these actions today.

As the development of the Mackenzie Valley pipeline approaches, we must be prepared, as a legislature and as a government, for this historic development. I have already spoken about the joint Cabinet/AOC planning committee that will allow for a more collaborative approach to the planning for this project.

The pipeline project and associated gas development will be a complex undertaking using state of the art science and engineering practices. Our response to this project will be timely and relevant. To accomplish this we intend to establish a Mackenzie Valley pipeline office within the Department of Resources, Wildlife and Economic Development to coordinate our approach to this project.

Earlier this year, Members passed a motion confirming their view of the importance of early childhood programming and calling on government to restore funding for programming that ended on March 31st. Members talked about the need to support language and culture in early childhood programs to improve literacy results.

Mr. Speaker, this government agrees that early childhood programming is essential to long-term success. For this reason, Minister of Education, Culture and Employment, the Honourable Charles Dent, joined the chairperson of the Standing Committee on Social Programs, Ms. Sandy Lee, on May 4th to announce our intention to seek additional funding authority from this assembly to build on early literacy by restoring the language nest program. This program will help support families and communities in ensuring our youngest residents are able to learn their respective language and culture.

Mr. Speaker, since the beginning of the 15th Legislative Assembly, we have heard from Members about the need to reduce the extended waiting period necessary for people to access legal aid. We agree many wait too long to see a legal aid family law lawyer. To address this issue, the Minister of Justice, the Honourable Charles Dent, has been working hard with the Legal Services Board to address this issue.

I am pleased to announce we will be seeking supplementary funding during the current session to open a separate legal aid clinic dedicated to family law.

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It is proposed that this clinic employ two full-time family law lawyers and will be open in September. We believe this approach will assist in providing timely and effective family law services to those most in need.

In conclusion, Mr. Speaker, the first six months of the mandate of the 15th Legislative Assembly have been a success by any objective measure. We have found new, cooperative ways to do business. We have passed a budget and set a prudent fiscal course for the net four years and beyond.

Today we are publicly releasing our goals and vision for the Northwest Territories. As Premier, I am proud to release the strategic plan of the government, a document that builds upon the work all Members have done in our short time in office. I look forward to discussing the strategic plan with the Members of this legislature and other northern leaders in the coming weeks and months. Through such discussion, we can make sure we stay on course to achieve our long-term vision for a productive and self-reliant Northwest Territories in the years to come. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, some weeks ago, I was at the Legislative Assembly when I saw my name on the computer. You can imagine my surprise when I saw a picture of the roof of the Samuel Hearne Secondary School classroom under the weight of a heavy snowstorm. I graduated from that school, Mr. Speaker. Is this what things have come to, Mr. Speaker? Will we be known across the country as a territory up north where schools are falling under the watchful eye of the government? I am thankful no one was particularly hurt, Mr. Speaker. It’s an unfortunate time for mishap, Mr. Speaker. Many of the Grade 12 students are working hard in preparations for their final graduation.

I was interested to hear the options had come together quickly, so the Grade 12 classes will not be delayed. I have a great deal of sympathy for the students and parents who are working so hard under less than ideal conditions. Mr. Speaker, I have spoken before about the importance of comfortable and safe schools to provide space and a learning environment that creates opportunity for our children…(inaudible). During the last session, in a Member’s statement I spoke quite strongly about the school children in Tulita. I mentioned some problems of Chief Albert Wright School having severe overcrowding, some structural problems and possibly health concerns as a result of poor ventilation. The Minister of Education, Culture and Employment was quick to respond to my concerns, ensuring that these problems are not immediate health risks.

I thank the Minister and his staff for their vigilance. Working together we can ensure that the schools are supported, and are healthy and safe places for learning to take place. We don’t want any more stories about the schools falling down across the Northwest Territories. I will have questions for the Minister at the appropriate time. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, in the heightened security environment that we all live in today, more and more people are being asked to produce photo identification in the course of their day-to-day routines. Although drivers’ licences are primarily intended to show that a person is qualified to operate a motor vehicle, in reality people do rely on them for proof of their identity in a number of situations. Many organizations, including banks and airlines, consider them a standard piece of identification. For many people, their driver's licence is the only kind of standard ID that they have. Mr. Speaker, I include myself in that group of people. Mr. Speaker, I was, therefore, very concerned to hear from a constituent of mine that while traveling to southern Canada, his driver’s licence was rejected as a proof of identity, presumably because it did lack authenticity. Sadly, I know that this was not the only case. Although the idea of a national standard for drivers’ licences has reached the drawing board of discussion, according to the Minister, the NWT drivers’ licence needs some immediate considerations. At the appropriate time, Mr. Speaker, I will be asking the Minister of Transportation about his plans that will continue to ensure the confidence in the NWT drivers’ licence. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My statement today is with regard to the community freezers in Paulatuk and Holman. At my recent constituency meeting in Paulatuk and Holman on April 29, 2004, the residents of these two communities raised, once again, the importance of community freezers. They indicated that community freezers are a vital component for the safe storage of their annual harvest. Mr. Speaker, the high cost of diesel-generated electricity running these freezers is expensive, there is no doubt about it. Small communities are struggling to meet the needs of their residents as it is, and they just do not have the cash laying around to cover thousands of dollars in utility costs. My constituents are concerned that if RWED cannot provide the necessary funds for the maintenance and operation of these freezers, their annual spring harvest will spoil and they will be left without traditional food. Traditional food plays a very significant role in their daily diet and offsets the high cost of buying southern foods in local stores. This government promotes traditional food as a healthier nutrition choice than a lot of what you can buy in the stores.

There is another factor that may come into play, which is one concern of the residents of Paulatuk and Homan, and that is the wastage of wild meat, which, in their culture, is forbidden. Mr. Speaker, I had the opportunity to discuss this issue with the honourable Minister on a couple of occasions. Today, as I speak, there is still no commitment from his department to address this important concern from the residents of Paulatuk and Holman by providing sufficient funds to maintain their freezers for the 2004-2005 season, and suffice it to say that government is looking for more energy efficient solutions, and in the long term I think that I will see that as the outcome. But, in the meantime, what are the people supposed to do?

Mr. Speaker, the weather is particularly warm and it is a concern for residents of Paulatuk and Holman and they cannot be without a safe storage for their annual spring and summer harvest. If resolution is not found today, my constituents will suffer in particular with regard to their traditional hunt and summer holidays.

Mr. Speaker, I ask for unanimous consent to conclude my statement.

The Member is seeking for consent to conclude his statement. Are there any nays? There are no nays. You have unanimous consent to conclude your statement.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, at the perfect time I will have questions for the honourable Minister of RWED. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, navigating one’s way through the government bureaucracy to access programs and services can be a difficult task at the best of times. In many cases this is something that can be overcome with patience and persistence. However, for people who depend on programs and services to meet their basic needs, missing important information about rules and criteria can have devastating consequences. I’d like to speak to a couple of those rules today.

Mr. Speaker, recently I’ve heard from constituents who have just moved out of public housing. Their income support accommodation allowance was set at $32 a month, which is only enough to rent subsidized public housing units. One constituent, Mr. Speaker, left another community to move to Hay River only to get there to find out that they were not aware of the rule that you had to live in the community for six months prior to applying for another public housing unit. So even though they were a public housing client in another community, once they moved to Hay River they were not aware of the six-month rule.

Another rule that a lot of people are not aware of who live in public housing is that if you owe any back rent to any housing authority, or any damages to any housing authority, or to any other landlord for that matter, you are also ineligible for public housing. I think that there are probably very good and sound reasons for some of these rules; some I would question to some extent. The one on mobility within territory is a difficult one sometimes, because people sometimes move for good and valid reasons: to seek education or employment opportunities, or training. For example, a single mother may decide to go to Fort Smith or Yellowknife to seek training, go back to their home community for the summer only to find out that the home they gave up in public housing is no longer available to them because they’ve left the community and they’re back on the bottom of the list because of the six-month criteria.

The rule with respect to not owing back rent is also a good rule because people shouldn’t be living in public housing and expect them not to have to be current with their rent, especially if it is $32 a month. That having been said, there may be good and solid grounds for some of these rules, but, Mr. Speaker, surely the government has to show some compassion and take some responsibility for making program rules and criteria clear, especially when lack of awareness can result in someone ending up on the street.

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

The Member is seeking unanimous consent to conclude her statement. Are there any nays? There are no nays. You have unanimous consent to conclude.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker, and thank you, colleagues. Mr. Speaker, we have tenant relation officers and income support workers who should be in a position to warn people about the consequences of leaving public housing, and also not paying their rent and leaving debts owing to housing authorities. Mr. Speaker, people generally want to avoid being homeless if they can help it. I believe that, and they need to make informed choices, but, Mr. Speaker, they also need to know the rules. Public housing is usually people who are in difficult circumstances, and it needs to be viewed as such. We have an obligation to make those rules very clear and that’s why I make this statement today. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to use my Member’s statement today to speak about the proposed Mackenzie River bridge project. The Mackenzie River is one of the great rivers of the world. The Mackenzie River runs through most of our territory and affects and impacts many of our residents in a variety of different ways. It causes me a great deal of concern that this government is going down the path of building a bridge without all the answers to many questions. I should state for the record that I am a supporter of putting a bridge across the Mackenzie River. However, we should, at the very least, get a handle on some key concerns. I have not seen a design, it seems to change on the fly. The proponent was recently asked what the impact of rising steel prices would do to the project. His reply was that more concrete would be used. What is the design, and what will be the price?

Mr. Speaker, I also have some concerns regarding the financial arrangement for this project, and how other initiatives brought on by this government, such as the Taltson hydro project, what impact that will have on the possible toll revenue for the bridge project. I have many questions surrounding the cost and viability of this project. The last cost we have seen is in the neighbourhood of $57 million. How sound is this number and, again, what exactly is being proposed?

Mr. Speaker, most people want a bridge. It is exciting. It will be a key piece of public infrastructure for a century or more. I just want to ensure that we have all the answers to the many questions that surround this project. It is also a concern of mine that under the Deh Cho Bridge Act, Cabinet has the authority to sign off on this project without input from regular Members. If all goes well, the GNWT will get a $60 million to $70 million bridge paid for by toll revenues over 35 years. If all goes south or sour, the GNWT will get an $80 million to $100 million bridge that toll revenues alone will not cover. The shortfall will then have to come from other GNWT revenues.

To me it seems like a very one-sided agreement, and I will have specific questions for the Premier, who is the Minister responsible for the Deh Cho Bridge project, at the appropriate time. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. For the past few months the Yellowknifer newspaper has supplied us with a new and I think very valuable feature, and that is with the assistance of the RCMP and their crime statistics, a snapshot of a very, very real side of life in Yellowknife. It has the number of assaults, break-ins, impaired driving, public drunkenness and shop lifting complaints handled by the Yellowknife RCMP detachment. The headlines are disturbing. There were 528 calls for RCMP service in the two-week period between May 3rd and 16th, Mr. Speaker. Thirty percent of these involved alcohol. That is more than 20 a day. We know that hard drug use is rapidly escalating, and enforcement authorities would say in Yellowknife we have a drug and alcohol epidemic.

This community though, is demonstrating that it knows there are problems, and it is showing that it wants to do something about it. It is getting involved, and it is taking leadership. The Community Wellness Coalition and its Citizens on Patrol -- or COPs -- program, are working to deal with the street issues of alcohol and drug abuse. The Salvation Army, the YWCA and the Native Women’s Association are working to come to grips with alcohol and its devastating effects, and they are to be congratulated for their efforts. Now is the time for this government to show that it too can and should be getting involved with alcohol and its abuse.

I was very pleased to hear Premier Handley’s commitment in mid-April that this government is finally going to rewrite the Liquor Act. It is 75 pages, Mr. Speaker. It is one of the more complex and regrettably one of our more outdated pieces of legislation. My personal view is that most alcohol abuse problems don’t occur in bars and drinking establishments. They happen in homes and at house parties where spousal and family abuse takes a tremendous toll, especially on kids. They happen in motor vehicle and boat accidents, where people are hurt and killed. Alcohol abuse happens at workplaces and jobsites, where it cuts productivity and threatens safety.

Mr. Speaker, previous governments of the NWT I think have been in a state of denial regarding alcohol abuse. Positive strides have been made regarding tobacco reduction. Can’t we do the same with alcohol? I think we are on the verge of doing that. Mr. Speaker, I seek unanimous consent to conclude my statement.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. In a newsletter that I recently distributed to my riding, Mr. Speaker, I proposed that this government should consider taking a review to a new step in that we would be probably looking at two acts governing the way we control liquor. Mr. Speaker, one act would provide an effective business framework for the supply, the taxation and the pricing of alcohol. The other, and the far more significant one, the one we really need, is to legislate an entirely new approach for the prevention, awareness, enforcement, treatment and community empowerment, a social approach to the way we manage alcohol. My constituents have repeatedly told me that frontline social issues, many of which are impacted by alcohol, can and must be dealt with head on by this government. I look forward to a territory-wide review, which is long overdue, in the way we manage liquor here in the NWT. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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Mahsi cho, Mr. Speaker. I would like to say what a great pleasure it is to be in the House again for this Third Session of the 15th Legislative Assembly. Spring is with us once again, finally. This time of year there is always a kind of change in the North, time to put away some things and a time to gain new things. Perhaps one of the most important changes we see in our communities at this time of year is graduation. This is the time of year when students take what they have learned in the classroom out into the real world, when they begin in earnest to apply their new skills to improve their lives, and the lives of the people around them and their communities.

In my riding of Nahendeh, it has been a good year for education. We have a number of students graduating from a variety of courses, and I would like to take the time today to recognize them and their achievements. We have 14 students who earned their high school diplomas. The majority of those students are from Fort Simpson. We have one from Nahanni, and as well as one student from Fort Liard. I should point out that for our smaller communities it is a significant achievement to have a student earn their high school diploma, and we are justifiably proud of the achievements these young people have made. We are also proud of other students who have graduated from high school and have continued their education and gone on to earn their diplomas at the college level, not only in the Nahendeh riding, but outside the NWT, as well. For example, we have one student from Wrigley who graduated as a teacher in Whitehorse; a Fort Simpson graduate of ecotourism in Calgary; and a nursing graduate from Wrigley in Yellowknife.

It has also been a busy year at the Aurora College. Eight people successfully completed the trades access program in Fort Simpson, and eight others completed the office administration program, as well as six students from Fort Liard and two from Nahanni Butte improved their education levels through the adult basic literacy and education program. In Trout Lake we have five women who graduated from the Aurora College introduction to cooking program.

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

The Member is seeking unanimous consent to conclude his statement. Are there any nays? You have unanimous consent to conclude your statement.

Mahsi cho, Mr. Speaker. I certainly would have liked to take the time to read out the names of every one of these students, but the list is too long. They all have done very well and are all deserving of individual recognition. That being said, that is a good thing, Mr. Speaker. Still I have no doubt that in the future we will see even more people from the Nahendeh riding improving their lives and their communities through education. I am confident that when I stand in the House next spring to recognize our graduates, the number of students having successfully completed their studies will be even greater. Thank you, Mr. Speaker, for allowing me to take this time to recognize and congratulate the graduates of the Nahendeh riding. We are very proud of them all. Mahsi cho.

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Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, it gives me great pleasure to be back with yourself and all of my colleagues in this wonderful House as we commence another session of this, the 15th Legislative Assembly. Mr. Speaker, today I would like to focus on a couple of events that will be occurring in Hay River in the very near future.

Mr. Speaker, this weekend I will be returning home to Hay River to volunteer at the 20th Annual Knights of Columbus Lobster Fest. This event has long proven to be a premier social event of the year in Hay River. This is a major fundraiser for the Hay River Knights of Columbus organization, of which I have had the pleasure to serve for the past 22 years. This event is an excellent example of what can be accomplished through volunteering. Mr. Speaker, this event brings together some 16 or so businesses, some 60 to 70 individual volunteers, many of whom don’t belong to the Knights of Columbus, as well as the 600 plus individuals who come out and support this event.

Mr. Speaker, I am very proud of this event, as I had a major role to play in getting it all started 20 years ago, and I have worked and volunteered at this event every year since. Mr. Speaker, I am proud to report that this event has raised over $300,000, all of which has gone back into the community, and mostly to youth organizations.

Mr. Speaker, on June 26th the graduation ceremonies for Diamond Jenness Secondary School will take place in Hay River. This is the largest graduating class to date. Some 45 students will graduate. My sincere congratulations go out to all of the graduates, and I look forward to attending their ceremonies. Mr. Speaker, in closing, I know that many of the graduates will be celebrating their accomplishments, and so they should. However, Mr. Speaker, I would like to encourage all the students to do so in a responsible manner that will not put their lives or the lives of the fellow graduates at risk. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, as a legislator, I believe in the principle that the performance of a government is measured by how well we take care of the most vulnerable in our society. One of the most vulnerable I believe are our seniors, Mr. Speaker, and I am glad to see two distinguished seniors, Ed Jeske and Esther Braden, in the gallery.

Mr. Speaker, I must tell you that our seniors need the help of this government to deal with the housing crisis. In Yellowknife in particular, Mr. Speaker, our housing market is on a runaway train. The lack of supply to meet overwhelming demands has the prices skyrocketing with no end in sight. We are seeing a situation where people are buying houses at higher prices than the listed price. This is making it hard even for the young with steady incomes and jobs, but it is really making it impossible for our senior citizens on fixed incomes. Even those seniors, Mr. Speaker, who have houses paid for and have no mortgages are having a hard time covering the high cost of fuel, power, water and taxes, which all have been rising. Those without adequate income or affordable housing are really in dire straits. They are lining up for limited spaces in low-cost units, but these line-ups are very long, and they are not moving very fast or getting any shorter. I believe a group of seniors that are really suffering are those with a small income, but incomes too high to qualify for income support or social housing, but not enough to buy or maintain their own housing. They are completely being left on the sideline and ignored.

Mr. Speaker, it is high time that this government act on the principle of elevating the quality of life for the most vulnerable, and to also act on the knowledge that the seniors are the fastest growing population in the Northwest Territories. We have to have a plan in place to figure out how to address the unique needs of seniors. We need to have independent housing units that are affordable that meet the physical and financial needs of our growing population of seniors.

Mr. Speaker, I believe it is a very good thing that many of our senior citizens are choosing to retire in the North. Mr. Speaker, may I seek unanimous consent to conclude my statement?

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Thank you, colleagues. Mr. Speaker, I believe it is a very good thing that more and more senior citizens, especially in Yellowknife, are choosing to retire in the North. I believe that they add to the wholeness of our society, and make us more complete. Next week following the session is Senior Citizens’ Week, and I am going to put the Minister responsible for Seniors, Minister Miltenberger, on notice, and Cabinet, that I am going to make the senior issues -- and there are many of them -- a sort of a theme topic for me to pursue during this short session. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

---Applause

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. First I just want to say hello to all the Members of this Assembly, to the people in the gallery and to all my constituents. It is a pleasure to return to Yellowknife to this Third Session of the 15th Legislative Assembly, and it is a welcoming sight to see all the Members returning to the session in good health. I sincerely hope that this remains the same in the future.

Mr. Speaker, since the last session in March 2004, many new developments have taken place, not only in the Tu Nedhe region, but also in the NWT and in Canada. With many new developments in the Tu Nedhe region, such as the signing of the Snap Lake project, socioeconomic and environmental agreements, the municipal co-management signing agreement, and also ongoing discussions on future hydro developments along with some improvements in forestry, housing and social sectors of my constituency. I would like to state that I look forward to working more diligently with all the Members of this 15th Assembly to move forward and realize some of the goals that will be laid out in the government’s strategic plan, and making some of these new developments beneficial to all the residents of Tu Nedhe.

Mr. Speaker, although the future does seem brighter from a government standpoint, I cannot stress the need for this government to continue its commitment to resolve many outstanding issues of my constituents in areas of income support, student financial assistance, seniors health issues, and a review of the rent scale and WCB, just to name a few.

Mr. Speaker, I feel that this government is going to realize that any progress towards achieving a small degree of the 15th Legislative Assembly’s vision of self-reliant individuals and families, and healthy communities we have to start from the grassroots and work our way up, because if we want to retain and improve the public’s confidence in our government like what the Calgary Flames are doing, grassroots is where we need to start. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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Mr. Speaker, I’d like to recognize a number of people. First of all my wife, Theresa, who is here; Barb Saunders, the executive director for the Council of Status of Women, my faithful constituent; the major for the Salvation Army, Karen Hoeft; and also, I don’t know if he’s left, but Chief Peter Liske was here as well. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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Item 5, recognition of visitors in the gallery. Mr. Menicoche.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I brought with me my summer student, constituency assistant from Fort Simpson, Ms. Tiffany Pedersen. I would just like to recognize her today. Mahsi cho.

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Item 5, recognition of visitors in the gallery. Mr. Bell.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’d like to recognize Dennis Marchiori, who is the Human Rights Act implementation coordinator, and also I am hoping my colleagues will join me in giving a warm welcome to Therese Boullard, who is the new director of Human Rights for the Northwest Territories. They have a lot of work to do. We know that we’re opening an office very soon and we wish them all the best. Thank you.

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Welcome to the Legislative Assembly. Item 5, recognition of visitors in the gallery. Mr. Braden.

Mr. Speaker, my colleague, Ms. Lee, has already recognized persons in the gallery, some seniors here, and I would too. My mother, Esther, and her good friend and neighbour, Ed Jeske, and Ms. Barb Hood, the executive director of the NWT Seniors' Society. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

---Applause

Welcome to the Legislative Assembly. Item 5, recognition of visitors in the gallery. Mr. Villeneuve.

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. I am not sure if he’s still here, but I would to recognize the chief of the Lutselk’e Dene Band, Chief Archie Catholique. He was here earlier, I don’t know if he’s behind me or what, but if he is, welcome.

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Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, referring back to my Member’s statement, the NWT driver's licence, as I see it, is an important piece of identification that in these days of increased security is being more and more criticized for authenticity. Therefore, it demands quality, safety and security around our country with those needs in mind. That is why national standards need to be developed.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to ask the Minister of Transportation what is his department’s involvement, if any, in a discussion to develop a national standard for driver’s licences? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Minister of Transportation, Mr. McLeod.

Return To Question 130-15(3): National Standards For Drivers’ Licences

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, our department, along with all North American jurisdictions, is participating with the Canadian Council on Motor Transport Administrators and also the American Association of Motor Vehicle Administrators to develop new acceptable standards. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Supplementary, Mr. Hawkins.

Supplementary To Question 130-15(3): National Standards For Drivers’ Licences

Thank you, Mr. Speaker, and thank you, Mr. Minister, for your answer. Mr. Speaker, can the Minister tell us what the process and timelines will be for the approval and implementation of a new national standard for drivers’ licences? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Minister of Transportation, Mr. McLeod.

Further Return To Question 130-15(3): National Standards For Drivers’ Licences