Debates of May 9, 2007 (day 3)

Good afternoon, colleagues. Welcome back to the Chamber for the continuation of the sixth and final session of the 15th Legislative Assembly.

I know you are all eager to get started in this, our next to last sitting, but I would like to take a few moments to acknowledge some special events in our Legislature since we last met.

I was very pleased last week to hold the 8th Annual Youth Parliament of the Northwest Territories. Nineteen high school students from each electoral district in the Northwest Territories participated and received a first-hand look at the workings of our unique style of government. As I had announced earlier, the theme for this year's Parliament focussed on enhancing the role of women in politics, and I am proud to announce that 16 of the 19 youth parliamentarians were young women.

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I applaud all 19 members of this year's Youth Parliament for a job well done. I was fortunate to be in the gallery for the sitting of the Youth Parliament and witness the performance, and I am confident that maybe we'll see some of them representing future governments of the Northwest Territories.

In continuing the theme of women in politics, it was also my pleasure last week to welcome the Outreach Program of the Commonwealth Women Parliamentarians, Canadian Region. We were very fortunate that this meeting coincided with our Youth Parliament and it was a great pleasure to have such capable, experienced politicians including our very own Ms. Lee and Mrs. Groenewegen address the young parliamentarians.

Sadly, colleagues, we have seen the loss of several great leaders and prominent northerners in the last few weeks. We join with their families and communities to mourn the passing of respected elder and former Member of this House, Mr. Pauloosie Paniloo; former Member of Parliament, Robert -- better known as "Bud" -- Orange; respected elder Harry Simpson of Gameti; Robert Blake of Fort McPherson; Phillip Goulet of Ndilo; Garret Ruben of Paulatuk; and Winnie Carpenter of Sachs Harbour. All were noted for their many contributions to their communities and to the North. I extend my condolences, and those of this House, to the families and the communities of all of these men and women. They were leaders who will be missed by their people.

Also, our condolences go out to all residents of the Northwest Territories who have had the misfortune of losing loved ones since our last sitting.

Now, colleagues, to the business at hand. As my representative from Hay River North in Youth Parliament so politely put it: Let's move on.

I look forward to a very productive session and remind you all of the standards that we have set for the dignity and respect of this House.

Mr. Speaker, as this Legislative Assembly is in the final year of its mandate with an election scheduled for this fall, it seems like an appropriate time to take stock of our work to date. In particular, I want to speak about some of the major initiatives we have moved forward over the past year and those that will be the focus of our work for the remainder of our mandate.

I want to congratulate all students from the Northwest Territories who have or will be graduating from high school and post-secondary school programs this spring and summer. The education of our youth remains one of the most pressing challenges facing our territory and a continuing priority of this government.

The record number of graduates we have seen over the past several years from high school and post-secondary institutions, along with the significant investments this Legislative Assembly has made in our education system, bodes well for the future of our territory. To our graduates and all other students, we salute your hard work and commitment and hope you choose to put your knowledge and skills to work in the Northwest Territories.

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Mr. Speaker, when we took office in late 2003, we began a consultative process leading to the development of a strategic plan that has been the basis for our work over the past three and a half years. A major focus of our work has been to provide our residents and communities with the tools they need to help build a better life for themselves and their families.

The most basic need for people in all of our communities is access to affordable housing. While the demand for affordable housing in this territory still far outstrips supply, we have made significant gains in closing the gap. In partnership with the federal government, we have invested $100 million in the affordable housing initiative to build over 500 new dwellings over a period of three years. We are also working to streamline our traditional programming to ensure greater flexibility and access for those most in need.

Homelessness is also a critical issue in our communities. The issue is a complex one as the factors leading to homelessness are diverse and vary over time. No one sector or level of government alone can address the problems of homelessness. We recognize those on the front lines, who work directly with homeless people or people at risk of homelessness, are best placed to identify effective solutions. Joint action between governments, the private sector and not-for-profit organizations is the best way to reduce and prevent homelessness

An example of this type of joint effort is Bailey House in Yellowknife, named for Reverend Gordon and Ruth Bailey. This facility will offer services beyond those offered in emergency shelters by assisting homeless male clients seeking to make the transition to a permanent community residence. Support for the facility is coming from many sources, including the federal government, the City of Yellowknife, the Bailey House Fundraising Committee, Diavik Diamond Mines, and others. Our government is providing a significant financial contribution to this project through the Northwest Territories Housing Corporation, Education, Culture and Employment, and Health and Social Services.

This year we will also be seeking applications in communities for projects to provide shelter services for individuals who are homeless and do not have access to emergency housing.

Providing increased and better programming for youth in our communities also remains an important focus for this government. This year we are increasing funding support for the operation of community youth centres. We also continue to provide funding for important programs, such as the NWT Youth Corp, which supports a wide range of youth-at-risk initiatives, and the Take a Kid Trapping, which allows an estimated 1,000 young people to learn more about northern culture through this on-the-land initiative.

Foster care is an essential and necessary service provided throughout the territory by many dedicated foster parents who care for some of our most vulnerable children. As a result of increased concern regarding regional discrepancies in foster care rates, we’ll be taking steps during the current session to enhance funding allocated to foster care services in all communities.

Ensuring safe communities remains an essential part of providing residents with the tools to help themselves. Eliminating the instances of violence against families is a critical element of this. In 2004, we tabled our response to the NWT Action Plan on Family Violence. Phase two will be a five-year framework that will improve education and awareness, enhance prevention activities and services, improve training, and further develop partnerships and coordination that will lead to significant investments and concrete actions over the next four years to address issues around family violence. In 2007-2008, we will be proposing additional funding to advance specific actions such as specialized training for shelter workers on helping children who witness abuse.

As part of the government’s commitment to enhancing community policing, we are proposing to fund six new RCMP positions to provide full-time policing services in Gameti, Wrigley and Sachs Harbour.

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Contribution funding for victim services organizations has been increased by 50 percent starting this year and we are beginning programs to do outreach work with child victims.

Mr. Speaker, we are also working hard to provide communities with the resources necessary to deal with challenges they face. We have significantly increased funding to community governments over the past three years. Since 2004, we have provided an additional $9.6 million to communities for O and M, and increased funding for community public infrastructure by $12.9 million. We also established a $35 million community capacity building fund to allow communities to address local priorities.

A second priority identified in our strategic plan was the need to negotiate fair deals with Canada and aboriginal governments.

As all Members of this Legislative Assembly contributed greatly to ensuring our message has been heard in southern Canada, in 2005 we went en masse to Ottawa with aboriginal leaders and leaders from our business community to bring this message directly to the federal decision-makers. We also made our case to the Council of Federation Advisory Panel on Fiscal Imbalance and the Federal Expert Panel on Equalization and Territorial Formula Financing.

We were pleased both of these important panels recognized the challenges facing northern governments in providing basic public services to their residents. Their report emphasized a unique territorial characteristic: the small dispersed populations, developing economies, underdeveloped infrastructure, high living costs, challenging social living conditions relative to southern Canada, and evolving political systems in the northern territories.

As a result of these efforts, our overall financial position has improved and stabilized since we took office in 2003. The recent federal budget contained a number of important commitments for northerners, not the least of which was confirmation of a new territorial financing formula. The federal budget also included additional funding to address infrastructure needs, climate change, and several other key priority areas for the North. As well, our borrowing limit has been increased to $500 million, providing future governments with the flexibility to make strategic investments in critical northern infrastructure.

We are pleased that resource revenue sharing discussions can now continue within the context of overall devolution negotiations. As recommended by the expert panel, the Government of Canada will continue to treat natural resource revenues outside of the formula. Consistent with equalization, 50 percent of resource revenues will be excluded from the offset calculation against the federal grant up to a yet to be determined overall cap.

Mr. Speaker, the evolution of this territory is linked closely to transfer for responsibility for lands and resources and the revenue they generate to northern governments. The Members of this Legislative Assembly passed a motion last fall sending a clear message that we needed to work cooperatively with northern leaders and press harder to get an agreement-in-principle completed in a reasonable time frame.

I am pleased to inform this House today we have reached an agreement-in-principle on devolution and resource revenue sharing between the Inuvialuit Regional Council, the Gwich’in Tribal Council, Sahtu Secretariat Incorporated, and the Northwest Territories Metis Nation and our government.

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This agreement-in-principle represents an important leap forward in the negotiations process and indicates the commitment and solidarity of these organizations to advance and close these vitally important negotiations in a timely manner. The draft agreement-in-principle contains the following key features and proposals:

the transfer of the administration and control of federal Crown lands and natural resources to the Northwest Territories;

the protection against the abrogation and derogation of aboriginal rights;

a framework for the much needed review and reform of current federal lands and resource management systems while providing for the cooperative and coordinated governance of lands and resources among the Government of the Northwest Territories and aboriginal governments;

a provision for the fair treatment with respect to resource royalties and for the sharing of these royalties among northern governments; and

provision for reasonable and adequate transfer of one-time and ongoing funds for the management and administration of NWT lands and resources.

As part of our agreement with these four aboriginal organizations we have also reached an agreement on sharing the net fiscal benefit that will accrue to northern governments from devolution.

Later this week, we will jointly forward this draft agreement-in-principle to Minister Prentice for his consideration. It is our hope that Minister Prentice responds in a positive manner so we can work towards finalizing this agreement-in-principle quickly with the federal government.

Completing negotiations on devolution, which has gone on for 20 long years, will facilitate the progressive development of governance in the Northwest Territories. Devolution will clearly place the responsibility for our economic and social future and the stewardship of our natural resources and environment where it rightfully belongs and will create incentives for sustainable development. Devolution will also serve to facilitate the conclusion and implementation of self-government agreements.

Mr. Speaker, the face of governance in the Northwest Territories is changing as aboriginal rights negotiations are concluded and agreements are implemented. This environment is a complex one. Agreements deal in varying degrees with aboriginal rights over land, resources and self-government, and these agreements are at differing stages of negotiation or implementation.

We are making tangible progress in these negotiations. We are working with the Tlicho to implement the Tlicho Final Agreement, the first combined land resources and self-government agreement in the Northwest Territories. We have finalized process and schedule agreements with the Gwich’in, Inuvialuit and Norman Wells to negotiate new self-government agreements. We are in the final stages of negotiations of a final Deline Self-Government Agreement; the first community self-government in the Northwest Territories. Last November, our government reached an interim land withdrawal agreement with the Akaitcho Dene First Nation that clarified land issues within the city of Yellowknife.

Mr. Speaker, a third component of our strategic plan is the development of the economy and infrastructure of the Northwest Territories.

A primary driver of our economy over the past 10 years has been the diamond industry. The Northwest Territories is now one of the world’s largest producers of diamonds by value. The growth in the diamond industry has been phenomenal, with production in 2006 topping 12.9 million carats with an overall value of $1.6 billion. Currently, Canada produces 11 percent of the total global output of rough diamonds and this is expected to increase to 15 percent when Snap Lake goes into full production. It is an incredible success story for an industry that did not exist in Canada 15 years ago. The success is testament to the ingenuity and perseverance of the Northwest Territories mining industry and their partners.

Our work continues to build a strong diamond mining and manufacturing sector in the Northwest Territories. Recently our government reached an agreement with De Beers to provide rough diamonds to the secondary diamond industry.

If diamond mining represents our present, the development of our vast natural gas and oil resources will be a critical part of our future. The Mackenzie gas pipeline project has potential, if we do it right, to trigger a level of economic growth unprecedented in the history of the Northwest Territories. However, the project is facing difficult challenges and is particularly threatened by significant cost increases. The latest estimate by Imperial Oil shows project costs climbing to $16.2 billion. In this, the Mackenzie Valley gas pipeline is not an exception as cost increases are common these days in resource projects throughout the world. At the same time, the projected prices for natural gas are not as robust as they once were. Caught between rising costs and lower revenues, the economics of this project clearly need some work.

We believe these challenges can be overcome if government and industry work together to resolve them. This work will focus our continued discussion with proponents on a stable and secure fiscal environment for the development of the Mackenzie gas pipeline project. As importantly, we believe governments must work together on the development of public infrastructure supporting the project, including the Mackenzie Valley highway.

The Mackenzie Valley gas pipeline is a basin-opening project that will provide significant benefit to Canada beyond the direct economic benefits from this construction. Our government believes the Mackenzie Valley gas pipeline is too advanced, too desirable, too necessary and too beneficial to the North and to Canada to allow it to fail.

Our government is working hard to make this project happen. We recently completed a socio-economic agreement with the proponents that included an estimated $21 million training fund, the establishment of an oil and gas advisory board with aboriginal governments, and confirmation from the Mackenzie gas project of employment and procurement commitments for the life of the project. We are also working with the Aboriginal Pipeline Group to facilitate their equity participation in this project.

Mr. Speaker, a lack of infrastructure is perhaps the single biggest impediment to further development in our territory.

We are pleased with the commitment of the federal government in the recent budget to provide each jurisdiction with a base of $25 million annually in infrastructure funding for the next seven years. We intend to work with Members of this House, in the coming weeks, to develop a plan for allocation of this funding to key infrastructure throughout the territory such as the long-term planning for an all-season road to the Arctic Ocean.

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This will build on the work done under the Canada strategic infrastructure fund that was used to reconstruct a total of 60 kilometres of highway, the resurfacing of 52 kilometres of road, the construction of permanent bridges and improvements to the Mackenzie Valley winter road, including construction of bypasses to Norman Wells and Tulita. Additional work will be undertaken over the remaining two years of this agreement.

Mr. Speaker, our government is also working with the Fort Providence Combined Council Alliance, represented by the Deh Gah Got’ie Dene Council, the Fort Providence Metis Council and the Fort Providence Hamlet Council, to finalize an agreement for a public/private partnership to build a bridge across the Mackenzie River.

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The alliance, through the Deh Cho Bridge Corporation, will design, construct, finance and operate the bridge and transfer it to the Government of the Northwest Territories at the end of the concession period. I am pleased to report the Bridge Corporation is working with the Department of Transportation to finalize costs, the concession agreement and project financing. The schedule is to complete all necessary documentation soon, with construction anticipated to begin this summer.

The bridge across the Mackenzie River would change the physical landscape and symbolize the change in the political and economic landscape of the Northwest Territories. Our government is committed to supporting this innovative P3 project. The federal government must now step up to the plate and provide its share of the funding necessary for this important piece of the national highway system.

Finally, Mr. Speaker, we have made a commitment in our strategic plan to ensure we are responsible stewards of our environment.

Northerners are acutely aware of the importance of the natural environment and our collective responsibility for environmental stewardship. While more and more Canadians indicate the environment is a major concern, it is here in the North that the effects of climate change are felt most directly.

Energy efficiency and conservation, renewable energy development and the application of emerging technologies and the reduction of energy use by the GNWT are all areas in which our residents are demanding action. In response, the Ministers of Industry, Tourism and Investment and Environment and Natural Resources jointly released the NWT Energy Plan and Revised Greenhouse Gas Strategy in March. The plan proposes a total investment of $6 million for projects throughout the Northwest Territories, including the development of:

hydro resources, including the potential development of mini-hydroelectric plants to service small isolated communities;

alternative energy projects using wind and geothermal heat pumps;

projects using residual heating systems and surplus hydro capacity to heat public buildings;

an energy efficient financing program to support energy saving investments made by residents in their homes, appliances and vehicles; and

energy conversation programs to reduce household energy use.

The protection of our land, water and wildlife are also critical issues for northerners. Our government signed a memorandum of understanding with the Government of Alberta on the development of a Bilateral Water Management Agreement in March.

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 may conclude your statement, Mr. Handley.

Mr. Speaker, our government signed a memorandum of understanding with the Government of Alberta on the development of a Bilateral Water Management Agreement in March. This agreement, once ratified, will ensure the integrity of water flowing downstream from Alberta into the Mackenzie River Basin.

The GNWT has long been a proponent of the Protected Areas Strategy. To date, approximately 20 areas of interest have been identified across the NWT. The federal government recently announced an additional $10 million would be invested to create or expand protected areas in the NWT. This funding will be spent over the next two years and will focus on preserving boreal forests and the habitat for some caribou herds. This is welcome news and will see the first ever candidate under the Protected Areas Strategy, Sahoyue-?ehdacho near Deline, receive permanent protection.

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In February 2006, our government released the Barren-Ground Caribou Management Strategy to guide the management of barren-ground caribou herds in the Northwest Territories. This five-year strategy makes use of both traditional and scientific data and outlines short and long-term conservation measures aimed at ensuring viability of barren-ground caribou herds.

Another important and very successful initiative is the Beverage Container Program. This program continues to enjoy a high level of public support with almost 25 million empty beverage containers having been returned to community depots between April 2006 and March 2007. This includes 214 tons of aluminum and 158 tons of plastic containers, most of which would otherwise have been disposed of in landfills or left as litter.

Mr. Speaker, perhaps the most important initiative we are undertaking to protect our environment and reduce greenhouse gas emissions is the Taltson hydro expansion project. The Deze Energy Corporation recently submitted the project description to the Mackenzie Valley Land and Water Board to begin the regulatory process for this project. The Taltson hydro expansion project is a $400 million joint venture being undertaken by Deze Energy Corporation Limited, a joint venture between the Akaitcho Energy Corporation, the Metis Energy Company and the NWT Energy Corporation Limited. This is a unique approach to a project of this size and truly represents northern and aboriginal ownership on a major development.

The project involves building a new hydro facility adjacent to the site of the existing Taltson hydro plant to serve the four diamond mines. If all mines became hydro customers, overall NWT greenhouse gas emissions would be reduced by 15 percent and there would be 2,000 fewer truckloads of diesel fuel going over the NWT winter roads each year.

This project is a win-win for all involved. The mines would have access to a reliable, environmentally friendly source of power with long-term stability in price. Communities will benefit from both the local aboriginal ownership of the project and the training, job and business opportunities it would present. Our government would benefit from reduced greenhouse gas emissions and reduced pressure on the winter road system.

The new Taltson project is being undertaken by aboriginal development corporations and represents a new way of undertaking hydro development that places community and environmental issues front and centre and ensures they guide all aspects of the project.

Mr. Speaker, before I end, I want to take a moment to thank our public service without whom these critical initiatives could not move ahead. Having had the opportunity to work in our public service in a variety of roles for over 20 years, I can attest to the tremendous professionalism and dedication our employees bring to their jobs. I thank them all today on behalf of all Members of the Legislative Assembly.

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Mr. Speaker, the potential of our territory is enormous: potential for development, for investment, for community and individual progress, potential for shared benefits and wealth unprecedented in our history, wealth to benefit all Canadians. There can be little doubt the territory has been strengthened fiscally, economically, socially and politically during these past three and a half years. But of course, we still have a great deal of work to be completed before the end of our term. I look forward to working with all Members and with our other partners to ensure this work is completed for the benefit of the entire territory. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mahsi cho.

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Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I'd like to welcome my colleagues from a safe journey to the Sixth Session of the 15th Assembly.

Mr. Speaker, the Inuvialuit and everyone in the Northwest Territories have always shown respect for their elders. In our culture, the elders are respected for their protection of their children and great-grandchildren, and for their knowledge in ensuring the fish, wildlife, water and environment are protected and cared for for future generations to come. Mr. Speaker, I say this because as I was growing up as a child, I was taught some important values from my parents that I still use today and I have passed on to my children.

Mr. Speaker, having said that, I rise today to send my deepest sympathy, regrets and condolences to the families of the late Mr. Garret Ruben of Paulatuk and Mrs. Winnie Carpenter of Sachs Harbour. Both these individuals were very well-respected elders and leaders in their respective communities.

Mr. Speaker, Mr. Garret Ruben leaves behind his beloved wife, Olga, children and great-grandchildren. Olga stood beside her beloved husband, Garret, during his long battle with his illness. Mr. Ruben held many portfolios during his lifetime, which included mayor, councillor, COPE board of director, and a director of the hunters' and trappers' committee. Garret was also a distinguished leader in the growth of Paulatuk, and as a hunter, trapper and businessman. He will be greatly missed by his family and his friends along the Beaufort-Delta and across the Northwest Territories. I understand the funeral for the late Mr. Ruben is being held today at 2:00 p.m. in Paulatuk.

Mr. Speaker, another well-known respected elder, Mrs. Winnie Carpenter of Sachs Harbour, passed away peacefully after a long battle with her illness. Mrs. Carpenter leaves behind her husband, Mr. Andy Carpenter, Sr., children and great-grandchildren. Mr. Carpenter and the late Mrs. Carpenter played a very important role and were instrumental in the growth of the community of Sachs Harbour. She was also a COPE board director but, more importantly, a dedicated wife to her husband, Andy Carpenter, and her children. As one would always say: behind every man, there's a good woman. In this, it held true for Mr. Carpenter. Mr. Speaker, she will be greatly missed by her husband, Andy, her children and great-grandchildren, and to her many friends from the Beaufort-Delta and across the Northwest Territories.

Mr. Speaker, I'd like to seek unanimous consent to complete my statement. Thank you.

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

Thank you, colleagues. Mr. Speaker, I had the privilege and honour to work with Mr. Garret Ruben and Mrs. Winnie Carpenter during the intense land claim negotiations between COPE and the federal government. They both provided their expertise and knowledge of the land in these negotiations and to eventually promote the signing of the Western Arctic Inuvialuit final settlement claim.

In closing, Mr. Speaker, once again, on behalf of the constituents of Nunakput, I would like to extend my condolences to the families and friends of the late Mr. Garret Ruben of Paulatuk and Mrs. Winnie Carpenter of Sachs Harbour. Although I cannot be there during their time of sorrow and grief, my thoughts and prayers are with the families and friends.

In closing, Mr. Speaker, may their families continue to draw the strength and courage to carry on their lifelong traditional values. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, today I'd like to speak on an issue that has been brought to my attention by a few constituents in Inuvik. That, Mr. Speaker, is the fact that some of the departments of the GNWT are asking for medical prognosis when employees are given medical leave by a doctor. To me, Mr. Speaker, that violates the doctor/patient confidentiality. If the doctor gives the employee a leave form saying that they can't be at work for a week, that's between the employee and the doctor. I don't think it has anything to do with the department. I don't think the department has a right to ask for a prognosis of the employee. If I'm given a week off, Mr. Speaker, and the doctor gives me a note, it should be between me and the doctor and I shouldn't have to have a prognosis saying my back is out and I'm leaning a little bit to the left.

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I mean it's nobody's business but mine and the doctor's.

So, Mr. Speaker, I think there are a lot of questions that need to be asked on this particular issue and I intend to ask them to the Minister of Human Resources today, because I feel like it is a violation of the employee's privileges, their rights, and I think it questions the integrity of the doctors. We have a hard enough time trying to recruit doctors and keep them in the Northwest Territories and we put something like this on them, I think it's just more stress and more pressure on them. They shouldn't have to have their opinion questioned. They shouldn't have to provide a prognosis because it's really nobody's business but their's and the patient's. I have some serious concerns and some questions on that issue, Mr. Speaker, and I do intend to ask the Minister of the Human Resources department at the appropriate time. Thank you.

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(Translation) Thank you, Mr. Speaker. We have lost an elder in the past three weeks. His name is Harry Simpson. He's originally from Gameti. He was the last surviving member of the elders negotiation team that settled our Tlicho land claim.

Mr. Speaker, as one of the four elder advisors of the Tlicho Nation, Simpson spent the better part of his life working on the Tlicho Agreement. One of Mr. Simpson's greatest accomplishments was setting up the annual trail of our ancestors' canoe trips, where elders and youth would travel together to celebrate their traditional lifestyles. Simpson started the canoe journeys in 1995 and now over 240 people attend the trip annually.

Mr. Simpson also promoted his culture with Gameti Ko Society, promoting Tlicho culture and traditional knowledge involving youth and elders, which was created in 2003.

In 2005, he helped build a traditional Tlicho cabin in Gameti using the knowledge his father taught him. (Translation ends)

Mr. Harry Simpson was a prominent elder originally from Gameti. He was the last surviving member of the elders negotiating team that settled our Tlicho Land Claim and Self-Government Agreement.

Mr. Speaker, as one of the four elder advisors of the Tlicho Nation, Simpson spent the better part of his life working on the Tlicho Agreement, and his dreams were realized with the ratification of the Tlicho Agreement in June of 2003. Mr. Speaker, one of Mr. Simpson's greatest accomplishments was setting up the annual trail of our ancestors' canoe journeys, where elders and youth would travel together to celebrate their traditional lifestyles. Simpson started the canoe journeys in 1995 and now over 240 people attend the trip annually. The tradition still continues to thrive today.

Mr. Speaker, Mr. Simpson also promoted the cultural way of life with Gameti Ko, a society promoting Tlicho culture and traditional knowledge involving youth and elders, which was created in 2003.

In 2005, he helped build a traditional Tlicho cabin in Gameti using the knowledge he got from his grandfather.

Mr. Speaker, the Tlicho Nation will sadly miss Mr. Simpson, but in order to move forward we must continue his legacy of promoting our Dene culture and way of life. He planted the seed and shared his knowledge. We must pass on the knowledge. Mahsi.

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Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. If we all listen very carefully we will be able to hear a very irritating, a very frustrating and a very expensive noise in the background. It's a noise that's been going on for the past 40 years, Mr. Speaker, and it's high time we did something about it. That noise, Mr. Speaker, is the clawing, scratching sound of our cost of living and the cost of business going up because we don’t have a bridge across the mighty Mackenzie River.

Mighty.

At this very moment, Mr. Speaker, another noise we're hearing is the helicopter shuttle that clatters back and forth across the kilometre-wide span that separates us from year-round road connection with the rest of Canada. That shuttle is bringing everything from parts for yesterday's engine breakdown to tomorrow's bacon and eggs at an added cost of about 14 cents a pound on top of regular freight rates. But in the fall, Mr. Speaker, with unscheduled ferry interruptions due to low water, those costs can escalate an extra 46 cents a pound. For instance, this cost to shareholders at the Yellowknife Direct Charge Co-op is an extra $100,000 a week.

Ohhh!

Mr. Speaker, the Co-op is to be applauded because they've decided to absorb this cost off their bottom line, rather than pass the cost onto the customers. But the reality is most businesses don't have that option. They must absorb and then pass along the added cost of the freight, along with the storage for the extra inventory and, of course, the hit that their cash flow takes.

Mr. Speaker, from Deline to Cambridge Bay, from Yellowknife to Gameti, and the four diamond mines, we are more and more vulnerable to tremendous impact when this ferry service is interrupted, and it's not just the economic impact. Mr. Speaker, just this past weekend here in Yellowknife, we hosted Super Soccer. But even those teams -- and there are many of them on the southern road system -- had to raise extra money so they could fly to Yellowknife instead of taking the more economical highway transport.

There was a time when we grudgingly accepted these costs. They were a given. They were just a part of living here in the North, but we can no longer accept this, Mr. Speaker. A very compelling thing that's happening is that there are other factors at play that may overtake money as the reason we must build this bridge.

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

The honourable 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, colleagues, Mr. Speaker. That other factor, Mr. Speaker, is climate change and environmental warming that is causing these unexpected interruptions because of low water, especially in the earlier winter. Our economy cannot sustain the cost or the risk of these interruptions which can launch those freight costs upwards of 54 cents a pound.

Mr. Speaker, building a guaranteed, year-round road connection between the NWT's capital city and the rest of Canada is already a mandate of the National Highway Strategy. It is imperative that Canada joins in the partnership that the Premier addressed in his statement. It is time to end the uncertainty and make the Deh Cho Bridge a reality, Mr. Speaker.

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Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, keeping up with the past convention, I hosted a pre-session constituency meeting at Range Lake North School this past Monday and I was pleased to spend the evening listening to and sharing information with the valued members of my constituency whom, although few in number, had a lot of advice and assignments for me to work on during this session and beyond, Mr. Speaker, and as we begin our short session today I'd like to tell you about some of them.

They would like, Mr. Speaker, me to keep working hard to resolve the intolerable situation surrounding the WCB policy regarding conflicting medical opinions of injured workers' cases. They would like to see a full independent management or advisory board at the Stanton Territorial Hospital. There were a number of questions about the recent joint territorial/federal Health Ministers announcement on wait times and how those decisions were made for the North. They wanted to know why there are still so many vacancies at the Stanton Hospital, in particular the hospital pharmacist position which has been vacant, Mr. Speaker, for 11 years. Mr. Speaker, they would like to see the government putting in more resources for traffic enforcement on Highway No. 3 to the mine sites, especially during the busy winter road season. As well, they would like to see a Kam Lake bypass road in order to ease the traffic congestion and safety issues. Mr. Speaker, they would like us to introduce a GNWT VTA, vacation travel assistance, in order to make it easier to recruit and retain needed human resources for the North and to reduce the cost of living. As well, one constituent expressed, once again, the concern about so many fly-in and fly-out jobs with the mines, and asked that we consider a 15 percent payroll tax with the provision for immediate credit to NWT residents monthly as a way of encouraging people to move and live in the North.

Mr. Speaker, I don't imagine the Minister of Finance would like to jump on that option, but I think these suggestions and concerns, the underlying concerns are something that are not new. These are only a few of many issues that myself and my colleagues have brought up in this House for the attention to the Cabinet, and one that I look forward to and I'm committed to working on this session and beyond. Thank you.

---Applause

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, in his sessional statement, the Premier made reference to Bailey House and years of selfless work by Reverend Gordon Bailey and his wife, Ruth Bailey. There has been millions of dollars spent on Bailey House and there has been many accolades heaped on the Baileys, well deserved for their years of selfless service.

Mr. Speaker, as they look at this good news event, what people do not realize, I don't think, is that the Baileys spent their last years in Fort Smith in the Northern Lights special care home. They now lie together, as they did in life, in the Anglican graveyard, side by side. But, Mr. Speaker, as we were doing the cleanup of both graveyards in the community and I was walking through there, I noticed that while they lie side by side, their graves were basically forgotten and abandoned, the wooden crosses falling apart and rotting, and their names barely visible. I've raised this issue with some members in Yellowknife involved with Bailey House, that to make this a true celebration of their contribution that it would be very fitting for a small ceremony and a simple headstone to be put in the final resting place of the Baileys to recognize not only in Yellowknife where they did their good work, but where they spend the rest of eternity together in Fort Smith in the local graveyard, that it be marked in a fitting way that recognizes, in fact, the work that they did do. They should not be forgotten and they should not be ignored like that.

So I would hope today that by raising this issue in this House that the people listening to this will recognize that that is a key piece to make this a true celebration of all the work the Baileys did for the people of the Northwest Territories, especially the homeless. Thank you.

---Applause

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, let me just start off by welcoming all the Members here back into the 15th Legislative Assembly. Mr. Speaker, last year and the year before and I’m sure many years prior, myself and many other Members of this House, from this side of the House and that side of the House, have raised the issue of our rent scale used in our public housing here in the NWT many times, Mr. Speaker. There are many concerns about the disincentive it creates to seek meaningful employment by the clients in our public housing, the animosity it raises between the clients, the LHO staff and our NWT Housing Corporation staff about what is deemed fair for rent for units that just may be lacking in proper maintenance or just plain run down, and the lack of respect for this government’s housing stock by many public housing clients due to the fact that they just feel they are just not being treated fairly in their communities when it comes to public housing allocations and rental agreements and rent scales.

Mr. Speaker, from the many inquiries and concerns I received on this issue, this is never going to go away unless this government has to really seriously revisit this issue and ensure the people in our public housing units are being assessed rent that is deemed fair in the terms of their social and financial circumstances in their communities, and on the condition of the unit and on a scale which allows clients to move out of our public housing, which is the public housing mandate here in the NWT.

Mr. Speaker, later on today I will be again asking the Minister of Housing questions about this government’s action plans, if any, to address this ongoing, anti-independent, socially dysfunctional system of public housing management, Mr. Speaker. I hope the Minister can present some good action plan that this government intends to take in the next year. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

---Applause

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I’d like to send congratulations to all the Sahtu students who will be graduating from Grade 12 this spring and to the parents who have worked hard for many years to see their children to this point. Finishing high school is an achievement all students should be proud of, Mr. Speaker. A high school diploma should be a direct ticket to other opportunities, like universities and technical schools. Unfortunately, this is not the case for many of our students in small communities. Although they work just as hard as students in the larger centres to get themselves to Grade 12, many of them are finding that they do not have the core courses or the skills to further to the education of their choice. These students have to go back to high school or to an adult upgrading centre, usually for upgrading, before they can get into a post-secondary education institution.

Mr. Speaker, young people are anxious to get on with their futures. It’s hard for them to postpone their dreams. How many potential doctors, teachers and tradespersons have been discouraged by this system or just have given up? We are letting down these students, Mr. Speaker. We need to ensure our students in small communities have access to all the courses, in particular the science and math courses, and the chemistry and lab courses, that are requirements for many universities and technical programs. This means access to facilities like labs, as well as qualified teachers that can guide them through difficult subjects like chemistry and physics.

Mr. Speaker, we can do this, Mr. Speaker, and we have to because these young people are our future, our hope and, more importantly, one day will be our voice in our governments. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

---Applause

Mr. Speaker, once again I am rising in this Assembly to speak about the inequities of our NWT health care system. Our health professionals do a fantastic job meeting our northerners’ needs. However, like me, they also have trouble comprehending the logic of what is covered and not covered by NWT health care. I raise the issue of constituents with a child born with club feet who were told that the government would pay for all surgeries needed to correct the condition, but the government would not pay for the required braces needed between the surgeries. I am pleased to say, through the generosity of residents, particularly Ekati Crew F Recovery/Processing Plant, Grace Ann Fitzpatrick-Crouch, Wayne Scheelar, National Car Rental, Nancy Magrum and Dennis Bevington, our MP, they have donated enough money to get this little girl the next medically required braces, Mr. Speaker. This should have never had to have happened, and I want to make sure that every time my constituent’s daughter needs new medically prescribed braces they do not have to rely on northern generosity. Generous people should not be picking up the tab for something that the government is responsible for, Mr. Speaker. Doctors have stated, without adequate braces, all the good work done by surgeries will be undone.

This is an absurd situation. This government must acknowledge the responsibility and pay for the required braces. According to the department, it has been at least 12 years and maybe even longer since the specified disease condition schedule in the extended health benefits policy has been amended. Clearly there is a need to review this policy more than once every 12 years. I note that there are many other conditions on this list that people are born with that are genetically prone to developing cerebral palsy, cystic fibrosis, multiple sclerosis, muscular dystrophy, and even spina bifida. These include a number of congenital conditions. Why is this congenital club foot not on the list? I am talking about what is right. I am talking about the department and the program that needs to find less bureaucratic ways and more empathetic ways to help the needs of our northerners. There needs to be less worrying about what other jurisdictions are covering and more worrying about ways that we can find a method to help our northern families, Mr. Speaker.

In closing, I will be following up with the Minister on this issue because I want my constituents to worry less about where the money’s coming from and more about their daughter specifically. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

---Applause

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’d like to speak today about the Deh Cho Bridge project. I want to state for the record, Mr. Speaker, that I do support the Deh Cho Bridge being built. Most Yellowknifers and residents of the North Slave would certainly welcome the construction of a bridge across the Mackenzie River. I do, however, have some concerns regarding the project and I feel that before agreements for a project like this are entered into, they should be subject to public information sessions and consultations with stakeholders. Every opportunity should be taken to ensure that as many opportunities are made available to northern business and people in the construction of such a large piece of public infrastructure.

The Deh Cho Bridge Act, which is legislation that was passed by the last government, gives authority to Cabinet to enter into agreements to build a bridge across the Mackenzie River. In the Deh Cho Bridge Act, there is no requirement for the government to consult or come back to Regular Members regarding agreements that are entered into. Mr. Speaker, what I’d like to see is that if this project is proceeding, I want the government to consult with Regular Members and stakeholders. We need and we deserve to have the opportunity to ask questions about this project.

The loan guaranteed to the Deh Cho Bridge Corporation has been increased several times over the past three years, from $2 million in 2004 to just over $4 million in March of this year. When the government was questioned as to why the loan guarantee was continuously increased, the first answer offered up was that the government was waiting for federal dollars to make the project viable.

I’d like to provide a short quote from last October’s sitting from the Premier, and I quote. “Mr. Speaker, it’s our view that there is infrastructure money coming and we should not jump the gun here and be premature. Let’s wait to see what the federal government has to offer.” The project, Mr. Speaker, is going to cost in excess of $130 million and judging from the Premier’s sessional statement today, it would seem to me that the government isn’t waiting. The Department of Transportation is marching headlong into making agreements in the absence of any federal dollars becoming available for this project. If the project does cost in the magnitude of $130 million, what will that do to tolls -- which, by the way, Mr. Speaker, we're never supposed to go over $6 a ton -- what will this do to the price of consumer goods in Yellowknife and in the North Slave region?

Mr. Speaker, everybody wants a bridge and I just want to ensure that the entire process is as open and transparent as it possibly can be. Mahsi.

---Applause

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, today I would like to invite Members of this House to attend the first ever Council of Sport and Recreation conference in Hay River. The Town of Hay River will host this joint partner conference this summer from the 12th to the 17th of June. This meeting is important because it brings partner organizations together for the first time. These partners share the belief that recreation, physical activities and sports programs are very important for the health and well-being of the residents and the communities of the Northwest Territories.

The NWT Council for Sport and Recreation is a fairly new forum created in the summer of 2005. Its 13 members represent the regions as well as the sport and recreation field. The goal for the council is to assist with the development of a collaborative, inclusive approach to sport and recreation in the Northwest Territories. Conference partners are the NWT Parks and Recreation Association, the Mackenzie Recreation Association, the Beaufort-Delta/Sahtu Recreation Association, the Aboriginal Sports Circle of the Western Arctic and the Department of Municipal and Community Affairs. So there is buy-in for collaboration, inclusion and discussions about common goals and challenges and many reasons to celebrate our successes.

The NWT Recreations and Parks Association works with communities across the territory to promote living, to promote healthy living through active recreation. The Beaufort-Delta/Sahtu Recreation Association alone covers groups and organizations in 13 communities, promoting a broad definition of recreation, maximizing equal opportunity for all to participate in activities of their choice. Another partner is the Mackenzie Recreation Association representing the Deh Cho, supporting cultural activities and sporting events.

Hay River will be recognized as a leader in sports and recreation while the town provides an ideal meeting location to recognize and celebrate the efforts of the five partner agencies and their many members who strive to promote and deliver sport and recreation throughout the Northwest Territories. Mr. Speaker, I hope that many Members of this House will come to Hay River in June and participate in this ground-breaking event. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

---Applause

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I just recently travelled back to my home and held a constituency meeting. I thought I would take this opportunity to relay the messages that I heard in the community at my recent constituency meeting.

May 2nd I had an opportunity to hold a constituency meeting in the Inuvik Centennial Library and, as at a number of my recent constituency meetings, the turnout was low, but it gave me an opportunity to have a good discussion with the people who did show up. A number of the issues that were raised we hear around this Assembly coming from other communities, but I thought I’d take the opportunity to highlight them here.

Elders' issues are one of the prominent things that came up in that, right from transportation to see the doctors or doctors’ appointments to seniors in public housing and the rent set up, as well as singles in public housing and that area. So it again was an avenue for people to raise their issues and speak to Members about what needs to be done and what they see as challenges they face. Hopefully as a government, as we sit down, we continue to work, and as I had pointed out, we’ll bring those issues to the table and hopefully work to try to resolve some of them, including all Members of this Assembly.

So I just wanted to stand up here -- I haven’t taken the opportunity to do a Member’s statement for a while -- and just raise the highlights of my constituency meeting. From those that think it was just me and my wife at the meeting, no, it wasn’t.

---Laughter

I had other constituents there, but the number was low who turned out. It’s not necessarily a bad thing, but just giving the fact that you can come out, raise your issues and they will be raised in this forum. Thank you.

---Applause

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It’s with great affection that I’m often able to acknowledge the presence in the gallery of my mother, Esther Braden, and today it gives me special pride to advise the Assembly that she is here and with a special distinction as the Northwest Territories most recent recipient of our country’s highest civilian award, the Order of Canada.

---Applause

Mr. Speaker, she is in good company with retired Anglican Bishop Jack Sperry, also a member of the Order of Canada.

---Applause

With them, too, is another very respected Yellowknife senior and someone most deserving of the Order of Canada, but not there yet, Mr. Ed Jeske. Mr. Speaker, thank you.

---Applause

Thank you, Mr. Braden. Recognition of visitors in the gallery. The honourable Member for Range Lake, Ms. Lee.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’d like to recognize family of my constituents who moved from Edmonton area to my riding. Even though we don’t have VTA, the father came here to work for the GNWT and mother’s working at the bank here. Parents are not here, but I’d like to recognize Mr. Clemens Park and Mr. David Park and with them are my assistant Cathy Olson and her husband Mike Olson. Thank you.

---Applause

Thank you, Ms. Lee. Recognition of visitors in the gallery. The honourable Member for Nahendeh, Mr. Menicoche.

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. I’d like to recognize teachers and students from Nahanni Butte. I’d like to recognize Meagan Bertrand, Jarvis Tsetso, Logan Matou, Melvin Vital, Josh Bertrand, teacher Wayne Ingarfield, assistant Martin Pritchett, and as well as chaperone Mr. Bruce Dauphinee. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

---Applause

Thank you, Mr. Menicoche. Recognition of visitors in the gallery. The honourable Member for Deh Cho, Mr. McLeod.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It’s a pleasant surprise to see a number of constituents in the gallery, especially now that the ferry is not operating.

---Laughter

From our smallest community in the North, Kakisa, we have a number of people here, a number of students. We have Dalton Simba, Waylon Simba, Shyanne Chicot and Sheila Hilliard. I’d like to welcome them to the gallery, Mr. Speaker.

---Applause

Thank you, Mr. McLeod. Recognition of visitors in the gallery. The honourable Member for Yellowknife South, Mr. Bell.

Mr. Speaker, I’d like to raise awareness of a couple of issues, Mr. Speaker, and acknowledge the presence of Arlene Hache, who is in the gallery today. We talked about the Bailey House and local advocates who’ve really raised this issue of homelessness. I want to thank Arlene for her work in this regard.

I’d also like to acknowledge Mike Olson, who’s already been mentioned, but he is emceeing a trade show or a fashion show at the trade show that a number of MLAs are involved in. We’ll be modelling some of the Arctic Winter Games clothing. As many of you know, Mike’s very active in the chamber and works for First Air, but I very much look forward to that event. I think it will be a lot of fun and I want to thank him for the work that he’s doing. Thank you.

---Applause

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My questions are directed to the Minister of Transportation. It’s in regard to a letter written on April 4th by community leadership in Fort Smith talking about and requesting that now that there’s $24 million in new money in the budget for infrastructure, that Highway No. 5 finally be put back on the priority list for chipsealing; and not only that, but that they look at repairing the serious deterioration of the existing chipsealing. So I just want to ask the Minister if he could indicate in this House what is planned in that regard. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Miltenberger. The honourable Minister responsible for Transportation, Mr. Menicoche.

Return To Question 37-15(6): Resurfacing Highway No. 5