Debates of October 1, 2008 (day 34)

Good afternoon, colleagues. Welcome back to the Chamber as we resume the second session of the 16th Legislative Assembly.

I trust you have all taken the opportunity during the summer recess of the House, and amid your constituency, committee and Ministerial work, to enjoy time with family and friends. Some of you may have enjoyed time out on the land or helped in celebrating special events in your communities. Some of you may have been fortunate enough to visit with distant family. However you chose to spend your time this past summer, I trust that you are rested and eager to resume our work in this Chamber.

One of my pleasures since we last met has been to travel once again with the Mace of the Northwest Territories, this time to the community of Fort Smith. The Mace continues to elicit awe and pride in young and old alike as residents of the Northwest Territories are given the opportunity to see this beautiful symbol of our land and our people.

I would like at this time to take the opportunity to extend the condolences of the Assembly to those communities that have lost loved ones and leaders over the summer. We suffer these losses together, and our thoughts have been with you.

As you know, Members, the Assembly introduced its television broadcasting network during our last sitting. We will have interpreters and will be recording three official languages plus the language of the floor each day during the sitting. The Assembly can then choose one of the recorded languages to accompany the rebroadcast of our proceedings in each community. We are looking forward to providing interpretation in all 11 official languages, in turn, during this sitting.

Members, as you are aware, we are in the midst of a federal election campaign. I wish to remind all Members of your duty and obligation to uphold the principles and integrity of consensus government and to refrain from entering into partisan debate on the floor of this Assembly.

I will close with my customary request, colleagues, that we work together, as always, in the best interests of the people of the Northwest Territories and that we work with dignity and respect for the institution, for each other and for our constituents.

Colleagues, it is now my duty to advise the House that I have received the following message from the Commissioner of the Northwest Territories. It reads:

“Dear Mr. Speaker,

“I wish to advise that I recommend to the Legislative Assembly of the Northwest Territories the passages of Appropriation Act Infrastructure Expenditures, 2009–2010 and Supplementary Appropriation No. 2, 2008–2009 during the second session of the 16th Legislative Assembly.

“Yours Truly,

“Anthony W.J. Whitford, Commissioner”

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It is a pleasure to speak to you today at the resumption of the second session of the 16th Legislative Assembly. It provides an opportunity to take stock of the busy months we have had and to discuss our directions for the future.

You will recall that together as Members of the Assembly we identified major goals for our great territory:

A strong, independent North, where Northerners make their own decisions and chart their own course;

An environment that sustains Northerners today and into the future;

Healthy and well-educated people with bright futures and the skills they need to benefit from all the opportunities our territory will provide;

A diversified economy providing jobs, business opportunities and prosperity for families and communities;

Sustainable, vibrant and safe communities where people can build their futures;

An effective and efficient government that sets the right priorities and gets the job done.

The government’s plan to pursue those goals remains unchanged. We are moving forward with our plan in a way that develops the natural resources of our territory while respecting the values our people have for the land and the environment.

Our plan began in February, when I laid out the government’s five strategic initiatives:

Building our future through a focus on our children and youth and by promoting healthy choices and supporting families and seniors.

Refocusing government to achieve greater effectiveness and efficiency in how we operate and how we deliver programs and services.

Reducing the cost of living to help Northerners achieve a better quality of life, and to help grow and diversify our economy.

Managing this land by finding the right balance between development and protection of our land and resources.

Maximizing opportunities in the NWT by opening the door to new developments and improving the quality of education and training so that Northerners can take advantage of new jobs and new economic growth.

Lead Ministers have been assigned to work on each initiative, and they look forward to updating Members on their activities during this session. These updates will provide details on the annual spending of over $1.2 billion in social program areas, economic development, and infrastructure that contribute to the overall quality of life in the Northwest Territories.

I have said these five strategic initiatives would be the focus of our efforts and that they would guide the government’s actions and investments as it works toward building a stronger, self-sustaining Northwest Territories and fulfilling the vision of this Assembly.

We followed that with Budget 2008, which backed up our strategic initiatives and solid investments. We took steps to align our budget with our strategic initiatives so that appropriate resources were directed to achieving our vision. We also took steps in Budget 2008 to establish a strong, sustainable fiscal foundation. We made some tough choices.

Even though we are enjoying a time of prosperity in the Northwest Territories, we knew our spending growth was not sustainable in the long term. Our expenditures were growing faster than our revenues, and we sensed the possibility of economic volatility, of financial turmoil ahead. As I said when we introduced Budget 2008, financial ripples can become dangerous waves.

We saw the need to get our budget under control while investing in our key initiatives so that we could protect the NWT’s financial security while building its great future. Our choices were prudent, and we had foresight in our budget, because those dangerous waves have begun.

Now North American and world financial markets are under strain. Stock markets everywhere have had roller coaster rides. There is a lot of confusion and uncertainty out there, and NWT residents and businesses will be affected. So it’s more important than ever that we stay on track, that we keep a firm hand on the rudder, that we stay focused on our goals and that we continue to work our plan. Now is the time to remain steady in our efforts to secure the futures of Northerners.

Our plan is prudent and measured. It will improve the quality of life for individuals, families and communities. It will prepare us for future growth, and it will generate benefits for businesses and consumers alike.

We will continue our efforts to refocus government so that it works better for Northerners and works toward our vision. This means ensuring that government programs and services are achieving their results in efficient ways. It also involves reforming key GNWT boards so that they deliver services effectively and accountably to Northerners. We will also continue to manage government expenditures so that we have a strong fiscal foundation on which to build.

On an ongoing basis we will identify areas for financial improvement — ways we can do things more efficiently and free up dollars. We will also identify new sources of revenue through consultation with Northerners about future revenue options, including potential for growth of our population. We must ensure that the dollars we identify are reinvested wisely, in ways that align with our major initiatives and help Northerners take advantage of the opportunities our territory offers.

Devolution and resource revenue sharing also play a role. Authority over NWT lands and resources remains a key priority of this government and a cornerstone of our strong future. Recently I have made a substantial proposal to the federal government to bring discussions on devolution and resource revenue sharing to a successful conclusion for Northerners. The proposal offers an infrastructure partnership with Canada as an integral component of an overall devolution and resource revenue sharing deal. We must remember that resource revenues are not the panacea that will solve our fiscal challenges and meet all of our fiscal needs overnight, but they will be an important part of our future. I look forward to discussing this topic with the Prime Minister shortly after the federal election.

There has been a lot of talk about the North over the last number of months. More and more Canadians are realizing that the future of the North is vital to the future of Canada and North America. They are realizing that the North holds vast potential for exploration and development. Greater development in the North offers many benefits to both Northerners and Canadians as a whole. It raises our standard of living and provides additional revenue to the GNWT to help fund important programs and services for Northerners, and it builds a stronger NWT, helping to assert Canadian sovereignty.

We’ve got incredible resources here. We have diamonds and other minerals, with more to be found. We have rivers and lakes that offer incredible hydro potential. We have arts and crafts and a unique, rich culture we want to share with visitors to the NWT, and we have oil and natural gas, which the world increasingly needs. We’re investing in the skills and abilities of Northerners to help realize the promise of those resources. Opportunities for Northerners to apply their trades. Opportunities for northern businesses to sell their goods and services. Opportunities for aboriginal investment. Opportunities to partner in our great future.

When the Prime Minister visited Inuvik in late August, I was encouraged. The Prime Minister has shown a welcome level of interest in the North that we have not seen in a long time from federal governments. He has helped put northern issues back on the national radar, so I expected to hear a great deal about seizing our opportunities.

But let me be clear: it is going to take more than an icebreaker and some geo-mapping to assert Canadian sovereignty over the North. It’s going to take more than well wishes to develop our northern resources.

In addition to naming a ship after former Prime Minister Diefenbaker, we need to bring light to his vision. We need to build those roads to resources. We need to grab hold of the opportunities on offer, invest in them and turn them into realities. In short, we need to unlock the incredible energy of the North: the energy beneath the ground and sea, the energy flowing through lakes and rivers and the energy of our people, communities and businesses.

When it comes right down to it, that’s what our strategic initiatives are all about. Obviously, the number one way to unlock the energy of the North is to responsibly develop our vast oil and natural gas resources as soon as possible to the maximum benefit of Northerners.

At one time we considered our North to be isolated and remote, insulated from national and global events and issues, but it’s a new world now. We know climate change is having an impact here in the North. The ice road season is getting shorter. Permafrost is melting.

Last month the Canadian Ice Service announced that the northern deep water route through the Northwest Passage is open once again. It’s only the second time in recorded history. The first time was last year.

This summer Canadian scientists revealed that the ancient ice shelves of Ellesmere Island have been disappearing rapidly. The Arctic is becoming more open and accessible due to melting sea ice — more open to shipping, more open to exploration activity and more open to international interests.

When he refers to Canada’s northern lands and resources, Prime Minister Harper says we need to “use it or lose it.” We all agree on this. Let’s use it.

The timing couldn’t be better for projects like the Mackenzie Gas Project. Energy prices are strong. We’ve got rising worldwide demand for resources. North America is increasingly turning to natural gas as a cleaner alternative. The Arctic is becoming more accessible, and countries are competing for its resources. We’re sitting on trillions of cubic feet of natural gas that everybody wants. It’s time to get a deal finalized and get the Mackenzie Gas Project built.

The Americans have figured this out, already establishing their business case. From a regulatory perspective the Mackenzie gas pipeline has an encouraging head start over the Alaska pipeline. But the business side of the Mackenzie Gas Project still isn’t nailed down.

There are outstanding ownership questions. There are economic questions. There are cost concerns. Every day we debate, every day we wait is a day of progress lost. Meanwhile, we will take the necessary steps here in the NWT to prepare for the finalization of a deal so that when the time comes, we are ready to move forward.

We can also unlock the energy of the North by pursuing greater hydro development. We’ve got incredible hydroelectric power potential in the North. Our rivers and lakes have the potential to generate an additional 11,500 megawatts of hydro power. To put that in perspective, Quebec’s James Bay Project generates just over 16,000 megawatts.

Developing this great resource can help satisfy the power needs of the Northwest Territories, including major industrial users, and help stabilize the cost of living for our residents. Extra power could be exported for use in other Canadian provinces. This will help more Northerners use hydro for their power needs instead of other costly fossil fuels, helping reduce the cost of living. It will help satisfy the growing power needs of other provinces, and it will help all Canadians lower greenhouse gas emissions and address our climate change objectives.

The NWT has the potential to become a clean energy leader of this country — hydro power, biomass and wind energy — and, at the same time, generate new jobs and opportunities for Northerners and reduce their costs of living. We intend to invest significantly in these areas.

Large-scale hydro projects have the greatest potential to make an impact. In the 2008 budget the government made investments to advance work on the Taltson project, and work is proceeding on this project.

But we will also explore additional opportunities in hydro development. This includes mini hydro projects, which could help power smaller communities, and modernization of hydro transmission facilities can help more Northerners take advantage of hydro. The potential is exciting.

But given our limited tax base we don’t have the fiscal capacity to develop these hydro projects all on our own. To unleash this hydro potential, we’ll need the creativity, the innovation and the capacity of the private sector as a key partner.

We’ll be searching for the right partnership opportunities that can help us realize our hydro goals and result in positive, lasting benefits for Northerners. The federal government will also play an important role here. It is critical for us to make the case for the right investments in NWT hydro development.

Finally, we unlock the energy of the North by investing in the potential of Northerners, northern communities and northern businesses by connecting them with great opportunities, by improving their quality of life and by building a strong, self-sufficient Northwest Territories.

I realize the concerns Northerners have right now and the financial pressures they face. Rising costs of services and utilities are creating challenges for many Northerners and their families. The recent turmoil in world markets is adding to the concern. Many are worried about what it will mean for Canada, for the North and for their own finances. Northerners need to know they’ll be able to obtain the services they need. Reducing the cost of living in the North is more important than ever.

In the longer term greater hydro development will help bring down power bills, and the development of the Mackenzie Gas Project will help expand access to natural gas. This will help Northerners transition away from higher cost fuels.

But in the short term the government needs to look at ways of helping Northerners with the cost of living. As the government provides nearly $140 million in direct subsidies to lower the cost of living, it is increasingly important that we deliver this money in the most effective ways possible.

The government has begun a review of our electricity rate structure to better understand its impact on the cost of living. We intend to come forward with options in the next business planning cycle to promote energy conservation, rate fairness across the system and reduced costs to Northerners. These investments and actions help ensure that Northerners and their families remain strong and stable so that they have the means to contribute to our great territory.

Infrastructure also plays a major role in reducing the cost of living and improving the quality of life for Northerners. Members of the Assembly have heard me say this before: it’s time to modernize our infrastructure, especially our transportation corridors, to improve connections between our communities, to improve the connection between the North and the South, to improve the connection between the Northwest Territories and the world.

Building modern all weather transportation is essential for our future prosperity — roads and bridges that can be used year-round by our citizens, by tourists and by business and industry. This will take partnership between the Government of the Northwest Territories, the federal government and the private sector. We will be exploring the creation of those partnerships so that we can build our own roads to resources and help foster new opportunities for our residents and businesses. We will also look at ways of improving the delivery of that infrastructure.

In the recent budget we announced investments of $180 million in public infrastructure, including community infrastructure projects. It is important that these and future investments are made effectively so that Northerners see the greatest benefit from all these investments.

Mr. Speaker, our great territory continues to have a bright future, and a future that offers great potential and prosperity. I know during this session we will do important work on behalf of Northerners — work that contributes to a better quality of life for northern families, keeps national attention focused on northern issues and builds a stronger NWT to help strengthen our great nation. Quyanainni.

Thank you, Mr. Roland. Before we go any further, colleagues, I’d like to draw your attention to the presence in the gallery of a former Member of the House. Ms. Lena Pedersen is in the House.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to start by giving my sincere condolences to the families who lost loved ones in the Nunakput riding and the Beaufort-Delta this past summer.

To the Kisoun-Allen and Hind families of Inuvik, who lost well-respected elder Mr. Victor Allen, Delma Kisoun and daughter Asta Kisoun-Hind, and the Shingatok family, who lost Isaac Shingatok of Inuvik. A well-respected elder, again, was lost with the passing of Billy Day from Inuvik. To the Meyook family, who lost Sara Meyook, a well-respected elder from Aklavik. I’m really going to miss her stories every time I see them. To the Green family, who lost son David Green Jr. To the Ruben family with the passing of Cindy Ruben. Condolences go to Edward and Mabel and family.

My deepest sympathies go to the families who lost loved ones. My thoughts and prayers are with you for you and your loved ones. Quyanainni, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Jacobson. Members’ statements. The honourable Member for Hay River South, Mrs. Groenewegen.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. We are back. It is October 1, 2008. We are on the threshold of another northern winter. Something largely on the minds of almost every Northerner is the almost certain increase in the cost of living. News reports tell us that the cost of food is going up. Demand on a global basis exceeds supply, and prices will reflect these realities.

The price of crude oil is volatile, and we are vulnerable to economic issues far beyond the reach of our control. Home heating fuel and gasoline have seen record prices in recent weeks. In the North we are particularly affected, given our need to travel to regional centres for services and our need to import almost all of our food and supplies. There is a general rate application before the PUB for a 19 per cent increase in power rates, which will affect all of our communities and residents.

Although we speak longingly of recruiting and maintaining a strong northern workforce in the private and public sectors, the fact is that people, including Northerners, have lots of options as to where they live and work. We saw a net decrease in the population of the NWT according to our last census. This spells a decrease in transfer of funds from Canada as it relates to population. The U.S. and Canadian markets, and all markets for that matter, have been under extreme pressure related to the credit crises, and people are concerned about their investments that are intended to sustain them in their retirement.

With all of this as a backdrop and the many things that could be done to show leadership and give Northerners confidence in their government — in politics they say timing is everything — Mr. Speaker, I would like to ask: what are we doing? Why are we expending time and energy looking for new ways to increase taxes?

I have a question for our Premier and Finance Minister. Is it possible, by considering increased or new taxes, to be any further out of touch with the realities of the Northerners we claim to represent by embarking on this dialogue at this time?

Not to end this on a completely negative note, Mr. Speaker, we have oil, gas, minerals, cultivatable land, wildlife, fresh water, fish, forests. We need to look for every way possible to help our people help themselves. We are arguably the richest place left on this planet Earth, yet we are talking about how much we spend on direct subsidies to people. We need to help people to help themselves.

Mr. Speaker, we talk about a strong and independent North, and we need, as a government, to show some leadership in some small measures to help attain that.

Thank you, Mrs. Groenewegen. Members’ statements. The honourable Member for Kam Lake, Mr. Ramsay.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Welcome back to my colleagues. I am excited to be back in the House speaking about the issues that are important both to my constituents and the residents of the Northwest Territories.

I have spoken in the past in this House about the 3,300 migrant workers and the $330 million that leaves with them every year — a place where the government should be doing everything in its power to persuade these workers to live in the Northwest Territories. Not only do we need to attract workers here, but we must ensure that the people who are here are going to stay here. That the government would communicate a proposed new tax initiative or strategy without first having a thorough examination of its own programs and services is absurd. The easy target for government, Mr. Speaker, is the public. I know I won’t stand for that happening, nor will the public.

Why is this government so silent on these big ticket items? In case the government hasn’t heard — I know the Premier mentioned it in his sessional statement — there is an election going on, and someone over there should be jumping up and down demanding a deal. At the very least demand that the hundreds of jobs located in Ottawa pertaining to northern development, held by many people who have not even stepped foot north of 60, be transferred to Nunavut, the Yukon….

Mr. Ramsay, your time for your Member’s statement has expired.

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

Unanimous consent granted.

They should be demanding that the federal government transfer the jobs pertaining to northern development to the Yukon, Nunavut and the Northwest Territories. As I said earlier, Mr. Speaker, people equal money. If we continue on the track we’re on right now, we won’t have anyone left to tax, because everyone is going to be gone. Mahsi.

Thank you, Mr. Ramsay. Members’ statements. The honourable Member for Tu Nedhe, Mr. Beaulieu.

Mahsi cho, Mr. Speaker. [English translation not provided.]

Mr. Speaker, as a government we need to do something now to address this urgent situation. The outlook is not good, yet the government plans various taxes to erode the disposable income of a working person. The high cost of living and the current system of taxes do not support the working class in a smaller community. As a matter of fact, it makes it easier for one to make the choice of unemployment, to receive government assistance to provide for their family’s needs. In effect, Mr. Speaker, government policy will play a role in keeping people on income support and/or in public housing.

If you want to stop the leakage, change the policies. This would result in lower costs of living and make it feasible to work and get off the government system.

Thank you, Mr. Beaulieu. Members’ statements. The honourable Member for Great Slave, Mr. Glen Abernethy.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. This afternoon I would like to talk about the Yellowknife Association of Concerned Citizens for Seniors, YACCS, who are celebrating their 25th anniversary this year, and their dedication and many contributions to Yellowknife and the NWT.

YACCS has been active for 25 years as a highly effective lobby organization on behalf of seniors in Yellowknife and the Northwest Territories. YACCS strives to be the recognized leader in the NWT for work with seniors, to provide them with high quality community living choices and advocacy for their needs. They also work to develop a wide range of services that allow seniors to age in their communities, close to their families and support systems.

YACCS is committed to the safety and well-being of the clientele and employees as well as the continuous improvement of their organization. YACCS has achieved great success in providing much needed facilities, programs and services to seniors in the Northwest Territories.

The year 2007 marked the 20th anniversary of Aven Manor, a long-term care facility where caring and capable staff provide nursing and personal care to seniors 24 hours a day. They also offer a full schedule of activities for all residents to enjoy. Consistently at full capacity, Aven Manor is an asset to our community. YACCS provides independent housing for seniors at Aven Court and, since December 2007, at Aven Ridge. These conveniently located units offer safe and attractive housing options for people 60 years of age and older.

The Baker Community Centre also celebrated its tenth anniversary this past year. The Baker Centre is a multipurpose facility that accommodates many social and recreational activities for seniors in the community at large. The Baker Centre project was initiated by donations made by the late Ed Baker and completed through fundraising and community support. The Baker Centre is operated by the Yellowknife Seniors’ Society, which continues to enjoy an excellent partnership with YACCS.

Most recently YACCS has been an advocate and a champion for the development of a territorial dementia facility. Without their drive and commitment I believe that the territorial dementia facility currently under construction on YACCS property would never see the light of day. Given the importance of this dementia facility, I applaud them for their hard work.

Mr. Speaker, YACCS is a valuable association made up of people who are deeply committed to the health and well-being of our senior citizens and, ultimately, the community as a whole.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. One of the challenges we face as MLAs is trying to choose our words very carefully. If I were to stand here and tell you exactly what the people in the Northwest Territories think about the proposed tax increases, I would be escorted from this Chamber in 30 seconds, and they are fighting that.

Good, hardworking people across the Northwest Territories continue to be hit or are proposed to be hit with tax increases. They tasked us as their MLAs to bring this forward and fight this issue on their behalf, and that’s what we have to do. On one hand, we form a cost-of-living committee to try and find ways to reduce the cost of living, and then on the other hand, we are proposing tax increases. I agree some tax increases need to be made, but you’re hitting the wrong people.

You’ve got resource companies, development companies up here bleeding us dry. They are paying Ottawa. What do we get out of this? Nothing. Nothing. They give us a transfer payment and say, “This is sufficient. Don’t bother us any more until next year.” People across the Northwest Territories, Mr. Speaker, are becoming extremely frustrated. You hear from them. I think every one of us in here has had e-mails or conversations with folks who are really worried about this proposed tax increase.

We don’t benefit from everything that goes on in the Northwest Territories, and I am not going to pretend that we do. I am not going to sugar-coat anything, Mr. Speaker, because we don’t benefit. Until we get our house in order as the Northwest Territories, as leaders across the Northwest Territories, not just this government…. Part of the problem is the leaders across the Northwest Territories have to be leaders and take the next step and do what’s best for the people of the Northwest Territories, because we did make an oath.

I strongly urge this government to explore other revenue options and not continue to kick the good, hard-working people of the NWT — I repeat, of the NWT, not the 3,300 migrant workers who don’t pay anything — while they’re down. They have asked us to look after them, and we should take that responsibility very seriously. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. McLeod. Members’ statements. The honourable Member for Mackenzie Delta, Mr. Krutko.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I, too, have heard from my constituents over the summer months, especially in the area of power rate increases, the high cost of energy and the high fuel prices in our communities. More important is the cost of living in regard to sustaining individuals in these high cost communities. A lot of our communities lack programs and services. In some cases there is no service. We don’t have nurses; we don’t have police.

Mr. Speaker, also realize that we have to ensure that we take care of the infrastructure in the Northwest Territories. A lot has been said over the summer months about the condition of the Dempster Highway. We were promised in this House this spring that we were going to do everything we can to ensure that public safety is a factor, but again the roads have been in very poor condition this summer.

One of the biggest issues that is still out there is the cost of living for residents in our communities when it comes to income support, housing subsidy programs and the consolidation that took place. That issue is one of the most pressing in our communities. To top it all off, the icing on the cake came when this government announced the tax initiatives that will again affect the cost of living of the residents of the Northwest Territories.

Mr. Speaker, I don’t support all these initiatives. The only one I support is something that was here in the 13th Assembly. I think that if we had taken care of it then, we probably would have seen some revenues from the resource industry by way of a resource tax. Again, here I state that I do support that initiative, but the rest of them can go.

Thank you, Mr. Krutko. Members’ statements. The honourable Member for Frame Lake, Ms. Bisaro.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It’s good to be back here with my colleagues. This is Literacy Week in the NWT, and yesterday was Read for 15 Day. In an effort to best Nunavut, as they challenge us for the greatest number of readers, I hope that everyone in this room did their homework. By that I mean that you read some material, even a comic book, for a mere 15 minutes and submitted your name for this contest. The NWT Literacy Council has many other activities planned for this week to celebrate and promote literacy. As they say on TV, check your local listings and take part in something in your community.

The council is a non-profit registered charitable organization that has been promoting and advancing literacy development in all NWT official languages since 1989. They run training sessions and workshops, do research, develop resources and deliver programs. One of their programs is to provide learning materials about elections, a very timely resource at the moment with an election only two weeks away. Learners can take advantage of an election how-to kit and can access suggested questions for candidates and other tools to assist them with and involve them in elections. Just go to www.nwt.literacy.ca and check it out.

For our residents who see the voting process as an unknown and scary prospect because their literacy skills are weak, the council’s tools enable them to understand elections and voting and to gain the confidence necessary to want to vote. No doubt our voter turnout has increased as people become comfortable with the process and then actively exercise their right to vote.

One of this Assembly’s goals is healthy, educated people. Our priorities, unfortunately, do not mention literacy, the value of which is well documented and irrefutable. Literacy and numeracy skills are necessary for work, learning and life in general. They provide the foundation for the learning of all other skills. A skilled people are a successful people. This Assembly needs to seriously consider increasing the emphasis that we place on literacy in order to help our citizens achieve more productive and successful lives.

As this government develops the 2009–10 budget, funding for literacy and numeracy must be increased over this current year’s amount. We need to support the NWT Literacy Council with adequate and consistent long-term funding. Our residents, our communities and our economy will benefit as a result. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Ms. Bisaro. Members’ statements. The honourable Member for Weledeh, Mr. Bromley.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. We are all aware of the extreme financial and economic crisis playing out in the United States. We are also acutely aware of the roller coaster global stock markets reacting to the attempts of the U.S. government to respond. This volatility extends to the Toronto Stock Exchange and Canadian investments.

Northerners have closely watched the price of oil soaring to record highs before declining to about $100 per barrel today. We have noticed how erratic and unpredictable the price is. Those who bravely forecast the future price of oil do so now in a timid voice with many caveats and wide margins.

Northerners are keenly watching the prices of food and housing, which are climbing steeply. Mr. Speaker, we are as yet uncertain about what impact a recession south of the border will have on Canada and, more specifically, on the North. Though we are concerned, we do have our misgivings. We know how closely and increasingly tied we are to the global economy and especially the ailing U.S. economy. Many of us are hugely uncomfortable with such an intimate relationship in which we have absolutely no control or influence. Conditions can change in an instant in the global economy.

People who are doing well financially buy diamonds and expensive northern holidays regardless of the price of fuel, but these consumers fade away when the economy dives. Yet in almost every news release from our own Premier’s office we seem fixated upon entrenching ourselves further in this global economy. Our leaders say we must fully participate and enjoy all the rewards and riches mega-development will bring.

Mr. Speaker, this is balderdash. It is nonsense, because it ignores the unaccounted costs and vulnerabilities that come with it: the environmental costs, the sale of our resources with no ability to capture value, the vulnerability to global economic swings, the declining quality of life and increasing crime.

Though we are currently putting all our eggs in one basket, a basket that is very fragile and easily unravelled, there is a way to ensure a more secure future. That way is to invest in diversified, small scale, local economies that build community and increase self-sufficiency rather than dependence.

While the global economy has devastated the great fisheries resources of the world’s oceans, our own Great Slave Lake fish stock is harvested at 15 per cent of sustainable yields. Our once great northern gardens with astounding produce are talked about as history, while we purchase cabbages and carrots from afar. Our water used to be a national standard….

Mr. Bromley, your time for your Member’s statement has expired.

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

Unanimous consent granted.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Thank you, colleagues. Young northern entrepreneurs are increasingly absent while we support multinationals. This government continues to promote these trends while wailing about our loss of population, lack of performance in our local economies, trades and social institutions and the soaring costs of energy.

Mr. Speaker, we have an opportunity to move forward in a different way. I ask the government to show our public that they actually see the connections in the choices we make and that they will be changing course and making the right choice. I look forward to responding to the opening address. Mahsi.

Thank you, Mr. Bromley. Members’ statements. The honourable Member for Yellowknife Centre, Mr. Hawkins.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The public is passing judgment today, and they’re saying that these new tax initiatives are the last straw. From what I see, the motto of this Finance Minister is “tax first, ask questions later.” I encourage the Minister to listen very carefully, because you can hear the caravan of people exiting the Territories. If Mr. Miltenberger has his way, that’s what we’ll see.

In the past couple of weeks I’ve had my fill from the public, hearing their concerns about this Minister trying to fix our financial problems with more taxes. They have had it. They’re his ideas, and I’ll tell you, they’re not mine. The problem is — and I say to the Finance Minister to listen very carefully — the government has a spending problem, not a revenue problem. We don’t need new taxes. We need someone with some real imagination over there.

If Mr. Miltenberger had his way, everything suggested on his list would affect every person’s basic cost of living. That means milk, butter, heating oil, and don’t forget the power bill. Don’t get me started on the health care premiums. I can clearly see this Finance Minister has been getting sensitivity training from Revenue Canada, which is not the way to go.

Mr. Speaker, the only surprise I have on this initiative is that it wasn’t released at Christmastime. As I look it over, you can clearly see they have no direction. You can clearly see that over at the Finance department no one understands bread and butter economics. What they’ve chosen is a path to destroy our economy, not to help it.

With power rates spiking, home heating going up, what is the next straw? There will not be one, because no one will be here. Let me tell you: good financial policies will encourage investment, and they will certainly help our tax base grow. They will help businesses create employment. By the way, just in case you’re not listening, that means more taxes, naturally. More people working will help this territory far more than putting the thumbscrews to the cost of living of the average person, who’s had it. Every additional person, as it’s been said here today, can add at least $20,000 from our federal grant. That doesn’t even take into consideration the spending this generates.

At this time I seek unanimous consent to conclude my statement.

Unanimous consent granted.

Mr. Speaker, let me give this Finance Minister a lesson. If we encouraged 2,000 people to our territory, that would cover our shortfall. By the way, that means 60 people per community. We can encourage a grow with the North policy, as opposed to taxing them to death. Let’s start on some of those migrant workers, as has been articulated clearly here.

In closing, the financial gaps are big; imagination is low. As one person told me yesterday, it’s time that we start showing some backbone with some mineral tax instead of milk tax. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I have a return to an oral question asked by Mr. Hawkins on June 18, 2008, regarding services for children with autism.

The Department of Health and Social Services does not operate under a framework or policy that is specific to autism. Services for children with disabilities are delivered within the context of the integrated service delivery model, which allows for access to rehabilitation services, referrals to specialists and, if necessary, voluntary support agreements through the Child and Family Services Act. A framework for services for children with disabilities is being developed.

The Department of Health and Social Services in partnership with the Department of Education, Culture and Employment and Stanton Territorial Health Authority is currently consulting with service providers. This collaboration provides an integrated and coordinated approach for developing a consistent service delivery protocol across the spectrum of disabilities.

Thank you, Ms. Lee. Item 5, recognition of visitors in the gallery. The honourable Member for Great Slave, Mr. Abernethy.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’d like to recognize two constituents from the riding of Great Slave: Lena Pedersen, a former Member of this House, and Todd Parsons, the president of the UNW.