Debates of October 21, 2005 (day 15)

Good morning, Members. Welcome back to the House. Members, before we begin today, my office has been informed by one of our colleagues, Mr. Pokiak, that he has lost one of his older sisters, Ms. Annie Noksana, who passed away quietly and peacefully in Tuktoyaktuk. I would like to pass on the House’s condolences to Mr. Pokiak and his family on the loss of his sister.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

---Applause

Good morning, colleagues. Mr. Speaker, in June of this year, communities throughout the Northwest Territories honoured their high school graduates. At the time these events were taking place, members of education authorities and educators told me that this was a banner year in terms of the number of students meeting graduation requirements. Now that the official numbers are in, I can confirm that, indeed, graduation levels were higher during the 2004-2005 academic year than they have ever been.

For reporting purposes, graduates are counted as of September 30th each year. During the past year, there were 343 high school graduates in the Northwest Territories. This is an increase of more than 50 graduates over last year and, based on preliminary population figures, represents a graduation rate of 51 percent. Previously, the highest rate for graduation in the NWT was 45 percent.

It is important to note that the increase is primarily the result of more students graduating in our smaller communities. In 2004, communities outside of Yellowknife, in the regional centres of Hay River, Fort Smith and Inuvik, produced 69 graduates. That number increased to 107 in 2005. Legislators, educators and administrators can be proud that the actions that have been taken to enhance community-based education activities and to complete grade extensions are resulting in more students accessing high school programs and completing their studies.

Mr. Speaker, I would also like to note that the number of aboriginal graduates from our schools has increased substantially. In 2000, 30 percent of all graduates in the NWT were aboriginal. This year, 49 percent of all graduates in the Northwest Territories were aboriginal.

Mr. Speaker, I congratulate the students, their families, educators and education authorities in the Northwest Territories on their successful effort. Their collective contributions have demonstrated how commitment and hard work can pay off.

I look forward to working together with our partners to build on the successes of the 2004-2005 academic year and to continue to improve and strengthen the results of the school system. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

---Applause

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, we have heard a great deal in this Legislative Assembly, since the beginning of this session, about the need to invest in early learning and childcare programming. The Report on Pre-Budget Consultation, prepared by the Standing Committee on Accountability and Oversight, discussed, in some detail, the needs in our communities with respect to these programs.

When the Prime Minister addressed his caucus last May, he made special mention that Canadians across the country were eager to participate in a national childcare system built on the principles of quality, accessibility, universality and developmental. The three northern territories fully support these principles and are anxious to participate fully in a national system on that basis.

Like most Canadians, northern residents welcomed the federal government’s commitment to provide funding to enhance the early learning and childcare environment. The promise of funding to achieve a national vision is exciting. It was our intention to utilize this funding to focus on increased training opportunities for childcare workers and increased eligibility for parents wanting to access day care subsidies.

This week, I attended the federal, provincial and territorial Ministers of Social Development meeting to discuss the early learning and childcare negotiations with Minister Ken Dryden. Unfortunately, our negotiations with Ottawa have been very disappointing. Despite our significant efforts to secure an adequate funding arrangement, the federal offer remains unchanged and, therefore, unacceptable to the Northwest Territories, Yukon and Nunavut governments.

To participate fully in this program in a way that ensures we can provide a level of comparable service to our residents, the Northwest Territories needs funding based on the fiscal reality of delivering programs and services in the North. The federal offer, as put forward by Minister Dryden, based on a per capita allocation, is woefully inadequate and is based on a lack of understanding of the realities of northern life.

Mr. Speaker, the position of the Government of the Northwest Territories on this issue is consistent with the approach we have taken since the inception of this Legislative Assembly two years ago. We believe that this program should be provided on a base plus basis, similar to other federal programs.

Mr. Speaker, without a funding agreement that provides an adequate level of funding, residents of the Northwest Territories will not see the same level of improvement in early learning and childcare that will be seen in other parts of the country. Mr. Speaker, this is completely unacceptable.

Mr. Speaker, the government will not accept an agreement that means our residents will not be treated the same as other Canadians. It is clear that we have gone as far as we can to resolve this issue with Minister Dryden and his officials. The next step is for Premier Handley to raise this issue with Prime Minister Martin at their next meeting. We are hopeful that the Prime Minister will take steps to resolve this issue so the children and families of the Northwest Territories will receive the same level of service as all other Canadians.

Mr. Speaker, I look forward to the support of, and advice from, the Members of the Legislative Assembly as we work to resolve this issue. Thank you.

---Applause

Mr. Speaker, I wish to advise Members that the Honourable Michael Miltenberger will be absent from the House today to attend a federal/provincial/territorial Ministers of Health meeting in Toronto. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I tabled a letter from the Colville Lake District Education Authority on October 18, 2005, in the House. That letter outlined several concerns that the district education authority has with the adequacy of the program space, classrooms and lack of sanitary facilities in the Colville Lake school.

There are 41 people, 36 students and five staff, in that building approved for an occupancy load for 40 people. One room teaches kindergarten to Grade 12. The lack of space is such that one teacher teaches in the cloakroom, just a few feet away from the honey bucket. Mr. Speaker, I would maintain that this is not conducive to a good learning environment, nor is it really healthy. In fact, it’s outrageous in this day and age. It’s a crying shame, Mr. Speaker.

Crying shame!

A crying shame that we have to put our students in this type of building.

In examining the history of an addition for the Colville Lake School, I know the project has been delayed, and reduced in scope, since 2000-2001. That’s five years, Mr. Speaker. It went from a $1.5 million addition to be concluded in 2005-2006 in the 2000-2001 Main Estimates, to a modular classroom, at the cost of $448,000, to be delivered in 2007-2008 in this year’s main estimates. In fact, Mr. Speaker, at one point in the 2003-2004 Main Estimates, the project did not even appear in the books for the Department of Education, Culture and Employment.

The capital standards state the number one priority is life, safety and health concerns. I think that a -- and I do note the word “a” -- honey bucket may qualify as a health concern in schools. Also note that the capital standards also called for separate bathrooms for each of the sexes, built to current building concerns.

Mr. Speaker, with the amount of concerns that the DEA from Colville Lake has with the current school, I am expecting to be one awesome modular classroom. Just so people understand, modular classroom is just another way of saying portable classroom. I don’t believe it’s possible to complete a portable classroom to meet the program requirements in Colville. A portable…

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

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. Yakeleya.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Thank you, colleagues. A portable classroom may have a lifespan of 20 years. It makes more sense to renovate and put an addition onto the existing structure. I will have questions for the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment at the appropriate time. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

---Applause

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Today, I would like to talk about a disease that affects an estimated 280,000 Canadians and can strike adults at any age. It affects one in 13 people over the age of 65, and there is no known cause or cure. The disease I am referring to, Mr. Speaker, is the most common form of dementia, known as Alzheimer’s. This dreaded affliction is a progressive, degenerative disease that affects the brain and, eventually, all aspects of a person’s life, from mental abilities, emotions and moods, to behaviour and physical abilities.

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to know that there is some help and support for people in the Northwest Territories who may be affected by this disease. The Alzheimer’s Society of Alberta and the Northwest Territories was created in 2002, due mainly to the efforts of Marjorie Sandercock, who is currently the chair of the Yellowknife chapter. Other members I would like to mention include: Krista McLean, Jan Stirling, Linda Henry, Barb Bromley, Esther Braden, Wendy Carter, Lib Lowing and Mabel Collinson.

One of the main aims of the Alzheimer’s Society is to develop awareness of this dreaded disease. Last year, the YK chapter partnered with the city library to create an Alzheimer’s Disease Research Centre at the Yellowknife Public Library. These resources, which were funded by Health Canada, are available throughout the NWT.

The Yellowknife Alzheimer’s chapter has also been part of an annual fundraising event across Canada called Coffee Break. For a few hours during the day, all proceeds from coffee sales at various venues are donated to the Alzheimer’s Society. This year, the group has brought in close to $1,300 from coffee breaks at BHP, Diavik, the Gourmet Cup and at the Baker’s Centre.

This coming January, the Yellowknife chapter will be promoting a stage play to heighten Alzheimer’s awareness. Directed by Chris Foreman, who will also be acting along with Erica Tesar, Strangers Among Us is a play about Alzheimer’s disease. It will be presented at the Baker’s Centre, and I encourage everyone to go out and support this worthy group at that time by attending this event.

On a much larger scale of support, Mr. Speaker, I encourage this government to continue to move forward with its plans to build a dementia facility next to the Aven Centre. This is a much needed facility in the Northwest Territories that will specifically cater to those affected by Alzheimer’s disease and other dementia. Currently, these people are housed in the hospital or other facilities that do not meet their needs. 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. Ramsay.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The dementia centre is a much needed facility not only for the people with these diseases, but for the caregivers who, over time, can face burnout from the constant care and vigilance that is often required. I would like to thank you, Mr. Speaker, for your time today.

---Applause

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Good morning, Mr. Speaker. The issue of unresolved workers’ compensation claims of injured workers has been the subject of many of my statements and questions. For some injured workers, Mr. Speaker, through our process, it has become a never-ending treadmill of appeals and systemic process. For a number of these workers, when they think they are getting ahead, wouldn’t you know it, but along comes some rule changes.

Mr. Speaker, just to explain briefly, if a worker is injured on the job, they expect to receive a disability pension, or allowance, depending on their injury, for the time that they are not able to work. In order to determine the amount of this compensation, the WCB takes into account their finances for a year, and a calculation is done on whatever their earnings or remuneration were.

Now in the NWT, Mr. Speaker, and Nunavut, we have a lot of seasonal jobs, like firefighting, mineral exploration, fishing and trapping, and they are the only sorts of income for some people. As I said, a lot of them are very seasonal by nature.

I am advised that Newfoundland and Nova Scotia do include employment insurance earnings in the remuneration calculations in the case of workers who may get injured on seasonal jobs.

Mr. Speaker, there have been a number of cases before the WCB Appeals Tribunal on the issue of whether or not to include employment insurance earnings. In fact, this tribunal has ruled in favour of some workers, with regard to the inclusion of EI. Once again, when workers think they are going to receive fairness and justice, guess what? Those rules get changed.

The WCB Governance Council, in September of this year, revised a policy redefining remuneration that specifically excluded employment insurance from the calculation for these workers. In addition to that, they backdated it, Mr. Speaker, all the way back to 1977. Mr. Speaker, this action flies in the face of tribunal decisions and, indeed, in the face of the high number of seasonal workers in Nunavut and the Northwest Territories, and it’s time that this policy was revisited. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

---Applause

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to speak about the day care arrangements that the residents and the children of Lutselk’e are faced with every day. This issue has been brought forward by other Members, and also is an important topic in the pre-budget consultation report that was tabled in the House earlier this week.

Mr. Speaker, I will again talk about, and remind the Members opposite about, the unsafe, unhealthy and unstable conditions these kids and staff are dealing with every day. Unsafe conditions exist in the large community hall that these kids are brought into every day, and at times there is still heavy equipment left out from the previous night’s meetings. There are many hiding places small children can find interesting, and there are many other distractions the staff have to be wary of just for the safety of the children. It’s unhealthy because, at times, the hall is not cleaned from the previous night’s late meetings, leaving this task to the day care staff. It’s unhealthy because of the detection of radon underneath the building several years ago that has still never been addressed. It’s an unstable environment the day care has to be concerned about during the day.

The community may have unscheduled meetings that require the use of the hall that day, leaving the day care with no options but to close the doors for the day, disrupting the work schedules of these working parents who are trying to earn a living in a small community.

Mr. Speaker, I want these concerns not to be taken lightly by this government. It is not only an important concern of Lutselk’e, but in many other northern communities that are struggling to make day care service a reality. In Lutselk’e in particular, Mr. Speaker, there are empty housing units that have not been occupied for at least a year and may be empty for another year or two. I hope that this government, the Housing and Education Ministers in particular, can put their heads together and hammer out some temporary arrangements to allow the use of an empty housing unit to be converted and utilized as a day care facility. It would eliminate many of these unsafe, unhealthy, and unstable concerns, and put parents’ minds at ease, even if for a few months, while, at the same time, a long-term arrangement can be developed and implemented to the satisfaction of the Lutselk’e residents. Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.

---Applause

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, today I speak about the importance of literacy. Literacy is helping people understand and use information. Somewhere, with functional literacy, people should be able to understand and reply to letters, complete forms, and apply for jobs and have the skills necessary to function effectively in a society.

During the Standing Committee on Accountability and Oversight’s pre-budget consultation, the NWT Literacy Council made an excellent presentation to the committee. Some of the statistics on literacy were shocking, Mr. Speaker. Thirty-three percent of NWT adults have less than a Grade 12 education, Mr. Speaker. The situation is even worse for aboriginal people in the North. Fifty-five percent of aboriginal adults have less than a Grade 12 education, Mr. Speaker.

Another important measure for literacy is Grade 9 education. Again, aboriginal adults are far worse than non-aboriginal counterparts. Over 25 percent of aboriginal adults have less than a Grade 9 education. In smaller communities, this approach is 30 percent, Mr. Speaker. In Yellowknife, this is less than five percent.

Mr. Speaker, the needs are, clearly, strongest in the smaller communities, yet the Aurora College program is highly focused on three major campuses. That will be Yellowknife, Inuvik and Fort Smith. What is needed in the NWT is a concerted effort to set up adult education programming in small communities.

Mr. Speaker, I suggest that Aurora College needs to go beyond the current ABE programming. We need to prepare the people of the North for pre-trades certification programs, and also management diploma programs. Every five years, Aurora College prepares a corporate plan that identifies the priorities for the next five years. That is currently underway, Mr. Speaker. It is great to see. But now they can hear the people, the public, and what the communities want the program to deliver.

Mr. Speaker, my suggestion is that Aurora College should get to our communities to identify the needs, and to set out short and long-term goals and objectives, based on the community priorities. People in the communities know what they need and what they want. Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.

---Applause

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. Today I will be addressing community policing concerns raised by my constituents and the residents all throughout the North. Several years ago, particularly in the 14th Assembly, the small non-tax based communities met with the special committee members to discuss this issue. All remote communities indicated that safety of residents and community policing was the highest priority. There was a case where a victim was so injured that he could not even walk to get help. Even this did not get the police to their community. That was pointed out in the final report by that committee.

Today, Mr. Speaker, these same problems still exist. The community of Nahanni Butte has lodged complaints of two incidents over the course of this summer, where the police were called and did not arrive for some 48 hours later.

Mr. Speaker, in all cases in small communities, police are never called frivolously. They were called because safety of residents and people were threatened. I recognize the enormous demands placed on our policing services in the North, and the safety of our residents is our government’s number one job. I do not believe that, when assessing any emergency policing situation in our small communities, remoteness should be a factor. I do not believe, Mr. Speaker, that cost of travel should be a factor. At the very least, attention must be given as soon as possible. Our constituents must trust that we will always receive this type of attention, and that we will always be there for them, Mr. Speaker. Mahsi cho.

---Applause

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Today my Member’s statement is about fiscal responsibility and how it relates to the repayment of corporate income tax overpayment.

As all Members of this House know, we are well aware of how this Assembly has the unfortunate task or, I should say, the burden ahead of us in the next year to repay the federal government close to $300 million for its corporate overpayment tax that dates back to 2002.

This can no longer be pushed back or ignored by this government. When the last government realized -- that is the 14th Assembly -- over four years ago that it received an overpayment of corporate income tax of over $300 million, they had some tough choices ahead of them. But they decided to spend it, Mr. Speaker. They knew that spending it wouldn’t fall on their government. It would fall on the government that followed them to pay it back.

Mr. Speaker, decisions like that, treating it like an interest-free loan, was not responsible. Mr. Speaker, the government of that day, the 14th Assembly, spent like it was footloose and fancy free, spending with no regard to who has to cover the payment. I am not sure that they were hoping that; either they were thinking or hedging their bets on the fact that they would get a resource revenue agreement or whatnot, but, unfortunately, it is time to pay. If they were hoping that pennies would fall from heaven, and their bacon would be covered, well, unfortunately, it is our bacon that has to pay the piper.

Mr. Speaker, that is not fair of the last Assembly to put that burden on this government. We now have to be smart and a lot wiser with our fiscal policies. I compliment Minister Roland on his fiscal work that he has done, but we need to go one step further. Waiting for a grant from Canada, as they often talk about our resource revenue sharing agreement, is like having them dangle a carrot in front of us. It is there, but it just seems to always be out of reach.

Frankly, Mr. Speaker, I am tired of waiting for that resource revenue agreement, but we have this burden in front of us. Mr. Speaker, we need a sound fiscal policy that says when we realize we have an overpayment of some sort, we clearly set it aside and not put that burden on the next government to figure out how they should pay for it. The government of the day with the overpayment looks like the heroes, and the government that has to pay looks like zeros.

So, Mr. Speaker, in closing, I will have awe-inspiring questions for the Finance Minister. I know he will be really receptive to the points I make. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

---Applause

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, today I would like to speak on the administration of the Student Financial Assistance program. Although I believe that the SFA in the NWT is one of, if not the best in Canada, there are still some problems with the administration of the program. Inuvik, Hay River, Norman Wells and Fort Smith are some of the larger regional centres in the NWT outside of Yellowknife, yet there are no offices in these communities that have decision-making authority. Everything has to go through an office in Yellowknife that is far removed from the regions.

Mr. Speaker, just to give you an example of what I am speaking about, I have a constituent who went to school in Fort Smith, and he was transferring to Edmonton. He had verbal approval to bring his truck and his belongings down, and they would pay his way home. He gets down to Edmonton, and he gets told that they are not going to pay his way home, because it wasn’t where he was going to school. It cost $128 less to go from Edmonton to Inuvik than it would from Fort Smith to Inuvik.

I just think, Mr. Speaker, if we had regional staff who had a chance to know their clients, and they were empowered to make decisions in these kinds of cases, we might get more sensible results. Even the student financial assistance board, Mr. Speaker, has no members from outside of Yellowknife. Is Yellowknife the only community in the NWT with the college? Mr. Speaker, I am not here to knock Yellowknife, but too many decisions made for the rest of the NWT are done here, and they should be at the regions. We should have regional offices that have the authority to make decisions that are affecting these students.

Mr. Speaker, at the appropriate time, I will have questions for the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment. Thank you.

---Applause

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. No, I won’t be following on my colleague’s statement about student financial assistance.

---Laughter

Instead, with it being Friday and knowing that the Pages that have been serving us here in this House for the last week are from Inuvik, I thought I would just recognize their efforts and the time they have spent with us. I have heard from many Members how they liked the service they provided, and how polite they are. That shows you that the students from Inuvik are representing their community well here. I would like to recognize the six Pages we have here. Both Mr. McLeod and I joined our efforts together to make sure we had a full complement. They are: Hayley Rodgers; Alyssa Ross; Kaylin Horassi; Angie Donley; Jessica Wilson; and Laska Edwards. I would also like to thank Mr. McLeod’s CA, Meeka Kisoun, for supporting them and making sure they met all their school work while they were down here, as well as kept them safe while they are away from their parents. Thank you.

---Applause

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, today I wanted to talk about one of my favourite subjects: Hay River.

---Laughter

In a couple of weeks, I will be coming up to 31 years in Hay River. Over those years, I have been involved in many aspects of life in Hay River, so I can say, with some authority, that Hay River is a great place to live, to work, and to raise a family. There are so many things to be involved in. If volunteering is your thing, there are a host of opportunities to join the large community-minded people in Hay River. If you are a sports enthusiast, we have it all from a beautiful golf course with real greens in the summer, to our well-groomed cross-country ski trails in the winter, to hockey for all ages, to just about every other kind of organized sport that you can think of. If you are a nature lover, we have beautiful walking trails close to the picturesque Hay River, or walks along the miles of sandy shoreline of Great Slave Lake.

The cost of housing and living is probably the lowest in the Northwest Territories. We have lots of developed and serviced land for sale. We have great transportation connections -- centrally located on the South Slave highway system -- and affordable options for air travel, whether you are going north or south.

Mr. Speaker, I could go on and on. I could tell the good people of the Northwest Territories about things like our new aquatic centre, our diversified economy, our Arctic College programs, just the good people who live in Hay River. But, Mr. Speaker, I would encourage anyone who hasn’t visited Hay River lately, to do so. Instead of driving right by in Enterprise, just turn left and come down. We will be hospitable and we will show you around. Check it out! It is a great community to visit. It is a great community to call home. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

---Applause

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, in this House, we take pride in having a consensus style of government where the Members on both sides are supposed to work together to achieve things for the benefit of all our people. When it works, Mr. Speaker, it is really the best form of government, in terms of giving the strongest voice to the smallest constituency of the Territories. But when it doesn’t work, Mr. Speaker, it functions like nothing but a majority dictatorship, where the government knows it has the numbers, and they plough through with their agenda without listening to any input from the Members on this side or the concerned public out there. People are feeling like this is what is happening lately, whether it is the issue of the day care closing, or the nonchalant and no-big-deal attitude about moving money and projects on a political whim.

Mr. Speaker, in the whole debate about Novel housing, the Minister of Housing has the audacity to get up and say, that we have no home building capacity. No one in the North could do the job. He doesn’t even care enough to take a few minutes to meet with local builders with proposals.

Mr. Speaker, I suggest the Minister and Cabinet get themselves a little bit of modesty and humbleness, and start listening to the people they are supposed to serve. Mr. Speaker, since the Novel housing issues were raised in this House, I have received at least three calls from people in the North who say they can do the job. There is a business in Hay River, for example, who is actually building trailers and exporting to northern Alberta. He submitted a proposal to the Housing Minister and the Premier last year and has not heard a thing; not even a thank you note.

Mr. Speaker, I urge this government to start acting like a responsible and a responsive government, not an arrogant dictatorship of majority. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Hear! Hear!

---Applause

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, as the Members can see, we have a lot of people in the gallery today. We have about 60 students from William MacDonald.

---Applause

I cannot name all of them, but I know they are all very special. They are a Grade 7 social studies class, Mrs. Gale Martin’s class, and someone well known in this House, Mr. Radcliffe’s Grade 7 class. Mr. Speaker, I would also like to recognize Pat, my foster doll Pat from Tuk, who is sitting there with Cathy Olson. Also in the gallery, although I can’t see her, is Lynda Sorensen, who is well known in the Assembly, a former Member from Yellowknife. She is visiting her family in the city. I think she is in the gallery. I would like to welcome everybody to the gallery. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

---Applause

Thank you, Ms. Lee. Item 5, recognition of visitors in the gallery. The honourable Member for Kam Lake, Mr. Ramsay.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I would like to recognize some visitors from the Alzheimer’s Society of Alberta and the Northwest Territories: Linda Henry; Mabel Collinson; Lib Lowing; and Esther Braden. Welcome. Thank you.

---Applause

Thank you, Mr. Ramsay. Item 5, recognition of visitors in the gallery. The honourable Member for Great Slave, Mr. Braden.

I, too, would like to welcome all the youth who are here today. It is great to see people, that generation, paying attention to what is going on in here. I would very much like to welcome the folks from the other spectrum of the generation…

---Laughter

…our seniors. It is just a great pleasure to welcome my mother, Esther Braden.

---Applause

Thank you, Mr. Braden. Item 5, recognition of visitors in the gallery. The honourable Premier, Mr. Handley.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to recognize a long-term community resident and leader, and now a resident of Weledeh, Ruth Spence.

---Applause

Thank you, Mr. Handley. Item 5, recognition of visitors in the gallery. The honourable Member for Inuvik Boot Lake, Mr. Roland.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, it gives me pleasure to introduce someone in our gallery from Inuvik, Ms. Meeka Kisoun, with her baby.

---Applause

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I, too, would like to welcome all the students to the House proceedings today. My question is for the Minister of Transportation. As of yesterday, the ferry operations ceased in Fort Simpson. I would like to ask what the department is going to be doing about continuing the ferry service in Fort Simpson. Thank you.