Debates of October 29, 2004 (day 31)

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to speak in favour of this motion, just in particular to the aspect for treating addictions specifically for youth, Mr. Speaker. I have teenage daughters and it frightens me to think that there is no current system, should there be a need, and I’m sure that there is a need by many other parents in Yellowknife and throughout our Northwest Territories, Mr. Speaker.

Throughout the last two-and-a-half weeks here we have been talking about development and some of the impacts coming from it and, of course, there were a lot of negative impacts that comes from it, and a lot of it will be just as the Members were speaking about today, of the drugs and alcohol. There is going to be an increase of supply just because there is a lot more money, and a lot of it does dwindle down to our children, Mr. Speaker. I have known some people that even in restricted communities will bring in alcohol and drugs, thinking they're only for themselves. I don’t know if they know it or not, but it does make its way down to our youth and to our children in the communities, Mr. Speaker. Just by it being there, they learn how to use it from the adults that are there. So I believe we are going to have to provide the facilities to help them unlearn it.

As also has been said, Mr. Speaker, it’s a northern problem and I believe that there should be a northern solution to it. That is why I am in favour of creating our own facility in the North and keeping it in the North, Mr. Speaker. Thank you very much.

Thank you, Mr. Menicoche. To the motion. The honourable Member for Tu Nedhe, Mr. Villeneuve.

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. I rise today to also express my support for this motion, not just due to the fact the intent of the motion is to get an addictions treatment centre in the NWT, Mr. Speaker, but also, as I had stated in my Member's statement, that this is something that has become quite personal now as people who are close to me are being affected by this drug and the addiction that it carries along with it.

I know, Mr. Speaker, that the problem is predominant in our larger urban centres in the NWT, in Yellowknife, Hay River and Inuvik and such, but we also must consider the smaller communities, Mr. Speaker, because I know that these problems related to the lack of support programs and services available are trickling into the smaller communities around the larger centres, where mobility and accessibility are two of these, this type of heavy drug is getting a lot easier for people that have money in their pockets, now that we have development with mining and oil and gas and stuff. Just the fact that we should have something here in the NWT just makes it easier for people to go, it alleviates a lot of apprehension to being sent south, is what a lot of people refer to when going to seek some kind of treatment for their addiction. Just the words "being sent south" have a lot of connotations to it in the way that people will always consider you a lower form in our society because you are being sent south. Therefore, people have a lot of anxiety towards even going to seek support if it entails going to a southern institution. Having it anywhere up in the NWT, we have all our support networks at hand. Places like Stanton and the Tree of Peace and Salvation Army and others, the meetings that Mr. Ramsay was alluding to, that are being held every day, they would be really accessible to anybody around here if they were to be treated locally, and besides the reduction in the government costs, I’m sure, and keeping our dollars in the NWT, has always been a priority of this government.

Just to talk about the facilities that are currently available, we know that they are understaffed and overworked and underfunded and whatnot, and the whole process has become quite overwhelming for the people that are in that field of work. Mr. Speaker, I think once we have established the fact that yes, we will get something that is going to be a standalone facility and something that is going to be dealing strictly with this, what I like to refer to as an epidemic, but it could get a lot worse than that I’m sure. We do need some kind of a medical management unit that just strictly deals with this drug, crack cocaine addiction.

Therefore, I am totally supportive of the residential treatment programs, like here in Yellowknife. I can’t mention the Somba K'e centre any more than it has already been mentioned; I am sure the Minister has gotten the point. I hope that all the Members of Cabinet are supportive of this motion and that they hope to see some resolve in making what the people are demanding: immediate government action. I just don’t know why this government wouldn’t take what is basically the majority of the public demand, to have something local, into consideration. Again, I just want to establish that I am totally in support of this motion. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Villeneuve. To the motion. The honourable Member for Nunakput, Mr. Pokiak.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I, too, am rising today to support the motion. I think it’s important, Mr. Speaker, that it needed to be considered; I’m glad it’s in there.

As you know, there is a lot of seismic and exploration activity going on right now in Inuvik and the Beaufort-Delta, so with that comes drugs and alcohol. So it’s important that the government open up a centre in Inuvik. With the coming of the pipeline now, down the road a lot of drugs will follow with it. I know of some cases in my community of Tuktoyaktuk, there are signs of drugs in there, so we have to find ways to tackle this problem.

A lot of my colleagues already said a lot of things about the treatment centre, and I just wanted to rise to say that I am totally in full support of the motion. Thank you.

---Applause

Thank you, Mr. Pokiak. To the motion. The honourable Member for Range Lake, Ms. Lee.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, obviously I rise to speak in favour of this motion. Mr. Speaker, I guess I should preface it by saying that it seems to be that the Members on the other side are feeling a little bit under attack and maybe it appears as though we’re not saying they’re doing anything good at all. So let me say if I’m pointing out anything that they’re falling short on, it’s not to say that we’re saying that they’re not doing anything good at all. They’re otherwise perfect, I’m sure.

---Applause

Except for the issue I’m dealing with at the time. So, yes, I am willing to give them all the credit. But with respect to the addictions issue, Mr. Speaker, I really believe that the silence by this government with this issue is quite deafening. It is really out there and I’ve raised this question and raised this issue many times in the House and I could go back to Hansard and give you examples of at least 10 cases or as many times as I’ve asked the questions, the Minister of Health and Social Services will say we have a plan and we have to take careful, measured steps. We have to be strategic about this. The Minister has been studying and writing up a plan for two years in the last Assembly and at least a year here. I really don’t think he has the luxury of doing it for another three years in terms of a plan.

Mr. Speaker, let me tell you about what the community is doing. Obviously everybody knows the urgency of this. There is a group called Yellowknife Coalition for Community Wellness that was set up three years ago or so. It is completely volunteer based. Within that they have what is called the COPS program. This is a community group in Yellowknife who has had enough with the violence and vandalism that is going on on the streets and people just wanted to pull up their boots and say they wanted to do something about it. They were able to find all of the equipment they need from the businesses and they patrol our streets at night. I was just talking to one of the organizers and they get no money from the government whatsoever. Not one cent. Now I would say that is one area this government could do something about.

The second thing, Mr. Speaker, I was walking my dogs in my riding of Range Lake. I live across from the school. In the summertime when I walk there I can smell drugs coming out of the backyard of the school. I can see the kids running from there. That has been an issue. I can tell you what the school boards are doing. Just the other day this car stopped by me and said he has been hired as a security…Maybe I shouldn’t say this to everybody, but anyway. There is a security that school boards have hired out of their own money to hire a security and his job is to watch all the schools in the city from 8:00 at night until 8:00 in the morning. I believe it’s a cost-sharing measure between the two school boards. Now, that is the money the school boards are paying, money that could have gone to the kids in the classrooms, because the communities are feeling they had to do something about it. I don’t think this government is going to come with a special warrant to look after that, Mr. Speaker.

I’m telling you, this is all coming from the increased level of drug problems that we have. I was completely shocked two years ago when I went to one of the launching meetings for the Yellowknife Coalition of Community Wellness and I got talking to two women that I grew up with. I used to party with them in my younger years.

---Laughter

Mr. Speaker, I was shocked to learn that they have spent the last 10 years dealing with their girls who got addicted to cocaine. I had no idea that this was going on in my own town. To tell me about how devastating it is to have their kids hooked up on cocaine, who are willing to do anything to get their next fix, who are willing to sell their mother, literally, to get their habit…I’m sorry, but they were engaged in prostitution. All the things that they would not otherwise do and they had to send their kids down south and pay out of their own pocket because they could not get the service they need for young kids in Yellowknife.

Mr. Speaker, I don’t mind giving credit to the government where credit is due and one of the things that the government has done lately is that concentration on drinking and driving area. We have almost zero tolerance against drinking and driving, but that is one very narrow area of addiction that we are dealing with. It’s even a very narrow area of alcohol addiction. There are a lot of other addictions for us to deal with, Mr. Speaker. I have to concentrate here.

---Laughter

Sorry, Mr. Speaker. I should also say that the Minister of Health and Social Services has done a good job in promoting almost zero tolerance against smoking addiction. We all now know that smoking is bad for us and there’s a very aggressive campaign going on to keep the kids from starting smoking because we know how hard that is. But let me tell you, Mr. Speaker, I don’t think there is anything more difficult to quit once they’ve started -- from the information that I’m getting -- than crack cocaine. I think we all understand young people are up to trying new things. In our day we had our own stuff that was not as harmful as crack cocaine. The worst thing about crack cocaine is that there is no real second chance. It’s really important that we make sure the kids don’t start in the first place. It’s really important to know that this crack cocaine is not just in downtown Yellowknife, but that it’s in the suburbs and in the living room of all the houses. It’s not discriminatory in any way. It’s not just in Yellowknife. It’s in Hay River, it’s in Inuvik, it’s in Norman Wells and it’s even in smaller communities like Deline or Fort Providence.

I tell you, if we let this stuff spread without any kind of aggressive campaign, we are going to pay for it. It’s going to cost us a lot. Our schools are going to be filled with kids that are being abandoned by their parents who are using drugs, or teenagers who are leaving school because they’re hooked on drugs. I think it will do us a lot more good to do something now than to have everybody get hooked on it and pay a lot harsher price for it years down the road.

Mr. Speaker, I mentioned earlier in my Member’s statement some of the things that we are already paying for. I don’t want the Minister and the government to get the idea that we are asking for a $10 million alcohol and drug treatment centre or something like that. I am willing to suggest that we could do better with what we are doing already. I’ve already indicated that the Somba K’e Centre, the government is paying bills to maintain that building. We’re paying a mortgage for that building. We can’t just wash our hands of it. I cannot tell you how many meetings we have had between the jurisdiction of Health and Social Services, Housing Corporation and whatever arms of the government that have been involved in just dealing with who owns it. I mean, it’s just ridiculous and we’re spending hundreds of thousands of dollars just to keep that building standing when we could really be putting our heads together to see what we can do about that.

I have mentioned earlier, Mr. Speaker, that government is already spending hundreds of thousands of dollars in sending people down south for treatment. I understand some of them have to go down south. But for all the problems we have and we are a small population and if we get 10,000 of our people or even 5,000 or even 2,000 people addicted to cocaine it could destroy our community. Honestly, I don’t think that is being alarmist. We are a very small community and drugs are going into regular people everywhere. If you’re going to accuse me of, I don’t mind crying wolf or being an alarmist or embellishing. I’d be happy to do that. I think really the time has come and there’s no time to plan for five, 10, 15, 20 years.

I just want to say, Mr. Speaker, I think we could turn this into an opportunity. Honestly, we should spend as much time talking about how we deal with our addiction problems as much as we’re dealing with how much money we can get out of the federal government. What good is getting all the money and power from Ottawa if our kids are not able to go to school, they are not being fed, and the men are abusing women? We just read in a newspaper article last week that courts are being filled with men who are abusing women because of alcohol addiction. The paper said that, Mr. Speaker. This man punched his wife outside of a house because she wanted to go home. She didn’t want to stay at the party and he punched her four times. That article said almost all of the charges that are being brought forward are because of abuse of alcohol. Alcohol used and abused, drugs used and abused, and gambling used and abused in our communities are killing our people and they are a bundle of slow motion, silent killers. I just want to be really serious about that.

I know this is in the papers and is getting highlighted, but I tell you, I have been raising this issue, and there are many Members in this House who have been raising this for many, many years; at least for five years. None of this is new; it’s that things are speeding up. Crack cocaine is not giving us the time to plan and talk about it like marijuana did or even hashish did. It’s not the kind of drug where you can do it when you’re young and you get over it and then you move on and become a fully functioning citizen. Crack cocaine is not forgiving and we have to stop it. The government has to put in extra money for RCMP. There are lots of things happening, but I’m telling you this is an opportunity for the NWT to set an example for all of Canada. We could be the kind of place where people from down south will send their people up here because we have such a great program, we’re on the ball, and we’re dealing with it. I’m not even asking for the government to set it up in Yellowknife; they could do it in Inuvik, Hay River, Norman Wells, Deline. There are buildings all around the communities that are sitting empty. I am just asking for the government and the Minister to make a public statement, make an admission that they are totally aware of this problem and that this is totally on the top of their agenda and they’re going to have a plan of action.

Lastly, Mr. Speaker, I mentioned earlier about the shortage of mental health and addictions workers. The Minister has said on many occasions that he’s doing something about it. He has a plan and I have already pointed out that we are really not paying attention in that area as much as government should be required to do if it is committed to delivering the program that they have set out to do. Mr. Speaker, crack cocaine is not only a drug problem, it’s not only a social problem, but it is a clinical problem. It needs clinical people who are qualified to deal with chemical addiction. They need people who can write the prescriptions so they are managed clinically by physicians who are qualified to do that. As I stand here, I am told that the recruitment and retention person who is in charge of recruiting and filling positions at the hospital, her contract was not renewed and we are falling behind in this area. I was saying that to indicate that as much as the Minister likes to say, I’m willing to give him credit in that he works hard and is doing a lot of good in a lot of areas. I’m not saying he’s not perfect. He’s almost perfect…

---Applause

…but in this area, honest to God, Mr. Speaker -- and I think everybody said this really, really well -- we are really running out of time and it’s about time that we got on top of it. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Hear! Hear!

---Applause

Thank you, Ms. Lee. To the motion. The honourable Member for Hay River South, Mrs. Groenewegen.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I would like to speak to the motion today, as well. Mr. Speaker, I’m going to take a slightly different approach to this. I think everything we are talking about here today in this debate has to do with treating the symptoms of a much larger issue. I don’t stand or sit in judgment of anybody who finds themselves addicted to drugs of any kind. Mr. Speaker, when we talk about treatment and we talk about wholeness and we talk about wellness of our people, we as a government take some great amount of pride in always avoiding the subject of spirituality. We always want to talk about anything about our people. We’ll talk about their employability, their education, we’ll even debate their sexuality and what rights they should have in relation to that.

But you know one thing that we really, really don’t ever want to talk about is spirituality. I think, if I could be so bold as to say, northern people are very spiritual people. I think that when it comes right down to it, when you’re talking about the wellness of our people, it comes down to one person who is willing to put something into their bodies that is obviously, as we know, very destructive and they make a choice to do that. That leads me to wonder what kind of pain, what kind of grief, what kind of reality they are trying to detach themselves from. What is it that they think about themselves and what is it that they think about their circumstances in life that would make them do something to destroy themselves? I have to tell you, it’s unnatural. Again, I don’t say this in any condescending way, but I would not personally knowingly want to do something that would be destructive to my wellbeing or to my life and yet people are doing that in masses.

If this was an issue of public safety, we fine people for not wearing seatbelts. We charge people if they let somebody smoke on the premises of a workplace, in a trailer on a work site. I mean, as a government we have all these answers to everything and yet we don’t have the answers to the needs of our people. Far before they ever get addicted to drugs and alcohol and end up in a treatment centre they make a choice. They make a choice to partake in this kind of a thing which we know the outcome of is extremely destructive; not only for them, but on their families and on our communities and our society here in the North.

I would like to, I guess today, in light of this motion and in light of the problem which does seem to be growing in magnitude, and seemingly our inability as a government to respond to these people with compassion, I would like to encourage our government to take another look at why we -- and I say spirituality in the broadest context, I’m not saying it in a prescriptive manner, but everybody needs to be at peace with themselves and how they find that is their own choice as well. Mr. Speaker, I think we need to spend more time talking to people who have found their way out of addictions, who have found solutions, who have found answers. We need to listen to that. I don’t think we should discard it when it relates to people who find spiritual wholeness, however they find that; whether it’s through going to Alcoholics Anonymous and relating it as to what they might call a higher power or whatever. I think the people in the North have been exposed to numerous and a succession of very hurtful and harmful things and for whatever reason our statistics prove that we are more susceptible as northerners to these kinds of activities which are so destructive.

I would just challenge our government and encourage our government, when we talk about treatment let’s talk about a whole person. Let’s not just talk about their medical condition and detoxifying. Let’s get over this barrier and this hurdle. We have to talk about the issues of how they feel about themselves when they’re alone in the quietness of their own selves. How do they feel about themselves? What makes them want to destroy themselves? Mr. Speaker, I think that has to do with people’s spiritual wellbeing and with that I will be supporting the motion. Thank you.

---Applause

Thank you, Mrs. Groenewegen. To the motion. I’ll allow Mr. Yakeleya some closing comments on the motion.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Thank you, fellow colleagues. In terms of supporting the motion that I put forward, Mr. Speaker, the bottom line is that in today’s reality there are drugs coming into our communities. It’s being shipped up either by the boats or the transportation trucks over the winter roads to our communities in the south here coming through various forms. Mr. Speaker, I know the power of addiction. I just took up a challenge by the honourable Member, Mr. Miltenberger, on Monday. I and the Member for Nahendeh gave up smoking. It’s very powerful. I’m a former smoker and it took me a long time to say I’m going to give it up. Finally, I did it.

---Applause

I can tell you, the power of addiction just wants to take it over. I have sympathy for people who are dealing with cocaine and crack and heroine and people dealing with other drugs in their lives. You know, we were born to have a good life. Having addictions in our life did something for us at that time and now I’m finding I don’t need it in my life anymore. There’s something else. Mrs. Groenewegen hit it on the button about spirituality

It’s very personal and I don’t want to get too much into it. However, that’s part of the process of dealing with the addiction and I believe that many of our young people are dealing with that. So, Mr. Speaker, I want to talk about the youth program, also, and that we want to give our youth a chance. Give them a chance; let’s invest in them like we are investing into big issues of pipeline and airports and facilities such as the hospitals. Let’s invest in our children. Let’s put some real dollars on the table for our children.

---Applause

Take those dollars and put them to use. When we do that, I believe that the dividends are going to pay greatly amongst ourselves. One day, I say again, those youth are going to be sitting in our chairs and they are going to be running our government. So I think that’s a good way to go.

Lastly, Mr. Speaker, I wanted to say to the government to reconsider looking at the reopening of the facilities in Yellowknife and Inuvik and look at the impacts of the development that’s going to come down the valley and give some hope to the people in our communities that need to look at some of their issues in their life.

Mr. Speaker, I want to make a closing comment that I heard on TV where someone said let’s treat the souls and not the drugs. Thank you.

---Applause

Thank you, Mr. Yakeleya. To the motion.

Question.

Question is being called. All those in favour? All those opposed? The motion is carried.

---Carried

---Applause

Item 16, motions. The honourable Member for Sahtu, Mr. Yakeleya.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I seek unanimous consent to deal with the motion I gave earlier today.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I MOVE, seconded by the honourable Member for Great Slave, that notwithstanding Rule 4, that when this House adjourns on Friday, October 29, 2004, it shall be adjourned until Wednesday, February 9, 2005;

AND FURTHER, that any time prior to February 9, 2005, if the Speaker is satisfied, after consultation with the Executive Council and the Members of the Legislative Assembly, that the public interest requires that the House should meet at an earlier time during the adjournment, the Speaker may give notice and thereupon the House shall meet at the time stated in such notice and shall transact its business as it has been duly adjourned to that time.

Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Yakeleya. A motion is on the floor. The motion is in order. To the motion. The honourable Member for Yellowknife Centre, Mr. Hawkins.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I rise to speak against the motion that will have us adjourn until February. This session was scheduled to go until November 4th and I speak in favour of that because I would like to see all MLAs continue the opportunity to hold the government’s feet to the fire on asking questions. I find, in my opinion, as an MLA it’s very difficult to get the government to move with those stone legs, those lead feet I was talking about earlier today, without pressing them hard with questions in the public and we’re missing that public opportunity. So I’ll be voting against this motion to adjourn until February. I think we are missing four valuable days to hold their feet and demand answers and demand quality responses for our people of the Northwest Territories. So I won’t be voting in favour as I did the last time. I did not vote against unanimous consent in respect for all my Members who do feel it’s time to adjourn, but that’s how I feel. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Hawkins. To the motion.

Question.

Question is being called. All those in favour? All those opposed? The motion is carried.

---Carried

---Applause

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

WHEREAS the Standing Committee on Accountability and Oversight has adopted as its vision "a strong, effective consensus government that has the confidence of the people of the NWT;"

AND WHEREAS the Government of the Northwest Territories strategic plan identifies enhancing the fiscal responsibility, effectiveness and credibility of governments through openness and transparency as a core value;

AND WHEREAS the Financial Administration Act requires that all Members of the Legislative Assembly be given 14 days' notice in advance of the Financial Management Board recommending guarantees or indemnities having maximum liabilities exceeding $500,000;

AND WHEREAS the Financial Administration Act allows the Financial Management Board to recommend to the Commissioner special warrants without any prior notice to Members of the Legislative Assembly;

AND WHEREAS to date for fiscal year 2004-2005 the government has submitted nearly $25 million in special warrants;

AND WHEREAS Regular Members have raised concerns with the government's broad powers to authorize expenditures through special warrants and the lack of opportunity for Members to debate the merits of the expenditures until after the fact;

AND WHEREAS there are few circumstances where expenditures are so urgently required that they could not be delayed long enough to provide notice to Members of the Legislative Assembly;

NOW THEREFORE I MOVE, seconded by the honourable member for Nahendeh, that the government bring forward amendments to the Financial Administration Act at the next sitting of this Assembly that would place a cap on special warrants, and that would require that all Members be given reasonable advance notice of special warrants prior to their issuance.

---Applause

Thank you, Mr. Ramsay. A motion is on the floor. The motion is in order. To the motion. Mr. Ramsay.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, when we all ran for office a lot of the catch phrases that we heard of accountability, transparency, responsibility, Mr. Speaker, are part of the crux of this motion that’s before us today. It goes back to the expenditure of $3.4 million of public funds that, as Regular Members, we never had a chance to debate that publicly, and to me that’s not right. How we correct that right is probably a motion like the one that’s before us today. We did have some briefings -- to the government’s credit they did brief us -- but I’d like to say there was never an opportunity for these dollars to be debated publicly. They are completely outside the budgetary process, and for a government to spend that type of money without that kind of debate taking place in public I think is irresponsible, Mr. Speaker.

Hopefully this motion that is before us today will lend some credibility to the process, we’ll get some responsibility into the process and I’m looking forward to my colleagues and their comments on this motion and I think it’s a step in the right direction. We have to ensure that we have the public’s confidence in us to govern and when we do something that happened very recently with this expenditure of $3.4 million, those are the kinds of things, Mr. Speaker, that erode that public confidence in us. As stewards of the public purse, I’d like to say that I do support this motion and I look forward to hearing from my colleagues on it. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Ramsay. To the motion. The honourable Member for Yellowknife Centre, Mr. Hawkins.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I rise to speak briefly in regard to the motion. I will honestly say that I believe the motion will help start a process where we will fix the FAA; that’s the Financial Administration Act. I believe that our present government, although a minority government and also known as a consensus government, does act and govern like a majority government, although the numbers are quite the opposite, maybe Ottawa can take lessons from how our government as a minority government governs as if it is a majority government.

Mr. Speaker, this motion will say that they need to consult more. Mr. Speaker, earlier I had asked informally to someone on the government side about having a mini session in August so we could have further consultation and more public process on these types of issues, such as special warrants and supplementary appropriations, because we need to get them out in the public eye. We need to have them debated sooner. It’s been almost five months since the end of our June session, so we haven’t seen bills asking for money for that period. So they just kind of show up on our desk just before session here in August, long after most of money has been spent. We need to include a process. This motion starts to fix that problem in the process and I agree with the process. Long after this money is spent, we have very little to say other than try to say no. If we say no it creates ripples and I don’t think that’s appropriate. So this motion will amend, in my mind, or I should say start amending the Financial Administration Act, which is truly the number one process that needs to be corrected. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Hawkins. To the motion. The honourable Member for Range Lake, Ms. Lee.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I would like to speak very briefly in support of this motion. Mr. Speaker, I support this because I believe this is one more step and a more formal step to reiterate the concerns that the Members of this House have about the way the rules about special warrants are set out as they exist now, Mr. Speaker. Also, I must tell you I was quite -- what’s the right word, because I don’t want to be overdramatic -- I was quite surprised yesterday by the statements made by the Minister of Finance in response to the debates we had. I’m reading the responses from the Minister of Finance, as well as Mr. Dent, who appeared before us. I don’t get the feeling that the Ministers on that side really understand the deep concerns we have on this side of the House.

Mr. Speaker, we debated the supplementary bill for three or four days. I thought the concerns that were raised were very legitimate, not politically motivated. I don’t understand what that means. It certainly was not a personal attack on the credibility of the Minister of Finance, which is what he indicated in yesterday’s debate and it’s written in the Hansard. Mr. Speaker, I take it though as valid what the Minister of Finance said, which is that all the money that he brought forward under the supplementaries is within the rules and guidelines. There is nothing that he is doing outside of the rules. I accept that and if that is the case, then there is something wrong with the rules. This is what the motion is trying to indicate.

A government, as the rules exist now, could actually bring supplementary appropriations for half of the money. They could bring it for half-a-billion dollars if they wanted, if such an emergency was to happen. All we could do on this side of the House is to just rubber stamp it. We can’t really do anything about it. We can’t debate the merits of it. We could just go on and on and on and in the end they know that the money is committed, the money is spent and they are following the rules. Too bad, so sad. Mr. Speaker, in consensus government I don’t think that is acceptable.

I understand that under the system we have, the Members on this side have a lot more say and a lot more input than any other jurisdiction. But as long as we have this system and as long as we’re operating under a consensus system of government and as long as we’re supposed to have a real and qualitative input into this process, I believe it is essential and crucial that changes be made to the Financial Administration Act as is indicated in this motion to say that there has to be some kind of cap. They cannot bring in multimillion, multiyear capital projects, for example, without going through us. The rules, as they exist now, Mr. Speaker, say that the government cannot move money over $500,000 without talking to the Legislature. Well, they could do special warrants of multimillions without ever talking to us.

I support this motion in its merit and I think it sends a very strong indication that the Members on this side have awakened to what’s going on and they’re not going to take it anymore and they expect changes next time around. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

---Applause

Thank you, Ms. Lee. To the motion.

Question.

Question has been called. Mr. Ramsay, I’ll allow you closing comments on your motion.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I just wanted to thank my colleagues for their support of this motion. I know the Finance Minister yesterday did make reference to us, and I didn’t want him to take it personally that we were questioning how this money was spent or why it was spent. We understand the government has a role to play and that’s to run the government. They’re going to need to spend money, Mr. Speaker, but we’d just like to know about it. We’d like to know how it’s happening and I think that’s the crux of this motion. I thank my colleagues for their support here today on ensuring that we do have some knowledge of what is happening, especially when the government is spending, in this case, over $3 million. It’s important that we, as Regular Members, know what’s happening. If we do get questions from the public we know how to answer them. I could go on and on, but I won’t, Mr. Speaker. Thank you and thanks to my colleagues.

---Applause

Thank you, Mr. Ramsay. To the motion. All those in favour? All those opposed? The motion is carried.

---Applause

Item 16, motions. Item 17, first reading of bills. Item 18, second reading of bills. Item 19, consideration in Committee of the Whole of bills and other matters. Item 20, report of Committee of the Whole. Item 21, third reading of bills. Mr. Clerk, will you please ascertain whether the Commissioner of the Northwest Territories, the Honourable Glenna Hansen, is prepared to enter the Chamber to assent to bills?

Please be seated. Mr. Speaker and Members of the Legislative Assembly, as Commissioner of the Northwest Territories I am pleased to assent to the following bills: Bill 7, An Act to Amend the Legal Profession Act; Bill 8, Miscellaneous Statutes Amendment Act, 2004; Bill 9, Write-off of Debts and Assets Act, 2004-2005; Bill 10, Forgiveness of Debts Act, 2004-2005; Bill 12, An Act to Amend the Education Act; Bill 13, Supplementary Appropriation Act, No. 2, 2004-2005; and, Bill 14, Supplementary Appropriation Act, No. 4, 2003-2004.

During the summer I was pleased to travel with Premier Handley to the Tlicho gathering in Gameti. It was very empowering to see the people of the Tlicho carry on the traditional use of their land and to see women and children participating in traditional activities. Thank you for hosting such an inspirational gathering.

This year is the 25th anniversary of the Dempster Highway, connecting the people of the Beaufort-Delta to their neighbours in the Yukon. This road has provided access for visitors to this beautiful region of the Northwest Territories and has allowed for some of the necessities of life to be brought into our Beaufort-Delta communities. The Dempster Highway is an integral part of our lives in this region, and I was delighted to celebrate the 25th anniversary with the Members of this House and the communities this summer.

Two strong northern women who have made a positive difference to the people of the Northwest Territories have been recognized with national awards. I am talking about our Member of Parliament, the Honourable Ethel Blondin-Andrew, and Ms. Nellie Cournoyea, president of the Inuvialuit Regional Corporation. Ms. Blondin-Andrew was the recipient of the Circle of Honour Esquao Award in May this year. Just this week, Ms. Cournoyea was named Canadian Energy Person of the Year by the Energy Council of Canada. My congratulations to you both.

As we look around this Chamber and see the colourful poppy wreath, let us take a moment to reflect on the sacrifices our defence personnel continue to make to ensure the world is a safer place, not only for Canadians but for all citizens of the world. Without their selflessness and heroism, we would not be able to be here undertaking our work in the name of democracy and freedom, and we thank them most deeply.

I also want to acknowledge all of our frontline workers who find themselves in challenging situations in the course of their duties. I would particularly like to remember Yellowknife Parole Officer Louise Pargeter who tragically was killed in the course of her work, and I send my deepest condolences to her family.

I would also like to remember Frank Steen, his son Paul, and Ronald Rufus and his son Kyle who left their home on a hunting trip this summer and have not returned. I send my thoughts and prayers to the families of the four lost hunters, and to the whole community of Tuktoyaktuk.

In closing, as this is the last time we will be together in the Assembly prior to Christmas, and even though it may seem a little early, I am pleased to be the first to wish Members, their families and constituents the very best for a joyous Christmas season and a healthy and happy New Year. May God bless and keep you safe in your travels. Mahsi.

---Applause

Orders of the day for Wednesday, February 9, 2005, at 1:30 p.m.:

Prayer

Ministers' Statements

Members' Statements

Returns to Oral Questions

Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery

Oral Questions

Written Questions

Returns to Written Questions

Replies to Opening Address

Petitions

Reports of Standing and Special Committees

Reports of Committees on the Review of Bills

Tabling of Documents

Notices of Motion

Notices of Motion for First Reading of Bills

Motions

First Reading of Bills

Second Reading of Bills

Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

Report of Committee of the Whole

Third Reading of Bills

Orders of the Day

Thank you, Mr. Clerk. As we adjourn for an extended period, I would like to note that this does not mean that we are all on vacation.

---Laughter

Ministers, Members and committees and your Speaker of this House still have a very busy schedule ahead in the next few weeks prior to the holiday season. I wish you Godspeed in your travels and good judgment in your deliberations as you go about this work.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank Her Honour the Commissioner for the reception she held last Wednesday on the occasion of the opening of her new office, and for her kind words here today.

As well, congratulations are extended to our former Clerk, Mr. David Hamilton, on his recent appointment as a member of the National Energy Board. Mr. Hamilton has resigned as the Northwest Territories Chief Electoral Officer. I am pleased to announce that Mr. Glen McLean will perform the duties of Chief Electoral Officer for the upcoming Inuvik Twin Lakes by-election.

I would also like to acknowledge our Pages and their contribution during this sitting. These students from Range Lake North School and St. Joseph School in Yellowknife, and Diamond Jenness School in Hay River, carry out a very important role in the operation of this Assembly and we greatly appreciate their efforts.

---Applause

Lastly, I want to convey to each and every one of you, your families and your constituents, a heartfelt wish for a safe and joyous holiday season. I would like to remind Members that it is very easy to get all wrapped up in our very busy jobs, but that it is very important to take some leisurely time to spend with friends and family and I encourage you to do that.

I would ask Members that we always be mindful of those less fortunate than ourselves. God bless you all until we meet again in the New Year. This House stands adjourned until Wednesday, February 9, 2005, at 1:30 p.m.

---Applause

---ADJOURNMENT

The House adjourned at 1:30 p.m.