Debates of October 30, 2024 (day 35)

I'd like to thank Mary Jane Cazon for the blessing today.

Thank you, Minister of Infrastructure. Ministers' statements. Minister of Education, Culture and Employment.

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, today I'm going to start my statement in Dene Kede.

[Translation] Mr. Speaker, education is rooted in place and culture and cannot be nurtured in isolation. As guiding place of legislation from our junior kindergarten to grade 12 education system, it is Education Act includes voices and perspective Indigenous government and our education partners. If -- respect of other and our education partners. The 20th legislation will be -- will mark the first time GNWT codevelops legislation social policy with Indigenous government through Northwest Territories Council of Leaders education partners to modernize the system structure and governs a approach represents not just a legislative process but a critical step shaping system that reflects the value -- Mr. Speaker, modernizing the Education Act --

---Applause

Thank you, colleagues. [Translation Ends]

Mr. Speaker, modernizing the Education Act is not merely a procedural update; it is a transformational change in its potential.

For decades, our education system has operated under frameworks that did not fully consider the diverse needs of our students or the knowledge systems of Indigenous peoples. By revisiting and renewing this legislation, we aim to create an education system that is more inclusive, reflective of NWT communities, and equipped to address the unique challenges and opportunities in the Northwest Territories. This work holds the potential to close persistent gaps in education outcomes, foster stronger language revitalization, and provide students with a foundation that better prepares them for the world beyond the classroom.

Conversation and collaboration about how Indigenous governments and communities can meaningfully lead and participate in the governance of a system that educates future generations is crucial to reconciliation.

Mr. Speaker, make no mistake, we are still reconciling with a painful history, where education was once used as tool of assimilation. Today, we seek to strengthen Indigenous voices, culture, and language at every level, from governance to the classroom.

Mr. Speaker, updating the Education Act is also intended to support improved student outcomes. Earlier this year, the 2022-2023 Report on the State of the Junior Kindergarten to Grade 12 Education System was published. While there were some promising results, the report highlighted persistent gaps in outcomes, including declining attendance rates and stagnant graduation rates. The data shows significant outcome gaps between NWT students and the Canadian average; between Indigenous and non-Indigenous students in the NWT; and, between students in Yellowknife, regional centres, and smaller communities. Addressing these gaps requires a multi-pronged approach, including modernizing the Education Act, updating regulations, and streamlining ministerial directives. This fall, ECE will be re-engaging with Indigenous governments and education partners on next steps to modernize the Education Act. This effort requires longer-term discussions and is a major part of writing a different education story.

Mr. Speaker, one of the most exciting aspects of this work is its potential to reshape the future of education in the North. By co-developing legislation, Indigenous governments can have a leading role in shaping their education systems, allowing for programs and approaches that are directly responsive to local needs, values, and aspirations. This ensures that education is not only relevant but a source of empowerment. This kind of self-determined education system will create pathways to success that are grounded in the unique strengths of the North's people.

I am eager to see the positive impact of this transformative work ripple across the Northwest Territories for years to come. But I also want to emphasize how this must be a sustained effort and collaborative endeavour over the long term. I want to honour the work of Indigenous governments and educators who have, and continue to, work tirelessly in our communities. This is an immense undertaking, one that I am honoured to play a role in, and one that would not be possible without the collaboration of Indigenous governments, our education partners, and the educators and school staff. Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Minister of Education, Culture and Employment. Ministers' statements. Minister of Status of Women.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, today I want to talk about gender-based violence.

Two out of 100 residents in the Northwest Territories have reported intimate partner and family violence to the police. As of 2019, Statistics Canada lists the Northwest Territories as having the second highest rate of police-reported intimate partner and family violence in Canada, and we know that not everyone reports these incidents to the police.

Women are disproportionally affected by gender-based violence. Gender-based violence comes in many forms, and some of the people experiencing this violence may not even recognize their abuse because it has become normal for them.

In November 2022, the national action plan to end gender-based violence was endorsed during the annual meeting of the Ministers for the Status of Women. This 10-year framework provides direction to federal, provincial, and territorial governments to work towards a Canada free of gender-based violence.

In August 2023, the GNWT signed a funding agreement with the federal Department of Women and Gender Equality for $16 million over four years, to implement the national action plan to end gender-based violence within the territory.

The GNWT's approach in implementing this plan is unprecedented as the funding is shared with other GNWT departments. The Departments of Health and Social Services; Justice; Education, Culture and Employment; Executive and Indigenous Affairs; and, Housing NWT are all working together to implement programs supported by the funding.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to highlight some of the work being done through this funding agreement. An annual amount of $700,000 was included to support the Women's Shelter network, which provides much-needed critical services to those fleeing family and domestic violence. The GNWT also supports non-governmental organization partners who are essential to the implementation and success of our collaborative efforts to create programs and services that support the implementation of the national action plan. This includes funding provided to the Native Women's Association of the NWT, the Status of Women Council of the NWT, and the Northern Mosaic Network.

Mr. Speaker, when we negotiated this funding agreement, we wanted to ensure we got communities directly involved in coming up with solutions to help combat gender-based violence. The response was the development of the Gender-based Violence Community Initiative Fund. This funding contributes up to $125,000 per application to community organizations to promote awareness and prevention of gender-based violence. With this funding, the GNWT has been able to support 15 different organizations' gender-based violence prevention and awareness campaigns and programs in their home communities.

An example is the Indigenous language terminology workshop that was held in partnership with the Inuvialuit Regional Corporation. This project brought language experts and elders together to develop terms related to gender-based violence and missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls. It got the conversation around gender-based violence started in the communities. One elder was quoted, "I finally let go of my secret."

During the community engagement undertaken to gather feedback on the GNWT's Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls Action Plan, a concern shared was that organizations are unable to access funds because of limited capacity. In response, the gender equity division in the Department of Executive and Indigenous Affairs supports community organizations to develop their proposals and assist with preparing their reports.

Mr. Speaker, to be effective, we must also consider family violence, elder abuse, economic abuse, cyberbullying, lateral violence, and missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls, and 2SLGBTQQIA+ individuals. By implementing an inclusive, comprehensive and coordinated approach, we will promote gender equality, and work towards a society that is aware and free from violence and discrimination. Quyanainni, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. And might I say you're looking rather dapper today. I guess I need a tie.

Mr. Speaker, I'm going to borrow a statement from my esteemed colleague from Inuvik Twin Lakes today from Hansard in October 14th, 2022. And I quote: Mr. Speaker, the bypass road in Inuvik is not only used by vehicles but is also used by the people out for walks, exercise, as well as other recreational activities. I can say even as far back as some of my colleagues in here will remember, phys. ed. classes where we had to run the 5-kilometer run in the school at the bypass. So it's used for many, many different activities. Now that the snow has started to fall at home, you can hardly notice one complaint -- you can notice one complaint that we've all had a part in for that road for months leading up to this time of year. Mr. Speaker, mud and dust, mud and dust. This is something that is so common to us up in the Delta. The dust some days carries throughout the town and could be a nuisance and even creep in -- and it does creep in -- to homes with open windows. Mr. Speaker, it can also be a real safety issue for vehicles and pedestrians alike. Flying rocks can also be very dangerous for the people that use this portion of the road, and that's not even talking about the mud that occurs when it rains; it also makes it very dangerous.

Mr. Speaker, the responsible then Minister, and I quote: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. So the department has reviewed the request to chip seal the marine bypass road. So the current cost estimate -- and I say that loosely because it may change -- is about $1 million, which is about three times the cost that is incurred in the southern Northwest Territories. As there is no paving equipment in Inuvik or in the community, we'd have to bring up contractors in from Whitehorse. In order to maximize local benefits to keep the cost down, we should align this work with some of the paving that's happening at the Inuvik runway. So, Mr. Speaker, I can commit -- and you're welcome -- to doing this work at the same time as the Inuvik runway. And I'm hoping with that answer, Mr. Speaker, I get no more supplemental.

So, Mr. Speaker, I may only have one question for the Minister of Infrastructure today. Thank you.

Thank you, Member from Inuvik Boot Lake. You do look dapper as well.

Member from Range Lake.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Yesterday, the Office of the Auditor General of Canada tabled its report on the Stanton renewal project. The conclusion is that the GNWT cannot show this project provided good money for -- good value for money. Decisions were made without evidence and analysis, including changing from a renovation to a new build. Documents were found missing, including conflict of interest forms. The GNWT's unable to approve that $71 million was spent on northern businesses as it had previously claimed. The list goes on, Mr. Speaker. Deputy auditor general Andrew Haze said he was, quote, perplexed by the series of decisions that were reached by the government without doing updated analysis to identify value for money. Perplexed is a good word because if you were listening to the government at the time, you would have been told everything was fine.

Mr. Speaker, I used to call this a $1 billion hospital much to the chagrin of the health Minister of the day who insisted it was a cool $600 million. Well, Glen, it turns out I was right. $1.21 billion, 62 percent over budget.

Mr. Speaker, I've spoken about the need to better control our infrastructure costs before in this sitting of the House. This audit further adds to my concerns that our project management of major capital is lacking. At the time of Stanton renewal, this House was told the project was on time and on budget with tens of millions of dollars being paid out to northern businesses. Now we know that wasn't the case.

If anyone needed to wonder why this government is in such dire financial straits, then look no further to the persistent failures to ensure good money -- the good value for money analysis across numerous projects, including the bewildering decision to rent our own building for 30 years to the staggering cost of $78 million, something the Finance Minister of today is defending as a good decision despite the opinion of the auditor general.

Mr. Speaker, the government is now saying things have changed - policies, practices, monitoring, all these things are now in place. But here's the thing. Back in the day, many of those exact same policies were in place; they just weren't followed. And because those decisions weren't followed, Northerners have been saddled with hundreds of millions of dollars of debt for the next 30 years. And, Mr. Speaker, we will deal with this report in good time, but if anyone thinks the GNWT has changed its colours and identified good value for money, I have a $90 million windmill in Inuvik to sell you. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Member from Range Lake. Members' statements. Member from Great Slave.

Mr. Speaker, there has been a great deal of interest from the 20th and 19th Assemblies on the topic of Extended Health Benefits before and after the program changes. As the Minister of Health and Social Services knows, I am keeping tabs on the roll out of this program and need ways to ensure that they aren't making choices between paying rent and their bills or having the medication that they need. I had many questions for the Minister and, happily, I got many answers that I would like to share.

As of October 16th, 618 residents are registered in the new EHB program. Applicants are assessed through income thresholds which are different in different regions of the NWT. Incomes above band 10 have to pay a deductible and co-share costs for their medication --

(audio) yes, we are going to fix it there. Yes, please and thank you.

Okay, I will stop.

Yes, please and thank you.

It's gone back, Mr. Speaker. All righty, thank you.

Incomes above band 10 have to pay a deductible and co-shared costs for their medications. So far, 373 residents are above band 10; 245 residents are below that band and have their costs fully covered; 256 residents are currently 41 percent of all program beneficiaries are on the new EHB program that were not covered under the old one. This is good news, and I'm happy to hear that there are residents who now have coverage who didn't before. However, as mentioned during the last O and M budget session, this band cutoff is not a given moving forward. And this is where my concern for my constituents resides.

Asking people struggling with cost of living pressures on a modest income is not a place I think any of us want to be as a territory. I had a constituent reach out who was struggling with their placement in the band system because they are a household of one making rent, paying bills, and now having new costs they didn't have before September 1st was proving difficult. Mr. Speaker, I seek unanimous consent to conclude my statement. Thank you, colleagues.

---Unanimous consent granted

Thank you, colleagues; thank you, Speaker. It's still with Frame Lake but that's okay.

After speaking with the Minister's office, I was able to assist my constituent in a solution that was not immediately clear to them when they applied. Payment plans are available. I appreciate that after this interaction, the Minister committed to better highlight that option to applicants because so far, only one resident has used this payment plan option. Mr. Speaker, I'll have further questions for the Minister at the appropriate time. Thank you.

Thank you, Member from Great Slave. Members' statements. Member from the Sahtu.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the first early days of the Norman Wells oil field, a crew composed of six drillers and one oxen named Tommy began a six-week, 1900-kilometer journey northward by rail, river boat, and foot, to a site now known as Norman Wells.

Mr. Speaker, the drilling crew encountered many hardships with permafrost. By this time, river ice had frozen. A decision was made to wait out the winter. Mr. Speaker, they survived but Tommy did not but, heroically, supplied many a meal. And, Mr. Speaker, drilling resumed in the following spring. A relief crew arrived, and oil was struck August of 1920.

Mr. Speaker, unique to history is the realization of oil field stakeholders' profits and royalties.

Mr. Speaker, I understand our government is aggressively pursuing federal emergency funding to alleviate the high fuel costs in Norman Wells. These oil field benefits certainly create a loud argument for relief aid.

Mr. Speaker, within the last 24 hours, I have received notice from one of many business owners and is closing their doors. Within those doors, our government is a tenant. Mr. Speaker, I cannot stress enough the stress this crisis has created. I recommend as last week the Government of the Northwest Territories must cover this lower than original cost with the position on federal reimbursement. Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Member from the Sahtu. Members' statements. Member from Mackenzie Delta.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Today I would like to address the condition of the Dempster Highway during the summer and fall season. The portion of the highway that I am referring to is between Wrangling River and Inuvik. This portion of highway has never been this bad before. I have been receiving calls, text messages, on a daily basis from concerned residents from all over the Beaufort Delta region.

Mr. Speaker, I've driven the Dempster Highway for many years, and I can attest the concerns of the residents of the Beaufort Delta when they state that they have never seen this highway in such bad condition. I had to go to Inuvik to catch a plane bound for Yellowknife. Even though we left at 9 o'clock in the morning, we just made the plane at 1 p.m. The cab driver was driving at a speed of 40 kilometers an hour because it was so rough. I have seen vehicles driving on the wrong side of the road just to avoid the potholes and rougher portions of the highway.

Mr. Speaker, I received calls from contractors stating that they have encountered many unexpected expenses during this time in question. A contractor from Tsiigehtchic had to send two of his vehicles down south because of damage to his vehicles. This has cost time and money to his business; time and money he will never get back. Other residents stated that they have unforeseen wreckage to their vehicles, the tires and rims. Tourists were posting pictures of the damage that they have encountered while driving this portion of the highway.

Mr. Speaker, in past years the contractors have been taking pride in maintaining the highway from the NWT Yukon border to the Arctic Ocean, and they have been complimented on the excellent work they do. But for some reason, this year has been quite different and dangerous for the users of this portion of the Dempster Highway. I will have questions for the Minister of Infrastructure at the appropriate time. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Member from Mackenzie Delta. Members' statements. Member from Monfwi.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, today I would like to talk about the Auditor General's Report on the Stanton Territorial Hospital Project. The report estimates that as of June 2023, the Stanton project's overall costs, which were originally supposed to be $750 million, Mr. Speaker, cost -- which were originally supposed to be 750, I'm sorry about that, are now in the range of $1.21 billion over the next 30 years.

Mr. Speaker, this is -- this is the most expensive capital project in the history of the territory. Our current Ministers should not be blamed for the financial mess created by past government, especially the Minister of Finance of the day; it was Michael Miltenberger.

Mr. Speaker, our people are going to be the ones left paying for the increased cost of this project, an estimated 62 percent increase, Mr. Speaker. The deputy auditor general said he was perplexed by this series of decisions that were reached by the government. And I do agree.

The government did not include annual property taxes when planning for the new project which are estimated to cost at least $151.6 million over 30 years. Operating costs for non-medical services in the new hospital are projected to increase by $173 million over 30 years. The government's decision to sublease its own hospital cost $78.6 million. It is absurd the government agreed to rent a building they already own.

Mr. Speaker, our small communities are hurting. People are not getting medical treatment in their own communities, and our programs and services need more funding. Mr. Speaker, the auditor general's report shows this project is going to have long-term impacts. Mr. Speaker, can I have unanimous consent to conclude my statement.

---Unanimous consent granted

Mr. Speaker, we are not going to have money we need to fix our health care systems or support operations in small communities. I will have questions for the Minister of Finance. Thank you.

Thank you, Member from Monfwi. Colleagues, I've heard two names mentioned here in two Member's statements with people not in this building. Next time I hear it, I will call you on it. Use their positions and just leave it at that. Thank you.

Members' statements. Member from Yellowknife North.

Mr. Speaker, today I want to talk about our deficit mentality in this government. What I mean is the way we think about our deficiencies, our deficits, that ends up dangerously impacting our actual financial deficit and increasing our debt burden.

Now, the Premier and the Minister of Infrastructure often refer to our infrastructure deficit in this territory. The word deficit means a lack, something that we want that we don't have or something that someone else has that we don't have.

I understand that when Cabinet goes to Ottawa, we're competing to access federal dollars, so we use this language to point out the things other places have that we don't have. But when this idea of an infrastructure deficit becomes the only story that we tell ourselves, we get into big trouble.

Our deficit is compared to what? Compared to who? Should we have the same highway and electricity grid network as Alberta does? Should every community in the NWT have paved highway access? Should every community have the same recreation facilities? We haven't really defined our ultimate goals, what would even be ideal let alone wise or responsible, and so we're left always feeling unsatisfied, that what we have is just never enough. And the list of new things to build keeps getting longer and longer, and our spending grows and our debt continues to break through every ceiling that is set.

Now, debt isn't inherently bad if you're investing wisely in building a solid foundation that will eventually return benefits. But with this deficit mentality, we rarely stop to ask why we need to build all these things beyond vague ideas about nation building and wishing that it will reduce our high cost of living. Looking back, has the Deh Cho Bridge truly made our nation stronger or lowered prices in any of our communities?

The Northwest Territories will always be a collection of many small remote communities, and no billions of dollars in infrastructure can ever change that. But instead of focusing on the isolation and the things that we lack, why don't we focus on the strengths that we gain from our remoteness and how it can bind us together and foster creativity. We have incredible people and incredible natural resources, like caribou, that continue to sustain people today, and that is something that none of the southern provinces have partly because they have too many roads. So let's stop referring to our infrastructure deficit and focus on our strengths and the wise investments we can make to build on what we already have. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Member from Yellowknife North. Members' statements. Member from Frame Lake.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I understand my colleague from Great Slave -- note, I used the title, Mr. Speaker -- is putting forward some -- I'm listening to direction.

I understand my colleague from Great Slave is putting forward some written questions today, and I wanted to support her efforts and add my voice to the call for better supports for NWT residents who need access to fertility and surrogacy treatment.

Mr. Speaker, fertility issues are a medical condition which affect a significant number of people in the NWT. One out of six couples experience fertility issues. Infertility is a diagnosed medical condition as is recurrent pregnancy loss. I also want to note, Mr. Speaker, that like many disparities of care in our health care system, women are disproportionally affected by lack of coverage which I feel likely helps to explain why it is an area that is underresourced. Currently, men are covered for urology appointments required for diagnosing fertility issues; however, I understand that women are not similarly covered.

In her October 17th response to the petition tabled by the Member for Great Slave, the finance Minister made a strong case for why fertility support is important. She highlighted the NWT's declining birth rate and noted that a decline in population, including the birth rate in the NWT, could have significant implications for the territorial economy. A result in demographic shift would likely result in a higher dependency ratio which has the potential to place increased pressure on social services and health care systems. A lower birth rate, combined with an aging population, might also deter investments in sectors such as education, housing, and local businesses that rely on a steady growing population base from local families.

After making these arguments, however, she noted that the NWT's tax base is too small to support fertility-related coverage. I note with interest, Mr. Speaker, that the Yukon, with a similar tax base to our own, has just announced that they are expanding their MLA travel subsidy to make fertility and surrogacy treatments more accessible. This is the first phase of a broader plan which includes exploring the possibility of a new tax credit for Yukoners undergoing fertility and surrogacy treatments.

I wish I didn't have to point to the Yukon so often, Mr. Speaker, but yet again, they have showing us what can be done in a northern jurisdiction that has the will to take actions they know will help keep people in the territory to raise their families. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Member from Frame Lake. Members' statements. Member from the Deh Cho.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, today I would like to talk about the issue I have raised in the past which is promotion of health and well-being for residents in our small communities. Mr. Speaker, our government has a mandate to deliver health promotion programming to residents to ensure that our population is educated and can make healthy choices in a variety of areas such as quitting smoking, injury prevention, healthy eating, staying active, sexual health, and education around substance use.

Across the territory, and especially in small communities, we have high rates of alcohol use, smoking, chronic disease, and sexually transmitted diseases for example. It's important that people know what resources are available for education purposes. There should be campaigns that reach our youth, adults, elders so that they are aware of health issues, their risks, and how to prevent or manage these. In small communities, this can be done through community outreach, through radio announcements, culturally relevant material, any resources that can reach out to the population, rather than waiting for health issues and disease to develop which will require care in a health facility and ultimately cost this government.

I would like to see a healthy informed and thriving population in the communities I serve. I would like my constituents to have the information and resources required to make healthy decisions, decisions around substance consumption, nutrition, and sexual health. I am concerned that in my riding not enough has been done to promote health and keep residents healthy. There isn't enough information getting out there to the people. My worries that the people need to know that just because they aren't hearing about certain health risks or issues doesn't mean it isn't there. They may be at risk and just don't know it. Health promotion keeps people healthy as well as their families and ultimately our communities. I will have questions for the Minister of health later today. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Member from the Deh Cho. Members' statements. Member from Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, over 20 percent of the households in the Northwest Territories struggle with food insecurity, and most of those households are home to Indigenous families. When those children go to school hungry, their academic performance suffers severely as does their ability to interact with their peers. Hunger and malnutrition also have long-term lasting impacts on their physical and mental health adding to the disproportionate numbers of Indigenous children who suffer from chronic illness and depression. This is is because nutritious food is becoming prohibitively expensive, especially in the smaller communities, and they don't have reliable access to the traditional harvested food which sustained generations before them since time immemorial.

So far, the Government of the Northwest Territories has provided $650,000 annually through their anti-poverty to support school run breakfasts, lunch, and snack programs. And this has been supplemented by the federal Jordan Principle program which has funded meals for students as well. But contracts under Jordan Principle are unreliable, and $650,000 here does not go far enough to provide every student with a healthy meal. Yesterday, however, I was pleased to see the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment announce a new funding program to expand the territorial school program with the federal government.

I'm very hopeful that this new agreement will greatly benefit children across the Northwest Territories, but I hope there are provisions to expand school meals for Indigenous students with traditional food source and provide educational opportunities for both culture practices. Imagine school lunch programs which provides traditional meals, Indigenous cultural made with locally sourced ingredients and prepared with care because this is not just about the food on their plate. This program expansion is an unique opportunity to intertwine with traditional, educational, and cultural teaching. We need a school food program that can teach them the importance of balanced diet and the benefits of nutrition and the values of sustainable respect for the land.

By incorporating culture, education to the lunch program, we empower children to do well, to make better choices, but also to embrace their heritage. This approach fosters pride in their culture and nurture strong connections into their culture and community. Mr. Speaker, I seek unanimous consent to conclude my Member's statement.

---Unanimous consent granted

Thank you. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Thank you, colleagues. I know this agreement is still in the early phase, but I hope to learn more about the benefits it will have on the children in the Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh riding and perhaps provide more room for input from my communities. I look forward to asking the Minister for more information later this afternoon. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Member from Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh. Members' statements. Member from Yellowknife Centre.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I want to say supporting youth with autism in the Northwest Territories is critical. We need to look at it through a multifaceted approach by addressing their needs, whether it's regional or in large centre, Mr. Speaker, like Yellowknife.

Mr. Speaker, imagine if you're in a small community and you have children or a child or there's other types of people with learning disabilities in your community, where do they go? Well, they come to Yellowknife often because the services and supports aren't there. Mr. Speaker, but what I also find here in Yellowknife is people are leaving Yellowknife to go to Alberta because supports for things like autism are there, not here, Mr. Speaker.

We have a duty to help these young people achieve the best and most full potential that they can. It may be limited in some cases because I'm also a realist and know that, but the fact is we have a duty to ensure that they can live the best lives that they can. This burden often falls on the big shoulders of parents who struggle with these challenges each and every day. Mr. Speaker, we cannot leave these young people who can do better, who want to do better, behind.

Mr. Speaker, lifetime pathways are being developed and formed when young people are born and then in their formative years, they're not getting the assessments and treatments and supports they need. We need early intervention because it's when it's when they're young it matters the most.

Mr. Speaker, we can help redefine some of those weaker pathways. We can strengthen the ones they've got because we don't want to miss this critical opportunity, because if we don't do this when they're young it's too late. In other words, collectively we must work together. How can we do this, Mr. Speaker?

Well, early intervention and diagnosis is clearly critical. Many families will tell me it takes them a couple years to get an assessment. Two, maybe three years already pass by without those critical interventions needed.

Educational supports, Mr. Speaker, we can only rely on the schools so much and there's not enough funding to go around, as well as focus on this particular issue. Mr. Speaker, community and family supports are critical. Mr. Speaker, when we have parents who have children with autism, you know, they end up having to leave work to cover for the SIP days, Mr. Speaker. After school programs don't exist for folks like this. Summer programs don't exist for this. It falls again on the family's shoulders.

There is limited, and I mean limited, funding through ECE, but it's barely enough to fund a couple families when we have more than our share. Mr. Speaker, there are mental supports for the families who struggle with this each and every day. Ultimately, Mr. Speaker, I will have questions later on this particular matter because it is critical for the North. Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Member from Yellowknife Centre. Members' statements.

Colleagues, approximately 25 years ago, the Seven Spruce Golf Club decided that they should come up with a four-person best ball tournament. After thinking about this idea, the executive asked two members to reach out to various businesses in the community and surrounding areas. One of the businesses they reached out to, was the owner of Kingland. He directed them to speak to the parts manager, and since that meeting the partnership has grown. It started out being called the Seven Spruce Four Person Best Ball Tournament, sponsored by Kingland Ford, then it was changed to the Kingland Ford Four Person Best Ball Tournament, and the name was changed to the Aurora Ford Four Person Best Ball Tournament after Aurora Ford purchased Kingland.

With the passing of Pat Rowe, the executive spoke to the staff at Aurora Ford about changing the name to the Pat Rowe Memorial Tournament. After about ten seconds of the conversation, it was agreed that it would be the new name going forward. Now, with this in place, the executive started organizing the tournament. The first thing they needed to do was change the date for this year. It is normally held in July but because of organizational issues, it was decided to be held on the August long weekend.

As the executive started reaching out to businesses, they saw a huge support from local and regional businesses. They were very successful in getting businesses to sponsor the tournament. Like the merchants’ bonspiel, they broke it down into the following categories: platinum, gold, silver and bronze. I have attached a list and will ask them deemed to be as read and printed in the Hansard.

Colleagues, as some of you were aware, Pat was always an active supporter of the golf course. He sponsored and did a lot of work on Hole 7 of the course. He was one of three local business owners that paid for the screen porch addition to the clubhouse.

Pat was well respected. This year's tournament saw 13 teams, including three teams from Hay River and a team made up from Yukon, BC and a business owner from Fort Simpson. The winning team was a Fort Simpson team with a score of 12 under. I have been advised next year's tournament is going to see more teams from out of town. I can't wait for next year, to play with my sons again.

Sponsors of the Pat Rowe Memorial Golf Tournament.

Platinum ($2,000.00 plus)

PR Contracting

South Nahanni Airways

Rowe's Construction

Enbridge

Aurora Ford

Tire North

Gold ($1,000.00 - $2,000.00)

Northern

Simpson Air

Silver ($500.00 - $1,000.00)

Bradbury Services

Jiffy Lube Yellowknife

Taylor & Company

Rings Drugstore

Bronze (less than $500.00)

Goose Flying Services

Fort Simpson Beverages

Fort Simpson Fire department

La Dee Dah.