This summer, Members of Cabinet were able to travel to many communities at the invitation of Members to meet with local councils, organizations and residents, or to attend summer assemblies. I had the good fortune to attend many of the summer assemblies, including the Deh Cho Assembly in Kakisa, the Northwest Territories Metis Nation Assembly in Fort Smith, the Akaitcho Assembly in Ndilo, the Tlicho Assembly in Gameti, and the Dene National Assembly at Yellowknife River.

On the invitation of National Chief Phil Fontaine and NWT Regional Chief Bill Erasmus, I also attended and spoke to the Assembly of First Nations in Charlottetown. This continues a strong working relationship we have established with the AFN on issues affecting First Nations people in the Northwest Territories. It also provided an opportunity to encourage AFN to hold their 2005 assembly in the Northwest Territories.

We are now almost a full year into the term of the 15th Legislative Assembly and this is a good time to take stock of our work to date.

When we first met as a Legislature in January, we committed to run an open and transparent government, to find ways to work better with our partners and to pursue the finalization of aboriginal rights agreements throughout the territory. We also committed, as a government, to run a tight fiscal ship, but to consider strategic investments that make sense in light of the priorities we collectively established as a government, as a Caucus and as northern leaders.

Mr. Speaker, we have worked hard to meet our commitment “to work together to make consensus government stronger, to ensure transparency and openness and be more responsive to the people of the Northwest Territories.”

We have moved decisively to deal with concerns raised about the conduct of members of the public service or Cabinet. We have established new mechanisms such as the Joint AOC/Cabinet Committee on Pipeline Planning and the Working Group on Boards and Agencies to work in a more collaborative manner with Regular Members. We have taken deliberate decisions as a Legislature and as a government to work in partnerships with aboriginal governments, municipal governments and other partners through forums such as the Circle of Northern Leaders.

These are important steps in meeting our commitment to run government in a more open, transparent and cooperative manner. We recognize, however, that we must continue to be vigilant to ensure this continues.

Mr. Speaker, the jurisdiction and responsibilities of aboriginal and public governments are in a process of transition that will establish new relationships between people and governments of the Northwest Territories. The completion and implementation of aboriginal rights agreements will change the nature and function of the territorial government itself and bring certainty to shape and structure of governance in the Northwest Territories. This is a positive step for those who live and do business here. I want to highlight a couple of milestones on the road to self-determination.

During the current session, the government will introduce the Tlicho Community Services Agency Act. This bill was developed in consultation with the Tlicho Treaty 11 Tribal Council and is the final piece of territorial legislation required to ratify the Tlicho Agreement. It follows the Settlement Act passed at the 14th Assembly and the Tlicho Community Government Act passed in the spring.

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On September 20th in Tulita, the negotiators at the Tulita self-government table initiated the Tulita Self-Government Framework Agreement and work has already started on the agreement-in-principle. I look forward to signing this agreement on behalf of the Government of the Northwest Territories in the near future.

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The Government of the Northwest Territories is fully committed to concluding aboriginal rights negotiators and to meeting its obligations to implement these agreements in a timely manner. We do so on the understanding that there is no one-size fits all solution to aboriginal rights in the Northwest Territories. The differences in the governments that will be established under these two agreements, the Tlicho and Tulita, illustrate our determination and commitment to work with aboriginal governments on agreements that make sense to their particular circumstance.

Mr. Speaker, on May 26th, I was pleased to introduce the Government of the Northwest Territories’ strategic plan to the Legislative Assembly. This plan was developed with input from leaders and people in the Northwest Territories and reflects many of the priorities of the Members of this Legislative Assembly. While we intend to provide regular updates on our progress on the strategic plan, I want to take this opportunity to highlight some of our work to date.

When I introduced the strategic plan, I told this House that the government was committed to sound fiscal management. I said we intended to move forward in a manner that ensures our long-term fiscal sustainability. This would require difficult but necessary choices. Under the leadership of the Deputy Premier and Minister of Finance, the Honourable Floyd Roland, we have been working hard to solidify our fiscal position. The first budget of this government signalled our intention to live within our means. Since then, we have been looking at many areas of government where we can improve our effectiveness and efficiency. This work is continuing as we develop our business plans for 2005-06 and beyond. Mr. Roland will be providing more detail on his work in his budget address in early 2005.

Mr. Speaker, in keeping with our first goal of the strategic plan, we have been working hard to ensure that northern issues remain high on the national agenda. In early July, I had the pleasure of hosting the Western Premiers’ Conference in Inuvik. At the Western Premiers’ Conference, or WPC, we secured the support from western Premiers for a number of critical NWT issues including: an open letter to the Prime Minister from all western Premiers calling for a strong political commitment to conclude negotiations on a fair devolution deal without delay; support for additional resources from the federal government to address unique challenges of delivering health care in remote regions as part of a long-term health care agreement; support for a northern economic development fund that provides the three territories authority to direct expenditures; and, the creation of a Western Energy Alliance.

As chair of this meeting, I invited a number of regional aboriginal leaders to meet with the Premiers to discuss health care. The meeting was an important first step in the subsequent participation of national aboriginal organizations and the Council of the Federation and First Ministers’ meetings that followed the WPC.

The success of the WPC was a result of the relaxed and enjoyable environment in Inuvik. This would not have been possible without the contributions of many people. I would like to take this opportunity to thank the people, the Town of Inuvik, our corporate sponsors and the many volunteers who donated their time and energy to make this conference a success.

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Mr. Speaker, we took a number of important steps at the First Ministers’ meeting in September to address the inequities in our funding arrangement with Canada. We were able to secure an agreement with the federal government to create a health access fund for the three territories of $150 million over five years, starting in 2004-05. This fund will have three components. At least $75 million will be provided for medical transportation; $65 million will be provided to the three territories to target innovative and adaptive strategies for long-term health reforms; and $10 million will be used to create a joint federal/territorial working group to look at policy and program management approaches to health delivery in the North.

As important as this funding is to the Northwest Territories, it is perhaps more important that the federal government has formally recognized that the unique challenges of delivering health care in the northern territories require funding over and above the normal per capita share. The Minister of Health and Social Services, the honourable Minister Miltenberger, will be attending a meeting with his federal, provincial, and territorial colleagues on October 15th to further flesh out the details of this agreement.

In January, I told this Legislative Assembly that a priority of this government was improving our financial arrangements with Canada. At the September meeting of the First Ministers, we made progress on this priority with the commitment made by the Prime Minister to increase the base funding provided to the three territories under our territorial financing agreements. Although the details of this agreement will not be worked out until the northern Premiers meet with the Prime Minister at the October First Ministers' meeting, we expect that the net result will be a significant increase in our grant from the federal government on a go forward basis.

Finally, Mr. Speaker, we secured a commitment from the Prime Minister to work with the three territories and other northern partners to jointly develop a vision for the North. This initiative, the first comprehensive northern strategy in memory, was confirmed in the October 5th Speech from the Throne. Our success in keeping Northwest Territories’ issues on a national agenda is an important step in meeting the first goal of our strategic plan: to build a strong northern voice and identity.

Mr. Speaker, the second goal of our strategic plan is to have healthy, educated people living in safe communities who are able to contribute and take advantage of life’s opportunities. I want to highlight a number of initiatives that move us closer to this important goal.

Family violence is a serious and troubling issue in the Northwest Territories. In response to this problem, the Coalition Against Family Violence released an NWT action plan on family violence last spring. This action plan was developed based on territory-wide consultations and with recommendations from frontline workers, government departments, community groups, and the RCMP. I want to take the opportunity to publicly recognize and applaud the work of the coalition in developing this plan. Later, during this session, the Minister responsible for the Status of Women, the Honourable Charles Dent, will be releasing the government’s response to the action plan.

The problems associated with alcohol abuse in the Northwest Territories are many and one of the most serious is drinking and driving. Last week, the Minister of Transportation, the Honourable Michael McLeod, joined with key stakeholder groups such as SADD and the RCMP to announce new measures taken to help RCMP deter impaired driving on our streets and highways. Amendments to the Motor Vehicles Act providing strict new measures that lower permissible blood-alcohol content to .05 percent and provide for immediate roadside licence suspensions will come into force on December 1, 2004.

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Mr. Speaker, the health problems associated with smoking are well documented. The unfortunate truth is that smoking levels in the Northwest Territories are far above the national average. As part of the health promotion strategy which promotes health and well-being by providing education and awareness about healthy lifestyles, we are working hard to encourage people to quit smoking. Through the Department of Health and Social Services, we are undertaking a number of initiatives including a media strategy and school curriculum aimed at youth. We believe these initiatives, combined with the support of the community leadership and parents, will lead us toward markedly lower smoking rates among young northerners.

The provision of health and family support services is an important component of our health care system. On May 18, 2004, Health and Social Services implemented a toll-free telephone nursing service that increases the ability of the Northwest Territories residents to care for themselves, provide support for health and social service providers and has the potential to decrease non-urgent after-hours call-outs. This service is universally accessible to NWT residents 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and can be accessed in English, French and the majority of the NWT’s aboriginal languages.

Mr. Speaker, the education of northerners of all ages is a priority of this government. I want to highlight a number of important initiatives led by the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment, the Honourable Charles Dent. We are undertaking to improve education opportunities for our residents. This fall, we will be implementing the Dene Kede Grade 9 curriculum for all of our schools. Dene Kede is designed to help students understand their identity as individuals and as members of a community and ensure that they receive instruction that incorporates an aboriginal perspective. Recognizing our cultural and heritage activities and the need to respond to the needs and rights of all of our northern citizens, we are pleased to announce the breaking of ground for Ecole Boreal, a new school providing French-first-language education to students in Hay River. Last week, in Inuvik, we opened a new Aurora Campus facility. The facility is a giant step forward in ensuring that adults in the Beaufort-Delta have access to a modern learning environment. In keeping with our priorities to provide people with tools to take advantage of the opportunities that exist in the Northwest Territories, we have formed a unique partnership with aboriginal governments and organizations, private industry partners and the federal government to provide training under the aboriginal skills and employment partnership initiative. This partnership will result in over $50 million going to fund training programs in oil and gas and mining sectors.

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Mr. Speaker, aside from the direct investments in education and health programs, there are many other ways the government contributes to building a healthy and productive society. Perhaps the most important of these is the provision of programming aimed at our young people. One such initiative is the youth summer camps established in 14 of our communities. Through the Pan-Territorial Sports Strategy, a partnership with the Government of Canada, MACA has worked with territorial sports and recreation organizations to offer camps that focus on a variety of sports including softball, soccer, canoeing, kayaking, and mountain biking. These camps have provided opportunities for more than 900 young northerners to develop their skills. In addition to the summer camp program, more than $1 million has gone to fund innovative pilot programs over the past two years. These programs have focused on developing both employment-related and traditional skills for young people in the North. Projects such as the Sahtu and Rae-Edzo Trapper Training Program, the Kakisa and Nahanni Butte Outdoor Education program, the Cole Crook fiddle camp, and the Inuvialuit Development Corporation Youth Leadership Program have helped numerous youth expand their skills and build their self-esteem.

A healthy, educated society requires affordable and adequate housing. The challenge of ensuring access to such housing remains a priority for this government. The Minister responsible for the Northwest Territories Housing Corporation, the Honourable David Krutko, has been working with housing industry leaders to explore new and innovative ways to deliver housing. Promising technologies include the reconfiguration of temporary units to permanent dwellings.

The third goal of the strategic plan is to develop well-governed communities and regions able to fulfill their potential. An important step in allowing communities to take control of their own affairs is the new deal for community governments announced last spring by the Minister of Municipal and Community Affairs, the Honourable Michael McLeod. Working with community governments through the Northwest Territories Association of Communities, we intend to build on work already in progress to provide communities with expanded authority to raise their own revenues and take more control over capital planning for community infrastructure. When combined with proposals by the Government of Canada, we believe this will provide communities with the tools to help address their critical infrastructure needs.

In June, this Legislative Assembly enacted the Tlicho Community Government Act. This groundbreaking legislation was developed in partnership with the Dogrib Treaty 11 Council and sets the stage for the four Tlicho communities to assume new authority when the Tlicho Final Agreement becomes effective. The Department of Municipal and Community Affairs will be working closely with leadership and community staff to ensure that Tlicho communities are equipped to step into their expanded governance role. Work is underway on developing bylaws and preparing for the transfer of land administration and other responsibilities.

Building on capacity at the community level remains a major focus of the government. To achieve this end, we are undertaking a number of notable initiatives. The School of Community Government is working with the federal government with regional and local stakeholders to deliver comprehensive and integrated training to community governments.

We are working with the Aboriginal Finance Officers Association to deliver a nationally-accredited and certified aboriginal financial managers designation.

We are working in partnership with the NWT Association of Communities to certify community government employees under the Apprenticeship, Trades and Occupations Certification Act. Since last March, 16 employees have been certified in six professions.

We are working with communities to develop fire-smart community plans to minimize the impact of wildfire on them. These plans include land use planning, emergency and fire response planning, public education training and fire prevention strategies. To date, the communities of Fort Smith, Fort Providence, Enterprise and Norman Wells have adopted fire-smart principles and have planning committees in place.

We also set an ambitious goal to develop a diversified economy that provides northerners with opportunities and choices. A diversified economy depends on reliable infrastructure. In partnership with the federal government through the Canada Strategic Infrastructure Fund, we are investing $158 million over the next five years to improve driving services on the various highways, including a major reconstruction of the Dempster Highway and completion of reconstruction of Highway No. 3.

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

Speaker: MR. SPEAKER

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

Joe Handley

Weledeh

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Through this program and other cost-shared agreements with the federal Department of Indian Affairs and Northern Development, we are continuing with the Mackenzie Valley winter road bridges program. All in all, the program includes the installation of 22 permanent bridges over water crossings and great improvements to the winter road itself.

Transportation continues to work with the Deh Cho Bridge Corporation in a public/private partnership towards the construction of the first highway bridge over the Mackenzie River at Fort Providence. The proponent of this project is presently engaged in securing the required regulatory approvals. Public hearings before the Mackenzie Valley Environmental Impact Review Board are scheduled to begin on Thursday, October 21st. The current construction schedule anticipates the opening of the Deh Cho Bridge to traffic in late 2006.

With a growing, buoyant economy it is becoming increasingly important to ensure that businesses have access to the capital required to grow and produce jobs and economic benefits. During the current session, the Minister of RWED, the Honourable Brendan Bell, will introduce a new Business Development and Investment Corporation Act. The new act will consolidate GNWT business assistance programming under a business development and investment corporation that will provide the necessary focus and flexibility to meet existing and future business needs in the territory.

Mr. Speaker, resource development, particularly diamonds and gas, continues to be the engine that drives the Northwest Territories economy. Since the conclusion of the last Legislative Assembly, we have successfully negotiated a comprehensive environmental agreement and socioeconomic agreement with de Beers regarding the development of their proposed Snap Lake mine. These agreements help ensure that the environment is protected and that northern resources are developed in a manner that provides meaningful, long-term benefits to northerners.

At the national level, we have been working with our provincial and territorial colleagues to develop an action plan for the National Diamond Strategy. The action plan focuses on three fundamental issues that must be taken into account if the diamond industry in Canada is to be developed in a sustainable way: the supply of Canadian-sourced diamonds, the demand for diamonds processed in Canada and the regulation of the markets. The importance of the Mackenzie gas project to the long-term strategic interests of the Northwest Territories and the socioeconomic benefits of our people in the communities cannot be overstated. The Government of the Northwest Territories remains fully committed to this project, to the joint panel process established to review it, and into ensuring northerners fully benefit from this development.

We are encouraged by the announcement last week that the Mackenzie Delta Producers Group and the Aboriginal Pipeline Group have filed the environmental impact statement and detailed federal applications for the Mackenzie gas project. This filing represents major progress towards the construction of the Mackenzie Valley natural gas pipeline and associated gas field facilities in the Mackenzie Delta of the Northwest Territories. Much of the credit for the progress we have made to date must go to Fred Carmichael and Nellie Cournoyea from the Aboriginal Pipeline Group, and the former president of Imperial Oil Ltd, K.C. Williams.

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Mr. Speaker, there has been a great deal of coverage in the media over the past several weeks and months about some of the possible impediments to this development; issues concerning aboriginal rights, the regulatory regime and a need to ensure our natural environment is protected. These issues are of real significance. We recognize the challenge this project presents to our natural environment, to traditional economies and the traditional culture of the peoples of the Northwest Territories, and we are committed to working with the leadership in the Northwest Territories and interested groups to find solutions. We also believe that these issues must be considered in tandem with long-term interests of the Northwest Territories.

One of the most important of these long-term interests is an equitable division of the revenues among the federal government and northern governments, both the GNWT and aboriginal governments, and it is a critical missing link as we move closer to the devolvement of the Mackenzie Valley pipeline. It is for this reason that we have proposed to the federal government that we consider an interim arrangement on revenue sharing that allows northern governments to receive a benefit immediately from these developments.

Hear! Hear!

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Joe Handley

Weledeh

As I noted earlier, we have established a Joint Cabinet/Accountability and Oversight Pipeline Planning Committee to ensure our preparations and planning are as inclusive as possible. This committee will provide guidance and advice as we move forward in planning for the pipeline and negotiating a comprehensive socioeconomic agreement with the proponents of the Mackenzie gas project.

Mr. Speaker, our goal of a diversified economy goes hand in hand with our goal of caring and protecting the environment. We have a keen commitment to environmental stewardship. We have taken a proactive approach to this stewardship by creating and implementing initiatives that will protect our natural environment; initiatives such as the protected areas strategy.

Working with our partners in the Protected Areas Strategy we have advanced interim protection for Sahyoue/Edacho, Grizzly Bear Mountain and Scented Grass Hills, in the Sahtu and for Edehzhie, Horn Plateau, in the Deh Cho. Our staff have also been working with communities on various information requests regarding protected areas.

We are also working on other important initiatives, such as the air quality code of practice for upstream oil and gas industry. This code is to be completed by the end of 2004. It will provide clear and consistent guidance in our requirements related to air emissions, emissions abatement and best practices.

Mr. Speaker, a great deal has been accomplished over the past 10 months. We’re working hard to meet the commitment we made for an open, transparent government; a government that works in partnership with aboriginal governments, stakeholder groups and residents of this great territory. We have also made notable progress on the key elements of our strategic plan. We look forward to working with our partners to continue this progress and realize the full promise and potential of this great territory. Mahsi cho.

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Speaker: MR. SPEAKER

Thank you, Mr. Handley. The time for Ministers’ statements has expired. The Chair will recognize Mr. Menicoche.

Kevin A. Menicoche

Nahendeh

Mr. Speaker, I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Yellowknife Centre, that Minister's Statement 48-15(3) be moved into Committee of the Whole.