Debates of February 1, 2006 (day 20)

Good afternoon, colleagues. Welcome to the resumption of the Fourth Session of the 15th Legislative Assembly. Although it has been several months since we have met in formal session, I know that each of you has been working diligently in committee, Cabinet and in your constituencies during the extended adjournment. I would like to offer my personal best wishes to each of you and all the residents of the NWT for a happy and healthy new year. On behalf of the Legislative Assembly and all Members, I would also like to extend congratulations to the new Member of Parliament for the Western Arctic, Dennis Bevington.

---Applause

As a long-time northerner, Mr. Bevington is aware of the North’s most pressing issues, and we look forward to collaborating with him to face the challenges that lay ahead. A special thank you goes to Ethel Blondin-Andrew for her many years of service to northerners as our Member of Parliament.

---Applause

Although Ethel has announced that she will not run for Parliament again, we are confident that she will continue to make a positive contribution to the lives of all northerners in the years to come.

It is with regret that I advise the House of the recent passing of Vital Manuel. Vital served this House proudly as a Page for over 10 years and was also a special constituency assistant to former Premier Stephen Kakfwi. His gentle demeanour and warm smile was always a welcome addition to these halls and he will be sorely missed. Our thoughts go out to his family and many friends during this sad and difficult time.

On a happier note, we rang in the New Year here at the Assembly by hosting the 23rd Canadian Presiding Officers’ Conference from January 19th to the 22nd. We were fortunate to receive 37 Speakers, Deputy Speakers, committee chairpersons and Clerks from across Canada. Our business sessions, which took place here in this Chamber, were informative and thought provoking. In addition to showing our guests some warm northern hospitality, we were, I believe, able to give them a taste of how our unique system of consensus government operates.

This session marks a significant departure in the way that our Assembly proceedings are broadcast and made available to the public. Effective immediately, sessions will no longer be broadcast on the Aboriginal Peoples’

Television Network. Instead, the Assembly is working with local cable television providers, CKLB Radio and other community radio stations to provide longer and more accessible coverage of our proceedings. We have now also begun to broadcast our proceedings in audio and video stream on the Internet. By logging on to www.assembly.gov.nt.ca, you will be able to watch or listen to live and tape-delayed proceeding of this House. We will be working diligently in the sessions to come to improve further on our session broadcast service.

As we prepare to enter this budget session, I would like to acknowledge, on behalf of the Legislative Assembly, the diligent efforts of our standing committees, Cabinet, government and Assembly staff who have contributed to the budget development process. I know the last month-and-a-half has been a very busy one for all of you. I would also like to thank all members of the public who participated in the first round of pre-budget consultations that took place across the North last summer. I am confident that the views and concerns expressed by those who participated will find a place in our upcoming deliberations.

I look forward to a productive session over the next few weeks. I hope to hear lively debate on issues that are important to the people of the Northwest Territories and discussions that lead to positive, informed decision-making. I ask only that you conduct yourselves within the rules that you have set down for this House and continue to respect the dignity of the House and all of its Members.

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

“Dear Mr. Speaker, I wish to advise that I recommend to the Legislative Assembly the passage of the Appropriation Act, 2006-2007 and the Supplementary Appropriation Act, No. 3, 2005-2006, during the Fourth Session of the 15th Legislative Assembly. Yours truly, Anthony W. J. Whitford, Commissioner.”

Thank you, colleagues.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, on January 23rd, Canadians elected a new Parliament with the Conservative Party of Canada posed to form the new government. On behalf of the people and Government of the Northwest Territories, I would like to extend our sincere congratulations to Mr. Stephen Harper on his election as Prime Minister of Canada.

---Applause

We were very pleased and encouraged by the commitment made by Prime Minister-designate Harper on election night to work with the northern territories to help achieve our dreams and to develop the potential of this great region. Once the new government is sworn in next week, we look forward to working with individual Ministers to make these words a reality.

Mr. Speaker, I would also like to acknowledge and extend our gratitude to Prime Minister Paul Martin for his many years of public service to Canadians as Prime Minister, Minister, and Member of Parliament. In particular, I would like to thank Mr. Martin for his ongoing support and commitment for the goals and aspirations of northerners, and his efforts to advance a vision for the North that has helped bring a greater understanding of this important region to other Canadians.

We also extend our congratulations to Mr. Layton and the New Democratic Party for their strong showing on election night, and to Mr. Dennis Bevington who was elected as the new Member of Parliament for the Western Arctic. I had the opportunity to meet with Mr. Bevington last week to discuss ways we can work cooperatively on issues of importance to the people of the Northwest Territories. I am confident Mr. Bevington will do an admirable job for northerners.

Finally, I would like to acknowledge our outgoing Member of Parliament, the Honourable Ethel Blondin-Andrew, and extend our appreciation for her service to the people of the Northwest Territories over the past 17 years. We have seen much positive change during her time as a Member of Parliament and she should be very proud of her achievements.

---Applause

Mr. Speaker, during the first two years of our term, the Members of the Legislative Assembly have made significant progress in raising the profile of the Northwest Territories’ issues in Ottawa and southern Canada. The Northwest Territories is a good news story in this country. Over the last 10 years, an entire new industry has been created around the mining of diamonds in the Northwest Territories, an industry that contributes greatly to the economy of Canada. The development of the oil and gas potential of the North can create significant economic growth and jobs, and provide added security of supply for the North American market.

But, Mr. Speaker, while we have taken important steps over the last two years with the national government, we have been unable to resolve the fundamental issues concerning the control of our resources and, in particular, the revenues generated by them.

Shortly after his election, Prime Minister-designate Harper committed to working with the provinces and territories to address the fiscal imbalance that exists between the federal government and provinces and territories. This is an important commitment and one that will allow us to make our case on the need to restructure and improve our financing arrangement with Ottawa, and to reconsider how resource revenues are shared between the federal and northern governments.

Mr. Speaker, we believe the election of a new federal government provides a significant opportunity to forge a new working relationship with Ottawa. We are optimistic that we can hit the ground running on some important issues with the new government, and look forward to establishing a cooperative and productive working relationship with Prime Minister-designate Harper and the Members of his government. Mahsi cho. Thank you.

---Applause

Mr. Speaker, I give notice that I will deliver the budget address on Thursday, February 2, 2006. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. (English not provided)

As a Member for Nahendeh and the chair for the Standing Committee on Accountability and Oversight, I was honoured to be part of the very first pre-budget consultations last August and September. Regular Members initiated these consultations to give people a chance to speak directly to MLAs and to provide input for government business plans and budgets.

I know many people who shared their advice with us in the pre-budget process are out there anxiously awaiting the budget address and the government’s response to our committee’s report to see whether government is going to act on their ideas.

However, I wish to remind people that, as we said in our report last October, many of these issues demand long-term solutions and are far beyond what can be accomplished in one year’s budget and business plans. I think our constituents can expect to see immediate action on the few key issues in the 2006-07 budget, but it is in next year’s business plans and budgets that I will see the largest impact.

Government is often compared to a big ocean ship that takes a long time to adjust its course. As an MLA, I have often wished that instead it could be a high performance skidoo and turn on a dime without slowing down. It is hard for me, as well, to accept the slowness of change and to be patient, but, unfortunately, that is the reality of government.

Mr. Speaker, I say these things because I do not want people to become discouraged or disappointed or to think we are not listening. Last summer’s pre-budget consultations were only the first of what we hope will grow and become a regular and key piece of how we, as Regular Members, hold government accountable to the priorities of our people. We are building a new process from the ground up, and as we visit more and more communities over the years, we will continue to build on what we started. Mr. Speaker, I seek unanimous consent to conclude my statement.

Thank you, Mr. Menicoche. The Member is seeking unanimous consent to conclude his statement. Are there any nays? There are no nays. You may conclude your statement, Mr. Menicoche.

Mahsi cho. Thank you, honourable colleagues. For now, Mr. Speaker, I want to assure people that although they may not see any dramatic changes in this year’s budget, we have set things in motion to put us on a better course for the future. We have not forgotten what the people have told us and they can expect to hear Members in this session, and in future sessions, continue to raise the issues that they brought to our attention. This is not the end of it, Mr. Speaker. It is just the beginning. Mahsi cho.

---Applause

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, since our last sitting in November, the winds of political change have swept across the NWT and many parts of our country. Canada elected a Conservative minority government in Ottawa, and in the NWT, the people voted for a change and the agent for change they have chosen is the new MP for the Western Arctic, Mr. Dennis Bevington. In my first opportunity to do so in this House, I would like to extend my warm congratulations to Mr. Bevington.

Mr. Speaker, I can speak from having watched them more closely than others, that he and his team were very diligent and focussed throughout their campaign. I have no doubt, Mr. Speaker, that Mr. Bevington will apply the same efforts, as well as his new energy and vision, in doing his job as the new MP and will do it very well.

Mr. Speaker, I believe we know in this House how rewarding but at times challenging it can be to represent and serve our people in all of the 33 very diverse and unique communities. I appreciate that the changes always bring opportunity and I look at this as a huge opportunity for all of us to approach things from different perspectives, where necessary, in order that we all achieve together the goals and aspirations of the people we have the collected privilege to serve.

I wish to also take a moment to thank Messrs Edjericon, Beaudin and van der Veen for putting their names, efforts and best arguments forward for people to choose from. It is an integral part of our democracy and it takes special strength and conviction to do so and I appreciate their efforts very much.

Mr. Speaker, I would also like to acknowledge the service of Mrs. Ethel Blondin-Andrew. I believe we have all learned to appreciate her commitment to the North and her strong work ethics and stamina in the way she served the people of the North through thick and thin. I believe that the distance in time will make it more clear of the strong legacy and achievement of her work. For that, we owe her much thanks and I wish to take this opportunity to wish her and her husband, Leon Andrew, the very best as they embark together on the next chapter of their lives. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

---Applause

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, this morning I was reading a book and I read a quote in there from Ralph Waldo Emerson, I think. He said in the quote, what lies behind us and what lies ahead of us are tiny matters compared to what lies within us. That quote struck a chord into this statement that I’m going to read today in regards to a close friend of the Sahtu and the people in Yellowknife at the Legislative Assembly.

I want to pay tribute to Vital Manuel, who passed away on the 19th of January at the young age of 32 years old. Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank you for your kind words in your opening address towards Vital. Vital was well known in this House as he served as a Page and a special assistant to the former Sahtu MLA Stephen Kakfwi, and also the Premier Stephen Kakfwi.

Born with spina bifida, Vital faced many challenges: to finish school, to have his own apartment, and to find work. He succeeded in doing all these things, and Vital was a very independent person, a very proud person. I know there are many people who are struggling today and I hope that Vital’s strength and achievement can serve them as inspiration to all the people of the Northwest Territories. Vital’s independence was important to him, but he was also very close to his people in the Sahtu, especially in the community of Fort Good Hope. He is remembered as a strong and loving person, known for his kind words and also known in the community of Fort Good Hope as Iehtse Vital, Grandfather Vital.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to send my condolences to the Vital family and to all his close friends. I hope that this will be some comfort to them to know that many Members and staff of the Legislative Assembly, both past and present, share in their sorrow and will continue to hold many warm memories and thoughts of Vital in their heart. Mahsi cho.

---Applause

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, in light of the recent federal election, I’d like to make a few comments in view of the significance of the federal government in relation to our government. I’d like to congratulate the people who ran to represent the Western Arctic in the House of Commons. Having choices is what makes our democratic system work. Each put forth a credible effort to ensure the constituents were informed of their positions.

A special congratulations to Dennis Bevington for his tenacity in seeking and now winning the seat for this riding. Dennis is well-informed and respected in the work that he has undertaken on behalf of northerners and I know that he will represent us well.

I would also like to thank Ethel Blondin-Andrew for her work on our behalf over the past 17 years. I’d like to congratulate Stephen Harper in his new role as Prime Minister. It is a daunting undertaking. From our unique government to his, I would like to say welcome to consensus government. It will take much skill to move his agenda forward with the diversified personalities and agendas now in the House of Commons, but we look forward to hearing of the assignment of key ministerial portfolios which will work closely with our government.

We have heard much debate leading up to the election. I was disappointed with the degree of negative stereotyping that was expressed, not particularly in this riding. It was done in an attempt to scare the Canadian electorate away from a Conservative government, and I hope now we’ll hear less of those cryptic references to hidden agendas and intolerance. I personally prefer it when political candidates focus on the positive solutions that they have to offer.

As an aside, Mr. Speaker, I never cease to be amazed by people and parties who hold themselves out as so inclusive and so tolerant, and yet so quickly berate others with a different moral or political conviction in an area such as traditional values.

For the North, Mr. Speaker, the Liberals knew us, they said they loved us, but it was hard to tell. The Conservatives want to get to know us and I am optimistic about how they will feel about us, and I’m certain that the New Democrats will get to know us well through our new Member in the House of Commons, Mr. Dennis Bevington. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

---Applause

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’m certainly very happy to be back in this House with the rest of my colleagues as we prepare to entertain the 2006-07 budget and address the issues that our constituents have raised with us since the last time we met. I’d like to start off by congratulating Prime Minister-designate Mr. Stephen Harper and his incoming Conservative government. I do believe, and have tremendous hope, that the change in government in Ottawa will pay huge dividends here in the North. Issues like resource revenue sharing, devolution, fiscal surety and the completion of outstanding land claims processes will be front and centre under this new Conservative government.

Congratulations, as well, Mr. Speaker, are also in order for our new Member of Parliament, Mr. Dennis Bevington. He will certainly be challenged by not being in a governing party, but I am certain that he will work hard on our behalf in Ottawa and do the best that he can for us. I wish him all the best in his new pursuit and I do look forward to working with him in the future.

I’d also like to acknowledge, if I could, the dedication, devotion, and efforts of our outgoing Member of Parliament, Ms. Ethel Blondin-Andrew. Although we lined up on different sides of the political field, I certainly have a tremendous amount of respect and admiration for the work she performed in Ottawa on behalf of our government, the aboriginal governments, and the residents of the Northwest Territories.

Mr. Speaker, I’d also like to wish her -- I know it was mentioned earlier -- and her family all the best in the future. Mr. Speaker, at the appropriate time on today’s Order Paper, I’ll have some questions for our Premier on how our government plans to take up our issues in Ottawa and what strategy they will employ in doing so. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

---Applause

Thank you, Mr. Ramsay. Before we go on, colleagues, I would like to draw your attention to the gallery to a former Member of this House and Member of the former riding of North Slave, Mr. Leon Lafferty.

---Applause

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. (English not provided)

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to speak up on an issue that has growing concern in my constituency. That is the traffic safety at the intersection of the Behchoko access road on Highway No. 3. Mr. Speaker, that stretch of highway is a very busy road used by commuters, truck drivers, tourists. In fact, it has the highest traffic volume on the territory's intercommunity highways, Mr. Speaker. Over the last decade, the traffic along this stretch has increased 30 percent. More people commute from my community, Behchoko, Mr. Speaker, also Yellowknife commuters and down south.

Economic development, notably the diamond mine industries, have also increased the traffic moving up and down Highway No. 3. This increases the volume of traffic on the highway, Mr. Speaker.

It is certainly not the rural road it was once, not in terms of volume of traffic, nor in terms of conditions of the road, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the improvements on the highway between Behchoko and Yellowknife has been a crucial component of the Corridors for Canada project. The project was intended to improve the safety of the road, provide better access for diamond mine industries, and also enhancing the tourism opportunities. The improvement of paving the last part of the national highway system has made a huge difference for the Tlicho citizens, Mr. Speaker; however, it means driving a lot faster on the road, as well. The safety concern could be easily fixed, Mr. Speaker, by installing traffic lights at the intersection. The volume of traffic warrants a light system similar to what is in place at the intersection of, say, Highway No. 3 or Highway No. 1.

I will have questions for the Department of Transportation at the appropriate time. Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.

---Applause

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Let me just say Happy New Year to my constituents, residents of the NWT, and all the Members of this House, firstly. I’d also like to congratulate the Prime Minister-designate Stephen Harper and our new MP, Dennis Bevington, on their election victories.

Just a point of interest, Mr. Speaker -- and I hope Stephen Harper is listening -- the community of Lutselk’e and my constituents of Tu Nedhe were the only communities in the NWT to vote a Conservative majority.

---Laughter

So I hope he remembers that.

---Applause

Mr. Speaker, addressing and resolving many important issues in my constituency of Tu Nedhe will continue to be my priority in this Legislature. Namely, issues like still high unemployment levels, lack of training opportunities, and no noticeable improvements in living conditions or health, especially for elders and the aboriginals. Sadly, this is the same situation that many small communities are dealing with and this is the same message that they have been trying to desperately convey to our government for the last number of years. Although these concerns are heard in this House quite regularly by all the Members, we seem to be seriously lacking progress on making some positive changes in the timely manner that actually improves the overall living and cost of living conditions in these smaller communities.

Mr. Speaker, in previous governments, many Members had raised concerns on our government’s centralized, overgrown, overpaid, and underutilized bureaucratic system that is both plagued with old policies and practices, a lot of deadwood, and the seemingly perpetual ignorance for the issues for the small communities and their representatives bring to this House. It continues to be the case in this 15th Assembly.

Mr. Speaker, I believe it is time for some major shifts in our government’s organizational structure and attitude. What I am talking about, Mr. Speaker, is more decentralization. When this government started the centralization process in the mid-'80s, it was for efficiency and effectiveness. This worked for the five larger centres and especially Yellowknife, but new changes are needed that make this government more visible and accessible to smaller communities in our region, and it can be just as efficient and effective for all the residents, if not more. I’d like these changes to be made before this bureaucratic monster gets too big to move forward for the betterment of all residents, and, more importantly, before the questions and concerns raised by the Members of this House start falling on deaf ears. Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.

---Applause

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, today I rise to recognize three well-known and respected northerners who are recent recipients of the National Aboriginal Achievement Awards. It is said, Mr. Speaker, that laughter is the best medicine, and with that being the case then George Tuccaro has been curing many people across the NWT for years.

Hear! Hear!

People in the communities always look forward to a visit from Mr. Tuccaro. My personal favourite is a jigging performance.

Billy Day is a well-respected Inuvialuit elder from Inuvik. He was part of the Committee for Original People’s Entitlement, which was established to protect our culture, political rights, and our lands. They negotiated the Inuvialuit Final Agreement and from that came the Inuvialuit Regional Corporation. He participated in a meeting in California, which resulted in the founding of the World Council of Whalers. Billy still continues to live a traditional lifestyle. Inuvialuit will always be grateful to Billy and the other negotiators for the benefits that we enjoy today.

Shirley Firth-Larson was a member of the NWT Ski Team for years. This group of skiers was started in Inuvik, and they trained in Inuvik, and they put the NWT on the map, as far as I’m concerned. As a young boy growing up, we used to always think the ski team was really deadly because they got to travel all over the world, and we wanted to be just like them, but we were way too slow. We watched the Olympic Games and tried to catch a glimpse of our skiers because we were quite proud of them. She participated in four winter games, she’s received many awards over the years for her skiing.

We congratulate all three of you and would like you to know that, as fellow northerners, we are proud of your accomplishments and your well-deserved award. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

---Applause

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Today, Mr. Speaker, I’ve decided to reflect back on 2005. Mr. Speaker, many elders in Nunakput passed away in 2005. In particular, my sister Annie Noksana and Uncle Bobby Taylor-Pokiak. My thoughts are with these families and I hope 2006 will bring a prosperous year.

Mr. Speaker, elections for municipal councils were also held in 2005. To the mayors and councils elected in Nunakput, I look forward to working with you during the life of this 15th Assembly. To the people of Sachs Harbour, thank you for your warm hospitality during my recent visit.

Mr. Speaker, also to those athletes from Nunakput who took part in the regional and territorial trials for the Arctic Winter Games, I commend them in their best efforts. I wish you all the best. Play fair and remember, winning isn’t everything. Having said that, I know you will all come back with winners in your own right.

In closing, Mr. Speaker, I’d just like to thank Ethel Blondin-Andrew for her dedicated 17 years of service, to Prime Minister-elect Stephen Harper of the Conservatives I say congratulations, and to our newly elected Member of Parliament, Dennis Bevington, we have work to do. Thank you.

---Applause

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Achieving devolution and a fair share of resources revenue sharing must continue to be the top priorities of this government, but in last November, Mr. Speaker, that priority, in my opinion, took a major setback when Premier Handley and Finance Minister Roland delivered a letter -- no ordinary letter, Mr. Speaker -- to the four major producer groups in the Mackenzie Valley pipeline and TransCanada Pipelines. It was a so-called letter of comfort demanded by these stakeholders before they would proceed with the regulatory hearings now underway. The letter offered strong encouragement to proceed to the next phase of the regulatory process.

Mr. Speaker, while this is a letter of comfort to the multi-billion dollar producer groups, it is a letter of extreme disappointment and dismay to many MLAs, communities, and northerners. The reason for the disappointment in our Premier and Finance Minister is that I thought their job was to protect, first and foremost, the interests of northerners. The letter went on, Mr. Speaker, "…we can provide you" -- the producer groups -- "with assurances that the GNWT is committed to promoting a stable and predictable fiscal and royalty regime..." What about promoting a stable and predictable fiscal and royalty regime for our own people, Mr. Speaker?

---Applause

The Premier and the Finance Minister did not. When we have fought so long and so hard to get a share of our own resources, they gave away a major bargaining position. Mr. Speaker, this was after the gas producers themselves got some $2 billion in fiscal concessions from Ottawa. Even after the Deh Cho region, which did hold out for something, got $31 million from Ottawa; even after the APG, the Aboriginal Pipeline Group, got a greater assurance of its share of the investment will get a backup loan from Ottawa; even after the communities along the pipeline route got $500 million, a $500 million commitment for social and economic impact, the Premier and the Finance Minister gave away our bargaining chip, which was to force Ottawa to do the right thing for us. Even now, Mr. Speaker, after 30 years of this ongoing project, the public Government of the Northwest Territories is no better off today than we were three decades ago. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

---Applause

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It’s a privilege to be back into the House. I just want to emphasize that. It’s wonderful to be back after our long break. Mr. Speaker, today I’m very concerned about the fact that we don’t have citizen judges here in the Northwest Territories. There’s always a lot of news out there about the apathy of the Canadian public when it comes to elections and definitely their participation. However, in recent news, a Yellowknife resident and their family travelled all the way to Edmonton to become Canadian citizens just so they could vote in this past election. I personally applaud their dedication; however, their circumstances cause me to wonder why such heroic measures were required in the first place to obtain citizenship. Why couldn’t they get their citizenship here in their new home of Yellowknife?

I contacted the MP’s office, and with their assistance they said citizenship can only be obtained once a year, on July 1st, here in Yellowknife. They also mentioned the difficulty of finding judges to come up to Yellowknife to perform this ceremony. We know citizen judges are responsible for making the decision on citizen applications, presiding over ceremonies and administering the citizen oath, but apparently it’s so simple; it’s not difficult or complex. All it requires is simple accreditation by judges. That’s it.

Mr. Speaker, I have to underscore my concern that the citizen ceremony is only held here once a year. That does not seem fair for one of the territories and the Canadian cities here. We should have more respect from the federal government. If you miss the deadline, Mr. Speaker -- that is the July 1st deadline -- you have to wait a whole year to get your citizenship card. That is a lot of hardship on a particular individual; for instance, if you want to travel or if you have to leave the country on holidays or special emergencies. Even worse, Mr. Speaker, you could be deprived of rights and privileges that Canadians enjoy or have as a safety net outside of Canada. Why are we treating these new Canadians terribly? I don’t think it is fair. I can appreciate and acknowledge that citizenship is a federal issue, but I think this territorial government, in conjunction with the pan-territorial government such as the Yukon and Nunavut, could do something.

Respect is a Canadian value. It is what draws some of these people here. Mr. Speaker, I will have questions for the Justice Minister later today. I will be encouraging him to find less bureaucratic ways of welcoming new Canadians to our country. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

---Applause

Mr. Speaker, I have a return to oral question asked by Mr. Yakeleya on October 20, 2005, regarding the Food Mail Program pilot project.

In order to reduce the cost of nutritious food and promote healthy eating, Indian and Northern Affairs Canada, INAC, with funding from Health Canada carried out a series of Food Mail Program pilot projects in three isolated northern communities: Fort Severn, Ontario; Kangiqsujuaq, Nunavik; and Kugaaruk, Nunavut. The GNWT did not participate.

The pilot projects will be reviewed in the near future to evaluate the impact of reducing the cost of priority perishable foods and introducing measures to improve their recognition, quality and variety. Any decision to participate in a future program of pilot projects will be up to the Minister of Health and Social Services. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, I have a return to oral question asked by Mr. Lafferty on October 25, 2005, regarding the rent scale used by the NWT Housing Corporation for public housing.

Specifically, Mr. Lafferty asked how the rent scale is determined.

The rental amount is derived from a household's monthly income. This is the same in all communities. The cost of living and unit condition reductions are then subtracted from this. The cost of living reduction is a variable number and is dependent on the community and the number of people in the household.

The rent scale embodies the principle that residents of the Northwest Territories with the greatest need should receive the most help. Thus, the public housing rent scale ensures that all social housing tenants are treated fairly and equally across the NWT with regards to access and costs of shelter.

The rent scale also reinforces the principle of affordability as no tenants pay more than 30 percent of gross household income towards shelter costs. On average, public housing tenants currently pay 13 percent of gross household income for rent. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I want to recognize an important resident in the Sahtu now living in Yellowknife, an artist, Antoine Mountain; and also, I am not too sure if she is behind me, Ms. Cindy Gill, also from Deline who is importing to Yellowknife now. Two treasures we lost to Yellowknife. Thank you.

---Applause

Thank you, Mr. Yakeleya. Recognition of visitors in the gallery. The honourable Member for Monfwi, Mr. Lafferty.

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I would just like to recognize the Tlicho Government in the building, Grand Chief Mr. Mackenzie.

---Applause

Former MLA for North Slave and now currently chief of Behchoko, Chief Lafferty.

---Applause

I can’t see from here, but other Tlicho community government leaders are here, as well. I would like to recognize them. I would like to recognize my constituent assistant, Pamela Richardson, as well. Mahsi.

---Applause

Thank you, Mr. Lafferty. Recognition of visitors in the gallery. The honourable Member for Tu Nedhe, Mr. Villeneuve.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to recognize the president of the Native Women’s Association of the NWT, senior president in Fort Resolution and an organizer of many events, organizations and committees in Fort Resolution and in Tu Nedhe, my mom, Terry Villeneuve.

---Laughter

---Applause

Thank you, Mr. Villeneuve. Recognition of visitors in the gallery. The honourable Member for Great Slave, Mr. Braden.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Perhaps today is Mother’s Day here because I am so proud to recognize my mother, Esther Braden, and to tell her I love her very much. With her, Mr. Ed Jeske, a regular attendee of at least our opening days every session here in the Legislature. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

---Applause

Thank you, Mr. Braden. Recognition of visitors in the gallery. The honourable Member for Range Lake, Ms. Lee.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I also would like to welcome everybody, the leaders, artists, interested public, and the parents. I would like to recognize Mrs. Esther Braden and Mr. Ed Jeske who often chauffeur lots of seniors from Avens Court. I would like to thank Mrs. Braden for convincing my mother to come and see the first day because she usually likes to watch us on TV, so my mother, Taejeong Lee. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

---Applause

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I, too, would like to recognize everybody that is here today with us, but specifically I have a constituent, Miss Tawna Brown, who is a graduate student at Carleton University, a long-time Yellowknifer, and I would like to welcome her here today. Thank you.

---Applause

Thank you, Mr. Ramsay. Recognition of visitors in the gallery. The honourable Member for Frame Lake, Mr. Dent.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Good afternoon. I would like to recognize some people in the gallery today, too. David Clark, the president of the WCB is here; constituent Barb Wyness who is often with us during our sessions; and a former constituent and friend, Jennifer Babiuk. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

---Applause