Good afternoon, colleagues. Colleagues, I will now provide my ruling on the point of privilege raised by Ms. Bisaro on October 21, 2013, with respect to comments made by Mr. Menicoche on Friday, October 18th, on the capital plan. The Speaker’s role when a point of privilege has been raised is to determine whether the matter was raised at the earliest opportunity, and whether on the face of it a breach of privilege has occurred.
I do find that the point was raised at the earliest opportunity.
A breach of privilege occurs when individual Members are obstructed in the performance of their duties. It is a very serious matter. In this case, while Ms. Bisaro may have been offended by Mr. Menicoche’s comments, she was not obstructed in the performance of her duties. I, therefore, find that there has been no breach of privilege on the face of it.
The point of privilege is to address very serious matters like harassment and intimidation that could prevent a Member from doing his or her job. I would discourage Members from using point of privilege to tell the House that they have been offended by others’ comments.
If this were to become a common practice, I suspect we could be dealing with points of privilege every day. There are other times to challenge each other’s positions, like Members’ statements, Committee of the Whole, and replies to the opening address.
At the same time, I have heard some comments over the last few sitting days that could be taken as offensive. We work as a consensus system. You have some difficult issues before you, but I am sure you can find a way to make your points in a respectful way.
As I’ve said a couple of times already in this sitting, remember why we’re all here, to work for the
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I want to rise on a point of order under clause 23(k) with regard to the use of insulting and abusive language and (l) speaking disrespectfully of Her Majesty, any member of the Royal Family, his Excellency the Governor General, the Commissioner, the Assembly or any Member.
I rise on that point, Mr. Speaker, because I listened with great interest and intensity to the exchange between Mr. Hawkins and Minister Beaulieu yesterday. I listened carefully to the volume, tone and content of the exchange. I am of the opinion that when you look at those three items with the type of discourse and exchange that happened, the comments by Mr. Hawkins are contrary to our rules of order, hence my point.
I wanted to look at Hansard, which I did, and I’m rising on my first opportunity to speak. I want to refer to page 27 of unedited Hansard from yesterday during one of the exchanges in a question to Mr. Beaulieu. Keep in mind the volume, tone and content. Mr. Hawkins said, “Who is in charge of this department and if he isn’t, come on over here. We’ll welcome you back in great arms because we’ll put someone over there that can do the job because this Minister doesn’t.” Same page, second question: “Again, I ask the Minister of Health and Social Services, other than doing nothing, put something on the table that he’s truly done to improve the lives of Northerners, or get out of Cabinet because you don’t belong there.” It was clearly a very aggressive and insulting tone of voice, in my mind.
Then when you go to page 28, Mr. Speaker, the Minister, near the end of this last question, was attempting to respond and in Hansard it says “Interjection.” That interjection was the Member for Yellowknife Centre interrupting the Member, Mr. Speaker. Immediately following that interjection, you, yourself, cautioned Mr. Hawkins, “Mr. Hawkins. Mr. Hawkins. Member for Yellowknife...” Right after that, there’s another interjection, which was Mr. Hawkins once again speaking off mic but interrupting you, yourself, Mr. Speaker.
We appreciate frank and earnest debate, the give and take, the repartee and the parry and thrust of discourse, but there are limits in this Chamber. We pride ourselves on the decorum of this House, the propriety of the way we do business. We hold ourselves above the other Legislatures.
The point of order has been contravened; our rules have been contravened. I think this was beyond what is acceptable in this Legislature; hence, my point of order. Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Miltenberger. I’m going to allow some debate on this point of order. Mr. Hawkins.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I appreciate Minister Miltenberger bringing this forward for some type of public discussion and I certainly welcome it. At the same time, this would be the same Minister telling me in the back hallway right after that exchange that he was thinking about calling a point of order just to calm me down. Now, that’s a conversation we had; hence, his point and, hence, his point of order here today.
Mr. Speaker, the issue of volume and tone, I think, is quite exaggerated. I think one is not identifying the passion and concerns about seeing issues ignored, repeatedly brought to the table and I think that’s confusing. It’s normal in any parliamentary process to have discourse amongst sides. The fact is if decorum is changed and elevated to an ever-so-slight level that is recognizable of whisper, whisper there, whisper back here, people think we aren’t doing our jobs and Cabinet, in my experience, thinks we’re picking on them.
I’m sorry, Mr. Speaker, I don’t disagree with the fact that… It’s almost saying you can’t raise your concerns, elevate your concerns with your passion. I’m here to do my job and demand results, Mr. Speaker, and sometimes that does cause one to raise the energy in the debate.
Quite frankly, I can’t sit here and ignore the lack of results and Cabinet sit over there and expect we don’t call them out when they don’t do their job. They find that offensive and rude, and I certainly welcome another point of order if they want to keep calling it on those types of things. It’s very frustrating on this side of the House. I have every right to say to the Minister, in my view, that if he doesn’t do his job, and I look right at him again and say, if you don’t want to do your job, you can come over here. Thank you.
Mr. Speaker, I appreciate your guidance on that. What I’m trying to say is I have every right to call the Ministers out for not doing their job. The public demands it and I’m sorry if it hurts the feelings of Cabinet, but I stand by the fact that this passion must be brought to the job and sometimes it raises the tone and elevates the volume of the job. If they all want to stand up in successive order and say they don’t like it, I’m sorry; they’re going to have to live with it in some capacity. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Mr. Hawkins. To the point of order. Mrs. Groenewegen.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I will take the opportunity to stand up as somebody who has been in this House for a long time and has heard a lot of exchanges, and has been known to spar and argue and fight with the best of them on the other side of the House, but, Mr. Speaker, I did find Mr. Hawkins’ comments, questions to Mr. Beaulieu yesterday to be offensive and it did, in my opinion, reduce the demeanor of our House.
Mr. Hawkins was asking Minister Beaulieu questions you really couldn’t answer, like can you do your job. Some of it is even what I would put in the context of asking him for an opinion and the tone was disrespectful and it was demeaning. There was no answer that Mr. Beaulieu could have reasonably provided to those questions. I tried to project myself in that position and if I was being asked those questions, there is no reasonable response when you’re under that kind of attack.
Like I said, I’ve stood up and berated Ministers before. I’ve told them everything I think about them, but I don’t think that it was done in a way that… I like lively debates in this House too. Sometimes it does seem a little dull in here, a little dead, but I think that the tone, the words, the questions that were posed to Mr. Beaulieu yesterday, there was no reasonable response he could have possibly made. Whether Mr. Beaulieu is doing his job or not is entirely a subjective observation and I think there are ways of communicating it without degrading each other. That’s all I’ll say about it. Thank you.
Thank you, Mrs. Groenewegen. To the point of order. I will take this under advisement and bring it back to the House sometime before the end of session. Thank you.
Mr. Speaker, community safety is a critical priority for the Government of the Northwest Territories. We need to look out for each other and make our neighbourhoods places with a strong sense of well-being. Everyone needs to feel safe and be safe.
Earlier this month Yellowknifers came together to hold a conversation on community safety. My thanks to Ms. Bisaro for the role she played as moderator for the evening. I was also pleased to welcome other MLAs and community leadership to the discussion. The meeting was well-attended by the public and included members from the Coalition Against Family Violence there, continuing their advocacy for victims and efforts to stop violence. Community safety has to be solved by the community and I was pleased to see so many people willing to take on that challenge.
We talked about things everyone can do to make this a safe community. Victims showed great courage; they told us what happened to them, and they encouraged everyone to keep using the trail and the parks, not abandoning our public spaces. We talked about the need to get offenders the help they need, not just arresting and releasing people. Over and over, residents stressed that sexual violence is a crime of power and control, not of chronic addiction or homelessness. We also talked about the crimes that are the biggest threat to women throughout our territory: family violence and other assaults within the home at the hands of intimate partners who are well-known to their victims.
We are already taking action on what we heard at that community meeting. I have directed the department to work with the City of Yellowknife and the RCMP to explore approaches to improve communications and coordination between the RCMP and the municipal enforcement division. We are also looking at options for supporting community-based actions, like the Citizens on Patrol program. Working groups from the organizations involved in the community meeting are being established to act on the issues and ideas we heard, and we have committed to holding another public meeting in the new year.
Over the past two years we have been holding other community safety meetings throughout the Northwest Territories. These meetings have brought together residents, elected municipal officials, Aboriginal government leaders, RCMP and GNWT officials to discuss community concerns and issues and how we can all work together to solve them.
Community participation in these meetings was also critical. We all need to find ways, as organizations and individuals, to work together to make our communities places where people feel safe, look out for each other, and know where to go for help when they need it. At the end of the day, it isn’t governments that make a community, it’s the people who live in it.
Our Community Safety Strategy is being piloted in Tulita, the Hay River Reserve and Inuvik. Through this strategy, we support communities as they identify their priorities and the resources they have to tackle issues. We must take advantage of the wisdom of the communities if we’re going to successfully address community safety. The results of the pilot project will be of real benefit to Yellowknifers as we expand the program throughout our territory, addressing root causes of crime and drawing on the strengths of our own people.
Mr. Speaker, our communities are ready for this type of work to be done. There is a growing demand from our citizens that we address community safety. But it is a complex problem with many causes and we have to deal with them at the root. Dealing with the symptoms is not enough. That is why the GNWT has launched a number of strategies to deal with the social and economic challenges that often limit people’s potential.
These include initiatives such as the Early Childhood Development Strategy, to ensure our children start off on the right foot. We are addressing the critical piece of economic well-being and social health through the Anti-Poverty Strategy, Economic Opportunities Strategy and Mineral Development Strategy. The Mental Health and Wellness Strategy plays a key role in eliminating barriers. The work we are doing on educational reform will give everyone in our territory more opportunities for lifelong learning so they can take advantage of every second, third, or fourth chance.
We are taking a strategic and effective approach to supporting our people and working with partners and stakeholders just as we are asking communities to do. As Minister responsible for the Anti-Poverty Strategy, which several Members here participate in, I can say the concept is working. Through this multi-level approach, we will make a difference.
We are listening and we will work as a government providing support and playing our part. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Mr. Abernethy. The honourable Minister of Transportation, Mr. Ramsay.
Mr. Speaker, holding both the transportation and economic development portfolios, I very much appreciate the strong contribution that transportation makes to a strong and prosperous Northwest Territories. Transportation has always been at the forefront of enabling Northerners to grow and develop our economy. Never has the role that transportation plays been more important to guaranteeing our future growth and prosperity than it is today.
Transportation infrastructure is a fundamental requirement and an enabler of economic development in the Northwest Territories. It allows an economy to begin, grow and prosper through increased access to essential goods and services and to natural resources. Linking communities within a region provides jobs, fosters social development and trade, and allows for social interaction. Infrastructure improvements such as the construction of new roads and rehabilitation efforts across the system stimulate job creation and make our economy more competitive in the long term. It also reduces the costs of freight and the cost of living in our communities. Available and reliable modes of transportation attract private investment within an economy, and create the potential for value-added growth. These sentiments were echoed throughout the consultation processes undertaken toward the development of the Economic Opportunities Strategy and Mineral Development Strategy being led by the Department of Industry, Tourism and Investment.
Mr. Speaker, I am very pleased to announce that the Department of Transportation is building upon this strategy work and embarking on a process to develop a multi-modal transportation Strategy for the territory. This strategy, which was included in our 2013-14 Business Plan to be completed in 2014, will guide our path forward toward a transportation system that will enable the Northwest Territories to realize its full potential. Achieving our government’s vision of a strong and prosperous territory requires that adequate supporting infrastructure, such as the transportation system, is in place to effectively link communities to opportunities for social growth and economic prosperity.
The process to develop this strategy will be officially kicked off at the Northern Transportation Conference, being organized by the Van Horne Institute, which will occur here in Yellowknife, October 29th and 30th. The conference theme, Developing a Northern Transportation Strategy, sets the tone for discussions and engagement with stakeholders, industry, transportation partners and other levels of government on the development of the Transportation Strategy.
As we move forward to further development of our transportation system, continued partnerships will be critical, partnerships with the federal government, such as the anticipated New Building Canada Plan funding agreement, as well as partnerships with industry.
Mr. Speaker, much background work has been underway. In June, Corridors for Canada III – Building for Prosperity, the Department of Transportation’s strategic infrastructure funding proposal was tabled and submitted for the federal government’s consideration under the new Building Canada Plan. The proposal includes a $600 million investment over 10 years to improve our winter roads, highways, bridges, marine and airport infrastructure. Corridors for Canada III is an action plan that addresses transportation infrastructure needs across all regions of the Northwest Territories. These investment priorities will be incorporated into the strategy.
The department is also working to finalize a Climate Change Adaptation Plan, Road Safety Plan, as well as studies assessing options for improved road access into the Tlicho region. A financing study for improved access into the Slave Geologic Province, a marine system review and an environmental strategy, titled Green Light, have also been completed. Airport development plans as well as a runway issues and lengths study are currently being updated. The Transportation Strategy will build upon and incorporate the results of this research work that has been underway. It will also be developed with input and engagement including all MLAs, Aboriginal and community governments, transportation and industry stakeholders.
Mr. Speaker, the Department of Transportation’s multi-modal Transportation Strategy will guide the development of our transportation system and help shape our plans, priorities and policies for the coming years. I encourage Members, other levels of government, industry stakeholders and the public to get engaged and support the development of this important strategy as we move forward. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Mr. Ramsay. Before we head into Members’ statements, I’d like to welcome again back in the House today a man who has held almost every position in this government, Mr. Anthony W. J. Whitford.
---Applause
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Today I’d like to speak about the marina for Fort McPherson. The community has set their priority in their community and that is to build a new arena. The current arena they have now was built in 1987. The location was built on the grounds of the old Fleming Hall that’s affecting the foundation. That’s their plan over the next couple of years. They figure the rough estimate is roughly $5 million. That’s one thing that the community has said.
Community arenas are vital for small communities in the North. Our youth, elders and leaders make use of these buildings on a daily basis. A good example of that, I know it’s our neighbouring territory, but NHL hockey player Mr. Jordin Tootoo is a growing success and I think that if we provide these facilities, we’d most likely see more NHL players in the future. Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Blake. The Member for Nahendeh, Mr. Menicoche.
Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. I just want to touch base on devolution. Phase one and phase two of devolution is well underway for implementation in 2014. However, there is still no confidence in the regions and communities that we are all working towards decentralization. The plan is status quo and no movement to the communities. It’s no wonder that we have to spend more in Yellowknife, because we support and put more people here. But as a representative government of the people, we must take this opportunity to ensure all of our regions benefit.
We, as Regular MLAs and regional MLAs, must ensure growth in our communities across our great Northwest Territories. For example, how would 12 person years affect Fort Simpson? This would add 12 new homeowners and all the salaries that would make this community grow. We all hear stories about the marvelous bouncing buck and here’s a case of 12 full-time positions, as well as with a secretary, that can add to the growth of this one community. If we plan it properly, we can do this across all of the regions in the Northwest Territories and help all of our communities grow.
As I indicated, phase one and phase two of devolution are well underway. Once again, we aren’t going to be able to transfer anybody now because of the lack of infrastructure, of homes and of office space in the community. However, I want to let this government know, and Mr. Premier, that the phase three plan must include supporting communities and supporting further decentralization.
I will be asking the Premier questions at the appropriate time. Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Menicoche. The Member for Sahtu, Mr. Yakeleya.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The well is definitely running dry in Norman Wells. As a matter of fact, by next year, October 31, 2014, taps will be turned off to heat the residences in Norman Wells.
We need to help the people in Norman Wells keep their homes heated and keep their businesses running. At this critical point of survival, now is the time to switch, time to make it a priority of this government to help the people through these types of situations.
I want to state, clearly, in this critical situation for us in the regions, we need to put the people first. We must not leave anyone out in the cold. Seventeen percent of all residents’ homes have been converted in Norman Wells. That’s 27 out of 159 homes. It costs about $10,000 to $15,000 to revert the homes to heating fuel. Also, there is a solution to the propane conversion. This is about $1,500, but it costs more to operate than the heating fuel.
We do have a solution within our hands to have alternative energy education workshops on grants and programs under the Biomass Program. Biomass is a solution with wood pellet initiatives that are now popping up. It would greatly help our people in Norman Wells. We need to seek funding to help with the businesses and residences and homeowners in this situation. We need to help to plan to reduce gas usage by 40 percent. Better yet, if we could reduce it to 50 percent.
We must not allow the people nor the town of Norman Wells to fend for themselves. It is not right. I call on this government to launch a full-force strike to help with the conversion in Norman Wells and put our focus on the people, securing them, knowing that this government is here to help them, and to look at funding that we can help the people from freezing this winter. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Mr. Yakeleya. The Member for Weledeh, Mr. Bromley.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Over the next few years, the people of the Sahtu and the people of the Northwest Territories will have to make a decision: Do we frack our land or not?
Today companies are telling us we can make lots of money fracking the land and selling the oil that comes out, but unlike the past, we can also do our own research now and we can understand that this is dangerous.
The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change just released its latest report. It repeats what we already knew from the last report in 2007, and the one before that, 2001, only now with greater certainty. Burning fossil fuels causes the planetary climate to become unbalanced, with severe consequences.
One new and startling discovery was that natural gas, or methane, is a much more dangerous greenhouse gas than we thought. We now know that methane is 34 times more unbalancing than CO2. That number used to be 25. This means that natural gas is not the clean alternative to coal that the gas companies say it is. Consider that oil fracking operations in North Dakota flare a billion dollars’ worth of methane each year.
Mary Robinson is familiar with the role of government. She is the former United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights and was the President of Ireland. She recently said, “There is a global limit on a safe level of emissions. That means major fossil fuel reserves must be left in the ground.” In publications last year, Bill McKibbon made it very clear. The fossil fuels that are left in the ground right now are five times more than what can be allowed to burn and still avoid dangerous changes to our climate. Most of it has to stay in the ground.
We need to step up and say now is not the time to extract this resource. We have the chance to make a responsible choice. Really, who wants to find meaning in their lives by driving around trucks full of toxic chemicals for a living? But there’s a truly sustainable alternative. We can choose to develop an economy based on renewable energy like biomass, wind, hydropower and solar. Instead of putting our money into infrastructure for oil companies, let’s build healthy communities. We can fix up our homes and buildings so they are warm and energy efficient. We can install wood pellet heating systems and build small hydroelectric power plants.
I seek unanimous consent to conclude my statement.
---Unanimous consent granted
Besides environmental sustainability, such an approach would restore earth systems, ensure diversity and self-sufficiency of community economies, support our cultures, and yield distributed benefits across all of our residents. Let’s take charge of this parade and make it happen.
I will have questions for the Minister of Environment. Mahsi.
Thank you, Mr. Bromley. The Member for Inuvik Boot Lake, Mr. Moses.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. For the past number of years, the Gwich’in people of the Inuvik region as well as other Aboriginal groups throughout the Yukon Territory have been fighting to get the Peel River and the Peel River watershed protected. Earlier this week in the news, we saw that the MP for the Northwest Territories tabled a bill in the House of Commons to try to get that Peel River and Peel River watershed protected.
This ecosystem is an integral component to the survival of the Gwich’in people’s way of life, their traditions and their culture. I am of Gwich’in descent and I have seen the effects of a depleting culture within our communities. More important is the critical survival of these wide-ranging wildlife, specifically the Porcupine caribou herd, which is very important because it provides a lot of substance for people living in the Inuvik region. That’s just not the Gwich’in people but also people throughout the Yukon Territory.
I do understand that this government and other governments throughout Canada need an economy and need development, but at what cost? The cost of culture? The cost of traditions? The cost of people’s way of life? There are some people that do work in industry, but sometimes it’s not the industry that we talk about in the House. We talk about hunting. We talk about trapping. We talk about harvesting fish and other wildlife in the territory. Some people also live industry in terms of living off the land and don’t get into the types of industry or get into education. We have to respect that. We have to respect the culture and traditions of people who came before us, who lived off the land for centuries.
I applaud the MP for his hard work and working with the Gwich’in people of the Inuvik region to look at trying to get the Peel River and the Peel River watershed back into being protected. I commend all the people who have been working hard in the Protect the Peel campaign. I’m glad I was able to speak to it today in this House, so that it continues to build momentum so that we can continue to keep our culture, traditions, values, and ways of life strong and thriving and prosperous for people in the Inuvik region, in the Yukon and everybody that lives off that ecosystem. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Mr. Moses. Member for Frame Lake, Ms. Bisaro.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. This is Small Business Week across Canada and specifically I want to acknowledge Small Business Day tomorrow, October 25th. Small business in Canada is defined as having from five to 100 employees, but small business owners represent the best of the Canadian spirit. They are entrepreneurs, innovators, job creators and an integral part of our communities, large and small. From coast to coast to coast, Canadian small businesses help drive local economies and keep our communities strong.
Small businesses with less than 50 employees, including businesses with no employees, represent almost 98 percent of the total business establishments in Canada; 98 percent. Across the NWT there are hundreds of hardworking small business owners. In my Frame Lake riding alone, at last count, there are over 50 small businesses.
The GNWT has recognized the need to create a better environment for small and medium-sized business by taking a number of actions, including the launch of a new Invest NWT website. However, a quick scan of this website shows that it leaves much to be desired in terms of serving the needs of small business owners. Website resources are outdated and include information about non-existent groups.
Let’s talk about what small businesses really need in terms of support from government. The Canadian Federation of Independent Business – the big voice for small business in Canada – has called on the GNWT for further action in the following areas: First, the NWT’s small business tax rate is one of the highest in northern and western Canada. CFIB advocates reducing taxes by lowering the small business income tax from 4 percent to zero. Second, there’s been no action on regulatory reform by the territorial government, although it was talked about over a year ago. This government can help small business by cutting red tape through a meaningful and sustained regulatory review effort. Third, the shortage in qualified labourers is becoming worse in the NWT. The GNWT should introduce a training tax credit for small business as a way of recognizing the time and cost that small businesses invest in training their employees.
Tomorrow is Small Business Day for 2013. I encourage all NWT residents to help small business in your community by shopping small tomorrow and whenever you shop in your community, shop small business. Thank you.
Thank you, Ms. Bisaro. Before we continue on Members’ statements, I would like to welcome into the House Mr. Leon Lafferty, a former Member. Welcome back to the House, Mr. Lafferty.
---Applause
The honourable Member for Yellowknife Centre, Mr. Hawkins.
Mr. Speaker, I often hear how disappointed the public is about this bureaucratic style of government. Yet again I’m going to provide, if not illustrate, another example of how Northerners feel continually disappointed by this Cabinet.
The citizens of the territory keep calling for 911, but the MACA Minister won’t pick up the call for action. Citizens are struggling to understand why in the North, why in this modern time the Northwest Territories does not have 911 services for us to access. It is a reality of life. It’s beyond a doubt that 911 makes it a lot easier to call for emergency services and time makes the difference between life and death. Report after report will illustrate that. Any delay can cause dangerous causes and effects.
The MACA Minister has been called to answer this question many times: What is stopping you? Yet he calls back and says nothing, and the fact is it comes down to, well, it’s not everywhere, we can’t install it because we don’t have cell phones. We must be at the end of the line of excuses by this government.
Recently, NorthwestTel has put cell phone services in almost three-quarters of our communities across the territory. Basic 911 service has now become such a pervasive issue across North America it’s a natural instinct. You ask any young person what’s the emergency phone number, an eight-year-old will say 911.
So what is the delay? Northerners want this as a priority. The NWTAC wants this as a priority. Yes, the City of Yellowknife wants this as a priority. It has now reached a public safety priority.
I remind the Minister of MACA that he also includes Yellowknife in his mandate as Municipal and Community Affairs Minister. Often it’s seen as we wouldn’t want to support a Yellowknife initiative, but this is a territorial initiative which will help the safety of many of our Northerners, one thing that should always, always be on our mind.
If you go to the CRTC website, the website states, “basic 911 is provided in Newfoundland and Labrador, Yukon and the Northwest Territories.” We should be calling 911 on the fact that they’re wrong. Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Hawkins. Member for Deh Cho, Mr. Nadli.
The 2014-15 Infrastructure Budget fails to meet the needs and investments in education of our youth. Youth need access to facilities and programs to help them succeed. They need a safe place to go after school and on weekends. Young adulthood offers a unique opportunity to discover where your interests and talents lay, and develop lasting skills in areas such as traditional activities, sports, arts and trades in a way we can only experience once in our lives.
Recently, I’m very proud that two young people from Fort Providence, Zachary Lesage and Alvin Minoza, took the initiative to come to my constituency office to let me know how much they would like an area for skateboarding, a BMX track and a play zone for paintball as early as next spring or summer. We need to develop these areas for our youth and teach them the skills they need to get involved in building it for themselves.
Young people have a lot of energy that can be channeled for the good of their communities, schools, friends, families and themselves. Participating in various activities in a supportive atmosphere builds the confidence and social skills we need as people in order to build healthy relationships and achieve individual and collective goals.
Each community in the NWT should have at least one facility dedicated to youth. Everywhere you go you see a real need to have established and operating youth centres in small communities.
Schools and youth centres are so much more than buildings. When we invest in infrastructure for youth, we are contributing to some great programs that offer young Northerners opportunities like never before. When government neglects infrastructure in schools and youth centres, it shortchanges their own investments in quality programs, including youth development projects, sport and recreation programs and strategies, high performance athlete development, Youth Ambassadors, Northern Youth Abroad, youth leadership development, and components of after-school physical activity and the Healthy Choices Framework.
Over the coming year I want to see the Government of the NWT, communities, industry and local businesses work together to enhance facilities and programs in all our communities for the benefit of the youth and the general public. I strongly support a balanced approach to investments in our capital infrastructure. We need to ask ourselves what are we teaching our young people. As we spend heavily in one area, what compromises are we willing to make in another?
Ultimately our future will be determined by the value, leadership and decisions of our youth. Mahsi.
Thank you, Mr. Nadli. Member for Range Lake, Mr. Dolynny.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. On a sunny day in June 2013 – the first day of summer break for Yellowknife students – our Yellowknife suffered the loss of a young, vibrant little seven-year-old boy, Lodune Shelley. Lodune was in a tragic drowning accident at Long Lake beach within our NWT Fred Henne Park. Through you, Mr. Speaker, on behalf of the Legislative Assembly, our sincere thoughts and prayers go out to the families who are with us today.
In the wake of tragedy there is always the opportunity for growth and positive outcomes. This unfortunate event saw the birth of Lifeguards for Lodune, an initiative started by Tanya Silke and a number of heartfelt volunteers who, in their spirit and in their words, came together to encourage community spirit, empower people, get involved and make a difference.
Get involved they did. The volunteer group quickly joined forces with spirited individuals and the business community for supplies, finances and, in some cases, expertise. In no time they were patrolling the beach at Long Lake, being that extra pair of eyes and ears and having on standby that much needed lifesaving equipment. All were volunteers, many were trained in First Aid and all were putting their faith in the hands of the Good Samaritan Act. Looming over their shadows, liability was, and continues to be, the barrier to their ultimate success.
Sadly, during Lifeguards for Lodune’s early phase, they were strongly discouraged by this government to continue, but many in this House and all of Yellowknife were supportive and encouraged them to continue their cause, promising them that we, the elected, would battle for them in this House.
Therefore, I stand here today, with many of my colleagues in support, in saying, Minister Ramsay, bring back our lifeguards.
Now, we know that much awaited Life Saving Society of Alberta report will be tabled later today. I haven’t read it yet, but we know from earlier department spokespeople that we shouldn’t hold our breath under water. Many are encouraged and thankful to the Life Saving Society for providing 33 personal floatation devices at Long Lake beach this summer, but the majority of citizens are discouraged without the single recommendation we all hoped for.
Mr. Speaker, I seek unanimous consent to conclude my statement.
---Unanimous consent granted
We spend millions upon millions of dollars in infrastructure such as highways. In fact, one kilometre of new highway construction could fund a lifeguard program at Long Lake for 142 years, or put it another way, 23 feet of new highway could fund our lifeguard program for one year. Ask yourself, can the Minister spare a couple feet of highway each year to help save lives? Let’s ask him later today in oral questions. Thank you, Lifeguards for Lodune, and thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Mr. Dolynny. Thoughts and prayers are with the family in the House. The Member for Hay River South, Mrs. Groenewegen.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. In June of this year I talked about the importance of showing our support for families across the Northwest Territories who have experienced the tragedy of losing a child through miscarriage, stillbirth, or Sudden Infant Death Syndrome. Last week, October 15th was recognized in many countries, provinces and states around the world as a special day of remembrance for pregnancy loss and infant death. This day of remembrance has been honoured annually by all 50 U.S. states since 1988. In Canada, six provinces have observed October 15th a special Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Day, as has the United Kingdom and some Australian states.
Later today I will be asking this Legislative Assembly to please add our voices to those already raised in support of grieving families, by supporting a motion to observe October 15th as an annual day of remembrance for pregnancy and infant loss in the Northwest Territories. As I said before, a pregnancy and infant loss day of remembrance is a small but important gesture for every family who has been touched by this tragedy. It shows our support and our sympathy and reminds us of the research and awareness that still needs to be done. Thank you.
Thank you, Mrs. Groenewegen. Item 4, reports of standing and special committees. Mr. Moses.
