Thank you. Members' statement, Mr. Miltenberger.

Just to remind the Members that Members' statement is very clear on the type of statements that you make in the House, and under the item Members' statement, a Member may make a statement on any matter. The speaker may order a Member, who makes improper use of his Members' statement, to take his or her seat. Statements made under the rules shall not exceed two and a half minutes, shall be confined to one matter, and one matter only; shall be limited to one statement per day by any member. Have you concluded your statement on the quorum in this matter?

I would like to remind the members that when you make your statement you keep it to one item and one matter only. I will allow you to make your statement Mr. Miltenberger because I do not know if you know like make short comments before your statement ... you can not make two comments because it is going to be looked, viewed as two statements. Mr. Miltenberger, to your Members' statement.

Thank you, Mr. Miltenberger. Members' statement, Mr. Henry. Mr. Henry?

Yes. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I do not think there is anyone here who would disagree that Canada is the best place in the world to live. People in the United Nations think so. The fact that Canada is a democracy is probably the single most important factor in Canada being such a wonderful nation, but it is a factor that we often take for granted. I think it would be worthwhile to review exactly what being a democracy means.

Democracy is defined in the Oxford English Dictionary as: "Government by the people, a form of government in which the powers reside in the people and is exercised by them either directly or by means as elected representatives. A form of society which favours equal rights, the ignoring of hereditary class distinctions, the tolerance of minority views".

While the concept of democracy originated in Greece it's feel expression in the modern era arose from the American revolution, 220 years ago. The principles adopted by the new American nation are, with minor variations, those which have been democracies around the world, including Canada.

The Declaration of Independence summarizes beautifully what democracy really means. We hold these truths to be self-evident that all men are created equal. That they are endowed by their creator with certain inalienable rights. That to secure these rights, governments are instituted, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed. Democracy, in short, is a system of government where people exercise power. As part of Canada we in the Northwest Territories also govern ourselves according to democratic principles. Important decisions about the governing of the Northwest Territories are made by the people. Most often these decisions are made by elected representatives, especially the Members of this House.

The decisions of great importance are best left to people themselves to decide without intermediaries. This is why we have referendums and plebiscites. Mr. Speaker, I seek unanimous consent to conclude my statement.

The Member for Yellowknife South is seeking unanimous consent to conclude his

statement. Do we have any nays. There are no nays, Mr. Henry, you have unanimous consent.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. We all recognize that the division of the Northwest Territories in 1999 is a fundamental change to the make up of our country. For the first time in fifty years the map of Canada will change. While the views and opinions of elected representatives have been important in the road to division...two very crucial decisions where northerners entrusted only to the people of the Northwest Territories. The decision about whether to divide at all and end the decision about where to divide were both too important and too far-reaching to leave to elected representatives, alone.

These decisions could be made through the free equal and democratic vote of all northerners. We now come to another such critical decisions. The constitution that will be established for the new western territory will be of critical importance to the democratic development of the government of this part of Canada, and therefore, as with the division and boundary issues it is too important to be left solely to the elected representatives of the people. While our views and opinions will be very important, the final decision must be left to the people.

That is why I appreciate the reassurance of the Honourable Premier, yesterday, in responding to concerns that my Honourable colleague from Nunakput, the Premier outlined the principles that will guide the ratification of a new constitution and his response, the democratic process, to bring in legislation on the ratification of the constitution and the principle of one person, one vote, which is a direct consequence of the principle that all people are created equal. These are critical principles of democracy that we must abide by in order to retain the confidence of the people of the Northwest Territories.

The next few months will be crucial in this process. The famous British author, Huxley, once said, the survival of democracy depends on the ability of large numbers of people to make realistic choices in the light of adequate information. While I have the faith in the ability of all residents of the western territory to be able to make a realistic choice in the matter of a new constitution.

Over the next few months beginning with the release of the proposed draft of the constitution last Wednesday, we will ensure that all residents of the new western territory will indeed have that adequate information to permit them to make a choice which will guide their government for decades to come.

I look forward to the day when all adult residents of the western territory will vote to decide how they will be governed. I thank the Premier for reassuring my colleagues, that all northerners, that the principle of democracy are now, and always in will remain, the foundation of our structure of government. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Henry. Members' Statement, Mr. Rabesca.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker today is the last day of the Third Session of the 13th Assembly. There is also two days past the anniversary of our election. In the time since our election we have grown and become more confident in our positions. This has certainly been evident during these last sessions, with all Members becoming more active during the discussions and committee meetings, as well, here in the Chamber.

I think we have done a good job representing our constituents, as well as, our (inaudible) government responsibilities (inaudible), to the concerns, our recommendations. Over the next few months we will continue to provide constituents with our voice here in the Chamber as well as working on the many issues that we face. The western Territory now has a draft constitution that needs to be discussed and ratified.

We also have the deficit that must be brought under control and the organizations of the departments, to name a few. These are difficult times we are in but we must be diligent to take care of the people that we represent. It is our job to ensure that constituency issues are heard and responded to. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Rabesca. Members' Statement, Mr. Picco.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the large debt of the past will have to be paid for over the life of the 13th Assembly. The MLA's of the 13th Assembly have inherited an unlucky number and task. When I review some of the potential $100,000,000 in cuts that we have announced that will have to be done over the next 12 months, I get sick to my stomach.

I was not elected to inflict pain on my constituents, my friends, my neighbours, my family, but I do realize that we have to take the pain now so that our children will not pay in the future for said large debt.

My Speaker, I have only been home four days since September 16th. I will not get home to my family before November 1st. It is very difficult to concentrate at the job at hand, when you worry about your wife, and family. While, I was elected to do this job and I have done the best that I could have, even though some hon. colleagues prefer that I would not ask any questions, or wear funny shirts. Well, it also comes with this territory.

Over the next two weeks as we review the business plans of this government and reflect on what we will be doing, I want to assure my constituents and the people of the Northwest Territories that this work is not taken lightly by any Member, and for the two people who came to see me last night at my apartment I understand your frustration, and concern, as I said before, when Mike Harris lays off 30,000 people in Ontario he does not know them, he does not see them everyday like this Assembly does. When I shop at The Bay and buy my groceries I see the affected people. We as MLA's see these people, they are our friends, relatives, and neighbours.

Mr. Speaker, I look forward to seeing my family and relatives when I return home finally on the 1st of November. The soul searching will continue, Mr. Speaker, but we cannot micro-manage the budget or cuts, but we can, at least, reflect and adjust our plans to take into account the logistic and administrative realities of the day. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Picco. Members' Statement, Mrs. Groenewegen.

Thank you, Mrs. Groenewegen. Members' statement, Mr. Kakfwi.

Thank you, Mr. Kakfwi. Member's statement. Mr. Ningark.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I have a letter here from the Koomiut Co-op in Pelly Bay, signed by the Co-op manager, regarding the sale of GNWT staff houses. Mr. Speaker, you will remember, about two weeks ago I made a statement regarding the Gjoa Haven Development Council Corporation wanting to acquire the GNWT houses, thereby leasing them to the GNWT employees. We have met with the Minister of Finance during the summer. A representative from the Hamlet of Pelly Bay has met with the Minister of Finance, wanting to acquire the government staff houses, and lease them to the current government employees in the community of Pelly Bay.

Since that time, a new development has come out in Pelly Bay. Now the Co-op is interested in acquiring the staff houses. Mr. Minister has indicated because of the legislation, regardless of the regulation, the hamlet may not be qualified or eligible to acquire the GNWT houses, and lease them to the employees. Mr. Speaker, later on, at the appropriate time, I will be posing a question to the appropriate Minister. If the hamlet is eligible, given that the rules apply, if the development corporation in the communities are eligible to purchase government houses, can the co-op in the community apply? Does the same rule apply to the co-ops in the communities? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Ningark. Member's statement. Mr. Ootes.

Thank you, Mr. Ootes. Member's statement. Mr. Antoine.