Thank you, Mr. Miltenberger. Good afternoon. It is my understanding that Her Honour, The Commissioner, is available to assent to bills. Mr. Clerk, would you ascertain if Her Honour, The Commissioner of the Northwest Territories, is prepared to enter the Chamber to assent to bills.

Assent To Bill 10, Budget Measures Implementation Act, 1996-97

As Commissioner of the Northwest Territories, it gives me pleasure to assent to the following bill: Bill 10, Budget Measures Implementation Act, 1996-97. Thank you.

If Members will permit, I would like to make a few comments, in my own language, before we all leave here in the next few days to go home to our families and communities. As you know, I am not the oldest Member in years, but here in the House, I do have the honour of being the longest-serving Member.

--- Applause

I was first elected many, many years ago in the general election of 1983.

(Translation) At that time, I came into what was then the 10th Legislative Assembly with a dream to change the world and the way we do things. I had a vision that I would make a difference and would not be like all the other Members. I would open the doors to make the Assembly more culturally relevant to the people it is supposed to serve. I think, as I look around the Chamber today, after 13 years of service in this Assembly, a lot has changed; mostly for the better, but some things still need a little work.

When you elected me as your Speaker, I looked around this Chamber in November last year and saw many much younger, eager faces and of course, several returning Members who looked as young as ever. As a newly elected Assembly, we faced many difficult issues that even the more experienced Members could not have imagined. I see now that, after the first seven months of this Assembly, some of you are looking a little bit tired, and a little bit older, yet as eager as ever to do the best you can for our people. Even I have developed a bit of grey in my hair.

I feet that you all have come a long way in developing a new system of doing business in this House and its committees, especially in establishing a new relationship with the Premier and Ministers. (Translation ends) I would, however, like to make a brief comment on the conduct of business in the House. Members have learned the rules as you have gone along and, for the most part, have understood the reasons for our rules and why we must have them to assist with the orderly and efficient conduct of business. I do note, however, that the use of unanimous consent to complete Members' statements must be a record. In order to curb this trend, I will be issuing you each a stop watch so over the summer you can time yourself talking to the animals in the wilderness...

--- Applause

... as you get ready for the fall session.

On a more serious note, being a Member of the Legislative Assembly takes its toll on our families. We are away from home for long periods of time and we sometimes forget that day-to-day life goes on outside this building. As many of you have expressed, on a number of occasions in the House -and particularly our friend from Inuvik who I note has not said 'hello" to his family for some time -without the understanding, support and love from our families, I don't think that we would be able to carry on. I am sure you will all agree that they deserve our heartfelt thanks.

--- Applause

I know we will not be recessing until tomorrow, but I just wanted to take the opportunity to wish you all a safe journey home and wherever your travels take you over the summer, I hope you come back refreshed in October to once again take up the many challenges facing us as the Legislative Assembly of the Northwest Territories. Mahsi cho.

--- Applause

Orders of the day, item 2, Ministers' statements. Mr. Antoine.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, Members of the Legislative Assembly, our debates this session have made it clear that the people of the Northwest

Territories confront a multitude of social and economic problems that stand as barriers to a better northern society and a worthwhile future.

One very serious problem we face is the problem of alcohol. I know I have been troubled this session with the amount of time we have spent discussing the many different ways that alcohol afflicts northern society. It would be a sorry revelation to go back through the departmental budgets and total up the precious dollars we allocate to cleaning up the damage caused by alcohol in one way or another.

In the Transportation portfolio, alcohol appears as the menace of impaired driving. Impaired driving has been a criminal offence for almost 30 years now and still there are so many who have yet to get the message. It is a crime to operate a high-speed and heavy piece of machinery on a public road with poor reflexes and faulty judgement. Driving is a public activity. Impaired driving is a crime against society. The impaired driver is a dangerous threat to anyone and everyone close by; passengers, people in other vehicles and pedestrians.

These observations seem so painfully obvious and still people insist on drinking and driving. They kill or injure their passengers, smash into other vehicles and run over pedestrians. Many of those who survive are maimed or crippled for life.

Already this year, impaired drivers have caused too many deaths and injuries on our highways. Impaired drivers have no excuse for the pain, misery and suffering they have thoughtlessly inflicted on others. I am angry and I intend to do something about it, Mr. Speaker.

I have instructed the Department of Transportation's motor vehicles division to arrange with the RCMP and our highway patrol officers to carry out a series of checkstop operations on our highways. For a start, I have asked them to begin with Highway 3 between Yellowknife and Rae-Edzo, where several deaths have occurred most recently. People have told me that they are frightened and anxious travelling this section of highway because of the numbers of impaired drivers on it. We will find them and take them off the road, Mr. Speaker.

One should never make promises one cannot keep; much as I might like, it would be foolhardy for me to tell the Legislative Assembly that I will put a stop to drinking and driving. However, I can and will tell the Members that I am going to put a dent in it. Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.

--- Applause

Mahsi, Mr. Antoine. Item 2, Ministers' statements. Mr. Kakfwi.

Thank you, Mr. Kakfwi. Item 2, Ministers' statements. Mr. Kakfwi.

Thank you, Mr. Kakfwi. Item 2, Ministers' statements. Mr. Antoine.

Mr. Speaker, during the session, several Members have approached me with a number of questions about Nav Canada and the move to commercialize the Canadian air navigation system. This afternoon, I would like to inform the House of current developments and likely implications for the Northwest Territories.

The Canadian air navigation system is the network of communication centres and radio beacons that identify the airways in Canadian air space. Aircraft depend on the system to determine their position and direction in flight. At airport terminals, the air navigation system includes the instrument landing systems, air traffic control, flight information and weather advisory services.

Our most direct contact with the air navigation system in the Northwest Territories is through the aviation services available at our airports. Transport Canada operates flight service stations directly at 10 of our largest airports. The territorial Department of Transportation delivers the community aerodrome radio station, CARS, program on behalf of Transport Canada at 32 airports.

In conjunction with the national airports policy, the federal Minister of Transport announced, in July of 1994, his intention to commercialize Canada's air navigation system. The purpose of commercialization is to offer the services of the air navigation system to the civil aviation industry on a cost-recovery basis. In putting its air navigation system on a commercial footing, Canada follows the examples of other countries; such as, Great Britain, Ireland, Austria, Germany, Portugal, New Zealand and Australia. The United States is likely to take a similar course in the near future.

In one important respect, Canada has taken commercialization a step further than other countries where the national governments have retained ownership of the corporation. Nav Canada was incorporated in May 1995 as a wholly independent, non-share, capital corporation. Nav Canada is not a Crown corporation and it does not answer to the Parliament of Canada. Its board of directors is appointed to represent the interests of industry, labour and the public.

The Civil Air Navigation Services Commercialization Act was introduced in the House of Commons this March. Parliament should pass Bill C-20 in the next few weeks. When the act comes into effect, perhaps as early as September, control and ownership of the air navigation system will pass from Transport Canada to Nav Canada.

In preparing for the transfer of the air navigation system to Nav Canada, Transport Canada, much to its credit, conducted extensive consultations with the many parties who have an interest in the commercialization.

In these consultations, the Department of Transportation represented the interests of the Northwest Territories. Given the importance of air transportation to our communities, the department had two primary concerns: first of all, commercialization should not diminish the level of air navigation services available in the North; secondly, commercialization should not add to the high cost of transportation in the North.

From the outset, Transport Canada recognized the vital role of air transportation in the North. It also understood that the lower volumes of air traffic in the North could not support air navigation services on a full cost-recovery basis.

Bill C-20 includes special provisions for northern or remote services. Should Nav Canada propose to reduce northern or remote services, sections 18 to 22 of the act spell out a rigorous consultation process, specifically including the provincial or territorial government of the affected area. If the provincial or territorial government objects to the reduction in service, then Nav Canada must obtain approval from the federal Minister of Transport to introduce the change.

On the issue of the fees Nav Canada will set for air navigation services, section 35(G) stipulates that the fees charged for northern or remote services may not be any higher than the fees for comparable services elsewhere in Canada.

The two special provisions in Bill C-20 for northern or remote services give us a good deal of confidence that commercialization will maintain the air navigation services we need in the North and at a reasonable cost.

I might also suggest that commercialization is not necessarily at odds with our interests as northerners. Nav Canada is likely to prove more responsive to the needs of the aviation industry than Transport Canada. Nav Canada is also more likely to accelerate technology transfers in the air navigation system. The rate of technological advances in the aviation industry is truly remarkable.

Under Nav Canada, I suspect the benefits of new technologies will penetrate the North all the faster. If the past is any indication for the future, I have every reason to believe that air navigation services in the North will continue to improve, as they have, with even greater accuracy, reliability and availability. Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Antoine. Item 3, Members' statements. Mr. Ningark.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the issue of the Gjoa Haven Health Centre is not a new one, nor a small matter. The issue of the Gjoa Haven Health Centre is not something that someone dreamed of. Mr. Speaker, it is something that is essential, practical and a request from the community of Gjoa Haven. It is based on many years of thorough discussion and planning by the people of Gjoa Haven.

Mr. Speaker, let's take a few moments and look around the neighbourhood and see the great facilities being built while our old structure is still there standing and there are no plans to replace it. Mr. Speaker, we talk about being compassionate, equitable and fair. While the community of Gjoa Haven is suffering the consequences unfairness within the system, we pretend to be compassionate. Mr. Speaker, the people of Gjoa Haven no longer want to see a renovation to an old structure. The people of Gjoa Haven want to see a new health centre built for that community. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Ningark. Mr. Krutko.

Thank you, Mr. Krutko. Item 3, Members' statements. Mr. Picco.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I would like to speak about the happenings this past weekend in Iqaluit. The community hosted the first regional community wellness conference in the Baffin. Delegates from all over the region converged on the community for a series of workshops dealing with this most useful government strategy.

Mr. Speaker, our communities have seen the rise of family violence, drug and alcohol abuse, and unemployment. However, as the conference showed, the people of the Baffin are pulling together to deal with these issues in a very proactive way. With the advent of the creation of Nunavut only a short 34 months away, community pride and belief in this dream is creating and fostering a new sense of hope and pride in our community people and our collective future.

Mr. Speaker, I had an opportunity to participate on the last day of this conference, with a panel, to discuss and hear the delegates speak about community wellness in their communities. It was a very moving afternoon. I would like to take this opportunity to thank the organizers and volunteers and single out Mary Wilman, Lena Evic Twerdin, Elisapee Davidee, Madeline D'Argencourt and the facilitators of the various workshops for running a very professional and well-attended conference.

Mr. Speaker, while in the community this past weekend, the community was host to the Anglican General Synod, as well as the visit of the Honourable John Todd. Mr. Todd held meetings with the Iqaluit and Baffin chambers of commerce and a very well-attended public meeting. Mr. Speaker, there was some excellent give and take with the Minister. I think the Minister now realizes the difference, for example, in the housing policies of this government that have negatively affected our community.

Mr. Todd had an opportunity to visit with various community leaders, as well as spending time with yours truly. I am wearing my John Todd tie today, Mr. Speaker, in honour of the Honourable John Todd, who I have had many disagreements with over the past few months in this House. I do give him credit for his ability to deal with the public on difficult issues and, ever the resourceful student, I have been monitoring the honourable Member for tips, as well as the art of the understatement.

Mr. Speaker, Mr. Todd has been called many things, but I can say I have heard him called the only public figure who could out-talk, out-act, out-work and look better at a meeting than myself. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

--- Laughter

--- Applause

Thank you. Item 3, Members' statements. Mr. Rabesca.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Over the weekend, I was privileged to attend two graduation ceremonies. The first took place here in Yellowknife at the office of the Native Women's Association. This graduation ceremony was well-attended, including the honourable Minister, Manitok Thompson. I thank her for attending this important event.

This program was sponsored by the Department of Education, Culture and Employment; Investing in People. It gave the participants a base in upgrading, life skills and work experience. Judging by the reactions of the participants of this program, it was a successful one.

It is hoped that these ten individuals will continue with future education and they will be assisted in getting into the workforce.

The other graduation I attended was for the grade 12 graduating class of Chief Jimmy Bruneau High School. For the third year, Rae-Edzo has had this ceremony and, again, it was a successful event with 17 young people graduating. Each young person had the look of determination to go along with their dreams and hopes for the future. All of these students can be used as a role model to show the hope and opportunities available.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to congratulate all graduates for their hard work and dedication in taking this step to achieve their goals. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

--- Applause

Thank you, Mr. Rabesca. Item 3, Members' statements. Mr. Barnabas.

(Translation) Thank you, Mr. Speaker. (Translation ends) Mr. Speaker, an alarming situation in Resolute Bay has been brought to my attention today. I am told that the powerhouse in Resolute Bay has been unattended since May 26th, and will be unattended until June 26th because both the superintendent and the lineman are working for a private company, moving equipment about 250 miles from Resolute Bay.

The powerhouse is apparently open. Employees of that private company are checking now and then. However, apparently anybody could walk in and take anything from the powerhouse most of the time and nobody would know about it. The stock and inventory of tools are not secure. Also, if there are any problems with the power, there is no one to call. I am told that this is not the first time that this has happened.

I will be asking the Minister responsible for the Power Corporation how both employees could be allowed to be away at the same time, leaving the powerhouse vulnerable to theft, accident or vandalism. I would also like to know why NWTPC employees are apparently available to work for a private company and why this company has been given responsibility for the plant. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you. Item 3, Members' statements. Mr. Roland.

Thank you, Mr. Roland. Item 3, Members' statements. Mr. Enuaraq,

(Translation) Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Yesterday, I was very happy to receive a letter from one of my constituents. There was a suggestion as to how this government could use less money in the area of justice. When the Supreme Court goes to Pangnirtung, I am sure it costs a lot of money. Before they get to Pangnirtung, they would proceed with a summons for jurors. When people are summoned to appear in court as jurors, they are paid $25 per day. When there are over 200 people who have been summoned, it costs over $5,000 just to show up in court.

For that reason, the person who is in one of my communities has made a suggestion on how not to use as much money. For example, when the Supreme Court goes to Pangnirtung, the people who have to appear in court, would also have to go to court. When they do and if the jurors are too closely related to the person who will be appearing in court, they are excused. The person who wrote a letter to me, indicated, using Pangnirtung as an example, that the people of Pangnirtung would be able to help out.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to seek unanimous consent to conclude my statement.