Thank you, Mr. Enuaraq. Good afternoon. Before we proceed with the session for today, I would like to thank the Languages Commissioner, Ms. Judy Tutcho, for the presentation she made today. As you know, the Languages Commissioner's Report was tabled in the House yesterday. Today, she presented to me, as the Speaker, as the representative of the Legislative Assembly, a framed logo that represents her office. I feel it also represents our efforts as a government to preserve the languages of the north. The framed logo will be placed in the Great Hall later this week. I would also like to use this time to remind Members of a few events this week. During the afternoon break, the Department of Education, Culture and Employment will be launching Tools for Success in the Great Hall. During tomorrow afternoon's break the Department of Transportation will be showing their video production on a special large screen format. This presentation will take about 20 to 30 minutes to complete. I hope that Members will join me in these events.

Orders of the day. Item 2, Ministers' statements. Mr. Dent.

Thank you, Mr. Dent. Ministers' statements. Mr. Ng.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I would like to take this opportunity to recognize May as Speech and Hearing Month. This is a time for us to recognize the challenges that people, with communication disorders, face every day. It is also a time to acknowledge the professionals and caregivers who help people living with these challenges reach their full potential.

An estimated ten percent of Canadians suffer from some type of communication disorder. In the NWT this percentage is higher due to a greater incidence of ear infections and noise-induced hearing loss. It is well established that hearing loss can cause significant delays in speech and language development.

Early detection and treatment can alleviate the effects of speech, hearing and language disorders. Through early intervention, children can be provided with the support they need at a critical time in their development. In many cases, this can help lessen the supports required when the child starts school.

There are many professionals who provide valuable work in this field. For example, audiologists specialize in the prevention identification, assessment and treatment of hearing and balance disorders. Speech-language pathologists provide assessment, consultation, therapy and education to clients, their families and other caregivers. They work in the areas of language, articulation, voice, stuttering and alternate forms of communication.

Mr. Speaker, communication is a vital part of our lives. At this time I would like to recognize our citizens who are living with communication disorders. I would also like to commend the work of the many caregivers across the north who help to make sure that people challenged with these difficulties can lead full and healthy lives. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

--Applause

Thank you. Ministers' statements. Item 3, Members' statements. Mr. Evaloarjuk.

(Translation) Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I just want to make a brief statement. There was a meeting of Nunavut Implementation Commission on March 24th to 26th. At that meeting, participants included were people from Nunavut region, Quebec and Labrador. Tommy Enuaraq and I attended as well and the discussion was on languages. The progress on the topic covered was tremendous. We learned a great deal and had a productive meeting. I would like to congratulate the co-chairs John Amagoalik and Peter Ernerk for giving us the opportunity to participate and to say that the Inuit should work to preserve their languages. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. (Translation ends)

Thank you. Members' statements. Mr. Barnabas.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize a young man who had rescued his brother in Grise Fiord. On the evening of January 18, 1998, ten year old, Frankie Alorut Noah went out with his 17 year-old brother, Manasie to Brume Point, approximately 6 kilometres from the town to gather ice for drinking water from an iceberg. This Sunday evening the temperature was around minus 45 degrees with poor to zero visibility. While at the iceberg chipping ice, Manasie fell into the water. Frankie attempted to pull his brother from the water, but could not. At this time Frankie under great pressure left his brother in the water, and in the extreme cold and reduced visibility drove home to get his father to help. With his father and a rescue team, Frankie took them back to the site of his brother. Frankie's actions saved his brother's life. His parents, Parnee Noah and Imooshie Nutaraqjuk are very proud of their son, who has done a great job in order to save his brother. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

--Applause

Thank you. Members' statements. Mr. Miltenberger.

The Member for Thebacha is seeking unanimous consent to conclude his statement. Do we have any nays? There are no nays. Mr. Miltenberger, you have unanimous consent.

Thank you. Members' statements. Mr. Ootes.

Members' statements. Mr. Roland.

Thank you. Members' statements. Mr. Krutko.

Thank you. Members' statements. Mr.

Rabesca.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, as I mentioned yesterday, regarding the highway, I guess I should have mentioned that the Department of Transportation should also continue to maintain the Highway 3 section between Rae junction and Yellowknife. I realize the department is doing its utmost to ensure this road is kept to a safe and driveable standard. However, over the course of the last week or so, probably since the frost is now out of the road bed, many soft spots have appeared and in some cases have developed into very large holes. These holes are unavoidable as they go from one side of the road to the other. This is very dangerous and if there is no warning which is the case for some of these spots, one can easily damage their vehicle or can cause an accident.

While driving in this morning, the crew was working from the Rae side back toward Yellowknife, grading and levelling the road. There was also one dump truck working in the area where there are numerous potholes. He was dumping gravel and levelling these potholes. Hopefully, within the next few days the road will be up to its normal standard. I do believe that this is just a temporary measure to fix these holes. I would hope that Transportation would find a permanent solution. We all want a road that is in good repair and the ability to concentrate on driving, not fighting the highway for the 100 kilometres of gravel we still have. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you. Members' statements. Mr. Erasmus.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Last night the Yellowknife MLAs held a constituency meeting and I just wanted to relay some of the concerns which were brought up. The first thing I wanted to mention was that we had been presented with some letters that I will table later today. I am sure other MLAs will be doing the same with the letters they were presented with. There was a concern about the BIP Policy, whereby, a company was put out of business because the bed and breakfast they were running lost business to a local hotel because the people were given instructions not to utilize the bed and breakfast. There was a lot of concern about pay equity, the fact that it should be taken off the table from the contract talks and be separate. There was a concern expressed that only the people affected should be voting on the pay equity issue. One person felt that it was against the Canadian Labour Relations Law to have all the membership vote on it. There was also concern that we seem to be paying for a lot of different plans, the Willis plan, the JEPS process, now the Hay Plan. What is next? There was concern expressed about education, the fact that things have to be done. The Power Corporation people are concerned that they will no longer belong to the public service once things occur, whether it will remain as one entity or whether it will split into two after division.

There also was quite a bit of concern expressed about the fact that there was a lot of legislation which is outdated or there simply is no legislation in place. For instance, enduring power of attorney, there is no legislation in place for this to occur and we explained that it was because of the lack of manpower, the rest of that, but there still is a lot of concern. Mr. Speaker, I seek unanimous consent to conclude my statement.

The Member for Yellowknife North is seeking unanimous consent to conclude his statement. Do we have any nays? There are no nays. Mr. Erasmus, you have unanimous consent.