Thank you, Mrs. Groenewegen. Good afternoon. Mr. Clerk, would you ascertain if the Deputy Commissioner of the Northwest Territories is prepared to enter the Chamber and open this session of the Legislature.

---O Canada

Mr. Speaker, Members of the Legislative Assembly.

It is my pleasure to be in the Chamber today representing the Honourable Helen Maksagak. The Commissioner asked me to express her appreciation to all Members for the tributes paid to her late husband, John, and for the messages you sent. The Commissioner is representing you all at the opening of the cultural centre in Baker Lake with his Excellency, the Governor General.

I am pleased today to open the Sixth Session of the 13th Assembly of the Northwest Territories.

We are now in the final months of the Northwest Territories. In 301 days, two new territories will be created. Members of this Assembly have already done a great deal of work in preparation for the creation of two new territories. Still, more work remains to be done.

Over the next ten months, you will concentrate on creating a viable form of government for the new Western Territory. This will include respecting the aspirations of aboriginal peoples who are now in self-government negotiations. It will include working toward a constitution for the Western Territory.

Although your efforts will be focused on the smooth transition to two new territories, it will be important not to lose sight of your main goals of improving social conditions and strengthening the northern economy.

This summer, you have an unprecedented opportunity to show the rest of Canada the progress you have made in the life of this 13th Assembly. The Government of the Northwest Territories will host the Western Premiers' Conference from July 2nd to 4th. This annual event allows the leaders of western Canada to discuss and make agreements on issues that affect them. For you, it is also a chance to focus the attention of the country on the north and to share your vision of its future.

Mr. Speaker, Members of the Legislative Assembly, I congratulate you on the progress you have made so far. I encourage you to continue on the path you have taken. In this way, you will fulfil the dream of two successful and prosperous territories that are a viable and self-sufficient part of the Canadian landscape.

Thank you very much.

--Applause

Orders of the day. Item 3, Ministers' statements. Mr. Todd.

Mr. Speaker, I received a copy of a letter from a member of the UNW Bargaining Committee stating that the UNW had not conceded that the Hay Job Evaluation System was gender neutral. Mr. Speaker, I was informed by the government negotiator that on May 4, 1998, the PSAC classification spokesperson for the UNW, Mr. Chris Jones, said "the Union had no objection to the Hay Job Evaluation System in principle". He said that the Union accepts that the system is gender neutral. He then, according to the GNWT negotiator, went on to criticize the process followed by the GNWT.

Mr. Speaker, on May 6, 1998, the GNWT negotiator at collective bargaining, acknowledged the UNW's acceptance that the Hay Job Evaluation System was gender neutral. He then responded that the criticism of the implementation process was based on misunderstanding and misinterpretations. He then proceeded to deal with each of the Union's process concerns. Thank you.

Thank you, Ministers' statements. Mr. Arlooktoo.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to update

the House on some of the positive directions being taken by the Department of Justice in the area of community justice. Community justice is about placing more capacity and control into the hands of the community to deal with offenders and victims. This government is committed to finding innovative approaches to the administration of justice services. In response to community requests, the department is promoting a shift in the way that justice services are delivered. The aim is to develop a system that is more responsive to the realities in our communities. We need to increase community control of the administration of justice and, in partnership with communities, move toward a restorative justice approach. Such an approach is aimed at healing the offender, victim and community, viewing crime as a symptom of another problem affecting the overall health of a community.

A community driven process is often more likely to produce a satisfactory outcome for everyone than a court-based process. When the community is involved with the offender directly in the justice process, there is an opportunity for an offender to accept responsibility for the act committed and a chance for victims concerns to be addressed, perhaps through a reconciliation between victim and offender. There is also an opportunity to identify and address any underlying factors that have caused the crime. Efforts in this area are starting to show some effect. The number of criminal cases diverted to community justice committees in 1997 was up 30 percent compared to the previous year. We are aiming to build on this success in the current year.

Recently, new funding arrangements with the department were introduced to ensure that more community justice committees are receiving funding than ever before. New training material and resources have been made available for committee use and development.

Community justice workers play an important part in this process by encouraging and supporting communities in developing an interest and capacity to deal with justice issues locally. I believe that experience, self-confidence and capacity are being developed every time an offence is handled by the community.

In the area of training, a joint effort by the department, RCMP and communities has resulted in three successful regional training workshops this spring. In Iqaluit, Cambridge Bay and Inuvik, members of Community Justice Committees from across the Arctic have been learning to use family group conferencing techniques. These techniques help the committee work with offenders, victims and their families in order to restore balance within the community after a crime has occurred. Further plans are being worked on to have similar workshops in the Sahtu and South Slave regions.

There is also an important place for community involvement in dealing with offenders who have been dealt within the formal justice system and sentenced to custody. Earlier this session, I spoke about camps which were in place and were being developed for adult offenders. Currently, there are 42 offenders living in camps and community residential centres.

Mr. Speaker, a solid base now exists in the west and we are focusing our attention on developing resources in Nunavut. All camps are operated by community members on a contract basis and training sessions for contractors and potential contractors have taken place.

Discussions with potential camp operators are currently taking place with community members from Pond Inlet, Pangnirtung, Kimmirut, Hall Beach, Cape Dorset, Iqaluit and Clyde River. It is this government's expectation that, out of this process, more camps for adult offenders will be opening soon in Nunavut.

Mr. Speaker, I believe there is great potential for a growing role for community members to be more involved and in control of the justice process. I strongly support all efforts to develop this potential and I believe we are making headway in this area. As Minister of Justice, I plan to continue to make community justice a priority. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

--Applause

Thank you. Ministers' statements. Mr. Kakfwi.

Ministers' statements. Mr. Ng.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, there has been a lot of discussion over the past year about health and social services, and particularly, about the performance of our boards. Over the past year, as we consulted people about our strategic plan, we heard a common message from the public about the accountability of the service delivery system. People want reassurance that programs and services are being delivered in the right way, by the right people, and that those services are there when needed. Therefore, I have asked the department to examine and adjust its approach and to work closely with the boards to meet that public expectation.

Mr. Speaker, we know that if boards are to succeed, they need strong and committed trustees, supported by capable staff. We are working hard to maintain strength on all boards, filling vacant positions quickly and supporting ongoing training activity. In the Deh Cho, for example, where we have not had a board in the past, prospective board members have undergone training and have recently taken on their new responsibilities. The role of the chief executive officers for boards is critical to their success. The department and boards are actively involved in recruiting CEOs in the Baffin, Keewatin and Fort Smith. We have also begun the process of recruiting for a CEO for Yellowknife Health and Social Services. Mr. Speaker, with the right people in place, we will turn our attention to undertaking the groundwork necessary for monitoring and evaluating the delivery of programs and services.

Our first step is an agreement between each board and the department. This agreement does a number of things:

- It defines board and departmental responsibility.

- It outlines our core services; that is, the range of programs and services that a board is expected to provide to residents in its service area. Where services cannot be accessed locally, the boards must ensure that services are provided through another board.

- Finally, it provides the legal structure and policies to guide how the programs and services are delivered.

After setting the roles and responsibilities, we have also established outcomes and measures, which will be used to evaluate the overall success of each board.

These outcomes will let us measure the physical, mental and emotional health of the population. They are practical indicators, for which the public can hold the health and social service system accountable. We want to measure and report on such important questions as:

- Are babies being born healthy?

- Are we reducing the rates of preventable diseases?

- Are there fewer children who need special intervention like speech therapy or occupational therapy? - Are the rates of risky behaviours like smoking, excessive alcohol consumption and sexually transmitted diseases declining?

Reporting on these issues will be public. Everyone will be able to see them in our annual health status report. Mr. Speaker, we are near the end of a long period of adjustment, served by committed board trustees, department and board staff and caregivers. We still have problems to solve and work to do. However, with the right people each doing their part, northerners should be able to hold health and social service partners accountable for the appropriate and effective delivery of programs and services, aimed at improving the health and well-being of all northerners. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

--Applause

Thank you. Ministers' statements. Mr. Dent.

Thank you. Ministers' statements. Ms. Thompson.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I seek unanimous consent to waive rule 34(6), so that all Ministers' statements filed with the clerk can be delivered today.

Thank you. The Member for Aivilik is seeking unanimous consent to waive rule 34(6). Do we have any nays? Ms. Thompson, you have unanimous consent. Ministers' statements.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker and thank you, colleagues. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to share with Members the tremendous success and progress of the Community Empowerment Initiative. Our government's effort to embrace community empowerment through development

has not been an easy task. It presents many challenges.

Mr. Speaker, MACA is responsible for coordinating training programs in sports and recreation, public safety and community governance. I am pleased to provide you with the results in these important community development areas. They are as follows:

- 113 community-based sports and recreation coaches were trained and certified in 1997.

- 612 community residents were trained in public safety areas such as search and rescue, fire services, community policing and emergency services.

- 160 community councillors received governance training during 1997 and 39 senior administrative officers are enrolled in the SAO certificate program.

Mr. Speaker, this totals 1,194 community residents being provided with training in these areas.

We would not have been as successful in measuring up without developing partnerships. MACA invested $547,000 in these community development training initiatives. Our partners assisted by contributing over $1 million toward these initiatives. Mr. Speaker, without the contribution of organizations such as Sport North, the NWT Fire Chief's Association and the RCMP, we would not have been able to achieve what we did. These are just a few of our valued partner organizations and my thanks to these, and all of the other organizations who contributed to this success.

This Legislative Assembly is one of MACA's most important partners. Members of this House continue to support the principles of community development. It has not been an easy task adapting to the significant changes to government because of community empowerment, but this is what community residents have wanted. This was the right thing to do, and this House has measured up in meeting the demands of communities. I thank you for your support.

Mr. Speaker, many regions and communities are now interested in the next community development step. This involves building capacity, organizing and planning for the transfer of government assets and capital planning. Mr. Speaker, MACA's staff has clearly demonstrated their commitment to make a positive change in the quality of life for NWT residents and I am very proud of their achievements. My department had to chart a new and focused course that provides clear direction. At the same time, we have had to monitor how well we are progressing, tell the public how we are doing, stop the thing that did not work, do more with less and never stop improving the community development approach. I look forward to working with our communities and Members of this House, to continue this government's community development and empowerment efforts. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

--Applause

Thank you. Ministers' statements. Mr. Antoine.

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, two years ago, I had the pleasure of announcing to this Assembly that the federal government had declared June 21st to be National Aboriginal Day. This day is intended to celebrate the contributions of the First Nations of Canada. It is a day to honour the richness and diversity of aboriginal culture.

The Northwest Territories is an example to the rest of the country. People who come here from southern Canada find a society that respects the history and values of aboriginal peoples while it welcomes people from the rest of the world. Dene, Metis and Inuit have a strong presence at all levels, whether they are members of their hamlet council, this Assembly or the federal government. Their values are reflected in everything from the educational curriculum to our consensus form of government.

In the year to come, Mr. Speaker, all Canadians will recognize the contributions of aboriginal people as they welcome the new territory of Nunavut. This is the only time the map of Canada has changed because of a land claim settlement.

This is the third National Aboriginal Day. It has grown in both size and spirit. The Ministry of Aboriginal Affairs is proud to support this special day. We have placed information about it on the government website. We are also providing funding to aboriginal organizations so they can hold events to celebrate the day.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to encourage my colleagues, when they go back to their home communities, to participate in this very important occasion. This is a day for everyone to celebrate. Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.

--Applause

Thank you. Ministers' statements. Mr. Arlooktoo.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, recognizing that the House will be recessing today for

its summer break, I would like to provide a very brief update on a number of the key transition activities that will be ongoing during the course of the summer.

The first, and perhaps the most important, milestone this summer is the Nunavut Leaders meeting that is tentatively planned for July 7th to 9th. At this meeting, the three parties to the Nunavut Political Accord will, in conjunction with the Interim Commissioner of Nunavut, have the opportunity to assess the progress that has been made on the implementation of the Nunavut government model.

Secondly, a great deal of work will be ongoing at the official's level to ensure a seamless transition to the new Nunavut government. In May, a joint meeting of the Deputy Minister teams from the GNWT and Nunavut was held in Iqaluit to begin discussing transition issues. This meeting resulted in an agreement on the need for a joint business planning process in the lead up to division. Officials from both organizations will be meeting again later this month in Iqaluit to begin to outline this planning process. Mr. Speaker, we are very encouraged about the productive working relationships that have emerged at the Deputy Minister level. These relationships are key to a smooth hand-off to the Nunavut government and, more importantly, to ensuring that there is no disruption in the level of service to the people of Nunavut on April 1, 1999.

Mr. Speaker, there are a number of other critical negotiations that will be ongoing over the summer months on critical issues such as the NWT Power Corporation and Workers' Compensation Board. While discussions on these matters have been difficult and there are many challenges to overcome to come to a final resolution, the Government of the Northwest Territories is committed to working with the other partners in the process to find a resolution that is acceptable to both new territories.

Mr. Speaker, before I end, I would like to wish all Members a safe trip home and a very pleasant summer in their constituencies. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

--Applause

Thank you. Ministers' statements. Mr. Ng.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, when the majority of health services were transferred from federal to territorial responsibility in 1988, the federal government committed to paying part of the cost to replace the Inuvik hospital and to renovate the Baffin hospital. The federal share of the projects was to be based on the percentage of status Indian and Inuit living in each region. Health Canada will provide funding assistance to a level needed to replace the Inuvik hospital and to renovate the Baffin facility. It has now become clear that both facilities must be replaced, and the Government of the Northwest Territories is committed to doing this.

The Department of Health and Social Services and Health Canada have reached an agreement on federal funding for these two facilities. Over the next five years, the federal government will provide $18,600,000 in new funding in addition to $ 18.9 million in base transfers. Of the $18.9 million in base transfers, $12.2 million has been received. With this new agreement, total federal funding for these two projects will be $37.5 million. This agreement represents a sound business decision. Settling this matter now increases our ability to complete these projects quickly. We have secured funding and flexibility to build two facilities best suited to our needs.

Mr. Speaker, we believe that this is a solid agreement. It provides the GNWT with greater flexibility and fiscal certainty as we proceed with these major health facilities. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

--Applause

Thank you. Ministers' statements. Mr. Dent.