Thank you, Mr. Bell. Good afternoon, everyone. Before we begin today, I would like to welcome back Members from their summer vacation. I hope you have all had a good rest and that you are now prepared for a full three weeks of co-operative work.

I would also like to take this opportunity to welcome to this Legislative Assembly our new Sergeant-at-Arms, Ms. Nicole Latour-Theede, and to extend to her best wishes as she begins this new role.

-- Applause

I would also like to welcome the pages from Sir John Franklin School. Some of them are familiar to us because they were with us during the June session.

I wish to advise the House that I have received the following message from the Commissioner of the Northwest Territories:

Dear Mr. Speaker:

I wish to advise that I recommend to the Legislative Assembly of the Northwest Territories the passage of the Supplementary Appropriations Act No. 1, 2000-01 during the third Session of the 14th Legislative Assembly.

Yours truly,

Glenna F. Hansen

Commissioner

Orders of the day. Item 2, Ministers' statements. The honourable Minister responsible for the Financial Management Board, Mr. Handley.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Today I am pleased to announce that the Government of the Northwest Territories and the Union of Northern Workers reached a tentative collective agreement early Friday morning after 15 days of negotiations. Although this tentative agreement has yet to be ratified by the members of the Union of Northern Workers, the president of the union has indicated she will be recommending its acceptance.

The agreement enhances current wages and benefits and emphasizes the value the government places on our employees. The new agreement will provide increases of 3.8

percent effective April 1, 2000, and 2.5 percent effective April 1, 2001, to both rates of pay and the northern allowance component.

Other changes include a new parental leave provision available to both mothers and fathers, an improved dental plan and enhanced salary protection for employees who were affected by the 1998 change in pay plans.

Mr. Speaker, I believe the collective agreement is a good one. It provides reasonable increases to employees' wages and addresses many issues raised by the union. I am told that ratification by the employees could take four to six weeks. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

-- Applause

Thank you, Mr. Handley. Item 2, Ministers' statements. The honourable Minister responsible for Education, Culture and Employment, Mr. Ootes.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Good afternoon, colleagues, and welcome back. Mr. Speaker, high school students across the Northwest Territories had an opportunity this fall to access what is rapidly becoming one of the most popular methods of learning available. It is online learning. I am happy to report that high school students here have greeted the opportunity to learn on the internet with great enthusiasm.

Mr. Speaker, the online method of delivering high school courses was made possible last spring, when the Department of Education, Culture and Employment signed a memorandum of understanding with the Calgary Board of Education for the delivery of courses developed in accordance with the Alberta curriculum.

Students use a web-based computer program called WebCT, which stands for Web Curriculum Tools, to access courses through the Digital Communications Network. WebCT is the most popular method for delivering online courses in North America. Students who wish to enrol in the credit classes available through WebCT must first complete an introductory course entitled Information Highway 1090.

Mr. Speaker, I am happy to report that more than 100 students from all across the Territory took the first step toward online learning for credit by completing the introduction to online learning course beginning in September.

The completion rate for Northwest Territories students was well above historical averages for traditional print-based distance education courses. Thirty-four of the students who completed the preparatory course are now enrolled in courses for credit. Students can choose to take one of five credit classes, or two three-credit classes from the 30 courses available online through WebCT. An additional 53 students are currently enrolled in the Information Highway 1090 class.

Mr. Speaker, there is no doubt that WebCT technology has huge potential to increase the success rate of Northwest Territories students, because it allows them to learn online at their own pace and provides a greater number of courses of study from which to choose.

WebCT has also created a professional development opportunity for Northwest Territories teachers, because each school must have trained teacher facilitators in place to support students who are enrolled in credit courses.

Last summer, 15 Northwest Territories teachers took the facilitator training. Later this month, another 25 teachers will take the course as well. In addition to the successful delivery of curriculum courses developed in Alberta, I am pleased to report that Northern Studies 10, a curriculum developed in the Northwest Territories, will be available online in Northwest Territories schools in the WebCT format beginning next semester. This is the first of many courses we expect to have designed for online learning by Northwest Territories teachers.

Mr. Speaker, technology is changing the way we communicate. The delivery of a wide range of seniors' secondary courses to even the smallest schools through the Digital Communications Network means that students, regardless of where they go to school, will be ready to use new and changing technologies to their advantage once they graduate.

This, Mr. Speaker, puts us one step closer to our goal of healthy, educated, self-reliant Northerners. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

-- Applause

Thank you, Minister Ootes. Item 2, Ministers' statements. Item 3, Members' statements. The honourable Member for Frame Lake, Mr. Dent.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My statement today concerns Family Violence Awareness Week. Mr. Speaker, on February 11, 1994, the Legislative Assembly passed a motion which stated that this Legislature has adopted the principal of zero tolerance of violence against all people, and endorsed the goal of eliminating family violence by the year 2000. It is now the year 2000, and October 30th to November 5th has been declared Family Violence Awareness Week.

Mr. Speaker, have we achieved the goals set out in the declaration of family violence over six years ago? Unfortunately, the answer is no. In fact, Mr. Speaker, statistics from 1999 in the Northwest Territories paint a disturbing picture.

Four hundred and thirty six spousal assaults by a male spouse were reported to the RCMP. Two hundred and twenty one sexual assaults were reported to the police, and statistics show that generally only ten percent of sexual assault crimes are reported. There were 95 reported cases of sexual abuse of children and youth under the age of eighteen.

Mr. Speaker, although some progress has been made, we obviously have a long way to go. The question is, what can we do?

This Legislative Assembly must renew its commitment towards the elimination of family violence. Mr. Speaker, I welcome the Premier's move yesterday to reinforce that Minister Groenewegen has the mandate to lead this government in action. I believe our government must develop a concrete strategy for dealing with this problem.

We must find a way to increase funding, because that is necessary to help train counsellors, improve rehabilitation programs and to add to the amount of shelter space that is available. In fact, during one month alone last year, Mr. Speaker, 46 women and their children were turned away from Alison McAteer House in Yellowknife because the shelter was full.

This is not acceptable. Women and children in crisis need to know that a safe place will be available. Family violence is unacceptable, and we must work hard to break the silence and never let it remain hidden. As a society, we pay a huge price for family violence. We must break the tragic cycle so that our children will grow up in a peaceful society that allows them to reach their full potential.

Most importantly, Mr. Speaker, we must all speak out and be dedicated in our efforts to raise awareness across the North of this terrible problem. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

-- Applause

Thank you, Mr. Dent. Item 3, Members' statements. The honourable Member for Hay River North, Mr. Delorey.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, it has been almost four months since our last Session, although it does not seem like that long. Mr. Speaker, I am sure that it has been a very busy time for every one of you as it has been for me. I must say, Mr. Speaker, that it feels good to be back with you and all the Members on both sides of the House in this wonderful Chamber. Mr. Speaker, I thought that today I would use this opportunity to acknowledge a few events that have taken place in Hay River over the summer.

The Hay River Fire Department celebrated 50 years of service to the community and, Mr. Speaker, the residents, business people and administrators of our town are very proud of this group of volunteers. The Pentecostal Assembly celebrated their 50th anniversary of service to Hay River. Mr. Speaker, not only did they look after the spiritual needs of the residents, they were also very instrumental in providing the infrastructure and professionals to administer health and social needs of the community. Special recognition was given to Reverend Ken Gates as the man who made this all happen. Reverend Glen Wallington was named citizen of the year. Mr. Speaker, this man has been a tireless worker and fund-raiser for our youth and is primarily responsible for the establishment of the youth centre in Hay River.

I would like to acknowledge the opening of the West Channel Bridge. Mr. Speaker, I will speak in more detail on this very important piece of infrastructure later in this Session.

I would like to congratulate our newly elected town council: Mayor Duncan McNeill; re-elected councillors Vern Tordoff, Robert Bouchard and Dean McMeekin; and new councillors Diane Ehman, Glen Smart, Tom Hamilton, Peter and Mike Mahar. I look forward to working with all of them.

Mr. Speaker, last night I attended a very special ceremony in the council chamber in Hay River to mark the retirement of W. R. Red McBryan after 47 years of service to Hay River as a councillor, deputy mayor and mayor. I would like to thank the Honourable Roger Allen for coming to Hay River to acknowledge Red McBryan's accomplishments.

On a sadder note, Mr. Speaker, I want to acknowledge the passing of several individuals. Firstly, Mr. Dennis Sconey, a well-known resident of Hay River and a very good friend of mine. We also lost Hazel Haight, who was very well known to anyone in politics as she served as our returning officer for 25 years. Also, Mr. Speaker, the victims of the terrible tragedy in Fort Good Hope. My thoughts and prayers go out to all the families.

Finally, Mr. Speaker, I would like to congratulate and welcome Nicole Latour-Theede as the first female Sergeant-at-Arms for the Northwest Territories. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

-- Applause

Thank you, Mr. Delorey. Item 3, Members' statements. The honourable Member for the Sahtu, Mr. Kakfwi.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to acknowledge the life and times of a former Member of this Legislature, Mr. Pete Fraser, who passed away just recently. Mr. Fraser was the honourable Member representing the constituency of Mackenzie Great Bear. To his family, Mr. Fraser was a loving husband, father, brother, uncle, grandfather and even great-grandfather. To his friends, he was a man of great character, a mentor, a source of inspiration and a respected elder. To the North, he was a trapper, a riverboat pilot and a builder of each and every community that he was a part of. In his many professional roles, he was a reliable administrator, a wise negotiator and an effective conciliator. To many in this Legislature, he was a visionary, a leader, a respected adversary and a colleague. He was a jigger, bridge player, country and western singer and a square dance caller. With everything he did, he was a joker.

As the MLA for Mackenzie Great Bear, Mr. Fraser represented the Sahtu, the same riding that I represent here today. Mr. Fraser had one great love outside of his family; that is he loved the North and the people and he loved working for the betterment of both. He did so with a dedication and commitment equalled only by his wit and ready humour. When Pete Fraser passed away on October 16th, he left behind a North that was a better place because of his life. We shall all hope to leave behind such a legacy. Thank you.

-- Applause

Thank you, Mr. Kakfwi. On behalf of the House, I would like to extend our condolences to the family of Mr. Fraser, a former Member and former Deputy Speaker of the Northwest Territories Legislative Assembly. Item 3, Members' statements. The honourable Member for Deh Cho, Mr. McLeod.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I rise today to inform the Legislative Assembly of the incredible success of the 2000 Deh Cho Assembly. The Deh Cho Assembly this past year was designated as a tribute to elder and Chief Paul Wright. In the spirit of Chief Wright and on the recommendation of the elders, the Deh Cho Assembly appointed Grand Chief Michael Nadli to a second three-year term, an incredible expression of the confidence and respect that exists for both elders and Grand Chief Michael Nadli.

It was an honour and a privilege to the likes of: the Honourable Nick Sibbeston, Senator, who participated in and in fact won the first annual talent show with the Dene language translation of a traditional country and western song; the Honourable Ethel Blondin-Andrew, Member of Parliament; the Honourable Jim Antoine, Minister of Aboriginal Affairs; the Honourable Joe Handley, Minister of Finance; Chief Bill Erasmus from the Dene Nation; and Bishop Croteau were all in attendance. I thank them for attending.

Mr. Speaker, the Assembly also approved in principle a framework agreement for the Deh Cho process. The Deh Cho process will result in an unprecedented self-government process for the region. The government structure will be a public government based on Dene values and principles. This is a process which should be promoted and encouraged by this Assembly.

Mr. Speaker, the Deh Cho Assembly also approved in principle interim protection measures to protect the lands and resources, which is something else we should be supporting. The Deh Cho region is one of a few where there is an aggressive and comprehensive approach to working together by all people. Deh Cho is led by the teachings of the elders and there is something there for all to learn about consensus making and grassroots government. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

-- Applause

Thank you, Mr. McLeod. Item 3, Members' statements. The honourable Member for Yellowknife South, Mr. Bell.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Today, I would like to try to make the case for our competitive tax regime in the Northwest Territories and I hope the government is listening. I think if we look at the trend all around us, we see the feds reduced the amounts of capital gains tax eligible for personal tax. Alberta is reducing small business tax rates from six percent to three percent and another government committee in that province is looking at reducing large business rates from 15.5 percent to eight percent. Premier Klein, in talking about his plans for the province for the next five years, is talking about wanting to eliminate personal income tax by 2005. What a competitive advantage, Mr. Speaker.

Our government insists it recognizes the need to stay competitive, but does it? Are we aware of the implications to the Northwest Territories as provinces lower their tax rates? We risk losing long-time northern companies to the south, Mr. Speaker. In addition, it will become even more difficult to try to attract southern businesses North.

Mr. Speaker, our Finance Minister thinks we have a problem now with fly-in-fly-out workers. Well, they are going to continue to take northern jobs regardless of our protectionist strategies unless we lower our tax rates.

Mr. Speaker, we are all aware of the old adage: "the best defence is a good offence." I submit to you that this government must go on the offensive and aggressively reduce the cost of living and doing business in the North. Mr. Speaker, sadly a sales tax like the hotel tax is not a solution to our competitive disadvantage. Mr. Speaker, it is the third period, we are down four nothing, our Premier has given the nod to our resident enforcer, Mr. Handley, to go out over the boards and start a fight. Mr. Speaker, we have to score some goals and win this game. Thank you.

-- Applause

Thank you, Mr. Bell. Item 3, Members' statements. The honourable Member for Thebacha, Mr. Miltenberger.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to speak to the issue of the most senior civil servant in the Northwest Territories government. At the same time as she is providing those services to the government, she is running the campaign -- as campaign chair -- for the Liberal Party. I have raised this issue as being inappropriate, as a conflict and a huge perception of conflict. It is an issue of serving two masters. Can it be done? It undermines the fundamental premise of a non-political civil service.

Mr. Speaker, on one hand the chief of staff says she is a deputy level appointment. On the other hand, the principal secretary says she is in effect the Premier's executive assistant.

There is confusion in terms of the definition. The categorizing of that position as being the same as an executive assistant is the same as saying a minnow and a great white shark are the same thing.

Mr. Speaker, I have taken the liberty of getting a legal opinion and that legal opinion says to me that the chief of staff's employment contract does not exempt her from the operation of Section 34 of the Public Service Act, because section 49(l)(k) allows only the Commissioner on the recommendation of the Minister to deal with these matters. Section 34(2) of the Public Service Act applies to the chief of staff if she is hired under an employment contract -- which we are told she is -- because she is then an employee within the meaning of the Public Service Act.

Mr. Speaker, Section 34(2) says the following:

"Subject to this section an employee may engage in political activity but shall not (b) during working hours engage in any political activity for and on behalf of a territorial, federal political party or candidate; (f) serve as an official agent for a candidate or as an executive officer of a territorial political party or a territorial riding association; or (g) potentially use, or attempt to use his or her position to effect the political activity of any other person."

So, Mr. Speaker. I think we have a problem here. The Cabinet has made a bad decision that, the way I read this, in effect contravenes its own legislation, either knowingly or unknowingly, because of poor advice. It is not a situation that can be ignored. It is not just a question of perception at this point.

Mr. Speaker, I request unanimous consent to conclude my statement.

Thank you. The Member is seeking unanimous consent to conclude his statement. Are there any nays? There are no nays. You may conclude your statement, Mr. Miltenberger.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, this is a problem. I had heard that possibly the chief of staff is going to be taking a leave of absence which would be a way to possibly mitigate this. Given this legal opinion -- where Cabinet has apparently contravened its own legislation -- I think it is a situation that has far greater ramifications than that. I would hope that the government will look at this. I will be sharing this legal opinion with my colleagues. It is a problem, Mr. Speaker, an unacceptable problem. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Miltenberger. Item 3, Members' statements. The honourable Member for North Slave, Mr. Lafferty.

Thank you, Mr. Lafferty. Item 3, Members' statements. The honourable Member for Range Lake, Ms. Lee.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I would like to take this opportunity today to speak about a matter that has received a great deal of attention of late in the media and at the Yellowknife constituency meeting held last Tuesday. Mr. Speaker, I believe it is now public knowledge that the decision has been made by the Stanton Board to scrap altogether the proposal to amalgamate the surgical and paediatric wards into one.

Based on the number of phone calls I have received on this issue from my constituents -- which included patients, doctors and nurses -- I must say, Mr. Speaker, I am relieved by this decision. At the same time, Mr. Speaker, we are all acutely aware that this does not solve the crisis caused by the lack of funding in our health care system in the long run. If anything, the latest controversy should ring a very loud bell for all of us that some decisive actions are required.

The situation at Stanton is not an isolated matter, Mr. Speaker. It is a matter that calls on us to examine our priorities for health care in our new Territory and how we are going to focus our resources and energies in the days and years to come.

I am particularly alarmed by the fact that, based on what I know, the Stanton Board may not be able to deal with the deficit situation without cutting staff or services available at the hospital, and the resources available now are already stretched to their limit. This will affect everyone in the North, Mr. Speaker, not just Yellowknifers. The fact is, Mr. Speaker, our population of 40,000 is only second to Nunavut in growth rate and the fastest growing segment of the population is our seniors, who will presumably require more services in health care.

In the broader sense of our wellness needs, Mr. Speaker, we also have a growing number of FAS-FAE children, one of the highest suicide rates in Canada and the highest drunk driving rates as well. The growth in the number of people being diagnosed with diabetes in the Northwest Territories is alarming, just to provide a few examples.

At the same time, we are experiencing extreme shortages in nurses and doctors and a great deal of medivacs to the south and within the Territories. We are having to rely on expensive services from locum doctors and other traveling health care professionals. On the other hand, Mr. Speaker, we have nine health boards making decisions about how to provide care to 40,000 people. All of these thrown together, it becomes clear that at some point we have to take steps to rationalize the health care resources we have.

Ms. Lee.