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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, today I would like to speak briefly to the issue of adult offender bush camps. This is a program initiative that has significant support I know in this House and is very, very well received in the communities and regions. However, Mr. Speaker, I have a significant concern because the Department of Justice has promised to review the formula for financing and funding these camps. It is many, many months overdue. I understand after my visit home this weekend, that one of the camps in the South Slave has shut its doors and that the one in my constituency, at Kozo Lake, is on the verge of doing so as well because there is not adequate funding and they have been running deficits, expended all their own savings and insurance money trying to keep the camp open.is on the

Mr. Speaker, the initial concept was to have inmates go and move in with a trapper, put another bed in the cabin and they would sort of exist out there and do part of their sentence on the land and learn some skills. However, Mr. Speaker, that concept quickly evaporated and what came in its place is a much more formal kind of camp where there has been an incremental increase in demand for health standards, for safety standards, for security standards, for program standards, all of which have a cost that has not been quantified by the Department of Justice. I know, and I have heard, the Minister himself speak very strongly about the benefit of these camps. Unfortunately, Mr. Speaker, the Department of Justice does not seem to be doing the required job to maintain this very valuable and rehabilitative service for adult offenders.

Mr. Speaker, if both camps close in the South Slave, there will be a significant gap in the service that is provided to adult offenders. It will be a tremendous loss of years of work. I have been to Kozo Lake. The amount of work that those folks have put into that camp is major. They have made a tremendous personal investment and I would hope that the Department of Justice would see its way clear.

I see this as an emergency situation. Funding has to be looked at and I know that those two camps are not alone. This issue has been on the table for the last two or three years, when we do the business plans for Justice. Later today I will be asking the Minister responsible for Justice questions on how he can deal with this very pressing issue so that we do not lose these valuable resources that have been years in the making by very dedicated individuals. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

-- Applause

Thank you, Mr. Miltenberger. Déclarations de députés. Item 3, Members' statements. The honourable Member for Inuvik Boot Lake, Mr. Roland.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. On January 14th of this year we held our swearing-in ceremonies as new Members of the 14th Assembly. Following that, on January 19th, Cabinet did their swearing-in ceremony. Mr. Speaker, we swore solemnly and sincerely, we promised and swore that we would dutifully and faithfully, on the best of our skills and knowledge, execute the powers and trust reposed in us as Members of the Northwest Territories Legislative Assembly.

Mr. Speaker, unfortunately, we have come to a time where we have to look again at the whole area of accountability. A new era of transparency. How are we going to do things better than old government, Mr. Speaker?

Mr. Speaker, I took this oath as a very serious thing. I have been very fortunate; I have been able to do it twice. The second time I have done this, I have followed through and I believe in the commitment to the people of the Northwest Territories when we take this oath.

Unfortunately I feel that recent events here in the Legislative Assembly amongst Members indicate that we have tarnished this. I believe there is a need to come straight. Let us show our accountability by enforcing this oath. Let us show our accountability and respect to the people of the Northwest Territories. We ask for respect. We have to give them respect back by being up front and truthful.

I feel that issues have come before this House recently that need to be dealt with and I will be questioning the Premier later in regard to this specific issue that I raise; being forward, up front and accountable for our actions, Mr. Speaker.

I have given it time. I have allowed some events to happen and I sat back purposely to look at what was going to come forward and hopefully be dealt with. It has not been, Mr. Speaker. It is dragging on. It is time to deal with it, up front. At the appropriate time, I will be questioning the Premier. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Roland. 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, in recognition of the National Addictions Awareness Week starting today, and further to my message in the news pullout, I would like to make a personal statement about the harmful effects of tobacco addiction which I believe is a most preventable addiction. I was hoping to make this a simple but meaningful statement for the benefit of the children of Range Lake and like magic this group of children appeared in our gallery today. So hopefully I can say something to them as well.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to state for the record that I consider myself a reformed smoker and, Mr. Speaker, I must say how horrible it was for my mother when she first saw from a distance her daughter doing this terrible thing. Like many others who picked up this habit, I thought it was not really anything serious. It was something that all my friends at school did in the bathroom and I thought I would get over it. It was years before I realized that I was addicted to this drug and it has been a struggle every day to fight this addiction. So far, I am successful.

Mr. Speaker, I must say that we are all aware of the cost of tobacco addiction. I know that when I do not smoke, money stays in my pocket. It seems that whenever I smoke, I have to go to the bank machine twice a week.

Mr. Speaker, we know that it causes bad smells, it causes premature aging, it is bad for our heart, lungs, mouth, gums, and teeth. It causes bronchitis and asthma. I think the most important message that I want to give to the young people is really how hard it is to kick this habit once it is picked up.

Mr. Speaker, I consider myself a very disciplined person. I have always been able to set a goal for myself and work really hard to achieve it. When I wanted to learn English, it was no big deal for me to write a statement a thousand times on a page until I learned a word. It is not difficult for me to sit for eight hours and go through a text book and memorize it, but I have never done anything harder than quit smoking. So I make a public declaration and hopefully that will be an incentive for me to keep off tobacco for the rest of my life.

Mr. Speaker, I seek unanimous consent to conclude my statement. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you. The honourable Member is seeking unanimous consent to conclude her statement. Are there any nays? There are no nays. Ms. Lee, you may conclude your statement.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker and thank you, my colleagues. I want to, Mr. Speaker, recognize the fact that there are very few among the membership of this House who smoke. It is considerably below average. I do not believe there are any more than about three out of 19 Members who may suffer from this addiction and I know we are going to get better at this.

Just a simple message, Mr. Speaker. Just say no to tobacco addiction and you will not have the struggle, the hardest struggle that you will ever engage in your entire life.

Mr. Speaker, there is one thing that has helped me lately. The Department of Health has produced a poster that is so startling that when you look at it you will never, ever grab a cigarette ever in your life again. It has helped me and I am going to distribute a copy to every Member. It looks like this. I would like to commend the government for doing so. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

-- Applause

Thank you, Ms. Lee. I should remind Members that perhaps as graphic and as explicit as props may be, the rule of the Assembly is that we do not use things other than statements. However, this is the first time it has happened. Déclarations de députés. Item 3, Members' statements. The honourable Member for Hay River North, Mr. Delorey.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I would like to speak briefly on an issue that I have raised in this House before. It has to do with agriculture in the Northwest Territories.

Mr. Speaker, the NWT has a large number of families involved in the agricultural industry. Mr. Speaker, current regulations in effect for assessing land within the municipal taxation area state that land must be assessed at market value. Regulations also state that assessed value must be fair and equitable. Mr. Speaker, the Property Assessment and Taxation Act does not contain any unique treatment for agricultural properties.

Mr. Speaker, I cannot figure out why this current government is not able to provide an agricultural policy. We have been told on numerous occasions that it is because land claims have not yet been settled. However, the lack of an agricultural policy, in conjunction with not giving any concessions to agricultural farmers in the area of municipal taxation, is serving as a great deterrent to those people trying to make a living in this area.

Mr. Speaker, I wonder how this government foresees any progress being made in the industry without an agricultural policy. The government continues to put up barriers to these hardworking people who are attempting to provide for their families and the public. When it comes to the areas of oil and gas development and the diamond industry, Mr. Speaker, we seem to be able to deal with the land use issue.

Mr. Speaker, agriculture is a renewable resource and I would think that this government would have no problem issuing whatever it takes to get this industry moving. The only thing that agricultural people in this Territory are concerned about is moving the Territories towards self-sufficiency in food production.

Mr. Speaker, this coming weekend, on Friday and Saturday, the TFA will be holding their 11th annual seminar in Hay River and on Sunday, their annual general meeting. A number of Ministers and politicians have been invited to attend those functions. I would seriously encourage this government to bring some words of encouragement and some positive feedback on their industry. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

-- Applause

Thank you, Mr. Delorey. Item 3, Members' statements. Item 4, returns to oral questions. The honourable Minister responsible for Education, Culture and Employment, Mr. Ootes.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I have a Return to Oral Question asked by Mr. Nitah on November 7, 2000, regarding the portion of the South Slave Divisional Education Council funding for teaching aboriginal culture.

In 1999-2000, the department provided the council with $1,060,000 for aboriginal language and cultural programs. This included $767,600 for language specialist teacher and classroom assistant positions and $292,400 to support the development of relevant program materials and interpretation/translation services. The department also provided the council with $97,000 from funding provided through the Canada-NWT agreement for French and aboriginal languages.

It was the responsibility of the South Slave Divisional Education Council, through its budgeting process, to allocate this funding to its district education authorities. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Merci, Mr. Ootes. Résponse à des questions orales. Item 4, returns to oral questions. The honourable Minister responsible for Municipal and Community Affairs, Mr. Allen.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I have a Return to Oral Question asked by Mr. Krutko on November 7, 2000 in regard to information being withheld from the municipality of Fort McPherson.

I have ensured that the information requested by the Member for Mackenzie Delta has been sent to him. I have been informed that regional officials from MACA will travel to Fort McPherson to review the invoices with the SAO, or senior administrative officer. This visit will occur before the end of November 2000. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Minister Allen. Résponse à des questions orales. Item 4, returns to oral questions. The honourable Minister responsible for Resources, Wildlife and Economic Development, Mr. Handley.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I have a Return to Oral Question asked by Mr. Dent on November 8, 2000 regarding the tabling of the Business Development Fund Annual Report and Recipients Report for the Year Ended March 31, 2000.

The honourable Member asked whether the list of recipients for the Business Development Fund will be tabled along with the Annual Report of the Business Development Fund. The Hansard states that the 1999-2000 Recipients Report was tabled along with the 1999-2000 Annual Report on November 2nd. A copy has been provided to the honourable Member. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Handley. Résponse à des questions orales. Item 4, returns to oral questions. Item 5, recognition of visitors in the gallery. Colleagues, I would like to take this opportunity to recognize in the gallery, Carol Roberts, the Conflict of Interest Commissioner.

-- Applause

Item 5, recognition of visitors in the gallery. The honourable Member for Mackenzie Delta, Mr. Krutko.

Thank you, Mr. Krutko. Item 5, recognition of visitors in the gallery. The honourable Member for Hay River South, Mrs. Groenewegen.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I would like to recognize some women in the gallery today, and I hope I can do this in 15 seconds. Diana Beck, Rosalind Minault, Agnes Etsemba, Marie Speakman, Mary Anne Melanson, Delores Michel, Crystal Menicoche, and as Mr. Krutko said, Sue Heron-Herbert, also Addena Sumter-Frietag. I am sorry. I do not know Lona's last name, but Lona from the department. Thank you.

-- Applause

Thank you, Mrs. Groenewegen. Item 5, recognition of visitors in the gallery. The honourable Member for North Slave, Mr. Lafferty.