Thank you, Mr. Delorey. Avant de commencer la séance, je veux souhaiter la Bienvenue aux députés qui sont de retour après un long mois de travail.

Good afternoon. Before I begin the orders of the day, I would like to welcome Members back from what was a very busy month for all of us. I would like to extend a warm welcome to all the new members of our staff that have joined the Legislative Assembly since the last session.

And finally, I bring greetings to all of you and best wishes from Canada's senior Speakers, the Honourable Gib Parent, Speaker of the House of Commons, and the Honourable Gildas Molgat, Speaker of the Senate.

I understand that his Honour, the Commissioner of the Northwest Territories is prepared to enter the Chamber and open this session of the Legislative Assembly.

Mr. Clerk, could you please attend to and escort the Commissioner of the Northwest Territories into the Chamber?

Please be seated. Orders of the day. Item 2, opening address. Item 3, Ministers' statements. The honourable Premier, Mr. Kakfwi.

Mr. Speaker, today the 14th Assembly of the Northwest Territories publicly gets down to work. We have some new Members who will bring enthusiasm. We have many incumbents who will bring experience and knowledge of previous Assemblies. And with your return, Mr. Speaker, a renewed perspective from someone who has been here before and sincerely wanted to return.

Collectively, we have received a new mandate from our constituents. They want open, accountable and effective government from this Assembly and Cabinet. They want to see relations improved between territorial, aboriginal and federal governments. And with division behind us, they want the Northwest Territories to move quickly out of the starting gate with a renewed vision and commitment.

Mr. Speaker, before speaking about the challenges ahead during our upcoming term, and the first decade of the new millennium, we should reflect on the accomplishments of the past.

Many of us started our political careers advancing the cause of aboriginal rights and promoting northern autonomy. Let me briefly review some of these accomplishments from the aboriginal perspective:

• • Nationally, the Northwest Territories had a strong role in recognition of aboriginal peoples and aboriginal rights in the constitution;
• • Significant progress has been made on the settlement and implementation of Northwest Territories aboriginal land claims;
• • Through determination and commitment, recognition of the inherent right of aboriginal self government is now on the Northwest Territories aboriginal rights agenda; and
• • Aboriginal peoples and their governments or organizations are now making co-management decisions that affect Northwest Territories land, resources and communities.

Mr. Speaker, northern autonomy has also advanced. For example:

• • In the mid-1980's the Assembly and government began to set their priorities without interference from the federal government;
• • Responsible government was achieved during the same period when the Commissioner was removed from the day to day operation of the government and the position became largely ceremonial;
• • Jurisdictional responsibilities were transferred North in areas such as forestry, the Power Corporation, highways and health and education. Many may eventually be transferred again, or shared, with aboriginal governments; and
• • While the federal government continues to control northern resource management, development and revenues, we have exerted our influence to ensure northern interests and benefits are realized.

But we cannot dwell too long on the past, Mr. Speaker, because as much as veteran politicians like to look back and embellish their accomplishments, we must face the challenges of the future and the realities we face today.

Where do we and our constituents want the Northwest Territories to be in 10 years time? From the human perspective, we want a society:

• • Where individuals, their families and their communities are healthy;
• • Where children and youth can, and are, prepared to take advantage of education and training opportunities to grow and prosper;
• • Where our elders and seniors can live comfortably and are respected for their contributions; and
• • Where our cultures and languages continue to be the foundations of our society.

From an economic perspective, we want a climate:

• • Where northern and aboriginal institutions make the decisions on land, resource management, the environment and development;
• • Where Northwest Territories residents and our private sector benefit from resource development;
• • Where the Northwest Territories is in a position to use revenues raised in the North to reduce dependence on federal transfers; and
• • Where our infrastructure, like highways down the Mackenzie Valley and to Tuktoyaktuk are complete.

From a governance perspective, we want institutions:

• • Where aboriginal and territorial governments work effectively in partnership based upon the best programs and services they can provide to their constituents;
• • Where Northwest Territories residents form the majority of a public sector workforce with the expertise and commitment necessary to operate in the 21st century;
• • Where decisions can be made to advance the Northwest Territories interests at the national and international levels; and
• • Where there is a sense of unity and identity that can bring together our institutions and residents for the good of the whole Territory and its residents.

Mr. Speaker, this is the job that lies ahead of us and in ten years we will assess whether we have reached these goals, but for now let us move on to the present and the next four years.

What are some of the positive circumstances we face as we get down to work? Here is a short checklist:

• • Division and the downsizing that went with it is behind us. Now we can concentrate on developing government to be effective and accountable;
• • The development of our diamond industry and renewed interest in our oil and gas potential provide encouraging indicators of future economic activity;
• • There is a resurgence of growth in the North's traditional industries such as tourism, forestry and the harvesting of renewable resources. Fur prices are rising;
• • With the signing of the Mackenzie Valley pipeline motion, aboriginal organizations have sent a positive signal that they once again want to work collectively;
• • A Dogrib land claim and self-government agreement-in-principle has been signed, and progress is also being made on Deh Cho, Akaitcho and South Slave Metis negotiations;
• • The federal minister has given some positive signals about working towards devolution of resource management and development powers to the North; and
• • Northern aboriginal and territorial leaders agree that we need to work together and there is consensus that this may be done through participation in an intergovernmental forum.

However, these positive indicators cannot mask the stark realities we face and which all Northwest Territories residents and their institutions must address and start addressing quickly.

Very simply, Mr. Speaker, the cost of our social safety net of programs and services is rapidly escalating. Currently, our revenues are stretched to the maximum to meet these costs even as we are increasingly pressed to spend more dollars on other things like improving our housing and transportation infrastructure.

Nor do we have access to other sources of money, like resource revenues, to help cover these increasing costs - some directly related to the resource development taking place up and down the Mackenzie Valley.

We are not unique in our escalating social program costs. Other provinces and territories are facing similar increasing programs and services costs.

Mr. Speaker, we will, with our aboriginal partners, develop a blueprint to help us out of this dilemma. We will meet soon with our partners, the aboriginal governments, to discuss areas of common concern and action and to seek their advice.

However, I believe that this Assembly, our Cabinet and the people of the Northwest Territories can make an early and honest commitment to improving our lifestyle immediately.

We can all agree to the following:

• • We must find ways for families to seek a more balanced lifestyle so that our scarce family support services dollars can go towards those with special needs;
• • We must reduce alcohol and drug consumption to achieve fewer domestic assaults, less violence, and healthier families, thus providing happier homes and further cost savings; and
• • We must reduce tobacco consumption so that our hospitals and health services can focus on other more pressing priorities.

It has been estimated that in tobacco consumption alone, $31 million per year could be saved if residents of the Northwest Territories stopped smoking. In the Northwest Territories, tobacco is estimated to be the source of nearly 25 percent of all deaths from cancer, circulatory and respiratory diseases and prenatal conditions.

Government cannot legislate a healthy lifestyle. It is a matter of personal choice. Mr. Speaker, if we are to achieve a change as I have outlined then it is up to this Assembly and government to lead by example and to forge new and more effective relationships and partnerships.

This is why we are taking time at this early stage in our mandate to make sure that our agenda is based upon a collective commitment:

• • To build a foundation based on stronger individuals, families and communities;
• • To ensure that there is a balance between development of our resources and the development of our society and local economy;
• • To protect and preserve our northern environment;
• • To make sure that we have a sound understanding of our financial situation and make decisions which will not undermine our territorial system of government and evolving self-government institutions;
• • To spend less time on studies, reviews and commissions and to start making and implementing decisions; and
• • To make sure that governments, at whatever level, are open, accountable and honest to our constituents.

So, Mr. Speaker, where are we at after a little over one month since being sworn into office?

• • Caucus has met for four days in Fort Providence and we have started to develop the key features and objectives of an agenda; and
• • Our Cabinet has met to consider the outcomes from Fort Providence and to prepare for more meetings with Caucus to finalize our agenda;
• • Before this can be done, we need to meet with the northern aboriginal leadership to obtain their input and a commitment to work with us, because we cannot do it alone; and
• • We also need to consult with our federal partners, particularly on our short and long term financial needs, because without some new arrangements and more benefits for all northern residents, our ability to make a significant difference over the next four years will be severely limited.

Mr. Speaker, there is no quick fix. We will choose our priorities carefully, and we will work hard to deliver on our commitments.

We will work with our aboriginal partners to find solutions and identify and implement an agenda that reflects our consensus.

And we will develop a way to measure our results in four years to see if our plan has worked. For example, with the help of aboriginal partnerships and a commitment from the people of the Northwest Territories, I expect that our action on the social agenda will result in the following:

• • A reduced number of assaults on women in each community;
• • A reduced number of offenders and repeat offenders in each community;
• • A reduced number of children that must be placed in protective care;
• • A reduced number of medivacs due to people hurting people and individuals hurting themselves;
• • An increase in the number of healthy school graduates supported by parents and the community;
• • An increase in the number of individuals who possess the skills and abilities to take advantage of employment in their communities;
• • Elders who are well supported by their community and living independently on their pensions; and
• • Most importantly, a solid foundation for future self-government models at the community and regional level.

So too must we develop indicators to allow us to measure and evaluate the results of actions we take on our fiscal and economic agendas. How else can we determine success? How else can we determine whether or not government expenditures are achieving the results we want?

Mr. Speaker, this means that as we finalize the agenda for the 14th Assembly we must make evaluation a part of the document, a part of the plan. In closing, Mr. Speaker, it is important for this Assembly and aboriginal governments and organizations to recognize that we all represent the same people.

For all of us this is our home. Many of us in this Assembly have grown up and gone to school together. Our parents and grandparents worked together to build this Territory. Our families are related through marriage.

Together with others who have moved here, we are raising children who will hopefully stay in the North and make this place an even better place to live. This is one of the benefits of a small population.

We need to demonstrate to our constituents that it is possible to work together on a common vision. Now, more than ever in the past, we need to show our people that their leaders can pull together and truly demonstrate that we serve in the best interests of the people of the new Western Territory. Thank you.

-- Applause

Thank you, Mr. Kakfwi. Item 3, Ministers' statements. Mr. Dent, the Member for Frame Lake.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I MOVE, seconded by the honourable Member for Inuvik Boot Lake, that Minister's Statement 1-14(2), titled Sessional Statement, be moved into committee of the whole. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Dent. We have a motion on the floor. To the motion. Question has been called. All those in favour? All those opposed? The motion is carried. The statement is moved to committee of the whole for consideration. Ministers' statements. Item 4, Members' statements. Mr. Krutko.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. On January 26th, aboriginal leaders in the Northwest Territories announced that they now support in principle the building of a pipeline that follows the Mackenzie River.

Mr. Speaker, the aboriginal leaders talked of working together to develop a business partnership that would maximize ownership and benefits of a pipeline in the Mackenzie Valley.

In light of this announcement, Mr. Speaker, I believe that this government has a golden opportunity to work with aboriginal governments and the federal government to build a highway down the Mackenzie in conjunction with the construction of a pipeline.

Economic opportunities would also follow a road, Mr. Speaker. Be it resource development or exploration, a road would make it easier and economical for companies to make investments in the North's future and its people.

Mr. Speaker, I believe that the government has a responsibility to the residents of the rural Northwest Territories to ensure they enjoy the same access to the rest of Canada as the residents in our larger communities. There is no reason that this government's highway strategy should not ensure this.

Mr. Speaker, at the appropriate time I will be presenting a petition on behalf of my constituents that asks for the Mackenzie Highway to be extended to the Beaufort Sea and for the Dempster Highway to connect to Aklavik. In addition to being a cost-saving measure, the combination of the two projects would minimize the impact on the environment.

Mr. Speaker, in order for all residents to participate in a vibrant, integrated economy, all of the land-based communities in the Northwest Territories must be connected by an all-weather road system. A road means lower costs for food and fuel, two of the major expenses for residents in these communities.

Tourism would flourish in the Northwest Territories if we had a road in the Mackenzie Valley that interconnected with the Dempster and ended at the Arctic Coast. No tourist wants to drive 700 or 800 miles to get somewhere and then turn around and go back over the same road they drove two or three days before.

I look forward to the Minister's response to this petition and will be following up on this matter in question period. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Krutko. Item 4, Members' statements. The Member for Great Slave, Mr. Braden.

Thank you and good afternoon, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my statement today is about resource development in the Northwest Territories. Mr. Speaker, negotiations are continuing to find a way for the Department of Indian and Northern Affairs to grant approval on the construction of the Diavik diamond project. I acknowledge that much work and effort has been underway to bring these negotiations to a successful conclusion. I am optimistic that these negotiations can be successful. I look forward to seeing the project move ahead. I believe that all the environmental and monitoring issues can be addressed to the satisfaction of the parties.

Mr. Speaker, this process raises many broader questions about how mining and other resource projects are treated and dealt with in the Northwest Territories. I can only hope that all parties are learning from this process.

We need to direct our energies to further streamline the system to provide more clarity and certainty. This will require improved coordination of the authority and responsibilities of all the parties. The ground rules need to be clear at the beginning. Mr. Speaker, we can do a better job. It is vital, at a time when the people of the Northwest Territories need more jobs, business opportunities, and revenues to run our programs and services, that we send the right signals to our people and to those looking at further developments north of 60. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Later today, I will be asking a question of the government on this subject.

Thank you, Mr. Braden. Item 4, Members' statements. The Member for Yellowknife South, Mr. Bell.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I think I have waited some ten years to stand up here today in this House and talk about student financial assistance, so I am going to take that opportunity here today.

-- Applause

Thank you. Had I known that I would be here today, I guess I would have taken better notes, but I think I have a pretty good memory, so I hope my colleagues will indulge me.

I think the reality of student financial assistance in the Northwest Territories today is that we have some good news and we have some bad news. The good news is that ten years ago, when I first set out on my way to attend university in the south, I think you almost needed a degree to figure out how to apply for student financial assistance. A lot has changed. The administration has worked hard to streamline the process for students, and I think they have done a good job. We are almost there. We still have some things to change and some things to improve, but we are getting better.

The bad news though, Mr. Speaker, is that ten years ago, when I set out to university, the rates for student financial assistance were exactly the same as they are today. In the meanwhile though, we have seen tuition at southern institutions double and even triple. I think we can all see the rates are no longer acceptable. If you were to poll students who were leaving university ten years ago and asked them how many of them were leaving for financial reasons, it would have been a small proportion. But judging from the number of letters and calls I have received on this, I think that proportion is rapidly rising.

Today, I would like to take this opportunity to insist that this government do something about student financial assistance that will result in us putting more money in the pockets of students, and I would like to insist that we need to do that quickly. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

-- Applause

Thank you, Mr. Bell. The Member for Range Lake, Miss Lee.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I wish to speak on the concerns this afternoon that I have about the state of Highway No. 3 between Rae Edzo and Yellowknife. I wish to also advise you, Mr. Speaker, that these are concerns I share with a number of other Members in this House from Yellowknife, as well as North Slave and Deh Cho.

Mr. Speaker, the reportings in the media this morning are yet another heap on the mounting evidence that the current state of this stretch of highway is simply hazardous to our health, our environment, and our economy. A man is in the local hospital as we speak due to the injuries he suffered from an accident on this road. The tractor trailer he was driving, fully loaded with diesel fuel, rolled several times because he was unable to negotiate one of the many treacherous corners on that road, not to mention the very narrow shoulders.

Mr. Speaker, this road is a fatality waiting to happen, and this government has to do more to address this danger. How many more injuries and fatalities do we need to see before something is done about it? How much more fuel do we need to pour onto the road and even the surrounding lakes before we see the reconstruction of this road?

The road also is endangering our economic activities, Mr. Speaker. We are already well aware that it is a highly negative factor for the tourism industry, but we are suffering from more immediate economic impacts of these road conditions.

I also learned this morning that the Department of Transportation is systematically delaying the traffic heading to the mines by restricting the traffic. This is because oversize trucks cannot travel during busy morning and evening hours and also during the day on the weekends.

Mr. Speaker, this is another obstacle to the resource industry, which is already operating under a tight winter road schedule. I appreciate the need to control the traffic of these oversize trucks, but it is clear that this is one more indication of the additional demands being placed on this very fragile road system.

Mr. Speaker, the bottom line is this. We need this road reconstructed now, not five years from now, and certainly not ten years from now. Mr. Speaker, I seek unanimous consent to conclude this statement.

The Member is seeking unanimous consent to conclude her statement. Are there any nays? We have no nays. Ms. Lee, you may continue.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. We need to have this road reconstructed now, not five years from now, and certainly not 10 years from now. We need to have this road contributing to our health, to our environment, and our economy, not endangering them. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

--Applause

Thank you, Ms. Lee. The Member for Inuvik Boot Lake, Mr. Roland.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the horizon is starting to peer over the 14th term of the Legislative Assembly and we must get down to business. Our residents need to know if there are going to be any major changes. For example, what will the Northwest Territories look like or be after the term of the 14th Assembly?

Since December 6th, the people of the Northwest Territories have waited, first to hear who was elected to Cabinet and then to see what priorities we would set for our residents and ourselves. Mr. Speaker, it is important, more than that, it is imperative that we inform the people of the Northwest Territories as to what they can expect from their government. For example, many non-government organizations that provide services to the public on our behalf are already putting their budgets together for the upcoming year. People need to know if there is going to be more or less money for housing or social programs. Contractors will need to know if they can begin preparing for the upcoming building season.

Mr. Speaker, the news may not be good, but it is needed so that our residents can prepare themselves or adjust to what will be the realities of what we are faced with. I do not believe that we can afford to put off telling people what we are faced with as Members of the 14th Assembly. In fact it is our responsibility to inform our residents of what the future may hold. I say this, Mr. Speaker, not to create fear in the public but to allow more information to be brought into the public domain.

I believe that by being up front and open, we will show the people of our Territory that we have indeed started out on a path to a more open and honest government. At the appropriate time, I will question the Minister responsible for Finance. In closing, Mr. Speaker, as I did in the tradition of the 13th Assembly, I would like to send greetings back to my wife and children. Thank you.

-- Applause

Thank you, Mr. Roland. Item 4, Members' statements. The Member for Thebacha, Mr. Miltenberger.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, since we were first elected on December 6th, we have all agreed on at least one thing; and that is the importance of revenue-sharing with our aboriginal partners and negotiations with the federal government.

This is an important but long-term goal. We are faced with immediate issues. In five weeks it is the end of the fiscal year, which means we are going to have to have an interim supplementary bill. That has to be an immediate priority.

This is more, Mr. Speaker, than a temporary measure. The steps we take and the targets we set are going to guide us as the 14th Assembly for at least half of the fiscal year before us. We know very clearly with the deficit that this is not a status quo budget.

As my colleague from Inuvik Boot Lakes said, we have to start letting the people know with bread and butter issues, what is going to be happening. Warm and fuzzy is good but bread and butter, jobs, houses, security, possible layoffs - people want to know this.

During my election, I committed very strongly to supporting programs and services at the community level and I intend to maintain that stance. I think we all want to protect the programs and services in our communities.

In the case of a community like Fort Smith, we have made the shift from a regional centre to a program centre where we deliver programs and services to a wide range of people. It is very clear to us that we have to look at our administration. We have to look at restructuring our government to get as many resources to the program areas and as close to the people as possible, which means to the community level.

I believe that this is an experience and a commitment that just about all Members here have spoken to. I also know that, based on my experience and from what I have heard from others and from my constituents, that there are areas of savings that this government can recognize and realize. I intend to focus on those in the coming weeks and months. I would encourage all other MLAs and constituents of mine and any other northern constituents that have ideas of how we, as a government, can, in fact, deal with our deficit and maintain program and service levels in our communities to come forward. The people are waiting, Mr. Speaker. It is time for us to deal with not only the longer term but the bread and butter issues that are before us today. Thank you.

--Applause

Thank you, Mr. Miltenberger. Item 4, Members' statements. The Member for North Slave, Mr. Lafferty.

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

Thank you, Mr. Lafferty. Members' statements. The Member for Frame Lake, Mr. Dent.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, every day Northerners see ads on television offering long distance rates as low as 10 or 15 cents a minute, some offering programs for $20 a month as the maximum amount people pay for phone calls.

As technology advances, Northerners expect comparable service at comparable rates. Many of my constituents, particularly those who run businesses, tell me they want to see competition for long distance service because they believe that will bring down the price they pay.

Mr. Speaker, NorthwesTel has proposed that competition be introduced in the North in January of 2001. They have also proposed that because the North is a high cost serving area, that they must have access to an operating subsidy to survive in the face of competition. The CRTC has scheduled a regional consultation on this matter for June 12 in Whitehorse, with ties by video conference to other centres like Fort Nelson, Yellowknife, and Iqaluit. Public hearings on the proposal are scheduled to start on June 13 in Whitehorse.

Mr. Speaker, it is unacceptable that the regulator, the CRTC, is only travelling to one centre for these important hearings. Residents of this Territory should also have an opportunity to express their views to the commission face to face.

Mr. Speaker, in previous public hearings, the Government of the Northwest Territories has generally been supportive of NorthwesTel applications. I hope that our government is planning to file an intervention with the CRTC on this important issue, as well.

But, Mr. Speaker, I would hope that the government will also be meeting with NorthwesTel before they file this application to ensure they discuss with NorthwesTel the numbers of positions in the Northwest Territories. Given our fiscal situation and the importance of per capita funding in this Territory when it comes to our grant from Canada, I think it is essential we also demand NorthwesTel have an equitable distribution of positions in the Northwest Territories.

Mr. Speaker, our government must also contact the CRTC to insist that at least some of the hearings be held in the Northwest Territories and not just in the Yukon Territory. Mr. Speaker, later today, I will be addressing questions to the Minister responsible on this issue. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Dent. Item 4, Members' statements. Item 5, recognition of visitors in the gallery. Mr. Krutko.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, it gives me great honour to recognize a former Member of this Legislature, Mr. Pete Fraser, accompanied by his wife. Mr. Fraser was a very outspoken Member on dealing with seniors' issues.

--Applause

Recognition of visitors in the gallery. Mr. Allen.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to recognize the presence of my executive assistant, Tom Williams' mother, Agnes and sister, Susan, who are here to watch the afternoon's proceedings. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

--Applause

Thank you, Mr. Allen. Recognition of visitors in the gallery. Mr. Braden.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It is my deep pleasure to recognize one of the great headline grabbers of the North, my mother, Mrs. Esther Braden. I would also like to recognize Ms. Barb Hood, Executive Director of the Northwest Territories Seniors' Society.

--Applause

Welcome to the gallery, Mrs. Braden. Recognition of visitors in the gallery. Mr. Ootes.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. There are a number of people I would like to recognize. The first I would like to recognize is my wonderful supporter, Marg Baile, who is in the gallery with us today. I would also like to recognize a number of business people from Yellowknife, Mr. Jim Petersen, Mr. Tom Hoefer, Gord Stewart and David Connelly. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

-- Applause

Thank you, Mr. Ootes. Recognition of visitors in the gallery. The Chair would like to recognize a long-term resident and school teacher from the Northwest Territories, Mr. Ed Jeske. And, of course, all the visitors in the gallery, you do not go unrecognized and welcome to the Legislative Assembly.

-- Applause

Item 6, oral questions. The Member for Mackenzie Delta, Mr. Krutko.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Minister responsible for Transportation. In my Member's statement, I spoke of the possibility of the construction of a road down the Mackenzie River to connect with the Dempster Highway, also suggesting we also look at communities such as Aklavik and connecting them to the Dempster Highway. Ensuring that this government realizes that in order for us to meet our economic potential, we have to develop the infrastructure of the North which includes the Mackenzie Highway to the Beaufort Sea and our ability to connect our smaller communities to access to southern Canada.

Can the Minister tell me what stage is the discussion in regarding the highway strategy? Has he met with his counterparts with the federal government or had talks with the aboriginal groups? Also, has he looked at the possibility of combining the possibility of a pipeline with the highway construction in the Mackenzie Highway? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Krutko. The honourable Minister responsible for Transportation, Mr. Steen.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the NWT Highways Strategy is at the stage right now where we are just completing the studies. At this time, we have been sending out summaries of the studies to stakeholders, including the federal government. We are putting together a plan as to where we would go with this, based on the Northwest Territories economic development strategy, as well. So, we are kind of combining both studies together and having both strategies working in cooperation with each other, Mr. Speaker. At this point in time, we have not really put together any firm plan as to which section of the highway we would proceed with. All this is going to be included, to some degree, in the business plan. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Steen. Supplementary, Mr. Krutko.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I know there have been preliminary surveys done, especially in the extension of the highway from the Dempster to Tuktoyaktuk, but can the Minister tell me if there has been any similar work done to look at the possibility of connecting the community of Aklavik to the Dempster Highway?

Thank you, Mr. Krutko. The honourable Minister responsible for Transportation, Mr. Steen.

Mr. Speaker, there was some consultations with the community of Aklavik and there was some consideration given to an extension or an access road from Aklavik to the Dempster Highway. However, the department did not undertake any intensive studies on the project. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Steen. Mr. Krutko.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Can the Minister tell me if there is any possibility of meeting with the community of Aklavik, along with the Department of Transportation to see how that community can develop their needs in regarding the possibility of the highway and build that into the highway strategy?

Thank you, Mr. Krutko. Minister responsible for Transportation, Mr. Steen.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I could pass that on to the department, who will consider whether we can include some kind of a program with Aklavik to undertake further studies on that particular project.

Thank you, Mr. Steen. Final supplementary, Mr. Krutko.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As we all know, time usually flies in this Legislature. In four years, it comes and goes pretty quick. So, I would like to ask the Minister, can he commit to meeting with the community of Aklavik within the next couple of months?

The honourable Minister responsible for Transportation, Mr. Steen.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I am sure the department can find the time to go to Aklavik and meet with the Aklavik residents on the project in the next couple of months. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Steen. Oral questions. The Member for Thebacha, Mr. Miltenberger.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My questions are addressed to the Minister responsible for Health. It is regarding the Child and Family Services Program Review that has been underway for years. The Minister has indicated they have brought in another southern contractor to try to do a considerable amount of work in two months. Given the Members', as I clearly recollect, vigorous opposition to the Med-Emerg Report, the Ministers' Forum on Education, the Ministers' Forum on Health, could the Minister indicate what kind of northern experience the Child Welfare League of Canada has in being able to, in two months time, blanket the Northwest Territories to answer all the comprehensive questions, conditions and terms outlined in the terms of reference? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Miltenberger. The honourable Minister responsible for Health and Social Services, Mrs. Groenewegen.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the review the Member speaks of is a review that was undertaken by the Child Welfare League of Canada. This is a nationally recognized organization for child welfare. Recently, within the last couple of years, we have had it changed to the Child Welfare Act. The department, I am sure along with the Minister of the day, felt that it would be worthwhile to have a review of the child welfare practices and policies of this government. Having said that, I cannot speak too extensively to the credentials of the Child Welfare League, but I do have an information sheet here for all Members outlining the cost of the review, the communities that were visited, and also the groups that were consulted with. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mrs. Groenewegen. Supplementary, Mr. Miltenberger.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Could the Minister possibly talk to the issue of the time frames? When you look at the terms of reference, this was started in December over Christmas and was supposed to be completed by the end of January. They were supposed to hit about eight communities, talk to dozens and dozens of people, including professional stakeholders and community leaders.

The issues of their northern credibility and experiences factors into this, and I know the Minister said she cannot speak to that, but to me it is a critical issue. Can they be expected to, in fact coming from the south as the contractors for the Med-Emerg report were criticized for being southerners and be able to do this kind of comprehensive, detailed work in a unique jurisdiction? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Miltenberger. The honourable Minister for Health and Social Services, Mrs. Groenewegen.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Indeed, the Member is right. This is a unique jurisdiction. However, the issues related to child welfare are issues which are faced by every other part of Canada. I would safely say that the Child Welfare League of Canada is an organization which is dedicated specifically to undertaking system-wide reviews of child welfare practices to ensure consistent standards of performance and outcomes and that best practices are achieved. I would say that this organization would be experts in this field. With respect to the time frame in which they operated, I can see they have certainly interviewed and spoken with a very broad cross-section of Northerners. We certainly look forward to hearing the results of the review. Thank you.

Thank you, Mrs. Groenewegen. Second supplementary, Mr. Miltenberger.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It is interesting to note that the Minister is clearly of the opinion that northern experience and knowledge of the North is not a critical factor when examining children and the services that we provide to children in the North. Could the Minister, for the record, tell us on this information sheet that we have yet to see, what this contract costs? Was it put out to tender? Or was it just sole-sourced? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Miltenberger. The Minister responsible for Health and Social Services, Mrs. Groenewegen.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the cost of the review is $110,000. I do not have the information as to how the contract was let, or whether or not it was a sole-source contract. I do not want to make an assumption on that, so I will get that information for the Member and get back to him. Thank you.

Thank you, Mrs. Groenewegen. Final supplementary, Mr. Miltenberger.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Could the Minister also indicate, since this Child and Family Services Review has been going on for years, what is the total cost of the review? Not just this high-priced one-month, two-month contractor from the south, but what was the overall cost of the review undertaken by the department? When do we get to finally see this document we have been waiting so long for? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Miltenberger. There were two questions there. The Minister can decide which one she wants to answer.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I will choose to answer the one on the overall cost. Given the level of detail the Member is asking for, I of course cannot provide that answer, but will undertake to speak with the department and find out what the overall cost was. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mrs. Groenewegen. Item 6, oral questions. The Member for Inuvik Boot Lake, Mr. Roland.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, in my Member's statement, I made reference to getting more information out to the public regarding the situation we find ourselves in as the 14th Assembly. I would like to ask the Minister responsible for Finance, if the fiscal situation has changed since the beginning of the election. For example, Mr. Speaker, it was said that we were 18 months away from hitting our credit limit or debt wall, as it has become known. I would like to know from the Minister responsible for Finance if that situation has changed. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Roland. The Minister responsible for Finance, the Honourable Joe Handley.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. No, to my knowledge, that situation has not changed. We still are in the same situation we were a month ago. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Handley. Mr. Roland.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Can the Minister inform us if in fact the time line has shrunk? The 18 months was given prior to the election, so has that come down as well? Are we in the range of 14 months, 12 months, 10 months? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Roland. The Minister responsible for Finance, Mr. Handley.

Mr. Speaker, the situation has not changed. We are still in a situation where we have to manage our resources very well. It is true that if everything else continues, if we continue spending as we have, the projection is the same. If we do not have any new revenues, then we will have a difficult situation to face some months from now. I cannot confirm that it will be 18 months or whenever. Mr. Speaker, we are optimistic that over the next few weeks and months, that plans and options we are working on will give us some direction that will lead us out of this situation. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Handley. Mr. Roland.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, knowing that we are optimistic on a number of fronts to try and correct the current situation we find ourselves in, and knowing that we are quite a ways behind what is a normal budgeting cycle, has there been work undergoing that would ensure we do not hit our debt wall in this upcoming fiscal year? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Roland. Minister responsible for Finance, Mr. Handley.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Yes, I can assure you that the Department of Finance is working on a number of options for us. We have given assurance that we will not hit that wall. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Handley. Item 6, oral questions. The Member for Yellowknife Frame Lake, Mr. Dent.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My question is for the Minister responsible for Public Works and Services which is, I believe, the department responsible for telecommunications. Could the Minister tell me if the government has developed or is developing an intervention for the public hearing process announced by the CRTC to consider long distance competition in the North?

Thank you, Mr. Dent. The Minister responsible for Public Works and Services, the Honourable Vince Steen.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, at the present time, the department is working on a submission that we will make to the CRTC in Whitehorse. Either myself as the Minister responsible or possibly the Premier will make a presentation at that time. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Steen. Item 6, oral questions. Supplementary, Mr. Dent.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, could the Minister advise whether the government will demand the CRTC hold some part of those hearings in the Northwest Territories?

Thank you, Mr. Dent. The Minister responsible for Public Works, Mr. Steen.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I am not aware that we raised this issue at all. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Steen. Oral questions. Supplementary, Mr. Dent.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. If the Minister said he is not aware of it, I hope the Minister will look into this situation. I would like to ask the Minister to commit to seeking a way in which to ask the CRTC to hold some of those hearings in the Northwest Territories.

Thank you, Mr. Dent. I am not sure if that was a question or a bit of a comment, but the Minister can answer if he wishes.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the Member has a very good point, and the department will bring that to the attention of the CRTC and Northwestel as well. No doubt it will be suggested that there should be some hearing held in this Territory. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Steen. Oral questions, Mr. Dent, your final supplementary.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, as I noted in my statement, given our fiscal situation and the impact per capita funding has in our grant, will the Minister meet with NorthwesTel to seek a commitment within a reasonable time for an equitable share of positions in the Northwest Territories, particularly senior management positions?

Thank you, Mr. Dent. The Minister responsible for Public Works, Mr. Steen.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Yes, I will commit to that. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Steen. Item 6, oral questions. The Member for North Slave, Mr. Lafferty.

Thank you, Mr. Lafferty. The Minister responsible for Health and Social Services, the Honourable Jane Groenewegen.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank the Member for North Slave for his correspondence and for the interest that he has shown in this issue of addictions. It is definitely recognized by this government that addictions pose a very critical challenge to our people, and being responsible now for the Department of Health and Social Services, we want to look at every way possible we can to address the need of people with addictions.

We have treatment facilities available here in the Northwest Territories. Sometimes our people require referrals to specialized institutions where clients may have more than one addiction or may have special needs for services which are not available in the Northwest Territories. In that case, referrals are made to institutions in the south.

I do not know exactly what kinds of dollars are available, but I do know a sizeable amount of money from the boards and from the department are spent on referrals to these institutions. What specific dollars are available to the health boards for these referrals, I could not respond to. I would certainly get the information for the Member and provide it to him. Thank you.

Thank you, Mrs. Groenewegen. The Member for North Slave, Mr. Lafferty.

Thank you, Mr. Lafferty. Just to remind the Members the preamble to the question should come first, and then supplementaries are just to the point of the question. The question is directed to the Minister responsible for Health and Social Services, Mrs. Groenewegen.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I do recognize what the Member is saying. We do need to have treatment that does not create barriers to our residents, whether it is a culture or language barrier. We need to have treatment that is tailored to the needs of our people.

With regard to that, the department has undertaken an alternative programming initiative, and this planning process has been underway since April 1, 1999, and it is to develop comprehensive program options for children, youth, and families, as well as gender-sensitive healing and recovery programs.

In February 2000, the Initiative Steering Committee presented programming recommendations to the board, CEO's, and department senior management. The Member's question was is the Minister receptive to an addictions centre for the North Slave? I would like to say that I have received an invitation from the Dogrib people to attend and discuss this matter further with them, and I will be more than happy to do that. Also, I note that Anna Beals, the director of the Community Programs Dogrib Community Services Board is a member of the Alternative Programming Initiatives Steering Committee, and hopefully will have valuable input on that committee as we look at programming alternatives. Thank you.

Thank you, Mrs. Groenewegen. Item 6, oral questions. The Member for Great Slave, Mr. Braden.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Further to my Member's statement on the Diavik project and resource development in the North, my question is for Mr. Handley, the Minister assigned to represent the GNWT on the Diavik project. The difficulties experienced with permitting have sent a confusing and a conflicting message about the development climate in the Northwest Territories, Mr. Speaker. I feel the issue, for the long term, is one of confidence and communication. Can the Minister advise what the government plans to do to deal with the broader message, and it is a message, I think, of lack of confidence so widely expressed about the development climate in the Northwest Territories? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Braden. The question is to the Minister responsible for Finance, the Honourable Joe Handley.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. In the Northwest Territories, we are blessed with tremendous resources and, I think, a fantastic environment. We have to protect that. At the same time, we also need to maintain an investment climate that is going to give us the economic activities that we need in order to overcome the difficulties we face right now.

On the Diavik project, our government has participated totally and completely all the way through the comprehensive study review process. We have taken the lead on the socio-economic agreement, which was settled. We have participated in the environmental agreement negotiations, which are ongoing. We are attending the Prospectors Development Association Meeting in Toronto next week where the Deputy Premier will make a presentation with regard to our investment climate. I will be attending an International Ministers of Mines Meeting with the same message.

We are continuing with a lot of the messages that are aimed at ensuring we have a good investment climate and have the confidence of people around the world. And I believe we still do, in spite of these tough points. I think we are still a good place internationally to have money invested.

In terms of control over it, Mr. Speaker, I think it is much better to govern ourselves than to be governed by somebody else. I think when we see our northern governments in charge, responsible and accountable for development, then you will see development happening at a pace and in a way that Northerners want it to happen. I believe as we make steps in devolution, then we should be able to make a lot of headway on improving our image around the world as a good place to invest. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Handley. Mr. Braden, supplementary.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The Minister raised a very critical point, I think, in this situation, and that is our long-term goal to see the control of resources brought home here to the North. The role then, of the federal government and getting their ear on this desire and indeed this right that we have is important. What assurance can the Minister give us that Ottawa is any more serious this time about bringing control of northern resources into northern hands? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The Minister responsible for Finance, the Honourable Joe Handley.