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, 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.