Thank you, Mr. Braden. Item 3, Members' statements. The Member for Deh Cho, Mr. McLeod.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, last week I made a statement regarding the Arctic Winter Games that seems to have sparked a great deal of interest both inside and outside of this House.

I listened with great interest as my colleagues rose and spoke of the impact the Arctic Winter Games had on their lives. For them, the experience was positive. It created a sense of pride and fostered lifelong friendships. This is an experience that every athlete in the Northwest Territories should have equal access to.

Mr. Speaker, I could stand here and say warm and fuzzy things about the games. My son participated with pride in the 1996 games in Eagle River, Alaska. My daughter will be participating this year in Whitehorse. I know they will remember this for the rest of their lives.

However, Mr. Speaker, there is a glaring omission from this year's Arctic Winter Games team. That omission is athletes from 17 Northwest Territories communities. Less than half of the communities of the Northwest Territories will be represented on the Arctic Winter Games team this year. In fact, Mr. Speaker, the Sahtu region does not have any representation. Are we to believe there are no athletes in the Sahtu?

Further, when I look at the different sports participating at the Games, I note that some of the sports are fielding teams consisting mainly of athletes from the larger communities.

Mr. Speaker, I make these points because I am convinced there is a flaw in the Arctic Winter Games team selection process. The flaws are both at the support level and at the Arctic Winter Games trials level. Many of the communities do not have the recreational facilities required for some of the sports in the Games. At other times, the selection process is defective and does not provide for the fair selection of athletes.

I would like to remind the Members of a debate in the 13th Assembly. The debate was over a hockey team from Fort Smith. The team won every game of the tournament at the 1998 territorial trials. Yet only one athlete was selected for the Arctic Winter Games team. Later that year, two players from the Fort Smith team went on to play Junior A hockey in the south. I cannot be convinced that players chosen to play Junior A in the south cannot make the cut for the Arctic Winter Games team.

Mr. Speaker, the Games have changed greatly since their inception in 1970. We have gone from three contingents to six contingents. The sports involved have changed and we have adult participation in very few of the sports. The cost to participate has become a barrier to some athletes.

Mr. McLeod, your time has elapsed.

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

The Member for Deh Cho is seeking unanimous consent to conclude his statement. Are there any nays? There are no nays. Mr. McLeod, you have unanimous consent to conclude your statement.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, these changes require me to ask this government insist on an independent evaluation of our Territory's participation in the Arctic Winter Games. This evaluation should address how the different sports are selected to be in the Games, how athletes are selected to be on the different sport teams, cost for athletes to participate in the selection process, and whether or not we should continue our participation in the Arctic Winter Games. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. McLeod. Item 3, Members' statements. The Member for Inuvik Boot Lake, Mr. Roland.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, yesterday was a big day for the federal government. The budget speech was read, and the news given to Canadians of the benefits a surplus will bring to them.

Mr. Speaker, we have to ask ourselves how the federal budget impacts the residents of the Northwest Territories. Our Member of Parliament stated publicly there will be transfer payments to the North of around $100 million. Mr. Speaker, if that is the case, I think we have come out of some difficulty and have some cash in hand to help out our much needed program areas, like health and social services and transportation.

The fact is, from my previous work in the Legislative Assembly, when the federal government spends a billion dollars, we are lucky to receive $1.3 million when it works out to getting money in the Northwest Territories.

What does this mean to residents, Mr. Speaker? Yes, we benefit. Some people will receive lower tax deductions. We also forget an area here. I think the budget could have focused on one of the things that would have positively impacted every resident of the Northwest Territories; northern residents' deductions.

Mr. Speaker, when it comes to that area, we share the same distinction as residents of northern Alberta. We are in the prescribed Zone A, which means we, as residents of the Northwest Territories, can claim $15 a day. Mr. Speaker, when you live in Holman Island, Paulatuk, Sachs Harbour, Inuvik, and many of the smaller communities which are not connected by road in the Northwest Territories, the cost of living far exceeds the costs in northern Alberta. Yet we fall in the same zone.

As a government, we need to start pushing to have that changed, so we may be recognized differently in the Northwest Territories. Mr. Speaker, I would like to see clarification from our Minister responsible for Finance as to the differences in the budget. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

-- Applause

Thank you, Mr. Roland. Item 3, Members' statements. The Member for Nunakput, Mr. Steen.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, as with all communities in the Northwest Territories and other northern regions, young athletes of my riding have been competing for the privilege to represent the Northwest Territories at the Arctic Winter Games in Whitehorse.

At this moment, I would like to recognize and congratulate the following individuals who will be going to the Arctic Winter Games in the Arctic sports category:

• • Sharon Alanak and Daryl Egotak, from Holman;
• • Mathew Aninkin, Randy Cockney, Irwin Elias, Philip Jacobson, Eli Nasogaluak, and Noah Pokiak, from Tuktoyaktuk; and
• • Edgar Kotokak Jr., who will be their coach.

In the midget hockey category, Charlton Wolki will be representing Tuktoyaktuk.

Mr. Speaker, the Tuk Drummers and Dancers will also be taking part in cultural activities in Whitehorse; Albert Elias, Jodi Felix, Norman Felix, Josephine Felix, Sarah Mangelana, Brian Panaktalok, Eunice Nasogaluak, and Willima Nasogaluak will be the representatives.

Mr. Speaker, I hope the Members will join me in wishing these athletes and performers all the best while attending the Arctic Winter Games next week and representing the Northwest Territories while in Whitehorse. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Steen. Item 3, Members' statements. The Member for Frame Lake, Mr. Dent.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, as a taxpayer, it was hard not to like parts of the budget tabled by the federal Minister of Finance. Who can argue against lower taxes, or the indexing of the tax system to inflation?

As a Northerner, it was what was missing that I notice most. The Northwest Territories has huge potential, but we need investment to realize it. I saw nothing in this budget to promote economic development in the Northwest Territories. I saw almost nothing for a highways program. There is $150 million to split up across Canada between the provinces and territories, which leaves almost nothing for the Northwest Territories.

This is a real missed opportunity for economic development and training for our people in the Northwest Territories.

We know the spin-off from economic development in the Northwest Territories benefits southern jurisdictions more than it does those of us who live here. It is really short-sighted of Canada not to invest in the North.

Like most Canadians, Northerners want to see increased funding for health and education. We should welcome the additional funds we see in the Canada Health and Social Transfer. But there is a catch. These funds are allocated on a per capita basis. With the $2.5 billion added to CHST funding, we will only see $3.4 million in the Northwest Territories. Contrast that with the $55 to $60 million in direct cuts we took a few years ago in our transfer payments from Ottawa.

Mr. Martin talked of how transfer payments to provinces and territories have been increased. Mr. Speaker, in spite of what we hear our Member of Parliament has said, I do not see it in this budget speech. I do not see increased transfer payments to the Northwest Territories.

We did more than our fair share to help defeat Canada's deficit. One year, our grant was frozen, leaving us $40 million short of expected growth. The next year, the grant was reduced by five percent, which meant an additional $60 million was cut.

If Canada is not going to restore the transfers and invest more in economic development in the North, then they must quickly agree to negotiate with this government and aboriginal governments to move ownership and control of resources to the North.

Mr. Speaker, since we cannot count on Canada, we need the tools to invest in the North ourselves. Thank you.

-- Applause

Thank you, Mr. Dent. Item 3, Members' statements. Item 4, returns to oral questions. The honourable Minister responsible for Health and Social Services, Mrs. Groenewegen.

On February 23, 2000, the Member for Thebacha raised questions in the Legislative Assembly of the Northwest Territories about the Child and Family Services Program review. I am pleased to provide the Member with further Information.

The first question concerned how child protection files were selected for the Child and Family Services Review. I have been advised that over 100 child protection files were reviewed. Reviewers selected files at each child protection worker office in three different ways. One was that they chose some on a random basis. In some smaller communities they read every file. They also consulted with local community social workers and selected files the local workers desired for case consultation.

The second question raised concerns regarding the consultation process in each community. I can assure the House the contractor developed consultation activities that were well organized and efficient.

In each community a variety of interviews were prearranged. Community councils, including band and municipal offices, as well as local school authorities, were contacted in advance so they could identify representatives to participate. The length of each visit was determined by the size of the community, the number of individuals or groups to be interviewed. The reviewers spent a total of 37.5 days interviewing people and groups. This has worked out to be an average of four days per community.

The consultation process is now winding down. Last week in Yellowknife and Rae-Edzo, reviewers held focus group sessions with children and parents receiving services through the Child and Family Services Act. A third session was held in Fort Simpson this past weekend. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mrs. Groenewegen. Item 4, returns to oral questions. The honourable Minister responsible for Education, Culture and Employment, Mr. Ootes.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I have a return to an oral question asked by Mr. Nitah on February 23, 2000. It is regarding funding for language development.

The honourable Member raised questions regarding French schools in the Northwest Territories.

Ecole Allain St. Cyr is the only French first language school located in the Northwest Territories, and as of September 30, 1999, there were 70 students. It is funded by the Government of the Northwest Territories under the same formula as other schools in the Northwest Territories.

The cost of constructing the French school was shared between the federal government and the Government of the Northwest Territories. The federal government provided $3.5 million and the Government of the Northwest Territories contributed $500,000.

Thank you, Mr. Ootes. Item 4, returns to oral questions. The honourable Minister responsible for Resources, Wildlife and Economic Development, Mr. Kakfwi.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. This is a response to a question asked by Mr. Floyd Roland on February 24, 2000, regarding policies of this government on non-renewable resources.

The question was asked on February 24, 2000, if the Department of Resources, Wildlife and Economic Development had a broad policy in the area of non-renewable resources, and who would be in charge of that. This government's Sustainable Development Policy provides a framework for decision making on issues related to natural resource development. The Sustainable Development Policy is based on the recognition that sustainable development of resources is essential to the long term economic security, self-sufficiency and social well-being of northern residents. In guiding decisions and actions related to resource use in the Northwest Territories, this policy sets out a number of objectives, with specific reference to non-renewable resources, including the following:

Promote Integrated Resource Management

Recognizing that resource development decisions usually involve numerous management objectives and interest groups, the Government of the Northwest Territories shall promote an integrated approach to managing the environment and its resources.

Maintain and Enhance Environmental Quality

Recognizing that the Northwest Territories' economy and cultures are deeply rooted in the environment, the Government of the Northwest Territories shall ensure that environmental quality is maintained to support the long-term stability of northern society.

Develop Non-Renewable Resources in Ways that Contribute to a Sustainable Economy

The Government of the Northwest Territories will promote exploration, development and use of mineral, aggregate and fossil fuel resources in ways that provide lasting social and economic benefits while maintaining ecological processes and natural diversity.

These objectives are to be implemented through GNWT programs and through collaboration with other governments and organizations. The Minister responsible for Resources, Wildlife and Economic Development is responsible for implementation and periodic review of this policy. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Kakfwi. Item 4, returns to oral questions. The honourable Minister responsible for Transportation, Mr. Steen.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. This is a reply to a question asked by Mr. McLeod on February 28, 2000, relating to the Mackenzie River crossing in Fort Providence.

The Department of Transportation uses the Gold formula to calculate the thickness of ice necessary to support the weight of a truck on its winter roads and ice bridges. Dr. Lorne Gold developed the formula from his studies of winter logging roads in northern Quebec in the 1950s. Dr. Gold is Canada's foremost authority on the use of ice as an engineering material for transportation and has been the standard for design for many years.

The bearing strength of ice is not related to traffic volume. If the ice is strong enough to support the passing of one truck, it is strong enough to support any number of passes. Increased truck traffic does, however, damage the surface of the ice road by causing ruts. Many other factors, of course, also play a role and these are described in the Department of Transportation's manual, A Field Guide to Ice Construction Safety. Higher truck volumes increase the department's maintenance efforts in blading, flooding and smoothing of the travelling surface. If the wear and tear at a crossing becomes excessive, the department would open a second parallel crossing while it repaired the first.

So, in answer to the Member's question, heavier truck traffic does not effect the initial construction of an ice crossing, but it does impose greater maintenance costs on the Department of Transportation through the operating season.

Thank you, Minister Steen. Item 4, returns to oral questions. Item 5, recognition of visitors in the gallery. The honourable Member for Nahendeh, Mr. Antoine.

Thank you, Mr. Antoine. Welcome to the Legislative Assembly. Item 5, recognition of visitors in the gallery. The Member for Range Lake, Ms. Lee.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I am very happy to recognize Ms. Thomas, president of the NWTTA. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

-- Applause