Thank you, Mr. Ootes. Item 2, Ministers' statements. The honourable Minister responsible for Resources, Wildlife and Economic Development, Mr. Handley.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, there have been some recent reports of skinny, sick or dead caribou in the Northwest Territories, particularly in the Bathurst caribou herd. Concerns about lame caribou with lower leg lesions have been received from a number of sources, including Lutselk'e elders, barren-ground caribou outfitters and officials from Ekati Diamond Mine. Similar concerns have been raised by some hunters in the Beaufort region regarding Bluenose caribou.

I want to assure people that there is nothing unusual about these sightings and reports. Each report received by RWED officers is followed up. In the case of the Bathurst herd, samples were taken from 10 animals and sent to the Canadian Cooperative Wildlife Health Centre in Saskatoon to determine the cause of illness and/or death.

Test results and field observations suggest that this condition is consistent with a condition called "footrot", not to be mixed up with hoof and mouth disease, or necrobacillosis. It is a naturally occurring condition that turns up periodically in wildlife populations as individual cases or larger outbreaks. This condition is caused by naturally occurring bacteria that will usually only affect animals in poor condition with injuries or wounds that bacteria can penetrate.

Leg wounds from running over rough terrain or persistent exposure to wet ground provides an opportunity for this to occur. Infected animals often appear lame and can go on to develop a generalized infection resulting in death. It is important to note that footrot is not a contagious disease and is not spread from animal to animal.

A combination of conditions this year on the Bathurst caribou range could explain the higher than usual reports of lame caribou. This past summer was unusually wet, with some areas of the caribou range receiving 80 percent more rainfall than normal. As Members will recall, this past summer was also a prime year for mosquitoes and other insects. Caribou, like people, suffer from insect harassment. The animals can become skinny from running away from these insects.

Mr. Speaker, while there have been a few more reports of animals in poor condition this year, it is still considered to be within the range of normal occurrences.

The department is planning a survey of the Bathurst herd over the next few weeks to determine if conditions this summer have impacted calf survival or the overall health of the herd. We continue to work closely with community groups, outfitters and mining camps to document and investigate any additional cases of sick or dead caribou. I encourage any hunters who are encountering sick or dead caribou to report these incidents to their local RWED office. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, next Wednesday, November 7th, grade 9 students from across the NWT will skip school for the day, but they are not cutting classes. Most of them will spend the day at work with their parents, another relative or a family friend.

They are participating in the 8th annual Take Our Kids to Work Day. Since 1994, schools and workplaces across Canada have set aside one day a year for students in grade 9 to head out of the classroom and into a range of workplaces. The NWT is no exception. Over the past two years, more than 400 students have participated in Take Our Kids to Work Day.

Mr. Speaker, there are many advantages to an event like this. Take Our Kids to Work Day encourages a connection between family, school, the workplace and the community. It enhances a young person's understanding of the world of work. It helps students make the link between their education and their future and encourages them to consider career paths. More importantly, it is an opportunity to foster understanding and cooperation between schools, future employees and employers in the communities.

The theme of Take Our Kids to Work Day this year is "Experience, Teamwork and Safety." With an emphasis on workplace safety, students and employers will be briefed on appropriate behaviours that will help to ensure safety in the workplace. Students will also receive training on their rights and responsibilities in the workplace.

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to say that the Workers' Compensation Board will join us in Take Our Kids to Work Day events. The Young Worker Program, administered by WCB, is devoted to ensuring that young workers understand all the issues related to workplace safety.

Take Our Kids to Work Day is one of many events planned for Canada Career Week, November 4th to 10th. "Learning -- Power for Life" is the theme. Mr. Speaker, one of the most valuable learning experiences these young people can have is acquiring knowledge about staying safe in the workplace.

Mr. Speaker, I want to also thank the many businesses, industries and government offices that have agreed this year to again participate in Take Our Kids to Work Day. Your support of this program ensures its success and makes a credible learning experience for students. These students are the workforce of the future. The earlier young people begin to think seriously about and plan for a lifetime of learning, the more successful they will be. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

-- Applause

Thank you, Mr. Minister. Item 2, Ministers' statements. The honourable Minister responsible for Resources, Wildlife and Economic Development, Mr. Handley.

Mr. Speaker, concerns have been raised in this House about the Mackenzie Valley Environmental Impact Review Board's environmental assessment process as it applies to the process used by the Department of Resources, Wildlife and Economic Development to issue timber cutting permits. I would like to take the time now to clarify the process for Members.

The federal Mackenzie Valley Resource Management Act was established to implement provisions contained in land claims agreements in the Northwest Territories. The act established the Mackenzie Valley Environmental Impact Review Board to undertake environmental assessments and panel reviews. The Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development appoints board members who are nominated by First Nations and territorial and federal governments.

The review board is a public board that recommends ways to protect the environment from impacts that may be caused by a development. The environment includes biophysical, social, economic, traditional use and cultural impacts of the proposed development. The review board can also recommend to the Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development that a development be rejected because the impacts are too great.

The review board does not tell RWED to issue permits. The review board recommends whether or not the project can proceed and provides recommendations to mitigate any identified adverse environmental effects.

The environmental impact assessment process has three stages. These are the preliminary screening, environmental assessment and environmental impact review. Not all developments go through each of these three stages. Most go through preliminary screening and continue on through the permitting process.

Preliminary screening is done by the department or agency issuing permits such as water licences, land use permits and timber cutting authorities.

The review board does not issue permits or licences itself. Various government departments or the land and water boards issue them. However, if a project is referred to environmental assessment, the review board makes recommendations that may become terms and conditions of those permits or licences as approved by the Minister of DIAND. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

-- Applause

Thank you, Mr. Minister. Item 2, Ministers' statements. Item 3, Members' statements. The honourable Member for Mackenzie Delta, Mr. Krutko.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I stand here today with sadness in my heart with the passing of our jijuu, Sarah Simon. As we all know, Sarah Simon celebrated her 100th birthday a couple of months ago. Sarah Simon passed away with her family around her at 5:05 this morning at the Inuvik General Hospital.

Sarah dedicated her life to her people and to her church. Well into her 90's, she continued to help the Gwich'in people and the people of the Northwest Territories by her involvement with developing a document which has just been released, the "Our Jijuu: Who are My Grandparents and Where are They From?"

At this time, I would like to send my condolences out to the Stewart family, along with Sue, Doris, John, Lawrence and Paul and also to her many, many relatives in the Stewart and Kay families. Today we have lost a treasure, a lady who committed her life to her people and to serving the church and all who knew her. Sarah has always been there with open arms to help everyone and anyone. She always took the time to assist with all of the children around her and with ensuring we had the faith to continue to work on and support the family as a unit.

Just recently, Mr. Speaker, I received a card from Sarah Simon:

Dear David,

I greatly thank you for your kind words at my birthday feast held in Inuvik. May God bless you as you serve the Lord by serving your people.

Many blessings in your work,

Sarah Simon

With that, Mr. Speaker, I would like to again send my condolences out to Sarah Simon's family at this time. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Krutko. Indeed, the sympathies of the Assembly go to the family of Ms. Simon on their loss. Item 3, Members' statements. The honourable Member for Frame Lake, Mr. Dent.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, for the past three years, the Department of Health and Social Services has commissioned numerous studies and reports totalling nearly $2.5 million. These have included the Med-Emerg report, the Minister's Forum, the Child Welfare League report, all coming at a time when several health boards have significant deficits. For example, Stanton Regional Hospital built up a deficit of $1.6 million.

Mr. Speaker, the most recent was the sole-sourced Cuff report, which reviewed our northern health care system. I believe it has missed the mark because it was written from a southern perspective.

Mr. Speaker, not everything in the report was wrong. Certainly the recommendations on board training and development were good. However, the Standing Committee on Social Programs has been saying the same thing for a long time. Mr. Speaker, that advice was free.

The recommendations on health care redesign were okay, but talking to the Northwest Territories Medical Association, again for free, could have resulted in more relevant ones.

The real focus of the Cuff report was governance. Mr. Speaker, from that focus, one might start to believe that by changing our system of governance, we could deal with most of the problems facing health and social services in the North. That approach is misguided. I bet if we eliminated every board and simply let the department run the system, we would still not save enough money to cover one year of forced growth in program delivery.

Alberta tried to solve their skyrocketing cost programs a few years ago by cutting health boards, much as recommended by the Cuff report. Recently, they announced that they needed to cut over a billion dollars again from health care. The Mazankowski report on the health system is calling for dramatic changes like increased use of nurse practitioners and delisting treatments for some common things. So Albertans might have to pay themselves to see a doctor for a sprain. Alberta is making the same mistakes that I think we have. They too are just fiddling around the edges of the problem rather than facing it head on.

The real problems facing our health and social services programs today are what are the expectations of the public of the health care and social services system and what can our system afford or support now and into the future? The department needs to address these pressing issues in order to deal with the big problem of sustainability.

Mr. Speaker, this is not a problem faced only in the Northwest Territories. Across Canada, health care costs have spiralled up 40 percent in the past four years. In Ontario, health services alone account for 43.9 percent of all government program spending. Mr. Speaker, I seek unanimous consent to conclude my statement.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker, honourable Members. In the Northwest Territories, we are nowhere near that proportion as found in Ontario and I doubt we are even close to what is found in most other provinces, but the demand for services is growing very quickly. Within the next five or ten years, we may be faced with having to find $100 million to maintain services the public expects to be able to access. We certainly will not save that much through changes in governance. We have to look far ahead, not just a year or two.

Mr. Speaker. I urge the Minister to take the initiative and start the dialogue. It will not be an easy one, nor will the answers happen as quickly as we would all like to see. However, if we do not start the discussion soon, we might run out of money for anything, but health care in the not-too-distant future. Mr. Speaker, let us get started. Thank you.

-- Applause

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I rise today to, as did my colleague for Mackenzie Delta, speak on the passing of Sarah Simon. I was fortunate to be able to attend her 100th birthday celebration in Inuvik. Many people from across the Delta took the opportunity to wish her well and give her many gifts. I had the opportunity to speak on behalf of this government there and wish her well also.

Mr. Speaker, one very important activity she was involved with, which was a lifelong journey for her that she spoke about, was her devotion to her Lord and Saviour. She provided that service to many people. She was a mentor to many people growing up in the Delta, as well as a counsellor to many.

Mr. Speaker, as you heard through Mr. Krutko, the thank you card is one that she reflects and looks back on as a service. Although this may be a sad day for the family and residents of the Delta and the Northwest Territories to lose someone as valuable as Ms. Sarah Simon, I like to put it in the picture that in her devotion to her Lord and Saviour, there is rejoicing going on now in the heavens above as they welcome her with open arms for the great work she has done. I am sure they will be sending blessings down to comfort her family.

Just to inform her family that my family and I pray for their peace at this time. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Roland. Item 3, Members' statements. The honourable Member for Inuvik Twin Lakes, Mr. Allen.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Being a Friday, and as we begin to look forward to the close of the Fourth Session of the 14th Legislative Assembly, I was asked by my constituents to make a Member's statement in memory of a fond uncle and friend to many in the Northwest Territories and Nunavut. Mr. Speaker, I am speaking of the late Abe Okpik, first Eskimo appointed to the Northwest Territories Council in 1965. His picture hangs on the wall of the entrance to the Cabinet offices along with the many distinguished councillors.

We are proud of Abe's accomplishments. He was a Governor General Award recipient and named to the Order of Canada for his involvement with Project Surname in the 1960's. He was often referred to as a diplomat for the Western Arctic, although he spent much of his life, as he would say, patrolling the East. As his son Roy said in his obituary, Uncle Abe wanted to be buried in the East, but his spirit remains in the West.

With that, Mr. Speaker, I hope that the request to make this statement has been fulfilled by yours truly for the constituents of Inuvik Twin Lakes. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

-- Applause

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The other day, the Honourable Roger Allen indicated to this House that the United Nations has declared this year the International Year of Volunteers. I would like to mention a local group of volunteers today, Mr. Speaker.

The Yellowknife Community Foundation is a group of volunteers working to enrich the lives of others in our community. Ten years ago, a group of individuals got together to start a charity to support a variety of needs in our community. By 1993, the organization became a registered charity.

Mr. Speaker, they provide grants to support projects that advance the welfare of the needy and alleviate human suffering and poverty; assist in promoting arts and cultural events; assist sport, recreation and community development; assist and advance the provision of medical services; and also assist and advance other community activities or facilities of a charitable nature.

Mr. Speaker, the foundation has funds to support a variety of needs within our community, as I have indicated. They have also established three additional funds. Many of us are familiar with them. The NWT Fine and Performing Arts Fund, Jenny Gamble Fournier Memorial Scholarship Fund and the Mary Beth Miller Memorial Fund.

Mr. Speaker, the foundation receives both individual and corporate support. Corporate contributions do form a significant part of the foundation's working capital. I would like to acknowledge the following businesses in our community who are involved with the foundation: Artisan Press; Avery Cooper and Co.; Canarctic Graphics; Inkit; Gullberg, Wiest, MacPherson and Kay; Northern News Services; NorthwesTel; and RTL Robinson. Together, individuals and corporations have contributed approximately $200,000 to date.

Mr. Speaker, I would also like to acknowledge the board of directors of the Yellowknife Community Foundation today. Many people work behind the scenes in support of such worthwhile causes and often do not get the recognition they deserve. Current volunteers who form the board of directors are: Blair Dunbar, Ian Legaree, Doug Nelson, Tom Hall, Loraine Minish-Cooper, Connie Langstrom, Julia Mott, and Louise Vertes.

Mr. Speaker, I am extremely grateful to these individuals who are so giving of their time and talents and I ask that my fellow Members join me today in recognition of their efforts. Thank you.

-- Applause

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

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, November is National Diabetes Month. With an aging and less active population across North America, and I think we are included in that in the NWT, diabetes is becoming a more costly and serious problem for all health care systems.

It is estimated that four to six percent of the population have type 2 diabetes, Mr. Speaker. The Canadian Diabetes Association says that for every person who has diabetes, there is another who goes undiagnosed. Many people who have type 2 diabetes are not aware of it.

Some questions that I suggest asking are the following:

• • Are you 45 years of age or over?
• • Are you overweight, particularly around your middle?
• • Do you get enough exercise?
• • Are you aboriginal?
• • Does your brother or sister or a parent have diabetes?

If you have checked two or more of these, you are at risk of developing type 2 diabetes. Having these risk factors does not mean you will get diabetes, but the risk increases. The advice, Mr. Speaker, is that we should all have our blood sugar levels checked at least every three years.

There are two important points to stress, Mr. Speaker. Type 2 diabetes is largely preventable. Its onset may be delayed through healthy lifestyle choices, including a healthy diet, weight control, exercise and reduction in stress. Diabetes can be managed through proper monitoring, testing and lifestyle; eat properly, get enough exercise and do not smoke.

In closing, Mr. Speaker, I would like to acknowledge the tremendous efforts of the Stanton Diabetes Education Program, which is conducting screening and outreach programs in communities in the NWT, starting with Fort Simpson beginning on November 14th, which is World Diabetes Day.

Mr. Speaker, I would especially like to compliment two constituents of the Great Slave Riding, Mary Deans and Mabel Wong, who are making their own contribution to this awareness effort. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

-- Applause

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I would like to draw the attention of this House and in particular the Ministers of Health and Social Services and Education, Culture and Employment, to the need for financial assistance for those children with special needs and learning disabilities.

Mr. Speaker, one of my constituents has a daughter with a visual/perceptual dysfunction called scotopic sensitive syndrome, which makes it very difficult for her to read and learn without special glasses that correct her visual and perceptual impairment.

The important factor is that this impairment went undiagnosed for many years. It was only with my constituent's persistence and knowledge about this syndrome that she was able to get her daughter in to see a specialist and be properly diagnosed and treated with specially made glasses. This happened while the family was on vacation in Saskatchewan this past summer.

The unfortunate thing is that she has been denied a reimbursement of almost $900 that she spent in giving her daughter this gift of new life where she can learn freely.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to advise this House that I have written to the offices of the Ministers of Health and Social Services and Education, Culture and Employment about two weeks ago and I have not yet had a reply. I would just like to make a formal and public request to the Ministers to direct their staff to do the right thing and reimburse this cost to my constituent. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

-- Applause

Thank you, Ms. Lee. Item 3, Members' statements. The honourable Member for Tu Nedhe, Mr. Nitah.

Thank you, Mr. Nitah. Item 3, Members' statements. Item 4, returns to oral questions. The honourable Minister responsible for Transportation, Mr. Steen.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker, good morning. Mr. Speaker, I have a return to an oral question asked by Mr. Krutko on October 29, 2001, regarding the reinstatement of deferred capital projects on the Dempster Highway.

The Member for Mackenzie Delta asked me a question about two cancelled contracts on the Dempster Highway.

The two cancelled contracts were culvert replacements, kilometre 0 to kilometre 20, estimated at $500,000, and the embankment widening, kilometre 127 to kilometre 130, estimated at $450,000. The contracts were elements of the Dempster Highway Project, which was approved in this year's main estimates with a total project budget of $5 million.

The foundation gravel component of the culvert replacement for work was recently tendered and has been awarded to Tetlit'zheh Trucking of Fort McPherson at $490,000. This contract is in progress for completion this fiscal year.

The embankment widening work has been rescheduled for completion during the summer of 2002. Proceeding with the later contract will be subject to the main estimates budget approvals. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Minister. Item 4, returns to oral questions. Item 5, recognition of visitors in the gallery. The honourable Member for Range Lake, Ms. Lee.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I would like to recognize Mr. Mike Vaydik, executive director of the NWT Chamber of Mines, and Denise Burlingame, senior public affairs officer for BHP Mines. Thank you.

-- Applause

Item 5, recognition of visitors in the Gallery. The honourable Member for Yellowknife Centre, Mr. Ootes.

I would also like to recognize Mr. Vaydik and Ms. Burlingame. They are constituents of mine, Mr. Speaker.

-- Applause

Thank you, Mr. Ootes. Item 5, Recognition of visitors in the Gallery. I would like to welcome you to the gallery, including members of our media. Item 6, oral questions. The honourable Member for North Slave, Mr. Lafferty.

Thank you, Mr. Lafferty. The honourable Minister responsible for the Department of Finance, Mr. Handley.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Certainly we want to work with all of the MLAs in any plans that we have for any revenues we have. In fact, to me there is a very clear process already in place. It is called the business planning process. We have been going through that. I have been very open and upfront with Members in telling them about any revenues that we anticipate or that we have. We have all spent a lot of time on that process in the last little while and we will continue to use that process.

As well, Mr. Speaker, if there are unusual situations, we are open to alternatives. I think the Premier has, in fact, said to some of the Members or the chairs that we would be willing to look at alternatives if they want. We are open. This is consensus government. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Minister. Supplementary, Mr. Lafferty.

Thank you, Mr. Lafferty. The honourable Minister responsible for the Department of Finance, Mr. Handley.

Again, let me repeat myself. Certainly we will. In fact, there is a process. It is the business planning process. We are in the middle of that right now. I have been very open, as I said, to all Members and to the Standing Committee on Governance and Economic Development saying, "Here is the revenue we have. Here is what we anticipate. Here are the expenditures we anticipate." I am open. I look forward to recommendations from the committees. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Minister. Supplementary, Mr. Lafferty.

Thank you, Mr. Lafferty. The honourable Minister responsible for the Department of Finance, Mr. Handley.

Mr. Speaker, all of our revenues and all of our expenditures have to be looked at in the longer term. We cannot run to the store every time we have a few nickels in our pocket and spend them. If we do that, then we are going to get ourselves in a lot of trouble.

Mr. Speaker, whenever we have new revenues, we have to look at our long-term picture. As I have said to Members before, when we are facing the possibility of an economic recession in Canada, when we are facing the possibility of losing money on our grant, then we have to look long term.

At today's expenditures, we are looking at hitting our borrowing limit some time in late 2004-2005. I have to look at that. I have to look at all of the revenues we get. If we spend the revenues right now, we are going to reach our borrowing limit a lot faster. I am prepared to sit down and go through the fiscal framework with Members any time, review it, get your input. In fact, I would appreciate, any time you want, to do that and get your advice on that. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Minister. Item 6, oral questions. The honourable Member for Tu Nedhe, Mr. Nitah.

Thank you, Mr. Nitah. The Chair is not quite sure. You are asking the question to the Minister of Aboriginal Affairs, but it seemed like an RWED question. However, you did direct it to Aboriginal Affairs. Mr. Antoine, you may answer it if you choose.

Thank you, Mr. Minister. Supplementary, Mr. Nitah.

Thank you, Mr. Nitah. The honourable Minister responsible for the Ministry of Aboriginal Affairs, Mr. Antoine.

Thank you, Mr. Minister. Supplementary, Mr. Nitah.

Thank you, Mr. Nitah. The honourable Minister responsible for the Ministry of Aboriginal Affairs, Mr. Antoine.

Thank you, Mr. Minister. Final supplementary, Mr. Nitah.

Thank you, Mr. Nitah. The honourable Minister responsible for the Ministry of Aboriginal Affairs, Mr. Antoine.

Thank you, Mr. Minister. Item 6, oral questions. The honourable Member for Yellowknife South, Mr. Bell.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My question today is for the new Minister of Health and Social Services. The other day, Members of this House had occasion to meet with the Northwest Territories Medical Association and we talked about the nurse practitioner program and some of the problems that have arisen.

It started out and we all had very high hopes for this program, but there has been some problem with buy-in from physicians and others. One of the problems has been the issue of joint liability as it relates to this collaborative care. As legislators, we can certainly go forward on some legislation that might govern nurse practitioners and deal with some of these liability issues. I am wondering if the Minister is prepared to do that and can give me any indication at this time if it is going forward. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Bell. The honourable Minister responsible for the Department of Health and Social Services, Mr. Miltenberger.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I have had this portfolio for about 16 hours, but the issue the Member raises is a good one. I support the nurse practitioner concept and I will commit that as we do the briefings and as I meet with all the Members and do the work to move this agenda along, that will be one of the issues we will look at in a serious way so we can come forward with some options of how we can address the issues that were raised at the briefing. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Minister. Supplementary, Mr. Bell.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I am hoping the Minister will also commit to some consultation with the Northwest Territories Medical Association. It seems to me that a logical fit might be lumping this legislation governing nurse practitioners in with the Health Care Professions Act. I am hoping that the Minister will commit to meeting with the Northwest Territories Medical Association to have discussions on this issue. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Bell. The honourable Minister responsible for the Department of Health and Social Services, Mr. Miltenberger.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Yes, I will.

Thank you, Mr. Minister. Item 6, oral questions. The honourable Member for Mackenzie Delta, Mr. Krutko.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I too have a question for the Minister of Health and Social Services, Mr. Miltenberger. It is in regard to the Aklavik Health Centre. Mr. Speaker, the community of Aklavik agreed to allow the new health centre to be built on the existing ball diamond. A lot of work and effort went into developing the ball diamond. A lot of it was volunteered.

Mr. Speaker, the people of Aklavik's understanding at the time was, with the occupation of the ball diamond with the new health centre, that they will also have the resources to build a new ball diamond.

Mr. Speaker, the community of Aklavik, along with myself, would like to know what the status of the situation is and where the resources are to replace the ball diamond that is presently being occupied by the new health centre.

Thank you, Mr. Krutko. The honourable Minister responsible for the Department of Health and Social Services, Mr. Miltenberger.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I would like to ensure my colleague that I am very interested in playing ball with the Members opposite and will make every effort to be to be as responsive as possible.

With regard to the Member's question, I thank him for asking it yesterday to give me time to check that the money is in the budget. It would appear that construction season is probably gone for this year in terms of ball diamonds. I know the Member had some suggestions of alternative use, which we are prepared to look at. However, I understand the money is in the budget. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Minister. Supplementary, Mr. Krutko.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I would like to ask the Minister exactly how soon can the community of Aklavik expect to have the money in their hands and out of the budget?

Thank you, Mr. Krutko. The honourable Minister responsible for the Department of Health and Social Services, Mr. Miltenberger.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, that particular question will be part of the briefings I hope to undertake next week. I cannot give the Member a firm answer, but it is now on our to-do list. It has been raised and the department is aware of the concerns. We will be making every effort to ensure that we comply and honour the agreement. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Miltenberger. Supplementary, Mr. Krutko.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. With regard to the question about the ball diamond, it has been some time that the health centre has almost completed construction. Hopefully, we will have an opening here shortly. I think the community is in need of having those resources on hand so they can start doing the planning themselves in house, but they need an answer as soon as possible. Can the Minister give me written assurance that it will be available to the community in a short time?

Thank you, Mr. Krutko. The honourable Minister responsible for the Department of Health and Social Services, Mr. Miltenberger.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I will commit to a written response to the Member within a week. Thank you.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, following up on my statement earlier today, I have a question for the Minister responsible for Health and Social Services. Mr. Speaker, with health care costs increasing across Canada over 40 percent in the past four years, can the Minister confirm that the problem of sustainability in our system is driven most by rising program costs?

Thank you, Mr. Dent. The honourable Minister responsible for the Department of Health and Social Services, Mr. Miltenberger.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I see no point of dispute with the Member's statement. Thank you.

Supplementary, Mr. Dent.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I appreciate the Minister's response. Will the Minister commit to seek dialogue, much as requested by Mr. Bell, with northern stakeholders? Not just the NWT Medical Association, but the NWT Registered Nurses Association, the Social Workers Association, when redesigning the health and social services system?

Thank you, Mr. Dent. The honourable Minister responsible for the Department of Health and Social Services, Mr. Miltenberger.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I would like to assure my colleague that I do not make light of the issue of sustainability. I know it is a critical question to be dealt with as we look at health and social services and where we are going to go as a government in dealing with the issues of the day in that area.

Yes, I will commit to consulting with all of the stakeholders. I am very interested in that issue. I have learnt it well as a member of Social Programs. I have heard Mr. Dent speak quite eloquently on the issue. It has not been lost on me, the years I have been on that committee. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Minister. Supplementary, Mr. Dent.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to ask the Minister if he will commit to reviewing the reports that have been done over the past few years and examine whether or not their recommendations have been adequately addressed.

Thank you, Mr. Dent. The honourable Minister responsible for the Department of Health and Social Services, Mr. Miltenberger.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, it is being done as we speak.

Thank you, Mr. Minister. Final supplementary, Mr. Dent.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, will the Minister commit to no more studies in health and social services for the life of this government?

Thank you, Mr. Dent. The honourable Minister responsible for the Department of Health and Social Services, Mr. Miltenberger.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I would like to assure the Members opposite that this department will not be the department of perpetual planning and study. There will be no more studies. We will be moving on to action and implementation. Thank you.

-- Applause

Thank you, Mr. Miltenberger, Mr. Dent. I see they are following the rules to the letter -- short questions, short responses. Item 6, oral questions. The honourable Member for Range Lake, Ms. Lee.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my question today goes to the Minister of Justice regarding the Human Rights Act that the government has been working on. I believe the plan was to have the act introduced sometime this fall, but every indication that I see is that this may not be possible. It may not be happening. I was wondering if the Minister could advise the House as to where the government is with respect to this legislation. Thank you.

Thank you, Ms. Lee. The honourable Minister responsible for the Department of Justice, Mr. Antoine.

Thank you, Mr. Minister. Supplementary, Ms. Lee.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I am just wondering, I am aware of the fact that this government is still engaged in a legal process with respect to pay equity. I see some contradiction in the government being involved in the litigation of pay equity and yet, at the same time, trying to address it through the Human Rights Act. I wonder if the Minister could clarify as to where the government's position is and if he sees any contradiction in this two-pronged effort. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Ms. Lee. The honourable Minister responsible for the Department of Justice, Mr. Antoine.

Thank you, Mr. Minister. Supplementary, Ms. Lee.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It looks like we still have a lot of work to do on that. Could the Minister advise as to whether or not he will be able to table the legislation by the earliest session in the new year? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Ms. Lee. The honourable Minister responsible for the Department of Justice, Mr. Antoine.

Thank you, Mr. Minister. Final supplementary, Ms. Lee.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, at the same time, may I ask the Minister to provide the Members of the House regarding some of the outcomes of the consultation process during the week? In particular, the question about pay equity and any other important issues that may have arisen out of the consultation process? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.