Thank you, Madam Groenewegen. Bonjour. Déclarations de ministres. Item 2, Ministers' statements. The honourable Minister responsible for Health and Social Services, Madam Groenewegen.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, on behalf of the Honourable Jake Ootes, Minister of Education, Culture and Employment, and myself, I rise today to speak about the well-being and future of our youngest and most vulnerable residents -- our children.

Mr. Speaker, the health and well-being of all Northerners is a key priority for our government, as outlined in our vision in Towards a Better Tomorrow. There is a clear and distinct linkage between our social well-being and economic well-being and one cannot advance without the other. Our residents must be healthy in order to take advantage of the opportunities the North has to offer. Conversely, a vibrant northern economy requires that our people are fully engaged in and controlling its direction. In this regard, Mr. Speaker, the early childhood development initiative is a strong component in laying the groundwork for the well-being of our future adults.

The Department of Health and Social Services has been providing comprehensive health programming from preconception through infancy, early childhood and beyond. Prenatal programs, infant immunization, family supports with parenting programs, early developmental screening and even the recent introduction of progressive child and family services legislation will all contribute to life-long wellness.

The Department of Education, Culture and Employment provides funding for a number of high quality, early childhood programs throughout the Northwest Territories. These programs are critical in establishing a foundation for learning. Research shows that the earlier learning enrichment begins, the better prepared a child will be for a life of learning.

Mr. Speaker, the Early Childhood Development Action Plan will address these very important issues through increased support for the coordination and integration of programming designed to give all our children the best possible start in life.

In the budget speech, Minister Handley announced an investment of $2 million a year for the next three years for our Northwest Territories early childhood development initiative.

The goal of our early childhood action plan is to ensure that every child in the Northwest Territories is born healthy, achieves optimal development in the critical early years and arrives at their first day of kindergarten ready to learn.

Mr. Speaker, we know this is an ambitious goal. However, if we truly believe that our children are our future, what better investment could we make than to ensure that they have the best possible start in life?

Our Early Childhood Development Action Plan will focus on four priority areas:

1. pregnancy, birth and infancy;
2. parenting and family supports;
3. early childhood care and learning; and
4. community supports.

Mr. Speaker, various reports tell us that far too many children are born brain-damaged from fetal alcohol syndrome and that many of the children taken into care in their early years come from families struggling with issues of addictions and abuse. That is why the action plan will include a very strong focus on prevention of FAS/FAE, as well as increased supports for early intervention and supports for parents.

During the first three years of life, children's brains grow and develop quickly. Critical learning pathways for language development and learning are established in these important early years. The third area of investment -- early childhood learning -- will build on the many established, successful early childhood development programs that are already in place in almost all communities. Language development will also be emphasized in the plan, including early speech/language remediation and opportunities for aboriginal children to get a strong grounding in their first language.

Mr. Speaker, it has been said that it takes a whole community to raise a child, and it is true that healthy communities are a key factor in healthy child development. For this reason, the fourth area of focus in the plan is community supports. This will include finding better ways to integrate programs and services to provide a comprehensive continuum of services for children's early years in every community.

Mr. Speaker, I want to assure Members that the plan will include measurable goals and performance indicators. It is vitally important that the programs and services provided to young children and their families are effective.

Information, ideas and suggestions have been received from consultations with our partners and non-government organizations, including the Northwest Territories Native Women's Association, the Status of Women's Council, the Northwest Territories Councils for Literacy and Persons with Disabilities, the YWCA and representative service providers.

Mr. Speaker, in December, Minister Ootes and I had the opportunity to meet with the Standing Committee on Social Programs on this matter. At that time, the standing committee indicated strong support for the ECD proposal and urged all the Ministers of the social envelope to champion this initiative. We would like to thank the standing committee for their support and their many valuable suggestions.

Our departments are currently completing the detailed early childhood action plan that will include the description of resource allocations, program deliverables and accountability measures.

Mr. Speaker, the Honourable Jake Ootes and I are both committed to delivering a strong, effective territorial early childhood development initiative. We also commit to keeping Members of this House informed as we move through the anticipated final approval and initial implementation steps, and we thank you for your ongoing support in this very worthwhile endeavour. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

-- Applause

Thank you, Madam Minister. Item 2, Minister's statements. Item 3, Members' Statements. Déclarations de députés. The honourable Member for the Deh Cho, Mr. McLeod.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As Members are aware, the Northwest Territories highway system consists of 2200 kilometres of all-weather roads and 1500 kilometres of ice and winter roads. The highway system also includes five ferries and the Department of Transportation is responsible for the operation, maintenance and upgrading of the Northwest Territories highway system. The department is also responsible for monitoring and counting traffic on the highway system. To do this, the department operates a series of mechanical counters and sometimes makes visual counts and surveys. I am told this information is used to set priorities and maintenance and capital funding and to monitor safety aspects of highways.

However, on the department's own information, they put a disclaimer on their published data. In 1999, only 46 percent of the potential data was usable for determining traffic volume. This performance is attributed to the age of traffic counters, breakdown of loops and improper handling.

Mr. Speaker, the Minister is well aware of the concerns of my constituents for the safety and condition of the Hay River Reserve access road. My information is that this road was developed by DIAND in the early 1960s and there has never been any major construction or reconstruction projects used to change or improve the condition of the road. Yes, the department does carry out a dust control program and some maintenance and spot repairs in an attempt to keep the road passable.

However, Mr. Speaker, you will note that I have used the word attempt because that is exactly what it is, a mere attempt by the department to make a safe, well-travelled road out of a dirt road that was never designed for today's traffic.

I have checked out the traffic flow figures and the information under reported collisions on this well-travelled access road. I am shocked at the results of my investigation. My constituents deserve better. We are talking about loss of property and lives because the department is not listening to the community. We know better than the Minister the dangers the road presents to them.

On July 7, 2000, the Minister said in a statement to this House that the maintenance and accident records of the Hay River Reserve access road speak for themselves. Mr. Speaker, I would like consent to continue my statement.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. On July 7, 2000, the Minister said in a statement to this House that the maintenance and accident records of the Hay River Reserve access road speak for themselves. Mr. Speaker, I would like to point out to the Minister that effective communication is not only about speaking, but listening. I have to say it just depends on who is doing the listening. I hope the Minister will be listening later today when I have questions on this very serious situation. I can assure the Minister my constituents will be listening to his answers. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

-- Applause

Merci, Mr. McLeod. Déclarations de députés. The honourable Member for Range Lake, Ms. Lee.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, earlier this month along with a number of other Members in the House, including the Honourable Roger Allen, Minister responsible for Youth, I had an opportunity to attend a part of the 2001 Coaching and Volunteer Symposium held in Yellowknife. The jam-packed program for the three days was designed to help coaches and volunteers in areas such as nutrition, injury prevention, and motivating athletes and designing training models.

It was also a celebration of the crucial role sports play in enhancing the wellness of our people and the recognition that the integral force behind the viability of any sporting community is the hours of services provided by coaches and volunteers.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank numerous organizers of this event, in particular Rob Meckling and Abe Theil of Sport North for a job well done. It was especially meaningful for me to talk to two delegates from Fort Resolution at this symposium. One of them was a soccer coach and the other was a soccer mom extraordinaire, Brandie Miersch and Marcella Fabien.

I learned that coach Miersch volunteers two hours every day in school coaching. She enjoys it and she feels it is really important that children have a place and time for healthy activity to engage in and to keep them out of trouble. That is true commitment and dedication and one that we sometimes take for granted in the North.

The soccer mom, on the other hand, is in charge of raising money so that the children can travel outside of the community for soccer tournaments. She does a lot of bake sales. It was obvious to me that she felt very strongly that she was doing something very worthwhile. Being invited to a symposium like this and to take part in many of the very interesting and educational sessions was a small reward for all that they give to their community.

Mr. Speaker, I think we are all aware that there are thousands of Brandies and Marcellas in the North who do so much to help our children and youth get involved in healthy activities. I truly believe that this is at the heart of how we will achieve individual and community wellness.

This is also an area that needs greater attention from the Members of this Assembly because it is one that is suffering a great deal from lack of funding and coordination on the part of all decision-makers. Many Members in the House have already stated that this has to be a priority area, and I urge all Ministers and Members to put our thinking caps on and address this area of great importance to us all. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

-- Applause

Thank you, Ms. Lee. Déclarations de députés. Item 3, Members' statements. The honourable Member for Thebacha, Mr. Miltenberger.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, today I would like to rise and speak to the issue of sports and recreation. Mr. Speaker, since 1970 with the start of the Arctic Winter Games, the focus on sports and recreation in the North has slowly shifted away from what was community-based, supportive programs for communities and individuals at the community level to an almost complete focus on the Arctic Winter Games and the cost and the never-ending planning for the next Arctic Winter Games.

As well, Mr. Speaker, the government has slowly backed away from the issue of sports and recreation and quietly has off-loaded that responsibility on Sport North and no other organizations, in most cases without really any adequate funding.

On the other hand, the government continues to build sports facilities, rinks, ball diamonds and such with no focus on the practical running and support for these activities. They have put money into infrastructure but not into developing and creating athletes and sport and recreation programs at the community level.

Mr. Speaker, it is now time for the territorial government to step back up to the plate and look at this very important area. We need a leadership role specifically, I would suggest, through Municipal and Community Affairs. If this is one area that we need a clear vision and strategic plan of how we are going to do that...for 30 years, things have slowly shifted out of focus.

Mr. Speaker, as we work towards a better tomorrow, we do need to keep in mind the critical role that sports and recreation plays in continuing the service that we provide as a government.

Mr. Speaker, in particular, we clearly have to revisit the Arctic Winter Games. They are too big, they cost too much and they are held too often. The international organizing committee, Mr. Speaker, is as secretive and has all of the same problems as the International Olympic Committee. They make decisions in private. They do not keep notes. They make in camera decisions. There are no minutes. It speaks very clearly to the problems we have here. We should not have jurisdictions that exist south of 60 taking part in the Arctic Winter Games. It does not make any sense.

It has expanded too far and it consumes all of the energy of government and all the focus of the planning organizations. Mr. Speaker, I request unanimous consent to conclude my statement.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, clearly there is a need to take a look at the broad issue of sports and recreation. It should not be focused around one primary activity that sucks up all of the resources and energy of the government and people of the Northwest Territories.

Mr. Speaker, we should be looking at the least of three to four years for the Arctic Winter Games. If not, the possibility of even focusing on our own territorial games in the summer and winter and backing away from that very expensive process that now exists.

I will be asking the Minister of Municipal and Community Affairs later today how he intends to deal with this very critical issue. Thank you.

-- Applause

Merci, Mr. Miltenberger. Déclarations de députés. Item 3, Members' statements. The honourable Member for Frame Lake, Mr. Dent.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, as we are all aware, Giant Mine pensioners were notified last February that their former employer, Royal Oak Mines, had under-funded their pension plan. This resulted in the former workers losing approximately 25 percent of their pension payments as of April 1, 2000.

Mr. Speaker, last March our Legislative Assembly unanimously supported a motion to urge the Government of Canada to take immediate action and restore the full pension entitlements earned by these workers.

Despite the obvious unfairness of the situation, federal Minister Robert Nault has advised us that the Government of Canada will not provide any money to make up for the pension shortfall.

Mr. Speaker, the recent announcement that the financial state of the fund has improved and pensioners will now receive 91 percent of their entitlement is certainly welcome. It still leaves pensioners significantly short of what should rightfully be theirs. More importantly, this does not make up for the fact that the laws of our country did not provide relief or protection for the innocent workers or widows in this case.

Mr. Speaker, I call on our government to let the federal government know that we support the private member's bill that was recently given first reading in the House of Commons in Canada. The bill was introduced by MP Pat Martin. It proposes to change the Federal Bankruptcy Act so that unpaid wages and payments with respect to pension are given first priority over claims of ordinary creditors.

Mr. Speaker, I also believe that our territorial legislation should be changed. As is the case in Ontario, our government could create a Pension Benefits Act that establishes a fund to guarantee the payment of pension entitlements.

Mr. Speaker, when it comes to bankruptcy, employees and pensioners across the Northwest Territories and across Canada must know that their pension benefits will be protected. As a government, we must guarantee that workers always receive the entitlements that they have earned. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

--Applause

Thank you, Mr. Dent. Item 3, Members' statements. Déclarations de députés. The honourable Member for Tu Nedhe, Mr. Nitah.

Mahsi, Mr. Nitah. Item 3, Members' statements. The honourable Member for Mackenzie Delta, Mr. Krutko.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the high cost of living in the Northwest Territories, especially our small, isolated communities, has seen a major increase, especially in the cost of fuel. In the constituency I represent, in the community of Aklavik, they are paying 74 cents per litre for heating fuel and as high as $1.25 a litre for gasoline.

Mr. Speaker, the Minister mentions subsidies that they are going to offset of some $350. Yes, Mr. Speaker, the cost of heating fuel has skyrocketed, the other costs associated with goods and services and also property taxes have increased. Communities are trying to find new ways and new initiatives of how to offset the high cost of diesel fuel in our communities.

I think one of the things that communities are considering is if it is possible for the Housing Corporation to consider a new initiative by improving the ability of private household owners to use wood as an alternative heat source and diesel fuel where there is a real resource sitting on our doorstep. I think it is important as a government that we start developing our resources, not only the non-renewable but the renewable resources to allow people to have the ability to have a second source of heat within their homes. I think it is important as a government that we have to find unique ways of dealing with the high cost of energy in our communities, especially the costs to heat our homes.

It is important for this government to start looking at new initiatives. We have agencies and groups out there with regard to the Arctic Energy Alliance that are doing work on behalf of this government, but they are looking more in the way of energy. I think we also have to try to find ways to improve the homes of the residents that we serve and also give them the opportunity to find alternative ways of dealing with the high cost of energy, especially heating fuel in the Northwest Territories. So at the appropriate time, Mr. Speaker, I will be asking the Minister of Housing to consider the new initiative of putting woodstoves in people's homes so they can use the renewable resources around them. Thank you.

-- Applause

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Greetings to my constituents in Inuvik, my wife and children. Today I rise to speak on the issue of what I see as a major about-face. Mr. Speaker, when we first came into this Legislative Assembly, we were told that on the royalty revenue-sharing issue, that we would hear some good news by June. We were told in fact maybe the fall. The latest update, Mr. Speaker, we were told 2003. The timing is quite coincidental with when this Assembly ends its days.

On the issue of fee increases, we were told that revenues we tried to raise on our own were small and virtually had little impact, so they were not a good idea. We were told on the taxing of our people in the Northwest Territories, that as well had little impact because the federal government would take much of that back.

Mr. Speaker, just as we started this session, in my question to the Minister responsible for FMB, he stated that the chief of staff position was probably a DM position, as I read it. An about-face, Mr. Speaker. We were told how things would work out when we sat down as Members of the 14th Assembly that some things were not a good idea and we should not move forward. They justified those reasons to us, yet today, Mr. Speaker, in this budget today and what this government answers in questions today, we get different answers than we were given a year ago.

We see fee increases across the board coming with this new budget. We had this government propose new taxes and we had the Premier state that the chief of staff position was an executive assistant position, but the Minister of FMB told me in an answer that when it is classified, it will probably be a deputy minister position. About-face, Mr. Speaker. How much more will we take as Members of the 14th Assembly? Thank you.

-- Applause

Thank you, Mr. Roland. Déclarations de Députés. Item 3, Members' statements. The honourable Member for Hay River North, Mr. Delorey.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Today I would like to address an ongoing issue that is of great concern to residents of Hay River. Mr. Speaker, the issue that I refer to is the Hay River District Education Authority's request to form their own district education council. Mr. Speaker, Minister Ootes has stated that he will not approve the DEA's petition at this time due to several factors. Mr. Speaker, the Minister has stated that there are financial implications and member communities to be considered. In addition, the Hay River DEA was told that a pending Government of the Northwest Territories review of regional administration structures would have to take place before any change could be brought about.

Mr. Speaker, this brings to mind a similar incident that is relevant. Mr. Speaker, when the Department of Transportation undertook to create a new North Slave region, there was not an exhaustive community consultation process commenced as there was in Hay River surrounding the area of the DEA petition, at considerable expense to the Government of the Northwest Territories, I might add.

The new North Slave region has financial implications as well, Mr. Speaker. Although the Department of Transportation has ensured us there will be no loss of jobs in Hay River and no negative impact to the South Slave region, I suggest, Mr. Speaker, that due to the reduction in the economies of scale and the reallocation of funds, Hay River and the South Slave will realize negative impacts. Mr. Speaker, it appears to me that when the initiative is raised by a community that will better serve that community, they encounter a lot of roadblocks. They are always studies or reviews to be done at great expense which provide incredible delays to process.

However, Mr. Speaker, it appears that when government departments undertake to do something, it is just steamrolled ahead with little consideration given to the concerns of the affected communities. Mr. Speaker, at the appropriate time I will have further questions for the Minister responsible. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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