Merci pour le prayer, Mr. Allen. Bonjour, mon colleagues. Good morning, colleagues. Item 2, Ministers' statements. Déclarations de ministre. The honourable Minister responsible for Resources, Wildlife and Economic Development, Mr. Handley.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the Government of the Northwest Territories has finalized our strategy to stimulate comprehensive and coordinated action and investment in non-renewable resource development by federal, territorial and aboriginal governments.

The Non-Renewable Resource Development Strategy was developed at the encouragement of federal Finance Minister Paul Martin. First released in draft form last spring, the strategy underscores the urgency of the need to promote, prepare for and manage non-renewable resource development in the Northwest Territories.

Since the document was first released, our government has sought input from all stakeholders. These comments have been used to continually update and improve the strategy. It is the only comprehensive plan of action for non-renewable resource development that identifies all the issues that need to be addressed, irrespective of which government is responsible. The GNWT has been advocating the use of the Non-Renewable Resource Development Strategy as a coordinating mechanism for discussion, decision making and action.

We have also used the strategy to argue for increased federal investment and to guide our actions and investment in areas of responsibility.

Total federal investment to date has been limited to $3.8 million in winter road bridge construction. Mr. Speaker, in the context of the $235 million in required investments that we requested, this is a pittance. It is our hope that the finalization of the strategy will give the federal government the impetus it needs to take action, especially given their continued responsibility for northern development. As well, the federal government needs to move forward aggressively with the territorial and aboriginal governments on devolution and resource revenue sharing.

Mr. Speaker, after almost a year of discussion and consultation, it is time to finalize the Non-Renewable Resource

Development Strategy. Now, we must fully direct our efforts to dealing with the actions outlined in the strategy.

In tabling this final strategy, I wish to reaffirm this government's commitment to continue to invest in the actions outlined in the Non-Renewable Resource Development Strategy to the greatest extent possible. Furthermore, I call upon the federal government to join with us in making investment decisions now and working in partnership with us and aboriginal governments to see the strategy carried out. Thank you.

-- Applause

Merci, Mr. Handley. Declarations de ministre. Item 2, Ministers' statements. Declarations de deputes. Item 3, Members' statements. The honourable Member for Deh Cho, Mr. McLeod.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the fishery at Tathlina and Kakisa Lakes are in trouble. Over the last few years, there has been a noticeable decrease in the pickerel stocks resulting in an increased catch effort. The problem is so bad that all but one commercial fisherman has left the lakes. Even this one commercial fisherman is not catching enough fish to make the effort worthwhile.

In 1979, there was a study done in the fish stocks in Tathlina and Kakisa Lakes. The study resulted in a rise on the quota on Kakisa Lake and the quota at Tathlina Lake was cut in half.

Mr. Speaker, the quota is 20,000 kilograms at both lakes combined. There has been no increase in the quota for 22 years. There has never been a problem in obtaining the quota. Sometimes the quota has been caught in as little as three to four weeks.

Lately, Mr. Speaker, one week of fishing has resulted in two boxes of fish. A large percentage of these fish are not even pickerel. Last summer, the federal Department of Fisheries and Oceans did a study in cooperation with the Kakisa Dene Band on the fish stocks at Kakisa Lake. DFO provided two technicians and made contact with the band to provide boats and assistance. Together, they tested the fish stocks using nets with four different mesh sizes and samplings of various strategic locations on the lake. An analysis on the study is due back towards the end of March.

This summer, DFO intends to do a similar study at Tathlina Lake. Further, the Freshwater Fish Marketing Corporation, in conjunction with DFO, has been taking random samplings from Tathlina and Kakisa Lakes fish for the past 20 years. With all of these tests, we should have some solid evidence as to when the problem began, if not the cause of the problem.

Mr. Speaker, our northern environment is very fragile. After 22 years of testing, monitoring and abiding by the quotas with no problem, all of a sudden there is a problem we have to look at. We have to look at the effects of logging, global warming, acid rain, oil and gas exploration and other potential hazards to the environment.

Mr. Speaker, not only are the fish at Tathlina and Kakisa Lakes a valuable resource in terms of a commercial fishery, they are a mainstay in the diet of the people of Kakisa. The fish are a valuable resource that we cannot afford to lose. Further, if we are losing the fish, we would have to suspend our common sense not to see that we are losing our lakes. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

-- Applause

Thank you, Mr. McLeod. Declarations de deputes. Item 3, Members' statements. The honourable Member for Great Slave, Mr. Braden.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I am going to interrupt normal programming here and bring you a news bulletin from the real world. It is the real world of the income support client of this government. Mr. Speaker, we are dealing with an issue where Dogrib beneficiaries are having the $500 impact benefit agreement taken back from them, but now we learn that the income support clients are also having the federal fuel subsidy of $125 clawed back. This is a non-taxable, one-time gift from the federal government to help low and modest income families, Mr. Speaker, with the rising cost of heating and fuel.

What really hurts, Mr. Speaker, is that some of these clients are receiving no notice whatsoever that this is being clawed back. We have situations where there are families, perhaps two clients trying to look after their families and kids, losing with no notice whatsoever, $250 off of their monthly payments. One disappointed client has said if it is going to be clawed back, why even give it in the first place?

Mr. Speaker, in Yellowknife, income support recipients receive $162 a month for food, or $5.22 a day. Have you ever tried to subsist on this? There are no diapers, no Enfalac, no soap, no cleaning and personal hygiene materials in this food basket. As a result of the clawback of this one-time federal, tax-free home heating fuel payment, some mothers are getting cheques for three bucks this month, Mr. Speaker, three dollars. Others get nothing for food.

Women are crying in the offices of the Salvation Army, the food banks and the Women's Centre. You know, Mr. Speaker, it is amazing to consider inmates in the Yellowknife Correctional Centre get a food, clothing and laundry allowance of up to a maximum of $150 a month. Some of them are also receiving the federal government's fuel subsidy. Do you think this is being clawed back?

Mr. Speaker, I am going to be having questions for the Minister responsible for Education, Culture and Employment at the appropriate time.

-- Applause

Thank you, Mr. Braden. Declarations de deputes. Item 3, Members' statements. The honourable Member for North Slave, Mr. Lafferty.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, earlier this week the Minister of Finance was accused of not having compassion in his heart when he developed the Fuel Rebate Program, and apparently not hearing the concerns that were expressed by Members on this side of this House. Since it is Friday, I thought maybe if the arguments were presented in a fairy story, he might get it.

Once upon a time, Mr. Speaker, in a kingdom not far away, in fact just down the road from reason, the rulers around the governors' table decreed that too much woe had befallen the citizens of the kingdom. Prices had risen too high for heating and motor products. The rulers around the governors' table, being good and considerate rulers, were sensitive to how their subjects, especially those of lower income, suffered.

The rulers around the governors' table desired to deal with their faithful subjects' woes, so announced a program that would help many citizens in the land. In their haste to deliver relief to their faithful subjects, the rulers had undertaken no consultation. They moved with alacrity and named the program the national energy program.

And verily, many residents in the land were pleased, particularly those who lived in an eastern region of the land called Ontario. Low and behold, some of the rulers' faithful subjects, particularly those who lived in the western regions of the land, came to find that they actually suffered more as a result of the program. They cried out to the rulers around the governors' table, whose council was in Ontario, beseeching that the program be changed so as not to hurt them.

The rulers heard these cries for help. They wrung their hands and said they had not meant to harm any of their faithful subjects. They convened around their table, then came out to make a pronouncement. They said, "We hear the cries of our loyal subjects from the west, but we must keep this program for it helps many who are in need. Verily, it helps those who need it most, thus it is mostly good, and another program would be too complex and difficult to administer."

Mr. Speaker, those who found the program harsh, particularly in the western region of the land called Alberta, grew angry at their rulers, who said they heard them, had not truly listened with compassion in their hearts. The people began to assemble and exclaim out their battle cry, and I quote, "Let those eastern illegitimates..."

Mr. Dent, the time for your statement is over.

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

Thank you. The honourable Member is seeking unanimous consent to continue his statement. Are there any nays? There being no nays, Mr. Dent, you may give us chapter two.

-- Laughter

Thank you, Mr. Speaker and honourable Members. As I was saying, the people assembled and exclaimed out their battle cry, "Let those eastern illegitimates freeze in the dark."

Mr. Speaker, discord and division grew across the land, and finally the people rose up and banished the rulers into exile for a while to contemplate the error of their ways, to practice their listening skills and to learn the value of consultation.

Mr. Speaker, I hope the moral of this fairy tale is not lost on those who set policy for this government's Fuel Rebate Policy. Northern residents expect a program that is fair, not one that has been hastily cobbled together simply because it is easy to administer and can be delivered quickly. Let us take a few extra days to do it right. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

-- Applause

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

Thank you, Mr. Nitah. Declarations de deputes. Item 3, Members' statements. The honourable Member for Mackenzie Delta, Mr. Krutko.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I received a call just lately from an 80-year-old elder who is living in her own home, who is struggling to keep up with the increased rates of diesel fuel and power. I think it is important to realize the cost to fill up your tank with diesel fuel in Fort McPherson is $700. When you are on a pension, that is unacceptable.

Mr. Speaker, we have put initiatives in place to assist our elders who live in their own homes. We encourage them to continue to live in their own homes. However, with the high cost of power, the high cost of property taxes, and with the cost of fuel in our communities, our elders are finding it unbearable to maintain their own homes and also have a lifestyle where they can live in comfort, knowing they have done their time and they have paid their dues.

Mr. Speaker, this government has put programs in place to assist our elders, yet this 80-year-old elder continues to pay her property taxes. Mr. Speaker, we as a government have to ensure the programs and services we have out there are being administered. We have to make the attempt to find a mechanism so elders do not have to phone their MLAs to find out why they are still paying their property taxes, or why are they not receiving their seniors' fuel subsidy, or why their property taxes have been adjusted or increased, yet they continue to pay out of their pension cheques.

Mr. Speaker, I think it is important that this government streamline our tax systems or subsidized systems, so people do not have to continue year after year to have the confusion of getting a tax notice in the mail, especially our elders. They do not like to be stuck in a situation where they have an outstanding bill or fee, knowing they may not have the money to survive next month. Or they are out of fuel and have no choice but to fill up their tanks, yet it comes out of their pension cheques.

Mr. Speaker, I will be asking the Minister of MACA questions on this matter to see exactly how we are streamlining our subsidy programs for our elders. Thank you.

-- Applause

Thank you, Mr. Krutko. Declarations de deputes. Item 3, Members' statements. The honourable Member for Thebacha, Mr. Miltenberger.