Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, today should turn out to be the last day of a very hectic Third Session of this 14th Legislative Assembly. As in the past session, this one would not be complete if I did not inform this House of my continued fascination with this booming capital city of Yellowknife and what drives it.

It is said, Mr. Speaker, that when a city reaches a certain size, it begins to feed on itself and growth is inevitable. It is also said that cities create their own climate and weather patterns. I have always found Yellowknife a bit breezy myself, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, in one of my previous lives, I sold and installed central vacuum systems. One thing that I learned about vacuum systems is that in order to sell them, you need a good product. A good product has a good piping framework, a good motor, lots of suction, and a good warranty.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to compare this city with a giant vacuum cleaner. One that is driven by the very best motor in the industry, this government. The piping framework extends into every department and the suction is so strong that it sucks up everything before anyone has a chance to see it lying around.

-- Laughter

The warranty for this powerful machine, Mr. Speaker, is our very own Finance Minister, Mr. Handley.

-- Laughter

Borrowing millions to fast-track the completion of Highway No. 3 is like adding 100 horsepower to the motor and increasing the size of the intake hose.

It is no wonder, Mr. Speaker, that we see new hotels and motels going up around Yellowknife. Every day, I see or hear of another conference, symposium, meeting or workshop bringing people from every part of the Territory and beyond, sponsored directly or indirectly by this government, a major industry in itself, Mr. Speaker.

I keep hearing that this government does not want to be seen as empire building. Well, if that is the case, Mr. Speaker, we should extend the piping framework throughout the Territory and, for at least a few days of the year, reverse the air flow, or should I say the money flow. By the way, Mr. Speaker, that constant breeze in Yellowknife is caused by that giant vacuum cleaner running 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

-- Applause

Thank you, Mr. Delorey. Déclarations de députés. The honourable Member for Yellowknife South, Mr. Bell.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to bring to the attention of this House the efforts of a fine Yellowknife club, the Yellowknife Gymnastics Club. They have taken on the challenge of conducting the largest raffle in the history of the Northwest Territories, and that includes Hay River as well, I believe.

-- Laughter

The Yellowknife Gymnastics Club is composed of 300 or so members, and it has been in existence for approximately 20 years in this fine city. For the past two years, the club has been operating out of a vacant warehouse on Old Airport Road. Soon, Mr. Speaker, that will not be the case. The club is working on raising the necessary money to build a multi-sport athletic training centre in Yellowknife for the benefit of northern athletes from around the Territories.

The club recognized the growing need for such a centre in the North and has been actively fundraising for the last few years. In-kind support, by way of architectural planning, legal and other services has already been donated towards the building of the facility, Mr. Speaker.

Numerous contributions from individuals, community groups and businesses have been received and along with fundraising events, the club has secured approximately 40 percent of the money needed. Mr. Speaker, to date they have raised approximately $336,000 and they need another $464,000 to go.

The goal is to build a permanent training centre that would include a dedicated gymnastics training area; areas for other sports such as wrestling, karate, and tae kwon do; areas for community dance programs, skaters and athletes in choreographed sports; and specialized training areas for conditioning and rooms to host coaching clinics and team meetings, Mr. Speaker.

The most recent fundraiser is a first for the North. In October of last year, the club began selling 30,000 raffle tickets for a 2000 Hummer, worth $157,000, Mr. Speaker. The lucky ticket holder will have the option of owning this vehicle or they can take $100,000 in cash. It is quite a deal, Mr. Speaker, and you can get your tickets at [email protected], or you can buy them at various locations around the city.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to commend the Yellowknife Gymnastics Club for taking on this very ambitious project. I hope my colleagues all have their tickets, even Mr. Delorey, because the draw date is fast approaching. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Bell. Déclarations de députés. The honourable Member for Nunakput, Mr. Steen.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, in honour of International Women's Day, I too wish to acknowledge women's contributions to society. Mr. Speaker, women's role in society has changed from simply being the primary homemaker, cooking and caring for children to, in today's complex and demanding world, being members of the workforce or leaders in our communities in one form or another.

Mr. Speaker, women in my riding now serve as municipal councillors, school councillors, chairs of community corporations or even regional corporations. We also have women in general serving this Legislative Assembly and previous Legislative Assemblies. We also have a Member of Parliament who is a woman from this Territory.

Mr. Speaker, whether we men like to admit it or not, behind every good man there is a better woman to give advice, direction and, in some cases, direct orders.

-- Laughter

I wish to thank all of the women in my riding and in the Northwest Territories in general for the time they have dedicated to making this a better world. In particular, I wish to thank my wife for the advice and guidance she has given me, whether I asked for it or not.

-- Laughter

I wish to acknowledge all the efforts women put into making our lives better.

-- Applause

Indeed, Mr. Steen. Thank you, Mr. Steen. Item 3, Members' statements. The honourable Member for Yellowknife Centre, Mr. Ootes.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. A little earlier, the Minister responsible for Youth spoke about the CYAID Conference here in Yellowknife. It is upcoming and today I would like to acknowledge some of its members in the gallery, the Yellowknife Students Against Drinking and Driving.

They are working very hard to change some shocking statistics here in the Northwest Territories. These statistics come from the chief coroner's office. They show that we in the Northwest Territories have two-and-a-half times as much impaired driving as the national average, and that 52 percent of all accidental deaths in the Northwest Territories involve alcohol.

The Students Against Impaired Driving group started at St. Patrick's School in 1994 with fewer than 20 members. Since then, they have changed their name to SADD, or Students Against Drinking and Driving. The students at both high schools and Weledeh School have formed chapters.

In all, there are now 140 members of SADD in the Northwest Territories. Of course, it is difficult to know what circumstances and activities cause statistics to change, but it is interesting to note that between 1989 and 1994, there were on average 27 impaired drivers involved in collisions per year in Yellowknife. Between 1994 and 1999, there were on average 17 impaired drivers per year involved in collisions in Yellowknife. That indicates a substantial drop.

The 11th Annual Canadian Youth Against Impaired Driving Conference will be held in Yellowknife at St. Patrick's and Sir John Franklin High School from March 22nd to 25th. This will be the first time ever that there will be representation from every province and territory in the country in a conference of this nature. The organizers are expecting approximately 300 youth delegates and adult advisors to attend.

The hope for an improved society in the future depends on our young people. It is certainly admirable what these young people are doing about our problems with drinking and driving. I want to thank them for their efforts and congratulate them for what they have achieved. I want to wish them, and I am sure that all of us wish them, a very successful conference. I want to thank them for being in the gallery today, Mr. Speaker.

-- Applause

Thank you, Mr. Ootes. Déclarations de députés. Item 3, Members' statements. The honourable Member for Nahendeh, Mr. Antoine.

Mahsi, Mr. Antoine. Item 3, Members' statements. The honourable Member for Hay River South, Mrs. Groenewegen.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, in my Minister's statement today I mentioned International Women's Day and the efforts and initiatives that will take place to honour women.

On a personal note, Mr. Speaker, although we do not have as many women in this Legislature as we probably should, I do want to thank the Members of this House for the recognition that they have paid to women today in this House and to their ongoing sensitivity to social issues that we attempt to address here in the Northwest Territories.

We spend many hours together in this Assembly, and it is kind of like going on a long road trip with somebody. You do not know somebody really well until you go on a long road trip with them. Some days we spend ten, 12, 14 hours together in this House, and you really get a chance to know each other very, very well.

I just want to say that I do appreciate the group of MLAs that we have here, and assure the people of the Northwest Territories that although there is a disproportionate number of men -- someone asked me yesterday why we were not having a grandfather's council; I said that we have one and it is called the Legislative Assembly -- in terms of representation in this particular level of government, I want to say that I do appreciate their sensitivity to the issues facing our people. Thank you.

-- Applause

Thank you, Mrs. Groenewegen. Item 3, Members' statements. Responses a des questions orales. Item 4, returns to oral questions. Mot de bienvenue aux visiteurs. Item 5, recognition of visitors in the gallery. The honourable Member for Nahendeh, Mr. Antoine.

Yes, indeed, welcome Senator Sibbeston. Senator Sibbeston was a Member and he was also a Minister and Government Leader in former governments. Welcome, as always, to our Assembly. Item 5, recognition of visitors in the gallery. The honourable Member for Yellowknife Centre, Mr. Ootes.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It is with a great deal of pleasure that I would like to introduce students from St. Patrick's SADD program who are organizing the CYAID Conference here in Yellowknife. With them today are Rene Lamoureux and Michelle Thoms. All of them are coordinating this large conference, Mr. Speaker, so please help me welcome those students. Thank you.

-- Applause

Thank you. Item 5, recognition of visitors in the gallery. The honourable Member for Tu Nedhe, Mr. Nitah.

Thank you. Item 5, recognition of visitors in the gallery. I would like to take this opportunity, colleagues, to introduce to you again Ms. Carol Roberts, the Conflict of Interest Commissioner.

-- Applause

Item 5, recognition of visitors in the gallery. Colleagues, I am going to take a little bit of Speaker's license here and recognize my mother, Emilia Gratrix in Fort Smith. She is soon to be 84 years old. Speaking in recognition of women and their valuable contribution to the outcome of their children, I have a great deal to be thankful for.

-- Applause

Item 6, oral questions. The honourable Member for North Slave, Mr. Lafferty.

Thank you, Mr. Lafferty. The honourable Minister responsible for the Housing Corporation, Mr. Allen.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Yes, to answer the Member, the Housing Corporation manages the 71 remaining staff housing units on behalf of FMBS. The direction the NWT Housing Corporation is taking at this point is that we are working with other community governments or the land claim groups to help formally develop a housing market in the communities to help alleviate the housing shortage problems. We will be communicating that back to the individual communities, regions or the respective departments as we progress in establishing housing either in the rental market or the buying market. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Allen. Supplementary, Mr. Lafferty.

Thank you, Mr. Lafferty. The honourable Minister responsible for the Housing Corporation, Mr. Allen.