Thank you, Mr. Handley. Please be seated. Item 2, Ministers' statements. The honourable Premier, Mr. Kakfwi.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I wish to advise Members that the Honourable Jake Ootes will be absent from the House today to attend a meeting with the Honourable Jane Stewart in Ottawa. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Kakfwi. Item 2, Ministers' statements. The honourable Minister responsible for Aboriginal Affairs, Minister Antoine.

Mahsi, Minister Antoine. Item 2, Ministers' statements. The honourable Minister responsible for the Department of Health and Social Services, Mrs. Groenewegen.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. In Towards A Better Tomorrow, we state that in order to support our overall vision, we will make "self-reliant individuals, families and communities working with governments towards improving social well-being" a priority. This means supporting caregivers and focusing on how best to meet the needs of people in our society who need assistance. We are fortunate to have a number of organizations in the NWT working in partnership with us on this.

On that note, I am pleased to advise that the Yellowknife Foster Family Association hosted the Canadian Foster Parents Symposium 'Fostering Our Future' for foster parents and child welfare professionals June 1st, 2nd and 3rd. The symposium allowed delegates from across Canada to share information on best practices in fostering. The NWT had the honour of being the first northern territory to host this conference.

Mr. Speaker, the agenda was filled with learning opportunities. Information on PRIDE (which stands for Parent Resource Information Development and Education Training) was shared at this conference. The 'Looking After Children' accountability tool currently being piloted by three boards in the NWT was also discussed. As well, information on specific conditions such as FAE/FAS, ADD and other therapeutic issues was provided. Workshops on self-care, safeguarding, the need for cultural awareness and input from the client were held. As you can see, there were many learning and sharing opportunities available at this conference.

The Yellowknife Foster Family Association worked hard over the past year to organize this conference, which was attended by over 130 foster parents and professionals from across Canada, including 93 from the NWT. I would like to commend the Yellowknife Foster Family Association for their hard work and dedication to make this conference a reality, and for their 10 years of service and support to foster families in Yellowknife.

Mr. Speaker, community based foster care is the backbone that keeps children and youth safe when their family cannot provide for their needs. In the Northwest Territories, there are foster homes in most communities. Foster parents encounter many challenges, but continue each year to provide support to our children and youth in need.

Mr. Speaker, in closing, I would once again like to congratulate the Yellowknife Foster Family Association on their ten years of service, and along with all foster families in the NWT, thank them for their labour of love in caring for children.

-- Applause

Thank you, Madam Minister. Item 2, Ministers' statements. The honourable Minister responsible for Transportation, Minister Steen.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, as Minister of Transportation, I wish to inform the Legislative Assembly that the Departments of Transportation and Justice have been working intensively on preparing new, tighter legislation to deal with impaired driving in the Northwest Territories.

New legislation is required to establish an administrative procedure that allows enforcement officers to deal promptly with people who continue to endanger the lives of others by driving motor vehicles while impaired. At the same time, the new legislation must respect the rights of an individual to fair treatment and due process under our system of justice.

Other Canadian jurisdictions have been challenged in their attempts to create an effective environment that penalizes those drivers who disregard the law and continue to drive while impaired. New legislation for the Northwest Territories must be sound and must achieve the result for which it is intended; making our roads and highways safer for everyone.

Mr. Speaker, I want to confirm with the Assembly my commitment to bringing forward tighter impaired driving legislation for its deliberation. I am equally committed to good legislation that can withstand the scrutiny of the courts. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

-- Applause

Thank you, Minister Steen. Item 2, Ministers' statements. Item 3, Members' statements. The honourable Member for Frame Lake, Mr. Dent.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, a Member in this House is marking a special day today, a birthday. This special birthday is his 60th, making him an elder, certainly a most respected elder.

Mr. Speaker, this person was born in Fort Smith on June 11, 1941. He was raised in Fort Smith and worked on the tugboats that moved barges in and out of Fort Smith until he was 17. He travelled on one of those tugs to Yellowknife in the late 50s and decided to stay here and enrol in Sir John Franklin High School, becoming a resident of Akaitcho Hall.

After completing high school, he became a mechanic and returned to Fort Smith to work, where he met his future wife, Elaine, who was a social worker in town. I note that his wife is in the gallery with us today, Mr. Speaker. They have been married for over 30 years.

He worked as a member of the town council in Fort Smith, which was his first introduction to politics in the North. After their marriage, he and his wife moved out to Taltson River Dam, where he worked as a diesel mechanic. During this time, they had three sons, Warren, Blair and Ian, all of whom I note are in the gallery today, Mr. Speaker.

In the 1970s, he decided to return to school by attending the University of Calgary and he completed a degree in social work. I must say that his abilities in counselling are often called upon in this House. After completing his degree, he and his family moved to Yellowknife in the late 1970s. For a while, this person worked as the executive assistant to the then Commissioner John Parker.

In 1988, he was first elected to the Legislative Assembly as the Member for Yellowknife South in a by-election. Mr. Speaker, that was a particularly memorable by-election for myself, seeing as I came in a distant second. You might say this Member kicked my...

-- Laughter

He returned to office in 1991 in the 12th Assembly and served as the Minister responsible for Health and Social Services. Prior to his election as the Member for Kam Lake in 1999, he was the executive assistant to the then NWT and now Nunavut Commissioner, Helen Masagak. He was also the Sergeant-at-Arms for the Assembly for two years.

Mr. Speaker, this person has an extensive history of community work, including being a long-term member of the Rotary Club. He is particularly noted for his involvement in preparing the dog track during the days the Rotary Club was looking after the dog derby, and he has continued that work with the new organization.

He is a notary public, a marriage commissioner, and is well known as a volunteer auctioneer and fundraiser. This person is often seen attending the movies with his wife. Now that he qualifies for the seniors' discount, I am sure that we will see him on days of the week other than Tuesday.

Mr. Dent, the time for your Member's statement has expired.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, thank goodness the Speaker cannot say nay to this request, but I seek unanimous consent to conclude my statement.

The honourable Member is seeking unanimous consent to conclude his statement -- an important statement, I must admit. Are there any nays? There being no nays, Mr. Dent, you may conclude your statement.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, this person was elected as Speaker of our 14th Legislative Assembly of the Northwest Territories on January 17, 2000. Mr. Speaker, his wife Elaine's birthday was yesterday, so happy birthday to Mrs. Whitford. Family and friends gathered for brunch yesterday to celebrate for both of them.

I understand, Mr. Speaker, that there is a rumour that he was anxious, this person, to receive a new vehicle, as his current one is on its last legs. Mr. Speaker, unfortunately, he did not receive any new keys yesterday, although I have heard he did receive many great gifts. Mr. Speaker, there will be a celebration at the break this afternoon, but no, Mr. Speaker, there is no point in digging through the cake, there are no keys in this one either.

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to stand here today and, on behalf of all of the Members and staff of the Legislative Assembly, offer you happy birthday greetings.

-- Applause

Thank you, Mr. Dent. I do not know where you got all of that information, but it is certainly accurate. Item 3, Members' statements. The honourable Member for Great Slave, Mr. Braden.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to address the Assembly today on the aspect of storytelling. It is something that we in this Assembly try to do. We spin the odd tall tale, and the odd fantasy sometimes, but there are a couple of events that have recently happened that I would like to draw attention to.

As you entered the Legislative Assembly through the Great Hall, many of us would have seen one very interesting and very innovative aspect of storytelling, and this relates very much, Mr. Speaker, to our concern and belief in literacy and capacity building in the Northwest Territories.

I speak of a display set up by the Northwest Territories Literacy Council. It is called the Story Sack display. It is a hands-on reading activity that started in Great Britain and has spread around the world. Each story sack is a large cloth bag containing a good children's book, toys, puppets and other child-friendly items that parents can use to make the book come alive.

With this project, Mr. Speaker, the Literacy Council hopes that parents who have trouble reading and do not often read with their kids, can get one of these story sacks and get right into the enjoyment of discovering and reading books together with their children.

The Literacy Council has established 20 of these projects in Yellowknife and hope to spin this out more into the communities. Two generous businesses, the Yellowknife Book Cellar and Northland Utilities, have helped to make this a success.

While on the subject of storytelling, Mr. Speaker, it is with great pleasure that I recognize the 50 years of outstanding service of the Third Anglican Bishop of the Arctic, John Sperry, to the people of the Northwest Territories and the Kitikmeot region. John Sperry's book, Igloo Dwellers Were My Church, was presented to Yellowknifers this weekend at the Baker's Centre. The book was designed by Outcrop Communications, a northern company, and it chronicles his stories and outstanding photographs of the traditional life of the central Arctic Inuit from the 1950s and 1960s while he served as a missionary.

This is a first-hand perspective of someone intimately involved in the transition of Inuit lifestyles from nomadic to community life. John Sperry became so proficient in the local language that he translated the New Testament, the Book of Common Prayer, and more than 200 hymns into...

The time for your Member's statement has expired, Mr. Braden.

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

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker, colleagues. Indeed, along with translations of the New Testament, the Book of Common Prayer, and more than 200 hymns into Inuinnaqtun, this all allowed the Inuit of the area to read and worship in their own language. He was one of the early promoters of literacy and aboriginal languages, and is indeed an excellent example for subsequent literacy projects. I congratulate Bishop Sperry on the publication of his inspiring story of Inuit life through his book, Igloo Dwellers Were My Church. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

-- Applause

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I rise in the House today to talk about the need for this government to develop action fire protection plans for the communities we represent. Fires in the Slave Lake region near Alberta illustrate the need for such a plan. If proper fireguards were in place, loss of property would have been less.

It is simple, Mr. Speaker. Fires do not burn if you remove the source of fuel. I thought the government had learned this lesson after nearly losing the community of Tulita in the 1990s, but that does not appear to be the case.

At the time, Mr. Speaker, the government prioritized some communities and provided funding to build fire breaks and clear brush. Unfortunately, Mr. Speaker, there has been no follow-up since that time. These communities were not a priority and are still waiting on government funding.

I stand to be corrected, Mr. Speaker, but myself and the people I represent are not aware of any programs that would assist a community in developing a fire protection plan. There is no funding available at the community level to implement such a plan. The Government of the Northwest Territories must provide these funds to the communities so they can develop fire protection plans.

Mr. Speaker, there are communities in the forest fire hazard areas with no fireguards or protection plans. This is not acceptable. With all the money that this government spends on developing infrastructure in the communities, would it not make sense, Mr. Speaker, to spend a little bit of money to protect our schools, our recreation facilities in our communities?

We have been lucky so far. Forest fires have threatened communities and people have been evacuated. Other than that, there has been little lost due to forest fires in recent memory. I want this to remain a fact.

Mr. Speaker, I have many questions. Will it take a major catastrophe for this government to act? Will the government spend money now to protect our residents' future? These are the questions I intend to ask the Minister of RWED during question period. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

-- Applause

Thank you, Mr. McLeod. Item 3, Members' statements. The honourable Member for Thebacha, Mr. Miltenberger.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I wish to speak briefly today about three important events that took place over the weekend in Fort Smith. On Friday evening, the Minister of Transportation came to the community to commission the recently renovated airport terminal, which almost looks brand new. It was long overdue and a real benefit for that part of our infrastructure.

Also on the weekend, Mr. Speaker, we had a very important celebrity auction to help assist St. Joseph's Cathedral. Many Members in this House were kind enough to contribute items and artifacts that were auctioned off. I understand it was very successful. In three hours, they apparently raised over $15,000 to help assist the cathedral.

As well, Mr. Speaker, we had the Third Annual Aurora Open Charitable Golf Tournament, which has a focus of trying to raise money for workplace literacy. Out of that tournament, we were able to donate $5,000 to the Literacy Council for the promotion of workplace literacy. Mr. Speaker, that event would not have been possible without the kind support of many corporate sponsors, such as Canadian North, Northwestern Airlease, Diavik, NorthwesTel, BHP, NTPC and Kaeser's.

Mr. Speaker, it was a resounding success. I hope to see this duplicated and improved upon next year. I would also like to thank my colleagues who came down to support this very worthwhile activity, Minister Allen; my colleagues, Mr. Lafferty and Mr. Nitah. While we were there, the Minister was very busy meeting with sporting groups, the ski club, the biathlon club, kayakers, as well as the golfing folks and their golfing fraternity to look at what is possible in trying to improve those particular resources.

All in all, Mr. Speaker, it was a very positive weekend for Fort Smith. I would like to thank my colleagues and all of the corporations who made this possible, and all of the people who dug into their pockets in Fort Smith to help with the cathedral. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

-- Applause

Thank you, Mr. Miltenberger. Item 3, Members' statements. The honourable Member for Hay River North, Mr. Delorey.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to address an issue of grave concern to a number of my constituents in Hay River North. Mr. Speaker, the issue I refer to is the state of Highway No. 2 leading into Old Town and the West Channel.

Mr. Speaker, the poor condition of Highway No. 2 affects all Hay River North residents as this is the route they use to commute to their jobs in the new town and to avail themselves of all the amenities in the new town.

Mr. Speaker, the condition of this highway is deplorable. Over the last year, I have heard this government's desire to invest large amounts of money to construct and/or repair different highways throughout our Territory.

Mr. Speaker, Hay River is home to one of the loveliest NWT campgrounds, which is located in Old Town on the shores of Great Slave Lake. I know I do not have to remind my colleagues how valuable tourism is to the Northwest Territories economy.

Mr. Speaker, tourists who wish to visit our campground have to travel on Highway No. 2 to get to that campground. Mr. Speaker, in 2000, our territorial campground in Hay River was visited by 2,218 tourists from all across North America and Europe.

Mr. Speaker, NTCL is one of the major employers in Hay River. All NTCL employees are required to use this highway, both in the course of their employment and for their transportation to and from work.

Mr. Speaker, recent statistics of average, annual daily traffic show that Highway No. 2 has the second largest volume of traffic of all NWT highways. In 1999, for example, Highway No. 2, from the West Channel Bridge to West Channel, saw 2,400 vehicles pass over it daily. During peak summer tourist season, from June to August, Highway No. 2 saw 3,000 vehicles pass over it daily. The 1999 statistics are the most current data that is available.

Mr. Speaker, I would also like to point out that a large percentage of the heavy trucks that deliver fuel throughout our Territory also have to use this highway to reach the bulk plants to get their loads. Mr. Speaker, this takes a tremendous toll on all the vehicles that travel on this highway that is in disrepair.

Mr. Speaker, I implore this government to take some initiative, recognize that this is a territorial highway, and that the Department of Transportation commit to putting plans in place to undertake the reconstruction of this section of highway. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

-- Applause

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

Mr. Lafferty, the time for your Member's statement has expired.

The Member is seeking unanimous consent to conclude his statement. Are there any nays? There are no nays, Mr. Lafferty, you may conclude.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Happy birthday. Mr. Speaker, we have a lot of challenges in our communities in light of the outlook we have in the oil and gas industry and the diamond industry. The people who face these challenges the most are the front line workers like the nurses, social workers, teachers, police and people dealing with the alcohol and drug effects in our communities.

Yet, Mr. Speaker, more and more pressures are put on these resource people, knowing that along with development also comes additional social pressures. With the lack of human resources in our communities, it is having an affect on our front-line workers who are depending more and more on resource people outside of our communities,

In the regional centres and Yellowknife, we have mental health specialists, alcohol and drug specialists, and educational specialists. Yet, Mr. Speaker, the resources in our communities are inadequate when it comes to meeting the demands of our people, who are now realizing the expectations out there in the oil and gas industry. The opportunities are over the horizon. Yet the ability of the people in our communities and the resource people who will assist these people are very limited.

We talk about programs in our communities to assist people to get into the workforce, to be positive employees in relation to alcohol and drug problems, students who want to expand and move on to extend their education in the area of adult education programs, and programs to deal with economic opportunities. Despite this, Mr. Speaker, our front-line workers are having pressures put on them with limited resources.

Yes, we are having conferences to deal with these problems, but the resources are inadequate. I for one feel that it is critical that this government puts the resources in place to assist the communities and the resource people to do what they can to better the lives of the people we serve. With that, Mr. Speaker, I will be asking the Minister responsible for Health and Social Services questions on this matter. Thank you.

-- Applause

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

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I rise to speak on the issue of regional reorganization. It is an issue I have brought up numerous times, whether it be in committee or in this forum, to request from this government their plans or what the movement is on regional reorganization.

Mr. Speaker, since we have come into this Assembly, it has been discussed at the level of, we are moving ahead, we have to change the way this map of the Northwest Territories looks because of the self-government processes going on, and how the government programs are delivered through this evolving system.

Mr. Speaker, no plan has been put forward. Nothing has been identified in the sense of timelines as to how different departments will gear up in different areas and which regions today will be impacted by some of the decisions made. Mr. Speaker, I represent a community that is considered a regional centre to a large degree, whether it be by the private sector, for example, like the oil and gas interests today, or in government programs and services in their delivery.

Mr. Speaker, when I worked for the government many years ago as an apprentice mechanic, we used to travel throughout the western Arctic from Deline up to Sachs Harbour and all of the communities in between. Over the years, that has been cut back to a large degree and communities and other centres have developed, which is an appropriate way to go, Mr. Speaker.

Without a plan, it can be done haphazardly and cost more than is done so today. With the government expenditures as they are, knowing, as some might say, that we are in a surplus situation when you look at the dollars we expend on a yearly basis overall, we are in a rather tight situation.

Mr. Speaker, for my constituents, I am seeking to know if this government has a plan or a map that will spell out what my community will look like after regional reorganization is completed. With that, Mr. Speaker, I will have questions for the appropriate Minister. Thank you.

-- Applause

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I rise today to make the case for midwifery legislation in the Northwest Territories. The last research I have seen, Mr. Speaker, showed that we have a much lower number of positions per 100,000 people on average than the rest of Canada. We know we have a high birth rate. We have a situation in the Territories where many mothers are forced to go to regional centres to give birth, often a very routine procedure and something where travel like this is probably unnecessary, Mr. Speaker.

In the Northwest Territories, we have had a long history of midwifery, but for one reason or another, we have gotten away from the practice. I think it was the 1970s that it started to fall out of favour. Given that we are moving to this primary health care model -- as I understand it, this will allow for multi-disciplinary teams working in cooperation with positions -- it seems to make sense to again look at midwifery.

We do not have legislation in place currently, but we do have a policy that defines the conditions and the minimum standards that should be involved with midwifery. I think these were developed in conjunction with the community birthing project in Rankin Inlet that was set up in 1993, Mr. Speaker.

An evaluation report released in 1996 demonstrated that midwives can provide safe, high quality comprehensive and culturally appropriate services within a multi-disciplinary team.

It seems to me that it makes sense for us to look at legislation and move this to the front of the list. I know we have a lot of other priorities, but it seems like it could certainly save us a lot of money. We know we have a hard time attracting doctors and when we are able to attract doctors, a hard time getting them to stay. I know there are insurance issues to be worked out, but I hope the government will take a lead role in pursuing midwifery legislation. I will have questions for the Minister today in question period. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

-- Applause

Thank you, Mr. Bell. Item 3, Members' statements. The honourable Member for Nahendeh, Mr. Antoine.

Mahsi, Mr. Antoine. Item 3, Members' statements. The honourable Member for Inuvik Twin Lakes, Mr. Allen.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, prior to my Member's statement, I would like to say happy birthday to you as well.

This past winter, a member from my riding deceased. Today, along with my trapping friends in the Mackenzie Delta, I would like to pay tribute. His name was Ernie Moore. Ernie was a personal friend of mine, having known him from our days "from the bush", as he made his living off the land. Ernie was known to many of the west-end community of Inuvik to be a humble man with a simple lifestyle. I often sat with Ernie on our favourite seat on the benches outside the Northern Store or in front of the Mad Trapper sharing trapping stories and telling jokes. We shared stories on trapping, hunting and lifestyles outside the normal community life.

Ernie leaves many of his friends still sitting on those benches, telling much of the same stories and jokes. I look forward to joining his friends over the summer to reminisce about the good old times. Ernie is survived by his sisters Lena, Judy, Pauline, Rosalind, and Denise; and brothers Gordon and Billy. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

-- Applause

Thank you, Mr. Allen. Item 3, Members' statements. I would just like to draw to the attention of the honourable Members of the House that today is also a very special day well for the honourable Member for Nahendeh and his wonderful wife, Celine. Today they are celebrating their 24th wedding anniversary. Congratulations.

-- Applause

The Antoines have three sons. I do not think they are here today, but they have three sons, and your wonderful wife Celine, formerly Celine Buggins.

-- Interjection

One daughter. I am told one daughter. Congratulations.

-- Applause

Item 4, returns to oral questions. Item 5, recognition of visitors in the gallery. The honourable Member for Great Slave, Mr. Braden.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, it is a pleasure for me to recognize people from the NWT Literacy Council, Donna Mulders, the coordinator of the Story Sack project, along with Catherine Robinson and Lisa Campbell. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

-- Applause

Item 5, recognition of visitors in the gallery. The honourable Member for Nahendeh, Mr. Antoine.

Welcome to the gallery. Item 5, recognition of visitors in the gallery. The honourable Member for Frame Lake, Mr. Dent.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. In my Member's statement, I noted that your family was present in the gallery. I would like now to officially recognize them, your wife Elaine, along with your sons, Ian, Blair and Warren, in that order.

-- Applause

Thank you, Mr. Dent. Colleagues, it is an honour to have the family here. They are scattered all over the country now and it is a rare occasion that they are here. Item 5, recognition of visitors in the gallery. At this time, I would like to take this opportunity to recognize my mother. Sixty years ago at 8:30 this morning I first became acquainted with this wonderful lady.

-- Applause

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

Thank you, Mr. Lafferty. The honourable Minister responsible for the Department of Health and Social Services, Mrs. Groenewegen.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I know that some work has been done to address the issue of unearned income, but that actually falls under the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment's purview, but I can confirm for the Member that work has proceeded on the issue of unearned income and clawbacks from income support clients. Thank you.

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

Thank you, Mr. Lafferty. The honourable Minister responsible for the Department of Health and Social Services, Mrs. Groenewegen.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I am afraid I do not understand the question. When do programs of Health and Social Services consider...I am not sure of the question.

Thank you, Madam Minister. Mr. Lafferty, would you repeat the question for clarification?

Thank you, Mr. Lafferty. The honourable Minister responsible for the Department of Health and Social Services, Mrs. Groenewegen.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the Department of Health and Social Services would become involved with income support clients when they are in need of medical service any time they would be eligible under any of our extended health care benefits. Thank you.

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

Thank you, Mr. Lafferty. The honourable Minister responsible for the Department of Health and Social Services, Mrs. Groenewegen.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, there are sometimes not policies for every situation which may arise or occur, and what we count on are these being brought to our attention where there may be gaps. When there becomes a significant issue around such gaps, it gives us an opportunity as a department to consider policy that may need revision. Thank you.

Thank you, Madam Minister. Item 6, oral questions. The honourable Member for Thebacha, Mr. Miltenberger.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my question is addressed to the Minister of Health and Social Services as well. She updated this House in terms of when the Cuff report would be tabled, indicating it would be tabled on June 25th, which is all well and good, but unfortunately, after the House has risen. The one significant concern I have is that she indicates in her press release that all residents will have the opportunity to respond to the recommendations or provide comments until August 1, 2001, a mere 37 days, Mr. Speaker. This report has been in the works for seven months. It is very problematic for me that it is July when this Assembly itself has said that they want to try to keep the calendar clear for people to have some of the summer to themselves. It is during the Assembly's and summer holidays.

My question to the Minister is why are the people of the Northwest Territories being allowed only such a miniscule amount of time to look at what should be a very important report?

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the Member is correct. The report has been under construction. It has been under review for some time. Over 350 interviews have been conducted, which is a very extensive consultative process. We do not anticipate repeating the consultative process. What we do anticipate is that during the time between the time the report is released on June 25th and August 1st, we will receive any additional comments on the recommendations. It is not our intention to duplicate the consultation that has already gone into the report. Thank you.

Thank you, Madam Minister. Supplementary, Mr. Miltenberger.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the Minister indicated they had consulted and talked to 350 people. There are 40,000 or more people who live in the Northwest Territories. I am asking about the chance of looking at this report during a time when most people will not even be in the communities or in the North. They have 37 days, Mr. Speaker. It is not fair and it is not adequate. Surely the Minister will consider, hopefully, that she will give enough time for the people of the Northwest Territories to look at this. My question to the Minister is will she in fact extend this deadline and make it reasonable? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Miltenberger. The honourable Minister responsible for Health and Social Services, Mrs. Groenewegen.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I am sorry the Member does not feel that 37 days is reasonable, but certainly we want to get underway with developing an action plan in response to the recommendations contained in the report. We would like to start that work as soon as possible because we do feel there is some urgency to addressing some of the issues that the Cuff review is considering. Thank you.

Thank you, Madam Minister. Supplementary, Mr. Miltenberger.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. This is going to be yet another black mark against the Cuff report before it even sees the light of day. The committees are not even going to be looking at this. The MLAs probably will not even have a chance to look at this, and the Minister wants to jam through some plan before she has even received any feedback. It is beyond belief that the Minister would do that. Let me ask the Minister again, surely to goodness having waited this long, we should be given enough chance to look at this -- the Members of this Legislative Assembly, the people of the Northwest Territories, the very many NGOs and groups that have waited to see what is going to come out of this. I would ask the Minister again, will she be reasonable and give the people of the Northwest Territories enough time to look at this? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Miltenberger. The honourable Minister responsible for Health and Social Services, Mrs. Groenewegen.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the report will come for everyone on June 25th. As I said, we will receive responses and input into the recommendations that will be in the report. We would like to be able to table a response to the report during the fall session. The Member is suggesting that we should move this work back and delay this. What we could do is consider the volume of responses that we get after the report is tabled and hear from people who feel they may want to make a response but have not had time. Right now, our plan and our time line is try to have a response developed in preparation for the fall session. Thank you.

Thank you, Madam Minister. Your final supplementary, Mr. Miltenberger.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, if the majority of the people are not going to be aware of this or even around to reply for wide feedback, it is clear that there is going to be a low volume. Mr. Speaker, it is unfortunate that it seems to be that the department has its own agenda. They already know what they want to do with this report. They are ignoring the public feedback and feedback from this Legislature. It is so unfortunate and unacceptable that I do not really have a question. I just want to put that issue on record.

Mr. Miltenberger, it is your final supplementary and you should ask a question. There is no question there. Madam Minister.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, as I have already indicated, there have been 350 individuals interviewed in preparation for this report. Also, we have asked the consultants who are working on the Cuff review to consider the other significant consultation that took place with the public such, as the Minister's Forum on Health and Social Services and other previous reports that were done. Thank you.

Thank you, Madam Minister. I should just remind Members that questions should be to the point, particularly the supplementary ones, and I am sure the answers as well could be to the point by the honourable Minister asked. Item 6, oral questions. The honourable Member for Deh Cho, Mr. McLeod.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. This morning I raised the issue of community fire protection plans in the North. I would like to ask a question of the Minister of RWED. I would like to ask what his department is doing to develop community fire protection plans and protect the communities from forest fires.

Thank you, Mr. McLeod. The honourable Minister responsible for the Department of Resources, Wildlife and Economic Development, Mr. Handley.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. On a regular basis, RWED does assessments of sites and structures and so on around all of the communities. They are doing that again this year, updating information. That should be completed by the end of the summer. We have also set aside a $300,000 budget to implement community forest fire protection and hazard abatement plans, so that funding is there. To date, no communities have formally asked for assistance. Our department is also available to help communities if they ask for assistance. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Minister. Supplementary, Mr. McLeod.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The Minister has indicated that no communities have asked for assistance. This program that is in place to develop a community fire protection plan, how many communities have accessed funding through this program to develop proper fire protection and fire guards? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. McLeod. The honourable Minister responsible for the Department of Resources, Wildlife and Economic Development, Mr. Handley.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, as I mentioned before, no communities have put in an application for fire protection plans this year. I am not sure how many have done it in the past years, but there are some that are ongoing that were in last year and continue on. For this year, we have not received any new applications yet. Thank you.

Thank you, Minister Handley. Supplementary, Mr. McLeod.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I want to ask the Minister, how long will it be before we see proper fire protection plans for all of the communities in the North? What is the time frame he is looking at? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. McLeod. The honourable Minister responsible for the Department of Resources, Wildlife and Economic Development, Mr. Handley.

Mr. Speaker, the question is one that we would have to ask each community. It is up to each community as to whether or not they want to have a fire protection plan in place for their community, whether there will be a fire guard around their community or some other arrangement they may wish to make.

I would hope that we move quickly to protect all of our communities in the forested areas. As I say, our department is there. We are ready to cooperate and hopefully work with communities that are asking for plans to be developed. Thank you.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. In the development of these fire protection plans, I would like to ask if the Minister, when he said the department is there to develop and assist in all areas, does his department also provide the funding to develop the terms of reference?

Thank you, Mr. McLeod. The honourable Minister responsible for the Department of Resources, Wildlife and Economic Development, Mr. Handley.

Mr. Speaker, I think within reason, our department would make money available, but if the communities are going to get into a long consultation process, then there may be limits on what we would be prepared to do. Some of it does rest as a community responsibility. I would like to say that we want to cooperate. It is in our interest to have the fire protection plans in place. I think we are there to help put the plan together. We would probably assist to some degree with consultation, but it would depend on how extensive it is. It would have to be negotiated in each case. Thank you.

Thank you, Minister Handley. Item 6, oral questions. The honourable Member for Hay River North, Mr. Delorey.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, about a year ago, I raised concerns in this House about Highway No. 2 that goes through old town in Hay River. I must admit, Mr. Speaker, that at that time, the department was quick to respond to some repairs in a couple of locations. I would like to commend the Minister for that.

However, Mr. Speaker, I would like to ask the Minister if he would agree that this was a band-aid approach to Highway No. 2 and that section of highway is indeed in need of some major work. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Delorey. The honourable Minister responsible for the Department of Transportation, Mr. Steen.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I thank the Member for the question. Mr. Speaker, Highway No. 2 that the Member is referring to has been under some consideration by the department already on an ongoing basis. For the Member's information, at the present time, we are planning some engineering assessments, which will be done this summer.

We already have some estimates as to what it would cost to upgrade this highway because of the poor base it is sitting on. We are estimating it is anywhere between $2.5 million to $3 million to improve the base so we can have a better long-term surface. Thank you.

Thank you, Minister Steen. Supplementary, Mr. Delorey.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, in the past, I have heard in this House the Minister justify expenditures on highways by the amount of traffic that is on the highway system. The statistics I had were available from 1999. Would the Minister have any more recent figures on the amount of traffic on that stretch of highway from what I had available in 1999? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Delorey. The honourable Minister responsible for the Department of Transportation, Mr. Steen.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the department, as well as using traffic volume figures for deciding on operations and maintenance for these highways and capital investments, we also take into consideration the existing problems with the highway, regardless of the traffic volume.

In this particular case, this highway has been causing the department some problems for a number of years, simply because of the type of terrain it is built on. We have to take into consideration that we may have to make expenditures on this particular stretch of highway, regardless of whether the traffic volume contributes towards that decision.

In other words, to keep it safe, we would have to make expenditures. This is what the department is doing. We are doing engineering assessments on the highway as to what would be needed just to bring it up to safe standards. That is not to say that it is not in safe standards at the present time, but we do not want it to deteriorate any further than it is. Thank you.

Thank you, Minister Steen. Supplementary, Mr. Delorey.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, on the safety issue, there may be some questions raised there. As recently as Saturday, there was an accident on that highway with a car rolling over. I could not say for sure, Mr. Speaker, whether there were any serious injuries from that, but from a safety point of view, that could be an issue right now. Would the Minister commit to having the department put some plans in place for some expenditures on that stretch of road?

Thank you, Mr. Delorey. The honourable Minister responsible for the Department of Transportation, Mr. Steen.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I do not think it is necessary for me to commit anything here. I already told the Member the department is already doing engineering assessments on it. In other words, we are looking at what is going to be necessary to bring this highway up to standards. We are going to be doing the work, yes.

Thank you, Minister Steen. Final supplementary, Mr. Delorey.