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. 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.