Thank you, Mr. Antoine. Item 13, tabling of documents.

In accordance with section 23 of the Official Languages Act, I wish to table the annual report of the Languages Commissioner for the fiscal year 1999 and 2000.

Item 13, tabling of documents. Item 14, notices of motion. Item 15, notices of motion for first reading of bills. The honourable Member for Nahendeh, Mr. Antoine.

Thank you, Mr. Antoine. Item 15, notices of motion for the first reading of bills. The honourable Member for Nahendeh, Mr. Antoine.

Thank you, Mr. Antoine. Item 15, notices of motion for the first reading of bills. The honourable Member for Nunakput, Mr. Steen.

Mr. Speaker, I give notice that on Wednesday, June 13th, 2001, I will move that Bill 8, An Act to Amend the Motor Vehicles Act, be read for the first time. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Steen. Item 15, notices of motion for the first reading of bills. The honourable Member for Nunakput, Mr. Steen.

Mr. Speaker, I give notice that on Wednesday, June 13th, 2001, I will move that Bill 9, Commercial Vehicle Trip Permit Act, be read for the first time. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Steen. Item 15, notices of motion for the first reading of bills. The honourable Member for Weledeh, Mr. Handley.

Mr. Speaker, I give notice that on Wednesday, June 13th, 2001, I will move that Bill 10, Public Highway Improvement Fund Act, be read for the first time. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Handley. Item 15, notices of motion for the first reading of bills. The honourable Member for Nunakput, Mr. Steen.

Mr. Speaker, I give notice that on Wednesday, June 13th, 2001, I will move that Bill 11, Architect's Act, be read for the first time. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Steen. Item 15, notices of motion for first reading of bills. There are no further motions. At this time, I think the House will be taking a break.

Just before the honourable Members take their break, it would be remiss of me if I did not make mention of this being a very special day for a lot of people. I want to draw attention to the fact that today is an anniversary for our distinguished Clerk, Mr. Hamilton.

Some 21 years ago, Mr. Hamilton began his career as an assistant clerk at Baker Lake on June 11th. It was 21 years ago that he began his career as assistant clerk and then moved all the way up to here. It is a very special day and congratulations go to Mr. Hamilton.

-- Applause

As well, today is the birthday of our law clerk, Ms. Katherine Peterson. I guess that is all of the special announcements I have to make. The House will take a break until the call of the Chair.

-- Break

The House will now come back to order. Item 16, motions. The honourable Member for Thebacha, Mr. Miltenberger.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

WHEREAS section 103 of the Legislative Assembly and Executive Council Act (permits the appointment of Aole Adjudicators by the Legislative Assembly);

AND WHEREAS Sole Adjudicators appointed by the Legislative Assembly may be required to hold an inquiry for one as directed by the Conflict of Interest Commissioner;

AND WHEREAS it is desirable that the Legislative Assembly make such appointments;

NOW THEREFORE I MOVE, seconded by the honourable Member for Weledeh, that in accordance with section 103 of the Legislative Assembly and Executive Council Act, the Legislative Assembly approves the following for appointment as Sole Adjudicators:

• • Claude Bisson -- Jurisconsult of the National Assembly, Quebec
• • Robert C. Clark -- Ethics Commissioner, Alberta
• • Honourable Gregory Evans, Q.C. -- Integrity Commissioner, Ontario
• • Gerald L. Gerrand, Q.C. -- Conflict of Interest Commissioner, Saskatchewan
• • Wayne Green -- Commissioner of Members' Interests, Newfoundland and Labrador
• • Honourable Ted Hughes -- Commissioner of Conflict of Interest, Yukon
• • Honourable H.A.D. Oliver, Q.C. -- Commissioner of Conflict of Interest, British Columbia
• • Honourable Robert Stanbury, Q.C. -- Conflict of Interest Commissioner, Nunavut

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Miltenberger. We have a motion on the floor. The motion is in order. To the motion. Question has been called. All those in favour? All those opposed? The motion is carried. Item 16, motions. The honourable Member for Hay River North, Mr. Delorey.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

WHEREAS it is incumbent on the Government of the Northwest Territories to ensure that residents have access to an affordable energy to heat and light their homes;

AND WHEREAS access to energy is considered a basic necessity in the North;

AND WHEREAS the Northwest Territories residents must use some form of oil, gas, propane or electricity to heat and light their homes;

AND WHEREAS Northwest Territories residents have some of the highest energy bills in Canada because of longer, colder winters and fewer daylight hours;

AND WHEREAS Northwest Territories residents lack access to alternative, less costly energy sources;

AND WHEREAS residents of the Northwest Territories are reliant on automotive fuels for travel and transport of goods;

AND WHEREAS the cost of heating oil has increased by 30 percent, propane by 96 percent, gasoline by 25 percent in the Northwest Territories;

AND WHEREAS increases in the cost of electricity follows fossil fuel cost increases;

AND WHEREAS the increases in energy costs have caused hardship to many individuals who are not eligible for existing subsidies, including elders and senior citizens and middle income families;

AND WHEREAS these increases in energy costs have also had an adverse impact on many businesses, particularly those who must use some form of energy to produce their product;

AND WHEREAS this government has committed to a long-term strategy to examine alternative energy sources to reduce reliance on fossil fuels;

AND WHEREAS residents of the Northwest Territories need immediate relief from the high energy cost that they will experience this winter;

NOW THEREFORE I MOVE, seconded by the honourable Member for Deh Cho, that the Premier and Cabinet bring forward a comprehensive energy assistance program that will serve to offset the high cost of energy to all northern residents regardless of income;

AND FURTHER, that the benefits from this program be received by Northerners by October 31, 2001.

AND FURTHERMORE, that the Premier and Cabinet bring forward a comprehensive energy strategy for the Northwest Territories that includes the development of alternative energy initiatives such as residual heat recovery programs, and encourages and promotes energy conservation;

AND FURTHERMORE, that the energy strategy include a stabilization fund to benefit northern residents and businesses.

Thank you, Mr. Delorey. We have a motion on the floor. The motion is in order. To the motion. The honourable Member for Weledeh, Mr. Handley.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I do not want to speak against the motion at all, because I certainly support the intention and...

Sorry, Mr. Handley. I failed to recognize the mover of the motion, Mr. Delorey.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I want to speak in favour of this motion. We have heard from all the Members within this room that they recognize that the cost of living in the Territories continues to increase, and not only from Ordinary Members. I know Ministers are very busy and do not get back to their constituencies as often as we do, but I am sure they are in touch with their constituents enough to hear that there is a major concern for the cost of living up here.

I recognize the fact that the government is taking some initiative to put a long-term energy strategy in place. I agree that is very important. That may look after the long-term needs of the residents of the Northwest Territories, but in the short-term, we need something to help offset the high cost of living to our residents.

We have heard the Minister state a number of times that we are monitoring the cost of this and the cost of that. At the last minute, maybe we react, like we did with the Fuel Subsidy Program, but not enough time to review how effective it is going to be and who it is going to benefit. In that way, Mr. Speaker, we miss out on addressing the needs of all our residents.

I have heard the Minister say the price of oil and gas is coming down. That creates some concern for me, Mr. Speaker, because we are gearing our whole energy strategy towards a window where the prices are up, and that encourages the oil and gas development sector.

I for one do not think the prices are going to come down that far, not near to where they were before they started going up in the last year or so. I think we have to think short-term. We have to put some benefits in place that will help our residents come over the short-term.

I know people want to see development in the North. They want to see development in the hydro area and in oil and gas. I do not believe, Mr. Speaker, that the revenues that are going to be coming from any of these developments are going to be coming to our residents anytime soon, not in the next few years anyway.

I think it is incumbent upon us to get some relief packages in place that will benefit our residents. I encourage this House and the Minister to look at putting this subsidy in place to help our residents in the short term. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

-- Applause

Thank you, Mr. Delorey. The honourable Member for Deh Cho, Mr. McLeod.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As the seconder of the motion, I would like to make my comments in favour of this motion. As we are all aware, the cost of energy is becoming increasingly high in the North, the highest in Canada, I hear. There are very few alternatives for energy in the North. It is causing hardship to many of the residents in the Deh Cho, especially to the elders and the people who were on fixed income. Last week, I made my Member's statement on the situation with the elders and the threshold that is set at $31,000, which is no longer adequate.

I have been approached by many of the seniors who want to resort back to wood. However, that is not a solution to the problem. Many of them are not mobile enough to go out and cut firewood anymore. They still do not have the dollars to buy the firewood, as it has become quite costly. The Minister has indicated that there is no threshold review in sight.

It has also become a very big problem in the smaller communities on the businesses, not so much the ones who are established, but the ones who are young, who are trying to set up. It has become a very big hurtle. Since we have such small populations, it is increasingly difficult to set up a new company. The businesses that require the use of a lot of energy are also facing great difficulties.

This government has committed to an energy strategy, I understand to reduce the dependence on fuels. I think there is a very aggressive campaign for hydro. However, we need something new. We need something now. We need something to offset the high costs. We cannot wait. We need to get this government to act now. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.