Thank you, Mr. Allen. Good afternoon, everyone. Item 2, Ministers' statements. The honourable Minister responsible for the Department of Transportation, Minister Steen.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Good afternoon. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased today to inform the House that on March 23, 2001, I attended the 2001 Canadian Youth Against Impaired Driving (CYAID) Conference Cultural Feast on behalf of the Department of Transportation, along with my colleague, the Member for Great Slave, Mr. Bill Braden. This event was held in Yellowknife at the new Norman Byrne Gymnasium at the Weledeh Catholic School.

Mr. Speaker, CYAID's 11th annual conference in Yellowknife was attended by over 400 young adults and support personnel. I was extremely pleased to represent this government before such a great group of young people. Every year, residents of the Northwest Territories and many more in other parts of Canada are killed or injured because of impaired drivers who have not yet heard the message and who insist on mixing alcohol or drugs and driving.

The young people of CYAID from across Canada help to convince both this government and all provincial governments to tighten up on impaired driving legislation and introduce new deterrents to this very serious problem. Their message has been very effective at encouraging other students, parents and the population at large into changing their attitudes towards the acceptability of getting behind the wheel after consuming alcohol or using drugs. These caring young people are making a difference through their important work.

I know, Mr. Speaker, that all Members of this Legislative Assembly are truly encouraged by the efforts of our youth who are out there getting involved in changing people's attitudes towards drinking and driving. This change will prevent needless death and injury in the future.

Mr. Speaker, I congratulate both organizers and the students for a well-run conference and wish them the very best success with expanding their message in getting others to embrace the challenge of reducing high-risk behaviour. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

-- Applause

Thank you, Minister Steen. Item 2, Ministers' statements. 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 and health boards have been undertaking a number of initiatives in the area of recruitment and retention of nurses and other health and social services workers.

As we all know, there is currently an international shortage of physicians, nurses and several other health care professionals. This was demonstrated clearly yesterday when an advertisement appeared in News/North offering lucrative financial incentives for northern nurses to work in California.

Mr. Speaker, with our partners in the boards, the college and professional organizations, we are working to ensure an adequate and stable complement of health care professionals. Our Recruitment and Retention Strategy has three broad goals:

• • creating a stable workforce;
• • increasing the competencies of the workforce; and
• • creating a northern workforce.

In order to support these goals, we have undertaken a broad range of activities including, for example:

• • establishment of the Northern Development Program, which is dedicated to increasing the number of Northerners in the health workforce;
• • development of the Introduction to Nurse Practitioner Program, which has been made available to all nurses in community health centres; and
• • creation of an advertising campaign for health professionals that has received national recognition.

An evaluation of our strategy is currently concluding, and I anticipate that we will shortly have a number of recommendations for further strengthening this initiative. However, one of the strongest incentives for both coming to and staying in the North is the scope of practice and range of opportunity that is unsurpassed anywhere in North America. For those who are looking for the challenge and opportunity, the NWT truly offers a unique experience that can be a powerful incentive for many professionals.

Mr. Speaker, we place an extremely high value on our nurses and other health and social services workers. We recognize the special skills and commitment they bring to their work and know that without them we would not be able to provide Northerners with a quality health care system. Inevitably, there will be some nurses who choose to leave, for whom the incentives offered elsewhere outweigh the reasons for staying. This is inevitable, and we wish them well. However, I believe that most will choose to stay and accept both the opportunities and the challenges the North has to offer. I have committed to continuing to do everything possible to ensure that nursing in the NWT is a challenging and rewarding experience. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Madam Minister. Item 2, Ministers' statements. Item 3, Members' statements. The honourable Member for Great Slave, Mr. Braden.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Two silver and a bronze medal. That is what the Skills Canada Team NWT brought home from the Seventh Canadian Skills Competition in Edmonton in early June. Twenty high school students and apprentices from all over the Northwest Territories competed in events such as carpentry, welding, automotive service, web page design, culinary arts, and TV/video production.

Skills Canada is a non-profit organization, Mr. Speaker. Their mandate is raising awareness of trade and technology careers. Through partnerships with industry and government that promote careers to the youth of our government, this has become an extremely important aspect here in the Northwest Territories because of the high demand we have for skilled trades people in times of rapid economic growth and in growing our own workforce. This concern was raised at our Yellowknife MLAs' constituency meeting earlier this year.

The territorial Skills Canada competition took place in Fort Smith and Yellowknife this spring with 72 participants from across the Northwest Territories in a variety of trades and technology areas. Mr. Speaker, along with a host of private businesses, the Governments of Canada, the Northwest Territories and Nunavut have contributed immensely to Skills Canada NWT with finances and in-kind services.

Forty-five businesses and community organizations have contributed to the success of this year's team. The coaching and expert advice supplied by industry experts such as Steve Payne from Essentials Hair Design and Julia Tate of L'Heritage Restaurant has given the skills team a great foundation.

Representing the Northwest Territories, Mr. Speaker, were participants from Inuvik, Hay River, Yellowknife, and Fort Smith. Corey Ash, who works for Horvat Construction, won a silver medal in cabinet making. L'Heritage's Kimberly Novak brought home a silver medal in restaurant service when she impressed the judges with her table service. Mark Campbell, an apprentice electrician with BHP Diamonds, won a bronze medal in electrical wiring.

Mr. Speaker, while Skills Canada is developing in the Northwest Territories, I am particularly concerned that there will no longer be federal financial support. While larger jurisdictions have the businesses and financial resources to sustain Skills Canada, our high air travel expenses and small business trades sector will result in Skills Canada NWT being unable to sustain itself. A lack of federal financial support will put future Northwest Territories participation at risk.

Overall, Team NWT should be proud of their successful showing. They are great ambassadors and I hope we will be able to continue Skills Canada next year. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

-- Applause

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

Thank you, Mr. Nitah. Indeed, congratulations do go out to Dr. Blondin-Andrew. Item 3, Members' statements. The honourable Member for Yellowknife South, Mr. Bell.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Today I rise again to talk about the need for palliative care legislation in the Northwest Territories, Mr. Speaker. This is an issue that I have brought up in the House and in committee over the past year-and-a-half. I think that in talking about palliative care, Mr. Speaker, it is about our right to die with dignity. I think this is a fundamental right that we all hold very high, Mr. Speaker.

I think we can see a need, certainly in the Northwest Territories, to develop legislation that will allow us to keep in step with other jurisdictions. In previous questions to the Minister, she agreed that this was certainly something that we needed to get underway.

I know that the department has also looked at the need for long-term care facilities or hospices. I think when you compare the costs of staying in a hospital to the cost of staying in a long-term care facility for someone who is in their last days, Mr. Speaker, it is about three times the cost for a hospital stay.

I know the department had suggested they would look at palliative care and palliative care legislation in their long-term care strategy, and I believe it is called the Continuing Care Strategy. Today in question period, I will have questions for the Minister on the Continuing Care Strategy and whether or not that is ready and whether we have, as we indicated we would, looked at palliative care legislation and palliative care programs and services in other jurisdictions.

Again, Mr. Speaker, I raised a legislative issue yesterday about the need for midwifery legislation. This is another piece of legislation we need in the health care area. There are two things that can delay legislation; a lack of political will or a lack of horses in the Department of Justice to draft the legislation. I will as well be asking the Minister which seems to be the crux of the delay here. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

-- Applause

Thank you, Mr. Bell. Item 3, Members' statements. The honourable Member for Mackenzie Delta, Mr. Krutko.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to talk about some problems I have in my riding. Water problems are still a major issue, not only in the community of Fort McPherson, but it is now apparent in Tsiigehtchic and Aklavik.

The Tsiigehtchic problem, which has been around for several months, is because of the problem with the existing water treatment facility, or the lack of chlorite chlorination in the water treatment plant, and the community had to deal with very bad water. The colour was almost brown.

Also, another major problem the community has faced is the whole area of policing, and the lack of police services in that community because of the size of the community. The whole policing services is still an issue.

Another issue we face in our communities is the lack of infrastructure when it comes to housing for our teachers, our service providers. I think it is important as a government that when we set goals and priorities, we take into account the problems our communities are facing.

In the community of Aklavik, again, there has been a major stress in regard to the problem with H. pylori, which is a carcinogen in the water system. It has been called for by a doctor to do a public review and to test the population of Aklavik to see what the extent of that problem is. Yet, Mr. Speaker, the problem is still there and nothing has been done.

Another area is in regard to the petitions and motions directed to this government asking for a curling rink in Aklavik. There again, their efforts are still not being adhered to.

Another area is dealing with the alcohol and drug program and the people that have to provide the service to the people in Aklavik, where the building they are working out of has been condemned by the Department of Health because of the problem with the frozen sewage system. They are not allowed to hold any gatherings with their clients in the building because of that problem. The working conditions of the people we have in our communities is abhorrent.

Another problem has to do with Fort McPherson, which has come up in my last visit. There is a major problem with the existing recreation complex, which we have put millions of dollars into, yet to date, the problems are still there.

I feel that we as a government have to do more...

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

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

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Thank you, colleagues. In regard to the recreation complex in Fort McPherson, which is a critical building to the community, yet the building has not been allowed to hold any regional events or hockey tournaments because of the safety factor dealing with this building. I think as a government, when we set priorities and goals, we have to ensure that the people in our communities are part of the establishment of supplementary appropriations, ensuring their programs are being adhered to, not being told "Sorry, there is a freeze on. We cannot expend any capital projects." We have a major supplementary appropriation in front of us and it seems to be no problem when it comes to the government, but what are we doing to ensure the programs are there for the people in our communities? I will be asking the Premier questions on this matter later.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I rise today on an issue that has concerned me for some time now. The issue, Mr. Speaker, is that of front-line workers, who they are, what they mean to our system of delivering programs and services, and what we mean when we say we want to hear from front-line workers.

My experience over the past 30 years, Mr. Speaker, gives me some opportunity to look at this from different perspectives. When I first joined the workforce, I considered myself a front-line worker. I know the frustration when you try and bring something to a supervisor that is affecting your job or how you perform your job and having somebody pay attention to those issues.

As a union rep, Mr. Speaker, for 20 years, I addressed issues of front-line workers. I sat in front of corporations, big companies and tried to address front-line workers' concerns. It is very frustrating, Mr. Speaker, to try to get those issues addressed.

As a Member of this Legislature, I have been dealing with what I consider front-line workers for just about two years. I have even been caught, Mr. Speaker, as a parent, listening to front-line workers. My own kids brought up issues to me when they were front-line workers. When I say a front-line worker, I mean going to school and working on getting their own education. They have come back to me after they have completed their education and say, "The problems are still there. I brought them to you when I was going to school. You would not listen." I think we are all guilty of that.

What do we mean when we say we want to listen to front-line workers? I have heard from just about every department in this House that they want to hear it from front-line workers. I have even heard the Premier address issues that we want to go back and listen to front-line workers, and set our agenda by that.

We have heard everything from problems of unfair hiring practices to terrible morale problems in the workplace, yet we want to protect the people at the official level and do nothing for the front-line workers. Education in Hay River, for example, Mr. Speaker. We have heard from students, teachers, principals, board chairs, board members, yet what have we done? We have turned down a petition. We have done two studies that find the system is right. There is nothing wrong. Yet, Mr. Speaker, the problems are still there. Who suffers? I think the students suffer, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Delorey, the time for your Member's statement has ended.

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

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, next week there is a Social Agenda Conference scheduled for Hay River and the Hay River Reserve. Again, the topic of this conference is to listen to front-line workers and to set our agenda by it. We have heard that many times, Mr. Speaker. I think there are many problems out there that we have to address and listen to front-line workers. I hope that this time, Mr. Speaker, they are heard and we pay attention to what they are saying. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

-- Applause

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