Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, today I would like to briefly touch once again on the issue and concept of community service boards. Mr. Speaker, it is very clear that the people of Hay River are not happy with the current arrangement with the South Slave Divisional Education Council. I do have a copy of the report that was just done in terms of whether they have been treated fairly or not.

The report indicated that yes, Hay River is being treated fairly, but Mr. Speaker, I think there is an underlying issue here that has to be looked at. We have to look at the government's issues in the South Slave so that we can come up with a way of governing ourselves that is deemed appropriate by all communities. We have the Cuff report coming. We have a Social Agenda Conference coming. We know there is work being done on governance, and we know within the South Slave there is a chance of regional operations. It has been historically demonstrated that it is not a very viable form of governance.

I would hope that very soon we will be able to seriously look at this issue of community service boards as one way of possibly coming up with a form of governance that will be appropriate, that will allow communities to bring together under one board health, social services, education, housing and justice. This will limit their administration costs, improve program integration and do away with the needless friction between communities that causes so much stress and burns up valuable energy and resources.

Mr. Speaker, later today I will be asking the Premier where this particular concept fits in to the planning process, and when will the people of the South Slave and the individual communities be able to sit down with the government to talk about whether this is in fact a viable option. I believe it is. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

-- Applause

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to speak on a critical issue that has come up in the Inuvik Regional Health and Social Services Board. Mr. Speaker, I have been informed and have received a fax that notice has gone out on emergency services provided to many communities in the Inuvik region, and it notifies different communities of the times their health centres will go on emergency services only. Mr. Speaker, this is the second summer now that we are being impacted by centres that are having closures because of a lack of staff in all of the communities.

Mr. Speaker, I was aware this winter that the Inuvik Regional Health and Social Services Board had lined up a recruitment drive to try and get more nurses to deal with the shortages, and things were working out rather well initially. They had put a program together and were ready to do some recruitment overseas. When they contacted the department, they were informed they could not do that at that time. They had to work with the department to develop a process to deal with this recruitment issue.

Mr. Speaker, they had an opportunity to fill jobs. What we are seeing now, I believe, is definitely a direct impact as to the process that is being used now. I am aware that there has been ongoing work to try and improve the system between the department and boards, but right now, communities in the Beaufort Delta region will be impacted due to the lack of nursing once again.

Mr. Speaker, we have to put something in place to help out the health boards across the Northwest Territories to deal with the shortages. Mr. Speaker, if that means the department has to put more resources into dealing with these shortages, then they should do that, or allow the boards to go on their own recruitment drives. Later, Mr. Speaker, I will have questions for the Minister of Health and Social Services on this issue. Thank you.

-- Applause

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I wanted to talk today about youth smoking in the Northwest Territories. I know the Department of Health and Social Services recently released a document titled Smoke Alarm, and it is an environmental scan of smoking in the Northwest Territories. Indeed, many of the findings and statistics in this report are, Mr. Speaker, alarming.

A couple of things that I have browsed over really shocked me. One being that over 42 percent of the population over the age of 17 in the Northwest Territories smoke. That is much higher than the Canadian average. In regard to children, Mr. Speaker, in some of our communities, almost one-quarter of ten-to 14-year-olds smoke and three-quarters of 15-to 17-year-olds also smoke.

I think when we think about youth smoking, one of the problems is the fact that youth have such easy access to tobacco. A recent survey discovered that less than half of ten-to 14-year-olds attempting to buy cigarettes were asked their age, Mr. Speaker. I do not know about you, but most of the ten-to 14-year-olds in my neighbourhood do not look 18. It is certainly quite shocking, Mr. Speaker.

I think we need larger fines for merchants selling to children under 18, but more importantly, I think we need to focus on enforcement. We could do this, Mr. Speaker, but it would take this government making it a priority. We know we have liquor inspectors who go around to establishments on a weekly, sometimes daily, basis to make sure we do not have underage drinking or over capacity. The kind of effort we put into policing merchants who sell cigarettes pales in comparison to this, Mr. Speaker.

The Alberta Government just passed Bill 208, which is the Prevention of Youth Tobacco Use Act, and it allows for fines for minors smoking in public. There is some research, Mr. Speaker, to show that this kind of thing works. Woodridge, Illinois, a community just west of Chicago, has had similar legislation and enforcement. They are reporting 70 percent lower rates for youth smoking than other surrounding areas.

Mr. Speaker, I am not saying we need to start fining kids who smoke, but we do need to do more. We need to get creative. We need to follow the example being set by groups like the Non-Puffers Youth Group in Fort Providence that had such an impression on all of us. Mr. Speaker, in short, we need to encourage people to make healthy choices. Thank you.

-- Applause

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, this weekend I will be joining the students of the Western Arctic Leadership Program for an awards dinner in Fort Smith and I want to make some comments on this program.

Mr. Speaker, this government, in cooperation with the education boards, extended grades into the communities. This has meant that a basic high school education is now available to students in their home communities. However, Mr. Speaker, this basic education does not meet the needs of all of the students in the communities.

Those who decide to pursue a post-secondary education soon come to realize that the basic education received in their home communities does not provide a sufficient academic foundation for success. Mr. Speaker, many of these grade 12 graduates find that they have to take academic upgrading to be successful in post-secondary education. The above-average students from the communities without an academic stream curriculum can apply to live in a residential setting offered by the Western Arctic Leadership Program and attend high school in Fort Smith.

Mr. Speaker, as you are aware, Fort Smith, as a larger regional centre, can offer students an education complete with access to labs, libraries and specialized academic teachers. The Western Arctic Leadership Program provides extra tutoring and leadership training that encourages students' success.

In short, Mr. Speaker, over the past ten years, the Western Arctic Leadership Program has provided students from up and down the Mackenzie Valley the necessary tools to succeed in post-secondary school or in the work force.

Unfortunately, Mr. Speaker, over the past five years or so, it has become a constant struggle for the program to raise enough funding to continue. It seems that every year, they must wait for this government to decide at the last minute whether or not they will receive core funding for the upcoming year.

This lack of support leads to uncertainty and does not provide the students with a sense of stability. This government is going to spend $11 million on the various components of the Maximizing Northern Employment Strategy and yet cannot provide core funding for a program that prepares young Northerners to take advantage of the opportunities that are available to them.

I strongly encourage all the DEAs and concerned parents to contact the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment, the Premier and their MLAs to demand that the Western Arctic Leadership Program receive stable long-term funding to ensure its continued...

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

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

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. In conclusion, Mr. Speaker, I want to say that maybe the Western Arctic Leadership Program should be part of a grandiose strategy like the Maximizing Northern Employment Strategy. At least then, it might get the attention it deserves. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

-- Applause

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

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I would like to talk today about lifestyle and the choices we make as we go about our daily lives. So often, Mr. Speaker, what we do is taken for granted. It is a matter of choice. We just go about doing the things we do. That can be things as basic as what are the foods we eat that are going to set the standards for the kind of health we have throughout our lives. Whether we decide to smoke or have a beer too many is going to set the standard for the health and how much we are going to cost ourselves, our families and the system. Whether we read a newspaper or listen to a newscast, that will set the standard for how well we know our communities and what is going on around us.

Another choice that we make, and I think take far too much for granted, is how we use energy, Mr. Speaker. We make choices about leaving the lights on or turning the thermostat up, about the kind of homes we have. These are all things we need to be much more concerned about, Mr. Speaker, if we are going to be able to maintain sustainable and affordable energy. Especially, Mr. Speaker, as we assess the impact on our environment.

The newly formed Northwest Territories Climate Change Centre wants to do something about that. They are challenging those lifestyle choices we make about energy with the first Don't Drive to Work Week, which starts on Monday. The idea here is to encourage people to choose an alternative way to get to work. I think this is something that businesses and offices can have a look at and help the individuals join in there. There are some prizes that are being awarded for those offices that can demonstrate an 80 percent or greater rate of competition. The event begins on Monday morning at City Hall here in Yellowknife, when participants can join together and walk over here to the Legislative Assembly for the launch.

Mr. Speaker, this event is starting in Yellowknife. Hopefully, it will roll out into the other communities. I would challenge everyone to think about the choices they make, especially as it relates to energy and the cost to the environment. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

-- Applause

Thank you, Mr. Braden. Item 3, Members' statements. The honourable Member for Hay River South, Mrs. Groenewegen.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, this time of year is a happy time for all students as they look forward to their summer vacation from school. I am sure that the teachers are also looking forward to this break. It is a time to celebrate achievements, especially as we recognize our graduates and mark this important milestone in their lives. It is also a time to recognize the dedicated efforts of those who teach our youth and who encourage them to work hard and to do the best that they can. It is important to thank teachers for their ongoing efforts for the lives and the example they demonstrate.

In Hay River, we are very fortunate to have some absolutely excellent teaching staff in our school system.

In addition to being a time of celebration, it is also a poignant time of year, as we must say goodbye to some of our dedicated teachers who are retiring this year. Diamond Jenness School is saying goodbye to:

• • Graham Mitchell, with 30 years of service;
• • Bruce Green, with 30 years of service;
• • Pat Bernstead, with 26 years of service; and also
• • Ray Young, who is currently the principal of the Diamond Jenness Secondary School, after 31 years of service in the North. I am pleased Mr. Young is being recognized here today and in the visitors gallery.

As well, Harry Camsell School is saying goodbye to:

• • Joyce Young, with 25 years of service;
• • Peter Austead, 35 years;
• • Sylvia Boyer, 31 years;
• • Jenny Turvey, 19 years; and
• • Guy Turvey, who has taught for 24 years.

On behalf of the residents, parents and students of my constituency, I would like to express our gratitude and appreciation to all the teachers in Hay River for the exemplary job they do in educating and guiding our young people, and particularly thank those who are retiring. I look forward to attending the celebrations planned to honour them in Hay River this weekend. Thank you.

-- Applause

Thank you, Mrs. Groenewegen. Indeed, congratulations do go out to the teachers, well appreciated. Item 3, Members' statements. The honourable Member for Frame Lake, Mr. Dent.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, family violence is a serious problem in the Northwest Territories. It has a significant negative impact on our society. As we are all aware, the Members of this Legislative Assembly unanimously supported a declaration on family violence in November in an effort to focus attention on and bring an end to family violence across the North.

Today, I would like to acknowledge some of the organizations that continue to make great efforts every day in the struggle against family violence.

Mr. Speaker, Alison MacAteer House is a 12-bed crisis shelter in my constituency in Yellowknife that offers a safe place for abused women and children to stay, as well as numerous support and counselling programs. In the past fiscal year, Alison MacAteer House provided shelter for 64 women and 93 children.

The shelter also operates a 24 hours a day crisis telephone line, and last year received more than 500 calls.

Mr. Speaker, the YWCA operates Alison MacAteer House and also provides several other family violence prevention programs. One of these is the recently introduced project, Child Recovery. This program provides support for children who are faced with violence in their homes by offering children a safe place to express their feelings and to improve their self-esteem.

Last September, in partnership with the Yellowknife Women's Centre, the YWCA also established the Women and Children's Healing Recovery Program. The program, which supports women during their healing and recovery from traumatic experiences, has already received 91 applications from across the Northwest Territories in the first eight months.

The Northwest Territories Seniors' Society is another organization actively involved in the struggle against family violence. On May 17th, I was very pleased to take part in the Taking Action on Elder Abuse Workshop hosted by the Seniors' Society. Elders, caregivers and other interested parties from Yellowknife and surrounding communities participated in the workshop in an effort to develop an action plan to eliminate elder abuse throughout the Northwest Territories.

Mr. Speaker, I salute these organizations for their continuing efforts to bring an end to family violence. They are key players in a large group of NGOs and individuals in the Northwest Territories working in the field of family violence. Mr. Speaker, we must all be prepared to speak out on family violence. We must all be prepared to step in to stop family violence. When that happens, Mr. Speaker, and only then, can we stop family violence. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

-- Applause

Thank you, Mr. Dent. Item 3, Members' statements. The honourable Member for Inuvik Twin Lakes, Mr. Allen.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I am very pleased today to share some very good news, that is the publication of Bishop John Sperry's book, Igloo Dwellers Were My Church. I am proud to say Bishop Sperry is one of my constituents.

In this very noteworthy book, Bishop Sperry tells the story of the life of he and his family while he was a missionary with the Inuit people in the Kitikmeot region of what is now Nunavut. He knew from a young age that he wanted to be a missionary in the Canadian Arctic. A series of coincidences, which he explains as the mysterious ways in which God moves, resulted in his coming to Coppermine, now Kuglugtuk, in 1950 as an Anglican missionary.

This is a fascinating slice of first-hand history of a unique time in the Kitikmeot. It begins when the Inuit were still living in traditional nomadic groups and continues into the time when they began living permanently in communities. To serve his parish, John Sperry first had to learn Inuktitut. He became so fluent he was able to translate the gospels and acts of the New Testament and several other documents of the Anglican faith into Inuinnaqtun.

This allowed the Kitikmeot Inuit to worship in their own language for the first time. John Sperry travelled approximately 3,000 miles a year, by dog team in winter and by boat in summer, serving his parishioners in the far-flung camps. He brought them not only the word of God, but also mail, news from other people in the region and medical and dental services.

Bishop Sperry's book is not only a record of the traditional ways of life in the Kitikmeot in the 50s and 60s, but also a personal account of a family man much admired for his sensitivity and compassion. He and his wife Elisabeth are still warmly loved by all those whom they have served. They are appreciated for their kindness and help during both good times and bad times, such as epidemics and food shortages. Mr. Speaker, I would like to publicly express my gratitude to Bishop Sperry for writing this very significant book, which preserves this unique window of time in the history of the Arctic. I urge everyone to join me in congratulating Bishop Sperry on the publication of this book. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Ootes. Item 3, Members' statements. The honourable Member for Weledeh, Mr. Handley.