Thank you, Ms. Lee. Good afternoon, colleagues. Orders of the day. Item 2, Ministers' statements. The honourable Premier.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I wish to advise Members that the Honourable Roger Allen will be absent from the House today to attend funeral services for the late Kyle Harry. Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Premier. Item 2, Ministers' statements. The honourable Member for Yellowknife Centre, Mr. Ootes.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, people are an invaluable resource in the North. We need to help people harness their skills, labour and productivity so that they are prepared to take full advantage of the economic opportunities before us. Maximizing Northern Employment is a key government priority that will help ensure that Northerners are positioned to take advantage of these opportunities.

Mr. Speaker, Maximizing Northern Employment is a government-wide, coordinated effort that is building partnerships with aboriginal governments and the private sector. It supports several of the key goals identified by the Legislative Assembly in the vision document Towards A Better Tomorrow. These include:

• • healthy, educated Northerners making responsible personal choices for themselves and their families;
• • a healthy, diversified economy providing employment opportunities for Northerners in all communities; and
• • an effective balance between development of our resources, socio-economic impacts and preservation and protection of our natural environment.

Today I would like to talk about nine initiatives under the Maximizing Northern Employment priority, representing an investment by this government of about $6.5 million.

These are practical initiatives dealing with real life problems, initiatives that will get Northerners working. Some of these initiatives are already in place. Others will be in place shortly.

One of the ways that the GNWT supports northern students is through summer employment opportunities. A number of exciting changes have been made to improve the quality and range of the student employment program such as a student employment web site, career development, an opportunity to enhance employment skills, a Progressive Work Experience Program, student orientation and mentorships. Students will have one point of access to the GNWT system and they will be met and assisted by trained personnel.

In an effort to retain and recruit Northwest Territories residents to the territorial labour force, the Northern Graduate Employment Program offers recent graduates of recognized degree and diploma programs a range of options to return to live and work in the NWT.

There are many occupations into which the government has significant difficulty recruiting Northerners with the necessary education and experience. Accordingly, we have guaranteed employment to all northern graduates of recognized nursing, teaching and social work diploma and degree programs.

In addition, we are offering one-year internships to post-secondary graduates of other programs in a range of additional occupations. This will provide a year of relevant work experience for students wishing to return to the NWT to work.

The private sector is also playing an important role in this initiative. Each private employer who hires a northern graduate will be eligible for a wage subsidy of $15,000 for the first year of employment.

The Employment Support Program is an important initiative to provide employment support to northern communities, enabling its residents to find rewarding careers.

This territory-wide program will foster cooperation between industry, aboriginal governments, community governments and the GNWT to coordinate employment support services at the community level.

This initiative will further develop partnerships with aboriginal governments and the private sector in order to offer training and skill development directly in the field, creating a local pool of skilled employees for local needs. In partnership with aboriginal groups, this fund will provide a series of community-based business development workshops in areas impacted by industrial development. The fund will also undertake work mobility initiatives with employers and communities to ensure that northern employment and development is maximized.

We are expanding the Northern Teacher Education Training Program in order to make the Aurora College Teacher Education Program more accessible to all NWT residents. This will be done by offering the three-year teacher education diploma program at all three campuses of Aurora College. An access year to help some students upgrade before entering the full program will also be offered.

We are making special funding available to allow up to 20 NWT teachers to pursue full-time and part-time studies towards their teaching degree. This will enable NWT teachers to receive a Bachelor of Education, as required by the Education Act and Regulations, without losing their teaching positions.

The Healthy Workplace Program will coordinate the existing worker support program to provide a safe, supportive working environment for all GNWT employees.

In order to ensure our residents are prepared to take advantage of new opportunities in non-renewable resource development, a specific program to enhance training for the oil and gas industry has been developed. This program will help meet the requirements of NWT employers for advanced and specialized skilled trades people.

Student success centres will be established at the three Aurora College campuses in Fort Smith, Yellowknife and Inuvik. These will provide a comprehensive set of support initiatives to help students succeed and complete their studies.

Mr. Speaker, the GNWT is committed to Maximizing Northern Employment in the Northwest Territories. We have supported that commitment by identifying Maximizing Northern Employment as a key priority based on the following criteria.

First, Maximizing Northern Employment initiatives must ensure the government fulfills its role as a proactive employer.

Second, Maximizing Northern Employment initiatives must provide support that encourages NWT residents to be proactive and find employment and training opportunities that help them to realize their personal goals.

Finally, these initiatives must be developed through strategic alliances with business, industry and other governments so that they support employment on a territory-wide basis across all sectors.

Mr. Speaker, Maximizing Northern Employment will help to ensure that the people of the Northwest Territories seize the opportunities before us today and harness their skills and labour to transform them into prosperity and better lives. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

-- Applause

Thank you, Minister Ootes. Item 2, Ministers' statements. The honourable Member for Nunakput, Mr. Steen.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, June 1st to 9th marks National Transportation Week across Canada. Canadians are encouraged to take time to consider the important role of transportation in our past, our present and our future.

National Transportation Week is organized and sponsored by Canadian private and public sector transportation organizations.

Mr. Speaker, as part of National Transportation Week, I am pleased today to inform the House that Mr. Doug Howard, assistant deputy minister of the Department of Transportation, has received a National Transportation Week Award of Excellence.

-- Applause

The Award of Excellence is presented annually to those men and women who have made outstanding contributions to the betterment of the Canadian transportation industry over several years. Mr. Howard joins a distinguished group of people that have been presented with this award over the past years.

Mr. Howard has had a long career in the North. Mr. Howard was presented the award in recognition of his dedication to ensuring excellent transportation services to the North and for his continued contributions to northern transportation policy and strategy.

On behalf of the Government of the Northwest Territories, I would like to extend our congratulations to Mr. Howard in achieving this accomplishment and to thank him for his contributions towards improving northern transportation over the past 33 years. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

-- Applause

Thank you, Mr. Steen. Item 2, Ministers' statements. The honourable Member for Weledeh, Mr. Handley.

Mr. Speaker, as the Premier mentioned in his Sessional Statement, the North American demand for energy currently favours the development of our abundant energy resources. However, any resource development must result in maximum benefits to the people of the Northwest Territories. This includes ensuring that residents have access to clean, affordable and efficient energy sources. As well, development of our natural resources must be done in a manner that respects our land and environment, and the unique ties we have to it. Our government has taken steps to ensure these principles are respected.

Mr. Speaker, over the past year we have been working to expand the benefits of natural gas development. Our efforts have successfully raised the national and international profile of the Northwest Territories and the need for a Mackenzie Valley pipeline. Indeed, both Prime Minister Chretien and President Bush have acknowledged the need to develop the gas reserves in the Northwest Territories. Now, as Canada sets its energy policy and works with the United States and Mexico on a continental energy framework, we want to see Canada make the timely development of Canadian gas reserves a condition for Canadian participation.

Mr. Speaker, we are confident that we will see an application for a Mackenzie Valley gas pipeline by year end. The major challenges identified by industry have been addressed. By the end of the summer, the Environmental Assessment and Regulatory Agencies Coordinating Group will release a draft framework for a single environmental assessment process for the review of a Mackenzie Valley stand-alone and Beaufort offshore pipeline proposals for public comment. Yesterday, the majority of aboriginal leaders were satisfied with the business plan prepared by the Aboriginal Pipeline Group and Mackenzie Delta Producers to provide aboriginal people with an equity share in a Mackenzie Valley pipeline. This is all good news for our economic future.

Through the Mackenzie Valley Gas Development Project, we are proceeding with implementing training initiatives to increase employment opportunities for residents, assessing options for communities to access natural gas as a clean and cost-effective alternative energy source and working with regional aboriginal groups to build their internal expertise and capacity to deal with oil and gas technical issues, environmental issues, business and human resource development.

We also want to see that the environment is protected. Accordingly, we plan to work with aboriginal governments, industry and the federal government to prepare a funding proposal for a joint method of gathering biophysical and socio-economic data in the Mackenzie Valley, similar to the approach taken by the West Kitikmeot Slave Study which conducted research on impacts from diamond mine development. To maximize socio-economic benefits, we are negotiating an industrial benefits protocol with the Mackenzie Valley Producers Group.

Mr. Speaker, we believe that resource development will lever the investment required to diversify our economy. That is certainly the intent behind our most recent energy initiative -- looking at the immense hydroelectric potential of the Northwest Territories in partnership with aboriginal governments. Our government will continue to make presentations to aboriginal and municipal leaders throughout the summer to inform residents about this clean and efficient energy source.

The major projects reviewed to date indicate that the Northwest Territories has 12,000 megawatts of run-of-river potential, which would be sufficient to satisfy territorial needs and export power to energy-hungry markets down south. The attraction of run-of-river hydro projects is that they use earth-filled dams to direct water to the powerhouse as it flows by. These projects do not lead to contamination of the water and do not have storage dams that create lakes.

The other major benefit of hydro plants relates to climate change, which people of the Northwest Territories are already experiencing. Generating power through hydro plants will reduce the need to generate electricity through the burning of fossil fuels, thereby reducing northern greenhouse gas emissions. This will enable the Northwest Territories to lead by example, as Canada works towards managing causes and impacts of climate change.

Mr. Speaker, I want to emphasize that hydro projects are just being considered. No projects will proceed without partnerships with aboriginal governments and without full consideration of environmental and socio-economic impacts.

Lastly, I would like to speak about alternative energy sources and energy conservation. The Arctic Energy Alliance continues its work to assist residents, businesses and government to identify ways to save energy and reduce energy costs. As well, the Department of Resources, Wildlife and Economic Development has committed $50,000 to a new renewable energy technology conversion assistance program to support application by any territorial resident or organization to convert conventional electrical and heat energy systems to solar, wind or other renewable source.

In closing, Mr. Speaker, I am confident that partnerships with aboriginal and federal governments, industry and other stakeholders in developing our energy reserves will result in clean, affordable and accessible energy for all NWT residents, employment and socio-economic benefits and a diversified economy. This will make a positive contribution to the energy needs of Canada and our southern neighbours. Thank you.

-- Applause

Thank you, Mr. Handley. Item 2, Ministers' statements. The honourable Member for Nahendeh, Mr. Antoine.

Mr. Minister, the time for Ministers' statements has expired.

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

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. On the heels of Mr. Handley's message today and the Premier's a couple days ago, as well as a number of other messages, we are very much an energized Assembly these days, and that is indeed the topic of my statement.

On Tuesday, Mr. Speaker, the Premier's Sessional Statement acknowledged that while the increased demand for energy in North America has resulted in increased employment here in the Northwest Territories, it has also resulted in increased energy costs here at home. Mr. Speaker, this is the crux of my problem.

How do we balance the rewards we stand to gain in jobs and wealth against the cost of energy to the average northern consumer? Mr. Speaker, the 1998 household survey showed that the average Yellowknife household paid $3,000 to meet their utility costs. The average Canadian household only paid $1,521 to meet their energy needs. All of the jobs in the world, Mr. Speaker, will not help if the cost of energy is so prohibitive that Northerners cannot afford to keep their homes, businesses and vehicles running comfortably with reliable, affordable fuel and electricity.

The Premier also outlined his plan to form the Energy Secretariat to develop and present an energy strategy to Cabinet within one year. This is a positive step. I have been advocating a coordinated approach to how energy is developed and managed in the Northwest Territories since I was elected in 1999.

The Premier also stated "Energy development must result in clean, affordable and accessible energy to our residents, our people." The key word here, Mr. Speaker, is affordability. I would certainly expect that the Northwest Territories energy strategy would also look at the issue of long-term stability in the supply and cost of energy to Northerners. It is our gas, our oil and our hydroelectricity.

Mr. Speaker, we have a major responsibility to manage this energy with a "Northerners first" strategic direction. I will be following up on this with the Premier during question period. 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. The honourable Member is seeking unanimous consent to conclude his statement. Are there any nays? There are no nays. The Member should just wait until the time has expired. Mr. Nitah.

Mahsi, Mr. Nitah. Item 3, Members' statements. The honourable Member for Thebacha, Mr. Miltenberger.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I as well would like to speak on the issue of energy, specifically the energy strategy, a strategy whose time has come and is, in fact, overdue.

Mr. Speaker, I do not think the people of the Northwest Territories realize the hundreds of millions of dollars that are spent and put towards the provision of energy in all its forms. What we have developed is a fragmented service system, supply system of power, fuel, natural gas, wood, oil, electricity, all scattered all over under different legislation and different authorities.

Mr. Speaker, it is time to bring the whole issue of energy under one strategy and to look at the very many component parts of what we need for an effective energy strategy.

Mr. Speaker, we have to address issues like import replacement, as we are burdened almost daily with price increases on imported, expensive carbon-based fuels. We have to look at all energy sources, hydro, fuel, solar, wind, hydrogen and any other viable alternative source. We have to look at our supply and distribution systems and programs that we have and how we are going to make them more efficient and effective and link them.

We have to come up with a way to stabilize prices for energy so that our constituents are not burdened and beggared by the sheer cost of this particular form of energy.

We have to look at the regulations and the regulatory regime. We have hydro rate zones. We have fuel price regimes. We have to look at coordinating those and integrating those in an effective, careful way to provide the necessary checks and balances.

We have to address issues of the environment, the Kyoto Accord, greenhouse gas emissions. We cannot forget that very critical factor as we seek to preserve that very important part of northern heritage.

Mr. Speaker, I would hope that this panel and secretariat the Premier is setting up will have and be led by those with northern expertise, of which there are some in the North that I am aware of. There has to be a commitment to consultation, Mr. Speaker, so that people can have an idea of what we are buying into. The plan has to be comprehensive and long-term enough so that it will take us into the 21st century in a careful, measured way to bring together all these very many threads of what is necessary for an effective energy strategy. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

-- Applause

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

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, in keeping with today's theme of energy costs to Northerners, I would like to address the needs of our elders. The Minister of Education, Culture and Employment, in response to my colleague for Great Slave, indicated he hoped to be making a statement on changes to the Income Support Program.

I hope, Mr. Speaker, that the Minister will be addressing a seniors' fuel subsidy as part of the changes to the Income Support Program.

We are all aware that the vast majority of our seniors live on a fixed income. Some are lucky and have indexed pensions from working for the government. Others do not. Whatever the seniors' situation, I can tell you, Mr. Speaker, that their purchasing power has not kept pace with their cost. My problem with the way the seniors' fuel subsidy works is its eligibility requirements. To be eligible, you must have an income of a set amount. For the communities I represent, the figure is set at $31,000 per household per year. If you make more than that, you do not qualify for the fuel subsidy.

The seniors' fuel subsidy is a great program, but the requirements have not been adjusted lately and consequently, have not kept pace with inflation. Mr. Speaker, this means that there are senior households grossing $31,000 in income that are facing crippling price increases in the cost of energy. The cost of heating fuel has increased by over 50 percent. The cost of electricity will be going up in the near future.

I challenge the Minister to explain how a man and wife can maintain a house, meet the rising costs of energy and put food on the table on a pre-tax income of $31,000. I suggest, Mr. Speaker, that for a couple, a figure of $50,000 in pre-tax income would be more appropriate as a minimum access threshold to the fuel subsidy.

It is time, Mr. Speaker, to evaluate the seniors' fuel subsidy to make sure it is meeting the needs of our elders to make sure that there are no seniors who are being forced into poverty because of decreases in their purchasing power. I will be following up on the Minister on this important matter during question period. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

-- Applause

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The rising cost of energy is having an adverse impact on the people of the Northwest Territories. Stats Canada produces information on the cost of living in the publication, The Consumer Price Index. According to this, the cost of heating fuel went from 32 and a half cents per litre in March, 1999, to 52.3 cents per litre in March, 2001, in Yellowknife. Mr. Speaker, this is an increase of 19.8 cents per litre, or 61 percent over two years.

Over that same period, the cost of gasoline went from 69.9 cents to 87.5 cents, an increase of 17.6 cents per litre, or 25 percent.

Mr. Speaker, there have also been drastic increases in the price of propane. In January 2000, the plant price for propane in Edmonton was $130.98 per cubic metre. In January of this year, the price had increased over two-and-a-half times.

While increases in the price of fuel have had an affect on our southern neighbours, the impact is even greater in the Northwest Territories. We have longer winters, less daylight and require our staples to be transported greater distances, Mr. Speaker.

The cost to run our vehicles has increased and has become a burden for some families. As well, the cost of air travel has become out of reach for an increasing number of our citizens. Compounding these costs will be the cost to travel on NWT highways coming from the user toll on commercial trucking proposed by the Minister of Finance.

Mr. Speaker, the fuel rebate this spring was a good start, but it disqualified too many people. The Minister thinks that the price of oil is on its way down, and as he said yesterday "It is predicted to go down even lower", so he is not looking at a rebate at this time.

However, I wish he would have told the Power Corporation this, Mr. Speaker. They have submitted a general rate application asking to raise the cost of power to our homes by $20 to $25 a household on average, due in large part to the cost of fuel going forward. Other experts are also predicting higher fuel prices.

Mr. Speaker, it is time to start talking about another fuel rebate, but this time, let us do it right. Base it on usage. Do not discriminate on income. Find some relief for small business. Mr. Speaker, let us start discussions about another fuel rebate. Thank you.

-- Applause

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The rising price of propane is severely impacting my constituents and my community of Hay River. Many businesses and residents in Hay River converted to propane several years ago, at a time when the price of propane was advantageous. At the time, propane was not only abundant, reliable and cleaner than other fossil fuels, but it was also affordable.

Mr. Speaker, using Edmonton as a benchmark, the plant price for propane per cubic metre was $130 in January 2000. This January, however, that same cubic metre of propane was $346, an increase of 266 percent over one year. The price of propane is continuing to increase.

This price spike is accompanied by similar increases in other forms of fuel. It now costs more to drive our vehicles, heat our homes or businesses, ship our goods and deliver services.

This government has introduced subsidies for diesel fuel, for power and other fossil fuels, but not all rebate subsidies or other forms of relief have been adopted or considered for small businesses or residential users that rely on propane. The high cost of propane has a significant adverse impact on businesses and residents in my constituency in Hay River and in the North.

Mr. Speaker, it could be said that Hay River has a great advantage over other communities in the North when it comes to propane due to the fact that most of the town is connected by means of an underground piping system. I agree. We look forward to the day when we can access natural gas in our area. The conversion would be quite easy. This may help down the road in the future, Mr. Speaker, but at present, there is no indication that is about to take place in the near future.

Mr. Speaker, at the appropriate time today, I will ask the Minister responsible regarding subsidies for propane users in the Northwest Territories. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

-- Applause

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Living in small and remote communities within the Northwest Territories is a unique experience. It is becoming even more of a unique experience as we watch the cost of living rise, far outstripping increases in income. Over the last two years, there has been a drastic increase in the cost of fuels used to heat our homes, run our vehicles and supply electricity.

We have heard from my colleague for Yellowknife South that through the Consumer Price Index, he has learned that the cost of heating fuel in Yellowknife increased by 61 percent over two years. Gasoline increased by 25 percent and propane increased by over two and a half times.

Whatever the effects of rising costs of energy are in the large centres, Mr. Speaker, the effects on remote and smaller communities are even more adverse.

The NWT Bureau of Statistics uses the term 'living cost differential' to give an idea of the cost of living in northern communities as compared to the city of Edmonton. Mr. Speaker, the city of Edmonton is given the base number of 100. For 1997, the living cost differential for Inuvik was 155 to 160. This can be simplified to indicate that what costs $100 in Edmonton costs $155 to $160 in Inuvik. An example, auto fuel price in Inuvik is $1.04 per litre, and that was just before travelling down here to Yellowknife, Mr. Speaker, when I had the opportunity of filling up my vehicle.

Further, the more remote the community is, the greater the cost of living is. For example, the living cost differential for Colville Lake was $210, Holman was $175 and Paulatuk and Sachs Harbour both came in at $180. The highest cost of living differentials in the Fort Smith region were Lutselk'e and Rae Lakes at $150. Looking at larger centres, we find Yellowknife was $120, Hay River was $125, and Fort Smith $130.

Mr. Speaker, the general trend is that the smaller and more remote communities, the higher the cost of living. What further compounds the situation is that using... Mr. Speaker, I seek unanimous consent to conclude my statement.

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

What further compounds the situation is that using information collected by the NWT for 1997, we find that the average income for the smaller isolated communities overall is lower than the average income in the larger centres. When we look at this in relation to the increase in fuel costs, the people in remote communities like Inuvik and smaller communities are going to be hit harder. It will cost more to heat our homes, drive our vehicles and obtain goods and services, and all this with less income to cover these higher costs.

Mr. Speaker, this disparity must be addressed when we deal with subsidies and rebates. I will pursue this later in question period. Thank you.

-- Applause

Thank you, Mr. Roland. Item 3, Members' statements. The honourable Member for Frame Lake, Mr. Dent.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Presently, there is great excitement in the Northwest Territories. We have tremendous potential for new revenue to be generated from the development and transport of northern hydroelectricity and oil and gas to southern markets. We see a future where we move from being dependent upon funding from the Government of Canada to independence and a future where Northerners control our lands and resources.

Mr. Speaker, Minister Handley spoke eloquently earlier today about the potential economic benefits and the number of jobs on the horizon in the Northwest Territories. Mr. Speaker, hand in hand with independence goes responsibility -- a responsibility to ensure that the people of the Northwest Territories benefit from the development of our resources.

Today we are focusing on energy and continuing along this line, it is only reasonable that the people of the Northwest Territories benefit directly from the development of our energy reserves. People of the North should pay lower rates for energy resources that are produced in the North.

Mr. Speaker, the Government of the Northwest Territories will never be able to control the North American price for heating oil, gasoline, electricity, oil or natural gas. However, Mr. Speaker, we can use the development of our resources to make the lives of northern people better. Through an energy strategy, we can ensure that the development of our energy resources will result in a reduced price for these commodities for our people.

Further, Mr. Speaker, most good things come to an end. This is also applicable to non-renewable resources. There will be a time when our oil and gas supplies will run out, and our energy strategy must also plan for this eventuality.

We must also be careful that as we help to keep prices low for essential energy, we are not encouraging the overuse of our resources. There needs to be a balanced approach that recognizes how important it is to our northern environment that we look for alternative forms of energy for our residents. I was pleased to hear Minister Handley talk about this in his statement earlier today.

Throughout the North, elders are raising alarm over the visible signs of global warming and the affect that greenhouse gases are having on the Northwest Territories. Yet even though Minister Handley spoke of the need to protect the environment today, we have done little as a government to encourage reduced production of greenhouse gases. We do not have an energy strategy yet that sets out this as the direction in which we want to head.

Mr. Speaker, we need an energy strategy that will allow our residents to benefit from the reduced costs of energy that originates in the North, whether it be directly through rebate or through a rate stabilization fund.

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

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker, honourable Members. Mr. Speaker, we need a strategy that plans for the time when we will no longer have oil and gas reserves. At the same time, we need to address our greenhouse gas emissions and encourage the use of alternative forms of energy. We need to plan for the future today.

Mr. Speaker, it is time for a comprehensive energy strategy to be developed. I hope the government will move quickly to complete one. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

-- Applause

Thank you, Mr. Dent. Item 3, Members' statements. The honourable Member for Range Lake, Ms. Lee.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I cannot agree more with what my colleagues here have had to say, but I would like to take this opportunity to recognize a very talented member of our community with us in the gallery today, an excellent ambassador of our Territory and a wonderful person.

Clara Tutcho is a Special Olympian who is a member of the Yellowknife Figure Skating Club and also of Team NWT. She competed in the provincial championships in Calgary four years ago and then went on to compete in the Canadian National Special Olympic Winter Games 2000 in Ottawa. From this competition, she was selected to be a Member of Team Canada to compete in the Special Olympic World Winter Games in Anchorage, Alaska this past winter.

On April 24th, Clara was recognized in the House of Commons for her contribution to sport. At this year's Sport North awards banquet, Clara was awarded the first Mary Beth Miller Memorial Award for the top senior female athlete in the Northwest Territories for excelling in figure skating and for her commitment to other sport training. To be chosen for this award is an honour indeed, and well deserved, for Clara demonstrates so many of the attributes that characterize Mary Beth, hard work, perseverance, sportsmanship, fair play and respect for others.

Clara represents sportsmanship at all levels. She is what athletes in all organizations strive to be. She shows good conduct to everyone. She never complains about training and is a devoted and focused athlete. She has trained and improved constantly, never giving up and never stopping. She just smiles and keeps on going.

Mr. Speaker, I can tell you that it is not just in figure skating that Clara excels in. She is also a great bowler. She has recently come back from a competition in Calgary and was a member of the gold-winning team. This will provide the possibility for her to be a candidate for the Canadian National Summer Special Olympic Games in Prince Albert, Saskatchewan next year.

Clara is a role model to all athletes in the Territory and the country, and I am glad she is here with us today. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

-- Applause

Thank you, Ms. Lee. Indeed, she is a remarkable person. Item 3, Members' statements. The honourable Member for Nunakput, Mr. Steen.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, on May 15, 2001, the residents of Paulatuk held graduation ceremonies in Angik School in Paulatuk. Although there was only one grade 12 graduate, what was significant about this graduation ceremony was the fact it was the first ever in Paulatuk since the high school programs were moved to the communities from the larger centres such as Inuvik. My congratulations to Justin Ruben, the graduate, his parents, James and Elizabeth Ruben, and the principal and staff of Angik School for their determination and perseverance in achieving this accomplishment.

Mr. Speaker, I know this community is looking forward to many more graduates in future years. I encourage Mr. Justin Ruben to continue with his education and wish him luck in whatever field he chooses as a career. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

-- Applause

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Yesterday was a very significant day, Mr. Speaker. It marked the anniversary, June 6th, of D-Day 57 years ago. Today was the day that a beachhead was established and eventually lead to the liberation by the Allies of Europe.

I want to mention, Mr. Speaker, that my family and I will always be very, very grateful to the Canadians who served in Europe. They are very much admired in my home country of Holland. Today, of course, I am very proud to be a Canadian, but I think yesterday and today are very significant days for many people. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

-- Applause

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I would just like to take this opportunity to briefly thank my colleagues who accompanied me to Hay River last night for the opening ceremonies of the 11th Annual Track and Field Championships. There were 1152 athletes present and they each marched in under the flags of their schools.

Before the students and athletes proceeded in, I had the honour of entering the arena with my colleague from Hay River North. We carried a flag with a polar bear on it and we all had polar bear jackets on. Accompanying us were the Honourable Roger Allen, the Honourable Vince Steen, Mr. Krutko, Mr. Lafferty, Mr. McLeod and Mr. Nitah. I know that the students appreciated it very much. I also thank my colleagues for joining us. Thank you.

-- Applause

Thank you, Mrs. Groenewegen. Good luck to all of the athletes. Item 3, Members' statements. Item 4, returns to oral questions. Item 5, recognition of visitors in the gallery. The honourable Member for Frame Lake, Mr. Dent.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I would like to recognize three constituents in the gallery today, Christine Tanner, along with her sons Michael and Mark Simpson. I would like to welcome them today.

-- Applause

Thank you, Mr. Dent, and welcome to the Legislative Assembly. It is nice to see younger members of our community visiting us. Item 5, recognition of visitors in the gallery. The honourable Member for Thebacha, Mr. Miltenberger.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, it gives me pleasure today to recognize a fine constituent, local craftsman and trapper of some renown, and his very fine daughter, Mr. Karl Hoffmann and Ingrid Hoffmann. Thank you.

-- Applause

Thank you, Mr. Miltenberger. Item 5, recognition of visitors in the gallery. The honourable Member for Yellowknife Centre, Mr. Ootes.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Yes, I would like to take a moment to introduce a Yellowknife businessman, Mr. Jerome Babyn. He is manager of Northland Utilities here in the city.

-- Applause

Thank you. Item 5, recognition of visitors in the gallery. The honourable Member for Hay River North, Mr. Delorey.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, it is not often that I can stand in this House and recognize a relative of mine. I would like to recognize Jean Marc Arsenault. He is a cadet paging here this week in the Legislative Assembly. I would like to welcome all of the cadets. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

-- Applause

Item 5, recognition of visitors in the gallery. The honourable Member for Hay River South, Mrs. Groenewegen.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to recognize you. In my Member's statement, I failed to mention that the Honourable Tony Whitford was with us. I am sorry. I would like to recognize Tony today.

-- Applause

I would almost be moved to move that out of order, because we are supposed to recognize visitors in the gallery. I hope that I can remain in this chair for a considerable length of time before returning to the gallery. Thank you. Item 5, recognition of visitors in the gallery. The honourable Member for Range Lake, Ms. Lee.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker, and I thank my colleagues for taking the time I needed to have my guests get back into the gallery so I can introduce them. Clara Tutcho is sitting in the gallery, the Special Olympian, and the president of NWT Special Olympics Association, Kim Holter.

-- Applause

Any my assistant, Stephen Dunbar. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you. Item 5, recognition of visitors in the gallery. I would like to say to all the visitors who have come here, welcome. It is always nice to see members of the public watching the events. I would like to take a little bit of Speaker's licence as well to recognize my uncle. He was in Normandy in 1943 when the Allies landed there. Today is sort of a special day for recognition of the Canadians who went to Europe and never returned, but my uncle is in Fort Smith and is probably watching on television as we speak, Mr. Eugene Mercredi.

-- Applause

Item 6, oral questions. The honourable Member for Great Slave, Mr. Braden.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As I mentioned in my Member's statement earlier today, I have concerns about the affordability and stability of the cost of energy for Northerners. For example, many of our residents and businesses will not be able to afford the cost of electricity without the Power Support Program that has been in place for a number of years.

My question is for the Premier. I would like to know if the Premier could inform this Assembly whether this government accepts the principle that it should assist residents and businesses in subsidizing their access to affordable energy. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Braden. The honourable Premier, Mr. Kakfwi.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I believe this government has continued the practice and it has continued to commit to providing a subsidy so that power and fuel is available and provided to citizens as economically as possible. Beyond the principle, there are actual programs that support that principle. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Premier. Supplementary, Mr. Braden.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Indeed, the Premier has reflected what is going on. We have the Power Subsidy Program. We get assistance through things like the Seniors' Fuel Program. Our income support clients receive assistance and some communities already on the petroleum products division system also receive assistance. Would the Premier inform this Assembly whether the energy strategy, to be developed by the soon-to-be-created Energy Secretariat, will examine our energy subsidy programs and offer recommendations on their continuation and, preferably their improvement? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Braden. The honourable Premier, Mr. Kakfwi.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As Members are aware, the initiative that we announced in the Sessional Statement earlier this week has come from the Towards a Better Tomorrow agenda that all Members of the Legislature developed together. In response to many of the suggestions made by Ordinary Members of this Legislature, this government has started to focus on the need for a comprehensive approach and view towards energy resources and how people at the community, regional, territorial level may want these resources managed and provided to them, in regard to fuel, heating, electrical consumption and how these may be best provided to the citizens of the Northwest Territories.

I believe the many statements the Members have made in previous sessions, as well as the ones made today and in the coming days, will be the basis for which we will begin to decide how an energy policy will be best formulated. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Premier. Supplementary, Mr. Braden.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, a lot of our attention in the past weeks and months has been focused on major energy development production, largely related to exporting. My concern, and I reflected this in my statement, is that I believe we should be developing an energy strategy that has a Northerners-first direction. Would the Premier agree with that? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Braden. The honourable Premier, Mr. Kakfwi.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I am looking forward to finding a way to involve all Members of the Legislature in setting down the basic direction and parameters under which this Energy Secretariat will begin initiating its work towards developing an energy policy. I would not be endorsing any particular statements at this time. Rather, I welcome them so they can be included and a collective consensus on how to proceed can be used. I would welcome the statement the Member made and be quite happy to see that being one of the many elements that would guide the work needed to develop an energy policy. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Premier. Item 6, oral questions. The honourable Member for Tu Nedhe, Mr. Nitah.

Thank you, Mr. Nitah. The honourable Premier, Mr. Kakfwi.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Although that would fall under the responsibility of the Minister responsible for the Housing Corporation, it is my belief that we do not have a specific program for low-income private homeowners to develop more energy-efficient homes. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Premier. Supplementary, Mr. Nitah.

Thank you, Mr. Nitah. The honourable Premier, Mr. Kakfwi.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It is true that there is a gas pipeline that was built by the Inuvialuit to provide natural gas to the town of Inuvik. This government has, as a partner, assisted in helping them to recover the costs of converting the many homes in Inuvik so that they can move from diesel heat to natural gas heating.

I believe that when and if other communities, for instance Fort Simpson, should find gas and agree to a pipeline being constructed, they may very well want to convert to natural gas. We would be more than happy to consider such a request if it is made. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Premier. Supplementary, Mr. Nitah.

Thank you, Mr. Nitah. The honourable Premier, Mr. Kakfwi.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. We do not have anything specific that we plan to announce in the next while, but we believe that the setting up of an Energy Secretariat would look at all of the suggestions the Members have made and are making: the operations of the Power Corporation and its role in providing power to the residents of the Northwest Territories; the hydro potential and the hydro operations currently underway; the supply of natural gas; oil potential; projects regarding those resources, as well as the work of the Arctic Energy Alliance and other agencies; and the Greenhouse Gas Strategy.

There would be a number of other initiatives that this secretariat would look at as well as broad consultation with communities up and down the Mackenzie Valley so that this secretariat would provide this government, as well as residents of the Northwest Territories, with a very comprehensive basis on which to start working towards the development of an energy strategy. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Kakfwi. Final short supplementary, Mr. Nitah.

A short question, please. A short question.

Thank you, Mr. Nitah. The honourable Premier, Mr. Kakfwi.

Mr. Speaker, the question would go to the Minister responsible for Finance. I will leave it for the Minister of Finance to answer that. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Premier. Is the Premier using his prerogative to pass it on to the Minister of Finance?

Yes, Mr. Speaker.

The honourable Minister responsible for the Department of Finance, Mr. Handley.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. While we are certainly open to considering any proposal that Members or the public want to put forward to us, this particular proposal would be incredibly expensive for us and very difficult to administer.

We will look at it, but we do not have the addresses of everyone to mail things to. We would have to take applications. We would then have to confirm that these were actual residents of the Northwest Territories, not someone just passing through town. It would be very expensive to do. Thank you.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My questions are addressed to the Premier in regard to his energy strategy. I would like to follow up to some of the questions already asked. If he could just highlight in his own way what he sees as some of the key components that need to be covered and addressed by an energy strategy? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Miltenberger. The honourable Premier, Mr. Kakfwi.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The idea of the Energy Strategy is to look at the resources of the Northwest Territories -- oil, gas and hydro potential -- and the needs that we have both domestically and in the business and industrial sectors; as well as the export potential of these resources and the environmental aspect of the development of energy, the transmission, the generation and the consumption of it.

As well as the cost of those in the different forms that are available in the different communities we have, and how the people of the Northwest Territories would like to see these used at the local level, the regional level, the territorial, and as one Member said, the potential for domestic purposes.

The secretariat would do an assessment of what has been done todate, a state of affairs in our communities, nationally and internationally in the context of the United States, in the context of the energy market that is out there; and develop some suggestions on how we should develop an energy policy that can meet the needs and interests of our people at the community level, and the regional interests that we have that are sometimes different from one another, meet the needs of our business sector, the industrial sector as well as provide for some benefits to government in terms of revenue. As well as the aboriginal governments, who we would likely want to partner with. Also, the environmental aspect of energy in the exploration, development, production and possible export of it. The ways in which we can provide for the consumption of energy in a way that is environmentally friendly, affordable and fair for all people of the Northwest Territories.

Also, provide for returns to government and more importantly, a policy that could then be used to assure people that this government and perhaps even the partnership governments we have, will commit to using this hopefully broad, comprehensive, well-thought out, credible, realistic, affordable and simple policy to be used by all of us for generations to come. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Premier. Supplementary, Mr. Miltenberger.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to thank the Premier for that succinct and focused response. The question I would now ask is more in terms of process. He has indicated that he is going to start a secretariat. Could he indicate when he expects to have the secretariat operational, when their terms of reference will be ready, and when they will start generating some work and a paper that can be the topic of discussion?

Thank you, Mr. Miltenberger. The honourable Premier, Mr. Kakfwi.