Thank you, Mr. Roland. Please be seated. Good afternoon, colleagues. I would like to welcome you back to the Assembly from a brief summer vacation, interrupted as it may be.

I wish to advise the House that I have received the following message from the Commissioner of the Northwest Territories.

"Dear Mr. Speaker,

I wish to advise that I recommend to the Legislative Assembly of the Northwest Territories the passage of the Supplementary Appropriations Act, No. 2, 2001-2002 during the Fourth Session of the 14th Legislative Assembly.

Yours truly,

Glenna F. Hansen

Commissioner"

As well, I would like to take this opportunity to say a couple of words. Since we met the last time, a couple of very momentous things have taken place in the Legislative Assembly, one being that the honourable Member for Yellowknife South, Mr. Bell, was the first sitting Member in living memory to be married during his term.

-- Applause

I would like to offer congratulations to both Mr. Bell and Jill Taylor, his lovely bride as of the 14th of July.

As well, the honourable Member for Frame Lake achieved a milestone in his life on Friday. I will not say his age, but he is halfway there.

-- Applause

Congratulations, Mr. Dent. Congratulations, Mr. Bell.

Item 2, Ministers' statements. The honourable Premier, Mr. Kakfwi.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, on Friday in Italy, Canada's Prime Minister told President Bush and reporters that the development of NWT gas is a priority for his government.

He said, "...no doubt about it, there will be a pipeline in the Mackenzie Valley. It is the only way you can get the gas from the Delta down to the market." He also said, "...if we have only one pipeline, it is easier than two."

These were welcome words for those of us promoting the development of our Territory's natural gas resources.

Mr. Chretien's comments not only reflected his belief that NWT gas should precede Alaskan gas to market, but more importantly, that NWT's aboriginal people are major stakeholders in this plan.

Our government has long maintained that gas from a stand-alone pipeline down the Mackenzie Delta can and should be allowed to address the energy shortage in the United States. In light of a recent drop in the price of natural gas, this less-costly means of getting natural gas to market is currently even more economically sound.

I believe that eventually sound economics, the private sector and our regulatory process will also determine the route of Alaskan gas, and that it too will flow to market through the NWT. By working closely with industry and with federal and aboriginal governments, both of these projects can be achieved in a safe, economical and environmentally sound manner.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank the Prime Minister for backing the Mackenzie Valley pipeline. His support is a most welcome step in addressing the many challenges that must be overcome before natural gas can flow to market from the NWT.

Mr. Speaker, I can assure my colleagues today that Mr. Chretien's comments do not mean that our lobbying effort in Ottawa is complete. If anything, they mean that we must increase our efforts. Investment from Ottawa will be key as we continue to ready our Territory for this project.

In January of 2000, Dene, Metis and Inuvialuit leaders declared unanimous support for the proposed aboriginal ownership of a gas pipeline. This support was confirmed in June of that year when the Aboriginal Pipeline Group was mandated, on behalf of all aboriginal people, to pursue a means by which aboriginal ownership could be realized.

Last week in Calgary, the Minister of Resources, Wildlife and Economic Development, the Honourable Joe Handley and I met with gas producers, explorers and pipeline companies to ensure that these interests continue to be reflected in their efforts to develop Mackenzie Delta gas reserves.

Mackenzie Delta producers indicated that they will be ready to file a notice of application to construct a Mackenzie Valley gas pipeline by this fall. That means that there is much work to be done. We must work to ensure a deal is reached for aboriginal equity in a Mackenzie Valley pipeline -- one that offers maximum benefits to, and meets the terms and conditions of, the people of the NWT.

We must also complete our process of regulatory reform and continue to invest in infrastructure, training and the development of the NWT's business sector in order that NWT residents are in a position to fully benefit from the natural gas development that is now most certainly on the way. Mahsi cho.

-- Applause

Mahsi, Mr. Kakfwi. Item 2, Ministers' statements. Item 3, Members' statements. The honourable Member for Mackenzie Delta, Mr. Krutko.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my statement today deals with something that is fundamental in the lives of all people -- having good, safe drinking water to consume for your use. Yet, Mr. Speaker, I find it awfully difficult, realizing the problems I have seen in the Mackenzie Delta with THMs in Fort McPherson, ...inaudible...context in Tsiigehtchic, and also H. pylori in water samples in Aklavik.

Mr. Speaker, what alarms me the most is that presently there is no environmental health officer in the Inuvik region to ensure the health and the well-being of the residents of the Northwest Territories and the Mackenzie Delta are being looked at and having someone there to ensure that the health of the people in the Mackenzie Delta is being monitored by ensuring that the environmental health officer is directing the Departments of Public Works and MACA to continue with its water samples and testing of the water to ensure that the health and the well-being of the residents that I serve is being upheld.

Mr. Speaker, what upsets me the most is that presently there are no time frames to the conclusion of the Fort McPherson water project, which was supposed to be in operation effective July 1st. It is way behind schedule. It looks like there may be a cost overrun. Yet, Mr. Speaker, this was supposed to be a priority of this government. The whole water issue was supposed to be a priority with regard to the health of what we see.

Yet with what is going on across Canada, with Walkerton and elsewhere in the provinces and other jurisdictions, we are seeing the results of not monitoring our water systems and ensuring the upkeep of the facilities in our communities is being worked on. Yet when we have systems that are breaking down under this government and nothing is being done about it, I for one feel that there has to be something done.

Mr. Speaker, there has been a lot stated with regard to improving the water treatment facilities in our communities. Yet, Mr. Speaker, I believe we are moving too slowly on this matter. I for one feel this government has to do more and they have to be more active in ensuring that we have safe drinking water in the Northwest Territories. With that, I will be asking the Minister questions on this matter. Thank you.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, housing in Yellowknife and the Northwest Territories is a constant issue that merits our attention. I would like to again bring attention to it.

Here in Yellowknife, Mr. Speaker, we are fortunate to have a buoyant economy fuelled largely at this time by the diamond industry. Our summer students are generally well employed, but local help wanted ads reflect increasing shortages in the trades and the service industry. Employment initiatives by the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment and public housing approaches by the Minister responsible for the Housing Corporation are welcome, but more affordable housing is urgently needed. Much more needs to be done.

People cannot camp at Fred Henne Park in December, Mr. Speaker. The housing situation in Yellowknife is critical, with less than two percent vacancy rate for rental accommodation. Detached units are virtually unavailable. The shortage of tradesmen is increasingly problematic.

Diavik and De Beers Snap Lake projects have still to come on stream. While the private sector is looking at a level new housing construction, some 60 new units are on stream in Yellowknife. High land and servicing costs, fuel, high taxes and a lack of tradesmen impact diversely on our buoyant economy. I guess we could ask a question, Mr. Speaker, "If we build it, will they come?"

The Housing Corporation should re-examine its administration of public housing to see if there are opportunities for improvement and a more integrated approach. How and for whom can more public housing be made available?

Emergency housing inventories in Yellowknife are over-taxed. I would appeal to the corporation to continue to support and provide immediate funding for the three family units at the YWCA and commit to sit on the Yellowknife Housing Coalition.

Mr. Speaker, our message is that our governments -- municipal, territorial, federal -- and the private sector must work together to remedy not only the increasingly critical short-term housing situation, but also to plan and manage and benefit from the short-and long-term prospects for development in Yellowknife and the NWT. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

-- Applause

Thank you, Mr. Braden. Item 3, Members' statements. The honourable Member for Thebacha, Mr. Miltenberger.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, health and social services has been on my mind and on the mind of my constituents quite a bit as of late. Mr. Speaker, I have come to see health and social services like a vehicle. The Minister and the department provide the steering and the engine with their money and their legislation and their regulation. Mr. Speaker, the health boards are the tires. They are where the rubber hits the road. They are what delivers the programs to the people in the communities.

Mr. Speaker, we all know that this vehicle is experiencing some significant mechanical problems. It is burning oil. Its gas mileage is not very good. We are enveloped in clouds of smoke and there is rattling and banging noises as it grinds away trying to take care of business.

Mr. Speaker, unfortunately, rather than going to a qualified, northern, full-service garage, the department decided to go south to a consultant, a specialist. Unfortunately, Mr. Speaker, it turns out that this consultant's specialty was in shredding tires.

Lo and behold, once he looked at the vehicle, he said, "The tires are the problem." As we sit here, coughing and gasping in the smoke, pouring oil and money constantly into the engine trying to keep it running, which seems to spend, with steering problems, a lot of its time going in and out of the ditch.

Mr. Speaker, the people in my constituency are greatly concerned about the state of this vehicle that is so important to them and the programs and services that are so critical to the people of the Northwest Territories. Mr. Speaker, what we are seeing and hearing from the department does not provide much comfort that things are well in hand.

I would hope that the Minister would not be bound to implement the recommendations of her southern consultant and taking things at face value. The people are watching and are not blind. The people are definitely not stupid when it comes to what programs are important to them and how they want to see them delivered in their communities. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

-- Applause

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I must say that I am happy to be back here with you and the rest of my colleagues on both sides of the House. I hope that our visit this summer does not last for too long.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to address an issue that is affecting at least two Hay River residents. I cannot help but notice, Mr. Speaker, how well my colleagues look with the advent of summer upon us. We are all taking the pleasures that our homes provide, whether it be a wonderful barbeque with family, sitting on our backyard deck or a quiet evening with our children.

Mr. Speaker, I am aware that the basic right of society is the right of shelter. Unfortunately, this is not the case for at least two Hay River residents that I referred to. Due to various circumstances, these two people were evicted from public housing in early December. These two people are indigent and, as such, are on income support.

Mr. Speaker, as these people were evicted from public housing, they are only entitled to an allotment from income support of $32 per month. You cannot even buy a cup of coffee per day, Mr. Speaker, for $32 per month. These two individuals, Mr. Speaker, are currently being housed in a tent at the Hay River campground and alternately at Louise Falls campground, where they have recently encountered a bear in their camp site, but were unharmed.

Mr. Speaker, I submit to you that these two individuals deserve more from our government than a tent in a campground 40 kilometres away from Hay River. I have contacted several government departments in an attempt to seek a solution to these people's predicament to no avail.

Mr. Speaker, I feel strongly that our government should have some sort of a safety net in place to assist people. It appears that in order to run a proper program for the homeless in our communities, there needs to be dollars made available from this government. There are too many roadblocks put in place to truly assist these people.

Mr. Speaker, in closing, I would like to say that these two individuals in Hay River are in a desperate situation and do need our help. They are not going to go away. We as a government need to assist these people in any way that we can. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

-- Applause

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

Mahsi, Mr. Nitah. 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, I have been a Member of this Assembly for over a year and a half now and, as with my colleagues, I have worked hard to meet the responsibilities of this Assembly and the people of the Deh Cho.

One disturbing trend I have noticed, Mr. Speaker, is that I am spending more and more time advocating on behalf of my constituents who are having problems with the Workers' Compensation Board. It seems, Mr. Speaker, that the way the Workers' Compensation Board deals with its clients can at times be very arbitrary and contrary to due process.

One case that I am aware of, a client has had his amount of compensation lowered three times. Three times, Mr. Speaker, without ever receiving an explanation for the changes. You can imagine the frustration of my constituent.

I get the sense that in some cases, the WCB is assuming that injured workers are trying to rip off the system and consequently make it so hard for the client to access the program that they may go away. I do not mean to slight the staff of the Workers' Compensation Board. They work in very trying conditions and must deal with people who are facing a crisis and may not be at their best. They should be commended.

However, Mr. Speaker, compassion, understanding and consideration have to be provided to the WCB clients. They have to be informed of changes to their benefits prior to their cheques being received. Board staff must assume a less adversarial role in dealing with clients. I am hoping that the review of the Workers' Compensation Board will take into account the views of injured workers who are having problems in accessing benefits and will recommend positive changes. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

-- Applause

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I would like to give an update on the activities in my community of Inuvik. Mr. Speaker, I have had opportunity to see a lot of activity going on in the construction area -- trucks busy hauling gravel to fill in lots, develop new infrastructure. Mr. Speaker, it has been many years -- over a decade, in fact -- since we have seen this kind of activity in the community, as well as in the region.

Mr. Speaker, it has been a lot of work by a lot of individuals in the community to see some of the projects get off the ground, so to speak. I was able to take part in a ceremony at the female young offenders site, the site blessing. As well, I was able to go for a short little tour of the foundation that is being worked on for the new hospital in Inuvik, which will again benefit the constituents of the region.

Mr. Speaker, one of the things that we must also look at is when development comes at such a fast pace, we must ask ourselves, are we truly ready to meet those demands that are placed on the infrastructure and community and the residents of that community?

Mr. Speaker, we have heard through other conferences of the concern that has been placed on the social systems that we have. I have heard from members of Turning Point as to some of their concerns of trying to address the increased impacts of having more cash flow through the community. There is a good side of development and there is a bad side.

Another side that we have to look at, Mr. Speaker, on the infrastructure side, is from the municipal government side. Mr. Speaker, in trying to develop and be prepared for development as is occurring in the community I represent, the municipality is facing some difficult times in trying to ensure that they are meeting the needs that are being placed on it, from the housing side of the scale as well as from the business side, having proper industrial lots and development that is going to meet that need.

As well, Mr. Speaker, for example, our sewer systems need to be addressed, as there are more people coming to the community and placing a demand on those services.

Mr. Speaker, hopefully this government will be working with our community to ensure that we are meeting the needs of our residents. With that, Mr. Speaker, I will have questions for the appropriate Minister. Thank you.

-- Applause

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, on this very beautiful July summer day, when our constituents are, I am sure, out there enjoying the summer in and out of the city, I wonder if I could take this opportunity to update my constituents on the best form of communication that I could suggest, which is my website.

As you will recall, Mr. Speaker, it was launched over a year ago, and I have had much success in communicating with my constituents and informing them about my activities. I could inform you that I have had as high as 500 hits a day and up to 800 during our very busy time of last March.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to inform my constituents again that they could find all of the statements that I make in this House and outside on my website. As well, I have new sections in my website. Called "What's New," I have a detailed report about my schedule, where I have been and where I plan to go. We have also loaded dozens and dozens of photos from all of the events I have been attending. As you know, Mr. Speaker, I have been travelling across the NWT attending assemblies as part of my job as a member of the Special Committee on the Sunset Clause and Self-Government Implementation.

I would also like to inform my constituents about a new section called "Sandy's Library," which is a section where I download documents that I receive as a Member of the Assembly, where there is no encumbrance with copyrights or anything like that.

Mr. Speaker, I would just like to thank those who have visited my site and have provided me with positive comments that encourage me and my staff to work hard to keep our site current and fresh.

I would also like to take this opportunity to thank my CA, Stephen Dunbar, a summer student who has worked really hard to make my website the vision that I have for it. As well, I also have a summer student, Ryan Chenkie, who is a grade 9 student who is a computer whiz. He has helped a lot as well. It is Stephen's birthday today, so I would like to wish him a happy birthday as well. Thank you.

-- Applause

Thank you, Ms. Lee. I think there was probably about three subjects in there. I would like to remind Members that Member's statements should stick to one subject. Item 3, Members' statements. The honourable Member for Yellowknife Centre, Mr. Ootes.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker, and good afternoon, colleagues, and welcome back. Mr. Speaker, today I would like to speak about a fine and exemplary citizen of Yellowknife who has worked north of 60 both for pay and as a volunteer, and has benefited so many people here in the North for the past 30 years. Tom Eagle came to the NWT in 1971 as a military man in charge of setting up cadet corps in the NWT and the Yukon. He was part of a contingent of military people chosen for transfer to the North, based not only on their military standing, but also because of their volunteer involvement.

The intent was to have the military presence create a positive impact on the North. Tom says he cannot thank the Armed Forces enough for bringing him to the NWT.

While serving with the forces here, Tom was instrumental in establishing cadet corps in Yellowknife and in other communities in the NWT, Yukon, and what is now Nunavut.

Following his retirement from the Armed Forces, with 25 years of service, Tom became Commissioner Hodgson's assistant for five years. He says he thinks back to working with the commissioner with great pleasure, not only because of the work itself, but because it gave him an opportunity to visit every community across the Arctic and begin treasured friendships with many people, including most of the leaders of today.

Tom then went on to work for the Government of the Northwest Territories for a number of years, during which time he took on several tasks, including helping to set up the NWT Housing Corporation, the political development of aboriginal people, and helping youth to become organized.

From the time of his arrival in the North, Tom was involved as a volunteer on the board of the Tree of Peace Friendship Centre. The accomplishments from those early days include the purchase of the present Tree of Peace building, the taking over of the Camp Antler program, the formation of the business arm of the Tree of Peace, and the setting up of adult education at alcohol and drug and employment outreach programs.

Tom was part of the establishment of friendship centres in Fort Rae, Hay River, Rankin Inlet, Fort Simpson, Fort Smith and Fort Providence. He also served a two-year stint as president of the National Association of Friendship Centres.

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

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Thank you, colleagues. In 1989, Tom became the executive director of the Tree of Peace and, with the support and help of other board members and staff, took on a bigger role in a number of the Tree's significant developments and milestones.

He continued to stress the importance of preserving, protecting and enhancing aboriginal cultures and languages. An alcohol and drug program for youth was started. A very significant accomplishment was the establishment of a permanent Aboriginal Friendship Centre program with core funding under the federal government's Canadian Heritage Department.

Tom left his job at the Tree of Peace at the end of last month, but he insists he has not retired. He left because of his health, which he is now concentrating on regaining. He does not know, or at least is not saying, what he will do next, but I think we can be assured, Mr. Speaker, that it will be something extremely worthwhile to the Northwest Territories and to its people. I am sure many people in the NWT and Nunavut join me in expressing my thanks to Tom Eagle and in wishing him a speedy recovery of his health. Tom is with us in the gallery here today, Mr. Speaker. Please help me give him a big thank you.

-- Applause

Thank you, Mr. Ootes. Item 3, Members' statements. Item 4, returns to oral questions. The honourable Member for Nunakput, Mr. Steen.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I have a Return to an Oral Question asked by the Member for North Slave on June 6, 2001. The Member asked why the Department of Transportation considered highway maintenance records confidential, and I replied that I would get back to the Member with the information at a later date.

The short answer to the Member's question is that the department's highway maintenance records are not confidential. The department's maintenance staff keep daily logs, including a highway surface report that, like a weather report, records the condition of the highway surfaces on the beat for that day.

In the coroner's report resulting from an accident fatality on Highway No. 3 of August 4, 2000, the coroner directed the following recommendation, amongst others, to the Department of Transportation:

"Road maintenance records be available for future use.

Rationale: The coroner felt that access to road maintenance records was inadequate. It was felt that such records should be readily available for review by investigators."

In his investigation of the August 4, 2000 highway fatalities, the coroner met with the department's director of highways on April 27, 2000. In their conversation, the coroner and the director discussed many aspects of Highway No. 3, including its maintenance. The coroner asked for the highway maintenance records for Highway No. 3 and the director agreed to provide them. The director did not sense any urgency in the coroner's request, and did not attach a high priority to collecting and forwarding the maintenance records. Neither did the coroner make a subsequent request for the records to remind the director of his commitment.

As it was, the coroner's office completed its investigation of the fatality and released his report on May 24, 2001, without the benefit of having received the requested maintenance records.

The department had not intended to withhold the maintenance records; it simply did not appreciate how soon the coroner's office expected them and did not provide them as promptly as it might have.

This misunderstanding and the recommendation in the coroner's report had nothing to do with the Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act or the confidentiality of highway maintenance records. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Minister Steen. Item 4, returns to oral questions. The honourable Premier, Mr. Kakfwi.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, on June 12, 2001, the honourable Member for Inuvik Boot Lake asked whether the creation of new positions planned for or currently working in the Intergovernmental Forum Secretariat in relation to the regional reorganization initiative have been approved through the budgeting process.

Mr. Speaker, there have been no new positions created to coordinate the regional reorganization initiative. The Intergovernmental Forum Secretariat was created at the beginning of the 14th Legislative Assembly to coordinate this government's participation in the Intergovernmental Forum process and to assist in building stronger intergovernmental relationships with emerging aboriginal governments. At its inception, the secretariat consisted of three positions; a special advisor to Cabinet, a policy advisor and an administrative support position.

With regard to the regional reorganization initiative, the director of regional relations was tasked with coordinating this initiative at the beginning of the 14th Legislative Assembly. This position was also established at the beginning of the 14th Assembly to coordinate other regional initiatives, such as our work in support of the Beaufort Delta Political Accord. In order to provide the appropriate level of direction and support for this important initiative, the position now reports to and receives administrative support from the Intergovernmental Forum Secretariat.

Mr. Speaker, in summary, all four of these positions were created through the 2000-2001 budget process. Furthermore, no new positions have been created within the Intergovernmental Forum Secretariat, nor are any planned at this time. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Kakfwi. Item 4, returns to oral questions. The honourable Minister responsible for the Department of Health and Social Services, Mrs. Groenewegen.

Mr. Speaker, I have a Return to Oral Question asked by Mr. Miltenberger on Thursday, June 14, 2001, regarding linkages between regional reorganization, regional governance and the recently released Report on the Health and Social Services System of the Northwest Territories.

As Members are aware, the Department of Health and Social Services is seeking public responses to this report. The responses received will be an important factor in helping shape the implementation action plan. In addition, department and board staff are analyzing the recommendations and consulting with other government departments to ensure that all relevant factors are considered.

Two critical components to be considered in this analysis are the work that is currently underway regarding regional reorganization and regional governance issues, particularly as they relate to aboriginal self-government. These will provide the context within which specific recommendations are considered and around which an action plan is developed.

At this stage, we are unable to be specific regarding details of timing but will ensure that Members are kept informed of progress. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Madam Minister. Item 4, returns to oral questions. Item 5, recognition of visitors in the gallery. The honourable Member for Yellowknife Centre, Mr. Ootes.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, a few minutes ago I had an opportunity to speak about Tom Eagle and I would like to recognize him in the gallery today. I have known Tom for many years and I have admired the work he does and what he stands for as an individual. Please help me welcome Mr. Tom Eagle.

-- Applause

Thank you, Mr. Ootes. Welcome to the gallery, Mr. Eagle. No stranger to the Legislative Assembly, he has been here many, many times. Thank you for coming. Item 5, recognition of visitors in the gallery. The honourable Member for Sahtu, Mr. Kakfwi.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, we have a special visitor from Ontario today who I would like to recognize. This is Mr. Jim Taylor, the father of April Taylor, the director of communications in the Department of the Executive, who will be getting married on Saturday of this week. Mr. Jim Taylor.

-- Applause

Welcome, Mr. Taylor. Item 5, recognition of visitors in the gallery. The honourable Member for Great Slave, Mr. Braden.

Mr. Speaker, I too would like to recognize someone who has served our community extensively. I would like to recognize Mrs. Josie Gould. Josie recently retired with 33 years of public service to various departments including that of the Commissioner; Personnel; Resources, Wildlife and Economic Development; Legal Aid; and Safety and Public Services. Josie was one of the founding members of the Union of Northern Workers. Indeed, her involvement goes back to 1970 when she was the first secretary treasurer of Local 1.

In her 33 years, she has made a tremendous contribution to our community, our public service, her union and volunteer organizations. We wish her well in her retirement. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

-- Applause

Thank you, Mr. Braden. Welcome, Mrs. Gould. Item 5, recognition of visitors in the gallery. The honourable Member for Nunakput, Mr. Steen.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I would like to recognize two people from my constituency, Blake and Violet McSanna. Mr. Speaker, Blake is a mechanic by trade and is now employed in Nunavut. Violet Pukus-McSanna is a member of the RCMP and served for many years in the Tuktoyaktuk and Inuvik area and is serving now in Nunavut as well, I believe. I would like to welcome them to the Assembly.

-- Applause

Thank you, Mr. Steen. Item 5, recognition of visitors in the gallery. Welcome to all of the folks who have come to take the time to see your Legislative Assembly. Item 6, oral questions. The honourable Member for North Slave, Mr. Lafferty.

Thank you, Mr. Lafferty. The honourable Minister responsible for the Department of Transportation, Mr. Steen.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I thank the Member for showing support for the department's expertise. The department has been applying its expertise, I might say, all along. However, we have to take into consideration -- and I am sure the Member will take this into consideration as well -- the fact of the amount of traffic on Highway No. 3. There are also a number of occasions when the weather is so wet that it causes a lot of problems for the maintenance of Highway No. 3.

The department does try to counteract this impact of the environment on the highways and increase the amount of maintenance on this particular stretch of highway to offset the impact of the weather. It is not always possible for us to do this in a manner that the public would prefer to see because we do have other sections of highway to maintain as well.

In short, the department is applying its expertise on an ongoing basis. Thank you.

Thank you, Minister Steen. Supplementary, Mr. Lafferty.

Thank you, Mr. Lafferty. The honourable Minister responsible for the Department of Transportation, Mr. Steen.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I believe what I meant by that was that we allow managers to manage. It would not be appropriate for me as Minister to go down there and start supervising the maintenance of Highway No. 3. We have people hired for that. I believe in letting people do their jobs, including my equipment operators.

Thank you, Minister Steen. Supplementary, Mr. Lafferty.

Mr. Lafferty, I am going to have to rule your question out of order. I do not think it is appropriate to discuss conversations that may or may not have taken place. Perhaps you would like to rephrase that question in such a way that you can ask a question related to the Minister's portfolio rather than personal conversations you may have had with him. Mr. Lafferty.

Thank you, Mr. Lafferty. The honourable Minister responsible for the Department of Transportation, Mr. Steen.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I am not aware that the department has changed its priorities since May. We still respond, as I said earlier, to conditions on highways and we direct our forces where we see a need. Thank you.

Thank you, Minister Steen. Your final supplementary, Mr. Lafferty. No supplementary? Item 6, oral questions. The honourable Member for Frame Lake, Mr. Dent.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my questions today are for the Minister responsible for Resources, Wildlife and Economic Development and have to do with regulations under the Wildlife Act. Mr. Speaker, I would like to ask the Minister why, in the regulations under the Wildlife Act, are there different wildlife management areas?

Thank you, Mr. Dent. The honourable Minister responsible for the Department of Resources, Wildlife and Economic Development, Mr. Handley.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. We have a very comprehensive system of wildlife management. It includes licences, tags and quotas, hunting seasons and management zones. Management zones are then divided up. In fact, we have units that are consistent with the land claims areas in order to facilitate managing wildlife consistently with land claims agreements.

We have zones that are major ecological areas and those are in place. That is what the Member referred to. These are there to manage wildlife within those areas, but an ecological zone...I mean, for example, Mackenzie Mountains or the barren ground areas.

Then we have what we call areas. Areas are in place to manage specific species. These are tools used by our department to ensure that we are not over-harvesting any species. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Minister. Supplementary, Mr. Dent.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, is the purpose similar for quotas and the numbers of hunting tags that are issued to resident hunters? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Dent. The honourable Minister responsible for the Department of Resources, Wildlife and Economic Development, Mr. Handley.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Yes, as I mentioned earlier, tags and quotas are another way we use to manage the number of animals that are going to be harvested each year. We can do that. It varies year by year and species by species. Thank you.

Thank you, Minister Handley. Supplementary, Mr. Dent.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, is the Minister confident that wildlife populations and the harvest of wildlife in the Northwest Territories is adequately monitored to ensure that animal populations stay healthy? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Dent. The honourable Minister responsible for the Department of Resources, Wildlife and Economic Development, Mr. Handley.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Yes, I am reasonably confident that our management systems are working well within the means we have to do it. I am sure there are always ways we could improve it if we had the resources to do that.

Also, in addition to a Wildlife Act, we are also working on species at risk legislation. I think all in all, the measures taken in the Northwest Territories are as good or better than we would find in any other jurisdiction in Canada. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Handley. Final supplementary, Mr. Dent.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to hear about the stringent requirements for wildlife management in the Territories. Could the Minister outline what sort of process is used when determining whether changes should be made to the number of tags or the wildlife management areas or zones? Is it something that residents can request changes, or is this entirely dictated by the health of animal populations?

Thank you, Mr. Dent. The honourable Minister responsible for the Department of Resources, Wildlife and Economic Development, Mr. Handley.

Mr. Speaker, we use each of a number of ways of managing wildlife. First of all, certainly information that we get from harvesters is important in terms of the number of animals that are taken, and I refer both to aboriginal harvesters as well as just sport hunters. We also know, from quota information, the number of licences that have been taken out. As well, our biologists are collecting information. Certainly there is opportunity for anyone who feels that the quotas are either too generous or too stringent to provide us with that advice and the reasons why they feel that way. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Minister. Item 6, oral questions. The honourable Member for Inuvik Boot Lake, Mr. Roland.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, in my Member's statement, I referenced the activities going on in my community, the development as well as the impact of that development, good and bad.

Mr. Speaker, my question would be directed to the honourable Minister responsible for Municipal and Community Affairs. In the area of community supports, one of the impacts of the development that is going on in the region and in my community is, how will the municipality itself be able to deal with the demands placed on its services and its infrastructure?

I know there is a difference between tax-based and non-tax-based, and knowing that, for example, if the community is going to develop lots for homes and houses in Inuvik, that taxpayers are going to front that through a debenture. However, sometimes, as has been experienced in the community of Inuvik, a large development is done and things collapse.

I would like to know if the department is doing any work to help communities that are finding themselves in the place of having huge demands placed on their resources. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Roland. The honourable Minister responsible for the Department of Municipal and Community Affairs, Mr. Allen.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I am pleased to acknowledge the problems that the community is experiencing in terms of its funding capabilities. Yes, we have been in consultation with the community in terms of trying to identify where this government can help out. An example is the Northwest Territories Housing Corporation has stepped in and purchased a number of lots, helping the community raise some funding so they can further develop other projects. From that perspective, Mr. Speaker, we have been trying to keep our level of involvement with Inuvik fairly high. Thank you.

Thank you, Minister Allen. Supplementary, Mr. Roland.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Has the department been doing work in the area of water and sewer as well to ensure that the community can meet the demands that are placed on it as development progresses? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Roland. The honourable Minister responsible for the Department of Municipal and Community Affairs, Mr. Allen.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Yes, as you are aware, the department has put water and sewer projects as a priority of the department. We at times fund on a 50/50 basis, so we are again at that limit to assist that community. Thank you.

Thank you, Minister Allen. Supplementary, Mr. Roland.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Can the Minister inform us as to any areas that community governments can tap into from the department if they are going to do any large developments, especially referring to tax-based municipalities? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Roland. The honourable Minister responsible for the Department of Municipal and Community Affairs, Mr. Allen.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Again, the tax-based communities are expected to fund their own projects, but this time we are again in consultation with the tax-based municipalities who are under severe impacts. We will continue to speak to them and ensure that we will be able to be in a position to assist once those specific projects are identified. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Minister. No supplementary. Item 6, oral questions. The honourable Member for Deh Cho, Mr. McLeod.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Premier regarding the pipeline. Since the meeting in Fort Liard a year and a half ago, there has been a lot of discussion on the pipeline. Our Premier has been very busy lobbying and promoting the pipeline in the North. However, as a Regular MLA, I have not been asked for my input on this issue and there has been no vote taken in this House regarding a pipeline.

Since this Assembly really has no say in the direction of where the pipeline will take place, I would like to ask the Premier, where is he getting his direction from? Who is setting the mandate to actively promote and lobby for a pipeline? Thank you.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. There has been agreement, I believe, by this Legislature that we will proceed with development in a well thought-out way. That is reflected in the agenda. I believe there was support following the unanimous motion of support given by the aboriginal leadership in January of 2000. There was a direction of support given by this Legislature in March, I believe, but we would have to look back on the Hansard for that statement of support.

I have taken the unanimous motion, which was followed by signatures of every chief and Metis and Inuvialuit leader in the Northwest Territories, in support of the motion that came out of Liard in January of 2000. It was followed by a memorandum of understanding in June that led to the establishment of the Aboriginal Pipeline Working Group.

That has been the mandate and the direction that I have followed. I believe I have followed it very well. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Premier. Supplementary, Mr. McLeod.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As the Premier has indicated, the aboriginal leaders declared unanimous support in January, 2000. However, since that time, some regions and communities have voiced concern, especially from the Deh Cho and some from the Sahtu, over the issue of the pipeline. I would like to ask the Minister if he is going to continue to lobby and promote a pipeline without full support at any cost on this issue. Thank you.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I take the motion from Fort Liard as a credible motion. It was done, I have always said, at a moment when unanimously united, the aboriginal leaders demonstrated an extremely high level of confidence. They proposed to work towards a pipeline, without articulating all the terms and conditions under which they would propose such a project. I have always said that I think it points to the high level of confidence that this demonstrated amongst the aboriginal leadership.

Since then, I have seen the level of confidence has perhaps diminished among some of the leaders in the Deh Cho. It is still unprecedented, in my view, that for well over a year and a half, that level of confidence was demonstrated.

The Deh Cho has indicated that they are now apparently no longer for or against, but have said that they have some terms and conditions before they would be willing to support development of a pipeline. There is still an application yet to be made of anyone proposing to build a pipeline. The terms and conditions that the Deh Cho articulated two years ago are terms and conditions that I think this government will support and will work with the Deh Cho to achieve.

While some leaders in the Deh Cho may have indicated they are no longer as supportive as they were, we do not see this as any reason to continue anything but full support for seeing the development of an application to build a pipeline down the Mackenzie Valley. Once an application is made, I believe everyone will come out with their terms and conditions under which that application should be considered. Anything before is simply pre-empting the process. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Premier. Supplementary, Mr. McLeod.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, we now have two groups in the Northwest Territories with two different concepts of ownership. We have the Aboriginal Pipeline Group and the Arctic Resources Group. They are both promoting two different concepts of ownership of how these pipelines should be owned. This government has a policy regarding market disruption. I would like to ask the Premier if this will cause a problem with funding in the future as there are now two groups.

Thank you, Mr. McLeod. I would be cautious about the type of question. I think you are looking at a response that the Minister will have to look into the future for. I will allow you to rephrase that, if you wish, Mr. McLeod, so it is not a hypothetical question.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I will ask a different question. The decision to build a pipeline will be a private sector decision made by the producers. However, it is important that we maintain the unity we had in January. I would like to ask the Minister if he has any plans on how to bring the aboriginal groups back together. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The aboriginal leadership had followed their motion in Fort Liard of January, 2000, with a subsequent decision in June, which saw the mandate of a special group that would look at the business terms and conditions under which to partner with possible groups to see the development of a proposal for a pipeline that could be then seen through the filing of an application. The pipeline working group has a political mandate, and it has been duly mandated by the aboriginal leadership of the Northwest Territories. So this government has given support to that.

The aboriginal pipeline working group has worked specifically with the Delta producers to bring Canadian Delta gas within the Northwest Territories down the Mackenzie Valley.

There is another proposal being bandied about publicly. We have never seen any documentation giving any credibility or substance to it, which suggests that if they could ever get it, they would like to take Alaskan gas down over the top and down the Mackenzie Valley. That is a different proposal altogether.

There is no identifiable group proposing this. It is seen as a largely private initiative by some individuals, all on the assumption that it could be financed and that there is merit in looking at 100 percent ownership by aboriginal groups, and that it is all predicated on the assumption that the Alaskan producers will allow their gas to be put into such a pipe. It is a different scenario and a different proposal altogether. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Kakfwi. Final supplementary, Mr. McLeod.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to ask a question on the funding again. There are now two groups out there promoting a pipeline. Will this government be funding both organizations?

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The Minister of Resources, Wildlife and Economic Development is the Minister that is responsible for dealing with these types of issues, but in our view, and I think it has been said that there is no other group out there that has the endorsement of the majority of the aboriginal leadership. There is no mandate. There is no credibility given at this time to another group for whatever proposal.

We have talked to some sources in Ottawa, the producers of the Alaskan gas field, as well as the Delta producers, the oil and gas and the pipeline companies in Calgary, and none of them, as far as we know, give any credence or credibility to this other proposal, if you want to call it that.

At this time, we believe it is imperative that all of us continue to encourage the producers and the aboriginal groups to work to develop a single proposal to bring Delta gas down the Mackenzie Valley as soon as possible under terms and conditions that the aboriginal groups will continue to support. Once an application is made, it will become important that we stay united to make sure that there is an application made to bring Canadian gas, Delta gas, NWT gas, down the Mackenzie Valley as soon as possible.

I believe that once that is secured, then it will become economically and politically more viable for the Alaskan producers to suggest that since a pipeline is possibly and potentially going to be built down the Mackenzie Valley in any event, they would propose to support it. They would see that a pipeline is going to be built anyway and that it would be more economical for them to link up with the proposed Mackenzie Valley route to bring their gas to market.

That is the thinking, and that anything else that would delay getting our act together, anything that would look like we are fractured and divided, we are running around in circles, will certainly give the Alaskan politicians an upper hand. In the end, I think that would completely do a disservice to everyone in the Northwest Territories. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Premier. Item 6, oral questions. The honourable Member for Mackenzie Delta, Mr. Krutko.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My question is for the Minister responsible for Health and Social Services, and is regarding my Member's statement and the concerns by residents of the Mackenzie Delta about the lack of an environmental health officer in the region to ensure that the health of the residents of the Mackenzie Delta is being looked at.

The concern I have is more with regard to the water quality. As we all know, there is a high trace of THMs, or trihalomethanes, in Fort McPherson. There are also chemicals in other communities, such as Aklavik, with H. pylori, which is another carcinogen that has been traced in their water system. In the last number of months, there have been some high traces of iron, magnesium and the colouring of the water in the community of Tsiigehtchic, which in most cases is pretty yellow. Trying to drink that every day is a concern.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to ask the Minister of Health exactly what is her department doing to ensure that we have people who hold senior positions, such as environmental health officers, on site. What do you do when someone resigns, quits, or whatever, to ensure that there are people out there looking after the health and well-being of the residents? Can the Minister answer that?

Thank you, Mr. Krutko. The honourable Minister responsible for the Department of Health and Social Services, Mrs. Groenewegen.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the Departments of Health and Social Services; Public Works and Services; and Municipal and Community Affairs have taken initiatives to improve the coordination and delivery of water-related services. These three departments together have reviewed the roles and responsibilities of all organizations, including government departments, water boards and communities involved in the provision of drinking water.

The review was completed in April. Public Works and Services is now focusing on the provision of small water system operator training and certification, with particular emphasis on the training and certification of the uncertified operators in the smaller communities of Aklavik, Tsiigehtchic, Jean Marie River and Lutselk'e. The training certification session has been scheduled for May and June in Yellowknife and Inuvik. Those are some of the initiatives we have undertaken to try to address the issue of the quality of water supply. Thank you.

Thank you, Madam Minister. Supplementary, Mr. Krutko.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, it sounds great coming off a piece of paper, but actually the problem we have here is that we have a senior person within the Department of Health and Social Services, an environmental health officer whose responsibility is to ensure the health and well-being of our residents is being looked at. In the case of Inuvik, they have not had an environmental health officer there for some three months, I believe.

With the shortage of nurses in our communities now being compacted with this, what is the department doing to ensure that the health and well-being of our residents is being looked at to ensure that the quality of water and the health in our communities are living up to the standards they should be?

Thank you, Mr. Krutko. The honourable Minister responsible for the Department of Health and Social Services, Mrs. Groenewegen.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, with respect to the staffing of the position of environmental health officer for the Inuvik region, I would have to undertake to speak to the department to find out: what the status of that staffing is; if it is not occupied, why it is not; and if there are any prospects on the horizon for someone to fill that job, and then report back to the Member. Thank you.

Thank you, Madam Minister. Supplementary, Mr. Krutko.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I think this issue is urgent. We have shortages of doctors and nurses in our communities. This position falls in line with a doctor or a nurse, and I think it is important that when we have these vacancies, where you have people who are responsible for the health and well-being of our residents, that those positions be filled.

In this case, the Minister said that she would get back to me. I have spoken to the director of the health and social services board in Inuvik, I have spoken to people in Public Works. Public Works has not received any direction to do any water sampling in the last few months, so who is doing those samples and ensuring the analysis is done to ensure the water is safe in our communities?

Thank you, Mr. Krutko. The honourable Minister responsible for the Department of Health and Social Services, Mrs. Groenewegen.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, certainly the environmental health officer does have a role to play in terms of the monitoring that is ongoing. As I stated before, the only thing I can do to respond to the specific information that Mr. Krutko is providing, that there has been a lapse in the monitoring of the water supply, is to take that information and ask my department to check into this to verify whether this is the case or not. Thank you.