Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I as well would like to make mention of the passing of Mrs. Agnes Semmler, and would like to thank you for your words of acknowledgement of her work in the Northwest Territories and for the Inuvialuit people and aboriginal people. She served as a positive example and role model to many residents of the Northwest Territories. Many of the leaders we have today in the region have been impacted by some of her work and followed some of her examples.

Mr. Speaker, she had a way of putting words to people that were straightforward and to the point, but she also had tact and diplomacy where she could say these things in a strong way but do it in a respectful way -- something we can all learn from in our role in government.

Mr. Speaker, her involvement has taken place and shown that commitment by an individual can have profound impacts on the people of the Northwest Territories and people within the Inuvialuit group. I would like to just recognize those efforts. Though she has passed, there are many examples that will continue forward for the people of the Beaufort Delta and Mackenzie Delta of the positive example that she put forward and that many of us will hopefully follow -- follow and portray her dedication to the people and also speaking up to the issues. I would like to let the family know that they are in our prayers. Thank you.

-- Applause

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I too have grave concerns regarding the removal of the Northwest Territories Power Corporation board by this government. The thing that frustrates me the most is the timing of this reaction by government, where a process was taken to allow for community input, to allow communities to have a say on what they think of the power rates in the Northwest Territories.

This is the first opportunity where small communities have really had a chance to voice their opinion on what is a fair process from small communities to large communities, communities on diesel generators and communities on hydro power. Mr. Speaker, the only way we could have found that result was to ensure public input. The only process that is available to the people of the Northwest Territories is through a Public Utility Board.

The application was put forth under the people whom I represent, especially the Mackenzie Delta, and the municipalities who want to have a say in regard to how power rates are set and have input into a process to determine what those rates will be.

Mr. Speaker, there is a list of interveners, some 60 people who put their names forth to intervene on this process. For me, that shows the public is interested in a one-rate zone process, regardless of if it is for or against. Allow for due process. The interference by this government to pull from under the people of the Northwest Territories and to can a board who did not have the same opinion of Cabinet and the Premier is unjust, unfair and undemocratic.

We are not in a communist state that determines who rules and who goes. We are in a position by this precedent that we have put in place which is a bad one for our boards, agencies and institutions of government, especially when it comes to a process that allows for public input.

With that, Mr. Speaker, I will be having questions for the Premier on this matter later. Thank you.

-- Applause

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, it is nice to be back in the House with yourself and the rest of my colleagues. Mr. Speaker, today I would like to raise an issue that this government is proposing; revisions to the Business Incentive Policy.

Mr. Speaker, back in 1992, the Business Incentive Policy was instituted by visionary politicians who wanted to give northern businesses an edge in obtaining contracts, and thus ultimately fostering home-grown businesses, capacity and expertise. There have been many examples of the BIP's success, evidenced by the number of northern businesses that have flourished and are operating throughout the Northwest Territories today.

There have also been many issues that have been raised over the years that have identified shortcomings within the BIP, as well as many suggestions made to show how the BIP could be improved. Unfortunately, Mr. Speaker, in many cases with regard to the BIP, what appears to be an advantage to one company is seen as a disadvantage to another. Since the revisions of the BIP were announced in July of this year, I have been in contact with many businesses in the Hay River area who avail themselves of the BIP in many instances.

The feedback that I have received gives me cause to think that the proposed changes to the BIP have not been given due consideration and have not been adequately consulted with the businesses in the communities.

One of the drawbacks of the proposed changes is that, giving the GNWT has never been able to quantify the costs involved so as to determine the effectiveness of the BIP, what are the benefits to Northerners as a result of this policy? If we as a government cannot determine the costs of the policy and change the policy just for the sake of change, then this government is left with a policy that it still cannot defend.

Unfortunately, the proposed changes to this policy appear to have come about as a result of the actions of this government to waive the BIP on one specific project, and this has done nothing to instill people's confidence in this government. However, this does prove the point that the government had no idea what extra costs were involved as a result of using the BIP.

One of the things I have heard over and over again from business owners is that they feel the single biggest problem with the Business Incentive Policy is interpretation and enforcement of the policy. Too many businesses have created loopholes in this policy to benefit their own interests. One obvious example of this is the number of storefront businesses operating in the NWT.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Thank you, colleagues. Mr. Speaker, I was very taken aback when one local business told me that he contacted the BIP office to raise his concerns on the proposed changes and was told that he could voice his concerns, but that the proposed changes had already gone to Cabinet and they were not really interested in looking at further change. This, after the Minister had informed us that the process was open for further input until September 30th.

I am very concerned that the changes being proposed do very little to address the fundamental shortcomings of this policy. I strongly encourage this government to take a step back and really take into consideration the concerns of the business community. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

-- Applause

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I also want to speak to the issue of the BIP revision process, Mr. Speaker. I certainly have many concerns about the proposed changes, but maybe none graver than the process that seems to have been undertaken here by this government. As my colleague Mr. Delorey has just indicated, we were let known that by September 30th, the government would be receiving input. One of Mr. Delorey's constituents called the RWED staff to offer some input. They were told that is fine, we will receive your input, but basically Cabinet has already done what it is going to do and made its decision.

Mr. Speaker, obviously that is not acceptable. If you look at the RWED website that speaks to the BIP revision, point number seven discusses why thresholds are being introduced, Mr. Speaker. It says that during consultations, the NWT business community -- business community, Mr. Speaker -- expressed the need for a dollar-value cap on the application of BIP bid adjustments. When we met in committee, Mr. Speaker, this did not seem to make too much sense to me, so I asked for minutes of the consultation process. I was looking for transcripts of the detailed minutes. I did not get them, but I did get a summary of those meetings, Mr. Speaker. In going through those, I can find a single reference to that. I can find someone saying there should be a cap on dollar value for the application of BIP. Do companies bidding on a $5 million contract really need to have the BIP application? Well, that is a valid question, Mr. Speaker, but in going through the web site, you get the indication that the NWT business community in aggregate expressed this need for a dollar-value cap.

Mr. Speaker, I think we can all see that this is an attempt by this government in imposing these thresholds to save money. Maybe it is a valid attempt and maybe it is something that warrants or merits a lot of consideration.

Mr. Speaker, it is concerning when we do not even know what the BIP is currently costing us. We know that the government is proposing goods contracts will max out at $25,000 per BIP consideration; service contracts at $100,000; construction contracts at $1 million. We are reassured by RWED that do not worry -- 95 percent of all of the contracts that we issue fall within those thresholds anyway, Mr. Speaker. I have no idea how RWED can come up with this and cannot come up with a concrete figure as to what the BIP costs us. If we really do have serious flaws in our contract administration policy, then you would think that there would be no way to know that 95 percent of our contracts meet this criteria. Mr. Speaker, I seek unanimous consent to conclude my statement.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. So as I said, I am concerned that what seems to be an isolated comment has found its way into policy for the BIP revisions. We do not even know who attended these consultations. It was not clear from the minutes. I have heard from one of my colleagues that in their community, two members of the public were present and a raft of RWED staff. We do not know who expressed these comments. We do not know if a question was not posed, something to the effect of "Do you really think someone on a $5 million contract needs to be BIP'd?"

I think that we can see that it is not exactly clear what has gone on in this process, Mr. Speaker. You get the sense that government had already knew what it wanted to hear from this process, already understood the outcome it was looking for. It is almost like you are watching, Mr. Speaker, a movie and you see the FBI in a van outside someone's apartment with surveillance going, and when they have decided that they have heard that money is going to change hands, it is time to roll because we know we have something that is going to stand up in court.

Mr. Speaker, this is the impression that this kind of process leaves. In the words of my esteemed colleague from the North Slave, it gives the impression that the whole thing has been a sham, Mr. Speaker.

I hope the Minister will do something to address this and do something to assure us that we have a process here that makes sense and really values the input for Northerners and northern business. Thank you.

-- Applause

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, today I wanted to congratulate Ms. Jane Arychuk, the principal of the Deh Gah Elementary and Secondary School in Fort Providence, for receiving the Queen's Jubilee Award for Excellence in Teaching. In light of this event, I would like to share some of Ms. Arychuk's history and accomplishments with the Members of this House and the people of the North.

Ms. Jane Arychuk came to Elizabeth Ward School in Fort Providence as Miss Jane Neal, fresh out of teacher's college in 1980. After four years in the classroom, Jane became the principal in 1984. She has remained in the community as the principal since.

Under Jane's leadership, the school has changed to reflect the culture and the language of the community. In consultation with the community, the school was renamed Deh Gah School in 1992, which means school by the river. She married a resident of the community, Mr. Gordon Arychuk, in 1987, and has two children.

Mr. Speaker, Ms. Jane Arychuk was instrumental in many changes for the better that have happened and continue to happen at the Deh Gah school. Through much dedication, commitment and determination, Jane had a vision that was child-focused. Community support is excellent through parental involvement at the school. She, along with other dedicated staff members, have found alternate ways for some high school students, which has resulted in opportunities for the students in career planning and choices. Student and parental involvement is high, as the school fundraises a great deal for the students to explore other parts of the world outside of the Northwest Territories, including the provinces and the United States. One trip was to Florida to see the launching of the space shuttle Columbia. This mission, STS-90, had the Deh Gah School pin in orbit from April 17th to May 3rd and is now hanging in the school along with a picture of Canadian astronaut, Dr. David Williams.

Jane also initiated a proposal for the Aboriginal Head Start Program in Fort Providence and it is now considered a model program. The Deh Gah School is one of the few schools in Canada that has become FAE and FAS friendly.

Mr. Speaker, for many years, we did not have true academic graduates in our community. In 2000-2001, the Deh Gah School had four graduates and in 2001-2002, produced five more graduates with the required credentials. Three of the nine graduates are people who have jobs in the community, yet have taken certain classes to obtain credits for a high school diploma.

We are confident to say Ms. Arychuk has worked hard to make many positive changes in the Deh Gah School and she is certainly deserving of this prestigious award. I want to congratulate her and thank her. Mahsi cho.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Some three years ago, this Assembly, when it was newly elected and just in office, told the residents of the Northwest Territories that we would be moving towards a better tomorrow. Our constituents tell me, Mr. Speaker, that while there is some evidence of prosperity, there are too many social issues negatively impacting on the quality of life of many citizens and they are not sure that it really is a better tomorrow.

What I hear most from constituents is health care, health care and health care. Mr. Speaker, I am not pleased with the structure of the Minister of Health and Social Services' review committee on the Stanton staffing issues. This committee was struck in mid-September. Like many others, I told him so, but to no avail. One Yellowknife resident quoting Albert Einstein I think put it most succinctly: "You cannot solve a problem with the same thinking that created it."

Mr. Speaker, residents from all across the North are concerned about the deterioration of the health care system and have suggestions worth considering. In my talks with constituents, I heard some of the following details:

- Mr. Speaker, waiting times for doctors at clinics are increasing in Yellowknife. You are now looking at four-and-a-half weeks;

- More people are using the Emergency ward when cheaper treatment options should be available such as clinics and public health centres;

- Health care practitioners are exhausted. Stress levels are high causing high turnover and wages, in particularly benefits, need to be increased. The lack of affordable housing is a major problem in Yellowknife; and

- Perhaps most significantly, Mr. Speaker, I heard that respect, humility and compassion are missing from our messages.

Mr. Speaker, the Minister may have heard this all before but I wanted him to know that my constituents are deeply concerned about health care. Like other residents, they are not prepared to wait much longer for substantive changes in the system.

In spite of these trying times, Mr. Speaker, the efforts of health care workers, doctors and allied professionals are applauded daily. We have exemplary health care people and experienced qualifications and dedication. I would like to acknowledge, Mr. Speaker, the effort, often beyond the call of duty, of our many professionals and front-line workers. We are fortunate to have their dedication and expertise. On behalf of my constituents, I want to acknowledge them for their contribution and thank them for a job well done. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

-- Applause