Thank you, Mrs. Groenewegen. Please be seated. Good afternoon. Item 2, Ministers' statements. The honourable Minister responsible for Health and Social Services, Mr. Miltenberger.

Mr. Speaker, one of the priorities of this government, as outlined in Towards A Better Tomorrow, is the improvement of social well-being through self-reliant individuals, families and communities working with governments. In particular, the vision provides for a specific focus on issues facing women, children, elders and persons with disabilities.

In support of this direction, the department, in collaboration with its partners, has been working on a number of significant initiatives which are now positioned to move forward in conjunction with the Health and Social Services Action Plan 2002-2005. These include the Continuing Care Framework, the Addictions, Mental Health and Family Violence Framework and the Disabilities Steering Committee.

Mr. Speaker, the Continuing Care Framework is composed of programs and services to meet the needs of both adults and children of the Northwest Territories. The framework focuses on strengthening integration of community services and intersectoral links through three strategies: home and community care, supported living so people can remain in their own homes and the provision of long-term care in facilities. The goal of this framework is to ensure individuals' needs are being met in the least invasive manner, promoting the greatest opportunity for lasting wellness and functional independence at an optimal level. The planning and costing of the framework is to be completed by June 2002.

The Continuing Care Framework will also assist the department to focus on issues relating to repatriation. This work will include identifying and analyzing the costs associated with repatriation options, recruitment and retention issues and training and capacity building. It will also provide a forum to discuss how best to address the needs within the NWT related to specific issues such as Alzheimer's.

In 2001-2002, efforts were focused on the home and community care portion of this strategy. A steering committee representative of aboriginal partners, health and social services authorities, the federal government and the department has guided the implementation of three-year enhancement plans

for home care services. These plans include training of community staff and the enhancement to services. Through this process, 21 home support workers were certified in 2001-2002, six home support workers are currently in training and ten home care nurses received additional training in such areas as diabetes and palliative care.

Mr. Speaker, the NWT Disability Framework and Action Plan will be developed to address the special needs of persons with disabilities. Where appropriate, this work will to some degree supplement the work being carried out to develop the Continuing Care Framework. An NWT steering committee partnership consisting of GNWT departments, aboriginal organizations and non-governmental organizations has been established to guide the development of the Disabilities Framework and Action Plan.

The framework for action will be completed in the spring of 2002 and the planning and costing for implementation of these actions will be completed by June 2002. The framework will address areas of concern, such as service gaps and income support for the permanently disabled.

Finally, Mr. Speaker, the Addictions, Mental Health and Family Violence Framework for action is another important initiative supporting health and well-being for Northerners. The goal of this framework is to ensure effective, culturally relevant addictions, mental health and family violence programs and services be accessible to all residents, provide for the needs of the most vulnerable groups and support a nurturing and responsible society in the NWT. The department is committed to an array of services to address addiction, mental health and family violence issues.

The framework will be critical to addressing a number of issues that have been raised by the people of the NWT and Members of this Legislature. These include socio-economic impacts of development, funding and salaries of non-governmental organizations, training of alcohol and drug workers, family violence services available to communities, training of mental health workers and requests for addiction treatment facilities.

The department will be completing a framework for action and action plan with costing for Cabinet consideration later this spring. We will be implementing the action plan after consultation and in collaboration with stakeholders and other related strategies and frameworks, including the Social Agenda, Early Childhood Development Action Plan, Northern Wellness Initiative and the Continuing Care Framework.

As this government continues its efforts to promote economic growth and prosperity, these initiatives will provide a framework to effect change and improve the quality of life of our citizens. These programs and services are an essential part of our social safety net. They are orientated to support healthy, self -reliant Northerners who can fully participate in the opportunities that the North provides. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

-- Applause

Thank you, Mr. Minister. Item 2, Ministers' statements. The honourable Minister responsible for the NWT Power Corporation, Mr. Handley.

Mr. Speaker, it is my pleasure today to report that an NWT Crown Corporation, the Northwest Territories Power Corporation, has won two of the highest environmental honours available from a national environmental organization. The awards come from the Voluntary Challenge and Registry Incorporated -- a voluntary, not-for-profit organization in Ottawa designed to celebrate the achievements of members in limiting their greenhouse gas emissions.

The first of the Power Corporation's honours was attaining gold level champion reporter status for excellence in reducing greenhouse gas emissions. This is the second time the Corporation has been acknowledged for achieving gold level status reporting. Accountability and reporting of emissions can earn members bronze and silver awards, but only those members who actually reduce greenhouse gas emissions can achieve gold level. The Corporation achieved a 100 percent rating from the Voluntary Challenge and Registry in attaining its gold level. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to say that the Northwest Territories Power Corporation has gone the extra mile and has actually decreased its greenhouse gas emissions by 47 percent from the 1991 levels. This, Mr. Speaker, represents the reduction in the Northwest Territories alone, so does not include any reductions due to the creation of Nunavut.

Despite stiff national competition, the Power Corporation was also awarded first place in the electric utilities category. The Power Corporation's prize-winning submission outlined a detailed and successful plan to reduce greenhouse gases. This plan included:

• • a promise of support from the Power Corporation's management;
• • a commitment to quantifying and setting a target for greenhouse gas reductions;
• • a specified time frame in which to carry out the plan;
• • a commitment to regular reporting; and
• • measurable proof that it had succeeded on all points.

A copy of the report can be found on the corporation's web site at www.ntpc.com.

Mr. Speaker, the Power Corporation received these awards at a ceremony celebrating environmental leadership hosted by the Voluntary Challenge and Registry last night.

Among the methods the NWT Power Corporation employed in winning its awards are: development of hydro projects; "recycling" residual heat; better efficiency of existing plants; replacing old style street lights and converting the Inuvik plant to natural gas. It has also decreased the amount of carbon dioxide relative to the total megawatts of power provided by diesel generation.

Another function of this organization is for its members to learn from the experiences of other organizations, as well as to contribute to a general body of knowledge about reduction of greenhouse gases. I am proud to say that this northern company, the Northwest Territories Power Corporation, can stand as an industry leader and a model to other companies in the North and nationwide about how to effectively reduce greenhouse gases.

It is encouraging to know that this environmental success story is being acted out in the North. It is especially impressive considering the unique difficulties facing industry and power generation in our climate. Mr. Speaker, it is my hope that the leadership the Northwest Territories Power Corporation has shown will encourage other organizations to voluntarily record and reduce their greenhouse gases. Thank you,

-- Applause

Thank you, Mr. Minister. Item 2, Ministers' statements. Item 3, Members' statements. The honourable Member for Hay River North, Mr. Delorey.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, today I would like to focus on a topic that has been raised by some of my constituents, that being the delivery of eye care services in the communities. Mr. Speaker, recently, meetings held by the Premiers of the provinces and territories seem to focus primarily on the health issues.

If any one issue achieved consensus, Mr. Speaker, it was that health care represents Canada's largest financial issue. It gives me cause for concern, Mr. Speaker, when I contemplate what our increasing population numbers mean to immeasurable, perhaps even shrinking, health care dollars.

Mr. Speaker, one recent example that was brought to my attention by a senior in my constituency was that of eye care delivery in the communities. Mr. Speaker, in Hay River, for example, people requiring eye examinations are seen by an ophthalmic technician. The ophthalmologist, or eye doctor, only travels to Hay River three to four times per year, and that is to treat certain people who have been referred to him specifically, not for regular eye examinations.

Mr. Speaker, we had a scenario occur in Hay River with a senior citizen who received an eye examination by an ophthalmic technician. Unfortunately, Mr. Speaker, the eye exam performed by the technician failed to detect cataracts in this woman's eyes. The cataracts were only detected when she went south for an examination by an ophthalmologist, at her own expense, I might add.

To further illustrate my point, Mr. Speaker, another constituent, a senior citizen in Hay River, had bifocal glasses fitted by an optical technician in Hay River and they were not fitted properly. The patient returned to the eye clinic because he was having so much difficulty, and was told by the technician that he would just have to get used to them. I do not believe that this is an acceptable response.

Mr. Speaker, this senior also travelled south to have his glasses checked and was told by an ophthalmologist that his glasses were not done correctly, that the prescription given in Hay River was not close enough to the actual prescription, so as to provide proper vision. Mr. Speaker, this senior ended up purchasing, at his own expense, a second pair of bifocals, since he could not see out of the pair provided by the technician in Hay River.

I find this totally unacceptable, Mr. Speaker. It appears that we are provided substandard services because of the fact that we live in communities. In the words of the eye care technician...

Mr. Delorey, your time for your Member's statement is finished. Mr. Delorey.

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. You may conclude your statement, Mr. Delorey.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. In the words of the eye care technician, you will just have to get used to it. Mr. Speaker, our health is so precious that we should take every precaution to protect it. This includes our eyesight. Mr. Speaker, I believe that we as a government owe it to our residents who live in communities outside of Yellowknife to provide top quality eye care. At the appropriate time, Mr. Speaker, I will have questions for the Minister responsible. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

-- Applause

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the contracts process used by the public bodies associated with the Government of the Northwest Territories needs to be reviewed. I believe we need a transparent system that benefits northern business, but I am not convinced this is always the case right now.

After having been contacted by some constituents concerned about some contract awards, I requested some information about contracts from the Housing Corporation, the Northwest Territories Power Corporation and Workers' Compensation Board. To say the least, Mr. Speaker, it was an arduous process to get it.

Even worse, I have become concerned about some things that came to my attention while we were looking for that information. Mr. Speaker, these public bodies are outside of the government, so each agency had to be contacted individually. Another hurdle was created because none of these agencies provide contract listings like the GNWT does, where contract payments are publicly listed every quarter.

In fact, the GNWT, right now, posts all payments over $5,000 on the web site for easy public access. However, Mr. Speaker, at WCB, the Housing Corporation and the Power Corporation, it is a lengthy process for staff to manually compile these reports when they are requested. I think it should just take a quick search from a simple set of records, as it does with the regular quarterly report from the Government of the Northwest Territories.

There were some problems too, Mr. Speaker, with this reporting, when it is done by hand. One of the reports even had a contract listed to a northern business when the business says they did not get it. Mr. Speaker, it is time for all public bodies to report contract payments like this government does publicly.

I am concerned that without regular public listings of contracts, it is too easy for contracts to go to southern firms when there may be qualified northern firms. Public scrutiny is an important part of the use by government of public funds by revealing when contracts are awarded to non-northern firms.

I was also concerned by some of the terms that I found in the RFPs looking at these contracts. For instance, Mr. Speaker, one of the terms set out to successfully bid on some of the contracts that I looked into required the proponent to have a huge revenue base to qualify for consideration. Mr. Speaker, I think that a smaller company would work much harder fulfilling a contract, and the mobilization costs would be much lower, or non-existent, for a company already based in the North.

Mr. Speaker, I have seen contract specifications that appear to have been drafted by southern companies. I would think that it is obvious they would be preparing their specs to position their firm for future contract bids.

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. You may conclude your statement, Mr. Dent.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker, honourable Members. Mr. Speaker, government and public bodies have a responsibility to support northern businesses. It is not long ago that nearly all GNWT capital projects were built by southern firms. It took guts for the government to say we are going to support development of the northern economy by giving preference to northern business. By taking that step, it led to a dramatic growth in northern contractors. Now, northern builders compete on a global scale. We have developed a lot of specialized expertise.

Mr. Speaker, it is time we took a similar approach to information technology contracts. It is time for this government and public bodies to better support the development of information technology firms. Let us stop overstating the requirements for IT contracts and let northern firms show how well they can deliver. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

-- Applause

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, as part of Towards a Better Tomorrow, we stated we were aiming for housing that was adequate, affordable and suitable, and elders who were well supported by their community and able to live independently.

Mr. Speaker, it is my belief that the public housing and income support harmonization initiative does not support either of these stated goals of this government. Residents of public housing make up many of the most vulnerable people in our society; our elders, people on social assistance, and single working parents. These are all people who have little ability to be flexible with their income, yet it is exactly these people that the harmonization program was targeting.

Given the fact that people in public housing are on fixed income, I find it incomprehensible that the government would announce changes to the rent scale system without having completed their own calculations. The uncertainty that was caused by this announcement without the necessary financial information to go with it is inexcusable.

Mr. Speaker, most organizations tend to fully plan and develop an initiative before they stand up and make public statements about it. Most organizations would send a letter directly to the people in this program informing them about how it would affect them. Most organizations would have the decency to inform their elders well in advance of what their rent increase was going to be, not just vaguely tell them that it may increase sometime soon.

According to our Residential Tenancy Act, the government requires that private landlords provide at least three months notice of rent increase. Here, we have a government whose job it is to protect and assist people in public housing and they cannot extend the same courtesy to our own residents.

Mr. Speaker, given the lack of planning and poorly managed job of conveying information to public housing tenants, I would like to recommend that the Northwest Territories Housing Corporation scrap the entire harmonization program and focus on housing issues that would benefit Northwest Territories residents instead of hurting them. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

-- Applause

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I would like to make a statement today about an issue on the radio that seemed to get a lot of coverage. It is the call from the RCMP in Yellowknife regarding the number of nuisance calls they receive regarding alcohol and drunkenness in the communities.

I think as a government and as a people, the Northwest Territories has to recognize this is a problem. I think the problem we have is a lot of people assume that strictly by phoning the RCMP or letting the RCMP take care of the problem, the problem will go away. They will come along, pick the person up, take them to the jail, put them in the jail, let them out the next day, problem solved. Mr. Speaker, my view is that does not work.

Mr. Speaker, I think it is important that we here, as a government, have to take on that responsibility. We are here to ensure the well-being of the Northwest Territories residents and the reflection of our residents regarding the people who live in our society who are at need because of the effects of alcohol and drugs and other effects on our society.

I for one, Mr. Speaker, feel that as a government, we have not taken hold of the pace of development happening around us. The cuts that took place during the 13th Assembly, the closures of alcohol and drug treatment centres, and also with the Alcohol and Drug Treatment Program, it has not seen any movement.

In the Northwest Territories, we have one alcohol and drug treatment facility with 30 beds. Mr. Speaker, I think it is important that not only we as the government, but people in our society from the community governments to the organizations that are there to assist people, have the resources, and that we give people who have problems in our society with alcohol and drugs and other forms of problems the tools to give them an alternative. What is the alternative with drinking and doing drugs? What will make these people better people in our society to give them the tools to make that change?

I feel that we as a government are letting these people down, and also letting down the people who are there to protect us in our community, especially the RCMP, by expecting them to take care of a problem that is really all our problem. I think we as a government, Members of this Legislature, we have to take issue with this problem and make it a priority of this government, if we expect to take advantage of developments in oil and gas and mining. We have to set the example. As a government, we should do so. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

-- Applause

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

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Later today, I will be tabling a significant message from hundreds of Northwest Territories residents on an issue that we have all become far too complacent about. That message, Mr. Speaker, is that child poverty is real. It is not going away. Our government can be doing more about it.

The petition I will be tabling was sponsored by a single parent, by the Yellowknife Women's Centre and the Status of Women Council in the Northwest Territories. It was launched in October of last year. Since then, Mr. Speaker, it has generated 613 signatures from ten communities across the Northwest Territories. I wanted to list those communities because they deserve recognition for the effort they put into it.

Signatories, Mr. Speaker, are here from the communities of Lutselk'e, Inuvik, Hay River, Fort Simpson, Fort McPherson, Tsiigehtchic, Fort Smith, Holman, Fort Liard and Yellowknife, Mr. Speaker. The petition asked the government specifically to do the following:

1. To stop the clawback from the National Child Benefit Supplement from monthly income support payments;
2. Stop deducting child support payments from monthly income support assessments;
3. Set income support rates at the DIAND 1998 study level, which is an average of $900 per month for food for a family of four.

Mr. Speaker, I direct your attention, or anyone who is in the Assembly today, to the display that is set up outside, which illustrates the dramatic difference between what our food allowances permit and what this DIAND level permits;

4. Mr. Speaker, to re-institute income support for basic necessities like telephone, transportation, sanitary products, diapers and laundry soap;
5. Provide the NWT working supplement to families on income support;
6. Stop forcing income support recipients to liquidate their assets such as RRSPs or children's trust accounts.

Mr. Speaker, in Canada, one in five children lives in poverty. Mr. Speaker, I would like to 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. Braden, you may conclude your statement.