Thank you, Mrs. Groenewegen. Please be seated. Good afternoon, colleagues. What a beautiful day. Item 2, Ministers' statements. The honourable Minister responsible for Seniors, Mr. Miltenberger.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the Members of this Legislative Assembly have recommended that the GNWT take steps to improve the programs for our growing community of NWT seniors. The government responded to this recommendation by creating an interagency working group to conduct a technical review of existing GNWT programs and services and then consult with NWT seniors. This work has been completed and the result has been the creation of an action plan outlining activities that will occur over the next year to strengthen programs and services available to seniors.

The Seniors Action Plan was released on June 5th, during Seniors' Week, with the president of the NWT Seniors' Society, Mrs. Beatrice Campbell, in the company of seniors at the annual Seniors Social Tea.

The Seniors Action Plan represents a cooperative effort by GNWT departments, committing to work together and with the NWT Seniors' Society towards a common goal: "to improve programs and social supports for seniors." In this respect, Mr. Speaker, it represents a fundamental shift in how this government has been addressing seniors' issues.

The action plan was prepared following public consultations during the spring of 2001. Seniors voiced that they generally liked many features of programs and services currently offered by the GNWT. However, seniors expressed:• that they want improved coordination of services they need so they do not have to go to many different agencies to access them;• the importance of program integration so that different services worked well together to meet seniors' needs; and• that it is essential they have a voice in shaping government programs and policies that impact their lives.

Mr. Speaker, the action plan responds to these comments. It identifies ways to improve coordination of seniors' programs at the community level that include the investigation of:• single points of entry for all seniors' programs and services;• consolidating all toll-free lines for seniors; and• establishing coordinating committees for seniors.

The plan also identifies key program areas that require examination to ensure they are appropriately targeted. Specifically, the report describes actions that will result in the review of:• income assessment and financial assistance programs;• home heating and shelter benefits;• housing repair and maintenance;• independent living and housing programs;• continuing care programs; and• extended health benefits.

Finally, Mr. Speaker, this action plan formalizes an ongoing working relationship between the government and NWT seniors through:• a Seniors' Forum, to be held once during the term of each Assembly; and• a comprehensive review of seniors' programs and services during the term of each Assembly.

Mr. Speaker, as this House knows, I like to move issues forward and see tangible results in the short term. The majority of activities identified in the action plan will be completed by next summer. We have already begun work in cooperation with the NWT Seniors' Society in several of the areas described in the report.

Mr. Speaker, this work has reinforced our close and collaborative working relationship with the NWT Seniors' Society. The action plan builds on things we are doing right and makes adjustments to the areas that need improvement.

Our seniors deserve programs and services that will maintain and improve their quality of life, and so enrich our northern society and communities. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

-- Applause

Thank you, Mr. Minister. Item 2, Ministers' statements. The honourable Minister responsible for the Department of Education, Culture and Employment, Mr. Handley.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, graduation day is a big event in the lives of the individuals and their families. The festivities invoke emotions ranging from anxiety and sadness to happiness and relief. Graduation gives individuals the sense of accomplishment that comes from having reached a goal or realized a dream.

Some of the class of 2002 have faced significant challenges in their efforts to obtain a diploma, Mr. Speaker. Most have met and overcome those challenges because of their hard work, willpower, commitment and self-discipline. Graduates enjoy the support of family and friends and of teachers, school administrators and other community members. This support is invaluable and helps to instil in young people a greater appreciation of the value of community and family.

Mr. Speaker, the students who have graduated this year, whether from high school, college or university, are excellent role models. They have demonstrated the character traits and behaviour needed to set and reach a goal.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to take this opportunity to acknowledge and congratulate some of those individuals. Jennifer Vane, of Yellowknife, is one of 200 national winners to receive a Canada Millennium Scholarship of $4,000 per year for up to four years.

The winner of a second Canada Millennium Scholarship, this one awarded locally, is Ashley Woodward. She will use the $4,000 scholarship to study forensic science at the University of Toronto. Ashley is a graduate of St. Patrick High School in Yellowknife.

Mr. Speaker, I would also like to make special mention today of the students who graduated in Inuvik from the Aboriginal Language and Cultural Instructor Program. I understand that Liz Hansen, who coordinated the program, has done a remarkable job in reviving this vital program and building support for it in the communities. These graduates are poised to make a personal contribution to the preservation of the unique identity that characterizes the Northwest Territories. Their work will help to ensure that diversity and linguistic plurality, the threads that link our rich cultural mosaic, will continue to pass from generation to generation.

Mr. Speaker, I am proud of our graduates and their achievements. To me, they demonstrate the incredible potential of the Northwest Territories. Each of them will help us to realize our full potential as a Territory, as they realize their own. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

-- Applause

Thank you, Mr. Minister. Item 2, Ministers' statements. Item 3, Members' statements. The honourable Member for Frame Lake, Mr. Dent.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker, and good afternoon. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to speak about an issue that affects a small portion of our population, a group who often has very little to say in the quality of their lives. I am speaking of those who require continuous care or supervision. They are often aged or facing a physical or cognitive impairment. Some have fetal alcohol syndrome.

Mr. Speaker, in a needs assessment study conducted two years ago, 1,780 NWT citizens living in households were identified as having a moderate to severe disability. This figure does not include those with current mild disabilities that may escalate the number to more than 5,000, nor does it include individuals who are living in institutions or in assisted living situations in the south, away from family and a more familiar northern setting.

Mr. Speaker, it also does not include homeless individuals living in our communities who could become more productive through assisted living, those with emotional and cognitive impairment. Too often they come to our attention only as a result of a run-in with the justice system.

Mr. Speaker, recently, members of the Standing Committee on Social Programs travelled to Alberta with the Minister of Health and Social Services to visit facilities that housed NWT residents. We visited psychiatric institutions and assisted living providers and found a very dedicated group of individuals providing good service to our people.

However, Mr. Speaker, Northerners are far from home and family when placed in Edmonton or Red Deer or elsewhere south of 60.

At the recent annual conference of the Alberta Association for Community Living, the point was made again and again; individuals with severe disabilities receive far better care close to family and friends than in institutions.

In fact, Mr. Speaker, in our recent review of programs and services for seniors, the working group clearly recommends a program of support for families, spouses and other persons when the cognitively impaired are living at home.

They further recommend, and I completely agree, that the Government of the Northwest Territories must examine options for housing the cognitively impaired. Assisted living has repeatedly been proven as a sustainable approach that provides better care and a much better quality of life.

Mr. Speaker, I believe it is high time that our government commit to increasing the opportunities for assisted living in the Northwest Territories. We are doing a disservice to that portion of our population which does not have its voice heard.

Providing assisted living opportunities in the North not only improves the quality of life for those facing big challenges but it makes economic sense too. 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, over the past few days, this government has been questioned on matters of the BIP policy and whether or not suspension for phase two of the North Slave Correctional Facility project is justified. Today I want to voice concern over this project also. However, my concerns are to highlight the issue of cost overruns on a project of this nature and how it affects communities outside of Yellowknife.

Mr. Speaker, the North Slave Correctional Facility was developed based on 1999 dollars. I ask, was this project intended to be completed in 1999? If the project was scheduled to be completed at a later date, why was this not a consideration?

I can fully understand the difficulty in projecting costs on any of these larger, government funded projects. However, when costs are at 28 percent, or in this case, a total of $9.9 million over budget, it becomes unacceptable. We have cause for concern.

In the last while, we have seen too many cost overruns on too many of our projects. For example, the Laing Building was $900,000 over project costs. The young offenders' facility in Inuvik was $830,000 over. I understand that the Aurora College building in Inuvik is also having difficulties and will be seeking additional dollars. Mr. Speaker, I am sure if I dug deeper, we would find more examples of this nature.

I have to wonder, Mr. Speaker, who do we have developing our budgets? Why is it whenever the government undertakes projects, we think we can do it cheaper than private industry? Are we that inexperienced? Is it because we have incompetent staff? Or is it because we are being taken for a ride by the northern contractors? In any event, it is evident that this government does not have the information or answers to these questions.

When we are forced to take dollars from one area to cover this government's error in costing, it means all the people in the Northwest Territories suffer. Mr. Speaker, we need to put an immediate stop to this bleeding of public dollars. We should be spending dollars on housing, on education, on health, on economic development. Instead of overspending on jails, we should be addressing the problems associated with why people are being...

Mr. McLeod, your time is up.

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

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the more I consider the negative impacts this cost overrun has on my constituents and other Members' constituents in ridings outside of Yellowknife, I cannot in good faith support this government's request for any additional funding to this project.

This government should not be coming back to this Legislative Assembly for additional supplementary appropriations on this project. If the project cannot be completed within the current budget, then this government must consider downsizing the project or eliminating those non-essential parts of this project. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

-- Applause

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, today we would like to pay tribute to the life and memory of Lil Broadhead, who recently passed away. Hay River is a small town and there had been numerous families arriving in the early days, putting down roots. They had families, built businesses and were an integral part of life in Hay River. Keith and Lil Broadhead married and moved to Hay River from Saskatchewan in 1959. They had their children, Curtis, Brenda and Kelly, established Keith's Water Service and eventually spent their time between their farm in Keg River and their home in Hay River. They had a good and full life.

They were very involved in the community and enjoyed many close friendships. We never know what the future will hold in our lives but long before death should have parted them, Keith was tragically killed in an automobile accident. Just two days prior to that, almost four years ago, Lil had been diagnosed with cancer and only given six months to live. Fortunately she defied those predictions and lived for another four years. I know that these extra months and years were full of especially precious memories for her children, grandchildren and friends.

Keith and Lil Broadhead's contribution to Hay River lives on through their children and their families. Although gone, they will not soon be forgotten. They will be long remembered as a part of a larger family of people who have made Hay River the community that it is today. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to bring well-deserved recognition to the NWT Fishermen's Federation for the success of the Great Slave Lake Commercial Fisheries Conference held on May 10th and May 11th in Hay River.

This conference, Mr. Speaker, was very timely as it dealt with a number of issues that were very pertinent to the commercial fishermen of the Northwest Territories.

There were a number of topics discussed at the conference, Mr. Speaker. These included legislation, legislation's impact on the fishing industry, stock management and assessment, financing programs and initiatives, marketing and industry trends, current technology, and last but certainly not least, employment, training and retention.

Mr. Speaker, approximately 80 people attended the conference and participants included commercial fishermen, government officials and industry representatives. I had the distinct pleasure of attending and taking part in this conference, Mr. Speaker, and I would like to state that a number of very important initiatives were discussed.

Mr. Speaker, at this time, I would also like to personally thank the Honourable Jim Antoine, Minister of Resources, Wildlife and Economic Development, and the Honourable Ethel Blondin-Andrew, Western Arctic Member of Parliament, for attending this conference. I was encouraged by their presence and their willingness to address the needs of commercial fishermen.

I am very encouraged, Mr. Speaker, by the ongoing efforts of the NWT Fisherman's Federation to look at a creative and more cost-effective environment for harvesting on the Great Slave Lake.

Mr. Speaker, there should be training programs initiated by the Department of Education in conjunction with our right to address the very real problem of the lack of young people wanting to enter the commercial fishing industry in the North.

Mr. Speaker, the fishermen currently on Great Slave Lake are aging. There are not enough youth coming up through the ranks. I believe there should be incentives for our youth to get on board, so to speak, as I would not want to see this viable industry decline due to a lack of fishermen.

I believe it is imperative, Mr. Speaker, that we as a government should do everything in our power to assist our commercial fishermen in maintaining a longstanding, viable industry. Mr. Speaker, I intend to continue to work with the commercial fishermen to ensure that a sustainable commercial fishery is maintained. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

-- Applause

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

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I rise today to speak again about our cost of living battle and, more specifically, a place, particularly an affordable place, to live. The weekly newspapers, through their employment opportunities and real estate sections, go straight to the facts of this situation. There is a lot of work, Mr. Speaker, but not much choice in a place to live.

I think we are turning the corner on this. In my own riding of Great Slave, Nova Construction recently completed a 60-unit apartment building. For the first time since the construction of the Centre Square complex in 1989, we see a construction crane on the skyline here in Yellowknife as it builds the Polar Development 14-storey 100-unit apartments. It is good news. It shows that investors and builders are supporting our economy and taking up the opportunities that are presenting themselves, Mr. Speaker.

Some 223 multi-family units and apartments have been completed or approved for construction. Ninety-six single family units are being added to the housing, and my understanding is that there is an additional 200 or more units in the discussion or planning stage.

Mr. Speaker, affordability and social housing are critical issues that will not so quickly be turned around. Mr. Speaker, Yellowknife is a magnet community. It is a consequence of our strong economy. People come here for the jobs, the services and perhaps the social and medical programs they require. However, I am reminded daily that the activity and excitement in Yellowknife is a mixed blessing. There are pressures on our infrastructure, the cost of living and lifestyle choices that make it hard for those with limited resources.

A constituent called last week, a single mother with a school-aged child, who has been looking for a place to live in Yellowknife for ten months. She has very few choices. The Yellowknife Housing Authority has about 300 units in its public housing inventory, Mr. Speaker, but there are 180 people on the waiting list for more and there is very little turnover in the existing stuff.

Mr. Speaker, while there is a great deal of optimism about our situation, there are concerns. Housing difficulties are a greater limitation on our economy and the choices our people have. I will be questioning the Minister on this issue later today. Thank you.

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

Mahsi, Mr. Lafferty, thank you. Item 3, Members' statements. The honourable Member for Range Lake, Ms. Lee.