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

Mr. Speaker, on October 3rd, the Honourable Jane Stewart announced, in conjunction with the Honourable Ethel Blondin-Andrew, a new aboriginal skills and employment partnership program.

This $85 million, five-year program is aimed at securing and increasing sustainable aboriginal participation in large economic developments across Canada. These training programs can range from basic literacy skills and academic upgrading, to job specific programming.

Funding proposals must set out a comprehensive training-to-employment plan for aboriginal people that links skill development to specific job opportunities.

This is welcome news for aboriginal people in the Northwest Territories, Mr. Speaker. As you are well aware, residents in the North need to move beyond the entry-level positions. I know that programs such as this one will assist us in making this move. By assisting aboriginal people to receive the training and skills they require, we know we are setting the stage for a better future for all Northerners.

The NWT economy, fuelled by extraordinary levels of mining and oil and gas activity, offers a remarkable number of opportunities for well-trained, skilled people. So many opportunities are available that, at the current time, we are experiencing difficulty meeting labour demand. We need to ensure that our northern population is trained and ready to meet this demand.

Mr. Speaker, while this program is national in scope, I am confident that a great deal of the impetus for it came from several years of intense effort by our government, in cooperation with our partners, to have federal dollars invested in the North for resource development.

This government has, over the past two years, been working on the development of two specific strategies. Mr. Speaker, the NWT industrial mining skills strategy and the oil and gas industrial skills strategy are expected to total approximately $20 million in new funding. Although the federal government has seen previous copies of these proposals, they must be resubmitted to meet the new guidelines. We will continue to work in conjunction with our partners -- industry, federal

government, aboriginal organizations and the Aboriginal Summit -- while finalizing these documents.

This new funding announcement speaks directly to these types of proposals, Mr. Speaker, and will complement the ongoing industry, GNWT and aboriginal investments currently taking place.

While the total amount of $85 million is allocated across Canada, we are confident that, given the level of activity and the excellent work done to date, a large portion of these dollars will be invested here in the NWT.

Mr. Speaker, I congratulate the Minister of Human Resources Development Canada and our MP, Ethel Blondin-Andrew, for the support they are demonstrating in our ongoing effort to ensure that the northern economy maximizes northern employment, one of the primary goals of our government.

As well, I also compliment and congratulate industry, aboriginal partners and the Aboriginal Summit for coming together and working collaboratively to ensure we are ready to now take advantage of this opportunity.

Mr. Speaker, while there remain a number of administrative details to iron out, it is important that we continue to work cooperatively with our partners and keep in mind the main goal of increasing employment for aboriginal Northerners. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

---Applause

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the week of October 19th to 25th is National Foster Family Week. I would like to take a moment to look ahead to that week to recognize the valuable contribution that foster families make to our communities.

Foster families open their homes to care for children in need. They have a very challenging and demanding role. It is encouraging to see that so many people in our territory have offered to care for children. There are almost 200 foster homes in the NWT that give children a caring, supportive home environment that is vital to their healthy development.

Foster parents share a common passion to protect and nurture children. They offer children a safe home environment while also supporting their interaction with their birth families. They work as members of a team with the social workers in their communities to meet individual educational, medical and developmental needs.

Mr. Speaker, the children in foster care range in age from infants to teenagers. They include children from every part of our territory. Our foster families have welcomed these children into their homes, and should be applauded for the work they do.

Mr. Speaker, I would also like to recognize the Foster Family Coalition of the NWT. This organization has been in place for over a year to strengthen the network of foster families and the services they provide. It is an important resource for foster parents, to help them understand that they are not alone and that there are others who can support them through difficult times.

I would like to take this opportunity to call on families to become foster families, and I ask the Members of this House to join me in applauding the efforts of those who have taken up this service throughout the NWT. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

---Applause

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

Mr. Speaker, I would like to take this opportunity to inform Members of this Assembly about the Northwest Territories' search and rescue prevention strategy.

The strategy was developed by the Department of Municipal and Community Affairs through a two-year consultation process involving community leaders, territorial search and rescue authorities and search and rescue organizations in each of the Northwest Territories' five regions.

This work was supported by the federal government through the new initiatives fund, a national cost-sharing program for search and rescue.

The Northwest Territories search and rescue prevention strategy is based upon a framework developed at the national level. This framework came about because the various federal agencies with responsibilities in the area of search and rescue saw the need to address prevention. They understood that, while it is important to develop a capacity to respond to search and rescue incidents, it is also important to try and prevent such situations from happening.

The Northwest Territories search and rescue prevention strategy is the most appropriate means of reducing the North's high number of reports of missing or stranded persons not only because of the focus on prevention, but also because it is the result of extensive community consultations. The strategy includes a consolidation of approximately 150 recommendations from these consultations.

This consultation process ensured that the final strategy is a made-in-the-North plan based upon the realities of northern conditions. It also ensured that the strategy contains realistic, useful recommendations for reducing the number and severity of search and rescue incidents in the Northwest Territories.

Northwest Territories search and rescue authorities will need to work with communities and all northern stakeholders to effectively implement the recommendations from this strategy. The Department of Municipal and Community Affairs looks forward to working with all interested parties to make this happen. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

---Applause

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

Mr. Speaker, I would like to comment today on recent announcements made by the Government of Canada to support high speed Internet services for remote northern communities.

The announcement of $155 million available under a national satellite initiative is welcome news for the Northwest Territories, as 16 of our 33 communities rely on satellite service. This announcement demonstrates that the Government of Canada is listening to our concerns and are working to address the needs for infrastructure, in this case technology infrastructure and satellite capacity.

We have been working with the Government of Canada and the Communications Research Centre in Ottawa to find creative ways to address the high cost of delivering service to residents across the territory, especially in satellite-served communities where the infrastructure and the ongoing cost of satellite space is high. Earlier this year we received some public benefit satellite capacity from Industry Canada and deployed it to schools, libraries and Aurora College campuses and learning centres.

I believe our ongoing work in educating Ottawa about the challenges we face and the missed opportunities resulting from lack of affordable, high-speed service in all communities is helping to spur development of federal programs to address our needs in this area.

Mr. Speaker, although we do not have any specific details of this program, we are pleased to see that it could address both infrastructure and satellite capacity. We in the Northwest Territories know that it is not always possible to take advantage of new opportunity if infrastructure is limited and it is difficult to move forward if the costs are excessive.

We will be encouraging the federal government to provide us with program details as soon as possible. We expect the Northwest Territories groups participating in the broadband for rural and northern development, or BRAND, program will be equally interested in this new program as it is intended to complement the $105 million announced earlier for BRAND.

Mr. Speaker, investments in community infrastructure are needed in the Northwest Territories. We look forward to hearing more about the opportunities the national satellite initiative offers for the NWT. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

---Applause

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

Mr. Speaker, October 5 to 11, 2003, is National Fire Prevention Week, so this is a fitting time to announce the recipients of this year's Northwest Territories Fire Service Merit Awards program.

In 2002, I established the Fire Service Merit Awards, a new program to recognize the contribution of individual firefighters and fire departments in the Northwest Territories.

A special inaugural ceremony was held to announce the 2002 winners during Fire Prevention Week. Members of the Legislative Assembly were invited to attend this ceremony at the Prince of Wales Northern Heritage Centre to help recognize these special contributors to the fire service.

In this second year of the program, the department once again received nominations to recognize the special contribution of individual firefighters. Individual nominations are assessed by a panel of local and territorial fire service officials, against a set of established criteria. These nominations have now been assessed and I am pleased to announce the 2003 winners at this time.

The individual Fire Service Merit Award recipients for 2003 are:

• • Al Kuyten of the Norman Wells Fire Department
• • Robert Ansdell of the Tsiigehtchic Fire Department

Mr. Ansdell has also been chosen as the recipient of the 2003 Territorial Fire Service Merit Award.

The department also received nominations for the Community Fire Service Merit Award. This award is presented to recognize the efforts of the fire department and the entire community in improving the local fire protection system.

The assessment process to determine the community merit award winner has now been completed and I am pleased to announce that the 2003 Community Fire Service Merit Award goes to the City of Yellowknife Fire Division.

Mr. Speaker, ceremonies to recognize the winners will be held in their home communities in the near future. I would ask all Members of the Legislative Assembly to please join me in congratulating the two recipients of the individual awards and the City of Yellowknife Fire Division. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

---Applause

Colleagues, I would like to draw your attention to the presence in the visitors' gallery of Cathy Bentley of the Department of Executive, intergovernmental relations, and with her is Frank Stendardo with the Privy Council in Ottawa's office. Welcome to the House.

---Applause

Item 2, Ministers' statements. Item 3, Members' statements. The honourable Member for Deh Cho, Mr. McLeod.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the Chief Sunrise Education Centre on Hay River Reserve has been experiencing a shortage of classroom space for many years now and this year is scheduled to receive some long overdue renovations spread out over the next couple of years. The Department of Education, Culture and Employment has provided $600,000 for the project and the K'atlodeeche First Nation has committed another $200,000 to ensure that the renovations meet the immediate needs of the community.

Mr. Speaker, I have problems with this arrangement on a couple of different levels. Number one, I do not believe a first nation should be required to contribute funds to pay for the construction or renovation of an educational facility. Education is a right guaranteed under the treaty. It logically follows that adequate schools are an obligation that falls out of the treaty as a right. So why is the K'atlodeeche First Nation having to come up with $200,000 of their own money? They're taking money out of businesses in the community and that is critical. They're doing it because they see a need in the community and I applaud the leadership of the Hay River Reserve for taking this step and thinking about the future generations, but must question whether the department has the same commitment to the children and whether they respect or understand treaty obligations.

The other problem I have with this arrangement is the criteria that the Department of Education, Culture and Employment uses to determine whether a school is overcrowded or not and whether it requires expansion. According to this formula, the department classifies Chief Sunrise Education Centre as underutilized. This is despite such obvious signs of overcrowding as classes being taught in non-program spaces such as the library, the kitchen, the industrial arts room, the staff room and the gym foyer. I'm aware that the language instructor moves her supplies from classroom to classroom in a shopping cart, like a sort of door-to-door salesman.

Mr. Speaker, right now we have no room in that school for the three cultural instructors who deliver the on the land program, language program and arts and crafts program to the students. I'm aware that there's 34 students aged four years old who are enrolled in the Aboriginal Head Start program and this program is...Mr. Speaker, I seek unanimous consent to conclude my statement.

The Member is seeking unanimous consent to conclude his statement. Are there any nays? Mr. McLeod, you have unanimous consent to conclude your statement.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Thank you, colleagues. Mr. Speaker, I'm aware that there are 34 students three to four years old who are enrolled in the Aboriginal Head Start program. This program has proven to increase dramatically the chances of aboriginal students doing well in school. I'm also aware that the centre is offering classes in the evenings and weekends to accommodate those part-time students who cannot access programs during the day because of the overcrowding.

It is simple, Mr. Speaker. The department's criteria for program space does not meet the needs of smaller communities. It might work in Yellowknife, but it does not work for the residents of the Hay River Reserve.

Finally, Mr. Speaker, I would like to point out that other communities, such as the Yellowknives First Nation, have advanced funds to the department for renovations or construction of schools with the understanding that they would be reimbursed by the government in subsequent years' appropriation. Mr. Speaker, I will have questions for the Minister as to why the K'atlodeeche First Nation was not given the same consideration. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

---Applause

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, today I rise to address an issue that affects the entire community of Hay River. That being, the rise in personal and property crimes in our community.

Mr. Speaker, from January to August of 2002 there were 93 crimes committed against persons and for the same period this year there were 159. The mischief calls are up from 169 occurrences last year to 245 this year. The disturbances calls are up from 30 in 2002 to 54 this year. I could go on and on with statistics, Mr. Speaker, but trust me, there is an urgent, growing problem in Hay River around the whole area of crime prevention.

Let me be perfectly clear, Mr. Speaker. Hay River is not a bad place to live. I firmly believe Hay River is the best place to live in the NWT and I have made it my home for the last 33 years. Mr. Speaker, I do, however, wish to illustrate that the residents of Hay River are concerned and they are more than willing to be proactive in order to insure the safety and security of our community.

Mr. Speaker, on September 15th there was a community hall meeting held in Hay River to discuss crime prevention and enforcement and, above all, to raise awareness. I was encouraged to see a full house at this meeting, Mr. Speaker. The 75 people in attendance were very vocal about the rising incidents of crime in Hay River.

Mr. Speaker, I fully support and commend the RCMP detachment in Hay River for the work that they do 24 hours a day, 365 days of the year to protect the residents of Hay River. The RCMP officers are doing everything they can with the limited resources they are provided with.

Mr. Speaker, we currently have eight RCMP members stationed in Hay River. At one point several years ago, I believe we had approximately 18 members in Hay River. I don't know what changed, but I don't believe the demographics or level of crime activity did.

Mr. Speaker, along with the advent of development comes some stark realities, one being the rise in social problems - alcohol and drug abuse chief among these. Mr. Speaker, as a result of the town hall meeting I am very encouraged that the idea for a citizen's coalition has come about. Mr. Speaker, I seek unanimous consent to conclude my statement.

The Member is seeking unanimous consent to conclude his statement. Are there any nays? Mr. Delorey, you have unanimous consent to conclude your statement.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Thank you, colleagues. This citizen's coalition will be spear-headed by Town Councillor Robert Bouchard, a constituent of mine. The coalition intends to work hand in hand with the RCMP to combat crime in Hay River. Mr. Speaker, I am extremely proud of the efforts of the residents of Hay River in working together to prevent crime and I look forward to working with them to achieve this goal. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

---Applause

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

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the recent announcement about the closure of underground operations at Con Mine reminds us of the need to clean up the lands around mining operations when they close. With the closure of Con we are fortunate to be dealing with a company that is not bankrupt and has the opportunity to do the right thing for the environment on the closure of the mine. I expect the cleanup will be undertaken responsibly and move forward at a reasonable pace.

Unfortunately, Mr. Speaker, the environmental cleanup of Giant appears likely to hang over our heads for years to come.

While the Giant cleanup is a federal government responsibility, our government needs to get more actively involved in pressuring the federal government to move quickly. This government should have already pressed the federal government to get started on the cleanup.

The failure to do that is made worse because we had an opportunity. We had a Prime Minister and a Minister of DIAND who appeared willing to work with us. There is a three-year program with millions of dollars available specifically for the cleanup of environmental disasters like Giant. But with the federal leadership changing and program funding running out, we may be left with nothing but the arsenic for a long, long time.

Mr. Speaker, the arsenic management alternatives for Giant that were presented by the Giant remediation team are not perfect solutions, but they offer us choices using today's best technology to ensure that the underground arsenic trioxide dust does not further contaminate our environment.

Mr. Speaker, all of the Yellowknife MLAs have been very concerned about the issue of the arsenic at Giant for a long time. Four of us have been lobbying the Minister of Northern Affairs to start the work. But the GNWT has been dragging its feet and are responsible for slowing the cleanup down.

Mr. Bell, Mr. Braden, Ms. Lee and I recommended to Minister Nault that the federal government begin implementing the underground block freezing process as the best alternative we have available to us now. It is the least dangerous to workers and significantly reduces the danger of environmental contamination to our community and other communities on the Mackenzie watershed.

Mr. Speaker, after we made our presentation, the Minister of Resources, Wildlife and Economic Development wrote to Minister Nault rejecting that recommendation and instead asked that more time and money be spent, believe it or not, studying another option -- deep disposal.

Mr. Speaker, the deep disposal option suggested by the Minister of RWED has already been shown to be less sound. Mr. Speaker, I seek unanimous consent to conclude my statement.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker, honourable Members. Mr. Speaker, the type of rock formations deep under ground at Giant are filled with both manmade and natural holes, crevices and cracks that cannot be guaranteed to hold arsenic trioxide dust, particularly when it mixes with deep groundwater. The deep disposal option will also be much more dangerous to workers, rather than freezing it in place, as moving this stuff around is an extremely dangerous proposition.

Mr. Speaker, I believe that by rejecting the recommendation made by the four Yellowknife MLAs the Minister and this government have delayed the cleanup of Giant Mine, a delay we can't afford.

There will soon be a change in leadership at the federal level and then a federal election. We may lose the political will that has been there to deal with some of the contaminated sites across Canada. After years of trying to educate the federal government about the situation at Giant, now it looks like the 15th Assembly will have to start a new process. Meanwhile, the people of Yellowknife, Ndilo and Dettah must wait and wonder about the safety of their environment.

Mr. Speaker, this government should re-examine its position on the arsenic remediation right away. Today, if possible. Then it should advise Minister Nault that we want to see action right away.

Freeze the arsenic in place. Mr. Speaker, if we put pressure on we may still qualify for funding under the second year of the contaminated sites accelerated action fund, but if we don't tell Minister Nault our decision and press for funding we might really blow it and miss out on the fund all together. That could delay remediation for at least a few more years. Mr. Speaker, we need this action and we need it now.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my Member's statement will be around the government's plans and intentions as our government decides to change its practice or include other things or expand its authority in different areas. Mr. Speaker, we've heard in this House on a number of occasions throughout this term about the roles that boards and authorities play in delivering programs and services on behalf of our government. Mr. Speaker, I particularly raise questions about this area in the area of the Inuvik Regional Health and Social Services Authority and the role it plays in delivering services. We know that, with the onset of self-government table negotiations around the North, the map that we and the departments use is going to change in the area of regional offices and department. But, Mr. Speaker, without a real plan in place, things can be done ad hoc and it's difficult to find out information from a government as to what's going on.

The point, Mr. Speaker, is that I've had to raise the issue about the development of the Sahtu Health and Social Services Authority and how it would impact on the constituents that I serve out of Inuvik. Mr. Speaker, getting responses from the Minister in this area, after I was told that I would be kept informed, I'm somewhat dismayed. I find out that much more work has been going on than I was informed of. This discovery was through a second source, in a sense, accidentally through reviewing of a financial document asking a Minister some questions and being provided some more information. So based on that, Mr. Speaker, I have concerns again and would like to seek more information from the Minister of Health and Social Services as to what exactly is going on, what plans are in place and when were those plans approved. So I'll have a question for the appropriate Minister. Thank you.

---Applause

Item 3, Members' statements. The Member for Hay River South, Mrs. Groenewegen.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the community of Hay River has almost run out of land. Hay River is currently developing its last remaining residential property. Only a few lots are left in our industrial and commercial land bank. The town owns another piece of property, but it will take at least three years to drain it to the point where it can be ready for development.

The town has approached the territorial government to transfer additional Commissioner's land. The land is needed for residential and commercial purposes. Winter is fast approaching and potential buyers could use the autumn to prepare for summer construction next year.

Mr. Speaker, this past spring, the territorial government approved Hay River's general plan, which had included a request for land to be transferred over to the town. The Deh Cho First Nations interim measures final agreement requires the government to consult with affected Deh Cho nations before selling or leasing undeveloped Commissioner's land identified in the general plan. The general plan already has the written approval of the K'atlodeeche First Nation. The West Point First Nation has offered conditional support and approval, but one of the conditions is that they need to be funded to undertake a general plan of their own. This request doesn't fall within the mandate or jurisdiction of the Town of Hay River to address.

I was very encouraged by a recent conversation with the president of the Northwest Territories Metis Nation and an article in the Hub, where the chief negotiator for the Metis Nation stated, "We have had no communication with MACA involving any proposals from the Town of Hay River. And if there is a dialogue and Metis interests are addressed in an equitable fashion, we're interested in moving forward if the town is interested."

Mr. Speaker, many communities in our territory are growing as a result of increased resource development. More land is needed to meet current and forecasted demands for residential and commercial properties. The Deh Cho interim measures final agreement provides a blueprint for a respectable process between First Nations, municipalities and the territorial government for the transfer of Commissioner's land, but the details of that process have to be worked out in practice.

Since at the end of the day it is the GNWT that moves ahead with the decision about whether or not to transfer the land, it needs to clearly communicate with the Town of Hay River and other municipalities in similar circumstances on the process requiring land. The general plan for Hay River has been signed off. The Town of Hay River has done its part. The affected First Nations within the Deh Cho have been consulted and, inasmuch as is possible, the Town of Hay River has done what it can to address the conditions of the West Point First Nation. The NWT Metis Association apparently would be amendable to entering into discussions with the town and the department. I understand that the town has been advised of some requirements...

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

The Member is seeking unanimous consent to conclude her statement. Are there any nays? No, there aren't. Mrs. Groenewegen, you may conclude.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I understand that the town has been advised of some requirement on their part to participate in this process with the assistance of computer programming and software which they are willing to get up to speed with as soon as possible.

The town and the people of Hay River want this process to proceed in a timely manner. Mr. Speaker, I submit that the ball is now in the GNWT's court. We're looking for leadership from this government on this issue. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Item 3, Members' statements. The Member for North Slave, Mr. Lafferty.

Item 3, Members' statements. Member for Range Lake, Ms. Lee.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, on Sunday, September 29th, I had the opportunity to attend the official opening of the MultiPlex arena in Yellowknife, and I would like to take this opportunity to speak, once again, about the need for this government to support recreation facilities in the city of Yellowknife.

Mr. Speaker, everyone knows that the capital city is experiencing rapid growth and it seems that our property taxes are on an upwards spiral, but our taxes are not enough to meet the demands being placed on our community infrastructure. The one area that is really falling victim to this, Mr. Speaker, is our sports and recreational facilities.

For the most part of the past winter months, Mr. Speaker, this city of 18,000 had to share one ice pad. A large part of this had to do with the lack of funding which made it necessary to extend the life of the old Gerry Murphy Arena as long as possible, until it had to be finally shut down before the new one could be built. We're very glad that the second ice pad now is operating and it has eased the burden somewhat, but the sad fact that is this is far from enough to meet the needs of our growing city.

Mr. Speaker, it has been brought to my attention that the city of Iqaluit -- and I've said this many times in the House before -- which has a population of under 10,000, has two ice pads. Yellowknife, on the other hand, with a population of 18,000, now only has two ice pads and even with the new ones it's not enough. We are in need of at least three ice pads for the population we serve, and this means we have no time to rest before we have to get the third one running.

Mr. Speaker, I know that the funding for recreational facilities is done by this government through block funding, but this gives no comfort to my constituents who can see with their eyes the irony of a young offenders facility going up side by side with a recreational facility that has had to go through such a struggle to raise money. I really believe it is high time that this government acknowledges it is falling behind the needs of this growing city, and that it cannot hide behind block funding when it comes to showing commitment for recreational facilities.

I might also add, Mr. Speaker, in light of the Minister's statement yesterday about a recreation and sports policy, I don't believe its enough to tinker with the lottery program and governance structure. I believe what is needed is commitment to the youth and more dollars. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

---Applause

Item 3, Members' statements. The Member for Yellowknife South, Mr. Bell.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Yesterday in the House I had questions for the Minister of RWED about the need to have a plan to diversify our economy, Mr. Speaker. I think it's critical that we ensure that we don't put all of our economic eggs in one basket.

But I think one of the things that can really be the pillar of a strong economy, and it's something that we've had a lot of discussion about, is the tourism industry. Unfortunately over the last few years there have been a cascade of events, starting with 9-11, the war in Iraq, SARS, mad cow; a number of events that have hurt tourism in North America, hurt tourism in Canada and certainly, by extrapolation, in the Northwest Territories. Mr. Speaker, when it comes to international travelers, many of us would recognize that they don't simply leave their international jurisdiction and end up in the Northwest Territories. They have to come through southern Canada. So if southern Canada is having problems, if there are travel advisories out because we are dealing with a SARS epidemic in Toronto, people from overseas oftentimes don't make the distinction and don't realize that Toronto isn't in fact all of Canada. It affects us, certainly, Mr. Speaker, in the Northwest Territories.

I know many of my colleagues and I have been working late recently, but if they've had the chance to look at the sky, they've seen a beautiful natural phenomenon that we're so lucky to have, and that's the northern lights. But, Mr. Speaker, the tourism industry that has been built up around this natural phenomenon can be a fickle one, and we have seen it seriously impacted and seriously affected by these events of late. It's important that government does what it can to work with industry to try to bring this and other tourism industry back to the Territories. We need to work with industry to make sure that we help to develop product. After all, we have to have something for people to do and to see and to partake in when they do come to the North. We know that if you look at other natural phenomenons like the Rocky Mountains, Mr. Speaker, there has been product, there has been an industry developed around something beautiful like that, but it doesn't happen by accident and it doesn't happen without government support.

We can ensure that the entire Northwest Territories is included because we can focus on destination awareness, we can focus on the Northwest Territories as a desirable destination to visit. I think it's timely and I think we have to keep the pressure on the federal government to recognize that we, too, have been seriously impacted by negative events; our tour operators, our hotels, our restaurants, our airlines. It hasn't been just Toronto. We need to continue to send this message to the federal government. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

---Applause

Item 3, Members' statements. The Member for Inuvik Twin Lakes, Mr. Allen.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As you and I can relate to, the trapping season is shortly going to be coming upon us. We won't be in the House to welcome the trappers back on the land, but today I would like to acknowledge a few of my constituents who rarely, if ever, get attention other than if they become involved in our community politics, socio-economic or cultural organizations that drive our institutions.

Mr. Speaker, in my riding of Inuvik Twin Lakes, we have a very large mixture of various ethnic groups who make many contributions to the economic and social fabric of Inuvik.

Mr. Speaker, I have to express my gratitude to my good friends such as Frankie Charlie, Big Ben Rogers, Michael Coyen, Joe Norbert and Mervin Firth, just to name a few. Each time I travel to my hometown of Inuvik, I get a chance to speak with them about what's important to them and others who they tend to represent. They often remind me of my role. Even though they don't say it out loud, they have a certain way of expressing what an MLA must do to keep people aware of our work.

So today I just want to say a huge hello to those quiet gentlemen in the riding of Inuvik Twin Lakes who often sit down with me over a cup of coffee and remind me of what we are here for, and sometimes we are underappreciated. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

---Applause

Item 3, Members' statements. Mr. Braden.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. We've all returned from quite a long summer and quite a nice summer, at least in this part of the NWT. Part of the summer for all Northerners, Mr. Speaker, is a chance to attend the arts and music festivals that have become such an important part of the summer activities and the fabric of our culture and our lifestyle here in the NWT. Around the rest of the year, Mr. Speaker, we also enjoy in each and every one of our communities, some kind of a winter festival as well. It helps us celebrate the environment we live in and helps give us a break from it too. In the course of that, we have our own arts and crafts and drama organizations -- volunteer organizations mostly, Mr. Speaker -- that get together and try to do something for themselves, but also to show the community, friends and neighbours what they've got going for them.

I was just at a great evening this past weekend, organized by the Yellowknife Photography Club, where a noted Canadian photographer, Sherman Hines, was in to give us a demonstration and some tips on his craft. Mr. Speaker, this is also something that contributes to -- as Mr. Bell was talking about -- a tourism product that is so important to our economy here and the success of our communities. We have many unique things to offer to ourselves and to Canadians and visitors from around the world. It's in this respect, Mr. Speaker, that I continue to look forward, as I'm sure Members on this side of the House have for months and months, to the release of the NWT arts strategy. It's something that a lot of people have put a lot of work into, but we have not seen it materialize yet. I just put that out as one of the kind of end game anticipations that I have to see what our government is going to put forward in the line of a strategy for this very important part of our life as Northerners. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

---Applause

Item 3, Members' statements. Item 4, returns to oral questions. The Minister responsible for Aboriginal Affairs, Mr. Antoine.

Item 4, returns to oral questions. Item 5, recognition of visitors in the gallery. Ms. Lee.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I would like to recognize two people in the gallery, one being a long-term resident of Yellowknife, Mr. Fred Turner, and a long-term resident of Yellowknife and a constituent of Range Lake, Mr. Francis Chang. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

---Applause

Item 5, recognition of visitors in the gallery. Mr. Nitah.

Welcome to the House. Item 5, recognition of visitors in the gallery. Item 6, oral questions. The Member for Inuvik Boot Lake, Mr. Roland.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my question will be directed to the Minister of Health and Social Services. I would like to know from the Minister what plans are in place now for the reorganization of the Inuvik Regional Health and Services Authority. Thank you.

Minister of Health and Social Services, Mr. Miltenberger.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, plans are underway for the creation of the Sahtu Health and Social Services Authority, which will somewhat impact the structure in Inuvik. There is also work underway up in the Beaufort-Delta to look at the current structure of the board and membership from the communities. That is also underway and it will hopefully be completed by February. Thank you.

Supplementary, Mr. Roland.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Can the Minister inform us as to when the plans to proceed were made by Cabinet? Thank you.

Minister of Health and Social Services, Mr. Miltenberger.

The plans for the restructuring of the board in Inuvik, the representation and those issues have been underway and are tied somewhat to the self-government discussions with the request to improve community representation.

When I first came on as Minister about 18 months ago, we started to move on the creation of the Sahtu Health and Social Services Authority that would bring into line services and program areas in the Sahtu region similar to what has been done with the divisional education council. Thank you.

Supplementary, Mr. Roland.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The Minister wasn't clear enough on when the actual plan was approved. He did say that when he came on as Minister this work began. It's interesting he should say that. Mr. Speaker, is there a final plan, and has it been approved and what date was that approved? Thank you.

Minister of Health and Social Services.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, it was one of the action items in the action plan that was put forward, presented and approved through Cabinet. We have gone to Cabinet and to FMB with submissions for funding, and the plan is unfolding. The new CEO for the Sahtu authority started yesterday. She will be continuing with work on the job to work with the Inuvik authority, to look at the allocation of resources from the Inuvik region to the Sahtu on the administration and headquarters side. So for the last 18 months this issue has been on the table and was approved through the action plan and approved by Cabinet. Thank you.

Final supplementary, Mr. Roland.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. When was the plan approved by Cabinet, and was that plan shared with the social programs committee or Members of this House? Thank you.

Minister of Health and Social Services.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, we have kept the social programs committee informed, we've kept Cabinet informed and we've attempted to keep the MLAs from the Inuvik region informed. If I have not quite met the mark on that, as my colleague indicated in his opening statement, then I apologize for that and I will redress by offering a full briefing of all the information that we do have that you may have not seen in detail. Thank you.

Item 6, oral questions. Member for Deh Cho, Mr. McLeod.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. In my Member's statement today I voiced my concern over a contribution of $200,000 that the K'atlodeeche First Nation has had to contribute for an extra classroom in the Chief Sunrise School. Over the last couple of years, the issue of overcrowding has been on the table with the Minister, through correspondence and in community meetings. We've requested the Minister go to Cabinet for additional dollars, and we've been told on every occasion that there are no new dollars, there is no new money. So as a last resort, the K'atlodeeche First Nation took $200,000 out of their companies to put towards the school. Since then we've heard a number of announcements about new schools and renovations. I'm just wondering if the Minister could inform this Assembly and if he indeed made a submission to the Financial Management Board for the $200,000 that we were requesting, over and above what was being allocated. Thank you.

Minister of Education, Culture and Employment, Mr. Ootes.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. First of all, I should state that any time we're dealing with a school facility, Mr. Speaker, we're very concerned to ensure that facilities are adequate and we can contribute to them. With respect to the Member's question, no, we didn't go to Cabinet for the $200,000, because we had a commitment, Mr. Speaker, from the band to provide the $200,000. Mr. Speaker, originally the Chief Sunrise School was identified as requiring upgrading, but then it was decided that KFN had provided additional funding so the scope of the work could be expanded, Mr. Speaker. From there, the scope of the work did expand and the band itself had stated they would contribute $200,000 to the project. Thank you.

Supplementary, Mr. McLeod.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I've had the sense for some time now that the Minister never went to bat for us, and I'm very disappointed. The community was always of the opinion that this was a last resort; because Cabinet had turned us down we had to put in the money from the community. I understand now that that was not the case at all. I would like to ask the Minister if he could tell me how many other communities in the Northwest Territories have had infrastructure facilities for education. We, in the smaller communities that have a high aboriginal population, believe it's a community right. Yet on the reserve, which is 100 percent aboriginal, we're paying for classroom space. We have students in the hallways, we have students in the gym, we have students taking classes in the foyer, Mr. Speaker. I would like to ask the Minister, can he tell me how many other communities are paying for their own classroom space. Thank you.

Minister of Education, Culture and Employment, Minister Ootes.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, with regard to the question itself, I don't have the answer to that. I would have to check back to see and check with our department. But, Mr. Speaker, I should point out that we looked at the school and identified a need for a renovation and a small expansion. But at the request of the community... The community requested that this be expanded. It has to be remembered, Mr. Speaker, that within the school is an aboriginal headstart program, as well, and that particular program is a federally-funded program and normally the federal government provides capital funding for projects. We've not been able to obtain that money for this purpose, Mr. Speaker. So in a sense, we are meeting the needs of the school, but there's a program within the school that's really federally initiated and operated. We understand the need within the community, but that became part of the challenge here, Mr. Speaker. I think the community was very generous in its approach here to offer to provide funding for expansion. But it was beyond the scope of the original project, Mr. Speaker. Thank you.

Supplementary, Mr. McLeod.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, it's obvious that the Minister does not recognize the aboriginal headstart students as students. It's one of the most successful programs in the aboriginal communities throughout the North, and it's very disappointing once again to hear the Minister give his answer that these are not real students. I would like to ask the Minister if he would then consider the $200,000 as a loan or a contribution. I understand that other communities, such as Yellowknives First Nations, have made contributions towards their school with a repayment attached to it. Would the Minister look at this whole scenario and consider this as a loan with repayment sometime in the future? Thank you.

The honourable Minister of Education, Culture and Employment, Mr. Ootes.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. First of all, Mr. Speaker, I do recognize that the aboriginal headstart program is made of students and they're extremely important. We have an early childhood development program with this government that addresses this whole area. To suggest that I don't classify them as students or am not interested in it is not correct, Mr. Speaker. I'm very concerned about early childhood development and the benefits that can offer.

Mr. Speaker, the fact is that this is an early childhood program, not a K to12 program and we provide funding for K to 12. Mr. Speaker, with regard to the request, I'd have to check to see what other programs have been operated under that basis where funding had been provided and then repaid, Mr. Speaker. I just am not familiar with that, Mr. Speaker. Thank you.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It would be interesting to see how the Minister is going to put a price on the aboriginal headstart program and its worth and measure the cost without having this program housed because there is no other facility to put this program in the community. I'd like to ask the Minister with my final question, what are the options that he looked at? We understood that he went to Cabinet, we find that's not the case. Did he look at anything else or did he just go to the chief of the council with his hand out? Is there any other option he can point to that he looked at for accommodating this request for additional classroom space? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. McLeod. The honourable Minister of Education, Culture and Employment, Mr. Ootes.

Mr. Speaker, I'd have to just go back into my memory to see what actions we did take. It seems to me we had checked about the aboriginal headstart program to see if we could obtain funding from the federal government to assist us in this particular process. That's from my initial memory here, Mr. Speaker, and we did go to Cabinet, of course, with regard to the school itself in terms of providing the financing for this. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Ootes. 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 of Resources, Wildlife and Economic Development on mine cleanup. Mr. Speaker, the funding commitments for the second year of the three-year contaminants site accelerated action fund program will soon be made. It's urgent that this government communicate their position to Minister Nault if we want to get a federal agreement on the preferred option and then to start implementing it.

Mr. Speaker, in September, the Minister said in a letter to Mr. Braden that the department was reviewing its decision on deep disposal option for arsenic at Giant. When will the department finalize its position, Mr. Speaker?

Thank you, Mr. Dent. The honourable Minister of Resources, Wildlife and Economic Development, Mr. Antoine.

Thank you, Mr. Antoine. Supplementary, Mr. Dent.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, we've already missed one year of the three-year program. Is the Minister confident that the decision on a preferred option will be transmitted to DIAND in time for us to make sure that we get some of the money for the second year of the three-year program?

Thank you, Mr. Dent. The honourable Minister of Resources, Wildlife and Economic Development, Mr. Antoine.

Thank you, Mr. Antoine. Supplementary, Mr. Dent.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I believe I heard the Minister say that the preferred option at this time was the deep disposal option. We've had two reports from the peer review panel that say that is not a good option. Has the Minister made himself aware of these two reports so that he is fully up to date when his department comes to him with recommendations?

Thank you, Mr. Dent. The honourable Minister of Resources, Wildlife and Economic Development, Mr. Antoine.