The Speaker Tony Whitford

Please be seated. Good afternoon, colleagues, and welcome back after a well deserved and very productive break. I wish you all a happy new year, a bit belated but the sentiments are there.

I wish to advise the House that I have received the following message from the Commissioner of the Northwest Territories and it says:

"Dear Mr. Speaker, I wish to advise that I recommend to the Legislative Assembly of the Northwest Territories, the passage of the Appropriations Act, 2003-2004, and the Supplementary Appropriations Act, No. 3, 2002-2003, during the Sixth Session of the 14th Legislative Assembly. Yours truly, Glenna F. Hansen, Commissioner."

Thank you. The next item is Ministers' statements. The Honourable Member for Weledeh, Mr. Handley.

Joe Handley Weledeh

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I give notice that I will deliver the Budget Address on Thursday, February 13, 2003. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The Speaker Tony Whitford

Thank you, Mr. Minister. Ministers' statements. Item 3, Members' statements. The Honourable Member for Hay River South, Mrs. Groenewegen.

Jane Groenewegen Hay River South

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I watched with anticipation over the past couple of weeks at first as Canadian Premiers met to grapple with issues of health care funding for their respective jurisdictions, and then subsequently as they met with the Prime Minister.

Our government has invested a tremendous amount of effort and resources in ensuring our Ministers and Premier are at the federal/provincial/territorial tables, and ensuring that our issues are represented and our experience is shared on a national level. A lot of preparation work is required to effectively participate when we get there, and to communicate with counterparts in advance and have our officials and Ministers ready to lobby on behalf of the interests of Northerners. So I was very encouraged by the results of this effort, as evidenced by the significant accomplishment of our Premier and the other northern Premiers to achieve agreement from their colleagues on the need to address the needs of northern territories different with respect to national programs funding and initiatives; in this case, specifically, health.

After all, if the provincial Premiers agreed, the concession of a base funding before applying the per capita formula for the territories could only affect the provinces' shares. And if they supported us, how could the Prime Minister find any reason not to support us as well? There was absolutely no downside for him financially or politically. His response was such an affront to the North that it is almost unconceivable. Needless to say, I support the strong position then taken by Premiers Kakfwi, Okalik and Fentie to refuse to sign on. The subsequent national media attention to their position was very effective as well, in further reinforcing our need of special attention given the unique challenges of delivering health services in vast and remote areas.

Ignorance is no defense for Mr. Chretien. As the Premier pointed out, this was the Prime Minister who was very familiar with the challenges in the North, and even if he hadn't benefited from that background, we have done a very good job of clearly articulating and justifying our requests. This latest dismissive stance of the Prime Minister goes far above and beyond indifference. It is more like sabotage, Mr. Speaker.

As a seemingly afterthought gesture, the Prime Minister alluded to a separate process and dialogue with the territories. Later in question period today, I'll be asking the Premier if there have been any developments subsequent to the Ottawa meetings that should give us any cause for hope that Ottawa is getting our message. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

---Applause

The Speaker Tony Whitford

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

Sandy Lee Range Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, on behalf of my constituents I would also like to take this opportunity to recognize and congratulate Premiers Stephen Kakfwi, Paul Okalik and Dennis Fentie for their strong, clear and united voice with which they spoke about the inadequacy of the current federal funding formula in health care services for Northerners.

Having seen the outpouring of support shown by the residents and leaders of all walks of life and all over the territories north of 60, a number of things have become more clear to me than ever. Mr. Speaker, the first is the universal access to good, reliable health care. Regardless of where we live, it's one thing that is truly near and dear to our hearts. This is one of the most treasured and precious rights and privileges we have as Canadians. The scarcity of people and the remoteness of where we live should not deprive us of equal treatment. In my experience as an MLA, I know of no other issue that unites our people as this important belief. Any politician who fails to fully appreciate this must do so at their own peril.

Mr. Speaker, the second thing that has become very clear is that the federal government must quickly address the need for a health care funding formula that recognizes this principle. The full implications of the extra costs of delivering the health care services to each and every Northerner must be included, above and beyond the per capita numbers in any new funding formula.

Thirdly, Mr. Speaker, is that when leaders unite and work together, they become much stronger and effective than the sum of their collective whole. And people appreciate this and throw their support behind them. It was something to behold, Mr. Speaker, to witness the three northern Premiers speaking with one voice on behalf of the people they represent. Their collective voice was clear, strong and focused, and I believe very strongly that it will result in something good for all of us. We have already seen it, Mr. Speaker. The attention of our neighbours, including the leaders and the media south of 60, finally tuned in to our message that we have been trying to get through to them for a very long time. For a day or two it was a topic of major discussion in every media room in the country. I realize that we have a lot more work to do, and the Premiers are working with our elected officials in Ottawa to...

The Speaker Tony Whitford

Ms. Lee, your time for Members' statements is over. Ms. Lee.

Sandy Lee Range Lake

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

The Speaker Tony Whitford

The honourable Member is seeking unanimous consent to conclude her statement. Are there any nays? There are no nays, Ms. Lee, you may conclude your statement.

Sandy Lee Range Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker, and thank you, colleagues. Mr. Speaker, I realize we have a lot more work to do and the Premiers are working with our elected officials in Ottawa to deliver this to us. But I do believe that we have definitely started something good here, something we must try to do more often.

We have a lot of other issues in front of us in our territory, and many of them are of the same national importance and magnitude. There's no doubt that while we may disagree on small things, united we can speak more strongly and effectively. By practicing this and showing us how this is done, Premiers Kakfwi, Okalik and Fentie have served us well, and I'd like to thank them and congratulate them once again. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

---Applause

The Speaker Tony Whitford

Thank you, Ms. Lee. Item 3, Members' statements. The honourable member for Deh Cho, Mr. McLeod.

Michael McLeod Deh Cho

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, today as part of educating our youth, I would like to announce an initiative, sponsored in part by the Deh Gah School. Mr. Speaker, the Fifth Annual Regional Youth Conference will be starting on Friday in Fort Providence. This is the second year in a row that Fort Providence has hosted this conference, titled Honouring our Gifts. The three-day conference will consist of workshops and presentations by well-known key speakers and presenters of both northern and southern role models, including Fort Providence's own Angie Matto, Delphine Elleze and Sherry Landry-Braun. Other presenters are Barry Church, Sharon Firth, Myron Wolf Child, Lisa Simard, Dr. Andrew Corriveau, the Fort Resolution Dancers and the Honourable Roger Allen. These people have developed their gifts to their full potential, and some have built their careers around them.

The Deh Gah Elementary School conference organizers are Julia Elleze, Maxine Lacorne, Melissa Wood, Margaret Thom and Jane Arychuk. These people have committed themselves to ensuring that each participant will come out of this conference with the ability to recognize and honour the gifts they have. The 150 youth participants hail from communities across the Northwest Territories. The programs will give insight to the spiritual, mental, physical and cultural aspects of well-being, which is a basic foundation of traditional teaching.

Mr. Speaker, this conference has been made possible by contributions from MACA; Mackenzie Recreation Association; Deh Gah Gotie Brighter Futures; the Minister of Youth, Roger Allen; Fort Providence Recreation; BHP; the Languages Commissioner, Fibbie Tatti; Shehta Drilling; Territorial Beverages; Nats'ejee Keh, Deh Cho Divisional Education Council; Skills Canada; SAY Magazine; and Rosalyn Smith.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank all the organizers, volunteers, sponsors and the role models for offering our youth the basic building blocks for self-improvement through this conference. I'd also like to wish all the youth, visitors and presenters a safe and enjoyable stay while in Fort Providence. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

---Applause

The Speaker Tony Whitford

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