The Speaker Tony Whitford

Thank you, Mr. Delorey, for your member's statement. I will just remind Members -- perhaps today being the first day we'll be a little bit more flexible -- that time is two-and-a-half minutes -- your rules -- and one topic. But today we will look the other way, so to speak. Item 3, Members' statements. The honourable Member for Tu Nedhe, Mr. Nitah.

The Speaker Tony Whitford

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

Floyd Roland Inuvik Boot Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, as you started out by saying that we'd had a bit of a break, I'd just like to inform that while we were on that break from session much work was being done in our constituencies, and I have a number of issues that I will be raising while we're in the budget session. One of them today I want to raise specifically is in the area of what I've been asked to present to this House, in the area of beverage container recovery program. What triggered me to start off with this was the news that I'd heard this morning, that this government probably would not be going forward with its waste recovery and reduction act, which I think is not good to hear and I hope that they will reconsider and try to move forward on that. It's one thing when we talk about the big picture when we've heard Cabinet and the Premier talk about Kyoto and what we must do in all of Canada and what we can do in the Northwest Territories; well, I think here's an opportunity that we can start at ground level and start in communities and start having an immediate impact on our own environment, Mr. Speaker.

Later on today I will be tabling a letter from the Inuvik Recycling Society as well as a petition from constituents in my community and across the North, when it comes to this area, and hope that the government will be able to act on it. Thank you.

---Applause

The Speaker Tony Whitford

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

Bill Braden Great Slave

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Like my colleagues, I know that I stand here with the voice of many residents of the NWT, when I say how pleased and proud we were of Premiers Stephen Kakfwi, Okalik and Fentie of Nunavut and the Yukon, for telling Ottawa and the rest of Canada that the North really does deserve a better break on health funding.

Last week's dramatic story down in Ottawa unfolded like a bad movie. There were three little guys from the boonies, Mr. Speaker, standing up against the big guy from Shawinigan in the showdown over what's right and what's fair. And it could have been a tired old rerun. It's like the story that we've seen played out many times. Remember some of these old clunkers, Mr. Speaker, Infrastructure Investment, or how about Corridors For Canada, and then there was Devolution Delayed? It's the same old story: Ottawa again thwarts the dreams and desires, and leaves the North out in the cold. It could have happened again, but the Premiers stood up and said no. They stood up and said we deserve the same standard of health care that other Canadians deserve. He said that it's not right that 28 of 33 communities in the NWT don't have a doctor. He said we deserve the same standard of health care that other Canadians expect. He said Ottawa's $5 million a year doesn't cut it. He said we've had enough of Ottawa's take-it-or-leave-it attitude. He said per capita funding just doesn't work for the people living north of 60.

So, Mr. Speaker, while we've made our mark on the country with this issue, what we really need to see now are results. I know that our officials are continuing to work in Ottawa to find solutions. I'm impressed that Health Minister Anne McLellan has announced she's going to be here on February 24th to meet with the three territorial Ministers, and even though we might not be hearing much from them, Mr. Speaker, I believe that our northern Members of Parliament and Senators are working on our behalf in Ottawa. We've got their attention, and that is a job well done. Now what we need are results. Thanks, Mr. Speaker.

---Applause

The Speaker Tony Whitford

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

David Krutko Mackenzie Delta

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, one of the most cherished resources that we have is our elders. We've always looked up to them for wisdom, encouragement, and also for support. Yet, Mr. Speaker, one of the alarming things that I found during the break from the last sitting to being here today is that our elders in our communities, especially the ones who are living by themselves and trying to maintain their own home are struggling just to make ends meet. Yet, Mr. Speaker, programs and services that this government delivers by way of fuel subsidies and home support programs are not really meeting the goal that we set, to improve the quality of life for seniors in their homes, in their communities, and in the North.

Mr. Speaker, we spend a lot of dollars and resources on the renewable resources sector with regards to the diamond industry and oil and gas, yet, Mr. Speaker, the resource that we're very much depleting and not taking the advantage of ensuring that the quality of life of our seniors has been considered.

Mr. Speaker, I've raised questions in this House previously regarding the seniors' fuel subsidy. I've been waiting for an answer back from the Minister responsible on this, knowing that the system that they use is unjust, it is not fair, and it does not really meet the requirement of the program.

Mr. Speaker, again I'd like to state, this is a quality of life issue. If we cannot improve the quality of life of our seniors, what are we doing here as legislators? I think we can talk bread and butter issues with regards to what we're doing, but I think we have to see it reflected.

There are a lot of seniors who do not want to take part in public events, sit on public boards, on the band councils, on the local elders' councils, et cetera, because they're penalized for doing that. And if this government is putting in policies that are penalizing our seniors for being active in our communities, there's something wrong with these policies that we're putting in place.

So, Mr. Speaker, with that, I will be asking the Minister responsible for the seniors' fuel subsidy questions on this matter later. Thank you.

---Applause

The Speaker Tony Whitford

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

The Speaker Tony Whitford

Thank you, Mr. Lafferty, and welcome back from your short stay in the hospital in the last few days. It's good to see you're back. Item 3, Members' statements. The honourable Member for Frame Lake, Mr. Dent.

Charles Dent Frame Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, like many of my colleagues today, I'd like to express my extreme disappointment with the federal response to the Northern First Ministers on health care renewal funding; especially, Mr. Speaker, when First Ministers from all provinces had agreed that the territories needed special treatment and not financing on a per capita basis. I think Mr. Roy Romanow had already laid out the reasons to support such an approach to funding in the Northwest Territories.

Mr. Speaker, I was a Member of the 13th Assembly, and at the time, in the late '90s, Canada faced a deficit. And we weren't asked to help cut the national deficit, we were told we would help, and we were told by how much. The federal government unilaterally cut our transfer payments. And they didn't cut our transfer payments then on a per capita basis. The impact that we felt was in the area of $150 million. Mr. Speaker, this led to lay-offs, cuts in salaries and benefits of employees, and cuts to programs, including cuts to health and to education. So Canada, with disproportionate help from Northerners, has now wrestled the deficit to the ground and runs a surplus. So you might say, Mr. Speaker, that Canada in the '90s reached into our pocket and yanked money out when they faced a deficit. Now they have a surplus, and every time we get to be part of a federal program, they want us to get it back in little dribbles on a per capita basis.

Charles Dent Frame Lake

Mr. Speaker, I know I've talked to a number of my constituents and I supported the actions of Premier Kakfwi and the other territorial leaders last week, and I think this was the right move. It's time that we got tougher with the message that we deliver to Ottawa. Canada, the federal government owes northern residents more attention and a fair share of nationally funded programs. And we must work together to get that message delivered. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

---Applause